Mobile games are perhaps one of the most versatile and convenient works of interactive art that you'll ever experience, and in 2022, there was no shortage of quality games to enjoy on your iPad or your iPhone. With modern iOS hardware boasting excellent specs, developers spent the year cracking out titles that took full advantage of Apple's impressive gear and delivered titles that didn't only look fantastic on those smaller screens, but took advantage of their unique strengths as well.
This has been a year in which mobile gaming has seen some serious effort from big players in the scene, with Netflix entering the picture and offering its subscribers access to a number of high-profile titles. With games such as Into the Breach, Spiritfarer, and Before Your Eyes on offer, Netflix has shown a serious commitment to growing its footprint in this space. Elsewhere in the mobile gaming scene, Apple Arcade has proven to be excellent value for money, more indie developers have retooled their titles to work on iOS, and cloud gaming has had some ups and downs.
While Xbox continues to make big gains with its cloud gaming efforts, 2022 also saw Google announce that its Stadia service will be shut down next year. Beyond those big stories, there was still plenty of reason to grab your phone or tablet, boot up a game, and settle in for a cozy night of digital fun. According to the numbers tallied up from GameSpot's sister site Metacritic, the games below earned the highest numbers from outlets across the world.
Dicey Dungeons
Dicey Dungeons may have debuted on console and PC first, but on iOS, it feels right at home thanks to some clever tweaks that take advantage of the iPhone and iPad real estate. The wait has paid off, as this version of the game feels perfectly polished, looks wonderfully vibrant, and doesn't skip a beat with touch controls that makes its blend of puzzles and roguelite action feel superb.
Poinpy
Some of the best mobile games are the ones that require minimal input from its user. Poinpy nails that idea, focusing on timing instead of complex controls as you hurl your adorable protagonist onwards and upwards through a vibrant world full of fruit, frogs, and giant gaping maws.
Streets of Rage 4
Streets of Rage 4 is nothing less than a lovingly crafted beat-'em-up that mixes rock-solid action with stunning art direction and a soundtrack that adds an extra touch of elegant violence to each blow. Managing to fuse old and new school sensibilities together, this retro comeback is easily digestible fun that doesn't overstay its welcome.
Marvel Snap
The beauty of Marvel Snap is that it focuses on fast and accessible card-battling fun. It's all about snack-sized moments of fun; it feels rewarding even when you're losing; and its simple setup makes it easy to get to grips with. If you're looking for a deckbuilding game that you can easily have a few rounds of fun in while on a bus ride or during a lunch break, this engaging game will snap up all of your attention.
Dungeons of Dreadrock
What happens when you mix dungeon crawling with puzzles? You get Dungeons of Dreadrock, a game that looks like it was inspired by Game Boy Advance Legend of Zelda titles with its visuals. A hundred dangerous basement levels await you in this quirky descent, with each puzzle feeling like a well-designed conundrum amidst some well-executed action.
Sumire
Sumire won't grab your attention with its by-the-books gameplay, but it's the delicate art direction, touching story, and stirring soundtrack that makes this an essential purchase for iOS. A tale of dreams and the deceased, Sumire is a short but captivating title that feels right at home on mobile devices.
Shovel Knight Dig
For almost a decade now, Shovel Knight has been a constant delight on several platforms except mobile. That all changed this year in this thrilling prequel to the original game, as Shovel Knight Dig takes plenty of influence from Downwell to deliver a satisfyingly chunky action experience. It's a Shovel Knight experience that has been worth the wait, encapsulating the appeal of the titular hero with fast-paced gameplay and a colorful presentation.
Apex Legends Mobile
The idea of being able to play Apex Legends no matter where you are is a heck of an elevator pitch, and one that Respawn Entertainment pulls off with style. Bringing the core PC and console experience to mobile, Apex Legends on iOS is a polished showcase of battle royale gameplay that raises the bar for the genre on smaller screens. Constantly evolving and updating, this standalone game complements the bigger Apex Legends experience with great design, visuals, and competitive action.
