Ranking updated
Best choose your own adventure games for iPhone in 2026
For a story game where your choices guide a time traveller through the ancient world, with puzzles and relics to collect, Time Machine: Read & Game. For a survival story that reaches you in real time through notifications, Lifeline. For a branching race around the globe against the clock, 80 Days. For a library of text-only interactive novels, Choice of Games. Full breakdown below.
How we picked: we read each game’s own App Store description for how the story branches, what you do besides reading, and how it is paid for. We do not quote prices; check them in the store for your country.
A story game with puzzles
Time Machine: Read & Game reads like a book and plays like a game: you are Eugene, thrown into the ancient world by a mysterious time machine, and you guide him through challenges to collect ancient relics that open a portal home. Every decision shapes the story and leads to one of several endings, so each playthrough goes differently, and puzzles stand between you and the next part of the story. You meet characters with their own stories along the way. It is free to download and lists English, Ukrainian and Russian among its languages.
A story in real time
Lifeline is a branching survival story: Taylor has crash-landed on an alien moon, the rest of the crew are dead or missing, and the communicator only reaches you. The story plays out in real time, with notifications bringing new messages through your day, and you can answer from the lock screen or an Apple Watch without opening the app. Once you finish a path, you can jump back to earlier points and try a different choice.
Around the world and a library of novels
80 Days re-imagines Phileas Fogg’s journey as a branching race around the globe in 1872, by airship, submarine, mechanical camel and steam train, across 150 cities, against a clock that never stops and other players, with a new adventure every time. Choice of Games is a library of over 100 interactive novels across action, drama, history, humour and the supernatural, entirely text-based with no graphics or sound effects; in every game you create your own character, including gender and orientation. For romance story games, see otome games.
| Game | Story | Besides choices | App Store age rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Machine: Read & GameCensuusApp Store | a traveller stranded in the ancient world | puzzles and relics to collect, multiple endings | 9+ |
| LifelineApp Store | a stranded survivor on an alien moon | messages arrive in real time, reply from the lock screen | 9+ |
| 80 DaysApp Store | a race around the world in 1872 | routes, resources and a clock that never stops | 12+ |
| Choice of GamesApp Store | a library of interactive novels | text only, create your own character | 12+ |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free choose your own adventure game for iPhone?
Time Machine: Read & Game and the Choice of Games app are both free to download.
Which story game plays out in real time?
Lifeline sends new messages as notifications through your day, and you can reply from the lock screen or an Apple Watch.
Are there text-only adventure games for iPhone?
Choice of Games is a library of over 100 interactive novels that are entirely text-based, with no graphics or sound effects.
Which interactive story game has puzzles too?
Time Machine: Read & Game mixes its branching story with puzzles you solve to progress and relics you collect along the way.