Shooter games on mobile handsets have come a long way. They feature mesmerizing graphics, realistic gameplay, and many other features that were only found on consoles before this. There’s a substantial number of shooting games on the App Store today.
Instead of having you sieve through many games, I’ve curated this list of the best shooting games for iPhone.
- Call of Duty: Mobile
- PUBG MOBILE
- Garena Free Fire
- Modern Combat 5
- Shadowgun Legends
- Contra Returns
- FRAG Pro Shooter
- Guns of Boom
- BAD 2 BAD
- Into the Dead 2
1. Call of Duty: Mobile – Editor’s Choice
The Call of Duty franchise has been a fan favorite for decades. While there are many Call of Duty games on consoles, you can now play the latest multiplayer entry on your iPhone.
The game has taken inspiration from other multiplayer shooting games like PUBG and put its spin on the battle royale genre. The realistic gunplay of Call of Duty combines with large environments for maximum mayhem.
There are other game modes to try as well. These include, but aren’t limited to, Team Deathmatch, Search and Destroy, and Frontline. Call of Duty’s iconic characters such as Soap and Captain Price also make an appearance.
Apart from this, you can customize your loadout with a unique selection of guns to fit your playstyle. Customize your characters, and get to the top of the leaderboards for a chance at some amazing rewards.
What I didn’t like about the game is that some melee weapons perform one-hit kills and are almost unbeatable. This becomes slightly annoying to deal with.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
2. PUBG MOBILE – Best Battle Royale game
There’s little doubt on the impact that PUBG has had on the shooting games and battle royale genres. The game has revitalized gaming to a large extent.
PUBG Mobile features some of the best shooting mechanics in mobile games. Besides, there are gorgeous graphics and fast-paced gunplay to keep you occupied.
If you haven’t played PUBG MOBILE before this, the objective is to survive till the end. How you choose to do it is up to you. You can sit out while everyone else is playing aggressively, or you could set a new kill record for yourself.
There are multiple maps with new content getting added periodically. Each map has its dynamics that you will have to navigate once you’re on the playing field. Besides, you can customize your characters with multiple outfits, skins, and different guns.
My only gripe with the game is that there are plenty of hackers who are unbeatable. This ruins the experience.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
3. Garena Free Fire: New Age – Alternative Battle Royale game
While there may be a lot of PUBG alternatives, very few have executed the idea well. Garena Free Fire: New Age is one of those games.
There are 50 players in total, and the game time is limited to 10 minutes. This adds a sense of excitement and rush to the gameplay, where players are desperate to survive till the end.
This short time limit also means that the matches are intense and challenging. The maps are huge, so you will have to strategize every move for survival.
If you want to play the game with friends, you can team up with up to 3 other players. There’s also a 4v4 mode where you will have to manage your resources and defeat the enemy team of 4 players.
However, the game is said to have poor customer service. So if you plan to buy items, it’s better to be cautious.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
4. Modern Combat 5 – Best solo campaign shooting game
The Modern Combat series has been a staple of mobile shooting games since time immemorial. With its latest iteration, the series attempts to regain its place at the top spot of shooting games.
There is a Battle Royale mode in this game, but I prefer it due to the intense solo campaign. If you like a good story campaign that will both entertain and challenge you, Modern Combat 5 is the game to play.
Further, the game features gorgeous visuals and crisp audio to ensure that each pixel rendered and the bullet shot feel realistic. If you want to play the game online, there are multiple game modes and classes. You can choose from over 10 classes based on your playing style.
I’d recommend a good controller to pair with this game as the controls are highly customizable.
However, the game’s latest update has created a few minor bugs in the gameplay. Hopefully, the developers will iron this out in time.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
5. Shadowgun Legends: Online FPS
A good mix of online gameplay and solo campaigns is hard to find. Thankfully, Shadowgun Legends: Online FPS does them both relatively well.
There’s a story mode in which the planet is under attack from aliens. The last line of defense is elite forces known as Shadowguns. You are put into the shoes of a young Shadowgun and have the potential to win the war for your race.
