Looking for the best free iPad games? We’ve got 13 brilliant free gaming apps for iOS gamers to choose from, covering everything from puzzle games and RPGs to sports and racing games and deck-building card games. iPad gamers will find plenty to enjoy here without spending any money at all. Updated, 2 July 2014 [1]
Before we get started, however, be warned that free games aren’t always the bargain they first appear, a topic Macworld discusses in more detail in ‘Freemium is the worst thing in the history of gaming: a rant [2] ‘. You should always ask yourself one question: “If this app is free, how are the developers planning to make their money?â€
Free (or ‘freemium’) iOS games , more than any others, tend to be passionately fond of in-app payments [3]  (IAPs). It’s particularly worth making sure that children are told about the dangers and expenses of in-app purchases if you’re setting them up to play freemium games, and we’d recommend using parental controls [4] to avoid an unexpected and unpleasant surprise when you get your credit-card statement. If IAPs aren’t the planned source of revenue, the app may be stuffed with adverts; that was Flappy Bird [5] ‘s business model.
Despite these caveats, however, there are some excellent free games out there for keen iPad games on a budget â€" all of the iPad games in this article are free to download and can be enjoyed without spending anything, even if a couple feature (cheap) unlocks or premium versions we’d probably recommend if you can afford it. Let’s get on to the games reviews; you’ll notice that many of them now include video reviews.
Best iPad and iPhone games [6]
The best free games for iPad
1. Two Dots
Simple but addictive. Two Dots is all about tracing lines between adjacent dots of the same colour, thereby causing them to disappear and further dots to drop down from above. To pass a given level you need to eliminate a certain number of dots of each colour, along with additional elements such as anchors.
It’s fun to play and beautiful to look at, but watch out for the clever catch: die five times and you’ll have to wait for your lives to recharge… or pay to get more. That’s where they’ll get the money, and if you have weak self-control, you may find yourself coughing up.
FREE | Read the full Two Dots review | Download Two Dots [7] [8]
2. dEXTRIS
Addictive in the classic ‘just one more go’ sort of way, striking-looking if not classically handsome, expertly honed and unapologetically simple, dEXTRIS tasks you with… making two coloured squares follow a never-ending corridor without bumping into the jagged shapes in your way. There are only four possible ‘moves’: leave the squares to sit in the middle (press nothing); send them both to the left or to the right (press on either the left or right side of the screen); or split them, as in the screen image below (press with both thumbs at once). And then things simply get faster and faster.
There are in-game adverts, which are mildly annoying, but the gameplay is strong and there’s a lovely old-fashioned feel to the way you’ll find yourself chasing high scores; in no other iOS game have I found myself so obsessed with the rankings on Game Center.
FREE | Download dEXTRIS [9]
3. Only One
This is such fun.
Only One is a silly fighting game with simple, retro graphics, entirely set on top of a circular plateau. Villains continuously spawn and attack you, and it’s your job to slash them to death with your sword or push them over the edge. We recommend the one-off in-app payment â€" Ultimate Power â€" that gives you a permanent power multiplier and unlocks all the abilities, but you can have a great laugh without spending anything.
FREE | Read the full Only One review [10]  | Download Only One [11]
4. Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer
A card game now, for a change of pace.
To the casual player Ascension seems not dissimilar to Magic: The Gathering [12] (although MTG fans will harangue me for saying so, I’m sure) â€" you build and play from a deck of cards, each of which depicts a warrior, magician or relic of some kind, and use these to slay monsters and acquire both points and further cards. The unusual side is that all players start with an identical deck, adding to this within the game itself.
It’s all weirdly addictive, once you play a few times, and while some reviewers have criticised the mostly rough-seeming art style, we find it all rather beautiful.
FREE | Download Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer [13]
5. Smash Hit
This first-person shooter â€" which has more than a hint of the classic nerve-fraying endless runner about it â€" offers no enemies to shoot except the pleasingly destructible glass and stone obstacles in front of you, which you need to shatter before you run straight into them.
The graphics are a triumph, as is the satisfying gunplay: your bullets (more like oversized marbles) describe looping trajectories and make a lovely racket when they strike home. Simple and fun.
