Let’s be honest: touch controls are the enemy of immersion. There is nothing worse than losing a boss fight because your thumb slipped off the virtual joystick or blocked the most important part of the screen. Thankfully, the best gaming experiences on iOS no longer require you to touch the glass.
We have curated the definitive list of iPad games with full controller support, prioritizing titles that don’t just ‘allow’ a gamepad, but feel like native console experiences when you use one. If you are ready to turn your tablet into a portable gaming rig, here are the 15 titles you need to download immediately.
1. Resident Evil 4 Remake
- Genre: Survival Horror / Action
- The Vibe: A visually stunning, 1:1 port of the console game. It is terrifying, beautiful, and absolutely best played with a controller to manage the complex inventory and combat.
- Controller Note: Essential. The touch controls clutter the screen too much for this level of fidelity.
- Compatibility: High-End Only. Requires iPad Pro (M1, M2, M4) or iPad Air (M1, M2).
- Price: Free to start / $59.99 USD to unlock full game.
2. Death Stranding Director’s Cut
- Genre: Open World / Narrative Adventure
- The Vibe: Hideo Kojima’s “walking simulator” is a masterpiece of atmosphere. You traverse a ruined America delivering packages while avoiding ghostly entities. The graphics and audio are console-quality.
- Controller Note: Best with a PS5 DualSense controller; the game utilizes the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers on iPad.
- Compatibility: High-End Only. Requires iPad with M1 chip or later (Pro or Air).
- Price: ~$19.99 USD.
3. Assassin’s Creed Mirage
- Genre: Stealth Action
- The Vibe: A return to classic Assassin’s Creed. You play as Basim in 9th-century Baghdad. It runs natively on the device, not streamed, which is a technical marvel.
- Controller Note: Seamless support. Input lag is virtually non-existent with a Bluetooth controller.
- Compatibility: High-End Only. Requires iPad Air or iPad Pro with M1 chip or later.
- Price: Free to try / ~$49.99 USD unlock.
4. Alien: Isolation
- Genre: Survival Horror
- The Vibe: You are trapped on a space station with one Alien that learns from your behavior. The lighting and tension are unmatched.
- Controller Note: Mandatory for the best experience. The game has full mouse and keyboard support too, but a controller feels most natural for the hiding mechanics.
- Compatibility: Broad Support. Runs on most iPads from 2019 onwards (iPad 7th Gen+, iPad Air 3+, iPad Mini 5+, all Pros).
- Price: ~$14.99 USD (One-time purchase).
5. Warframe
- Genre: Looter Shooter / Sci-Fi MMO
- The Vibe: You play as a space ninja. It is fast, grindy, and visually chaotic. This version features “Cross-Save,” meaning you can progress on your iPad and pick up on PC/PS5 later.
- Controller Note: Highly recommended for advanced movement (bullet jumping) which is hard to pull off on touchscreens.
- Compatibility: Medium-High. Requires A12 Bionic chip or later (iPad 8th Gen, iPad Air 3, iPad Mini 5, and all Pros).
- Price: Free to Play.
II. Best Action & RPGs
6. Divinity: Original Sin 2
- Genre: CRPG (Classic Role Playing Game)
- The Vibe: One of the highest-rated RPGs of all time. 100+ hours of turn-based tactical combat. You can interact with almost everything in the environment.
- Controller Note: Magic Feature: When you tap the controller, the entire UI changes from a “touch interface” to a “console interface” instantly.
- Compatibility: Medium-High. Requires A12 Bionic or later (iPad Air 3+, iPad Mini 5+, iPad Pro 2018+).
- Price: ~$24.99 USD (No microtransactions).
7. Hades (Netflix Edition)
- Genre: Roguelike Action
- The Vibe: Hack-and-slash your way out of Greek hell. The art is hand-painted and the combat is buttery smooth 60fps.
- Controller Note: The game demands fast reflexes; a controller gives you the precision needed to dodge frantic attacks.
- Compatibility: Broad Support. Runs on most iPads running iOS 16+.
- Price: Free (Requires active Netflix subscription).
8. Dead Cells
- Genre: 2D Action Platformer
- The Vibe: “Kill, die, learn, repeat.” A side-scrolling action game that is difficult but fair. It looks incredible on the iPad’s Liquid Retina display.
- Controller Note: Zero latency is required here, so a wired controller (via USB-C) or a high-quality Bluetooth controller is best.
- Compatibility: Very Broad. Runs on almost any iPad from the last 6-7 years.
- Price: ~$8.99 USD + DLCs.
9. Genshin Impact
- Genre: Open World Gacha RPG
- The Vibe: A massive anime world to explore. While the game has “gacha” (gambling) mechanics for characters, the open-world exploration is top-tier and free.
- Controller Note: iOS is the only mobile platform that supports controllers for Genshin. Go to Settings > Controls > Control Type > “Controller” to enable it.
- Compatibility: Medium. Runs on most iPads, but needs an M1/M2/A17 chip to run at “High” graphics and 120fps.
- Price: Free to Play.
10. TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge
- Genre: Arcade Beat-‘Em-Up
- The Vibe: Pure 90s nostalgia. Pixel art, pizza, and 6-player co-op. It’s perfect for short bursts of play.
- Controller Note: Supports 4 controllers locally on one iPad if you have them!
- Compatibility: Broad Support.
- Price: Free (Requires active Netflix subscription).
III. Strategy, Racing & Indie Gems
11. GRID Legends
- Genre: Racing Sim-Cade
- The Vibe: The best graphics you will find in a racing game on the App Store. It has a full story mode and feels exactly like the Xbox/PS version.
- Controller Note: Supports analog triggers for throttle/brake control, which is vital for racing.
- Compatibility: High-End Recommended. Requires M1 chip or A14/A15 chips for good performance.
- Price: ~$14.99 USD.
12. Balatro
- Genre: Poker Roguelike
- The Vibe: The breakout hit of 2024. You play poker, but you cheat with “Joker” cards that multiply your score. It is dangerous for your productivity.
- Controller Note: Recently patched to support controllers, making it a great “lean back” game.
- Compatibility: Very Broad. Runs on basically any iPad running iOS 13+.
- Price: ~$9.99 USD.
13. Stardew Valley
- Genre: Farming Sim
- The Vibe: Relaxing, charming, and deep. Build your farm and make friends.
- Controller Note: Full support. Menus can sometimes be a little finicky, but gameplay is perfect.
- Compatibility: Very Broad. Runs on any iPad.
- Price: ~$4.99 USD.
14. GTA: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition
- Genre: Open World Action
- The Vibe: Includes GTA III, Vice City, and San Andreas. These are the remastered versions with updated lighting and textures.
- Controller Note: Plays exactly like the classic console versions.
- Compatibility: Medium. Requires A12 chip or later.
- Price: Free (Requires active Netflix subscription). Note: These are 3 separate apps.
How to check your iPad Model
If you aren’t sure if your iPad has an M1/M2 chip or an A-Series chip:
- Go to Settings > General > About.
- Look at Model Name.
- M1/M2/M4 Models: iPad Pro (2021 or newer), iPad Air (5th Gen or newer). These can run everything on this list.
- A12/A14/A15 Models: iPad (8th Gen+), iPad Air (3rd/4th Gen), iPad Mini (5th/6th Gen). These run 80% of the list but cannot run Resident Evil, Death Stranding, or AC Mirage.
The line between mobile and console gaming has officially blurred. Thanks to the M1, M2, and M4 chips, the iPad is no longer just a media consumption device—it is a legit gaming powerhouse capable of running Death Stranding and Assassin’s Creed natively.
