Gaming on the go has become the way to play for gamers in recent years. According to the latest statistics from HubSpot, there are now 2.2 billion mobile gamers around the world, 56% of which play more than ten times per week.
Wrapped up in this mobile revolution are iPad games. Although it’s fair to say that smartphones have led the latest gaming revolution, iPad games are gaining ground. Thanks to larger screens, better graphics, and a greater sense of immersion, the best iPad games are increasingly becoming the go-to option for portable gaming.
In fact, iPad games can be better than anything you’ll play on a smartphone or, in many cases, a PC or console. When you play the best iPad games online, you’ll find that they offer something other mediums can’t. Of course, we can’t make a statement like that without backing it up. With that in mind, let’s take a look at why iPad games have become so popular with millions of players.
The first iPad went on sale in 2010. The iPad 2 followed in 2011 and, since then, the improvements have been marked. Today, the latest devices can have screen sizes of 12.9” in contrast to the 9.7” touchscreen of the original. With liquid retina displays capable of projecting true HD images combined with more powerful processors, the latest iPads are vastly superior to the early versions. The improvement in quality has led to an explosion in iPad gaming.
Today, there are almost 1 million iOS game apps out there with games accounting for 22% of all apps in the App Store. As of 2017, these apps had been downloaded more than 180 billion times, which means we’re well over the 200 billion mark now. The growth of iOS gaming can be linked to the rise of iPads. With the early months of 2019 seeing the largest growth in iPad sales in six years, many developers have begun to optimize their games for these devices too.
When you compare iPad games to gaming on an iPhone, the look, feel, and overall experience is better. However, more significantly, they’re on par with, and in some cases better than, desktop and console games. Apple recognized this and announced mouse support for the iPad last year to try to capture a chunk of the hardcore gaming market as well. This renewed focus means that the future is definitely bright for portable tablet gaming.
Try some of the best iPad games online and you’ll notice some big advantages that they have over their desktop and mobile counterparts:
Every iPad game is tactile by its very nature which gives the experience a leg up on PC and console gaming. Because you’re playing on a touchscreen device, you can’t help but feel connected to the action. As well as tapping your way through various missions and scenarios, iPad games involve swiping and turning to make full use of the device's functionality.
You can say all of this about the iPhone as well. However, the iPad still has a distinct advantage. The larger screen size not only allows for better resolutions and, therefore, brighter, and bolder images, it provides more surface area. Images are easier to see and buttons are easier to interact with.
Additionally, you have more room to tap, tilt, and swipe. A larger screen offers more scope to control whatever it is the game requires you to control. Moreover, it’s much better suited to casual gamers or those not used to the fast pace at which certain games flow.
Basically, there’s more space for you to control the action and still see what’s happening. On an iPhone, you often have to sacrifice control or vision because your fingers will cover large parts of the screen as you’re tapping. When you play iPad games, that isn’t something you have to worry about.
The best iPad games are built for immersion. Compared to an iPhone, the iPad’s touchscreen has been redone from scratch to be more responsive, despite being based on the same tech. This means that developers can push things further to the point where tapping becomes a more significant part of the game. Some shooter games have even made specialized features for the iPad like multiple-target acquisition, which isn’t possible on the iPhone.
The level of immersion is also taken to a new level thanks to the extras premium and free iPad games online can offer. Take, for example, a racing game. Because of the iPad’s larger screen size, developers can include things such as rear-view mirror options. So, as you’re driving, you can tap somewhere on the screen to see behind you while maintaining a forward-facing view of the track. This adds another layer to the game and makes you feel more connected to it. What’s more, it’s something you can’t do on an iPhone due to the screen restrictions.
You can’t play popular iPad games online without noticing how fantastic they look. Take, for instance, the iPad Pro. The 11-inch version features a Liquid Retina display that puts out 264 pixels per inch (ppi), which contributes to a screen resolution of 2388 x 1668. The 12-inch version has an even more impressive 2732 x 2048 resolution.
While iPhones have impressive displays, they can’t match the iPad when it comes to gaming because they can’t support a 120Hz refresh rate. The iPad’s battery can power this feature without compromising and this makes games flow better. Not only are the images more stable, they remain sharper because they refresh at a faster rate than iPhones.
Further, Apple Arcade games have been optimized to run more cleanly on iPads too. All these features allow the best iPad games to deliver fantastically detailed, high octane environments.
There are thousands of high-quality premium and free iPad games online. Each one boasts the qualities we’ve already discussed. However, what also makes them appealing is the fact that they cover a variety of styles and genres. From action to adventure, iPad games allow you to play in a way you love.
Some of the main genres you’ll find online are:
Since a lot of the best iPad games today have multiplayer features, you’ll also be able to play with millions of like-minded people from around the world. Whether you decide to work collaboratively or test your skills against the masses, every iPad game delivers a challenge. When you combine this with the device’s innate capabilities and some fantastic content, you’ll enjoy a fantastic gaming experience from start to finish.
To play iPad games online, check out our hits above and enjoy an immersive tablet-based gaming experience today.