Slay the Spire

If you’re looking for a card game that’s also a good challenge, Slay the Spire is still the first one to check out. 

It remains one of the best deckbuilding roguelikes on any platform — and it works beautifully on the iPhone. You pick one of four characters, unlock cards run by run, collect relics, choose your path through the Spire, and try to survive long enough to actually win. If you lose, you go back to the beginning.

What makes it so good is how much strategy it squeezes out of every decision. You’re not just thinking about the next fight. You’re thinking about the next elite boss and whether you should upgrade a card or get your health back. All those choices slowly determine how strong your deck is and how high your chances of survival are. Every run feels different enough to stay interesting, but the core systems are consistent enough that you always feel like you’re learning.

Because of the unique gameplay and tough challenges, this game has become a fan favorite. And with the sequel already available on PC, this is the time to prepare for when it comes to the iPhone. If you want depth, replayability, and the kind of game that can easily take over your free time, this is still one of the best places to start.