For lovers of online multiplayer, there are co-op missions and a range of multiplayer modes to try from. Moreover, you can also customize your character in true RPG fashion, with over 600 weapons and 1000 armor pieces.
Shadowgun Legends: Online FPS lets you play the game online as you would want to. Choose your weapons and armor based on what works the best for you.
One major issue is that it requires an internet connection, even for the campaign mode.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $3.99)
6. Contra Returns – Best retro-style shooting game
Contra was one of my favorite games as a child. I don’t remember how many countless hours I spent trying to complete the game. If you haven’t played Contra, here’s your chance with Contra Returns.
The classic game is available for iPhones, and it’s just as good as I remember it to be. The classic retro soundtracks make a return, with the side-scrolling shooting mechanics.
The visuals have been updated to keep up with modern times. However, the rest of the gameplay remains the same. You can play co-op with a friend to take down the difficult alien bosses in signature Contra style.
The developers have also added intense multiplayer gameplay if you want to try your luck against players worldwide.
The main issue with this game is that you can’t play it offline – an internet connection is always required to play.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
7. FRAG Pro Shooter – Best strategy shooting game
FRAG Pro Shooter tries to change the shooter genre. Here, it’s not about how fast or accurate you are with your shooting. It’s about strategizing.
The game tasks you to build Battle Decks with unique characters. How you build your deck will determine how you play – balanced, defensive, or offensive.
Each character has its special powers that can be used during the battle. Once you’ve built your deck, the game starts, and an intense bout of shooting ensues.
You can play online either in 1v1 or 2v2 matches. Considering the depth of characters and how much you upgrade or customize them, the dynamics can change at any moment.
The game currently lacks many maps. So if variety in maps is what you look for, this game may not be for you.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
8. Guns of Boom – Best arcade multiplayer shooting game
If you’re looking for an arcade-style shooting game for iPhone, Guns of Boom is where you should head.
While the game’s graphics are stylized and stunning, you shouldn’t be fooled by the lack of “realism” in the aesthetics. As an online multiplayer shooting game, Guns of Boom features slick shooting and tough battles.
The game’s controls are easy to understand. However, as you keep rising the ranks and face tougher opponents, you’ll realize that the game gets more challenging.
You will have to use your cunning and strategy to compete in multiple maps against players worldwide. Guns of Boom may not provide you with realistic graphics, but it’s an enjoyable and difficult game.
Microtransactions are aplenty in this game, and you might encounter players who have spent plenty of money on the best items. This makes the gameplay frustrating at times.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
9. BAD 2 BAD: Extinction – Best open-world survival shooting game
Shifting from the generic first-person and third-person shooting games, we now have BAD 2 BAD: Extinction. This game features strategy, survival, and shooting elements.
It has multiple stories to follow, and you are allowed to customize your character and units. There are a variety of enemies to deal with as well.
Another important aspect of the game is that the maps are randomly generated. This keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting each time you play.
As an open-world survival shooting game, BAD 2 BAD: Extinction delivers on almost every level. A minor issue is that you can’t customize the controls or change them to fit into the newer iPhones. This makes it slightly frustrating.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $1.99)
10. Into the Dead 2 – Best post-apocalyptic shooting game
If you like zombie shooting games with interesting storylines, Into the Dead 2 might be the game for you.
The game’s objective is to mow down as many zombies as you can, using a variety of weapons found in the game. There are 7 chapters, and how you play and make decisions will affect the ending.
This multiple ending mechanic provides an immense amount of replayability to the game. There are also different environments to explore, find rewards, and complete challenges.
The zombies have a lot of variety too. You will have to think critically to save yourself from different zombie hordes and get on the front foot.
The game has an energy system that can run out after a short period. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it can ruin the immersion of the gameplay.
Price: Free (In-app purchases start at $0.99)
What do you think of the games?
Shooting games are an ever-changing genre. There will always be something new to add to the gameplay to keep things fresh or even change how we look at and interpret the genre altogether.
I’ve tried to add variety to this list of the best shooting games for iPhone and iPad. Where do you think this genre is headed next? If you have any opinions on these games, or the genre itself, post them in the comments below!
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