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Apple is known for its pioneering visions in bringing together new ways of communicating with technology and giving users new ways to do redundant everyday things. This has given them a loyal fan base worldwide, and such a fan base deserves a good gaming experience on the iOS platforms.

Updated November 8, 2022 by Hemanth Kumarr Kumanan: The gaming world never ceases to amaze its fans with new entries every year. So many games with so little human time, and thus a few more games to enjoy for the love of the sci-fi genre!

The sci-fi genre is filled to the brim with excellent titles that fans can enjoy on their phone. This list has been expanded to include a handful of additional entries, allowing players to experience more great sci-fi games on their iOS devices.

15 Inside

Inside is one of those very few indie games that managed to garner the focus of the entire gaming audience. The game initially was released for mainstream platforms in 2016 and was ported to iOS devices a year later.

The game takes a minimalist approach to its visuals with enough gimmicks to give the players a bizarre adventure. Inside is a dark, twisted and illusive storyline that gives the players puzzles to solve to advance to the later stages of the narrative. This sci-fi gem is a must-try on iOS devices.

14 Transistor

Transistor is an action RPG game developed by Supergiant Games and was released in 2014 for mainstream platforms. The game was ported to iOS devices in June 2015 and was well-received by gamers and critics alike.

The game follows Red, a professional singer sent down to a strange world with a talking sword for a company and an army of robots (called the Process) to deal with. After an intentionally misleading opening to the storyline, the narrative slowly unfolds as the player clears through the stages. The game is fun to play and guarantees a wild experience.

13 The Talos Principle

Science fiction and robots have been bound by intangible wedlock ever since the genre took its baby steps into mainstream templates, and The Talos Principle takes full use of it. The game was released in 2014 for PC and console, while the iOS ported version had its release in 2017.

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The game follows an android gifted/cursed with a human conscience, who is instructed to clear through the world of puzzles created by his overlord Elohim. Filled with fun puzzles and quick-fire action, the RPG game can be played from a first-person or third-person perspective, giving the players an immersive experience.

12 Gemini Rue

Gemini Rue is a point-and-click RPG adventure with a future-noir take on visuals and creatives. Developed by Joshua, the game was released for iOS platforms in 2013.

Set in the 23rd century in the Gemini galaxy, players take on the role of an assassin turned law enforcer looking out for his lost brother. The graphics hold well and the game runs smoothly on mobile devices, while the narrative is reminiscent of a well-written crime novel. In addition, the cyberpunk -like game setting gives the players an experience of a dystopian world unlike any other.

11 Invisible.Inc

Klei Entertainment is not new to the gaming world and is well known for its games such as Mark of the Ninja, Sugar Rush, etc. In 2015, the game studio released Invisible, Inc., a turn-based action spy sci-fi game, for the major platforms and had it ported to iOS devices in 2016.

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The game takes inspiration from successful turn-based games like Xcom. It delivers a gripping stealth action game that gives players a riveting affair. Finishing intense quests and leveling up the team for the final mission in a dystopian technophile world guarantees fun and a fierce challenge.

10 Nier ReIncarnation

Released in 2021, NieR ReIncarnation is as close to Nier Automata as the gaming world can get on the iOS platform. Finally, fans of the franchise can enjoy the post-apocalyptic game on mobile.

Set in a mysterious realm called the Cage, the player takes control of a soul of a young girl lost in the Cage, trying to get back to her human form. With a good dose of dream-eating, soul-sucking adventures, the game stands out as a hardcore spin-off to the Nier Franchise, making it a must-have for all series fans.

9 Star Trek Legends

Star Trek: Legends is a brilliant game for all the series’ fans who have wanted to have a Star Trek adventure of their own. The game was released exclusively for iOS devices in 2021 and lets players build and operate the USS Artemis.

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Missions involving turn-based combat and skill points for rewards, which let players hire new recruits. With such a franchise, it is no surprise that the characters available to recruit are some of the most iconic faces from the franchise. Creating the dream team is the base of this epic sci-fi adventure, and will provide hardcore fan service to gamers and fans alike.

8 Star Traders: Frontiers

Star Traders: Frontiers is the brainchild of two brothers who developed the game and released it in 2018 under their indie studio Trese Brothers. Initially released for PC, the game was later ported to iOS devices. Despite being ported, the game holds solid with its mainstream graphics, even on the mobile platform.

