With 2024 steadily grinding to a halt, it is only fair that we look back at the year’s major highlights in the gaming industry. This time, we beam our spotlight to the mobile gaming scene, where the Apple App Store has again played host to some impressive titles this year. Whether you’re into adrenaline-pumping races, high-octane fights, relaxing board games, brain-teasing trivia, or explosive casino games, there’s something for everyone here. This article explores the most popular gaming apps in Canada for 2024.
Top Downloaded Gaming Apps in the App Store
The Apple App is the place to find all the latest and greatest games for iPhone users in Canada and elsewhere. Below are some standout apps and games dominating the charts across popular gaming categories in the App Store this year.
Racing Apps
Racing Apps remain a gamer’s favourite, with adrenaline-pumping, high-octane action, and stunning graphics on full display. Here are the top games in this category.
Asphalt 9: Legends
If you like arcade-style gameplay on jaw-dropping visuals, plus some of the most exotic rides in the business, you’ll surely fancy Asphalt 9: Legends. I particularly like its competitive multiplayer modes, which offer exciting face-offs.
Hill Climb Racing
This game mixes physics-style mechanics with simple control and engaging gameplay and works seamlessly. Here, you must navigate the most challenging terrains to claim coins and diamonds that help you foot your vehicle upgrade bills.
Card Games
Card games continue to rank among the most downloaded games on the App Store. Build strategy, deploy your skills, and hope for luck in the Card games featured here.
Balatro+
An Apple Arcade exclusive and one of the top-ranked and newly published Apple arcade games this year, Balatro+ is a deck-building poker game featuring creative mechanics and a fun art style. Players use cards to score big in this game of wits and strategy.
Solitaire by Mobilityware+
Spider Solitaire is a modern take on the classic Solitaire game and does a great job at it. Players like its many difficulty levels, minimalist design, intuitive controls, and many customizable features.
Action Games
Craving high-intensity action and adventure, check out these action games on your iPhone and test your reflexes.
Call of Duty: Mobile
Call of Duty continues to hold its top spot in the rankings with its action-packed gameplay in Call of Duty: Mobile. The game offers a wide range of weapons, exciting multiplayer battles, and popular maps that keep players coming back for more. Whether you’re playing in team mode or taking on the challenge of battle royale, this mobile version delivers the classic Call of Duty experience right to your device.
Vampire Survivors
Think captivating roguelike game, where a raving mob of enemies force you into spirited defence and strategic attack? Step up Vampire Survivors. This game counts retro-inspired graphics and engaging gameplay, making it an App Store hit for gamers.
Subway Surfers
Subway Surfers is a train-dodging, coin-collecting adventure game, an ever-present fixture on the Apple App Store’s top charts and was actually the most downloaded mobile game of 2021. This version features new, improved visuals and environments, plus more challenging obstacles in an endless-run adventure that continues to excite.
Casino Apps
Casino games need no introduction to Canadian audiences. They offer everything from fun and rewarding gameplay to social gaming experiences. Here are some top-rated casino apps featuring the best games making the rounds this year.
Jackpot City Casino
Jackpot City is home to over 400 online casino games–from slots to live dealers and table games from the biggest software providers. Check out top Slot titles like Immortal Romance and Thunderstruck II here and enjoy an exciting gameplay experience.
LeoVegas
With a vast gaming catalogue of over 2,500 games and a brand name trusted and highly ranked by industry experts, LeoVegas Casino has made a significant impact on the casino gaming scene this year. Players love the Microgaming Jackpot slots and the live-dealer table games featured here.
FanDuel Casino
FanDuel doubles as a sportsbook and a casino, but the latter has been making the news this year, and why not? With many of the biggest casino games joining the ranks and a live casino section powering on, it is not difficult to imagine why. If you like Gonzo’s quest Megaways or Divine Fortune, you’ll be in good company here.
Board Game Apps
The Apple App Store brings the nostalgia of Board games from tabletops to the convenience of iPhones. Here are this year’s most popular titles in this category.
Monopoly GO!
As far as mobile adaptations go, Monopoly Go gets all its acts right, so it continues to rank among the most downloaded games on the app store. Think of all the interactive features, the pace of gameplay, and the opportunity to take on your family and friends on this exciting ride.
Scrabble GO
Looking to improve your vocabulary and have fun while at it? Try Scrabble GO. This game remains the go-to for word enthusiasts. It is an ever-popular game that brings the fun of traditional board games and throws in a couple of power-ups and challenges to make things even better.
Trivia Apps
If you enjoy testing your knowledge, trivia apps and games should be on your list. This year, some of these Trivia games have made their mark on the iPhone gaming scene for their mix of top-tier entertainment with quality learning.
Brain Test: Tricky Puzzle
This top-ranking game is everything its name implies and more. It is a game that helps you challenge your mind with tricky brain teasers, riddles, and tests, and invite your friends to join the fun. It’s one of those IQ games where you get to think outside the box while cracking puzzles, and it is available for free download on the App Store.
Trivia Crack 2
Trivia Crack 2 is the sequel to the wildly popular Trivia Crack, and it takes things up several notches. This game brings improved graphics and more question categories to the mix while throwing in multiplayer modes that let you challenge your friends to a game of wits.
What to Expect in 2025
While 2024 has served up a really impressive lineup of games and apps, it can only get better in 2025. Expect more high-profile games to hit the Apple App Store next year, plus new releases and sequels to top games already on the roster. Developers are constantly pushing to deliver the most innovative, immersive, and engaging gameplay experience. We are talking virtual reality, 4K visuals, and life-like, realistic gaming, and we’ll see them soon. As for genres, expect more Cyberpunk, horror, nostalgic classic remakes, and much more.