The iPhone has long established itself as a gaming powerhouse. From tactical shooters to multiplayer action RPGs, countless genres have landed on mobile, proving the small screen could be more than a vessel for simplistic casual entries and slapdash free-to-play cash grabs. Perhaps even more tellingly, many vintage classics have benefitted from a mobile port on iOS in recent years. And just as many games of strategy have joined the party. So, let’s explore some of the best iPhone titles for strategic players.
Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out
Six Ages 2 blends turn-based strategy with choice-based narration. This unique civilization sim puts players at the helm of a small clan fighting for survival as the world moves toward its inevitable end. Managing a clan is no easy task, as it requires everything from trading with neighbors to settling political disputes whose socio-economic consequences can last for decades and foraging for food in the vast wilderness of the bronze age world of Glorantha.
As the sacred and the profane become increasingly intertwined, making offerings on newly-built altars is just as vital to appease the destructive gods of Chaos. With countless missions to undertake and hundreds of interactive scenes to discover, the game’s replayability is second to none. Better yet, fans of its predecessor can pick up right where they left off in Ride Like the Wind.
Rome: Total War
Everybody seems to be talking about Rome these days, as the brilliance of Ancient Rome is apparently living rent-free in many young men’s minds according to a viral and slightly bizarre TikTok trend. Released on iOS in 2018, the third chapter in the Total War saga allows mobile gamers to experience the glory of Rome first-hand.
Centering on the final days of the Republic and the early decades of the Empire, the game juggles between a turn-based strategic campaign and real-time tactical battles. Picking up one of many factions, players may also stage raids, recruit spies to gather intelligence, bribe foreign armies, and make alliances – before breaking them without prior notice to confound the enemy. Rome: Total War conjures up the complexity of the PC original with intuitive touch-screen controls, to boot.
Kingdom Two Crowns
In Kingdom Two Crowns, players work hard to build their kingdom, recruiting loyal subjects and protecting the throne from greedy creatures that roam the land. While monarchs may rule alone, this side-scrolling micro strategy title adds a touch of multiplayer fun to the genre.
A co-op campaign mode allows gamers to work with a friend locally or from a distance, with both players able to drop in or out whenever they feel like it. Besides its primarily medieval setting, Kingdom Two Crowns also includes the dark lands of the Dead and the feudal Japanese-inspired Shogun territory. Gorgeous pixel art aesthetics add yet more charm to this engaging game of strategy on iPhone.
Card Thief
While many mobile card games are plain translations of their tabletop counterparts, Card Thief takes advantage of its digital home in a novel way. Halfway between a dungeon crawler and a solitaire game, this mobile title puts players in the shoes of a stealthy thief attempting to break into a dungeon. Stolen goods help unlock strong equipment cards, which can be used during each heist to become a full-fledged master thief. Despite its accessible core gameplay, this card game has quite the difficulty curve – and its fair share of tactical planning. Yet, mastering its strategic play is all the more satisfying.
Even veteran card game players can struggle to pick up the pace. That said, gamers expecting the thrills of a slick game of poker or blackjack may not find what they came looking for. If so, they might always turn to casino classics on mobile. Some platforms even boast extra fast payment for the lucky winners willing to take the prize home without delay. Using a wide array of banking methods, these fast withdrawal options get players their funds in mere minutes. To help prospective players out, expert reviewers break down the pros and cons of such casinos. Handy guidelines also analyze the many bonuses that newcomers can claim when playing for the first time.
From ancient epics to clever card games, the iPhone’s catalog caters to all lovers of strategy games. While PC will continue to reign supreme for hardcore fans of this challenging genre, the titles above are proof enough that mobile ports can be just as immersive – and demanding!