Every new generation of iPhone is accompanied with an assortment of new apps that help show off the device’s newest features and hardware upgrades. Without a doubt, the software that tends to make the strongest impression on consumers are the games, which offer the perfect playground for exploring all the bells and whistles of a new iPhone. Games not only put the device’s graphical capabilities on full display, they also cleverly integrate all the nifty new technologies into their gameplay, acting as a kind of tutorial for new users. If you look back at the history of iPhone rollouts, you can see at least one game that defines each iteration. Here are some of the highlight titles that were released right alongside each generation of iPhone:
iPhone 1: Rolando
“Rolondo” was one of the first games released for the iPhone, and it remains one of the best. The goal is simple: Navigate the ball-shaped characters through 36 colorful levels using the phone’s tilt and multi-touch controls. The game used every feature that set the iPhone apart from the competition in addition to being an addictive game on its own terms.
iPhone 2: Peggle
“Peggle” remains one of the most downloaded games in the App Store. It cleverly combined a jewel-breaking puzzle game with pinball for hundreds of levels of physics-based fun. Launch the ball at just the right speed and angle to clear the pegs in one try. The story mode introduces eight characters with special powers who can give you an edge in especially difficult levels.
iPhone 3: Scribblenauts Remix
Originally released for the Nintendo DS, the iPhone port of “Scribblenauts” took perfect advantage of the multi-touch feature. It also looked fantastic on the iPhone 3’s upgraded screen. In “Scribblenauts Remix,” players help Scribblenaut solve puzzles by literally scribbling words on the screen and then watching as those words turn into useable items. The game is all about experimentation, and half the fun is attempting an off-the-wall solution just to see if it will work.
iPhone 4: Infinity Blade II
The first “Infinity Blade” changed a lot of minds about what was possible in a smartphone game. It was a serious adventure title with cutting-edge graphics and a twitch-based combat system that allowed for some truly epic battles. “Infinity Blade II” refined the system even more and was the first (and still only) smartphone game to earn a perfect “10” rating from IGN. Now, three years later, it plays even better on the iPhone 6s larger, retina-powered display. This game is definitely worth a revisit.
iPhone 5: Angry Birds Star Wars
“Angry Birds” isn’t just one of the best-selling iPhone games, it’s one of the best-selling video games of all time. “Angry Birds Star Wars” somewhat inexplicably combines bird flinging with your favorite “Star Wars” characters for hundreds of hours of addictive gameplay. The clever references make it a joy for fans of both properties, and it’s still the perfect way to pass the time on the subway.
iPhone 6s: Lara Croft Go
Game developers have tried to port their popular properties to the mobile platform before, but “Lara Croft Go” is one of the first to do it well. This isometric puzzle game combines touch-based combat with exploration in one stylistic package. It even incorporates the 6s’ 3D Touch to search for clues and solve puzzles.
