10 iOS games that are no longer available in the App Store

Some of the most iconic games ever released were first found in the App Store. Games like Angry Birds, Cut the Rope, and Fruit Ninja all have a legendary status as some of the most influential and successful mobile games of all time. As developers and publishers recognized the potential of the mobile gaming market, thousands of games flooded the App Store in hopes of becoming the next big hit.

Not every game in the App Store was as successful as Angry Birds, but there were many games that catered to every type of player. However, with each update of iOS, it becomes increasingly challenging for developers to support their games, and these games are eventually removed from the App Store, making it impossible to play them anymore.

10 Flight Control

Flight Control was released in March 2009 for iOS devices and quickly became a success in the App Store. The game sold over 3.9 million copies, and several versions of the game were made available for Mac, PC, and even PlayStation 3.

However, Electronic Arts, the publisher of Flight Control, quietly removed the game from the App Store in September 2015, stating that they wanted to focus more on newer and more popular titles.

9 Undercroft

Developed by Rake In Grass, Undercroft was originally released for iOS in 2009 and resembled classic dungeon-crawlers like Eye of the Beholder and Stonekeep. After a brief removal from the App Store in September 2010, Undercroft was re-released by Jagex, the developer of Runescape. Jagex had acquired the rights to Undercroft from Rake In Grass.

In a surprising move, Jagex made Undercroft available for free. The game remained in the App Store for years before being removed on an unknown date.

8 Horn

Developed by Phosphor Studios and published by Zynga in August 2012, Horn was described as a mix of Infinity Blade and The Legend of Zelda. The game's combat system resembled that of Infinity Blade, where players had to dodge attacks and strike enemies at the right time. The influences from Zelda were evident in the game's puzzles and exploration.

"Horn" was positively received by critics and was even referred to as a "mobile masterpiece" by Jim Squires from Gamezebo. However, despite the positive reviews, the game could not maintain its presence on iOS. "Horn" is no longer available in the App Store, and there is no information from Zynga regarding whether the game will be reintroduced to iOS devices.

7 Bioshock

Bioshock caused a stir in the gaming world upon its release in 2007. The game was praised for its impressive graphics and gameplay, and game developer Clint Hocking coined the new literary term "ludonarrative dissonance" in response to the game's complex storytelling.

In 2014, Bioshock was brought to iOS devices and released on the App Store for $14.99. Although the mobile version experienced a significant visual downgrade, it allowed players to experience the full game on the go for the first time. However, in June 2015, the game disappeared from the App Store following the release of iOS 8.4. The developer, 2K, had promised to bring the game back to iOS devices, but it appears that 2K has abandoned the idea.

6 Mass Effect: Infiltrator

Mass Effect: Infiltrator was developed by IronMonkey Studios and released on March 6, 2012, for iOS devices. It takes place during the events of Mass Effect 3, and players assume the role of Randall Ezno, an agent of Cerberus who gradually uncovers the truth behind his organization.

Mass Effect: Infiltrator was received with mixed reviews and did not contain the RPG elements that made the main games of the Mass Effect series so popular among fans. Electronic Arts removed the game from the App Store in September 2015.

5 Dead Space

Also developed by IronMonkey Studios, Dead Space (mobile) was released on January 25, 2011, for iOS devices and serves as a prequel to Dead Space 2. The game features the protagonist Karrie Norton, an engineer and newly converted Unitologist, who unknowingly triggers the Necromorph outbreak seen on The Sprawl in Dead Space 2.

The game performed better than Mass Effect: Infiltrator and received positive reviews from critics. However, Dead Space (mobile) was also removed from the App Store in September 2015, simultaneously with Mass Effect: Infiltrator.

4 Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Originally released for the PSP in 2008, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite arrived on iOS devices in 2014. Despite criticism of the game's touch controls, it was still well-received overall.

In 2019, Capcom announced that the game would be removed from the App Store in September of the same year. At that time, it was the only Monster Hunter title playable on mobile devices. Players who had the game installed on their devices could continue playing it, but support for Monster Hunter Freedom Unite was discontinued after the iOS 10.2 update.

3 Fortnite

Fortnite is a massive monolith in the video game industry, boasting millions of players worldwide. Naturally, Epic, the developer and publisher of Fortnite, wanted to bring the game to mobile devices, and in 2017, Fortnite was released on the App Store.

However, Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store in 2020. Epic had implemented its own in-app payment system in the game to bypass the 30% processing fee of the App Store. As a result, the game was taken down from the listing, and Fortnite is no longer available on the App Store.

2 Infinity Blade Series

When Infinity Blade was released on iOS in late 2010, it changed the world of mobile gaming. Developed by Chair and published by Epic, Infinity Blade utilized Epic's Unreal Engine 3 and offered unparalleled visual effects and graphics compared to other iOS games of that time. The game was a tremendous success and sold millions of copies. Due to the success of Infinity Blade, Chair developed two sequels: Infinity Blade 2 and Infinity Blade 3.

Despite the success of the Infinity Blade trilogy, the games are no longer available on the App Store. In a press release from Epic, the Infinity Blade team explained that it had become challenging for Chair to support the games on iOS.

1 Flappy Bird

The concept of Flappy Bird was deceptively simple. Tap the screen to navigate a bird through a series of pipes. The more pipes you pass, the higher your score. It sounds easy, but in practice, the game was quite challenging. It was easy to pick up but difficult to master, and it proved to be incredibly addictive.

Indeed, the game proved to be so captivating that its creator, Dong Nguyen, voluntarily withdrew it from the App Store. In an interview with Forbes, Nguyen elucidated that the game was designed for relaxation, yet he perceived its addictive nature as a troublesome aspect.