Yes, you can still play many old iPhone games in 2026, and they hold up surprisingly well. Below you will find 21 of the best classic and nostalgic iOS games still available to download, from the OG App Store era all the way to titles that defined mobile gaming for a generation.
The App Store launched in 2008 and within a few years had produced some of the most-played games in history. But in 2017, Apple dropped support for 32-bit apps with iOS 11, pulling hundreds of classic titles overnight. The games on this list are among the survivors: either developers rebuilt them for modern iOS or they never stopped updating. Every title here is compatible with iOS 18 and playable on current iPhones. Ready for the nostalgia? Let’s go!
The best old iPhone games at a glance
| Game | Genre | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Clash of Clans | Strategy | Free |
| Solitaired | Card Games | Free |
| Angry Birds | Puzzle | $0.99 |
| Fruit Ninja Classic | Arcade | Free |
| Words With Friends 2 | Words | Free |
| Kingdom Rush | Tower defense | Free |
| Streets of Rage | Beat ’em up | Free |
| Crossy Road | Arcade | Free |
| Cut the Rope | Puzzle | $1.99 |
| Heads Up! | Party | $1.99 |
| Canabalt | Endless runner | $2.99 |
| Doodle Jump | Platformer | $1.99 |
| Temple Run | Endless runner | Free |
| Plants vs. Zombies | Tower defense | Free |
| Where’s My Water? | Puzzle | $1.99 |
| Candy Crush Saga | Match-3 Puzzle | Free |
| UNO! | Card Games | Free |
| Pokémon GO | Augmented Reality | Free |
| Monopoly: The Board Game | Board Game | $4.99 |
| The Sims FreePlay | Life Simulation | Free |
| Clash Royale | Card Battle | Free |
1. Clash of Clans
📌 Genre: Strategy
💲 Price: Free
It seems like Clash of Clans has been there since the start of mobile gaming, and we wouldn’t be so far from the truth. For good reasons, the App Store has had it in its charts for many years. Launched in 2012, this strategy game offers an addictive mix of base building, resource gathering, creation of armies, and battles. How you build your base is crucial to defend yourself from other players and also ransack others.
2. Solitaired
📌 Genre: Card Games
💲 Price: Free
Solitaired is a great destination for those who enjoy old but gold card games. It offers many classic solitaire games, including variations like Klondike Solitaire, Spider Solitaire, FreeCell, and many others. The site is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, allowing you to play these games for free on your desktop or iPhone. You can enjoy a seamless experience whether playing on a larger screen or on the go. The platform also includes features like unlimited undo, tracking of moves and time, and the ability to create a free account to save your games and pick up where you left off on any device.
3. Angry Birds
📌 Genre: Puzzle
💲 Price: $0.99
Angry Birds was a tremendous success both for iOS and Android devices. The game was unparalleled in inventiveness, allowing the user to play with a couple of taps or movements each round. The objective is to eliminate the pig enemies on each level, throwing your birds with a sling in a particular position. Each bird has its own perk, and levels become more complicated as you move along.
The developers brought back the classic version of 2012, so you can still download and play on your iPhone. This re-make is only compatible with iOS 13.0 or later.
4. Fruit Ninja Classic
📌 Genre: Arcade
💲 Price: Free
More than just a game, we could say that Fruit Ninja has helped hundreds of thousands of people de-stress and release excess energy. Indeed, the game is not only about slicing fruit; it’s about beating your personal high score while you dodge the bombs that come your way. As you progress, you will be able to use additional gear to chop every fruit and unlock blades and dojos to help you in the next level.
5. Words With Friends 2
📌 Genre: Words
💲 Price: Free
Words With Friends was one of the most popular games back in the day. It was launched in 2009, making it worthy of being on any old iPhone games list. Its turn-based system to form words makes it the perfect game to play on the move. This second version of the game offers the classic experience with an updated UI, challenges, and multiplayer games.
6. Kingdom Rush
📌 Genre: Tower defense
💲 Price: Free
It appears that everything related to battles between kingdoms has been an attractive theme for iPhone games. Kingdom Rush is an award-winning tower defense played by millions. The objective is simple: use your strategy to defend and guard the kingdom and its castle against the forces of evil. Customize your towers and upgrade them to maximize your power. Command your army with mighty heroes and earn more than 60 achievements in the process.
