Have you been searching for the best RPG game apps and are wondering which ones are worth your time? If you’re like me, you love a good story-driven RPG, but it can be hard to find these games in app form.
I love RPGs so, of course, I’m constantly on the lookout for new games, and recently I found myself pleasantly surprised by an underrated RPG that offers hours of side quests, dynamic combat, and some of the most engaging storytelling and characterization I’ve experienced in mobile gaming. Forget what you know about not-so-great casual games — they don’t deserve to be included in the great RPG lineage.
With hundreds of mobile games to choose from, finding an RPG app can seem like an impossible task. Whether you’re looking for a game that allows you to build a team and explore dungeons, or you’re in the market for a fantasy game to help pass the time before the next installment of your favorite book series, there are many great options out there.
The best RPGs on iPhone are fun and immersive, while taking up only a few gigabytes of memory so they won’t weigh down your phone. They’re also incredibly expensive, because they’re usually ports of games that originally appeared on console or PC—but don’t let that intimidate you! Even if you don’t have $40 to blow, there are plenty of great options available.
There are two types of games in this genre: turn-based RPGs and real-time RPGs. In these games, you will play as a hero or heroine who fights off monsters, goblins, dragons, and other creatures to save the world.
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Turn-based RPGs are great because they offer more control over character movement and combat. You’ll be able to strategize and come up with a plan before each fight.
We’ll talk about all of the factors you should consider when downloading an RPG for iPhone—whether it’s free or paid, how many hours it will keep you playing, and how difficult it is. We’ll also share our picks for the best RPGs out there, so if you just want an easy answer and don’t feel like reading the rest of this article, check out our top recommendations below:
These are the 20 best RPG games for iPhone
There are a lot of great role-playing games for iPhone out there, and it can be hard to keep track of the best ones. If you’re looking for the best RPG games for iPhone, consider checking these out:
1. Diablo Immortal – Best RPG for iPhone
“Diablo Immortal” is a multiplayer action RPG set shortly after the events of “Diablo II,” with players taking on the role of adventurers fighting against demons in Sanctuary. The game will feature three distinct character classes: Crusader, Outlander, and Necromancer. The Crusader wields mighty two-handed weapons to strike down foes and charge enemies with shields, while the Outlander uses a bow to strike from afar and specialize in crippling enemies. The Necromancer, armed with a staff, can summon skeletons and other monsters to do his bidding.
Diablo Immortal is a free-to-play, massively multiplayer online action role-playing video game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and NetEase.
The game is set in Sanctuary during the Darkening of Tristram (the time period between Diablo II: Lord of Destruction and Diablo III) and features five playable classes: Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, and Necromancer. Players are able to swap out class skills for other skills from other classes; for example, a player may choose to be a Crusader but play using Demon Hunter abilities. A player’s class also determines their starting location within Sanctuary. The story begins when Tyrael attempts to unite all the factions from across Sanctuary against an unknown evil corrupting the land. Characters from previous installments such as Deckard Cain appear throughout the adventure.
When Blizzard first announced Diablo Immortal, it was met with some backlash from longtime fans of the franchise and the community at large. Fans of the series voiced their concerns over what they felt was Blizzard abandoning the series’ core gameplay in favor of moving toward microtransactions and a more mobile-oriented gameplay style, as evidenced by Diablo Immortal’s announcement trailer, which took place in an isometric view similar to action RPGs like Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
The publisher quickly addressed these concerns by announcing that Diablo Immortal would be developed as a free-to-play game. Although this may seem as if it could be quite profitable for Blizzard, there were still concerns that the game would be monetized with microtransactions and loot boxes. To alleviate these criticisms, Blizzard stated that they would not be using any loot boxes or microtransactions; instead, players will have to pay with real money to purchase in-game items such as buffs and cosmetic changes. The developer also explained that Diablo Immortal’s gameplay experience will not be pay-to-win; players will still be able to play through all available content without paying for any additional in-game purchases.
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2. Another Eden – Best Free iOS RPG game
With its simple, fluid interface and its indie gaming sensibility, the Eden series has been a critical darling since the first game. The latest chapter, Another Eden: The Cat That Returned, is no exception.
Eden takes place in a world where people can teleport to any one of dozens of beautiful islands—but they’re not just places to relax. The islands are also crawling with monsters that will kill people on sight. Eden’s heroes are specially trained to survive these monsters’ attacks, but only if they can learn to control their fear and master the power of the legendary “sacred gear”.
The game’s goal is to provide a social experience that gives players an opportunity to have unique experiences with one another. For example, there will be quests for players to work together and accomplish goals that are more difficult when playing alone. There will also be other types of interactions between players like mini-games and even romantic encounters.
