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28 indie Steam games that we need to play on our iPads

Steam-powered iPad

28 indie Steam games that we need to play on our iPads
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iOS
| Legend of Grimrock

The PC indie RPG hit Legend of Grimrock has just launched on iPad and it looks, and plays, wonderfully.

So much so that it got us thinking about other Steam indie gems that could make the iOS conversion.

Not one for half measures, is Pocket Gamer, so here's a whopping 28 indie games that we want to play on our iPads.

Make it happen, whoever's in control of these things. Tim Cook? Probably.

Super Meat Boy

Super Meat Boy is an oldschool platformer that's almost as tough as Pocket Gamer's own Harry Slater. Almost.

A mobile version has been rumoured for quite some time now but we want the original and we want it now.

Rogue Legacy

Rogue Legacy is also difficult, which is kind of a standard for roguelikes - they're games in which death is permanent.

What isn't standard though, is how successfully it manages to mix roguelike-ing with 2D platforming.

Don't Starve

Don't Starve is also a roguelike but with a focus on survival.

You'll be spending a lot of time gathering resources and crafting valuable items to help you do just that. It's all a bit Minecraft.

Mount Your Friends

Mount Your Friends is just as silly and weird as it reads.

It's a lot of silly and weird fun though, and we reckon adding touch into the equation would make it a lot more so.

Trine

Trine is a 3D platformer set in a gorgeous fantasy world in which you switch between a knight, mage, and archer to solve puzzles. Trine is brilliant.

Amnesia

Your only defence from the many scary threats you encounter in Amnesia is a lamp. You'll spend most of your time hiding, though. It could well be the scariest game ever made.

Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight plays like a game from your childhood but the developer hasn't ignored all the years of platforming improvements that have passed since then.

The result is possibly one of the greatest 8-bit platformers of all time.

Hotline Miami

On the other hand, Hotline Miami plays like a game we probably shouldn't have played as a child.

It's very reminiscent of the early Grand Theft Autos. That means a lot of violence, guns, cars, and pixels. The very bes

Hand of Fate

Hand of Fate is a unique combination of action RPG and card battler by Defiant Development, the studio behind Ski Safari and Heroes Call.

An iOS version isn't out of the realms of possibility either.

Shantae and the Pirate's Curse

The Shantae series began on Game Boy Color but one thing's stayed present in the franchise - pixels.

That and solid 2D platforming, of course.

The Binding of Isaac

If you're curious about roguelikes but intimidated by the idea of them, The Binding of Isaac is the one for you.

It's rock-hard, sure, but perfectly accessible to newcomers. And incredibly addictive, to boot.

Castle Crashers

Castle Crashers is a side scrolling beat-'em-up / RPG that supports up to four player co-operative multiplayer.

iOS is a bit lacking in the multiplayer department and would welcome a game of Castle Crashers' pedigree.

Nidhogg

Nidhogg is a pixelated side-scrolling duel-'em-up that features some intense and addictive two-player fencing.

Again, iOS would only benefit from another excellent multiplayer game and Nidhogg's relative simplicity would make it an excellent fit on mobile.

Torchlight

iOS has seen a fair few action RPGs in its time but none of them match up to the mighty Torchlight.

Modelled after the original Diablo but with added cartoon visuals and dazzling skill effects, Torchlight completely rejuvenated the genre on PC. Now we'd like to see it do the same on iOS.

Cave Story+

Cave Story+ is the enhanced version of the 2004 indie platforming hit.

Like pretty much every indie platformer, Cave Story+ models itself off the classics - particularly Metroid.

Mark of the Ninja

Mark of the Ninja breaks up the 2D indie platformer trend by putting all of the focus on stealth.

Aside from Republique, there's a lack of stealth gameplay on iOS and there's no game better than Mark of the Ninja to remedy that.

Dust: An Elysian Tale

Another 2D indie platformer, Dust: An Elysian Tale separates itself from the pack by opting for hand-painted animated visuals not unlike a classic Disney film.

Impressively, Dust was entirely designed and developed by the self-taught Dean Dodrill. Inspiring stuff.

Braid

Braid could well have been the game that kicked off the current indie revolution.

The puzzle-solving focus and mildly unsettling nature of the plot is all a bit LIMBO, an excellent indie puzzle platformer that's already out on iOS.

Lone Survivor

A 2D survival horror featuring a potentially insane protagonist? Count me in.

Lone Survivor takes unsettling to a new level, as it explores the psychological effects on a lonely survivor of the zombie apocalypse.

Also, it has zombies in it. Sold.

Guacamelee

Ever wanted to play a gorgeous 2D platformer featuring a luchadore who can travel between the lands of the dead and living at will?

Well, you certainly won't regret playing it, that's for sure.

Pillars of Eternity

We already have Baldur's Gate so there's no reason that Pillars of Eternity, a brand new classic RPG, wouldn't sit quite nicely on iOS.

There have been murmurs of discontent about Baldur's Gate being a bit too archaic by today's standards. Pillars of Eternity can offer a similar experience without that issue.

Westerados: Double Barreled

Westerados: Double Barreled toes so many genres that I can't be bothered to list them.

Suffice to say that you won't find another game like it and if you're into spaghetti westerns or the wild west in general, you'd do yourself a disservice not playing it.

The Escapists

A very clever prison escape simulator, The Escapists has an excellent art style and sense of humour.

It tasks you with going about your daily prison routine while collecting and crafting items you can use to escape - all without raising suspicion.

Crypt of the Necrodancer

Just when you thought you'd had enough of indie roguelikes, along comes Crypt of the Necrodancer.

Before you complain that too much of a good thing is too much, bear in mind that this is a rhythm roguelike. You move to the music, fight to the music, and even dance to the music - that's as fresh as it gets.

Transistor

Transistor is an action RPG by Supergiant Games, the developer of Bastion.

If that hasn't already persuaded you, then the super slick gameplay might. And, it features a fully customisable and upgradeable talking sword, voiced by the narrator of Bastion.

Sunless Sea

Sunless Sea truly is unique - so much so, that I don't really know how to begin to describe it.

It's set in a fictional Victorian London and you're the captain of your own upgradeable steamship. You can hire crew, trade goods, and fight other ships and deadly sea monsters.

There's a lot of game here but it's one that's best experiencing for yourself.

Resonance

An oldschool indie point-and-click-adventure, Resonance features four playable characters, a plot about finding a dead scientist's secret vault, and lots of pixels.

Resonance was developed by Wadjet Eye Games, the developer behind the Blackwell trilogy. We may just see it on iOS yet.

Captain Forever Remix

Yes, we're ending the list on yet another roguelike.

It's not just any roguelike, though. Here you build your own spaceship and set out into the universe to blow up enemies for resources to build an even bigger spaceship.

It's pretty rad.

Chris James
Chris James
A footy game fanatic and experienced editor of numerous computing and game titles, lively Chris is up for anything - including running Steel Media! (Madman!)