Over the years, we’ve had a ton of console and PC games come to mobile platforms. These range from AAA games, older games that have come and been abandoned, and also superlative conversions that play amazing on the mobile platform from indie developers. There have also been some excellent Japanese games ported to mobile with mixed results. If you’ve bought Square Enix or Capcom’s premium releases on mobile, they range from amazing to mediocre conversions and sometimes are left broken for a long time before fixes arrive.
The likes of Feral Interactive, Playdigious, Elverils, and more have given us some brilliant conversions on mobile, and a lot of bigger publishers in the gaming space could learn a lot from them. There have been many games in recent years that I feel are perfect fits for iPad and iPhone, but they haven’t been ported yet. Some have been hinted at, but I’ve almost given up on waiting. I wanted to highlight 10 games that would be amazing to have on mobile in 2022 from across the gaming spectrum. Some of these are very likely to release in the near future, while others I feel might take longer.
No Man’s Sky
With each new big update Hello Games releases for the massive exploration open world survival game No Man’s Sky, I’m floored at the amount of support this game gets on all platforms. No Man’s Sky is something I have installed on every device it runs on, and I keep hoping for a portable version. It recently got announced for Nintendo Switch, which has me very excited, but I’ve been having a ton of fun with it on Steam Deck over the last week. No Man’s Sky would be an amazing experience on modern iOS and iPadOS devices and I hope with a Nintendo Switch version coming soon, iOS is next for this brilliant game.
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is a masterpiece. It is one of the best story-driven RPGs I’ve ever played and one that would be perfect to play on iPad. I reviewed the Switch version and have since replayed it on Xbox Series X and restarted a new save on Steam. While the team has done a great job of getting it working with a controller on consoles, the touch controls on Switch are excellent. The implementation made me hopeful for an iPad version of the game when it hit Switch, and I hope ZA/UM can bring Disco Elysium to iPad in the near future. It is one of the best games in years and would be amazing to experience on newer iPads.
Into the Breach
When Subset Games brought FTL to iPad, it was immediately the best version of the game. Since then, the studio has released the turn-based strategy game Into the Breach on PC and Nintendo Switch. The Switch version was already amazing, but it was updated to add in touch controls which made me think an iPad version was surely happening soon. It has been a while since then, and I still think Into the Breach will hit iOS in the future. Being able to play chess with mechs accompanied by an awesome Ben Prunty soundtrack on a nice large iPad screen is something I hope to be able to do in the near future. Until then, I will continue replaying FTL.
Divinity: Original Sin
When Elverils brought Divinity: Original Sin 2 to iPad, I was blown away. It remains one of the best conversions for the platform, and one I will never delete from my iPad. Elverils was gauging interest in a port of the first Divinity: Original Sin, and I hope it happens this year. Divinity: Original Sin is available only on PC, PS4, and Xbox One unlike the sequel that is also on Switch and mobile. It would be great to have the first game that was one of the first CRPGs to get newcomers into the genre in recent times. While Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the better game overall, Divinity: Original Sin needs to come to a portable and having it on iPad would be perfect.
Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition
Square Enix has become better about bringing its ports to mobile either at the same time or a bit later than other platforms over the last few years. Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition just hit all consoles and PC, and it feels like something Square Enix might bring to iOS and Android over the coming months. Mobile has had Chrono Trigger for years now, albeit with a port that Square Enix downgraded and is yet to fix, so Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition would be a great addition to the platform. Hopefully we don’t have to wait too long for this one.
Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster
When Square Enix brought Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster to Xbox and Nintendo Switch following its PS4 and PC releases, I was certain it would hit iOS and Android. What I wasn’t sure was when it would happen. Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster is priced at between $40 and $50 on consoles and PC, and that price point is obviously not going to work on mobile for them. Mobile now has all the numbered games from Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy IX and a few spin-offs, but Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster is yet to hit the platform. I’m hoping with the other versions getting discounted so often to $25, we finally see this collection or even the games sold individually on mobile this year. Final Fantasy X is one of my favorite games of all time, and you bet I’m going to replay it once again through a potential mobile port.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
Capcom’s history on mobile is hit or miss. While the publisher has given us some great ports over the years, the only modern versions of Monster Hunter Freedom Unite was left for dead. Monster Hunter Stories has been amazing on mobile though with it being the best way to experience Capcom’s spin-off to the Monster Hunter series. Its sequel, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, was only released on PC and Nintendo Switch. The first game is yet to be ported out of mobile and 3DS which makes things confusing. I’m hoping this year sees Capcom bring Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin to iOS and Android and the first game to more platforms. Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin is one of Capcom’s best JRPGs and it would be a great fit for mobile with its turn-based combat, gorgeous visuals, and memorable story.
Unpacking
Unpacking is a game I’m shocked didn’t launch on Apple Arcade. I reviewed the Nintendo Switch version and adored playing it there with button and touch controls. The zen puzzler about unpacking boxes into a new home has a lovely narrative as well. On Switch, it already has great touch controls, but it definitely would be better to play on iPad. I know Unpacking and the developers have had to deal with illegal clones on mobile which might’ve soured them on the platform, but Unpacking truly feels like a game that would be perfect on iPad and I hope it arrives this year.
VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action
VA-11 HALL-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action is something we’ve covered since before it released through its showings at PAX and more. VA-11 HALL-A is part adventure game, part visual novel, and part bartending game all blended together with some of my favorite characters in gaming. I know I mention playing games on multiple platforms often as something I do to support games I enjoy a lot, but VA-11 HALL-A is something I replay each year. It was originally announced to come to iPad at some point, but that has not happened. Since releasing on PC, it has come to PS Vita, PS4, and Nintendo Switch with no iPad or mobile version. Hopefully 2022 is when one of my favorite games of all time comes to iPad because it would be another perfect fit for the platform with its interface.
Umurangi Generation
Origame Digital’s Umurangi Generation is a first person photography game set in the future. It debuted on PC and made its way to Nintendo Switch after. It blends in culture, detailed photography mechanics, social commentary, and lovely visuals together for an unforgettable experience. The sandbox level structure makes it feel like a blend of the newer Hitman games with photography. It also has a lot of replay value with level objectives and secrets. I adore Umurangi Generation and hope it comes to mobile to reach a bigger audience. We’ve gotten a lot of great indie games over the years, but few are as memorable as Umurangi Generation.
There are a few more games I’d love to see hit iOS like Cities: Skylines and even Paradise Killer, but the ones I listed above seem the most likely. What do you think of the 10 games I’ve listed above and what would you like to see come to mobile in 2022 from various developers and publishers? Let us know in the comments below.