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The main focus of the game is to raise your “soulmate meter” with 3-person units called “trees”, which you can only form if you have three specific characters with high friendship levels.
There are two ways to earn soulmate points with your partner: 1) by sending gifts back and forth, and 2) by raising your relationship level by completing quests together. Sending gifts are based on the amount of money you spend, so it is important to know that there are many ways to earn free gifts from good sales at the shop. You can also get free money from friends or doing quests for them!
An interesting feature about this game is that your level does not affect how strong you are in battle. The strength of your character is based on the amount of experience they have, which can be gained through leveling up and completing quests. The more you play with a friend, the more experience you both get!
The previous two games have each centered around one character who must go on a journey to master her sacred gear in order to defeat an evil force that threatens her island home. In contrast, Another Eden: The Cat That Returned is a prequel that focuses on four protagonists as they struggle for control over their sacred gear powers. Each protagonist has her own distinct personality and storyline as she struggles to protect her island and save her friends from danger—but it wouldn’t be an Eden game without some romance! You’ll have plenty of opportunities to fall in love with each heroine during your journey through this gorgeous RPG.
3. Chrono Trigger ($10) – One of the best RPG’s
Chrono Trigger is one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. The Final Fantasy series might be the most popular, but Chrono Trigger has a special place in many gamers’ hearts. It’s an old-school game with an interesting story, fun characters and some unique gameplay elements. It was originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1995, and it’s one of those games that anyone who was playing video games at that time remembers playing. It’s still considered by many to be one of the best ever made.
The player navigates the game’s world and must battle enemies in turn-based combat.
The plot of Chrono Trigger involves a group of adventurers who travel through time to prevent a global catastrophe. The party also travels to prehistoric times to battle reptilian creatures, the future to destroy robotic machines and the end of time to face a demonic entity.
I have to admit that when I first played Chrono Trigger, my thoughts were filled with the usual cynical teenage gamer vitriol. I had grown up playing Final Fantasy and other such games, and many of them were deeply engrained in my mind as being the best RPG titles around. Chrono Trigger was new; it was different; it had a plucky young hero who fights baddies with his bare fists and magic. But most of all, it had a camaraderie among its party members that was unparalleled in many of its genre counterparts.
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When I finally got around to downloading this game for the iPhone, I was delighted with what I found. It has an intuitive touch-screen control scheme which made me feel like I was really controlling the characters on screen. The graphics are clean and simple, but they get the job done well enough that you don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything when compared with its 16-bit predecessor. The game is also full of extras—skits can be unlocked by meeting certain conditions, and they provide extra backstory on each character’s development.
It’s worth noting that this game is very linear—you have little control over where you go or what you do—but it doesn’t detract from the overall experience.
Chrono Trigger has been ported to several other video game consoles and mobile devices, as well as being released on the PlayStation Network and Virtual Console for the Wii, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita video game consoles. A sequel to Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, was developed by Square and released in 1999.
4. Vampire’s Fall: Origins
Vampire’s Fall: Origins is an iPhone game that takes RPG elements and makes them accessible to casual gamers. In this game, you can choose to be the vampire or the hunter, each with their own unique set of powers. You will be able to explore the town, recruit new characters, level up your skills and battle against other players in PvP mode.
The story takes place in a fantasy world where monsters and humans co-exist, and a boy named Jack is the main character. He’s a young magician who is tasked with saving his dying village by using the help of two vampires. A unique feature to Vampire’s Fall: Origins is that it uses the “tap to move” system, which is basically just tapping the character you want to move. This is different compared to other games where you have to drag the character you want to move around the screen with your finger.
The controls for this game are easy: you tap on the screen in order to move around, and tap on enemies to attack them. When your character meets other NPCs, you can tap on them in order to view their information or strike up a conversation. As players progress through the game, they will collect items, gold, and experience points. Items can be used both for battling and for healing purposes. Players can also choose which class they would like their character to be: warrior, rogue, sorcerer or cleric. Each class has its own strengths and weaknesses, as well as its own unique skill set.
The graphics of this game are nothing short of fantastic; You will notice that every character has been created with great detail and personality.
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If you are looking for a cool role-playing game on the iPhone, then Vampire’s Fall: Origins is a great game to try. It may not be perfect, but it is worth checking out with its epic story line and engaging gameplay. Its weaknesses include small amounts of in-app purchases, a confusing beginning and difficult controls, but with all said and done this is still one great RPG that is worth playing.
5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic ($10)
Star Wars fans put up with years of waiting for new movies, so it’s no surprise that the release of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic for the iPhone is a cause for celebration. Okay, that’s an understatement—this game is awesome, and if you’re a fan of RPG games or Star Wars, it’s worth every penny.
