I Love Playing These 10 iPad Games With My Controller

In this guide, we dive deep into our favourite iPad games with controller support and reveal the best iPad games with controller support that give you a real console feeling.

The mix of precise controller control, impressive graphics, and sophisticated gameplay ensures that you will quickly forget you are playing on an iPad and not, for example, the PlayStation 5.

Whether you’re into racing games, action-adventures, role-playing games, platformers, or open-world games – we introduce you to top-notch games from various genres that are great anyway but feel even better and more rounded with controller support.

All the games presented here are incredibly fun and will make your gamer’s heart shine.

Fire away for the best iPad games with controller support.

1. GRID Autosport Custom Edition

GRID Autosport makes no compromises and is a genuine console game for your iPad. The game motivates with its large scope and great gameplay for weeks. There are countless cars and tracks, and it takes a while to get a feel for the different bolides and racetracks.

Moreover, the game looks outrageously good: Both the vehicles and the racetracks boast details and convey a real racing feeling. I even caught myself watching the cinematic replays of my races because everything looks so beautiful and is so well-staged.

The career mode of GRID Autosport is quite well done for a racing game. You can choose a team that has specific goals and then collect points while participating in different events.

There are various racing categories, including touring, endurance, open-wheel, tuning, and street racing. Thanks to the different challenges, cars, and tracks, you stay motivated.

I also like that the difficulty level in GRID Autosport is adjustable. You can set the AI difficulty level, activate different driving aids, decide whether you want to shift manually or automatically, determine that the ideal line is displayed, and even rewind if you’ve made a driving error. This individual adjustment of the difficulty level makes the game enjoyable for both racing game newcomers and experienced racers.

Also Read: Best Jump n Run Games for iPad

One reason to use a controller when gaming is that the iPad sometimes gets quite hot when playing GRID Autosport. Moreover, the game feels like it’s on a console with a PS5 controller, which significantly enhances the fun compared to touch control.

Apple App Store: GRID Autosport Custom Edition

2. Resident Evil Village

I’ve already played through Resident Evil Village on the PlayStation 5 and was all the more curious about how one of my favorite games fares on the iPad.

The graphics are really impressive, and in the settings, depending on which iPad you play on, you can adjust the texture quality, frame rate, lighting, and more. While playing, I didn’t feel that I noticed any significant compromises compared to the console version.

Especially when you play with a controller, you will quickly forget that you are experiencing Resident Evil Village on an iPad. I’m impressed by what’s now possible on tablets and optimistic that console ports of blockbuster games will eventually become the norm rather than the exception.

The story in brief: In Resident Evil Village, you slip into the role of Ethan Winters, who is determined to rescue his kidnapped daughter Rose. Throughout the game, you investigate a creepy village full of scary creatures and quirky residents, as well as a sprawling castle with a vampire family.

The gameplay offers a successful mix of shooter and puzzle elements, including exploration and a bit of crafting.

The game also looks damn good on the iPad and blurs the lines between mobile and console gaming. Resident Evil Village impressively shows what potent tablets like the iPad Pro with M2 chip are capable of today. Please do more of this!

Apple App Store: Resident Evil Village

3. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

The GTA series by Rockstar Games has significantly defined the open-world games genre. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is one of my absolute favorite games and reminds me of blissful PlayStation 2 times. The game was released in October 2004 and is still a lot of fun today.

Thanks to controller support, high-resolution textures, improved lighting, greater draw distances, and smooth 60 frames per second, it plays on the iPad as well as ever. Sure, you can still see the game’s age, but the gameplay is still a lot of fun today.

The story of GTA San Andreas revolves around Carl “CJ” Johnson, who returns to the fictional city of Los Santos to protect his family and neighborhood from rival gangs and corrupt police officers. Throughout the game, CJ is drawn into a world of crime, betrayal, and power struggles. He fights not only for control over his neighborhood but also for the truth about his mother’s murder.

However, the real star of the game is the huge open world that GTA typically offers for exploration. You can drive, fly, and dive through cities, deserts, and forests. The mix of an interesting story, a gigantic open world, and a large number of main and side missions invite me to cause a bit of havoc in Los Santos again in 2024.

Apple App Store: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

4. Super Meat Boy Forever

Super Meat Boy Forever is a tough platformer whose appeal lies in the fact that you always want to get better and perfect the gameplay. Because of the high difficulty level, it’s all the more satisfying when you finally master a level. Super Meat Boy Forever kept me hooked even after countless deaths because it quickly creates this “just one more try” feeling.

The game can be compared to Super Mario Run for the iPad but is significantly more challenging. Your character runs automatically, and you tap the controller button to jump or perform other actions. If you die, you restart at a checkpoint. Fortunately, Super Meat Boy is generous with checkpoints, so you don’t have to repeat the entire level if you die again.

