There are plenty of games in the App Store that are made just to rip off your money with in-app purchases. We protect you from such a nasty surprise, with some iPhone games that can be trusted.
Sometimes you have nothing to do and then it’s very tempting to play a game on your iPhone. It’s just a shame that most good games cost (unexpectedly) money. Fortunately, there are some reliable games in the App Store without in-app purchases.
These five iPhone games have no in-app purchases
The games in this list are free of ridiculous in-app purchases. They’re all free, or you can buy them for next to nothing. And if you have Apple Arcade, you can play them all in one big bundle.
#1 Zookeeper DX for iPhone
Zookeeper DX is a simple three-in-a-row arcade game. During the iPhone game, you swap animal tiles to make a match of three (or more). This way you score points and give yourself a little more time. With each level, the timer goes faster and faster.
There are dozens of games of this genre in the App Store, but this one is the cream of the crop. The graphics are great and the music and sound effects are wonderful to listen to. If you buy Zookeeper DX for a one-time fee of 99 cents, you’ll never have to deal with in-app purchases.
Download the app here
#2 What the Golf?
What the Golf? is a game made for people who like surprises. Each level is full of unexpected twists, which are fun even for people who do not like golf. The iPhone game quickly degenerates into total nonsense. For example, you have to play golf with furniture and cars and in space or under water.
Some levels contain funny “easter eggs” to other games, such as Portal, Superhot and Among Us. But even if you don’t know those games, it’s easy to understand how each level works.
Download the app here
#3 Asphalt 8: Airborne
Asphalt 8: Airborne is a racing game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. The more you race, the more cars and races you unlock. They are all really existing cars and most of the locations actually exist.
In the process, the controls are very simple. You accelerate automatically, so your finger doesn’t have to hold down a button. So if you’re used to Mario Kart, you’ll need some practice. You can purchase the iPhone game through an Apple Arcade subscription, but you also have a free version.
Download the app here
#4 Sleep Patrol Alpha and Space Crab 2
Both Sleep Patrol Alpha and Space Crab 2 are downright bad, but still a joy to play. They look and play like games from 2006.
Sleep Patrol Alpha is a game in which you play as a sheep through a platformer. The more sheep you add to the flock, the more points you get. Space Crab 2 is an arcade game in which you play as a crab on a small planet. You have to avoid falling asteroids and satellites while collecting coins.
Objectively, these are not good iPhone games. However, both games exude fun and creativity. And that still makes them a lot of fun to play.
Download Sleep Patrol Alpha here and Space Crab 2 here
#5 Arial Attack
This game is fun for slightly older Mac fans. In Arial Attack, you will learn the difference between the Helvetica font and its cheap version, Arial.
Namely, you have to destroy the words written in Arial by tapping on them. Each round you get a clue that highlights a difference between the two fonts.
Download the app here