Price: $1.99
Compatible with: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 4.0 or later
Back to basics, Guardian Saga is an 8-bit wonder that borrows from the likes of Dragon Warrior (aka Dragon Quest). It does away with complicated storyline and console-quality graphics.
You don’t even get to put together a party of adventurers – you have to lone-wolf it. Published by 9th Bit, Guardian Saga is a great walk down nostalgia lane, right down to the chip-tune music and the ferocious difficulty.
Secret of Mana
Price: $8.99Compatible with: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later
Influencing modern games like Zenonia, Square's Secret of Mana has aged remarkably well 17 years after its original release. The virtual joystick isn't ideal, and there's the curious absence of the original's co-op mode, but it's still a strong game. An action-RPG, Secret of Mana is a great change of pace from the other games on this list because it isn't turn-based. It presents a genuinely likeable hero in Randi, who’s tasked with saving the world (obviously). Secret of Mana is as enjoyable for old fans as it is newcomers, guaranteeing itself a worthy place on our list.
Shining Force
Price: $0.99Compatible with: iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later
Another title that showed the world how great strategy-RPGs could be, Sega’s Shining Force might not be much to look at, but its sports a huge amount of depth. As a strategy-RPG, Shining Force is far removed from the other titles in the list, eventually allowing for up to 11 members in a team during combat. Determining the right strategy takes up the bulk of your playtime. The story feels less vital than in other games. It might be a challenging experience at first, but Shining Force remains rewarding throughout, making it ideal for the more cerebral JRPG fan.