I also like the creative boss fights. However, the high difficulty level can sometimes tempt you to throw the controller in the corner.

The gameplay of Super Meat Boy Forever quickly creates a certain addictive factor. I also find the graphics with smooth animations and the musical accompaniment successful.

Since Super Meat Boy Forever relies heavily on precision and timing, it’s much more fun with a controller than with touch control and is less frustrating. If you’re into platformers, you should definitely give the cute meat boy a chance – even if the game will often drive you crazy, for example, when you accidentally run into a circular saw with gusto.

Apple App Store: Super Meat Boy Forever

5. Little Nightmares

Little Nightmares also proves to be a great game in the iPad version.

The game is a survival horror platformer that looks like a Tim Burton stop-motion film. Your character is a little girl named Six, who must navigate her way through a dilapidated, floating ship. The ship is populated by monstrous caricatures and flesh-hungry tentacles. Six experiences this eerie adventure only with her wits and a Zippo lighter.

You dive into a darkly quirky world full of creativity and sinister atmosphere.

The level design alternates between claustrophobic air ducts and larger areas of the “Maw” – the ship where the girl is trapped.

The gameplay combines 3D platform elements with tricky puzzles.

The controller control works perfectly on the iPad and makes the gameplay even smoother than via touch control.

Also Read: Best Free iPad Games

Little Nightmares is an absolute recommendation for fans of horror and puzzle games. It’s best played in the dark with headphones on to fully immerse yourself in the atmospheric adventure.

Apple App Store: Little Nightmares

6. Oceanhorn 2

Oceanhorn 2’s significant inspiration from the Legend of Zelda series is undeniable.

However, dismissing Oceanhorn 2 as just a Zelda clone would be doing the game a disservice, as it is especially a lot of fun and a successful action-adventure game. It looks great on the iPad, and the control via a controller is exemplary, giving a real console feeling.

The game offers you a stylish world and visually reminds of Zelda titles like “Wind Waker” and “Skyward Sword”. The environments are colorful and detailed, and the developers have clearly made an effort to capture the classic Zelda charm. However, a bit more independence would have honestly not hurt the game.

Similar to Zelda, the main story leads you through various dungeons, where you find important items and unlock abilities. Initially, you only have a sword, but as the game progresses, you receive more equipment such as a shield, a type of gun, bombs, and a grappling hook. You see, even the items are typical for Zelda.

With the equipment you acquire, you solve puzzles and defeat enemies.

Oceanhorn 2 is more reminiscent of older Zelda parts that primarily focused on dungeons and puzzles.

Those who struggle with newer Zelda installments like “Breath of the Wild” or “Tears of the Kingdom” and prefer the old parts should definitely check out Oceanhorn 2.

Apple App Store: Oceanhorn 2

7. Resident Evil 4

Resident Evil 4 is a legendary game that has shaped the video game landscape.

The implementation for the iPad is also very successful. The game looks great, and the gameplay works excellently with an external controller.

It’s a pity that you can’t adjust the graphics as individually as in the previously introduced Resident Evil Village.

The gameplay and story of Resident Evil 4 have lost none of their freshness and even on the iPad bring a smile to my face.

In Resident Evil 4, you slip into the skin of special agent Leon S. Kennedy. Your mission is to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the president. You end up in a remote village in Spain, haunted by a dangerous cult and parasitic organisms. You fight your way through hostile, zombie-like creatures, solve puzzles, and uncover secrets.

The game combines survival horror elements with action and convinces with a very dense and intense atmosphere.

Resident Evil 4 is rightly considered one of the best games of its time and one of the best survival horror games ever. The re-release in the Apple App Store is, in my opinion, worth every penny.

The sweat-inducing gameplay, the exciting story, and the panic-inducing atmosphere are simply timeless.

Apple App Store: Resident Evil 4

8. Divinity – Original Sin 2

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is one of the most captivating RPGs in the Apple App Store. The iPad porting is fantastically successful. You get the complete game without compromises, and there are numerous controller options as well as a local co-op mode, a cross-play multiplayer mode, and even cross-save. So, you can start the game on the Mac and continue with your current save on the iPad on the go.

The game looks really fantastic and scores with a lovingly designed world and chic characters – the only downside is the high battery consumption, which is probably the price for this graphic splendor.

In the game, you can create your own group of characters or choose from pre-made figures. The characters all have their own abilities and backstories.

In Divinity: Original Sin 2, you’re dealing with a turn-based combat system. You have to plan every action carefully, as positioning and tactics are crucial to winning the battles.

Also Read: How much RAM does your iPad really need?

The game world is full of interactive elements. For example, you can knock over barrels, ignite fires, or spill water to gain tactical advantages.

Throughout the game, you must continuously develop your characters and expand their abilities, attributes, and talents. You can even influence the relationships between group members, which in turn affects the story.

