Top Rated iPhone Games on The App Store in 2025

The iPhone App Store remains a vibrant hub for mobile gaming, offering diverse titles catering to various tastes and play styles. In 2025, the App Store’s Top Charts highlight the most popular and highly rated games across three categories: Top Free, Top Paid, and Top Grossing. This article explores five standout games in each category, detailing their gameplay, App Store ratings, user reviews, reasons for their popularity, and specific game types (e.g., puzzle, fighting, arcade).

Top Free Games

1. Block Blast!

• Type: Puzzle

• App Store Rating: 4.7/5 (based on 1.2M reviews)

• Gameplay: Block Blast! is a casual puzzle game where players arrange blocks to clear lines and score points. Players drag and drop blocks onto a grid, increasing difficulty as the board fills. The game offers daily challenges and power-ups to maintain fresh gameplay.

• Why Users Love It: Players praise Block Blast! for its addictive simplicity and relaxing gameplay, ideal for short sessions. Reviews highlight intuitive controls and minimal forced ads, with one user noting, “It’s a perfect brain teaser for unwinding after a long day.” Its accessibility and low learning curve appeal to casual gamers.

• Source: App Store Top Charts, apps.apple.com

2. MONOPOLY GO!

• Type: Board/Simulation

• App Store Rating: 4.6/5 (based on 1.8M reviews)

• Gameplay: MONOPOLY GO! reimagines the classic board game as a fast-paced mobile experience. Players roll dice to navigate a virtual board, buy properties, build houses, and compete in mini-games. Social features like trading and multiplayer events enhance engagement.

• Why Users Love It: Fans enjoy the nostalgic charm combined with modern twists, such as quick matches and vibrant visuals. Reviews praise engaging events and frequent updates, adding new boards and challenges. One user commented, “It’s like Monopoly but faster and more fun with friends!” The social and competitive elements keep players engaged.

• Source: Apple’s 2024 Most Downloaded Games, www.apple.com

3. Roblox

• Type: Simulation/Sandbox

• App Store Rating: 4.5/5 (based on 2.3M reviews)

• Gameplay: Roblox is a platform where players create and play user-generated games across genres like adventure, role-playing, and arcade. It offers thousands of experiences, from obstacle courses to virtual hangouts, with customizable avatars and optional in-game purchases.

• Why Users Love It: Users rave about Roblox’s vast variety and creative freedom. Reviews emphasize community-driven content and cross-platform play, with one user stating, “There’s a game for everyone, and I love creating my worlds.” Its appeal spans all ages, though some note performance issues on older devices.

• Source: Apple’s 2024 Most Downloaded Games, www.apple.com

4. Red’s First Flight

• Type: Puzzle/Arcade

• App Store Rating: 4.6/5 (based on 180K reviews)

• Gameplay: Red’s First Flight, a remake of the original Angry Birds using the Unity engine, involves flinging birds with unique abilities to destroy pig-built structures across hundreds of levels. The game emphasizes physics-based puzzles and strategic bird selection to earn three stars per level.

• Why Users Love It: Players enjoy the nostalgic return of Angry Birds with updated visuals and smooth gameplay. Reviews praise challenging levels and minimal monetization, with one user saying, “It’s the classic Angry Birds I loved, but better!” Its accessibility and polish attract casual gamers.

• Source: CNET’s Best Mobile Games 2025, www.cnet.com

5. Last War: Survival

• Type: Strategy/Survival

• App Store Rating: 4.5/5 (based on 220K reviews)

• Gameplay: Last War: Survival is a strategy game where players build bases, train armies, and battle zombies in a post-apocalyptic world. It combines base-building, resource management, and real-time combat with alliance-based multiplayer features.

• Why Users Love It: Fans appreciate the engaging survival theme and strategic depth. Reviews highlight cooperative gameplay and frequent events, with one user noting, “Building my base and teaming up with friends is super addictive.” The free-to-play model with optional purchases appeals to strategy enthusiasts.

