Best GAMES of the YEAR
What another banner year for iOS gaming. As usual, there were tons of new games available to try on the App Store and Apple Arcade in 2021. And we’ve chosen our top 25 of the year. Our top game is The Oregon Trail on Apple Arcade. See our entire list.
The Oregon Trail
Gameloft
The Classic Game Reimagined
The Oregon Trail takes the classic computer game and gives it new life. Just like the original, you’ll be trying your best to head to a better life in Oregon. The journeys range from the historically accurate to totally extreme. The game also features Native American playable characters and stories. For anyone who played the classic, or a new generation, the Apple Arcade game is a fantastic journey.
What Remains of Edith Finch
Annapurna Interactive
Explore a Family History
The game is a collection of strange tales about a family in Washington State. You’ll play as the titular Edith. She will search and explore the huge Finch house looking at her family history to better understand why she is the last in her family alive.
Solitaire Stories
RED GAMES CO, LLC
A New Way to Solitaire
The great Apple Arcade game molds a weird sense of humor with the iconic card game. Solitaire Stories is a progressive journey through increasingly difficult levels. Each of the stories features its own deck design, game environment, story, and more. New stories and decks will be added monthly. But if you want your quick solitaire fix, don’t worry. There is a quick play option where you can select a deck and get in a game.
In My Shadow
Alcon Interactive Group
What’s in the Shadows?
In the game, you’ll be playing as Bella, a young woman who had a fallout with her family. She receives a text from her father and struggles to respond. Her childhood memories come to life as shadows on the wall. You’ll use those shadows to solve puzzles and try to help Bella let go of her past.
Oceanhorn
Cornfox & Brothers Ltd.
The Legend Continues
The game will shine a light on what happened centuries after the last game in the series, Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm. Taking inspiration from classic 16-bit arcade games, you’ll be treated to rogue-lite dungeon crawling action with quick play sessions.
lumen.
Lykkegaard Europe Limited
Step Into the Light
You’ll use light, mirrors, and lenses to solve puzzles in lumen.From the team behind another great game on the subscription service, tint, you’ll turn up in an old attic and discover an antique box of Ms. Olivia McLumen. The inventor saved her inventions in cinematic frames. You’ll try to solve the riddles and restore the chronicles of Olivia’s life.
Rocket League Sideswipe
Psyonix LLC
Car Soccer Made for Mobile
Rocker League Sideswipe brings car soccer to your iOS device. You’ll try to put the ball in the opponent’s net. But it’s more difficult than it seems. There is 1v1 or 2v2 gameplay.
Bloodshore
Wales Interactive Ltd.
An Interactive Movie
In the near future, Kil//Stream is the most popular, and deadly, reality TV show on the planet. Fifty players will compete for a huge cash prize and to become to biggest start of the planet. The game focuses on Nick, a washed-actor who forms an allegiance with a teammate as they fight to survive and become the winner.
Erica – Interactive Thriller
Flavourworks Ltd.
Reach Into a Living World
In Erica, you’ll guide the title character with a shocking past through her surrounding by using your touch to physically interact with her surroundings and people. With a branching narrative structure, there are multiple endings.
Downwordly
Brandon Malicoat
Make the Most of the Letters You Have
Just like other games, you’ll try to make words with the letters on the board. But the big twist is that some of the letters you see aren’t playable. That brings a unique challenge and will definitely test your word creation skills.
Pokémon UNITE
The Pokemon Company
Head Into Battle
The game features 5-on-5 strategic team battles. You’ll head to Aeos Island to compete in Unite Battles. Trainers will battle to see who can score the most points in the allotted time. You and your teammates will defeat wild Pokémon, level up, evolve Pokémon, and work to prevent the opposing team from scoring points.
Knights of San Francisco
Raindead Company s.r.o.
If You’re Going to San Francisco
In Knights of San Francisco, you’ll explore the ancient city and partake in combat in the RPG text game. Taking inspiration from modern tabletop RPGs, you’ll battle monsters, raise the dead, and more.
Giant Dancing Plushies
Rogue Games
Conquer the Planet One Dance Move at a Time
Bust a move in Giant Dancing Plushies. You’ll help the adorable Kaiju conquer the planet with their best dance moves. You can dance with in-game music or any other music source.
The Popular Series Continues
The side-scrolling action game features 60 levels and a wide variety of equipment to use. In the game, Dracula has been sealed away and a new story has begun. Daily and weekly missions will keep you coming back for more. You can play has Alucard and unlock other iconic characters like Simon Belmont, Charlotte, Shanoa, Maria. Each character has a unique combat style to master.
Tetris® Beat
N3TWORK Inc.
A Different Kind of Tetris
Tetris Beat combines brick building with exclusive music and unique rhythm mechanics. You’ll rotate and drop Tetriminos to the beat and keeping the rhythm to build the biggest combo chain possible.Along with physical controller support, the game provides Spatial Audio when using AirPods Pro or AirPods Max.
Say No! More
Thunderful Publishing AB
The Power of No
Say No! More is all about changing the world with the positive power of no. The funny adventure features a late 90s graphics style. You’ll start as an intern and say no in hysterical ways.