Don’t Pay Extra: 9 iPhone Games With No In-App Purchases

Papers, Please

Papers, Please is one of the best console games you can find on iPhone, and for a good reason. Even though its gameplay is so simple you can play it with one hand, the story, atmosphere, and characters will keep you hooked through your entire playthrough.

In Papers, Please, you get a new job as an immigration inspector, and it's your job to decide who can come into your country, the great fictional land of Arstotzka. However, there's a catch: Arstotzka just ended its 6-year war against Kolechia, which means things are a bit tense on that side of the border.

These choices will determine the ending that you get for the game. Depending on your choices, you can make your life and the lives of your loved ones better or so much worse. Again, the game might sound simple, but it's a really interesting story with a lot of exciting things happening on the job.

Death Stranding Director's Cut

Death Stranding is one of the most popular console games on the iPhone today. It was developed by Hideo Kojima, one of the best video game designers of our time.

In Death Stranding, you'll play as Sam Porter Bridges, who is basically a deliveryman with a very important role in bringing America back together one package at a time. You'll explore a post-apocalyptic world filled with threats around every corner. 

Luckily, you'll have your very own bridge baby — yes, a literal baby attached to your chest — that will help you along the way. In case we forgot to mention it, this game can be weird sometimes.

Granted, Death Stranding is a game that might not be for everyone. Not only is its gameplay unlike the other third-person games you find online, but its cut scenes tend to be longer than your average game. So if you're always looking for intense action, this game might not be for you.

Keep in mind that Death Stranding is one of those AAA console-quality games that requires Apple's A17 Pro chip or later, which means you'll need at least an iPhone 15 Pro to play it, although the same App Store purchase will also work with any iPad or Mac equipped with an M1 chip.

Journey

If you had a PlayStation 3, chances are you at least heard of Journey. But now it's your chance to try it on your iPhone.

Journey is a different kind of indie game. When you start, you don't know anything about the world or who you're playing as. But that really doesn't matter; what matters is that you start moving forward.

Your goal is to reach a big mountain far away. But as the name suggests, this game is about the journey, not the destination.

As you move through the desert, you'll learn more about your people and the story behind the game. You may also find other players going on the same adventure as you, and you can interact with them and help each other out in different puzzles.

Even though it's over a decade old, it's still a fantastic experience and a must-play game for mobile gamers. The controls are still responsive, and the environment and sound design are top-notch.

Gris

Gris is another adventure game that doesn't really explain what's happening. Instead, you learn everything by examining and analyzing the environment.

Gris is a platforming game that you can play as Gris. You'll have to explore many different areas and acquire different abilities to move past the hurdles and reach your goal, which is basically to learn more about Gris' story and give her the ability to sing back.

This environmental game is a fantastic experience that's really hard to find on the App Store. Whether you like platformers, indie games, or a great atmosphere, Gris is perfect for you.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sorcery

Superbrothers: Sword & Sorcery is a fairly old game, but it still holds up today.

Superbrothers is an adventure game where you play as a Scythian warrior. At first, your goal isn't quite clear, but you'll help your warrior explore the world she's in now and talk to the people and the dog that will help her on her quest. The game is divided into four sessions, and you must solve various puzzles and fight against evil forces to make progress.

Keep in mind that the puzzles require you to interact with the environment, and it's not always clear what the game wants you to do, so if you get stuck, you might want to look up a guide on Google or YouTube.

What makes Superbrothers: Sword & Sorcery stand out is its fantastic soundtrack, which you can even find on streaming platforms like Spotify.

Slay the Spire

Do you enjoy card games and challenging puzzles? Then Slay the Spire is perfect for you. This game has been out for a while, but it's still one of the best roguelike games you can find on the App Store.

Slay the Spire is a card roguelike game. You can choose different classes when you start a game, giving you different abilities to use when fighting your enemies. Your goal? To go as high as possible in the spire.
 
Of course, it's easier said than done. Just like any roguelike, if you die in the game, you need to start from scratch, which makes the game a bit hard at first. But the more experience and cards you collect in your playthroughs, the better you'll be at it.

FTL Faster Than Light

If you're looking for a different kind of roguelike, we recommend you check out FLT, or Faster Than Light. 

This game takes place in space, and your goal is to save the galaxy. You have a ship and a crew that will follow your every order. But you'll need to know how to manage your ship and all your weapons when fighting space threats.

Like other roguelikes, you're done if you die in this game. You'll have to start from the beginning. Fortunately, you can still improve your ship, so you don't go down as easily as last time you played.

This War of Mine

This War of Mine might not be a game for everyone, but it's still an amazing game you can get on the App Store.

This War of Mine is a survival game where you'll need to use your wits to survive. Your goal is to keep as many people as possible alive during the war. You'll have a bunch of people under your wing, and you'll need to help them hide and stay alive and as healthy as possible until the end of the war.

Unlike other war-related games, This War of Mine presents a darker, more realistic portrayal of the consequences of war. So, if that's a bit of a hard topic for you, you might want to skip this one. 

If not, you'll be amazed by the story this game manages to tell and how realistically depressing and sometimes even scary the environment can be.

Don't Starve: Pocket Edition

Don't Starve is a fun game that has been around for a while now. As you can probably guess by the name, your sole goal is to avoid starvation.

Don't Starve: Pocket Edition is a survival game where you'll try to live as long as you possibly can. You'll need to find and use the resources around you and make the most of them if you want to survive.

You'll need to take care of your hunger and even your sanity. To do this, you'll need to use everything around you, like the animals, trees, and other objects that will help you stay alive. Be careful, though. Sometimes, your decisions can harm your environment and, ultimately, your life.