The Top 7 iPhone Games You Need To Play

Editorials, iPhone | Paul D. | July 19, 2009 at 8:43 pm

iPhone Games copySorting through the 6,000+ games in the iTunes App store one by one is a tedious and frustrating process. With literally every single genre of game represented, lite or full versions offered and thousands of copycat titles, who has the time to play them all? Well, not me. I actually have a life. I have played a lot of the games in the App store, though and lucky for you I’ve made a list. These games are the cream of the crop, according to yours truly. Here is my “Top 7 iPhone Games You Need To Play.” Why 7? Because I said so.

Share with us what some of your favorite iPhone games are. No registration required to comment.

Below is the full list and link to the app in iTunes as requested by multiple viewers.  And of course, be sure to watch the video for explanations on each.  Enjoy!

7. Wolfenstein 3D

6. 1112

5. Rise of Lost Empires

4. Hero of Sparta

3. Zenonia

2. Let’s Golf

1. Rolando

40 Comments

  1. rice-n4g rice-n4g says:

    I love the articles from this site. Keep up the good work.!

  2. Admir J. Adam J. says:

    Great video article Mike, I’m loving the presentation. Great list of games there, their all a bit too deep for my taste, I’m all about the Peggle.

  3. Curious Gamer Curious Gamer says:

    Is it just me or does Rolando seem like a Loco Roco clone?

  4. Admir J. Adam J. says:

    You know it does somewhat looks like it, but the concept of it with the iPhone is a lot more appealing, I’ll take a Loco Roco clone as long as it’s not done badly.

  5. Mike B. says:

    @ Curious Gamer
    While Rolando stylistically resembles Loco Roco, the gameplay is completely different with the iPhone’s emphasis on touch and the accelerometer controls. Sure, there is rolling involved and cartoony characters in both but I feel they are different enough to not be considered out-and-out plagiarism on Rolando’s part.

    @Adam J.
    Thanks, man! But you gots to get off that Peggle and live a little, mang!

  6. Lee Lee says:

    Great review. I definitely agree, all of these games are great. Zenonia is amazing…

  7. Yousif A. Yousif A. says:

    Loving the stuff you put out pal, look foward to the next one.

  8. JT JT says:

    I can’t seem to find your #6 anywhere. How is it spelled? Can you possibly provide links to these apps?

  9. Mike B. says:

    @JT
    It is spelled “1112.” If you go to the App store and type that in the search box it should take you straight there but just in case, I put a link to the developer’s website below. Click on episodes for a link directly to it’s App store page. First episode is only 99 cents right now. Hope that helps!

    http://www.1112game.com/

  10. joe joe says:

    You left out X-Plane Racing! Pretty much the only reason I would ever buy an iPhone.

    http://toucharcade.com/2009/02/26/x-plane-racing-heading-to-the-app-store/

  11. BG BG says:

    What about Drop7?

  12. James James says:

    Disregard this video if you are not a nerd who gets his rocks off from levelling and spells and similar tripe. Seriously, the fuck man? The lost empire was the only thing there close to decent but far from suited to an iPhone.

  13. Anonymous says:

    Have nearly all of them already :)

    I would recommend Geo Defense as well. The game is insanely addictive and loads of shiny explosions and effects.

    Also you left out peggle. :)

  14. Nicholas S. Nicholas S. says:

    The videos are great – and this one is no different. It is spoken clearly and the footage isn’t just zipping from one screen to another making it too difficult to follow. I don’t own an iPhone, but it was an interesting watch nonetheless.

  15. JakeP JakeP says:

    I looooove Rolando! Definitely the best original iphone game.
    I have serious issue with Wofentstein controls… not worth it I think

    Just discovered a fun little whac-a-mole http://frogames.com/iphone/ Perfect for a 5 minute game session.
    Ho and Zombieville USA is really fun and comes with loaads of zombies. :)

  16. John Davis John Davis says:

    Zenonia like totally ROCKS dude!