The first thing you notice about Knights of the Old Republic is how beautiful it looks. The game has been upgraded from its original release on Xbox and PC in 2003, and while the graphics may look a little grainy compared to the latest releases, the visuals are still impressive given that the game was originally developed for older gaming systems. But what really makes this game stand out is its intuitive and easy-to-use controls, making it accessible to gamers at all levels. You can play with one hand while walking around or doing something else with your free hand—that’s how user-friendly this game is!
The other great thing about this game isn’t just what it offers but what it doesn’t: there are no in-app purchases or annoying ads. This means you can get right into the action without worrying about being interrupted by prompts to buy something or watch a video ad in order to continue playing.
The iOS version of this classic game uses simplified touch controls. For example, players tap on an enemy to attack it; this is more like tapping on a button than a more complex movement like moving your character over to strike. In combat, you can also cycle between party members by swiping your finger across them. And you can use Force powers by tracing out letters in their names with your finger. Knights of the Old Republic for iOS fits nicely into its platform’s limitations but still brings the full experience of the original game to your phone or tablet.
The game is set 4,000 years before the Battle of Yavin (AKA, the battle in which Luke Skywalker destroys the first Death Star) and follows an unnamed character who gets caught up in a galaxy-wide conflict between the Galactic Republic and Darth Malak’s Sith Empire. The story takes place on five planets and features 10 party members, each with their own distinct personalities. Gameplay involves fighting enemies in real-time battles based on your weapons, powers, and Force abilities, as well as dialogue choices that affect how others perceive you.
The storyline is terrific. You get to choose whether you want to follow good or evil in your decisions, and each path leads to different results. It’s like reading a great novel—you can’t wait to find out what happens next! The graphics are fantastic, with lots of special effects that make your jaw drop. There are even scenes where you control multiple characters at once, so you have to think fast about who deals what kind of damage and who has which powers if you want to win.
Given all the time and money you need to play a video game, it helps when your purchase is worthwhile. It’s where the feeling of control snaps back into place, and suddenly everything you do makes sense. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic for iOS doesn’t have as much hype behind it as some other popular games in the App Store. But that doesn’t mean this isn’t worth a chance for iPhone gamers who enjoy role-playing.
6. The Banner Saga ($10) – A tactical role-playing for iPhone
The Banner Saga is an indie game developed for iPhones and iPads, as well as Android and Mac devices. The game was created by Stoic, a game development company based in Austin, Texas, consisting of three brothers and two friends. It’s a strategy RPG that follows the story of a caravan of people trying to survive the end of their world. The stakes are high: if they die, they die forever. The gameplay is unique in that it doesn’t use buttons or rely on reflexes. Instead, it requires you to use your brain to plan out your moves, with characters acting on their own initiative each turn. It’s a very difficult game at first, but you’ll get better with time—and even though there are elements of luck involved, you can still win if you’re smart about it.
The game has an interesting story with multiple possible endings. Players take control of the caravan’s leader, who is accompanied by various characters along the way. I recommend playing through the whole campaign at least once just to experience it all!
We’ve played this game on our phones, but it’s also available for PC and Mac, so if you want to play with a keyboard and mouse, it should be easy to do that too. The controls are great, and there’s not much of a learning curve in terms of figuring out how to do things like attack, defend, or change characters—it all makes sense quickly.
The game looks beautiful. Its art style is reminiscent of the old Disney films like Sleeping Beauty and Snow White. The music is also great because it’s made up of traditional instruments like cello and bagpipes that add to its mythical feel. We love its soundtrack so much that we actually bought it on iTunes for ourselves!
The Banner Saga is a game that must be played. The story will capture you from the first moments and move you to want to know what happens next. Sure there are flaws with the game, but they are easy to overlook when you take into consideration how much more of an experience you get out of it.
7. Stardew Valley ($5) – Simulation role-playing video game for iOS
Stardew Valley is a farming RPG game developed and published by ConcernedApe. In the game, you inherit your grandfather’s run-down farm in Stardew Valley. After repairing the farm, you can plant crops and raise livestock to earn money and develop relationships with the locals.
The game is available for iPhone, iPad, Android phones and tablets, PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One and PlayStation.
Stardew Valley is a game in which you inherit your grandfather’s farm, and, after some initial exploration and tutorial gameplay, are free to live a life of farming and community, or one of hermitude and solitude. The game is open-ended and immensely inspiring—it’s a great example of the power of games to give an engaging, personal experience that can be yours alone. In Stardew Valley, you can take on your grandfather’s mantle (literally or figuratively) and just get to it. Plant crops, raise animals, befriend the townspeople, marry one of them… it’s all up to you.
