The Best iPad RPGs Money Can Buy
Last updated on 4/13/2015
Role-playing games and the iPad go hand-in-hand. While game genres like first-person shooters can come off awkward on a touch device if not done just right, role-playing games fall right in line with the iPad's mechanics. The best RPGs on the iPad tend to use a touch-to-walk scheme, but as games like Dungeon Hunters show, on-screen movement pads can also work just fine.
The popularity of the iPad does have its negative side. The best-selling list for role-playing games on the iPad tend to fill up with kids games not quite intended for the veteran pen-and-paper player looking for a quick fix or a retro-style RPG. Luckily, we've done some of the heavy lifting for you.
A Guide to the Best iPad Games
Never mind the iPad, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is as one of the top role-playing games of all time regardless of platform. This Bioware classic is a story-driven adventure that takes place four thousand years before Luke, Leia and Han Solo hit the big screen for the first time. As the last hope of the Jedi Order, you choose your own path, including the lure of the Dark Side of the Force.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic arrives on the iPad with a remastered interface focused on making the touchscreen controls more intuitive. Other than that, this is the full Knights of the Old Republic game, taking a whopping 2.5 GB of storage space to install.More »
When a game is featured in an iPad commercial, you know Apple likes what they see. And it's not hard to tell what caught Apple's eye with Infinity Blade. The game from Chair Entertainment uses the Unreal Engine 3, so it is not surprising that it has sweeping visuals and beautiful landscapes.
But Infinity Blade is more than just eye candy. The action-RPG creates a nice balance between the role-playing elements and the exciting action of combat, with tap-controls allowing you to attack,dodge, block and cast spells.
Infinity Blade has produced two sequels, but the original is still a great place to start. More »
The role-playing game ruled the 80's, but by the middle of the 90's, many called the role-playing game a dead genre on the computer. And then came two games: Diablo and Baldur's Gate. Diablo spawned a genre of action RPGs, but Baldur's Gate proved you could still build a story-oriented puzzle-filled hack-and-slash RPG and be a success. Considered by many to be one of the best RPGs of all time, the Enhanced Edition is a great port of the full game to the iPad.
Finished the original? You can try the sequel, which includes expansions such as Throne of Bhaal and Fist of the Fallen.More »
Speaking of paying an arm and a leg, much of the Final Fantasy series is available on the App Store, but don't expect a break on the prices. These classics cost between $10 and $20, but for fans of the series, there is no substitution for the real thing.
It's dealer's choice which game makes this list. Final Fantasy I might be where the true hardcore fan would start, but if you just want to see if Final Fantasy is your thing, Final Fantasy Tactics might be the best choice. It's a gem among gems in the Final Fantasy series, and while it will cost as much as any in the Final Fantasy series, it has very deep game play and presents a rewarding experience. More »
Did you love The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion? Have you played Skyrim for hours and hours on end? If you answered yes to either of those questions, Ravensword: Shadowlands is the game for you. Built with the same skill-based class system and open sandbox design, Ravensword: Shadowlands is a gorgeous game with beautiful landscapes and plenty of baddies to mow down on your way to see those scenic views.More »
Retro games come in two flavors: classics that have been ported to the iOS platform and brand new games with a retro flair. Mage Gauntlet takes on the retro style of old school Nintendo RPGs, oftentimes poking fun at classic RPG cliches, but providing enough fun to keep you entertained.
The game isn't just about using whatever weapon you can find to deal with anything that gets in your path. You'll do a lot of on-screen dodging to get away from hordes of creatures, biding time for your gauntlet to power up so you can unleash a devastating spell. All in all, a good combo of action role-playing and 16-bit fun.
Already played Mage Gauntlet? Check out Wayward Souls. Inspired by but not quite a sequel to Mage Gauntlet, Wayward Souls will give you the same retro gameplay and sleepless nights as Mage Gauntlet.More »
Order and Chaos Online is Gameloft's attempt to clone World of Warcraft to the iPad, and by all accounts, they've done a pretty good job of it. The game is based on a faction system that pits humans and elves against orcs and undead and has over 500 quests for players to complete. And in true massively multiplayer RPG fashion, players can join guilds, trade loot and even duel each other.More »
If you've ever longed for Legend of Zelda: The Wind Walker to come to the iPad, you've found your game. Oceanhorn may not have the "Legend of Zelda" title, but it has the Legend of Zelda heart. The controls can be a little awkward at times, but this game is a must-have for anyone who longs for the Zelda games to hit iOS.
The storyline itself is pretty simple. The death of the hero's father sets up a grand adventure, but it's the execution that captures this game. Oceanhorn has beautiful graphics and original music by Nobuo Uematsu, who also composed some of the music for the Final Fantasy series. More »
Have you ever wondered what you would get if you could splice together coin-operated arcade classics Joust and Golden Axe with an endless runner like Temple Run? Perhaps something like Slayin.
Slayin is definitely not like anything else on the list, which is one good reason to put it on the list. It's very much like a classic coin-op game, but with a very modern charm to it. If you want something simple-yet-addictive, this is the best dollar you could spend. More »
Banner Saga evokes a distinctive style, with graphics that look like they belong in a cartoon on television and the ability to change the outcome of the story based on your own deeds. The tactical-based combat can be quite challenging and the bleak world really draws you into the story, especially as you approach the end of the game and get involved in exhilarating battles. More »
Role-playing games and the iPad go hand-in-hand. While game genres like first-person shooters can come off awkward on a touch device if not done just right, role-playing games fall right in line with the iPad's mechanics. The best RPGs on the iPad tend to use a touch-to-walk scheme, but as games like Dungeon Hunters show, on-screen movement pads can also work just fine.