7. Streets of Rage
📌 Genre: Beat ’em up
💲 Price: Free
Streets of Rage is one of SEGA’s all-time jewels, originally released on the Mega Drive console in 1991. Following a beat ’em up recipe that many players enjoyed in the last century, Streets of Rage features three playable characters with their own skills and combos who must make their way to Mr. X, the ominous final boss. The iOS version also features multiplayer support, leaderboards, and controller support to enhance your experience.
8. Crossy Road
📌 Genre: Arcade
💲 Price: Free
Not as old as other iPhone games but nonetheless a classic, Crossy Road is a simple but addictive game that pays homage to Frogger. The one-tap nature of this videogame makes it a perfect companion when you are commuting or gaming on the go. The objective is straightforward: cross the road and don’t die. The game offers several extras, new characters, daily challenges, and coins you can earn by watching an ad video in order to unlock them.
9. Cut the Rope
📌 Genre: Puzzle
💲 Price: $1.99
The iPhone brought many opportunities to the gaming industry due to the better use of physics in its mobile games, and Cut the Rope jumped into this. The game consists of feeding candy to your pet monster called Om Nom by cutting strings in the right place. The candy sometimes will swing or float across the screen, and you will need to think twice before making your next move. It’s a fun and friendly game to carry on your smartphone.
10. Heads Up!
📌 Genre: Party
💲 Price: $1.99
Heads Up! is an excellent mobile game for your iPhone to play with your family and friends in person. It’s a guessing game where you need to place your phone on your forehead with a word in it. Then, the other players will help you guess that word in the least amount of time possible. There are a wide variety of themes to play with, including pop culture like Star Wars. In addition, you can also play with other people online.
11. Canabalt
📌 Genre: Endless runner
💲 Price: $2.99
Canabalt was not the first runner game, but it was a sensation among gamers. It offered an intense experience with pixel graphics and a greyish atmosphere. The objective is to escape the city’s destruction with just one tap and beat your record high as you evade falling alien ships and into tight office windows. Even today, the game is remarkably addictive, and it has alternate game modes to transform the default experience.
12. Doodle Jump
📌 Genre: Platformer
💲 Price: $1.99
Once upon a time, Doodle Jump was a big hit on the App Store, and it has become part of our culture. The gameplay is pretty much the same nowadays: you must guide Doodle the Doodler on a journey up, pick up jet packs, and avoid dangers. The platforms move, disappear, and explode. There are many monsters, traps, black holes, and UFOs to dodge. Doodle Jump features racing against friends, collecting achievements, and competing to appear on the global leaderboards, making the game’s content much richer.
13. Temple Run
📌 Genre: Endless runner
💲 Price: Free
Endless running games were a favorite back in the day. Temple Run features an original 3D running mechanic where you can turn, jump, slide, and tilt, playable with seven different characters and with achievements and leaderboards for extra fun. Test your reflexes and race down endless ancient temples and sheer cliffs. Simply addictive!
14. Plants vs. Zombies
📌 Genre: Tower defense
💲 Price: Free
Before becoming a franchise, Plants vs. Zombies was a total hit on PC in 2009, arriving on iOS in 2010. The game is a tower defense title in which you protect your house from a zombie invasion, armed with nothing but plants. Journey through more than 50 levels, collect coins and power-ups, and earn 46 achievements along the way.
15. Where’s My Water?
📌 Genre: Puzzle
💲 Price: $1.99
Where’s My Water? is a physics-based puzzle with excellent mechanics. The objective of the game is to create a path for water so it reaches Swampy’s bath (yes, an alligator). It takes inspiration from two previous games we saw in this list: Angry Birds and Cut the Rope. If you like experimentation and testing new things, this is your game.
16. Candy Crush Saga
📌 Genre: Match-3 Puzzle
💲 Price: Free
Candy Crush Saga is a legendary match-3 puzzle game where players switch and match colorful candies to complete levels and progress through the Candy Kingdom. With thousands of levels, various game modes, and social features, it’s a sweet and addictive puzzle adventure that keeps players coming back for more.
17. UNO!
📌 Genre: Card Games
💲 Price: Free
UNO!™ is the mobile version of the classic card game UNO, available on iPhone and iPad. This digital adaptation brings the beloved party game to your fingertips, offering classic UNO gameplay with new house rules, tournaments, events, and 2v2 mode. Connect with friends and family for a fun and memorable card game experience anytime, anywhere.