The best part is that the game offers players infinite options—you’re not locked into any particular play style or way of life. The choices you make have significant consequences—the more time you put into raising crops for sale at the local market (and the more money you make), the better connected you’ll become with the townspeople and their daily lives. You can try to win their affections by giving them gifts (as well as by occasionally talking to them). Some characters will respond well to certain types of gifts (like fish), and will sometimes even offer their friendship in return.
The mobile game version of Stardew Valley, developed by ConcernedApe and published by Chucklefish games, is a perfect fit for the iPhone and iPad. The first thing you’ll notice when you start a game is that your options are wide open. In other words, if you want to spend time at the community center feeding chickens or helping out around the town, you can go right ahead. But if you’d rather explore the mines and collect materials for crafting things, that option is also available to you. The mobile version of this game does an excellent job of making it easy to make progress in whichever direction that you choose.
Designer: Eric Barone Developer: ConcernedApe Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, PlayStation 4, macOS, MORE Modes: Single-player video game, Multiplayer video game Nominations: BAFTA Games Award for Best Game, The Game Award for Best Independent Game Genres: Indie game, Role-playing Video Game, Adventure game, MORE Publishers: Chucklefish, Fangamer, 505 Games, ConcernedApe These challenges are all perfect for veteran Stardew Valley players. 12 Achieve Perfection. 11 Trimmed Lucky Purple Shorts. 10 Botanist. 9 Being A Hermit. 8 Dedicated To The Community. 7 Single-Purpose Farm. 6 Archaeology. 5 Mass Production.
8. Baldur’s Gate – Enhanced Edition ($10) – Best action RPG game for iPhone
I’m sure some of you reading this may be familiar with the Baldur’s Gate series, originally developed by Bioware. It was a game that was renowned for its story, characters and role playing experience. I had a chance to play the enhanced edition of the game on my iPhone and it was one of the most enjoyable mobile games I’ve played in recent years.
Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition is an action-adventure RPG. The first thing that struck me about the game was how similar it felt to playing a console action RPG. I found this very impressive as it allowed for that console gaming experience to be enjoyed even more so on the go. It is also very easy to use as most of the commands are mapped to your left hand on the iPhone.
Combat is done in real time, and along with several other players you can team up with friends while going through exciting quests. You will have access to four classes which have different strengths and weaknesses – warriors, thieves, druids and mages – and you can choose from four races – human, half-elf, elf or dwarf.
The game starts with a character creation screen that allows you to choose from six races (human, dwarf, elf, halfling, gnome and half-orc) and then your class (fighter, ranger or cleric). From here you will generally follow an “on rails” style of gameplay through a series of chapters that cover particular events in the story. Each chapter has pre-defined characters that you can either work with or against to achieve your goals.
The gameplay is turn based and strategic, where each character is given a set number of actions per round. These actions include moving around the map, attacking enemies, casting spells etc. Like other RPGs it also features a store where you can buy items needed for your journey. There are also side quests that can be completed for additional rewards.
All in all, the Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition game is well-worth the price, especially for those who played the original game, and only a few minor changes may be all that are needed to fix any missing gameplay elements. From the new characters and storylines to the expanded rewards of major quests and NPCs, this iPhone RPG game can be expected to please any existing fan of the original or those ready to play a classic RPG on their iPhone. And if you’re a fan of role-playing games, then you won’t want to miss out on this Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition!
Mode: Multiplayer video game Developer: Beamdog Original author: Beamdog Composer: Sam Hulick Genres: Role-playing Video Game, Strategy Video Game, Adventure Developers: Overhaul Games, BioWare Corporation Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS
9. Oceanhorn 2 – open-world action-adventure
Oceanhorn 2 is an iPhone RPG game set in a world of magic and adventure. You play as the main character and explore islands, fight monsters, collect treasure, and solve puzzles to find your way through the story. The storyline is a combination of classic fantasy elements with a touch of nautical inspiration. The graphics are beautiful and the music is amazing: it’s clear that this game was made by people who love the genre they’re working in!
Whether you’re a fan of The Legend of Zelda, the Final Fantasy series, or even the more recent, Paper Mario titles, Oceanhorn 2 will feel like home. The original Oceanhorn was an impressive game for iOS devices, so it’s no surprise the sequel is just as great. Fans of the original may be pleasantly surprised to find that Oceanhorn 2 has been fine-tuned since the last version and features improvements in graphics, gameplay and controls.
The game features a boy who is destined to save the world from an evil force. His father has disappeared, and he needs to find him and restore order to their kingdom. The story is told in a variety of graphic novel panels, keeping the action moving forward while also giving you time to learn more about the characters in the story and catch your breath between scenes.
