Each of these games is one of the best iPad games because it makes the most of the tablet’s tech.
Since the Apple iPad came out in 2010, the tablet has proven its worth in the world of computers. Its beautiful screen works well with all kinds of digital material. The iPad keeps doing well with each new version, while other tablet makers haven’t had nearly as much luck.
Some of that success can be traced back to the high quality of the apps that can be downloaded from the Apple Store. The apps for Android phones were usually made for phones and were stretched to fit the tablet form factor. But the apps for iPad make the most of the extra space on the tablet. The same is true for the games; the best ones make mobile experiences feel like they’re really there. These are some of the best ones you can get right now.
Cooking Mama: Cuisine!
Over the course of several tasty games for the Nintendo DS, 3DS, and Wii, the Cooking Mama series earned a Michelin star reputation. In the iOS game Cooking Mama: Cuisine!, you can bake, fry, dredge, and do other things with your favorite home cook.
This follow-up stays true to the original Cooking Mama style. You’ll cook food by playing minigames where you have to do things like peel potatoes, flip burger patties, and do other things around the kitchen. Some people might find this game boring, but I think it’s a great way to relax on the iPad!
Get Over It+
A lot of the time, mobile games are played by people who just want to relax instead of getting angry. But in the Apple Arcade game Get Over It+, it’s fun to be mad. This moving event was based on the flash game Sexy Hiking, in which you have to throw yourself up a mountain with a hammer. It sounds easy, right? Not so fast.
Get Over It+ takes the idea of Sexy Hiking and changes it by putting you in a pot from the waist up. Like in Sexy Hiking, the only thing you can use to move around is a hammer. It looks better than any Flash game, which is great for the iPad. But the commentary by the game’s author, Bennett Foddy, is what makes it stand out. Foddy crafts Get Over It as a study of persistence in the face of bad circumstances.
Night In The Woods
The simple, cute graphics of Night in the Woods might make it look like a kids’ game at first glance. But anyone who has read or watched its coming-of-age story knows that it is meant for much older people.
The game is a journey with a story. It deals with some very serious topics, like sadness, through the eyes of its memorable animated characters. In 2017, Night in the Woods came out for PC and computers. The iOS version works just as well on an iPad.
Lifeline+
iPads can be used for many things. They can run a wide range of apps, from word tools to AAA games. However, a lot of people use iPads as their main reading gadgets. Reading sparks our ideas in a way that video games can’t. What if, though, you’re a reader who wants a more involved experience?
Lifeline+ is a fun text-based adventure game for the modern era. In this science fiction adventure, a student is left behind on a different world after a terrible crash landing. Lifeline uses push messages to make the trip feel real even when you’re not in the app. It’s one of the best iPad games for people who want to read something new!
Sky: Children Of The Light
Sky: Children of the Light is the newest game from that company. It is called a “open-world social adventure game.” But unlike their previous games, which were sold by Sony and only came out on the PS3, this one came out on iOS devices first.
You can discover a lovely magical world in the game and meet other players. The seven realms of the world give you unique skills. Another big part of Sky is flying, which should feel familiar to people who have played Journey. It’s the best iPad game for getting to know other people.
Zen Pinball Party
It’s fun to go on exciting trips in faraway places. But what if you’d rather have an arcade-style time? In that case, you’ll love Zen Pinball Party, which is only available on Apple Arcade. This pinball game is simple to learn and play. You can tilt the machine and hit the flippers with taps and swipes.
There are many different kinds of pinball machines in this game, such as Williams Classics, Zen Originals, and licensing machines like the Star Wars Pinball series! Different game types, live events, and tournaments make the game interesting. This is the best iPad game if you’re a real Pinball Wizard!
Hitman Go
Everyone was very interested in how the new team at Square Enix Montreal would turn the open-ended spy game from the main series into a turn-based puzzle game as soon as Hitman Go was revealed. It’s surprising how well the two types of music go together.
Hitman Go looks like a board game, and players take control of Agent 47 as they move through grid-based levels full of enemies that are represented by small figures. The best iPad game for both long-time Hitman fans and people who are new to the series because it has simple gameplay and interesting art.
Bastion
A lot of people knew about the great small company Supergiant Games before it made Hades. They made a game called Bastion first. When it came out in 2011, the action RPG set the stage for Supergiant’s later games, such as Transistor and Pyre.
Bastion is one of a kind because of its great presentation, which includes fully recorded story and beautiful hand-painted art. It is still one of the most aesthetically pleasing iPad games because of how well it looks.
Dead Cells+
The roguelike Dead Cells+ is great for iPad owners who want to play tough games. In this action-packed dungeon crawler, you play as The Beheaded, a warrior who has been brought back to life and can control other dead cells. Destroying enemies will give you more cells, which you can trade in for skills and tools.
An Xbox 360 stick is the best way to play Dead Cells+. But if you use tablet controls, the “Assist Mode” has a number of choices that will make the game easier to play. Dead Cells+ is one of the best iPad games for both roguelike fans and people who have never played one before.
