20 Best iPhone Strategy Games (Free and Paid)

Love strategy games? Ready to put your tactical skills to the test? If you enjoy building empires, outsmarting opponents, or managing resources like a pro, your iPhone has plenty of options to keep your brain engaged.

From fast-paced battles to deep turn-based tactics, there’s a game for every strategist, whether you prefer free-to-play gems or premium experiences. Here, I’ll cover 20 must-play iPhone strategy games, mixing classic hits with fresh picks to keep you entertained.

Top Strategy Games on iPhone

With so many strategy games available on the App Store, finding the best ones can be overwhelming. To save you time, I’ve handpicked 20 best games, based on App Store download rankings, player reviews, and discussions on forums like Reddit and Quora.

The games on this list stand out for their:

✅ High Ratings and Downloads: These are some of the most popular and well-loved strategy games on iPhone.

✅ Engaging Gameplay: Whether it’s turn-based tactics, real-time battles, or city-building, these games keep players hooked.

✅ Fair Monetization: For free games, I focused on those with minimal pay-to-win mechanics. For paid games, I prioritized value for money.

✅ Community Approval: I checked gaming forums to see what real players recommend and love.

Now, let’s dive into the best strategy games on iPhone: starting with the top free picks!

10 Best Free Strategy Games on iPhone

Want to test your strategy skills without spending a dime? These free iPhone strategy games offer deep gameplay, fair progression, and hours of entertainment.

1. Rento

Rento is a digital board game in which players compete to build their financial empires by purchasing properties, constructing buildings, and earning rent from opponents. It is inspired by Monopoly, where players can trade properties with other players and gain an advantage.

2. The Battle for Wesnoth

It is a popular turn-based strategy game set in an imaginary land called Wesnoth, a high fantasy world filled with orcs, mages, dwarves, and elves. The players control the army to engage in battles, conquer territories, and complete missions.

3. Chess: Play and Learn

Chess: Play and Learn is a perfect option for new users and competitive enthusiasts. Users can participate in various tournaments, analyze games, and learn from interactive tutorials designed to improve their skills. The platform offers daily puzzles and videos from professional masters, making it an excellent learning platform.

4. Kingdom Rush

Kingdom Rush is the best Tower defense game. It offers several tower types, around thirteen heroes, and fantasy-themed enemies like orcs, goblins, and dark wizards. Players defend the kingdom of Linirea by making quick decisions and strategically placing towers, as each tower can defend against a specific type of enemy.

5. Clash of Clans

Clash of Clans is a real-time strategy multiplayer game where players build and defend their villages by attacking other villages. They manage resources, train troops to strengthen their bases. The game features a deep clan system where players can team up for wars which requires tactical planning.

6. The Battle of Polytopia

The Battle of Polytopia is a turn-based civilization strategy game based on 4X. You can explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate the world, build cities, and develop technologies in the land of Polytopia. With a procedurally generated map, each level feels unique and fresh. Players can engage in battles against AI or online opponents, gather resources, and build their empires.

7. Plants vs. Zombies

Plants vs. Zombies is a real-time strategy game where players use various plants and protect their homes from invading zombies. Each plant has a unique ability such as pea shooters, wall-nuts, powerful cherry bombs, and can detect a zombie from afar. It offers various challenges involving daytime, nighttime, and swimming pool levels.

8. Clash Royale

Clash Royale is a tower defense video game combined with elements of card games. The goal is to defend your towers and destroy your opponent's towers with strategic placement and timely resource use. Each card has weaknesses and strengths, so players must keep a balanced deck. Players collect and upgrade cards featuring troops, spells, and buildings, which are then used in 1v1 or 2v2 matches.

9. Subterfuge

A real-time strategy game in which players build underwater bases and send subs to explore, using diplomacy and tactics to compete with their opponents. It is a slow-paced war game in which tricking other players is important.

10. Rise of Kingdoms

Rise of Kingdoms is an RTS in which players start with a small city and must expand their empire by gathering resources, researching the latest technologies, and training armies. The game features a wide variety of historical civilizations, such as Rome, China, and Germany, each with unique abilities and units. Rise of Kingdoms offers a compelling MMO experience.