The gameplay follows what you’d expect from an RPG adventure. You’re given an open world that you can explore as you see fit, finding new enemies to battle and items along the way. The combat system will feel familiar if you’ve played any other RPG games before: you’re allowed a certain amount of moves or actions each turn, and you’ll have to figure out which combination of weapons or spells are going to be most effective against your enemies. The main difference here is that this game uses a touchscreen interface, so you’ll need to tap your enemies instead of clicking on them with a mouse cursor.
Oceanhorn is a solid and fun RPG that should provide players with hours of gameplay enjoyment across its many islands. The story features plenty of original elements as well as nods to other games, so it’s unlikely that you’ll be bored once you’ve pushed through the third dungeon boss or so.
The biggest drawback here is simply the frustration in dealing with traveling around the overworld–whether it’s taking two steps forward and one step back due to the movement controls or getting lost trying to find the right path up a mountain. However, there’s also fun to be had in finding new treasure chests, Bosses that drop elemental weapons/armor are a nice touch, and having Pikmin-like creatures at your side can help in battles from time to time.
Of course, there’s an online component to Oceanhorn 2 as well where you can chat with other players and partake in a number of activities ranging from treasure hunting to… going into dungeons with strangers and fighting unique bosses? While you don’t need to know the first game for this game to make sense, nor do you need an online compadre to complete it alone, it does add another dimension of play for those who are looking for something new.
In the end, Oceanhorn 2 is a fun and accessible game for iOS users of all ages. Whether you’re an RPG fan or a newcomer to the genre, it offers an accessible yet engaging experience that can scratch the itch for anyone looking for a portable gaming experience. It may not be the best role-playing game that mobile gamers have access to, but it’s certainly worth a try, and is probably one of the better options available.
Initial release date: 19 September 2019 Developer: Cornfox & Brothers Ltd. Series: Oceanhorn Engine: Unreal Platforms: Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Microsoft Windows, MORE Genres: Action-adventure game, Puzzle Video Game, Action role-playing game, Shooter Video Game, Fighting game Publishers: Cornfox & Brothers Ltd., FDG Entertainment GmbH & Co. KG
10. Transistor ($5)
Transistor, an indie game by Supergiant Games, is a game that will immediately suck you in with the way it looks. The graphics are very simple but the design of the environment and characters is gorgeous. The art style of this game is consistent throughout. The scenery and characters look like they could be part of a movie.
The gameplay is different from most RPG’s, it’s more similar to fighting games or MMO’s. You can attack enemies in real time, use special moves and even customize your own special attacks. It’s amazing how much strategy goes into this game considering it looks like a turn-based RPG at first glance. There are also multiple ways to defeat enemies, you can use your character, who has a gun that can fire multiple bullets at once, or you can use one of the many programs/robots you get from defeating enemies. There are over 30 different programs that offer different abilities and effects on your character and attacks.
If you’re looking for an RPG with a great story, amazing gameplay and beautiful art style then Transistor is perfect for you!
Mode: Single-player video game Developer: Supergiant Games Original author: Supergiant Games Composer: Darren Korb Designer: Amir Rao Nominations: The Game Award for Best Independent Game, MORE Genres: Action role-playing game, Adventure game, Shooter Video Game, Turn-based strategy
11. Battle Chasers: Nightwar ($10)
Battle Chasers: Nightwar is an old school JRPG-inspired game developed by Airship Syndicate and released on iOS, Steam, the PS4 and Xbox One. The game features a great deal of similarities to classic JRPGs such as Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI and the Pokemon series.
The game starts with the player being introduced to Garrison, a man who has lost all memory of who he is or how he got to this point. He comes across his old mentor, Knolan, who also has no idea how he came to be in this place with Garrison but has a vague recollection of what happened. Together they meet up with Leanna, an archer who has no memories of her past either and together they set out to solve the mystery of their missing memories and save the world from a dark force that threatens it.
In terms of gameplay mechanics, Battle Chasers: Nightwar takes on a standard turn-based RPG style combat system where players can choose between attacks (either physical or magical) and abilities that are unique to each character. The battle system is easy to learn yet challenging enough for even veteran RPG players to enjoy.
The game starts off with a bang: you have just been scooped into a mysterious underground cave by a giant monster, and during your escape, you end up finding three companions. Each one comes from a background similar to yours—a lost history, really—and together you must fight monsters along with the occasional human foe in order to get out of the cave and figure out who you are and where you came from. Along the way, there are plenty of quests to be done that help flesh out the story and move you along towards the conclusion.
The storyline is engaging, with twists and turns and moments of discovery that keep players coming back for more. Combat is also easy to learn but hard to master—even as Gully grows stronger, there are still new challenges at every turn as enemies become stronger as well.