Samurai Shodown
Did you know that your Netflix account gives you access to more than just movies and TV shows? The video service also has free games for phones. One example is Samurai Shodown, which is a mobile version of SNK’s 2019 remake.
The mobile version of Samurai Shodown has exactly the same stages, gameplay, and characters as the console version (but without any DLC like Baiken from Guilty Gear). Also, the reboot’s unique art style stays the same. The game’s touch controls are pretty easy to use, though they are a little weird. Not having Bluetooth controls would have been nice. Still, SamSho for iOS is a great app for serious fighting game fans to have on their phones.
Fantasian
Fantasian is an RPG made and written by Hironobu Sakaguchi, who is known for making Final Fantasy. The music was also written by Nobuo Uematsu, who also worked on Final Fantasy.
If you like RPGs, this might be the best iPad game for you. The beautiful settings in Fantasian are based on hand-built dioramas that were shot and added to the game. It has standard JRPG parts and quality-of-life features that make it playable on mobile devices, but the gameplay is what really makes it stand out.
Pokemon Unite
Since Pokemon Go was such a huge hit in 2016, the Pokemon Company isn’t afraid to try new things with mobile apps. They have also tried their hand at MOBAs with Pokémon Unite.
You can put together a team of Pokemon in this free-to-play game and use them to fight other players in battle areas. MOBAs are usually very competitive games that are hard for new players to learn. Unite is the best iPad game for Pokemon fans who are new to MOBAs because it keeps the rules easy.
Skate City
You don’t need a skating game as complicated as Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater to have fun and be hard. Skate City is proof of that. Instead, like other 2D skating games like OllieOlli, Skate City lets players explore skate parks all over the world and face challenges and trials along the way.
This is the best iPad game for X Games fans because it’s easy to control with your finger. Skate City never feels dull or too easy, though, because the goals keep getting higher and there are lots of tricks to learn.
Hot Lava
Remember the game “The Floor Is Lava” you used to play as a kid where you pretended your living room carpet was a pool of hot, dangerous rock? Hot Lava for iOS brings this hobby to life with beautiful images and more challenging levels that look like they belong on Ninja Warrior!
This is the best iPad game for people who want to make the most of the bigger screen. With touch controls, you can get through Hot Lava’s levels just fine. But competitive players who want to set the fastest times will find that a small Bluetooth controller makes things easier and lets them move more quickly.
NBA 2K23: Arcade Edition
A lot of the best professional sports games for consoles are made by 2K Games. Some examples are PGA Tour 2K, WWE 2K, and the classic NBA 2K series. How does a true basketball game work on a phone, though? The iOS-only NBA 2K23: Arcade Edition shows that these gameplay elements work well on other platforms.
The settings in NBA 2K23: AE are very easy to get the hang of. The game’s three-button controls and AI Assist feature make it easy for people who are new to the series to play. Players with a lot of experience can easily use manual controls to make special moves and shots. Without a doubt, basketball fans will love this iPad game!
Mario Kart Tour
You can get a lot of driving games for iOS. Some, like the Horizon Chase series, give you a very technical and in-depth experience. But Mario Kart Tour is the best iPad game for new players. The game has been around for a while, but it will be worth your time to try this free-to-play title after October 2022, when the greedy gacha parts are taken away.
The material and abilities of Geometry Dash Lite are two things that make it stand out. Every two weeks, new cups come out with tracks from old Mario Kart games. Also, its great controls let you do things like slides, tricks, and items just like in Mario Kart with the flick of a finger!
The Room Two+
In the last ten years, games with escape rooms have become more popular. Two well-known examples are Zero Escape and Escape Academy. The Room series, on the other hand, is an independent hit that has taken off. These games take you into puzzle rooms where you have to solve creepy supernatural secrets!
The Room Two+ lets people use their phones to go through its escape room. Its simple touch functions, for example, work great on the iPad. Also, the game’s different settings will look great on the iPad’s high-resolution screen! Without a doubt, the best iPad game for people who love escape rooms!
Mortal Kombat Mobile
A lot of action games have been ported to iOS over the years, and some have done better than others. Some games, like SNK’s The King of Fighters-i 2012, have ports that work like consoles but have a virtual keyboard that is smaller. That works great for iPhones and other small gadgets. On the other hand, it can be hard to use button combos on a computer.
Thank goodness Mortal Kombat Mobile is a fun, fast-paced, and smart fighting game with easy-to-use tools. Fans of Metal Gear will love this game because it has high-resolution graphics, fan-favorite characters, and lots of bloody deaths! Fans of the show will love this iPad game the most.
Mortal Kombat: Onslaught
The story of Mortal Kombat changed a lot when Liu Kang’s new timeline was added in Mortal Kombat 1. In the new mobile RPG Mortal Kombat: Onslaught, you can play through a new story set in the same dark and gritty world as MK11. Shinnok tries to leave the Neatherrealm and take over all worlds, and Onslaught tells the story of how the MK heroes try to stop him.
