10. Stardew Valley
For the peaceful farming and life sim elements ofStardew Valley, you probably don’t need a controller.
That said, once you get into the combat in the game’s dungeons, the extra precise control you get from using a controller will certainly come in handy.
Related:The best offline mobile games that don’t need Wi-Fi
9. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
For a game rapidly approaching 20 years old,Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republicholds up remarkably well.
Trying to play the game on a touchscreen breaks the immersion though, making you fight the controls. With a proper controller, you can enjoy it just as Xbox players did in 2003.
8. Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm
With Nintendo now making iPhone games featuring Mario, we hope that theZeldafranchise will also make its way over one day. Until then,Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realmis the best way to get theZeldaexperience on iPhones.
While it isn’t quite a note-for-note clone ofZeldagames, you’ll definitely know where the game took its inspiration from.
7. Lineage 2: Revolution
If you’re looking for a full-blown MMORPG experience on your phone, look no further thanLineage 2: Revolution.
Playing this game with a controller compared to a touchscreen makes it much easier to avoid sudden, unexpected death as you build up your character’s stats.
6. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
If you’ve been reading whatNerd regularly, chances are good that you’re already familiar withCastlevania: Symphony of the Night.
The game is a classic, but playing with an onscreen controller is less than ideal. Add a controller and you can play this 2D masterpiece as it was meant to be played.
Related:The most underrated mobile games
5. Asphalt 9: Legends
Asphalt 9: Legendsis a well designed game in that if you want it to be simple, it can be very simple with tap and swipe controls.
If you want it to feel more like a racing game you’d play on your TV, hook up a controller and unleash your inner speed demon. The game is also freely available on Nintendo Switch!
Related:The best phone accessories for mobile gaming
4. Exit the Gungeon
From the makers of twin-stick shooterEnter the Gungeon, this is actually a much different game. This “dungeon climber” sees you climbing your way out of the titular “gungeon.”
Using a controller actually gives you more control over the game, making it a much more challenging experience than simply playing on your phone.
3. Jetpack Joyride
Jetpack Joyrideis a mobile gaming classic, having first released for the iPhone in 2011. In mobile gaming years, that’s practically a century ago!
Given that it’s been a hit without controller support, you don’t need a controller to play it, but now that you can use one, it’s a different take on a game you may already be familiar with.
Related:What Are Hyper Casual Games? The Best Free Ones to Play, Ranked
2. Minecraft
Minecraftis still one of the most popular games in the world, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that not only is it available on your iPhone, but it has controller support too.
This definitely makes precisely positioning blocks to build the world of your dreams much easier.
1. Life Is Strange
Life Is Strangesaw plenty of acclaim when it was first released on consoles and PC in 2015. If you missed it then, you can pick it up and play it on your phone now.
While this game works well enough without a controller, there are some sequences that are much easier when you use a controller.
Bonus: Genshin Impact
Okay, so this one is a bit of a cheat. As I write this,Genshin Impactisn’t compatible with controllers yet, but “yet” is the key word.
Developer MiHoYoannounced on its websitethat starting with version 1.3,Genshin Impactwill support a range of controllers on iPhones, so you’ll be able to play with a controller very soon.
Related:The best mobile game RPGs
More iPhone Games on Apple Arcade
You might have noticed that you can’t directly buy some of the iPhone games on this list—because they’re only available via an Apple Arcade subscription.
Apple Arcade made a splash when it first launched, but we don’t hear about it as often anymore. That’s a shame because Apple Arcade is an excellent value for iPhone gamers.