• Source: Singular’s Top Mobile Games for Summer 2025, www.singular.net

Top Paid Games

1. Stardew Valley

• Type: Role-Playing/Simulation

• Price: $4.99

• App Store Rating: 4.8/5 (based on 65K reviews)

• Gameplay: Stardew Valley is a farming simulator with RPG elements. Players build and manage a farm, grow crops, raise animals, and interact with townsfolk. The game includes fishing, mining, combat, and deep storytelling with relationship-building mechanics.

• Why Users Love It: Players adore the immersive world and relaxing pace. Reviews highlight the depth of content, from farming to romance, with one user saying, “It’s a cozy escape with so much to do.” The one-time purchase with no in-app purchases offers hours of content, making it a standout value.

• Source: App Store Top Charts, apps.apple.com

2. The Battle of Polytopia

• Type: Strategy

• Price: $3.99

• App Store Rating: 4.7/5 (based on 22K reviews)

• Gameplay: The Battle of Polytopia is a turn-based strategy game where players lead a tribe to expand territory, develop technology, and battle rivals. It features solo play, multiplayer, and randomly generated maps for high replayability.

• Why Users Love It: Fans appreciate the accessible yet deep strategy mechanics and charming minimalist art. Reviews praise offline play and tribe variety, with one user noting, “It’s easy to pick up but hard to master.” The lack of aggressive monetization appeals to strategy enthusiasts.

• Source: PCMag’s Best iPhone Games 2025, www.pcmag.com

3. Papa’s Freezeria To Go!

• Type: Simulation/Time Management

• Price: $0.99

• App Store Rating: 4.6/5 (based on 15K reviews)

• Gameplay: Papa’s Freezeria To Go! is a time-management game where players run an ice cream shop, taking orders, crafting sundaes, and serving customers. It includes upgrades, customization, and challenging customer preferences.

• Why Users Love It: Players enjoy the fast-paced, hands-on gameplay and charming visuals. Reviews highlight satisfying progression and replay value, with one user saying, “It’s so fun to perfect orders and unlock new toppings.” The one-time purchase and ad-free experience ensure a stress-free game.

• Source: Apple’s 2024 Most Downloaded Games, www.apple.com

4. Bloons TD 6

• Type: Strategy/Tower Defense

• Price: $6.99

• App Store Rating: 4.8/5 (based on 250K reviews)

• Gameplay: Bloons TD 6 is a tower defense game where players place monkeys with unique abilities to pop waves of balloons. It features diverse maps, upgrade paths, and co-op multiplayer, with regular updates and new content added.

• Why Users Love It: Fans praise the strategic depth and vibrant visuals. Reviews highlight the variety of towers and challenging levels, with one user stating, “It’s endlessly replayable with so many strategies to try.” The one-time purchase with optional cosmetic in-app purchases adds value.

• Source: App Store Top Charts, apps.apple.com

5. Minecraft

• Type: Sandbox/Adventure

• Price: $6.99

• App Store Rating: 4.5/5 (based on 490K reviews)

• Gameplay: Minecraft is a sandbox game where players build, explore, and survive in a blocky, open world. It supports creative and survival modes, multiplayer, and endless world generation with crafting and combat mechanics.

• Why Users Love It: Players love the limitless creativity and freedom. Reviews emphasize building anything from simple houses to complex machines, with one user noting, “It’s a game you can play forever.” The one-time purchase and cross-platform play make it a staple for mobile gamers.

• Source: App Store Top Charts, apps.apple.com

Top-Grossing Games

1. Honkai: Star Rail

• Type: Role-Playing/Gacha

• App Store Rating: 4.7/5 (based on 320K reviews)

• Gameplay: Honkai: Star Rail is a turn-based RPG with a sci-fi fantasy setting. Players explore planets, build teams, and engage in strategic battles. The gacha system enables character and weapon unlocks through in-app purchases.

• Why Users Love It: Fans praise the stunning visuals, engaging story, and deep combat system. Reviews highlight frequent updates and generous free rewards, with one user stating, “The graphics and story are next-level for a mobile game.” Despite gacha mechanics, players appreciate fair progression for free-to-play users.