MK: Onslaught has the first dramatic story in MK history that is only available on mobile devices. This makes it a great game to play on the iPad’s high-resolution screen. There are special moves you can use with the push of a button to start combat (or “kombat”?). You don’t have to be an MK expert to enjoy the tactical, bloody fun of Onslaught!
Among Us
Even though Among Us came out in 2018, it wasn’t until the COVID lockdowns of 2020 that it really took off. At that time, casual players were stuck at home and needed something to play besides Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
It’s not a wonder that Among Us did so well at that time. This adventure in deep space lets you work together to play and includes tools for lying, making it perfect for a wild and fun virtual game night. To sum up, Among Us is the best iPad game to play with friends and family.
Minecraft
Minecraft has been around almost as long as the Apple iPad, and there are still more and more people who want to play in its very blocky and pixelated playground.
It came out on the Apple Store in 2011 as the Pocket Edition, a stripped-down version of the game that still gave you most of the main PC experience. This is the best iPad game for people who like to build and make. The worlds and homes that people in Minecraft can create are truly amazing!
Sayonara Wild Hearts
What do you get when you mix a video game and a visual album? Sayonara Wild Hearts is a rhythm game that you can play with other people. It’s both trippy and short and sweet.
You will be in charge of a woman who is having a hard time getting around in a strangely beautiful world. The pop-inspired music and Queen Latifah’s commentary, on the other hand, made the game stand out. Sayonara Wild Hearts is by far the best music-themed iPad game.
Monument Valley
Monument Valley is a great puzzle game that should be in everyone’s iPad library. The game came out in 2014 and got the Apple Design Award, which means it was the best iPad game of the year.
The following year, the game became even more famous after a big part in an episode of the Netflix show House of Cards. When the movie came out in 2017, it got good reviews for both how it looked and how it was made.
Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On!
Any computer should have Solitaire. The card game is easy to learn but hard to master, after all. Klondike, FreeCell, and TriPeaks are just a few of the different ways to play the game, though. Luckily, Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On can help you break out of that boring Solitaire rut!
At the start of Pocket Card rider, a horse kicks your character, who wants to be a rider, in the head. Then, your jockey meets an angel while they are asleep. The angel lets them ride horses by playing phone Solitaire. Yes, Pocket Card Jockey is a joke. But it’s also the best iPad game for people who like Solitaire but want something different.
Oceanhorn 2: Knights Of The Lost Realm
Oceanhorn is an adventure game based on The Legend of Zelda. It got a sequel in 2019, but it was only available on the Apple Arcade at first. In 2020, it will be ported to the Nintendo Switch.
The sequel has been the best iPad game for fans of The Legend of Zelda since it came out. Its art style was inspired by Breath of the Wild, and its gameplay was more like classic Zelda games.
Plants Vs. Zombies
The first Plants vs. Zombies game came out in 2009 for PC and Mac. Still, the next year it got ports for the iPhone and iPad, which took advantage of the iPad’s bigger screen to give users the best experience while they were on the go.
And even though the series has turned into a full-on third-person shooter over the years, many players will always love the tower defense gameplay and general fun of the first game.
Stardew Valley
Casual players have always liked farming models. Games like Farmville used to be the most popular mobile and social apps. If you remember back to 2016, when Stardew Valley first came out, even its creator, Eric Barone, had no idea how famous it would become.
More than 20 million copies have been sold, and most game devices can now connect to it. And the iPad version stays near the top of the Apple Store’s list of games. So, what is the key to making this game so popular? It might be because Stardew Valley is the best iPad game for when you need a lot of warmth.
Superbrothers: Sword And Sworcery EP
Since it came out, the iPad has had a lot of great apps. But Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP was one of the first games to be available in the iPad’s App Store.
When it came out in 2011, the game was a great way to show off the tablet’s graphics. It’s the best pixel art iPad game from a time when those kinds of games weren’t as common as they are now.
Journey
Journey is often thought to be one of the best video games of all time. When it came out in 2012 for the PS3, it was praised by both critics and players for its stunning graphics and amazing music.
Looking ahead to now, those images and sounds are just as interesting as they were back then. The game was also ported to PC and iOS in 2019, making it one of the first PlayStation-only games to do so. Ps4 fans who want to play games on the go should get Journey for iPad.
Manifold Garden
Manifold Garden is one of the most beautiful and confusing mobile games out there. This first-person puzzle game is all about architecture, and you have to find your way through mazes of buildings in chaotic ways. The world of Manifold Garden is like discovering a modern work of art.
The Photography Mode in Manifold Garden makes the game even more visually appealing by letting players add effects to their surroundings, such as different color schemes, picture filters, and points of view. This is the best iPad game for people who like art, especially building.
Inside
Also, while we’re talking about the best video games of all time, Inside is without a doubt one of the best iPad games you can play right now. The tablet version works so well with its strangely beautiful world that it seems like it was made just for that device.
The game’s dull colors, clean lines, and simple design and presentation make it a great example of that art style, just like Limbo, which came before it. But what makes it great is how all of those parts work together to make one of the most intense game experiences I can remember.