Developer: Airship Syndicate Original author: Airship Syndicate Composer: Jesper Kyd Designer: Steve Madureira Developer: Airship Syndicate Genres: Role-playing Video Game, Adventure game Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
12. Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition – An action RPG for iOS
Pocket Edition is a perfect title for this new game from Square Enix. It’s a mobile game, so it’s very easy to fit in your pocket. Also, the game itself is a little more compact and straightforward than the main console release. The game has been out for about two weeks now, so I thought I’d give my opinion on it.
Square Enix describes Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition as an action RPG, but I think that description sells it short. Yes, you’ll be running around and battling enemies with Noctis and his friends, but there’s also a lot of driving and conversation going on. If you’re familiar with Final Fantasy X-2, this may sound familiar—however, it’s not like X-2 at all. There are three primary playable characters—Noctis, Gladiolus and Prompto—and they all have their own strengths and weaknesses that separate them from each other in combat.
In combat, each character has their own style of attack that is mapped to the four buttons on the touchscreen. If you tap the button normally (without holding down), your character will perform one basic attack at their disposal.
The world map is made up of small sections that take around five minutes to complete, so you can go back and play through earlier sections if you want to improve your stats or add more things to your inventory. Each section also has optional side quests that will reward you with money or items for completing them.
It is a lot like other Final Fantasy games. You start out with either Noctis or Prompto, and then unlock more characters as you play the game. The main difference is that it is really simple to play. The tutorial does a great job of explaining how to use skills, attack enemies and perform magic. If you want to know about specific characters, there is also a menu option where you can see their stats and skills. There are also different modes that you can unlock by leveling up or finding items throughout the game.
The graphics on this phone version look much better than the graphics on the Xbox One console version of Final Fantasy XV. You can get a lot more detail from walking around and exploring the world in this version of the game because it’s not on a big screen. It’s also easy to navigate through menus and screens because everything is on your phone right there in front of you.
Initial release date: 7 February 2018 Composer: Yoko Shimomura Genres: Action role-playing game, Action-adventure game Developers: SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD., Square Enix, SummerTimeStudio Co.,Ltd Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, Microsoft Windows, iOS Publishers: SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD., Square Enix Series: Final Fantasy, Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy
13. Final Fantasy 7
The Final Fantasy series is a well-traversed one, which means that when it comes time to make a new game, the developers have to be careful not to step on any toes or disappoint the legions of fans that are waiting for something they’ve never seen before. Final Fantasy 7, an RPG from 1997, has such a following that its developer Square Enix decided to take a risk and develop a remake for the iPhone.
The Final Fantasy 7 remake is a port of the original game with updated graphics, music, and gameplay. It features the same world map and battle system as the original Final Fantasy 7 but with updated graphics such as 3D models and backgrounds (with some exceptions). The story remains mostly unchanged with few changes made to characters and their motivations.
With improvements in graphics and sound quality, many of the cutscenes in Final Fantasy 7 are immersive with realistic colors and effects. The story’s tragic moments are made more powerful when you see Aerith grieve over her dead mother. Instead of seeing blocky polygons representing your character as he leaps into battle, now you see him in 3D fighting enemies along side his companions. The soundtrack has been remixed by Nobuo Uematsu himself for this edition of the game for greater sound quality.
Initial release date: 31 January 1997 Mode: Single-player video game Developer: Square Original author: Square Composer: Nobuo Uematsu Platforms: PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Android, PlayStation Portable, Xbox One, iOS, Microsoft Windows Genres: Japanese role-playing game, Adventure game
14. Fate/Grand Order – A popular RPG for iPhone
Fate/Grand Order is a Japanese Role-Playing Game (JRPG) for mobile phones. It is a spinoff of the well-known Fate series of games, which include titles like Fate/Stay Night, Fate/Hollow Ataraxia, and Fate/Extra. The game was developed by Delight Works Inc. and Sony Music Entertainment Japan Inc. and published by Aniplex Inc. in Japan on July 29, 2015.
In the rest of the world it was released by Aniplex Inc., Sony Music Entertainment, and Delight Works on July 30, 2015. The game is available for free download on Apple’s App Store and Google Play; however, this does not include all of the content available in the game. Some aspects must be unlocked with Gems (premium currency), which can be bought with real money or acquired through events and login bonuses. The game has also been localized into English, Traditional Chinese, Korean, French, Italian, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
In addition to leveling up characters by defeating monsters, players can also spend money to temporarily boost their levels or purchase items that will help them succeed at certain points in the game. The game is free to play, but costs money to boost levels or get more in-game currency.
If you’re unfamiliar with this franchise, it features retellings of historical events (like the English Civil War or the French Revolution) with magic and supernatural entities thrown into the mix, as well as original stories set in modern times. You can pick which side you’d like to fight for in each war, which is awesome when you consider that there are so many different perspectives to choose from: your character can be a knight loyal to Queen Elizabeth I, or a vengeful spirit who’s out to get Vlad the Impaler…the possibilities are endless!
