10 Best Indie Games You Can Play On iOS

Although the massive rise of mobile gaming has brought with it trends I consider harmful to the industry, I can't deny the accessibility it has provided to millions of people.

By offering experiences suitable for affordable hardware that doesn't require exorbitant expenses, many new gamers have emerged in contexts where, otherwise, they probably wouldn't have been able to, and that's always positive news.

As a result, mobile games have become more than just free products designed to steal your attention and money; they've also enabled the arrival of iconic works within the interactive medium.

Therefore, if you're a mobile user looking to discover new gems, I recommend reading this list of the ten best indie games you can play on iOS.

10 Florence

For Broken Hearts

Unlike many of the standout indie games on mobile, Florence was originally designed for phones and later ported to other major platforms, which demonstrates just how impactful it became.

I've always liked to describe it as a kind of interactive La La Land because, on many levels, it evokes the same feelings, making you oscillate between a suffocating, nostalgic sadness and an illuminating, hopeful burst of life.

It's an emotional roller-coaster that, in terms of interaction, boils down to simple puzzles and movements, but it's more than enough to tell a deeply sensitive story capable of touching even the hardest of hearts.

It's not the type of game you play intending to dedicate hours of your life to, since it can be finished in just about 40 minutes, but that's more than enough to leave Florence with a scar you'll cherish.

9 Bastion

Historical Beginnings

We all praise Supergiant Games for their practically divine work on the Hades series, but we should never forget the studio is also the creator of one of the greatest pioneers of modern indie games: Bastion.

Being a more focused and straightforward version of the adventures of Zagreus and Melinöe, centered on telling a specific story across defined levels and with upgrades that don't branch out much while retaining the same combat system, it's a game that perfectly exemplifies the indie scene's soul.

With intelligently designed progression, superb dynamic level design, and an intriguing story that achieves a lot with little effort, it's a voyage that reminds us how far video game development has come outside big-budget productions.

Furthermore, given its inherent accessibility, it's a perfect title for mobile gaming, making Bastion an easily digestible historical gem every indie game fan should definitely play.

8 Journey

Unforgettable Even on Mobile

While I admit one of Journey's biggest draws is its multiplayer component, which is comparatively less present on mobile due to a smaller player base, thatgamecompany's masterpiece should never be underestimated.

It's crucial to clarify that, if possible, playing it on major platforms is highly preferable, though the solo experience also has its charm, enough to warrant a heartfelt recommendation.

Even without enigmatic companions, Journey's audiovisual and narrative beauty remains unparalleled, capable of captivating all types of players thanks to its fantastic presentation and numerous sequences that leave you speechless with their aesthetic and musical beauty.

Traveling through the dunes of Journey while piecing together your story and listening to a spectacular soundtrack feels like stepping straight out of a fairy tale, and although it's so low on the list due to the limited number of players on the servers, it will always be a must-play.

7 The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe

Portable Illusions

Walking simulators have become increasingly standard in mobile gaming, so it's no surprise the ultimate fourth-wall breaker arrived on iOS in the form of The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe.

The fact that one of the most groundbreaking indie games of all time can be enjoyed on mobile is an underappreciated feat considering its significance, because it's a unique experience in the video game industry.

The game's ability to reflect on the nature of free will and its relationship to video games within an extremely hilarious and beautifully designed context seems almost unbelievable, and more than a decade later, I haven't seen anything quite like it.

There may be better or worse games, but nothing even remotely approaches what The Stanley Parable does, whose ability to make you laugh out loud and think until your brain hurts is truly commendable.

6 Wizard of Legend

The Art of Sorcery

As someone devoted to all things related to arcane representations, Wizard of Legend was a perfect fit, providing hundreds of hours of entertainment on my phone that I never expected.

For years, I thought finding a mobile game that would truly convince me to dedicate my time to it, beyond the time-wasters designed by psychologists to make you addicted, was impossible, but this wonderful roguelike proved me wrong.

Through numerous elemental powers, modifiers of all kinds, impossible magical combinations, and a high level of challenge, it's a simple yet quite refined representative of the genre that truly knows how to hook you with its particle effects and flashy bosses.

I might even consider it a must-have in the genre, but even if it weren't, Wizard of Legend is a sure bet for unpretentious fun that fits mobile devices like a glove.

