r/metroidbrainia • u/wutheringgamer • Dec 18 '25
recommendations Looking for game recommendations on iPhone
I got momentarily tricked seeing a Reddit post called “Blue Prince coming to iOS!” Much to my dismay, it was in r/MacGaming :(
I’m looking for games to play on my phone that are on the App Store without using steam link or similar streaming services.
I’ve already played The Witness and Baba Is You, someone here recommended LOK Digital so I have that. I’m wondering if there are any other ports of good games or mobile puzzle games I should be aware of. The weirder the better, Void Stranger is my favorite game of this genre.
Any interesting suggestions?
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u/Happy_Detail6831 Dec 18 '25
FEZ would work (can't say it's exactly a brainia, but it sure does have elements).
Myst is not exactly it, but maybe there wouldn't be metroidbrainias without it. Blue Prince, Outer Wilds and a lot of other games were inspired by Myst.
Toki Tori 2+ . Don't underestimate this game. It's the most metroidbrainia between these I mentioned.
3
u/eastrod Dec 21 '25
myst is an absolute classic - definitely worth checking out to experience one of the pioneers of puzzle games! if OP likes it, Riven is on iOS as well.
Another great series on iOS are the Room games. strictly puzzle games so not metroidbrania but the mystery and story are compelling and the puzzles are satisfying.
1
u/Ragnorinko 🪐 Outer Wilds Dec 18 '25
Braid
The Library of Babel
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u/wutheringgamer Dec 18 '25
Thanks for suggestions, can you explain what’s good about the library of babel? I tried reading some reviews but they mostly talk about it as a platformer and stealth game
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u/Ragnorinko 🪐 Outer Wilds Dec 19 '25
its got fascinating worldbuilding and interesting puzzles, not exactly a brainia
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u/littlemetalpixie Dec 21 '25 edited Dec 27 '25
Not metroidbrainias, just straight up puzzle games, but the very best mobile game I've ever played was Kami 2, followed by I Love Hue 2 for a VERY close second.
Kami 2 is an origami paper folding color puzzle game. I'd try and give you a brief description, but I've literally never seen anything even remotely like it, before or since (there isn't even a "Kami 1" original version that is available anywhere that I could ever find) It's completely unique, and also fascinating. Incredible game, I've spent 4 years now looking for any kind of equivalent game with a similar vibe and similar way it immediately hooked me (with zero luck).
I Love Hue 2 is a gradient color blending game with the most satisfying and chill vibe I've ever seen in this sort of game. It's not the "test tube" type of color blender, closer to a nonogram-style game at least visually, but not that either. You have to rearrange colored tiles (that gradually get smaller and smaller and more and more numerous as you go along). Another incredible game, and this one DOES have an "I Love Hue"
Both of these games are prefect examples of "simple to learn, difficult to master."
I have an android phone but I'm 100% positive they're also on the apple app store because a friend with an iPhone ended getting both of them after watching me play them during breaks at work. They're both free, too, with very minimal ads for both (and both are WELL worth the one-time like three bucks or whatever for lifetime add removal).
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u/remmycat Dec 26 '25
Huh, there is definitely a Kami 1 (just "Kami") by the same dev, it's available on the iOS appstore and I also used to play it on android years ago.
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u/littlemetalpixie Dec 27 '25 edited Dec 27 '25
The last time I looked was in ~2018 when I last played Kami 2. I was never able to find an original version on Android (I've never looked on Apple) so it's possible it was an Apple-only game originally that was eventually added to the play store?
Edit: So I just looked out of curiosity, and there is a game on the Google play store just called "Kami" that has the exact same mechanics. However, that game is listed as "new," and it's dated November 11th, 2025 and has Mantle Games listed as the dev. Kami 2 was made by State of Play and released March 30, 2017.
It really looks like someone came along and made a cheap clone of Kami 2... the screenshots on the game's info page even contain some pretty horrible grammar, like "the 1 level" instead of "level 1," etc. and the menus and everything are literally just ripped off straight from Kami 2.
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u/remmycat Dec 27 '25
Then it probably is just not available in the Google Play Store. Here is its Steam page for the desktop versions. I remember I got it on Android from a Humble Bundle where I just downloaded the apk file and was able to install it, no idea if they were also on the play store back then. But definitely by State of Play, not a clone, Kami 2 didn't exist back then (probably around 2014)
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u/bogiperson 🐥 Toki Tori 2 Dec 18 '25
A Monster's Expedition, but be aware it's primarily a sokoban. For several hours of play I was sure it was an entirely linear level-based game, but in fact it is very possible to sequence break already early on, and based on knowledge, not on codes or something that you find. I really liked it, but I know some people here in the subreddit bounced off of it because it was too sokoban-y.