As of 2022, iOS is one of the most exciting and innovative platforms for gaming out there. Smartphone gaming has come a long way since its earliest incarnations, and now represents a huge diversity of compelling titles. Yet for eclectic gamers, sometimes the limitations of the App store can feel restrictive. Fortunately, there are a range of great alternatives to explore for the enterprising gamer seeking to spread their wings and make the most of what iOS can offer as a gaming platform in 2022.
Going on Safari
Browser-based gaming incorporates a vast field of games to discover. Through established platforms and providers operating online, iOS gamers can access a wide range of titles and genres, many of which are under-served by the standard App store fare. One key area is that of iGaming, sports betting and fantasy sports. This space is home to many reputable platforms, many of which can be accessed through the use of your smartphone or tablet browser. However, as a diverse sector, it can sometimes be tricky to cut through the noise to find the best casinos and sportsbooks out there.
Fortunately there are several well established comparison platforms, such as SBO, that are committed to serving up comprehensive betting sites reviews to streamline this process. Not only do SBO rate providers from this sector on criteria such as their performance, features and accessibility, but they bring together the most competitive bonuses and promotions each has to offer conveniently in one place. Another, frequently overlooked, example of browser based gaming is that of cloud gaming. This comprises a range of subscription services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and Google Stadia. These enable gamers to access Triple ‘A’ titles such as Far Cry 6 or Forza Horizon 4, on their iPhones, right from within Safari. This is possible because they stream the gameplay content to your phone over the internet, circumventing the need for gamers to own hardware powerful enough to run these titles locally.
Take Back Control
Sideloading refers to the process of adding games and software to your smart device in a way that circumvents the official App store. While it may appear complicated, you can quickly learn how to easily sideload apps on any iPhone. There are many reasons why you would want to do this – for example, suppose that a developer pushes out an update to a title that results in a game-breaking bug. In this case you could sideload a previous version of the game and continue playing. Elsewhere, sideloading lets you access games that are region-locked for your country, giving you greater flexibility in choosing what you want to play. Finally, sideloading lets you install games that have been previously removed from the App store, encompassing everything from Flappy Bird to Fortnite.
Apple’s “Netflix for Games”
One of the major obstacles facing gaming on iOS is that Apple has never really been one to push gaming on its platforms. In fact, in the early 00s, Apple actively differentiated itself from its rival Microsoft by pitching itself as the brand of creatives and professionals, the kind of demographic that would supposedly have little time (or interest) in gaming. Of course the world is a very different place now, and the games industry is now the dominant entertainment sector globally. This has caused Apple to have to sit up and take note.
While the App store has thousands of great games among its library, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth playing. What’s more, the incremental costs of buying each of these titles soon adds up fast. It’s for this reason that Apple Arcade, a new specialized gaming service from Apple, is so exciting. This platform effectively offers gamers a curated list of the very best 256 Apple arcade games out there, all available to play in exchange for a single monthly subscription fee. This opens up the possibility of playing many new games you’ve never heard of before, or wouldn’t be inclined to risk purchasing in the App store itself. But this is just the beginning, as the announcement that Sega is developing an all new Sonic the Hedgehog game for Apple Arcade points to Apple’s ambitions for the platform. Apple Arcade also features cross-platform functionality, meaning you can put down a game on your iPhone and pick-up where you left off on your MacBook, iPad or Apple TV seamlessly.
