Top 5 best first-person shooter (FPS) games for iPhone and iPad
Breaking down the best, most must-have first-person shooter (FPS) games to blast and brawl your way through on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad
First person shooters, affectionally initialized as FPS, are some of the most popular games on any platform and iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad are no exception. While control was, and remains and issue -- glass multitouch doesn't provide the same options as a PC keyboard or dedicated gamepad -- the graphics, animation, ambiance, music, and intimacy of iOS makes for an incredibly exhilarating experience. From World Wars to space hulks, soldiers to monsters to the walking dead, hand-to-knife combat to blasters, ballistics, and beam weapons there are a plethora of choices available to the hardcore FPS gamer. Here are some of our favorites.
Modern Combat 3: Fallen Nation
The latest in a series of games so good you can scarcely believe they're on your phone, Modern Combat 3 has 13 missions, excellent gameplay, and a truly immersive experience. While an iPhone can never replace a full-on PC, Xbox 360, or Playstation 3 console shooter with all the bells, buttons, and whistles, the gap is definitely closing. And this one you can carry around in your pocket. Universal app - works on both iPhone and iPad.
- $6.99 - App Store link
Dead Space
If you couldn't guess from the title it's a space survival/horror shooter with absolutely gorgeous graphics and even better sound and atmosphere. The mood is just perfect and transitions from casual, almost monotonous getting-to-know-the-controls early missions to OMFG-what's-eating-my-face action with heart-stopping abruptness. Dead Space isn't on rails; you walk where you want to walk, blast what you want to blast. You do have a guidance mechanism to show you the way, however, which minimizes the frustration of truly open environments.
- $6.99 - iPhone App Store link
- $9.99 - iPad App Store link
N.O.V.A. 2
N.O.V.A was the closest thing to getting HALO on the iPhone and iPad, and N.O.V.A 2 takes all that was great about the original and shoots it into orbit and ads even better graphics, creatures, vehicles, maps, and game play. The visual are simply stunning, the controls about as good as you can expect from multitouch, and the action frenetic. Career mode, multiplayer, leader boards -- hawt.
- $6.99 - iPhone App Store link
- $6.99 - iPad App Store
RAGE HD
From the mind of the legendary John Carmack and the labs of ID Software, RAGE HD is a post-apolocalyptic world-scorcher of an FPS. On the down side, it's on rails so you can't move about freely. On the plus side, it's got gruesomely gorgeous graphics, Game Center support, crazy extras like Mirror Mode, and is a great way to raise some hell and work out some aggression on your iPhone or iPad. Universal app -- works on both iPhone and iPad
- $1.99 - App Store link
Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies
It's CoD, it's zombies, what more really needs be said? Following up on the original Call of Duty: Zombies, this all new, all better sequel pits you and up to three of your friends against the walking dead with an all new interface, in-game chat, and more achievements than you can toss a grenade at. Also includes a top-down arcade bonus. Universal app -- works on both iPhone and iPad
- $6.99 App Store link
Your top FPS shooter?
So there you have them, our top 5 best FPS games for iPhone and iPad. Be sure to check out our other Top 5 picks, our Picks of the Week, and iPhone App and Games Forum for more recommendations, and if we missed any of your favorites leave them in the comments below!
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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Dead Space is a great game, but it is not a FPS!
Indeed, it isn't an FPS and does t really belong on this list, despite being the best game on it (and being perhaps the best 'console-style' game that isn't a port on iOS).
Awesome Collection!
i know im going to be that guy but really, if you have played battlefield 3 on pc multiplayer you laugh at these collections. You just dont take this seriously.
although I bet you look like an idiot with all that stuff on a bus.
HA! Well played. I never got into FPS on consoles. They bore me after awhile and I never finish them. However, they're perfect for me on my iPhone/iPad because I can do them in quick bursts. If YOU don't take them seriously, that's fine. Move along. Nothing to see here.
Your mom never told you "Don't be that guy"?
Eliminate Pro hands down the best FPS in the App Store. What CoD is to consoles, Eliminate Pro is to iOS.
Its an oldie but a goodie, if you can live with outdated visuals I would highly recommend Doom. Its the only FPS I've seen that controls decently on a touchscreen due to not needing to aim up or down. The third controll option (like dual analogue, but the second stick is more like a wheel) is absolute bliss.
Agreed, Doom is an awesome FPS on the iphone.
The only iOS FPSs I've been able to tolerate are Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. Graphics aren't everything. Good controls are more important.
Modern Combat 3. Hands down.
Rainbow Six for 2nd place.
Dead Space isn't a first-person shooter.
I got COD Zombies. It's a blast. I definitely need N.O.V.A 2 and Modern Combat 3. POWER TO THE PLAYAZ!!! LOL!!!
MC 3 fo shizzle.
Hackers ruin it sometimes, but it's the closest we'll get to MW3/BF3 on a portable device. It's a shame gameloft dropped March of Heroes, that looked pretty good and ran on unreal engine if IIRC.
Cute is all you had to say? that had made it the worst message ever on this website.. cute?? who says that about Angry Birds?It is only the Best game ever made for Apps!
Battleship. Monopoly. You name it, the classics, they're sure to have it.