Breaking news notifications, social media alerts, bill payment reminders, overindulgent “doomscrolling” sessions — it gets overwhelming. Sometimes we just need a second to decompress, but since most of us don’t bring Uno cards or watercolor paints to work, some low-stakes phone games can really take the edge off when you need it most. These casual, low-effort games are all available on the Apple App Store right now, and while some require modest up-front payments or contain in-app purchases, their replayability and ability to scratch the depths of your brain more than make that payment worth it. Whether you want something gripping to tide you over during a long flight or a peaceful puzzle game to scratch the Sudoku itch, we’ve got it right here. Check out our roundup of the best casual iPhone games available on the Apple App Store — no Apple Games subscription required!
Good Coffee, Great Coffee
“Wake up and smell the coffee because TapBlaze’s newest simulation cooking game, Good Coffee, Great Coffee, is finally here! Prepare delicious drinks, experiment with new flavors, decorate your shop, and manage cafe costs to become the best barista in town!” Check out Good Coffee, Great Coffee on the App Store for free, though the game does contain in-game purchases. TapBlaze is the same team behind the similarly-named pizza shop sim Good Pizza, Great Pizza, which is also worth picking up!
Is This Seat Taken?
In puzzle game Is This Seat Taken?, put your problem-solving prowess to the test by matching persnickety bus passengers and restaurant patrons to their preferred seat. Each new stage introduces new characters with some, uh, interesting requirements. Tired rider needs a silent seat to catch some Z’s? Make sure he’s not next to the Chatty Kathys catching up a few aisles down! Grab Is This Seat Taken? today on the App Store for $9.99.
Balatro
Do I really need to explain this one? The entrancing (and seemingly endless) poker/solitaire hit Balatro is popular for a reason. Players can admire pixel art visuals while playing to beat Boss Blinds with their own powerful hands. Combine Jokers, score chips, and find bonus hands as you progress. Balatro is available on the Apple App Store for $9.99. Sorry in advance — this one’s hard to put down.
Follow us on MSN for more content you love.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley, the wholesome and cozy farm life game from ConcernedApe, has been a blockbuster since it launched on Steam and GOG nearly 10 years ago. The game’s overwhelming popularity pulled it to just about every platform imaginable — your iPhone and iPad included. Manage your inherited plot of land, forge friendships, grow crops, raise livestock, and more. Pick up Stardew Valley on iOS for $4.99.
LOK Digital
“DISCOVER A CRYPTIC LANGUAGE OF WORLD-CHANGING WORDS Learn the rules as you go and uncover how each new word has its own special ability to change the world around you in deep and surprising ways. Expand your vocabulary through 15 distinct worlds, each one exploring a new mechanic and completely shaking up the way you solve puzzles.” Nab LOK Digital on the App Store for free, but progression is behind a paywall.
Mini Metro
Put public transportation in your own hands with Mini Metro, the urban transit sim that’s as addictive as it is rewarding. Draw lines from station to station, connect impatient passengers to the right lines, and keep your train stations running effectively for as long as you can. Studio Dinosaur Polo Club is also behind the equally entrancing Mini Motorways, though the latter is only available via Apple Arcade. Try Mini Metro today for $3.99. Trust me on this, it’s one of my personal faves!
Papers, Please
If you’re looking for something a little more thrilling, Papers, Please is the dystopian download you’re after. “Your job as immigration inspector,” the game’s App Store blurb reads, “is to control the flow of people entering the Arstotzkan side of Grestin from Kolechia. Among the throngs of immigrants and visitors looking for work are hidden smugglers, spies, and terrorists.” Papers, Please is up for grabs on the Apple App Store for $4.99.
Suika Game
“The rules are simple. It’s a game where you combine two small fruits to make a bigger one and work towards making a watermelon. You must be careful that the fruits do not overflow from the box as you keep scoring points and aim to get a high score. When two fruits of the same type hit each other, the fruit type “evolves.” Then, when you hit two watermelons against each other…!?” Download Suika Game from Aladdin X on the App Store for only $2.99.
Automatoys
Miss that old Taco Bell penny game from the 1990s? I think I’ve found a replacement with Automatoys. “Tap, turn, tilt and spin the contraptions to help each ball hop and roll its way to victory,” the Automatoys App Store description says. “Each automatoy is a unique, mechanical obstacle course.” Automatoys is free to download, but the App Store description says only the first three stages are free.
A Little to the Left
A Little to the Left, the beloved organizational game released in 2022, has a mobile version. Tidy toolboxes, clean up cabinets, and sort storage containers to your heart’s content. Place an item in the correct spot, and the game will chime satisfyingly. Trial-and-error is key in A Little to the Left, so don’t give up when something doesn’t slide into place juuuust right. It has a spot! Download A Little to the Left for free, but access to the full game will run you about $10.
Wavelength
Make long car rides a little more tolerable with Wavelength, the viral party game that’s finally made its way to our pockets. “The Wavelength app is an evolution of the hit boardgame that allows you to play remotely or in person. It features loads of new content and designs, like real-time synchronous dial movements and emoji reactions.” Try Wavelength today for free, though it contains nearly a dozen inexpensive in-app purchases.
Follow us on MSN for more content you love.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.