The early days of the iPhone had been a golden period for cellular gaming, the place one-off purchases and ease reigned supreme. Fortunately, many of those video games are nonetheless alive and effectively in the present day.
Tiny Wings
I in all probability performed extra Tiny Wings than another sport on my iPhone 4, and for good purpose. This infinite runner is straightforward to select up and tough to place down, with a easy tap-and-hold management scheme. Use the hills to construct up velocity, then launch to keep up flight.
Determining the perfect time to dive and chaining easy landings make the sport simply as addictive now because it ever was. Purchase the unique Tiny Wings for $1.99, or subscribe to Apple Arcade to get entry to Tiny Wings+.
Plague Inc.
Again within the day, there was a Flash game referred to as Pandemic which tasked you with infecting the world with an sickness (you’ll be able to nonetheless play it on Newgrounds). Minimize to 2012 and Plague Inc. arrived on the iPhone (adopted by an Android model a number of months later) which takes the straightforward premise and provides a layer of complexity that is positively infectious (sorry).
The sport has continued on the App Retailer ever since, so should you already personal it there’s no have to pay once more or take care of free-to-play mechanics. Seize Plague Inc. for $1.99, and improve it with expansions if you need.
Offended Birds
As soon as upon a time,_Angry Birds_ was inescapable. Rovio’s humble cellular gaming property has gone on to spawn whacky spinoffs, films, and lots of extra avian-themed puzzle video games. But it surely’s the unique physics puzzler that captured hearts and minds again within the day. Individuals had been shopping for iPhones simply so they may get in on the motion.
The unique Offended Birds has been rebranded as Red’s First Flight, a $0.99 one-off buy that’s true to the unique from its gameplay to its pricing mannequin. There’s additionally an Apple Arcade version referred to as Angry Birds Reloaded, and free-to-play sequel Angry Birds 2 that depends on gems (maybe finest prevented).
Temple Run
An infinite runner through which you could make it out alive with an historical relic, Temple Run launched as a $0.99 one-off buy app however switched to a free-to-play freemium mannequin as early as 2011. It’s a easy sport through which you could tilt and swipe your machine to gather cash and keep away from obstacles.
The unique sport was rebranded as Temple Run Classic when the sequel, Temple Run 2, launched in 2013. Each video games are nonetheless alive and effectively, playable on trendy gadgets, with the identical throwback visuals and simplistic gameplay.
Doodle Bounce
Doodle Bounce is a platformer within the easiest sense of the phrase. Tilt your iPhone left and proper to information a four-legged creature up an infinite stream of platforms, accumulating power-ups and avoiding monsters alongside the best way. Whereas the sport debuted on the iPhone in 2009, it was ported to just about each platform together with Windows Phone, the Xbox 360 Kinect, and arcades.
You’ll be able to obtain the unique Doodle Jump for $1.99 or seize the free-to-play Doodle Jump – Insanely Good! model totally free. Sequel Doodle Jump 2+ is on the market on Apple Arcade with out adverts or in-app purchases.
Vegetation vs. Zombies
PopCap’s smash hit Vegetation vs. Zombies is a type of video games that has strayed removed from its early system in subsequent releases. Whereas trendy variations take the type of 3D shooters, the unique was a easy lane-based tower protection sport that sucked up your whole free time (initially debuting on Home windows and Mac).
The sport arrived on the iPhone in 2010, which is how many individuals first encountered it. You’ll be able to nonetheless play this humble unique, with in-app purchases, by downloading Plants vs. Zombies free on the App Retailer. When you’d moderately personal the sport outright, there are nonetheless buy-to-own variations accessible for nearly each platform together with Steam.
Fruit Ninja
In 2010 Fruit Ninja burst onto the cellular gaming scene, proving that generally all you want for a profitable cellular system is a single satisfying swipe mechanic. The sport duties you with hacking and slashing edible gadgets to earn factors and rack up combos, with loads of gratuitous fruit violence as well.
You’ve got two choices if you wish to play the sport on a contemporary iPhone. You’ll be able to seize Fruit Ninja Classic which maintains the “easier, streamlined expertise” (and requires a sign-up) or you’ll be able to go for Fruit Ninja which modernizes the sport considerably. Each are free-to-play, so in-app purchases abound. There’s additionally a sequel within the type of Fruit Ninja 2.
Minimize the Rope
Minimize the Rope is an easy physics puzzler that duties you with chopping a collection of ropes in the best order to feed a cutesy inexperienced monster referred to as Om Nom. Progress by means of more and more harder ranges (425 to be actual) whereas accumulating stars and hidden secrets and techniques.
The unique, untouched sport is on the market within the type of Cut the Rope GOLD, a $1.99 buy with no adverts (and solely a handful of in-app purchases). Alternatively, seize free-to-play Cut the Rope and take care of the freemium mannequin as a substitute. You can too seize Cut the Rope 2 ($1.99) and Apple Arcade unique Cut the Rope 3.
Sport Dev Story
A private favourite, Sport Dev Story initially debuted approach again in 1997 for Home windows. In 2010, it appeared in a touch-friendly iPhone format, whereas additionally seeing releases on Android and Home windows Cellphone. The sport is an easy tycoon-esque simulation that duties you with designing and releasing video video games so as to flip a revenue.
Extremely, that unique iPhone model has been maintained for the previous 15 years and counting. You’ll be able to nonetheless purchase Game Dev Story for $4.99, and the system nonetheless works as you try and crack the trade and roll your successes into even better follow-ups.
Jetpack Joyride
One other infinite runner (or flyer to be extra exact), Jetpack Joyride might need probably the most recognizable cellular gaming app icon of all time. Gather cash and keep away from obstacles by tapping the display screen to set off your jetpack’s thruster. Survive so long as you’ll be able to to get additional than you probably did earlier than.
Builders Halfbrick has two variations of the sport accessible for obtain, with the ad-free Jetpack Joyride Classic version being restricted to a 30-minute trial (earlier than you’ll want to pay for a Halfbrick+ subscription). Alternatively, there’s an ordinary Jetpack Joyride launch full with adverts and in-app purchases.
The Room
The Room provided a break from the standard frantic five-minute cellular sport system when it arrived on the iPhone in 2012. This 3D puzzler duties you with fixing 4 puzzle containers, every harder than the final, by manipulating the digital camera and poking your approach round.
The sport was visually spectacular at a time when most cellular video games used easy 2D graphics, and was notable for its difficult gameplay. Seize The Room Pocket totally free from the App Retailer, which presents the primary puzzle totally free and prices $1.99 thereafter. The sport hasn’t been up to date for a number of years, however we examined it and it nonetheless works on iOS 18.
Infinity Blade
Arguably probably the most technically spectacular cellular sport of its time, Infinity Blade set requirements with its “console high quality” graphics when it first arrived in 2010. It’s an motion roleplaying sport that facilities on comparatively easy one-on-one fights that depend on swipes and on-screen controls.
The sport was faraway from the App Retailer in 2018, attributable to compatibility points. Happily, it discovered new life in 2024 with a PC launch primarily based on the unique (publicly accessible) supply code. You’ll be able to obtain the sport from the Internet Archive totally free to play on Home windows. Apparently the sport additionally works on Linux or Mac via WINE and on the Steam Deck thanks to Proton.
I’ve in all probability missed your favourite obscure iPhone hit from again within the day and probably reminded you of some video games that you simply’d forgotten about. Sadly, lots of the finest at the moment are lacking from the App Retailer and seemingly unplayable. Whereas sport preservation will get extra press than ever, mobile game preservation often takes a backseat.