Initial release date: 30 July 2015 Developer: Type-Moon, Aniplex Original author: Type-Moon, Aniplex Genres: Visual novel, Role-playing Video Game Developers: Lasengle, Delightworks Platforms: iOS, Android, Arcade game, iPadOS Publishers: Aniplex, Aniplex of America
15. Darkest Dungeon – Turn-based RPG
Darkest Dungeon is a dungeon crawling RPG game for iPhone, released in June 2016. It’s a love letter to the games that inspired it, and a unique experience that stands on its own.
In Darkest Dungeon you’re the leader of a party of four adventurers who have gone into the depths of an ancient dungeon in search of wealth and glory. What you find there will be more than you bargained for.
The game is turn-based, with each character having two actions to take on their turn—such as attacking an enemy or using an item. The characters range from melee fighters to ranged attackers to healers and more, and each has their own strengths and weaknesses. Some are better against certain types of enemies; others might have better resistances or higher health pools.
The combat system itself is deep and well-thought out, but Darkest Dungeon also employs psychological elements not often seen in video games. Each time your party ventures into the depths they’ll develop traits based on your decisions during combat, such as paranoia or fear or greed, either through battle or questing outside of dungeons. These traits can have very real effects on your party members’ performance—they may become stressed out by something like seeing a corpse or being injured themselves.
The game has a gritty, dark feel to it, with ominous music and dungeon design that is straight out of nightmares. The characters you will play as are all suffering from some sort of illness or disease. This can be anything from paranoia and anxiety to physical ailments like blindness and impotence.
The main focus of the game is to keep your characters alive by making sure they don’t die in combat, which makes for a very stressful experience. If any of your characters die, then you will have to restart the game with another group of four adventurers. However, checkpoints do occur after each fight, so players can save their progress if they are on the brink of losing all four of their party members or if they need a break from the stress.
Darkest Dungeon also has significant replay value because there are multiple campaigns that can be played through with different groups of adventurers. Each campaign has its own story and set of monsters to defeat.
16. Neverwinter Nights
There’s a little-known gem of an RPG for the iPhone that you might have overlooked. It’s called Neverwinter Nights, and it’s based on the popular PC game from back in 2002. It was developed by Floodgate Entertainment, which has been responsible for several other games, but this is its most popular title. The game has a lot to recommend it.
If you’re an RPG fan who has never played Neverwinter Nights, you’re in for a treat. It’s the game that spawned the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series, and it’s been out for 15 years (so it’s considered “retro”). It was produced by BioWare, which is now a household name among gamers but at the time was a small independent studio. The game was based on Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules, and while there were a few different modules to play through, the stories all involved saving or destroying the city of Neverwinter.
The great thing about this iPhone port is that it has all of the original game content. The expansion packs that were released afterward are not available here, but since they weren’t originally part of the game, you can find them online if you want to experience new adventures in Neverwinter. The controls have also been updated to work on touch screens (although they can be kind of clunky), and there are some nice extras in the form of character portraits and maps.
Neverwinter Nights for iPhone is sort of like the same thing—you have the ability to customize your character, choose your map, and decide what sort of events will occur in your story. There are also tons of extra add-ons available for purchase via an in-game store that allow you to make even more changes if your imagination starts running wild. With all of these possibilities at your fingertips, it can be hard to figure out which direction to go in first—but with no time limit on getting things done, there’s no rush!
First release: Neverwinter Nights (Microsoft Windows); June 18, 2002 Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Genre(s): Role-playing video game Designers: Alan Miranda, Chris Avellone, Josh Sawyer, James Ohlen, Jack Emmert, Brent Knowles, Kevin D. Saunders Developers: BioWare, Obsidian Entertainment, Cryptic Studios, Ossian Studios, Floodgate Entertainment Publishers: Atari SA, Atari, Sega, Perfect World, Akella, MORE
17. Chroma Squad – A tactical role-playing adventure
Chroma Squad is one of the best games I’ve played all year. It combines tactical combat, customization and management in a way that feels like a great board game. It’s also very fun to play with friends, and I had tons of laughs with my buddies as we set up our squads.
The game puts you in the shoes of a rookie director for a studio that produces TV shows about super heroes. You recruit and train actors, craft the story lines, and then produce the show on set. It’s fun to see your cast develop as they gain experience and new abilities, and it’s great to be able to give them instructions during filming to change up the scenes. Chroma Squad is pretty easy to get into—you can start playing right away without doing any tutorials or watching an introductory movie. If you’re looking for a good RPG game to play while waiting in line at the bank or riding the subway home from work, this is a strong choice!
