Strong strategy games for iPad include Kingdom Rush- Tower Defense HD, RISK: Global Domination, Boom Beach and PopCap's zombie lane defence game. Kingdom Rush is the smallest download at 142.2 MB and says it plays offline, while RISK is the largest at 1.6 GB. Every game here is free to download and lists in-app purchases.
Strategy games and the iPad were made for each other. The bigger screen gives you room to see the whole map, and dragging troops or placing towers with a finger feels natural in a way a phone screen never quite manages.
I read the App Store listing for each game below and noted the developer, the download size, the age rating, the in-app purchases flag and anything the listing says about offline play. They're in no set order.
The list covers tower defence, board game conversions, quick map-conquest games and slow city builders, because 'strategy' means very different things to different players.
Strategy games with sizes and ratings
| Game | Developer | App Store size | Age rating | In-app purchases | Offline wording on the listing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom Rush- Tower Defense HD | Ironhide S.A. | 142.2 MB | 13+ | Yes | 'epic offline tower defense game' |
| RISK: Global Domination | SMG STUDIO PTY LTD | 1.6 GB | 9+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Plants vs. Zombies™ 2 | PopCap | 205.2 MB | 13+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Boom Beach: War Strategy Game | Supercell Oy | 996.1 MB | 9+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| State.io - Conquer the World | AI GAMES FZ LLC | 390.6 MB | 13+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Tower War - Tactical Conquest | SayGames LTD | 365.5 MB | 9+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Forge of Empires: Build a City | InnoGames GmbH | 507.2 MB | 9+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Raid Rush: Tower Defense TD | Panteon Yazilim Oyun Egitim Teknolojileri ve Hizmetleri Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi | 248.9 MB | 13+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Area Conquer: Tower Battle War | LIAO WENYAO | 294.7 MB | 4+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
| Last War:Survival | FUNFLY PTE. LTD. | 993 MB | 13+ | Yes | No offline claim on the listing |
Ten strategy games worth a look
Kingdom Rush- Tower Defense HD
The first game in Ironhide's tower defence series, where you place towers and heroes to hold back waves of enemies. The listing says it plays offline, and at 142.2 MB it's the smallest game here.
RISK: Global Domination
The official digital version of the Hasbro board game, with classic world maps plus fantasy, sci-fi and zombie maps. At 1.6 GB it's the largest download on the list.
Plants vs. Zombies™ 2
PopCap's action-strategy adventure: you plant defences in lanes to stop waves of comic zombies. Its listing notes optional in-game purchases, including random item packs.
Boom Beach: War Strategy Game
Supercell's island war game, where you attack enemy bases, free islanders and team up with other players in a Task Force. It's rated 9+.
State.io - Conquer the World
An abstract real-time strategy game where you send troops to capture states on a map. Rounds are quick, which suits a few spare minutes.
Tower War - Tactical Conquest
A simple tactics game: one swipe sends your warriors from tower to tower to take over the enemy's. Easy to learn, and rated 9+.
Forge of Empires: Build a City
A city builder from InnoGames that takes your city from the Stone Age through to modern times and beyond. It's a long, slow game for patient planners.
Raid Rush: Tower Defense TD
A tower defence game where you arrange towers and units, then rush into battle. It's rated 13+.
Area Conquer: Tower Battle War
Swipe to connect towers and take over the ones in other colours. It's the only game here rated 4+, so it's an easy fit on a family iPad.
Last War:Survival
A survival strategy game that opens with dodging and fighting waves of zombies before you build and defend. It's rated 13+ and is a large download at 993 MB.
Which kind of strategy suits you?
Tower defence (Kingdom Rush- Tower Defense HD, Plants vs. Zombies 2 and Raid Rush) is about placing defences in the right spot and watching your plan hold. Levels are self-contained, so it's easy to play one and stop.
Map conquest (State.io, Tower War and Area Conquer) boils strategy down to quick swipes and short rounds. RISK: Global Domination is the slower, board game version of the same idea.
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Base and city building (Boom Beach, Forge of Empires and Last War:Survival) plays out over weeks. You build up, defend and often team up with other players.
Storage and age ratings on a shared iPad
Sizes range from 142.2 MB for Kingdom Rush to 1.6 GB for RISK, with Boom Beach and Last War:Survival both close to a gigabyte. If your iPad is nearly full, start with the smaller games.
Area Conquer is rated 4+. Boom Beach, RISK, Tower War and Forge of Empires are rated 9+, and the rest are 13+. Every game lists in-app purchases, so on a family iPad it's worth setting up Screen Time restrictions before handing it over.
Thinking a few moves ahead
- Learn what each unit or tower does before you spread your resources thin.
- Defend first, then attack once you've got a steady base.
- Replay an early level to try a different plan.
- In conquest games, take the weakest neighbour before the strongest.
- Step away and come back when you're stuck, because fresh eyes spot new routes.
Strategy off the screen
Many of these games borrow from the tabletop, and if you'd like the real thing, my guide to strategy board games and where to start covers the classics and newer favourites.
If you also have an Android tablet in the house, these free offline chess and board games for Android with no signup are a good companion to this list.
And if you're curious why planning games feel so good for the brain, here's how chess-based puzzle games sharpen thinking.
A good first download
For a self-contained, offline game, Kingdom Rush- Tower Defense HD is the easiest place to start. For something you can play with the family on a Sunday afternoon, try RISK: Global Domination. And if you only have five minutes, State.io or Tower War will fill them nicely.
Related: the board games page.
Frequently asked questions
Are these strategy games free on iPad?
Yes. Every game here is free to download from the App Store, and all of them list in-app purchases.
Which strategy game works offline on iPad?
Kingdom Rush- Tower Defense HD describes itself as an offline tower defence game. The other listings make no offline claim.
Which iPad strategy game is best for kids?
Area Conquer: Tower Battle War is rated 4+. Boom Beach, RISK, Tower War and Forge of Empires are rated 9+, and the rest are 13+.
Which game takes up the least space?
Kingdom Rush- Tower Defense HD is the smallest at 142.2 MB. RISK: Global Domination is the largest at 1.6 GB.
Is there a board game version on this list?
Yes. RISK: Global Domination is the official digital version of the Hasbro board game.
Do I need to play with other people?
Not for most of them. Boom Beach and Forge of Empires lean on other players, while Kingdom Rush and Plants vs. Zombies 2 work well solo.
