Recommend a decent IoS game for iPhone?

from Elemental Forums

After having recently moved to America, I obtained an iPhone. While I do dislike the fact that I cannot interface with my PC in terms of transfering data (docs, pictures, videos, etc.) between the two easily, the display seems nice, and I see there are a bunch of games you can get for them in the "Game Center". I tried out a couple of free ones, such as chess, which I let my son play, but the other free games under the category "Strategy" or "RPG" actually seem to suck, although some of them are pretty. What I really dislike are "free" games that constantly bombard you with the necessity to go to the "shop" and purchase something in order to continue playing the game (potions, armor, credits, whatever) -- besides the fact that most games were dull.

Are there are games out there for iPhone in the category RPG or Strategy that are decent and cost, say, $5? (Just to try, that would be my threshold.) They should NOT be MMOs, and they should be complete for that price. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear them: please, if possible, don't just say the name of the game, but mention a little something about it. My all-time favorite PC games were probably along the lines of Fallout, Planescape Torment, Deus Ex, and CivIII.

Thanks tons

59,859 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

There's not a lot that's worthwhile, to be honest. The official Final Fantasy games are great in terms of quality, but also some of the most expensive titles you can get. Even so, I've thrown hundreds of hours into FF 3, FF: War of the Lions...

Oh, there's also Battle for Wesnoth, which is a great game, and an extremely good port of the PC version. If you haven't played it before, test it for free on PC rather than pony up the 5$ for the IoS version.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Ascendancy

Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Majesty is ok.  

 

Also look up simulations from kairosoft. Like you build your own space colony, game development studio or adventurer's town.

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

There is are a couple Master of Orion clones on iOs I forgot the names.

 

Ascension is a popular trading card game you can check out. Shadow Era is another trading card game that uses Unity and is free to play, with optional booster pack purchases (you can earn stuff in game but its really slow).

 

Finally theres Hero Academy which is a casual asynchronous strategy game that seems kind of fun. Its free to play and you can buy additional teams if you like the game.

 

I tried a couple games (none of the above) on my Dad's iPad but the only thing I found compelling was Fruit Ninja... its sad. 

Reply #6 from Elemental Forums Top


Thanks much louist and UA -- I'll check out Hero Academy and probably get BfW, which I like as a PC game -- didn't know they ported it to iPhone for $5. I'll see how it goes. Thanks!

Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Civilization Revolution is halfway decent IMO. 

You can get the lite version for free and try it out. Then, if you like it, purchase the full version. 

Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

I have one suggestion.  It's a game I found to be a complete gem.  It doesn't quite fit the genre you are asking about, but its something worth mentioning.  Give "The Act" a look.  It's essential a type of dragon's lair sort of game.  Fully animated.  Easily the best game I have ever played on the iphone. 

Ascension is fun as well.  You can really only play against the AI at this point as there doesn't really seem to be anyone playing it online.  I played that one for a bit and got tired with it after a week or two.

Quoting louist, reply 1
Oh, there's also Battle for Wesnoth
End of louist's quote

Didn't know that was ported.  I'll be picking that one up.  Lots of fun on the pc.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Throw the iPhone into the trash. Lovely and amazing game. I play it as often as I can :P

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top


Hey thanks. Hero Academy seems to be MP only, so that's no go (no internet in NY subway), and I had some problems finding a "dragon lair" type of game called The Act. But thanks much for tips!

Reply #12 from Elemental Forums Top

There are a bunch of Final Fantasy games on the iPhone, including 3 or 4 only on the iPhone.

If you're into shmups you can't get better than Cave games. They are worth the premium price. I suggest Bug Princess 2, but they are all good.

Great Big War Game is my turn based strategy game of choice at the moment. It has multiplayer, I haven't tried it but it's there.

Carcassonne, based off the board-game, has been on my phone since the initial download over a year ago. Catan has an accurate iPhone adaptation but I do not enjoy the tempo of the game itself.

There is also Doodle Jump which is very good and very simple. More of an endurance challenge.

The Act is an excellent experience. Not too much longevity, especially for being more than a dollar. Much better than the Dragon Lair games for the iPhone, which I consider to be unplayable.

Plants Vs. Zombies, if you like the PC version you'll love the touch controls. PopCap periodically updates it with significant patches and it seems they will continue to do so.

Quoting pacov, reply 9

Ascension is fun as well.  You can really only play against the AI at this point as there doesn't really seem to be anyone playing it online.  I played that one for a bit and got tired with it after a week or two.

End of pacov's quote

I would be up for a game sometime.

Othello

 

 

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Othello, reply 12
The Act is an excellent experience. Not too much longevity, especially for being more than a dollar.
End of Othello's quote

yah - its $.99 cents at the time of this post.  I think I had the game beat in about 2-5 hours.  That said - excellent experience and I cannot wait to see the next game.

Reply #14 from Elemental Forums Top

I feel the brevity of The Act kept it in my good graces. I was too young to get swept up in Dragon's Lair when it came out, my first play-through was on the iPhone and I was disappointed. The Act came out and it was everything I wanted Dragon's Lair to be.

Othello

Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top

Quoting Othello, reply 14
I feel the brevity of The Act kept it in my good graces. I was too young to get swept up in Dragon's Lair when it came out, my first play-through was on the iPhone and I was disappointed. The Act came out and it was everything I wanted Dragon's Lair to be.

Othello
End of Othello's quote

I think you have a point about the length of the game keeping helping it.  I did manage to play dragon's lair in an arcade wayyy back - think about it... you'd have pac man and next to it dragon's lair.  Difference = wow.  I never was a huge fan of dragon's lair outside of the artwork and the innovation for the time. 

Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top

Not RPG nor strategy, but i can recommend the Broken Sword games. They were brilliant back in the day on PC, and they still are even on the small iPhone display. 

Could agree on Ascendancy too. 

Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top

If you like adventure games try 'The Odyssey' for iphones or 'The Odyssey HD' for ipads. Its a classic adventure game based on homers myth.

Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top

#2