The iPhone offers a wide variety of multiplayer games that make good use of the platform’s WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth functions. We take a look at 15 of the best multiplayer games the iPhone has to offer.
#15 Archetype
Archetype is a first person shooter that anyone can get into. You don’t need to be an FPS pro to get right into the action. It offers five vs five team-based battles on an assortment of maps, and players can equip seven different weapons. Archetype uses a built-in matchmaking system that allows players to seek battles without hassle.
Archetype developer Villain continues to support the game with new modes and maps as free and premium DLCs.
#14 Carcasonne
Based on the original German boardgame, Carcasonne is a turn-based strategy game that revolves around the conquest of territory with little Meeple pieces that represent your armies. Carcasonne for the iPhone and iPad offers fast, quick gameplay.
#13 N.O.V.A. 2
It may be easy to dismiss Gameloft’s N.O.V.A. 2 as a Halo ripoff, but the game offers more than its fair share of good gameplay. Aside from its story campaign, the game contains a multiplayer mode with support of up to 10 players in five different modes.
Additionally, players can earn ranks as they play online and unlock new perks and items.
#12 Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard
More than your typical first person shooter, Shadow Vanguard is designed for the more tactically inclined by emphasizing teamwork and cover over run-and-gun gameplay. The game offers both cooperative and deathmatch modes. It’s best to play the game in the same room as your teammates due to the lack of voice chat.
#11 Flight Control
Flight Control puts you in the role of an air traffic controller by simply touching and dragging aircraft to their landing zones. In the multiplayer mode, players must cooperate with each other to prevent mid-air collisions.
#10 Tower Madness
Tower Madness is one of the best tower defense games available on the iPhone. The game’s addition of a human opponent forces you to consider your actions as you lay out your defenses while trying to steal his flock of sheep.
#9 Real Racing 2
Real Racing 2 outpaces the competition with its superior controls and multiplayer racing, allowing you to go head to head with 15 other drivers. The game offers a huge selection of cars, tracks and a responsive tilt-steering system that uses the iPhone’s built-in gyroscope.
#8 Pocket Legends
Pocket Legends is one of the first massively multiplayer games for the iPhone, where players can join forces to delve into dungeons, slay dragons and trek across a variety of overland locations. Players can assume the role of many zany characters and classes and deck them out with phat loot acquired from treasure chests and dead monsters.
#7 Bomberman Touch 2: Volcano Party
Drop bomb and destroy everything in sight. Bomberman Touch 2 offers players classic Super Bomberman gameplay with the addition of multiplayer on the iPhone. Go up against three other players in all out multiplayer mayhem or cooperate with them to clear the game’s campaign. The game’s classic, pixel-art visuals offer a treat for fans of the original Super Bomberman.
#6 Catan
Catan is a turn-based resource gathering and building game that puts you up against three AI or human opponents in a race to settle and colonize a continent. Catan uses a traditional hexagonal board, with each piece of land representing a different type of terrain or resource. Through strategy, luck, and negotiation, players must race to earn 10 victory points to win the game.
#5 Uniwar
As one of the first turn-based strategy games on the App Store, Uniwar offers simplistic, but enjoyable multiplayer gameplay for up to 8 players. The goal of the game is to capture all of your opponent’s bases with your army. For each base you control, you will earn additional credits which you can spend on additions to your army.
#4 Chess with Friends
The world’s oldest board game has been ported to the iPhone. What more is there to say?
#3 Monopoly
Monopoly is the game everyone loves to hate, but still loves to play. You can conquer the board by taking a ride on the Reading Railroad, buying up Boardwalk, or opt out by going directly to jail. Monopoly for the iPhone allows you to play against three other players, or AI opponents.
#2 Worms 2: Armageddon
Before there was Angry Birds, there was Worms. Worms 2: Armageddon offers all of the multiplayer mayhem of the original PC version with a few extra weapons. This excellent turn-based strategy game allows you to customize your squad of worms, deck them out in a variety of weapons, and fight across a wide variety of procedurally generated maps against three other players.
#1 Words with Friends
Worlds with Friends is Scrabble by any other name (but with a slightly different board and lexicon, so as to avoid copyright issues). Engage in multiple games against multiple opponents across a variety of platforms, including Android and Facebook. Be sure to brush up on your vocabulary!
