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Top 10 best RPGs for iPhone and iPad in 2012

Level-up with these

Top 10 best RPGs for iPhone and iPad in 2012
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iOS

If you love role-playing games, you'll love the App Store: Apple's digital emporium is chock-full of new and classic RPGs.

Some are free-to-play experiences, some cost a few pennies / couple of quid, and some are a darn sight more expensive.

Thankfully, being the good souls we are here at Pocket Gamer, we've put together this list of the top ten best RPGs for your iPhone and iPad.

Zenonia 4: Return of the Legend
By Gamevil - download for iPhone and iPad

This Link to the Past-esque role-playing game is an action-RPG rather than a turn-based affair, meaning you'll be furiously tapping your device's screen to unleash attacks as opposed to selecting strikes from a list.

The world of Zenonia 4 is teeming with enemies - all of which grant experience points that help you level-up your character.

Final Fantasy III

By Square Enix - buy for iPhone or buy for iPad

Final Fantasy I and II were also contenders for this rundown, but this revamped Nintendo DS title just pipped both of them to the post.

Originally developed for Nintendo's NES console, this turn-based RPG follows a party of young adventurers who can change their occupation at will. Each job comes with unique abilities, such as being able to summon huge creatures.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

By Square Enix - buy for iPhone or buy for iPad

Final Fantasy Tactics is a tactical role-playing game in which you and an opponent take it in turns to move a party around isometric battlefields and unleash devastating attacks.

Battles aren't just a case of gutting your opponent like a pig, though, as sneaking up behind your foe and attacking it results in your dealing out far more damage than a frontal assault would engender.

Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP
By Capybara Games - buy for iPhone and iPad

Capybara's pixel-art adventure focuses on exploration rather than combat, but you'll still run into battles as you attempt to help a wandering warrior monk complete a pesky errand in a world that's affected by real-world moon phases.

If you're picking up this title for the first time, be sure to check out our detailed walkthrough.

Dungeon Hunter 2

By Gameloft - buy for iPhone or buy for iPad

Battles in Gameloft's Dungeon Hunter 2 aren't slow turn-based affairs. In fact, they're quite the opposite. It's a good job you have plenty of weapons, armours, and magical abilities up your sleeve, then.

This action-RPG features a rather unique co-op feature, which allows you to play through the entire campaign alongside three of your sword-, axe-, and hammer-toting buddies.

Chaos Rings II

By Square Enix - buy for iPhone or buy for iPad

Role-playing games and Square Enix go hand-in-hand, so you shouldn't be surprised to see another of the Japanese company's titles pop up on this list.

In Chaos Rings II - which is very reminiscent of the Final Fantasy series - you're tasked with exploring environments and battling all manner of unscrupulous beasties, including the fiery goliath in the cropped image above.

The Bard's Tale

By inXile Entertainment - buy for iPhone and iPad

The Bard's Tale is massive. Seriously massive. There's a vast world to explore, plenty of NPCs to interactive with, and 50 enemy types to overcome.

You have to explore this world and use your gift of magical song to summon unique characters that aid you in battle.

Mage Gauntlet

By RocketCat Games - buy for iPhone and iPad

Mage Gauntlet is a classic-style action-RPG that's heavily inspired by the likes of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

There are a total of 84 levels (spread across two game modes) to slash your way through, and tons of loot to find, which can be used to alter your abilities and tactics.

Puzzle Quest 2

By Infinite Interactive - buy for iPhone and iPad

In Puzzle Quest 2, you choose a character and embark on an adventure filled with dreadful monsters, glittering treasure, and match-three mini-games.

This puzzle-RPG actually sees you complete familiar tasks from the RPG genre, such as exploring environments and slaying critters.

Chrono Trigger
By Square Enix - buy for iPhone

Chrono Trigger actually debuted on the SNES in 1995, and was subsequently ported to Sony's PlayStation, the DS, a range of mobile phones, as well as PSN and the Wii's Virtual Console.

In this game, you guide seven playable characters through a 2D world, and combine your attacks with your fellow party members in battle to increase their effect and destroy creatures.

Anthony Usher
Anthony Usher
Anthony is a Liverpool, UK-based writer who fell in love with gaming while playing Super Mario World on his SNES back in the early '90s. When he isn't busy grooming his beard, you can find him replaying Resident Evil or Final Fantasy VII for the umpteenth time. Aside from gaming, Anthony likes hiking, MMA, and pretending he’s a Viking.