Category: iOS

Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire

Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire is a free-to-play mobile MMO strategy title that borrows its setting and familiar faces from Final Fantasy XV. You expand a kingdom, train armies, coordinate with other players, and compete for control of the Crystal while juggling real-time map fights and the typical upgrade driven pacing of modern mobile war games.

Final-Fantasy-XV-New-Empire-minigameplay

Publisher: Epic Action LLC
Playerbase: High
Type: Mobile Strategy
Release Date: June 28, 2017
PvP: World
Pros: +Satisfying hero growth. +Very active community. +FFXV theme and characters. +Extra side activities.
Cons: -Familiar, template-like strategy loop. -Strong pay-to-win pressure.

Krosmaga

Krosmaga is a collectible card strategy game that mixes classic deckbuilding with a lane-based battlefield. Set in Ankama’s Dofus and Wakfu universe, it has you choose one of twelve gods, build around that deity’s strengths, and send quirky minions and spells down lanes to smash your opponent’s defenses.

Publisher: Ankama Games
Playerbase: Medium
Type: CCG Strategy
Release Date: February 22, 2017
Pros: +Strong Dofus and Wakfu setting. +Bright, cartoon-like presentation. +Approachable rules with plenty of depth.
Cons: -Dungeon runs are gated by currency. -Matchmaking can feel uneven at times.

SINoALICE

SINoALICE is a mobile RPG that reimagines well-known fairy tales, including Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, and Snow White, as darker character-driven stories. Battles play out in real time, and progression leans heavily on collecting and upgrading a large arsenal, with more than 150 weapons available to use.

Publisher: Pokelabo
Playerbase: Medium
Type: Mobile RPG
Release Date: July 1, 2020 (Global)
Pros: +Fast-paced real-time combat. +Distinctive, high-quality art direction. +Music backed by the NieR: Automata composer (strong soundtrack).
Cons: -Core loop can start to feel repetitive.

Arena of Valor

Arena of Valor, known as King of Glory in China, is a 5v5 mobile MOBA from Tencent that will feel immediately familiar to anyone who has played League of Legends. Choose a hero, head into the lanes with your minion wave, take down defensive towers, win team fights, and push all the way to the enemy core to close out the match.

Publisher: ProximaBeta
Playerbase: High
Type: Mobile MOBA
Release Date: December 19, 2017 (USA)
Pros: +Very large active community. +Tight, touch-friendly controls. +Playable across multiple platforms. +Matches tend to be quicker.
Cons: -Earning and unlocking heroes can be a grind. -Arcana (runes) can cost a lot.

Sword Of Shadows

Sword Of Shadows is a mobile martial arts MMO that draws its setting and motifs from the Age of Wushu franchise, with the goal of delivering a more PC-like MMORPG experience on a phone. Taking place in a stylized version of Ming dynasty China, the game emphasizes flashy wuxia combat, progression via martial schools, and—after you unlock it—airborne exploration through flight.

Publisher: Snail Games
Playerbase: Low
Type: Martial Arts MMO
Release Date: March 22, 2017
Pros: +High-end visuals for a mobile MMO. +Ties into the Age of Wushu universe. +Open flight adds variety and scale.
Cons: -Not much public information and coverage to go on.

Lineage M

Lineage M is a mobile fantasy MMORPG that adapts the classic Lineage formula for touch screens. Players pick from familiar archetypal classes, then level through open-world hunting and dungeon grinding, with options to team up for boss fights and large-scale raids. A key hook is the Transformation system, which temporarily changes your character to grant extra skills and combat advantages.

Publisher: NCsoft
Playerbase: High
Type: Mobile MMORPG
Release Date: June 21, 2017
Pros: +Faithful class lineup drawn from classic Lineage. +Easy to group up and tackle content with others. +Transformations add short bursts of power and variety.
Cons: -Hard to find detailed official info in English. -No Western release announced.

Power Rangers Legacy Wars

Power Rangers Legacy Wars is a free-to-play mobile fighter that puts the Power Rangers license into quick, real-time PvP matches. You build a roster by unlocking Rangers and villains from multiple eras, then take them into synchronous online battles that mix light strategy with fast taps, blocks, and ability timing.

Publisher: nWay
Playerbase: High
Type: Mobile Fighter
Release Date: March 23, 2017
Pros: +A wide character pool pulled from many Power Rangers eras. +Live, real-time multiplayer fights. +Team building with both heroes and iconic villains.
Cons: -Monetization can pressure progression. -Online play can suffer from connection hiccups. -Competitive balance can feel uneven.

Fire Emblem Heroes

Fire Emblem Heroes is a mobile tactical RPG that adapts the Fire Emblem formula into quick, touch-friendly battles, letting you summon and build a roster of heroes pulled from across the series to tackle bite-sized maps and competitive modes.

Publisher: Nintendo
Playerbase: High
Type: Mobile Tactical RPG
Release Date: February 2, 2017
Pros: +Huge roster pulled from across Fire Emblem. +Arena duels give a competitive outlet. +Classic grid, turn-based combat streamlined for phones.
Cons: -Stamina can cut sessions short. -Battlefields can start to feel samey. -Tactics can be shallow compared to mainline entries.

Flyff Legacy

Flyff Legacy is a free-to-play mobile MMORPG that adapts the Flyff universe for phones and tablets, letting you quest across Madrigal either on the ground or while cruising above it. It leans on familiar MMO staples like dungeon runs, gear upgrades, and party play, with a reincarnation loop for long-term character progression and several PvP options for competitive players.

Publisher: Gala Lab
Playerbase: Low
Type: Mobile MMORPG
Release Date: 2017
Pros: +Three distinct starter classes. +Reincarnation system extends long-term leveling. +Ground travel plus aerial exploration. +Parties provide meaningful bonuses and encourage grouping.
Cons: -Progress can be grind-heavy. -Interface can feel busy on smaller screens. -Auto-battle reduces hands-on combat.

Blades and Rings

Blades and Rings is a free-to-play mobile MMORPG that drops you into a classic fantasy struggle against the villainous Spiritus, with progression centered around hunting down 27 powerful rings. You choose from three starting classes and spend most of your time building combat power through gear, skills, and plenty of grinding, including options that continue even when you are not actively playing.

Publisher: 37Games
Playerbase: Medium
Type: Mobile MMORPG
Release Date: December 5, 2016
Pros: +Deep build and cosmetic customization. +Player-driven marketplace with few limits. +Progression continues through offline grinding.
Cons: -Power can be bought, affecting balance. -Storytelling is thin and largely functional. -Heavy reliance on auto-navigation and auto-combat.