    RT
    http://www.be-anonymous.tk

  17. SLEZE SLEZE says:

    Let me save you all some time:

    7. wolfenstein 3d
    6. 1112
    5. rise of the lost empires
    4. hero of sparta
    3. zenonia
    2. let’s golf
    1. rolando

    Now you can watch the video for explanations, or just go straight to the app store and buy one of these.

  18. Darknet Darknet says:

    Pfft… No Battle of Pirate Bay? Do I have to spell it out? It’s got PIRATES! COME ON!

  19. James James says:

    Good video but you REALLY need to list all the games out in text. I may have them all already and not need to watch a video all the way through to know that. Also, I wanted one of them but now I don’t know which one and there’s no list to reference so I’d have to go back and watch the video again.

    Finally, sound is only on left channel, but no big deal. Cool vid.

  20. Trenticenxic Trenticenxic says:

    Although this list is fairly spot on, you left out a few fantastic games that aren’t well known. Edge (arguably my favorite game for the iPhone), Frenzic (an excellent puzzle game) and FlightControl.

    Lately I have been obsessed with Let’s Golf. I paid $2 for it and I think its fantastic and really deep for an iPhone game. Each course has 3 levels of difficulty and many different options to play.

    I recently got a free iPhone 3G[S] here:
    http://www.computersncs.com/rd_p?p=186122&t=9544&gift=29670&a=29670-kokugamer

    And i found that the load times for Let’s Golf are much faster. On my old 3G i would have some lag that would affect some of my shots, but since getting the 3GS that has been non-existent.

  21. Darrin Darrin says:

    Just to get it on record – I didn’t find Rolando to be all that great after the first hour. Mildly progressive challenges, but for the most part, it just becomes an exercise in patience.

    Appreciate the list though – I’ll be making a couple purchases today for sure!

  22. Stu Stu says:

    What about Sway? Most original fun game ever.

  23. book book says:

    Flip from ebattalion http://ebattalion.com/ is a very good game as well.

  24. Joe9 Joe9 says:

    I actually have all oof these games other that 1112. Rolando is great, but the new sequel is better. My favorite game is a platformer in the sense of Mario and Sonic which is called Castle of Magic. It’s a hands down best for me.

  25. Admir J. Adam J. says:

    Alright guys, we[Kevin M.] have included a list of games in the article now, under the video.

  26. johnny5 johnny5 says:

    Cool ill get on those games when im done smoking my Electronic Cigarette

  27. tugger tugger says:

    Peggle!

  28. Admir J. Adam J. says:

    Everyone knows of Peggle, though, gots to have something on the list that people don’t know about that’s great. :)

  29. Max Max says:

    What? No Field Runners?

    Edge – no doubt about it! How could you miss this one?

  30. Tizzle Tizzle says:

    -Field Runners
    -Flight control (simple but a blast)

  31. Hellnation Hellnation says:

    Rolando = inventiveness?
    This is a complete rip off of Roco Loco.

  32. Tony Tony says:

    Treasures of Montezuma.. just like bejeweled but its way better lol

  33. Daniel W Daniel W says:

    “I Dig It” Super game!

  34. Michael Perry Michael Perry says:

    Thanks for turning me to Zenonia. Just bought it, hope the controls work

  35. Ian W. Ian W. says:

    I need an iPhone first :(

    Some of those games do look good though.

    Ian W.

  36. Alice Alice Alice Alice says:

    I’m playing iHawky for iPhone – exciting time killing game!!! http://ihawky.com

  37. Anonymous says:

    rolando is a loco roco clone
    hero of sparta is by far the best action game on iphone
    n for racing i`d vote on real racing

  38. Jack Polar Jack Polar says:

    Field Runners is one of my all time favorites. I’m definitely going to check out these other ones. Thanks.Red Sox Sweatshirt

  39. E Cigarette E Cigarette says:

    This kinda made me want an iphone, but i think ill just buy a psp instead because i already have a cellphone.

  40. JAKE JAKE says:

    got any cheap games like 1.99 or less?

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