Apple’s iPhone was a revolutionary device when it launched in June 2007, and it’s still arguably the best phone on the market today. One aspect of the iPhone that surprises many people is the strength of its portable gaming capabilities. With its full multi-touch screen, its “accelerometer” that can detect which direction the device is being held and moved, and 3D graphics, the iPhone has proven to be a major competitor to both Sony and Nintendo in the handheld gaming market.
There are tens of thousands of free games on the Apple App Store, but most of them are really bad or are just “demo” games for a higher priced paid version. However, there are definitely some real gems if you’re willing to mine them. Here are some of the best free iPhone games to help you get started.
1. Tap Tap Vengeance II
If you have ever seen someone play Guitar Hero then you know the basic concept of this game. Instead of a guitar, you “play” on the screen to the rhythm of your favorite music. You can accumulate a high score by playing many notes in a row without missing a single one.
2. Solitaire Sun Free
This is a simple solitaire game like you can find on your Windows PC. There are actually a lot of solitaire games like this on the iPhone, but Sol Free Solitaire is head and shoulders above the rest. The graphics are clear and sharp, and the cards are very responsive to the touch of your finger as you drag them from one stack to another.
3. Real GTi racing
Real Racing GTi is a full arcade racing game that several years ago could only be found in a mall arcade or on a home console. The graphics are top notch and realistic and the smooth controls make you feel like you are really in a racing car. There are three game modes: Quick Race, Time Trial, and Cup Championship. This is without a doubt the best arcade racing game on the iPhone.
4. Chess with friends / Words with friends
These are two games from a company called NewToy. What makes these games unique is that they can be played for any length of time. Chess with Friends is (obviously) a chess game, and Words with Friends is a Scrabble variant. After making your move, you can turn off the game and continue with your daily activities. When your friend has made his move, hours or days later, you can open the game and make your next move. The simple gameplay, elegant graphics, and inherent social nature have made these games extremely popular.
5. Touch Defense
This is a popular game in the “tower defense” genre of games. Tower defense games have become popular as simple online games. A swarm of enemies pours out of an entrance and heads in a line towards an exit that you must defend by building a series of towers to defend the exit. Although there are a multitude of games like this on the App Store, TapDefense is unique in that it is not only top-notch, but also free.
6.iBowl
This is another social game. If you’ve ever played bowling on the Nintendo Wii with your friends, maybe you can imagine what this game is all about. You throw your bowling ball by literally swinging your arm, and the iPhone tracks the movement of your arm. Your friend across town (or on the other side of the world) can watch your ball roll down the lane and then can take their turn. It is a fun and competitive game for people who like to play without pressing many buttons.
