Best Essential Indie Games

246+ iOS apps & games curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
14 free apps & games
Updated September 2026

The best essential indie games on iPhone average 4.4★ across 246+ titles — we've ranked them by what real users actually keep on their phones. Updated September 2026.

Compare top Essential Indie Games (September 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1CrazyGames: Play 1500+ GamesCrazyGames: Play 1500+ GamesFree4.7★ (23K)YesNoSep 2026
2PrunePrune$4.994.3★ (568)NoNoSep 2026
3Apple GamesApple GamesFree4.6★ (69K)YesNoSep 2026
4Elseland - Mini GamesElseland - Mini GamesFree4.7★ (13)YesNoSep 2026
5CreaksCreaksFree4.7★ (2.1K)NoNoSep 2026
6JourneyJourney$4.994.2★ (768)NoNoSep 2026
7Prune+Prune+Free4.4★ (233)NoNoSep 2026
8Downwell+Downwell+Free4.5★ (293)NoNoSep 2026

Top Picks for Essential Indie Games

CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games#1

CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games by CrazyGames.com

Casual, Puzzle, Action & IO
Editor's Choice
🎮 Games
4.7😊(23K ratings)
FreeAds
CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games screenshot 1
CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games screenshot 2
CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games screenshot 3
CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games screenshot 4
CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games screenshot 5
CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games screenshot 6

Access a vast library of over 1500 games instantly without any downloads or installations. Enjoy a wide variety of genres, from casual puzzles to action-packed multiplayer battles, all within a single, lightweight application.

What We Love

  • 👍 Lots of game options
  • 👍 Ads are well-handled
  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay experience

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Some bugs in specific games
  • 🔁 Progress reset when leaving games
Prune#2

Prune by Joel McDonald LLC

Cultivate what matters
Strong Contender
🎮 Games
4.3😊(568 ratings)
$4.99
#57in Games
Prune screenshot 1
Prune screenshot 2
Prune screenshot 3
Prune screenshot 4
Prune screenshot 5
Prune screenshot 6

Cultivate a digital tree in a hostile world by guiding its growth towards sunlight. Uncover a hidden story and bring life to a forgotten landscape with this meditative and beautiful game.

What We Love

  • 🌳 Beautiful, elegant design
  • 🕹️ Relaxing, meditative gameplay
  • 🎶 Calming, atmospheric soundtrack
  • 🌟 Unique, artistic experience
  • 👍 Simple and intuitive controls

Room to Improve

  • ⏱️ Levels can feel too time-sensitive
  • 🤔 Unclear objectives and mechanics
  • 🕰️ Game is too short for the price
  • 🐛 Performance issues on older devices
Apple Games#3

Apple Games by Apple

Your home for games
Worth Considering
🎮 Games
4.6😐(69K ratings)
FreeAds
Apple Games screenshot 1
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Apple Games screenshot 4

Discover new games, track live events, and manage your entire game library. Connect with friends, challenge them to matches, and get notified of their achievements. All your gaming experiences are brought together in one place.

What We Love

  • 👍 One-stop for all games
  • 👍 Convenient game library
  • 👍 Glad Apple made this app

Room to Improve

  • 🤔 Unclear purpose of the app
  • 🤔 Shows games not currently downloaded
  • 🤔 No option to only show downloaded games

More Essential Indie Games apps to explore

FAQ about Essential Indie Games

What are the best essential indie games for iPhone?
CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games tops our essential indie games ranking as of September 2026, with a 4.7-star average from 23K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 14 of the top essential indie games we rank are free to download, including CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games and Apple Games.
CrazyGames: Play 1500+ Games shows ads and has no in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of September 2026.
We track 246+ essential indie games on the iOS App Store as of September 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.
CrazyGames is a mobile application that provides instant access to over 1500 games across various genres. It allows users to play games immediately without needing to download or install each one individually, saving storage space and time.
You can play a wide array of game types, including casual and relaxing games, puzzles, brain teasers, action, shooting, strategy, .io games, online battles, car and racing games, merge and tycoon games, multiplayer and 2-player titles, sports, and arcade games.