The players take control of a spaceship in this big open world (or galaxy, in this context), through a series of errands and quests. Be a part of intense space battles, trading loot, and rewards with other players, all while bringing together a self-sufficient crew for the spaceship. It’s a brilliant RPG for those wanting a little more while exploring the void of space.

7 Out There

Out There was released in 2014 and is a rare instance of a game first released for mobile platforms and then ported to mainstream platforms in subsequent years. The game utilizes an open world, providing a unique experience for each player.

As the name of the game suggests, players embark on a journey across space, controlling the character of a lost astronaut from Earth. The vast open void of space has much to hide, and it is up to the players to explore the uncharted territories known to man. Meeting friendlies and bumping into new life forms has never been more fun, and Out There is a space adventure worth spending hours in.

6 Beyond A Steel Sky

Beyond A Steel Sky is a follow-up to the 1994 classic Beneath The Steel Sky. It is one of the few games and the only game on the list to have an iOS release before having its grand mainstream release on consoles and PC.

Players take the role of Robert Foster in this 3D action-adventure set in a post-apocalyptic world taken over by AI and Robots. A series of unfortunate events sees a child being abducted in one machine’s attacks. It is up to Robert Foster to follow the trail of the abducted boy and return him to safety.

5 Space Marshals

Space Marshals from developer studios Pixelbite debuted in the iOS market in January 2015 before being ported to Android platforms a few months later. The game’s blend of space adventures with the wild west template and the funny in-game banter between characters found a special place in the gamers’ hearts and became a major success.

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Space Marshal Burton and his team of bounty hunters are tasked with missions to hunt down space criminals and bring them to the jaws of justice. The cover-and-shoot game features a top-down view, and the simple control is easy to master. The sequelsSpace Marshals 2 and the recent release Space Marshals 3 continue with the adventures of Burton’s crew but with better visuals and graphics that could compete with some of the mainstream console games.

4 Crying Suns

This 2019 roguelike strategy game from Humble Bundle, Crying Suns was initially released for macOS and Windows before making its App store debut in 2020.

Players take control of Ellys Idaho, a space admiral once a prized member of the now-fallen Interstellar Empire. The story starts with him waking up in a cloning lab, having no memory of the last 10 years and the empire’s collapse. Then, learning the basics from A.I. Kaliban, Ellys must embark on the quest across the vast void of space to learn and understand the mysteries of his fallen empire.

3 Shadowgun

Madfinger Games were one of the first bloomers in the Smartphone gaming vertical, offering good gameplay mechanics combined with stellar visuals optimized for mobile phones with sub-par hardware. However, one of the biggest successes comes with their 2011 title Shadowgun.

The game is set in the distant future and follows John Slade, gun for hire tasked with bringing down evil corporations. The game has a great storyline, and the art style feels similar to the Gears franchise. Since its release, the standalone offline game has bloomed into a franchise (Shadowgun: Legends & Shadowgun: Deadzone) that uses RPG elements and multiplayer aspects that suit the current gaming trends.

2 The Final Earth 2

A game developer by the name of Floran Van Strien from the Netherlands is the mastermind of the minimalist yet addictive The Final Earth 2. The game may not have fancy visuals or breathtaking design, but it guarantees a refined gaming experience.

The Final Earth 2 is a space colony builder, where the player must build a colony in space through resource gathering and efficient population management. Yes, the game does look old with its visuals, but it makes up with its complex challenges that make even veteran gamers break a sweat. But, again, this is an excellent example of the old saying that better graphics does not necessarily mean a better game.

1 Tales From The Borderlands

Having garnered a broader audience on all gaming platforms, Tales From The Borderlands might be one of the most recognizable entries on the list. Telltale games, renowned for their previous works with The Walking Dead game are masters with episodic gameplay and have yet another laurel to their success.

Like its name, the game is indeed set in the Borderlands universe, and its events occur after Borderlands 2. The 5 episode game has its ups and down, but for the franchise fans, this is a must-try, considering that New Tales From The Borderlands dropped for mainstream platforms recently. Although the sequel is not available for iOS now, playing the first installment would be an excellent way to kill the waiting time for the former’s port.

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