If you’d rather pay once for a whole adventure, start with these turn-based RPG mobile games. Each game has a paid iPhone, iPad, or Android edition, or an app that lets you buy the full game once after trying it.
Some…
Items 56 The creator’s order
1 Chrono Trigger (2011) ★ 8.0 IGDB Released Dec 8, 2011 Look for Square Enix’s paid Chrono Trigger Upgrade Ver. on iPhone. Characters can combine techniques when more than one is ready, so party combinations matter even in a short session. The battles use readiness gauges, with a Wait setting if you want more time to choose a technique or item. 0 2 XCOM 2 Collection (2018) ★ 8.9 IGDB Released Feb 1, 2018 Feral’s XCOM 2 Collection is a paid mobile package with War of the Chosen and its included add-ons. Take one mission at a time, spending actions on movement and cover while the strategic campaign changes what your team can bring. Check device compatibility and download requirements before buying. 0 3 Ticket to Earth (2017) ★ 8.1 IGDB Released Mar 15, 2017 Buy the paid mobile app for a campaign that uses the same grid for movement and setting up powers. Follow a path through matching colors to strengthen what the character will do after moving. Its clear puzzle boards work well on smaller screens. 0 4 Caves of Lore (2023) Released Jan 21, 2023 Play the paid iPhone edition for a party RPG that shifts into turn-based encounters on a square grid. Conversation, exploration, and spell experiments give you things to do between fights. It’s a good choice if you like discovering what a tool can do outside its obvious job. 0 5 Final Fantasy (2021) ★ 7.7 IGDB Released Jul 28, 2021 Choose the paid Pixel Remaster app. It starts by letting you choose the whole group, so the decisions about who can heal and who can survive an attack come before the story. A good fit if you want to begin with simple command battles and a party you chose yourself. 0 6 Final Fantasy II (2021) ★ 6.8 IGDB Released Jul 28, 2021 Choose the paid Pixel Remaster. Your characters improve through using weapons and magic, so the commands you choose in ordinary encounters help define what they can do later. Take this one if experimenting with equipment and spells sounds more interesting than locking in a class at the beginning. 0 7 Final Fantasy III (2021) ★ 8.8 IGDB Released Jul 28, 2021 Look for the paid 2D Pixel Remaster app. Change jobs as characters grow so the same party can take on different roles. Square Enix also sold a 3D remake, so check the store description for the format you want before buying. 0 8 Final Fantasy IV (2021) ★ 8.5 IGDB Released Sep 8, 2021 The paid Pixel Remaster puts the story of Cecil’s changing loyalties in a 2D version. Enemies and characters act around readiness gauges. Pick it for a story with a shifting group instead of a version centered on building all your characters from the start. 0 9 Final Fantasy V (2021) ★ 7.6 IGDB Released Nov 10, 2021 Buy the Pixel Remaster if you want to spend fights trying combinations of jobs and abilities. The group can learn a skill in one job and use it as part of a different plan later. Battles still use readiness gauges, so it suits players who like command selection at a quicker pace. 0 10 Final Fantasy VI (2022) ★ 8.2 IGDB Released Feb 23, 2022 The paid Pixel Remaster puts a large, changing group of heroes in a story about an empire called Gestahl’s. Character commands differ enough to make changing the party feel substantial. This mobile edition uses the timed readiness system common to the later games in the collection. 0 
Chrono Trigger (2011)Released Dec 8, 2011Look for Square Enix’s paid Chrono Trigger Upgrade Ver. on iPhone. Characters can combine techniques when more than one is ready, so party combinations matter even in a short session. The battles use readiness gauges, with a Wait setting if you want more time to choose a technique or item.0
XCOM 2 Collection (2018)Released Feb 1, 2018Feral’s XCOM 2 Collection is a paid mobile package with War of the Chosen and its included add-ons. Take one mission at a time, spending actions on movement and cover while the strategic campaign changes what your team can bring. Check device compatibility and download requirements before buying.0
Ticket to Earth (2017)Released Mar 15, 2017Buy the paid mobile app for a campaign that uses the same grid for movement and setting up powers. Follow a path through matching colors to strengthen what the character will do after moving. Its clear puzzle boards work well on smaller screens.0
Caves of Lore (2023)Released Jan 21, 2023Play the paid iPhone edition for a party RPG that shifts into turn-based encounters on a square grid. Conversation, exploration, and spell experiments give you things to do between fights. It’s a good choice if you like discovering what a tool can do outside its obvious job.0
Final Fantasy (2021)Released Jul 28, 2021Choose the paid Pixel Remaster app. It starts by letting you choose the whole group, so the decisions about who can heal and who can survive an attack come before the story. A good fit if you want to begin with simple command battles and a party you chose yourself.0
Final Fantasy II (2021)Released Jul 28, 2021Choose the paid Pixel Remaster. Your characters improve through using weapons and magic, so the commands you choose in ordinary encounters help define what they can do later. Take this one if experimenting with equipment and spells sounds more interesting than locking in a class at the beginning.0
Final Fantasy III (2021)Released Jul 28, 2021Look for the paid 2D Pixel Remaster app. Change jobs as characters grow so the same party can take on different roles. Square Enix also sold a 3D remake, so check the store description for the format you want before buying.0
Final Fantasy IV (2021)Released Sep 8, 2021The paid Pixel Remaster puts the story of Cecil’s changing loyalties in a 2D version. Enemies and characters act around readiness gauges. Pick it for a story with a shifting group instead of a version centered on building all your characters from the start.0
Final Fantasy V (2021)Released Nov 10, 2021Buy the Pixel Remaster if you want to spend fights trying combinations of jobs and abilities. The group can learn a skill in one job and use it as part of a different plan later. Battles still use readiness gauges, so it suits players who like command selection at a quicker pace.0
Final Fantasy VI (2022)Released Feb 23, 2022The paid Pixel Remaster puts a large, changing group of heroes in a story about an empire called Gestahl’s. Character commands differ enough to make changing the party feel substantial. This mobile edition uses the timed readiness system common to the later games in the collection.0