Divinity – Original Sin 2 is not only one of the best role-playing games currently available for the iPad and across platforms but also a great example of what an excellent iPad port should look like.

Apple App Store: Divinity – Original Sin 2

9. Grand Mountain Adventure

Fans of polished winter sports action have not been as spoiled in the Apple App Store as, for example, fans of first-person shooters and racing games.

Grand Mountain Adventure counteracts this by conjuring up a fantastic ski and snowboard adventure on your iPad.

The game provides you with seven open-world mountains that are free to explore and offer over 100 different challenges. The scope is impressive – you will easily need over 20 hours of playtime to successfully complete all the mountains.

The focus of Grand Mountain Adventure is on the satisfying feeling of gliding over the snow.

While initially, I completed one challenge after another, I found myself increasingly opting to play in Zen mode as the game progressed. In this mode, you can explore the mountains and ski areas without having to pay attention to challenges, time limits, or competition with other players. It’s a kind of “free play” where you can enjoy the environment and improve your skills without the pressure to complete certain tasks or win races.

Zen mode is therefore ideal for players like me who want to experience the game at a leisurely pace and simply enjoy the freedom of skiing or snowboarding in a lovingly designed mountain landscape – all without pressure.

It’s just incredibly fun to fully concentrate on the great feeling of movement and to admire the chic ski areas and animations without any other obligations. The game controls exceptionally well with a controller, and the powdery snow really makes you long for the next winter vacation.

The feeling of freedom is somewhat comparable to a GTA, where you go your own way aside from the missions and explore the game world at your own pace.

You can take any lift you like, follow certain slopes or jump off cliffs and plunge into lakes. Nothing is required of you except to ski or snowboard.

Yet the numerous challenges in Grand Mountain Adventure are also fun. Most of the time, it’s about testing your speed, your maneuverability, or both at the same time.

For example, you have to slalom, perform daredevil tricks, or unceremoniously shove other skiers out of the way. Completing these challenges unlocks access to more lifts and new mountains – each with its own look as well as individual slopes and challenges.

Due to the complete freedom when speeding down the mountain, Grand Mountain Adventure has an almost meditative effect on me.

I highly recommend the game to all winter sports enthusiasts who have a penchant for relaxing games and want to just go with the flow even while gaming. After all, most of us don’t want to set a new track record on a winter vacation. It’s all about having a good time – and you’re guaranteed to have that with Grand Mountain Adventure.

Apple App Store: Grand Mountain Adventure

10. SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit

Fans of platformers and SpongeBob enthusiasts should definitely check out SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit. This cute game set in the SpongeBob universe is also best enjoyed with a separate controller and plays fantastically.

In this platform game, you can explore the depths of Bikini Bottom on your iPad and evoke nostalgic memories from your teenage years.

The plot may not necessarily be at the forefront of a platformer, but in this case, it is still entertaining: The evil genius Sheldon J. Plankton is after the secret recipe for the Krabby Patties and has even kidnapped SpongeBob’s friends.

Your task as a player is to protect the recipe formula and free SpongeBob’s friends. In doing so, you dive into the colorful world of Bikini Bottom and visit well-known locations such as Glove World and the Chum Bucket.

As you overcome obstacles and collect coins and spatulas to free your friends and defeat Plankton’s minions, you’ll encounter beloved characters from the series such as Patrick, Sandy, and Squidward, as well as the villain Plankton himself.

Throughout the game, SpongeBob gains new forms and abilities, with which you solve puzzles and smoothly hop through the levels, just like Super Mario in his prime.

Also Read: 8 Best Apple Arcade Games for iPads | 2024 Edition

The game offers six different parts of Bikini Bottom to explore, each area containing multiple levels and hidden items. To uncover all secrets and completely finish the levels, it requires skill, attentive searching, and replaying some sections.

Graphically, the game impresses with beautiful details and smooth animations, especially delighting the eyes of SpongeBob fans. The original cast of voice actors also contributes to the authentic SpongeBob experience.

I played the game with a PS5 controller and, thanks to the great graphics and successful gameplay, felt like a real console experience.

The creative boss fights and the many hidden items in each level ensure that “SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit” continually motivates a return to Bikini Bottom.

For platformer fans who have subscribed to Apple Arcade, SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit is definitely worth a download.

Apple App Store: SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit

How to Connect Your PlayStation Controller to Your iPad

Your iPad supports both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 controllers as well as many controllers from other manufacturers. If you want to pair a controller other than a PlayStation controller, proceed in the same way – only the buttons that put the controller into pairing mode may vary.

• First, make sure your controller is turned off.
• Hold down the PS button and the Create or Share button simultaneously. Wait now until the light bar starts to blink. Your controller is now in pairing mode, so it can be recognized by your iPad.
• Open the Bluetooth settings on your iPad and select the controller from the list of nearby devices.
• If the controller is paired but not connected, press the PS button on the controller.