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iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are out today - here are 7 games to show off your massive new screen

What to do with an extra inch or two

iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are out today - here are 7 games to show off your massive new screen
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You managed to snag yourself a new iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus at launch, did you? In that case, you're either incredibly committed or incredibly lucky. Those things are in serious demand.

In order to prevent the inevitable sense of deflation and possibly even regret that follows splurging some £700 on a gussied up mobile phone, we recommend distracting yourself with some pretty games.

Good news! Both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are the best gaming iPhones yet. Of course, we say this every year. But this year's a bit different.

You see, this is the year that Apple drops the "big phones are for idiots" schtick and finally gives people what they want - big phones.

The iPhone has been the best mobile gaming platform for years, thanks to its consistent, well-optimised hardware and unmatched App Store. Despite this, the actual physical act of playing these games always seemed better suited to large-screened Android phones.

Now, with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, we can have the best of both worlds.

These seven games could well be enough to show you why.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown
By Firaxis

This lush team-based strategy game was originally designed for PC, but it translated to iOS very well indeed last year. It's always been preferable to play the game on an iPad, though.

While that's still probably the case, it now makes a whole lot more sense as an iPhone experience - particularly on the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus, which almost makes the iPad mini redundant.

While XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a pretty serious strategy game, it's also got a flashy 3D engine that pulls the action up right behind your soldiers - a perfect showcase for that A8 processor and large display.

Lili
By BitMonster

Okay, so Lili isn't the best game on this list. But it is awful nice to look at.

It's not just the impressively detailed 3D graphics engine, it's also the sharp Pixar-like art style and the rich universe.

The rest of the game is pleasant enough, with lots of light wandering and simple tasks to fulfil. But the point is, it'll all look extra pretty on your new iPhone.

Bastion
By Supergiant Games

Of course, graphical splendour isn't the sole preserve of 3D games. Richly detailed 2D graphics can be just as impressive.

Bastion is the perfect example of that, with an engrossing fantasy world and hundreds of lovingly rendered sprites. It's console-quality, which makes sense seeing that it was originally made for console.

Bastion is also a brilliant action-RPG in its own right, with a memorable way of telling a story thanks to a dynamic narrator.

Deus Ex: The Fall
By N-Fusion

This spin-off of the popular PC and console franchise doesn't skimp on the first-person splendour of the expanded series. It's a gorgeous adventure game with a memorable dystopian future setting.

Those detailed 3D models and the gorgeous lighting that dances off of them will look especially resplendent on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

What's more, the game underneath it will play better with the added screen space, as your hands won't obscure so much of your view.

Infinity Blade III
By Chair Entertainment

It was a little odd seeing an iPhone launch without Chair Entertainment strolling onto the stage to announce a new Infinity Blade.

But it doesn't really matter, because Infinity Blade III is still one of the best games available for showing off what the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus can do.

Those beautiful Unreal Engine-powered visuals will look spectacular on the larger displays, while it still plays a mean game of screen-swipey hack-'n'-slash.

The Room 2
By Fireproof Games

The Room was originally designed for iPad, thanks to the extra detail and immersion that Apple's large-screened tablets allow for. This, along with its brilliant sequel, was a game all about the fine detail found within its clockwork worlds.

We always got the impression that the ensuing iPhone conversion was done somewhat begrudgingly - not because they were poor, but because they just didn't quite seem to sit right in 4-inches. These rich worlds were bursting at the seams.

Now, with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, The Room 2 fits quite comfortably on Apple's smartphone platform. In fact, it feels at home.

Modern Combat 5: Blackout
By Gameloft

Gameloft's Call of Duty-aping FPS series has always been about going bigger and better, so it promises to scale up to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus perfectly.

The more you can see of the game's sharp console-quality graphics the better - particularly as FPS virtual control tradition dictates that your thumbs will always be partially in the way of the action.

Crank this bad boy up on a 5.5-inch display, however, and you won't be missing any of your shots. And with full Metal support, it will make good use of that A8 chip and baked-in iOS 8.

Jon Mundy
Jon Mundy
Jon is a consummate expert in adventure, action, and sports games. Which is just as well, as in real life he's timid, lazy, and unfit. It's amazing how these things even themselves out.