Indie turn-based mobile games offer a unique and diverse gaming experience that can be both challenging and rewarding. With mobile gaming growing at a rocket’s pace, indie developers have been able to make their mark on the industry by creating games that are both innovative and engaging.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 best indie turn-based mobile games. If you want to try out any of these for yourself, get them from the iTunes Store using an iTunes Gift Card courtesy of OffGamers here.
On to the list!
1. Hoplite
Hoplite is a minimalist turn-based strategy game that is easy to learn yet difficult to master. The game requires you to navigate through a series of increasingly challenging levels as a Greek soldier known as a Hoplite while avoiding enemy attacks.
With each level, the game becomes more difficult, adding new obstacles and enemies to overcome. The game’s simple design and user-friendly mechanics make it accessible to players of all ages and skill levels.
2. Star Traders: 4X Empires
Star Traders: 4X Empires is a turn-based space strategy game that lets you build and manage your own space empire. You can explore different planets, build space stations, and engage in space battles with other players.
The game can appear daunting at first, as it has a steep learning curve. That said, once you get the hang of it, you’ll find the gameplay heavily rewarding and the satisfaction unreal. Give some time and love to this game, and it’ll respond in kind.
With deep customization options and multiple factions to choose from as well, Star Traders: 4X Empires is a must-play for fans of the genre.
3. Darkest Dungeon
Many consider Darkest Dungeon the “Dark Souls of turn-based games.” As you might expect from that description, the game’s an extremely challenging turn-based RPG.
Darkest Dungeon tests your skills as a dungeon crawler. You must manage a team of heroes as they navigate through a series of dark and treacherous dungeons. The game’s gloomy gothic visuals and brutal difficulty give it a certain charm for players who enjoy pain.
Darkest Dungeon also features a unique stress system that can have a significant impact on your team’s performance, adding an extra layer of depth to the gameplay.
4. Polytopia
Polytopia is a turn-based strategy game that lets you build and manage a civilization. The game packs plenty of depth, offering players a variety of different tribes to choose from, each with its own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Couple the game’s “less-is-more” approach with its charming graphics and addictive gameplay, and Polytopia is a must-play for strategy game enthusiasts. With multiplayer functionality, Polytopia also offers the ability to compete against other players from around the world.
5. XCOM: Enemy Within
A turn-based strategy game that puts you in command of a squad of soldiers fighting against an alien invasion—what’s not to love? Like others on this list, XCOM: Enemy Within is challenging to learn, but offers an incredibly rich experience for those willing to invest the time to learn its intricacies.
A standalone expansion to Fireaxis’s stellar XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Enemy Within builds on the strengths of the core game to great results. With intense tactical battles, in-depth customization options, and a narrative that affords ample player agency, Enemy Within is a worthy addition to any mobile library.
6. Battle for Wesnoth
If you enjoy games like Clash of Clans or the Dynasty Warriors Empires series, then Battle for Wesnoth is your game.
Set in a fantasy world, Battle for Wesnoth tasks you with leading your army to victory against your enemies while managing your resources and upgrading your units. The game offers complex mechanics, expressive pixel art, and tons of variety by way of both campaign and multiplayer functionality.
Battle for Wesnoth is akin to a rabbit hole. Once you’re in it, it’s extremely hard to pull yourself out of it!
7. Chroma Squad
Chroma Squad is a turn-based strategy game that lets you manage a team of actors as they create their own Power Rangers-inspired TV show. Old-school and newer players alike will find plenty to love with this game’s lighthearted demeanor and charming retro style.
Amazing aesthetics aside, Chroma Squad offers a high degree of customization choices, allowing players to personalize their superhero squad to their liking. Mission types vary greatly, and while there’s a staggering number of levels on offer, Chroma Squad never manages to overwhelm.
8. Templar Battleforce
As with XCOM, Templar Battleforce pits you against an alien invasion, only this time you’ll be playing as the Templar Knights to crush these invaders. Focusing on tactical gameplay, the game allows its players to choose from a pool of classes they can use to craft their own strategies. It’s a multi-dimensional game with numerous viable play styles.
Templar Battleforce’s challenging gameplay is addictive. Even when you’re losing, you’ll want to keep playing. Throw in some retro visuals and a relatively well-written story, and Templar Battleforce is an underrated indie that has flown under the radar.
9. FTL: Faster Than Light
FTL: Faster Than Light is a rogue-like space exploration game that features turn-based combat. You must navigate through a randomly generated galaxy, manage your ship’s resources, and engage in space battles with enemy ships.
Don’t be fooled by the title: This game is not faster than light when it comes to learning. Its intense gameplay and permadeath system are punishing, though that’s where FTL is at its best. It’s an arduous yet satisfying experience.
With so many different ships and equipment to unlock, FTL: Faster Than Light has virtually no end. It’s a game that constantly gives you new things to discover and learn. And each time you do, you’ll find the experience worthwhile.
10. Card Quest
Card Quest is a turn-based RPG that features a unique card-based combat system. You must navigate a series of dungeons, battling monsters and collecting treasure, in a similar vein to the legendary indie Slay the Spire.
Card Quest is beautifully designed, and its retro theme brings a sense of nostalgia whenever you boot up the game. And while the game can be unrefined at times, that’s also why it’s so intriguing. It’s not a perfect game, but Card Quest is well-regarded by its community and deserves more love.
With a range of different cards and abilities to unlock, Card Quest has all you need for a deck-building game. It’s simple, accessible, and definitely a diamond in the rough.
Final Thoughts
Indie turn-based mobile games offer a diverse range of experiences, from minimalist strategy titles to complex RPGs and space exploration games. The 10 games listed above are just a few examples of fantastic titles created by indie developers.
With mobile gaming continuing to grow in popularity, there are sure to be even more amazing turn-based mobile games in the future. Give them a try, and share your own favorite indie turn-based mobile games in the comments below!