The popularity of the iPad does have its negative side. The best-selling list for role-playing games on the iPad tend to fill up with kids games not quite intended for the veteran pen-and-paper player looking for a quick fix or a retro-style RPG. Luckily, we've done some of the heavy lifting for you.
A Guide to the Best iPad Games
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Never mind the iPad, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is as one of the top role-playing games of all time regardless of platform. This Bioware classic is a story-driven adventure that takes place four thousand years before Luke, Leia and Han Solo hit the big screen for the first time. As the last hope of the Jedi Order, you choose your own path, including the lure of the Dark Side of the Force.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic arrives on the iPad with a remastered interface focused on making the touchscreen controls more intuitive. Other than that, this is the full Knights of the Old Republic game, taking a whopping 2.5 GB of storage space to install.More »
Infinity Blade
When a game is featured in an iPad commercial, you know Apple likes what they see. And it's not hard to tell what caught Apple's eye with Infinity Blade. The game from Chair Entertainment uses the Unreal Engine 3, so it is not surprising that it has sweeping visuals and beautiful landscapes.
But Infinity Blade is more than just eye candy. The action-RPG creates a nice balance between the role-playing elements and the exciting action of combat, with tap-controls allowing you to attack,dodge, block and cast spells.
Infinity Blade has produced two sequels, but the original is still a great place to start. More »
Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition
The role-playing game ruled the 80's, but by the middle of the 90's, many called the role-playing game a dead genre on the computer. And then came two games: Diablo and Baldur's Gate. Diablo spawned a genre of action RPGs, but Baldur's Gate proved you could still build a story-oriented puzzle-filled hack-and-slash RPG and be a success. Considered by many to be one of the best RPGs of all time, the Enhanced Edition is a great port of the full game to the iPad.
Finished the original? You can try the sequel, which includes expansions such as Throne of Bhaal and Fist of the Fallen.More »
Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions
Speaking of paying an arm and a leg, much of the Final Fantasy series is available on the App Store, but don't expect a break on the prices. These classics cost between $10 and $20, but for fans of the series, there is no substitution for the real thing.
It's dealer's choice which game makes this list. Final Fantasy I might be where the true hardcore fan would start, but if you just want to see if Final Fantasy is your thing, Final Fantasy Tactics might be the best choice. It's a gem among gems in the Final Fantasy series, and while it will cost as much as any in the Final Fantasy series, it has very deep game play and presents a rewarding experience. More »
Ravensword: Shadowlands
Did you love The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion? Have you played Skyrim for hours and hours on end? If you answered yes to either of those questions, Ravensword: Shadowlands is the game for you. Built with the same skill-based class system and open sandbox design, Ravensword: Shadowlands is a gorgeous game with beautiful landscapes and plenty of baddies to mow down on your way to see those scenic views.More »
Mage Gauntlet
Retro games come in two flavors: classics that have been ported to the iOS platform and brand new games with a retro flair. Mage Gauntlet takes on the retro style of old school Nintendo RPGs, oftentimes poking fun at classic RPG cliches, but providing enough fun to keep you entertained.
The game isn't just about using whatever weapon you can find to deal with anything that gets in your path. You'll do a lot of on-screen dodging to get away from hordes of creatures, biding time for your gauntlet to power up so you can unleash a devastating spell. All in all, a good combo of action role-playing and 16-bit fun.
Already played Mage Gauntlet? Check out Wayward Souls. Inspired by but not quite a sequel to Mage Gauntlet, Wayward Souls will give you the same retro gameplay and sleepless nights as Mage Gauntlet.More »
Order and Chaos Online (MMO)
Order and Chaos Online is Gameloft's attempt to clone World of Warcraft to the iPad, and by all accounts, they've done a pretty good job of it. The game is based on a faction system that pits humans and elves against orcs and undead and has over 500 quests for players to complete. And in true massively multiplayer RPG fashion, players can join guilds, trade loot and even duel each other.More »
Oceanhorn
If you've ever longed for Legend of Zelda: The Wind Walker to come to the iPad, you've found your game. Oceanhorn may not have the "Legend of Zelda" title, but it has the Legend of Zelda heart. The controls can be a little awkward at times, but this game is a must-have for anyone who longs for the Zelda games to hit iOS.
The storyline itself is pretty simple. The death of the hero's father sets up a grand adventure, but it's the execution that captures this game. Oceanhorn has beautiful graphics and original music by Nobuo Uematsu, who also composed some of the music for the Final Fantasy series. More »
Slayin
Have you ever wondered what you would get if you could splice together coin-operated arcade classics Joust and Golden Axe with an endless runner like Temple Run? Perhaps something like Slayin.
Slayin is definitely not like anything else on the list, which is one good reason to put it on the list. It's very much like a classic coin-op game, but with a very modern charm to it. If you want something simple-yet-addictive, this is the best dollar you could spend. More »
Banner Saga
Banner Saga evokes a distinctive style, with graphics that look like they belong in a cartoon on television and the ability to change the outcome of the story based on your own deeds. The tactical-based combat can be quite challenging and the bleak world really draws you into the story, especially as you approach the end of the game and get involved in exhilarating battles. More »
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