The mobile scene is oversaturated with games, be it free or premium titles. As it can be difficult to know where to start, consequently, a potential player might just decide to ignore the whole medium and stick to console or PC titles. However, going down this road entails missing out on a number of great games, including ones that require no financial investment, at least not initially.

RELATED: Best Free RPGs On Android

What are the best free iOS RPGs? The genre is hardly lacking in representation on iPhone and iPad, and mobile technology has advanced so much that it can now support experiences that would not look out of place on traditional gaming platforms. People looking to dip their toes into mobile RPG gaming should give the following titles a look.

Updated November 14th, 2022 by Russ Boswell: The Mobile Game space continues to grow by leaps and bounds each year. What once started as simple puzzle games, platformers, and micromanagement adventures has blossomed into a vibrant space filled to the brim with all sorts of genres. There are some great mobile releases out there, especially when it comes to RPGs. Don't let the idea of mobile gaming dissuade you, many of the best mobile RPG games have in-depth systems, great graphics, and engaging combat. To showcase some of the best mobile RPGs that have hit digital store shelves in recent years, the following list has been updated with more entries.

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact ios

Developer

miHoYo

Release Date

September 28, 2020

Subgenre

Action Open-World

A few years ago, the mere thought of playing a game of Genshin Impact's quality on an iPhone would have seemed like nothing more than a pipe dream. MiHoYo's open-world action game is incredible, delivering stellar combat, a massive and constantly-expanding map, and deep lore that makes each update feel like a must-play chapter.

Genshin Impact's monetization comes in the form of its gacha system that players need to access to unlock new characters and items. While investing in premium currency is an option, it is perfectly possible to play the game without spending a dime as the free characters are more than good enough for the main story.

Try it here

Rogue Wizards

rogue wizards game

Developer

Spellbind Studios

Release Date

September 27, 2016

Subgenre

Turn-Based Tactics

Rogue Wizards has been available on mobile devices for a while, and it can also be picked up on PC or consoles. While the latter iterations come at a price, the iOS version is free, and it is an utterly charming and challenging experience that should please fans of tactical RPGs.

Crawl through dungeons taking on all sorts of enemies utilizing a fast-paced combat system that contains nuance and flash in equal measure. In their party, players can make use of melee and magical-oriented characters, both of which have a wide range of variants that greatly alter how battles are approached. Also, Rogue Wizards is packed to the brim with loot, and the free version is not too stingy when it comes to leveling up these items.

Evil Lands

EvilLandsMMORPGMobile

Developer

Rage Quit Games

Release Date

July 11, 2019

Subgenre

MMORPG

Those craving a traditional MMORPG-style experience can check out Evil Lands. This massively-multiplayer online game was released back in 2019 by Rage Quit Games and helped to reinfuse the mobile market with MMO-like gameplay that looks and feels reminiscent of titles like New World and Black Desert Online. Evil Lands features fairly good graphics (although they may be a bit dated by today's standards when stacked up against some of the other RPG offerings on this list) and basic quests that have players traveling all across an expansive world, battling against enemies and collecting items. The combat is a lot of fun, and players can team up with others from all over the globe.

Raid: Shadow Legends

Raid Shadow Legends ios

Developer

Plarium Games

Release Date

July 29, 2018

Subgenre

Turn-Based

Raid: Shadow Legends has been inescapable since it debuted on mobile devices. Instantly, a new player is likely to be taken aback by Raid's impressive visuals, particularly the detailed designs of the game's many Champions that are unlocked via a gacha system. The turn-based combat works well and should feel right at home for anyone remotely interesting in RPGs.

RELATED: Raid Shadow Legends: The Best Starter Champions

Raid: Shadow Legends is a free iOS game that uses Energy to determine the number of actions someone can take within a specific timeframe. As such, this is one of those titles that is best played in small daily bursts.

Try it here!

Diablo Immortal

DiabloImmortal

Developer

Plarium Games

Release Date

June 2, 2022

Subgenre

ARPG

Players looking for a great ARPG experience can now hop into the popular world of Blizzard's Diablo franchise. Diablo Immortal takes all the concepts and top-down dungeon-crawling action of the original series and compacts it to mobile devices while still retaining quite a bit of depth. The end result is a fantastic mobile release that is an absolute blast to play. Although there are many aspects of the title that can be accelerated by spending money, players can still hop into the free-to-play release and have an absolute ball with the base content.

Fans of Diablo or just those looking for a different kind of RPG experience should find a lot to enjoy about this release.

Marvel Future Revolution

Split image of Black Widow, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, and Spider-Man character models from Marvel Future Revolution.

Developer

Netmarble

Release Date

August 25, 2021

Subgenre

Action Open-World

Marvel Future Revolution tasks Earth's Mightiest Heroes with saving the Multiverse, and the game looks stunning in the process. Permitting someone has a powerful enough device to run this 2021 game, Marvel Future Revolution is a visual tour-de-force that also happens to come with great action-oriented combat.

RELATED: Marvel Future Revolution: Every Playable Character, Ranked

Currently, this title comes with eight heroes, all of which have their own playstyles and abilities. Marvel Future Revolution also gets its customization right, permitting users to tweak their preferred characters to suit their desired build.

Black Desert Mobile

BlackDesertMobile

Developer

Pearl Abyss

Release Date

February 28th, 2018

Subgenre

MMORPG

MMORPGs can be an absolute blast, as players have the opportunity to quest and interact with a world that feels truly alive. Seeing other players embarking on their own quests in real time brings a social element to the genre that isn't explored by other traditional RPGs.

There are a lot of great MMOs on the market but few of them have made the jump to mobile. Yet, those looking for an MMORPG experience still have some pretty fantastic options. A great example is Black Desert Mobile, which is the mobile port of the popular Black Desert PC and console counterpart. With great graphics and stellar combat, this is one that MMORPG fans should definitely try out.

Punishing: Gray Raven

Punishing Gray Raven character

Developer

Kuro Technology Hong Kong Co. Limited

Release Date

July 16, 2021

Subgenre

Action

Another free iOS RPG that shows how far mobile gaming has come, Punishing: Gray Raven is astonishing on multiple levels. Although not necessarily tacking new ground, the RPG's cyberpunk aesthetic is stylish and detailed, making this title a worthy addition to the post-apocalyptic subgenre.

The same can be said for the story that revolves around a conflict between humans and Mechanoids, the latter of which were inspired to turn against their creators courtesy of a virus. This might sound familiar, but Punishing: Gray Raven adds intrigue by providing glimpses from the antagonists' perspectives. Finally, the hack and slash combat is a blast, with players being able to switch between Constructs (the playable characters) on the fly.

Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time And Space

Another Eden The Cat Beyond Time and Space ios

Developer

WFS

Release Date

April 12, 2017

Subgenre

Turn-Based JRPG

Directed by Masato Kato of Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 7, and Xenogears fame, Another Eden is made for fans of old-school JRPGs, and the game treats its players extremely well. With over 80 chapters featured in the main story, Another Eden is an absolute behemoth, and the game does not go out of its way to stop players in their tracks. In fact, this game feels like a premium title that just happens to be free-to-play.

An awesome story, traditional but enjoyable gameplay, lots of playable characters, and fantastic art, Another Eden is the full package.

Game Rant has affiliate partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from your purchases. This won’t affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations.

MORE: Mobile Games With The Best Graphics