5 INSIDE

An Unmistakable Atmosphere

For these lists, I like to alternate between video games of all kinds so that every type of player feels they have something of value to discover, and nothing is more valuable than the masterpiece that is INSIDE.

Although playing it on mobile seems to detract somewhat from its atmosphere, which is its strongest pillar, it doesn't stop it from being an excellent cinematic platformer, whose puzzles and persecutions activate every fiber of your brain in the best possible way.

It's an adventure that's best experienced on the big screen due to its immersiveness. Yes, though enjoying it on mobile is a great alternative if you're used to the hardware, as it lacks the frustrations of overly challenging games thanks to its mechanical accessibility.

INSIDE was the first indie nominee for Game of the Year, and that's the best summary of Playdead's magnum opus. Unforgettable, cryptic, and terrifying, it's a collection of bizarre and disturbing events that, ultimately, captivate you with their unique and direct character.

4 What Remains of Edith Finch

Nostalgia in Your Hands

Sometimes I think I include What Remains of Edith Finch in my writings too often, but then I remember it's the title that has made me cry the most in over 20 years of gaming, and I realize once again that all the praise is justified.

Although it's a walking simulator where interactivity comes through exploration and interactions with narrative vignettes, it's an experience that's very easy to connect with thanks to its audiovisual mastery and its great way of weaving events together.

Delving into the Finch family's story, using their former home as a catalyst for fantastic experiences that recall their earthly adventures, generates a profound sense of nostalgia and empathy, amplified by an otherworldly soundtrack.

I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than lying in bed crying your eyes out over What Remains of Edith Finch, whose interactive simplicity, paradoxically, reminds us just how truly unique the medium of video games is.

3 Loop Hero

Cyclical Addiction

One conclusion I quickly reached while playing mobile games is that they're preferable if they don't demand too much real-time action, which is precisely why Loop Hero strikes a perfect equilibrium between passivity and focus.

Since combat and movement are automatic, what you have to do in this magnificent roguelike is manage your equipment and the environmental modifications you receive in the form of cards, which you use to increase threats, but also rewards and benefits.

The balance Loop Hero achieves by giving the player the power to actively transform the game's rules is sensational, especially when you return from each excursion to invest your resources in permanent upgrades through a HUB whose city-building simulator style is a wonderful breath of fresh air.

Gorgeous pixel art, a mesmerizing soundtrack, addictive gameplay loop that doesn't let go until you defeat the true final boss... It's a marvel in so many ways that it pains me greatly that it isn't talked about more for what it is: one of the greats of the genre.

2 Braid: Anniversary Edition

Timeless Platforms

The platforming genre is one I'm least used to when it comes to mobile gaming, but I must admit Braid Anniversary Edition provided me with a bridge to its kin I hadn't expected.

Even knowing what a masterpiece it was beforehand, its mobile adaptation surprised me with the fluidity with which it managed to translate the experience, which hasn't aged a bit despite the years that have passed since its original release.

The movement, puzzles, and time travel are still as surprising and satisfying as ever, offering just the right level of challenge so that it's never frustrating but always motivates you to persevere and engage with the game mechanics properly.

Braid Anniversary Edition for iOS is perhaps the best way I can think of to enjoy Jonathan Blow's classic, which is enshrined among the best and most important indie games of all time for reasons so numerous that they are way beyond my ability to communicate them.

1 The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth

Perfectly Complex Simplicity

Nevertheless, when it comes to the king of mobile games, there's no doubt in my mind that The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth will always be the first recommendation that comes to mind due to how perfectly suited it is to the hardware.

Unlike most modern roguelikes, it doesn't have an extremely complex set of controls, so its age lends it a simplicity that's perfect for the limitations of phones, allowing you to enjoy the game virtually indistinguishable from other versions.

With practically endless content and a gameplay loop so full of secrets that it seems impossible to put it down, it's a masterpiece that, despite how many hours you dedicate to it, you'll always find another reason to play it before bed, on your way to work, or even in the bathroom.

Few titles in my experience evoke the phrase "just one more game" so powerfully, as the palpable element of randomness, combined with as many variations as one could imagine, makes it incredibly difficult for a run to be repeated.

If you've never had the chance to play it, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is a quintessential example of the genre and of indie games that everyone should at least try to comprehend how it has managed to remain timeless.