It’s got all the makings of a classic RPG: a ragtag group of friends joins forces to take down a great evil. There’s a grizzled veteran and his young apprentice. The young apprentice gets kidnapped and has to be rescued by his teammates. They’re joined along the way by a powerful mutant who seems to be fighting against them—but eventually comes around, because true strength isn’t in the arms that swing weapons but in the heart tha
t wields them. But where most RPGs would use these elements as window dressing for bland combat mechanics and uninspired dungeon crawling, Chroma Squad goes in another direction entirely. The game plays like an RPG/Sim hybrid: it’s partly about recruiting new members (and leveling them up) and equipping them with gear (the “weapons” are costumes) while also managing their appearances and personalities.
If you’re an RPG fan, you’ve probably spent more than a few hours playing Final Fantasy, the early Pokemon games, or Dragon Quest. When those games showed up on your phone or tablet, you may have thought to yourself, “Ah, but that’s just a cheap cash-in to ride the nostalgia wave,” and you may have been right—but Chroma Squad is something different entirely.
Initial release date: 30 April 2015 Mode: Single-player video game Composer: Washington Rayk Developer: Behold Studios Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, Xbox One, MORE Genres: Tactical role-playing game, Indie game, Strategy Publishers: Behold Studios, Plug In Digital, Namco Bandai Games America Inc., BNE Entertainment
18. Fantasian
Fantasian is a fantasy role-playing game. The player can choose to be a warrior, a sorcerer, or a wizard. Player can also choose the gender of their character.
The game is a lot like Skyrim. You will do quests that are related to the main storyline and side quests. There are many different classes you can choose in Fantasian.
The player can choose to create his own character from one of those races and move freely between the five kingdoms. Even though the player can explore all of the kingdoms, there are no limits as to what he wants to do in this game, which means that there are multiple ways for him to complete the story line, or even try to change it by killing off certain characters and choosing not to kill others.
The fun part of Fantasian is that it provides endless entertainment in one game, because there are several different modes within each kingdom that you can select and play. By doing this, we have made sure that each part of Fantasian has a significant impact on how the player’s character evolves. This also allows us to highlight other features of Fantasian which will make it stand out among other RPGs.
Initial release date: 2 April 2021 Composer: Nobuo Uematsu Developer: Mistwalker Publisher: Mistwalker Nominations: The Game Award for Best Mobile Game Genres: Role-playing Video Game, Adventure game Platforms: iOS, tvOS, Macintosh operating systems
19. Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact is a RPG game in which you have to save the world from the dark forces that threaten it. You can play as one of 3 different classes: the Sword Master, the Gunner or the Wizard. Each class has its unique skills and attacks, so you have to choose carefully which one you want to play. When you start a new game, you can customize your character by choosing their name, their hair, eyes and skin color and their equipment. In the end I think this is an awesome RPG game!
The Genshin Impact RPG system is a relatively new game that’s come up in the past couple of years with a fresh take on the same old school gaming. The mechanics are simple and easy to learn. Each player selects a character type (such as a Wizard, Warrior, or Rogue) and one of the five available Classes (such as Paladin, Ranger, or Thief). Then they build their character by selecting an Archetype (such as a Spellblade or Magus), Abilities (such as Logical Fighter or Lucky Thief), and Skills (such as Weapon Mastery or Parry) for their character.
Initial release date: 28 September 2020 Developer: miHoYo Original author: miHoYo Modes: Single-player video game, Multiplayer video game Awards: The Game Award for Best Mobile Game Nominations: The Game Award for Best Ongoing Game, MORE Genres: Action role-playing game, Adventure game
20. Mage Gauntlet
Don’t let its colorful appearance fool you: Mage Gauntlet is an old-school RPG in the purest sense, and it’s all the better for it! It takes place in the world of Mid Magia, where you play as an adventurer who has come to save the land from the wraiths. The game tasks you with exploring dangerous dungeons and battling monsters, but there’s a twist: combat is real-time, instead of turn-based like most RPGs. To make things even more interesting, each monster has a specific ability that it can use against you—so, while you’re fighting it, you have to watch out for things like rocks falling from above or rivers flooding out of nowhere. Your character also has magic abilities at his disposal, which are necessary for getting through some parts of the game.
The combat is fun and challenging in a way that only real-time games can be. You have to keep an eye on your health, but also make sure that your character doesn’t get wet (which will slowly deplete your health over time). You want to stay dry because water makes you more vulnerable to ice attacks from monsters—and ice attacks are powerful!
Initial release date: 20 October 2011 Mode: Single-player video game Developer: Rocketcat Games Genres: Role-playing Video Game, Action-adventure game Platform: iOS