The term “action role-playing game” was first created by some Japanese developers, like Nihon Falcom, the maker of renowned Dragon Slayer series. This particular sub-genre refers to the type of RPGs that embraces elements of action or action-adventure, emphasizing real-time action where players take direct control of their characters and engage in open world combat, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat. Classic ARPGs you might have grown up playing on your PC include Diablo, Dungeons & Dragons, Deus Ex, and just name a few.
Below are some of these brilliant games AppsGoer has sorted out from the vast ocean of apps on iTunes. Their ranks here do not necessarily represent how good they really are, but they do, to some degree, indicate how they perform in the eyes of our editors and the vast amount of iOS gamers. If you are a fan of this genre, I’d suggest you give each of them a shot.
Deus Ex: The Fall
The original Deus Ex, released way back in 2000, was among the earliest ARPGs that combined first-person shooter, stealth and role-playing elements. It won worldwide acclaim and set a solid stone for its successors. And that’s how we witnessed the birth of Deus Ex: The Fall, the fourth entry to the series and the first of the series that lands on mobile. The new game is driven by a story that closed followed that of its predecessor Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which was released in 2011 on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id633443676?mt=8
AppsGoer’s Review: http://www.appsgoer.com/2013/11/23/deus-ex-the-fall-review/
Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar
Many games nowadays would go through a soft-launch that developers say could help optimize and fine-tune the game’s performance. And so is the case with Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar. The game had undergone a test run on the CA App Store before it was finally released worldwide. Fortunately, we now see a highly polished game that any hardcore ARPG fan would ask for.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id591541650?mt=8
AppsGoer’s Review: http://ios.appsgoer.com/ultima-forever-quest-for-the-avatar-review-9521.html
Gangstar Vegas
Gangstar Vegas is a classic game from Gameloft, a Grand Theft Auto on your phone. You can complete missions with the wildest characters in a blockbuster story mode in the City of Sin, where you can enjoy the freedom of killing people and robbing. You can upgrade your skills and gears to expand your place in Gangstar Vegas. Tons of insane weapons and crazy vehicles are also available to fit your play style.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id571393580?mt=8
AppsGoer’s Review: http://ios.appsgoer.com/gangstar-vegas-review-10810.html
Dungeon Hunter 4
Dungeon Hunter 4‘s emerge on mobile was a big event in the gaming world of early 2013. A whole lot of action RPG fans went scrambling for the fourth entry of the Dungeon Hunter series. It’s undoubtedly fun to fight your way through Dungeon Hunter 4’s gorgeous world, especially with friends. But the paywall seems to come too soon and its stingy IAP may have prevented many players from getting the full picture of it.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id545639959?mt=8
AppsGoer’s Review: http://ios.appsgoer.com/dungeon-hunter-4-review-2294.html
Eternity Warriors 3
Eternity Warriors 3 is not yet released on a worldwide basis and only downloadable from NZ, CA and a few other App Stores. It’s the third installment of the critically acclaimed Eternity Warriors series. As usual, Glu Games will release this game on both iOS and Android platform so you won’t wait too long to download it on Google Play Store.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/id656730569?mt=8
AppsGoer’s Look: http://www.appsgoer.com/2013/09/30/first-look-eternity-warriors-3-new-heroes-spectacular-visuals-and-real-time-chat/
Dark Avenger
Korea-based developer Gamevil definitely did an excellent job by presenting a great many smash-hit mobile games this year, such as Steel Commanders, Spirit Stones, Kingdom and Dragons and more. Dark Avenger may not be one of the best-looking ARPGs released in 2013, but its dungeon crawling part has been well designed that the player will submerge in its super addictive combat in mere minutes.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id620510217?mt=8
AppsGoer’s Review: http://ios.appsgoer.com/dark-avenger-review-6317.html
Iesabel
From Forever Entertainment S.A., a three-year old Poland-based developer, comes Iesabel, a Diablo-like action RPG with gorgeous visuals. With a fantastic, action-packed single player mode, amazing co-op multiplayer with up to 7 of your friends and cross-platform gaming, the game offers pretty much all that a typical ARPG can afford.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id666232910?mt=8
AppsGoer’s Review: http://ios.appsgoer.com/iesabel-review-12863.html
Battlestone
Zynga‘s arcade action game Battlestone leads you directly to a fantasy 3D world, where unexceptional story unfolds as the game presses on. Follow the simple storyline, you will battle through a set of scenarios against tons of enemies. Level up your heroes to gain more combos and use your earnings to unlock a dozen of premium heroes. With tap-to-move and swipe-to-attack controls, Battlestone is simple enough to put fingers on, but to customize a plethora of special moves will keep you on the go.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id572029235?mt=8
AppsGoer’s Review: http://ios.appsgoer.com/battlestone-review-6445.html
Shadowslayer: Dawn of the Lightforge
Shadowslayer: Dawn of the Lightforge is not the typical type of APRG, but it ingeniously blends action role-playing and base-building elements. The action in the game is pretty weak compared to games that are strictly action RPGs. So if you are OK with the combination of ARPG and base-building, you will be rewarded with a fairly entertaining iOS game. Otherwise, just forget about it.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id714650650?mt=8
AppsGoer’s Review: http://www.appsgoer.com/2013/10/11/shadowslayer-dawn-of-the-lightforge-review-interesting-blend-of-action-rpg-and-base-builder/
Heroes of Destiny
Presented by Glu Games, Heroes of Destiny is a solid loot-driven action RPG that mixes real-time strategy with MMO-like raid party mechanics. Players take control of up to four heroes as they adventure through the land slaying ogres, saving villages, and plundering mines for loot and treasure in this free-to-play game.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id531412191?mt=8
Bloodmasque
Square Enix’s Bloodmasque really made something by racking up a massive download record of 500,000 upwards. The best selling point of the game is that it grants players to create a virtual self, to achieve which, all they need is take a photo of themselves and then use the build-in face creator to shape a vivid character. Apart from that, they play as a half-vampire hunter and party up with other players to hunt roaming vampires around the world.
View and Download on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/nz/app/id663664240?mt=8
Find More Hot Games at: http://ios.appsgoer.com
Join Hot Forum Discussion at: http://forums.appsgoer.com