FREE | Read the full Smash Hit review | Download Smash Hit [15] [16]
6. Middle Manager of Justice
Middle Manager of Justice is a superhero-themed base-building game in which the heroes are preening, stereotype-spouting goons who divide their time between punching thugs, watching TV and manning call centres. You’re abstractly their middle manager, working out where best to spend the squad’s pitiful income while assigning your heroes to dole out fist-based justice to assorted evil-doers. Utterly shallow, but the game is aware of that â€" which is why it works so well. Alec Meer
FREE | Read the full Middle Manager of Justice review | Download Middle Manager of Justice [17] [18]
See also: Best free iPhone games [19]
7. Real Racing 3
The Real Racing series is deservedly idolised â€" Real Racing 2 is a paid-for title filed in the sports section of our roundup of the best games for iPad and iPhone. But Real Racing 3 â€" another beautiful and accomplished racing game â€" follows a different racing line, offering itself for free while touting for income via in-app purchases. The game is gorgeous, even though there is quite a lot of pressure to spend real-world money. David Price [20]
FREE | Download Real Racing 3 [21]
8. Temple Run 2
Like the ubiquitous first game, Temple Run 2 is a simple ‘auto-runner’ in which you’re forced to make snap reactions as your fleeing Indiana Jones-alike is propelled ever onwards at increasing speed: striving to dodge walls, fatal drops, spikey boulders and an enormous pursuing monkey-monster. Death is inevitable, as is having ‘just one more go.’ Alec Meer
FREE | Read the full Temple Run 2 review | Download Temple Run 2 [22] [23]
9. Letterpress
Letterpress’s approach is unique - a cunning blend of Boggle and Strategery - and alarmingly addictive. On your turn, you can use any of the letters in a five-by-five grid to build a word. After you submit your word, the tiles you used turn blue. Then it’s your opponent’s turn, with the tiles he or she uses turning pink. Once all the tiles have been used, the game ends, and whichever player turned more tiles to his or her colour emerges the victor. [24] [25]
Fans of word games won’t be disappointed. Lex Friedman
FREE | Read the full Letterpress review | Download Letterpress now [26] [27] Â
10. New Star Soccer
In this neat, free footie sim, you’re a striker aiming for the big time. On the pitch, this means scoring wonder goals: pull back to set power and direction, then tap to set the curve. Off the pitch, it means training, dressing for success and decking out your house in tacky bling.
It’s a testament to the brilliant gameplay that even football haters will get something out of this. Alan Martin
FREE | Read the full New Star Soccer review | Download New Star Soccer [28] [29]
11. Triple Town
Triple Town’s premise is simple: you’re building a town on a 6 x 6 grid filled with bushes and trees. You do this by grouping items into threes: three trees become a hut, three huts become a house and so on. Trap the game’s ‘enemies’ â€" adorable bears â€" and they turn into grave stones, three of which make a church.
The whole thing is fresh, addictive and challenging: if you think you’ve seen everything Match 3 has to offer, you’re in for a surprise.
FREE | Read the full Triple Town review | Download Triple Town [30] [31]
12. Whale Trail
It might not have the deepest replay value, but since going free-to-play Whale Trail’s charms have been harder to resist. It’s a one-button game, with a mechanic that’s close to Tiny Wings [32] in reverse: tap the screen to fly upwards, release to swoop down. You need to avoid the clouds and collect fuel of some kind.
It looks delightful, the gamplay is well-crafted and there’s a wicked soundtrack too.
FREE | Download Whale Trail [33]
13. Dumb Ways To Die
At the start of this article we encouraged players of free iPad games to consider the question: “How are the developers making their money?†But there is one exception. Some games are created by non-profit, publicly funded or charitable organisations, and can be given away for free without any strings attached (except well-intentioned ideological ones, probably).
Dumb Ways To Die was commissioned by Metro Trains Melbourne in order to raise awareness of railway safety, and a proportion of its macabre puzzles involve helping the characters avoid being sliced in half by trains. But the makers didn’t feel the need to stick too closely to the brief, and the theme meanders off all over the place. It’s brilliant.
It’s fun, and funny, and fast â€" each puzzle lasts just a few seconds, before you’re whisked off to the next. There’s not enormous depth, but it’s definitely worth a go.
FREE | Download Dumb Ways To Die | Read the full Dumb Ways To Die review [34] [35]
See also:Â Classic iPad games: 6 iOS games you need to have played [36]
Links
- ^ iPad reviews (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Freemium is the worst thing in the history of gaming: a rant (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ In pictures: the most expensive iOS in-app purchases (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ How to stop kids buying iPad, iPhone apps & extras (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Flappy Bird review (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Best iPad and iPhone games (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Two Dots free iPad game review (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download Two Dots (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ dEXTRIS on the App Store (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Only One free iPad game revi ew (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download Only One (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ A Review of Magic The Gathering: Theros Starter Decks (www.dicetower.com)
- ^ Download Ascension: Chronicle of the Godslayer (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Best iPad board games (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Smash Hit free iPad game review (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download Smash Hit (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Middle Manager of Justice review (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download Middle Manager of Justice (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Best free iPhone games (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Best iPad & iPhone games (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download Real Racing 3 (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Temple Run 2 review (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download Temple Run 2 (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Boggle (www.macworld.com)
- ^ Strategery (www.macworld.com)
- ^ Letterpress review (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download Letterpress now (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ New Star Soccer iPad game review (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download New Star Soccer iPad game (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Triple Town iPad game review (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download Triple Town (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Tiny Wings HD for iPad review (www.macworld.co.uk)
- ^ Download Whale Trail (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Download Dumb Ways To Die (itunes.apple.com)
- ^ Dumb Ways To Die review (www.pcadvisor.co.uk)
- ^ Classic iPad games: 6 iOS games you need to have played (www.macworld.co.uk)
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