10 Best Paid Strategy Games on iPhone

Looking for a premium strategy experience? These paid games offer deep mechanics, no intrusive ads, and a polished gameplay experience.

11. Balatro

Balatro is the best poker-themed, roguelike deck-builder game. The game music puts you in a trance-like state. At the start, you have a deck of 52 playing cards and use them to play illegal poker hands to gain points. Each round is called Blind, and every third is called Boss Blind, full of challenges. You must strategically plan and choose the cards wisely as unique joker cards (tarot card, planet card, spectral cards) change the rules.

12. Bloons TD 6

Bloons TD 6 is an addictive and fun Tower defense game, making it one of the best in this genre. Players set up various defenses to prevent ball balloon waves from reaching the pathway's end. The game requires a real-time strategy for stopping the balloons, as players have to choose from 20 towers.

13. Through the Ages

Through the Ages is a popular strategy game because of its intricate gameplay and historical theme. Players build their civilization from ancient times to the modern era while strategically managing their resources, technology, culture, and military strength.

The game requires careful planning, as every step influences your progress and can either strengthen or weaken the civilization. You can play with AI or with friends online.

14. Kingdom Two Crowns

Kingdom Two Crowns is a strategy video game that is beautifully crafted where players build their kingdom from scratch. You can take on the role of monarch-building, recruit loyal subjects, gather resources, and construct military forces to fight off mysterious invasions. It allows you to team up with a friend and expand your empire.

15. Civilization VI

This game involves a turn-based strategy in which you lead a civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age. Players take the role of leader and manage cities, explore new lands, create marvels, research technologies, and engage in diplomacy to dominate other leaders.

16. Slice and Dice

Slice and Dice involves rogue-like mechanics with strategic dice rolling. Players take control of 5 heroes with unique abilities. The objective is to fight your way to monsters, upgrade equipment, and have a showdown with the boss. Each level is fresh and unpredictable.

17. Dicey Dungeons

Dice Dungeons is a roguelike turn-based strategy game where you play as a dice. Players use special abilities such as offensive fighters or cunning strategists to attack and defend against randomly generated dungeons. The game is a perfect mix of luck and strategy and its challenging levels keep the players coming back for more.

18. Out There

Out There is a popular space exploration game that places players in a vast, unknown galaxy. Players take on the role of an astronaut awakened from a cryosleep and find themselves in an uncharted region of space.

The task requires critical thinking while navigating star systems, encountering alien civilizations, making story-driven choices, uncovering mysteries of the cosmos, and managing resources.

19. Mini Metro

Mini Metro is a minimalist puzzle game where players design subway systems for growing cities. At start play, draw lines to connect them and optimize routes for a few stations. As cities expand, more stations will appear. The goal is to keep the passengers moving efficiently, and careful line placement while balancing limited resources.

20. Iron Marines

Iron Marines is a fast-paced, sci-fi real-time strategy game set in a vibrant alien universe. Players command squads of marines and aliens to complete almost 21 challenging missions. The game requires strategic planning to upgrade abilities and adapt to changing battle conditions.

How to Legally Get Paid iPhone Games for Free

If you want to play premium strategy games without spending money, here are legal ways to access the apps for free: no jailbreaking required.

These methods let you enjoy paid strategy games without breaking Apple’s rules!

Play These Mobile Games on the Big Screen

Some strategy games already have PC versions or native TV support. However, if your game is mobile-exclusive and you want to enjoy it on a bigger screen, AirDroid Cast makes it easy. Here’s how to cast it to your PC:

Now, enjoy your strategy games on a bigger screen!

Summing Up

Strategy games on iPhone offer endless challenges, whether you're conquering civilizations, building empires, or outsmarting opponents in real-time battles. With both free and paid options, there's something for every type of player.

And if you want to take your gaming to the next level, AirDroid Cast makes it easy to play on a bigger screen for an even better experience.

So, pick your favorite game, plan your next move, and dive into the world of strategy gaming!