The trend of freemium and paymium gaming in the App Store has been getting some pushback recently from a few notable releases. If you’re the type of player who’s serious about mobile gaming and you hate having to pay up extra for content you’ve technically already paid for, then these IAP-free games are for you.
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for iOS [Capcom, $14.99]
This is an impressive port of the 2009 adventure title that preserved all of the original’s content. There are literally hours of game play here, and for iOS they’ve wrapped it in decent touch controls. [This one’s even better, though, if you own a MFi controller, as it’s been optimized for those devices.] If you’ve never played a Monster Hunter game before, MHFU is a great place to start.
Modern Combat 5 [Gameloft, $6.99]
After trying to take their popular FPs franchise paymium with Modern Combat 4, developer Gameloft made the wise decision to return Modern Combat 5: Blackout back to the realm of one-time-purchase titles. There’s no denying that MC5 is pretty much a clone of the CoD franchise. It’s a very good clone, though, and it delivers a well-tuned FPS experience that should satiate the needs of all but the pickiest gamers.
Oceanhorn [FDG Entertainment, $8.99]
The chances of The Legend of Zelda coming to any mobile device other than the 3DS are slim. This game, however, does a great job of invoking the feel and style of that franchise without stepping over the “obvious clone” line. The storyline is interesting, the controls are solid, and there are hours of gameplay here to engage you. It also gets props for riffing on the under-appreciated The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker with its nautical navigation and island setting.
Monument Valley [ustwo, $3.99]
Monument Valley is one of the most elegant and clever puzzle games to be released for iOS in recent memory. It sports a beautiful visual palate, a soothing soundtrack, and a quirky surreal storyline. The game feels a little short (more levels have been promised) but it’s time well spent on a singular experience.
Threes! [Sirvo LLC, $1.99]
Hands down, Threes! is the puzzle game I’ve spent the most time with in recent months on my iPhone. It’s simply conceived, cleanly designed, and hugely addicting. And it makes math fun! Sadly, it didn’t take long for another developer to generate a cheaply made IAP-fueled knockoff, but make no mistake: Threes! is better, and it’s worth your money.
XCom: Enemy Unknown [2K, $9.99]
This nearly-full port of a current-gen game won mobile game of the year awards in 2013, and with good reason. It lives up to the expectations of a current-gen console experience. In fact, many reviewers felt that the touch controls of the iOS version rivaled the console version. If you haven’t played it yet, now’s a good time, as the price has fallen from its $19.99 high.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition [Mojang, $6.99]
I can’t mention great IAP-free games without mentioning Minecraft. Chances are you probably already have this one on your device; but if you don’t, why not? Everyone loves Minecraft, and the Pocket Edition has really come into its own with the most recent update.