• Source: App Store Top Charts, apps.apple.com

2. Genshin Impact

• Type: Role-Playing/Action

• App Store Rating: 4.6/5 (based on 580K reviews)

• Gameplay: Genshin Impact is an open-world action RPG where players explore Teyvat, complete quests, and battle enemies using elemental-based combat. The gacha system drives character and weapon unlocks, with regular content updates.

• Why Users Love It: Players love the expansive world, console-quality graphics, and cross-platform play. Reviews highlight exploration and character variety, with one user noting, “It feels like a full-fledged PC game on my phone.” The free-to-play model with optional purchases appeals broadly, though some mention high costs for rare characters.

• Source: Digital Trends’ Best iPhone Games 2025, www.digitaltrends.com

3. Clash of Clans

• Type: Strategy

• App Store Rating: 4.6/5 (based on 2.1M reviews)

• Gameplay: Clash of Clans is a strategy game where players build villages, train armies, and battle other players or AI. It features clan-based multiplayer, base-building, and resource management, with in-app purchases for faster progression.

• Why Users Love It: Fans enjoy the social clan system and strategic depth. Reviews praise long-term engagement and frequent updates, with one user saying, “I’ve played for years, and it’s still exciting to raid bases.” The balance between free and paid progression retains players, though some note the grind without purchases.

• Source: Sensor Tower’s App Store Data, sensortower.com

4. Royal Match

• Type: Puzzle/Match-3

• App Store Rating: 4.6/5 (based on 1.1M reviews)

• Gameplay: Royal Match is a match-3 puzzle game where players swap tiles to complete levels and build a castle. It features boosters, challenging puzzles, and in-app purchases for extra lives or power-ups.

• Why Users Love It: Players enjoy colorful graphics and satisfying puzzle mechanics. Reviews highlight rewarding progression and minimal forced ads, with one user stating, “The levels are fun, and decorating the castle is a great touch.” Polished design and frequent events keep players engaged.

• Source: Similarweb’s Top Grossing Games, www.similarweb.com

5. Candy Crush Saga

• Type: Puzzle/Match-3

• App Store Rating: 4.6/5 (based on 2.8M reviews)

• Gameplay: Candy Crush Saga is a match-3 puzzle game where players swap candies to clear levels with objectives like reaching scores or collecting items. It offers thousands of levels, boosters, and in-app purchases for extra moves.

• Why Users Love It: Fans love the addictive gameplay and constant updates with new levels. Reviews praise accessibility and polished design, with one user noting, “It’s a classic that never gets old.” The free-to-play model with optional purchases suits casual players, though some mention later levels’ difficulty without spending.

• Source: Business of Apps, www.businessofapps.com

Why These Games Stand Out

• Top Free Games: Block Blast!, MONOPOLY GO!, Roblox, Red’s First Flight, and Last War: Survival dominate due to accessibility, engaging mechanics, and broad appeal. High ratings reflect user-friendly designs and minimal intrusive ads, with Roblox excelling in community-driven content and Red’s First Flight in nostalgic appeal.

• Top Paid Games: Stardew Valley, The Battle of Polytopia, Papa’s Freezeria To Go!, Bloons TD 6, and Minecraft offer premium, ad-free experiences. Their high ratings stem from deep gameplay, polish, and value, appealing to players seeking complete packages.

• Top Grossing Games: Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, Clash of Clans, Royal Match, and Candy Crush Saga lead with high production values and engaging monetization. Strong ratings reflect quality updates and fair free-to-play options, though gacha and in-app purchases drive revenue.

Conclusion

The App Store’s top games in 2025 offer casual, strategic, and immersive experiences. Free games like Block Blast! and Roblox provide accessible fun, while paid titles like Stardew Valley and Minecraft deliver deep, ad-free gameplay. Grossing giants like Genshin Impact and Candy Crush Saga offer console-like quality with optional purchases. Whether you enjoy puzzles, strategy, or RPGs, these highly rated games cater to every iPhone gamer. Explore the App Store’s Top Charts and user reviews to find your next favorite.