18. Pokémon GO
📌 Genre: Augmented Reality
💲 Price: Free
Pokémon GO is an augmented reality (AR) mobile game that allows players to catch, train, and battle Pokémon in the real world. You can explore the surroundings to discover and capture Pokémon, join teams to compete in gym battles and participate in raid battles to take down powerful Pokémon together. The game encourages physical activity and exploration as players venture out to complete their Pokédex and become the very best!
19. Monopoly: The Board Game
📌 Genre: Board Game
💲 Price: $4.99
Monopoly: The Board Game is the digital adaptation of the classic Hasbro board game, offering an immersive and ad-free experience on your iPhone or iPad. Play with friends and family online or offline, customize house rules, choose from various themed boards, and aim to become the wealthiest property tycoon. With stunning graphics, engaging animations, and multiple game modes, it’s the perfect way to enjoy this beloved board game wherever you are.
20. The Sims FreePlay
📌 Genre: Life Simulation
💲 Price: Free
The Sims FreePlay is a mobile life simulation game that allows players to create and customize their own virtual families and communities. Build dream homes, guide your Sims through careers and relationships, and explore a vibrant Sim Town filled with exciting events and activities. With endless possibilities for customization and storytelling, the game offers a captivating virtual life experience right on your iPhone.
21. Clash Royale
📌 Genre: Card Battle
💲 Price: Free
We started the list with Clash of Clans and ended it with Clash Royale, the spin-off from the same developers. The premise of this popular game is to battle in 1v1 epic multiplayer battles while you unlock new cards and level up to fight more efficiently and destroy the enemy player’s castle. You will need to unleash different kinds of troops on the battlefield and use the rewards you earn on your journey. Launched in 2016, Clash Royale has already proven its staying power and has every indication of becoming a timeless classic.
Frequently asked questions about old iPhone games
Can I still download old iPhone games in 2026?
Yes, many classic iPhone games are still available on the App Store in 2026. Titles like Clash of Clans, Temple Run, Candy Crush Saga, and Angry Birds (via the Red's First Flight remake) remain free to download. Some older games were removed when Apple ended support for 32-bit apps in iOS 11 (2017), but many developers have since updated their titles for modern iOS. If you previously purchased a game that is no longer listed, you can still re-download it through your App Store purchase history.
Why are old App Store games no longer available?
The biggest wave of deletions came in 2017, when Apple dropped 32-bit app support with iOS 11. Thousands of games that had never been updated were removed overnight. Since then, Apple has also conducted periodic App Store cleanups, removing apps that have not been updated in several years. Developers who kept their games current, like the makers of Clash of Clans and Plants vs. Zombies, have stayed in the store.
What happened to the original Angry Birds on the App Store?
The original Angry Birds was removed from the App Store in 2019 as part of Rovio's lineup restructure. However, Rovio released Red's First Flight in 2021, a faithful remake of the 2012 classic rebuilt for modern iOS. It includes the complete original game with no ads or in-app purchases and is available for $0.99.
Which old iPhone games still work on iOS 18?
All 21 games on this list are compatible with iOS 18. Titles like Temple Run, Crossy Road, Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, and Words With Friends 2 are actively maintained and receive regular updates. If you own an iPhone XS or later, you can run the latest iOS 18 release and enjoy every game listed here without compatibility issues. Not sure which iPhone to get? Check out our guide to the best iPhones for kids or browse refurbished iPhones for great-value options.
Takeaway
Several of these games run on older iPhones, while others have been updated and require a more recent iOS version. Every title in this list is compatible with iOS 18. If you want to play them without paying full price for a new handset, a refurbished iPhone offers the same functionality as a brand-new device, typically at 20-40% less, and includes a professional warranty.
Browse refurbished iPhones in excellent cosmetic condition below:
64GB storage
Black
64GB storage
Midnight
128GB storage
White
On RefurbMe, we compare hundreds of refurbished Apple products across all major resellers. Check out our best iPhone deals or read our guide to the best places to buy refurbished iPhones to find the best price.
Also explore our picks for the best iPad games, the best Mac games, and the best AI apps for your iPhone.
See you soon!
Last updated: Apr 22, 2026 · First published: Mar 20, 2025
