18 Ways to Turn iPad or iPhone Into Cool Gaming Devices

By Alvaris Falcon. in Gadgets. Updated on August 2, 2022.

With the glorious age of the iPhone comes first world gaming issues. More and more hardcore games were released to satisfy the increasing needs of the players, and there comes a breaking point when the touchscreen simply can’t catch up with the game, or with you, the gamer.

Tap as hard or as fast as you need but a lagged response can be the deal breaker between zero and hero. When your phone can’t catch up, it’s time to suit up for some hardcore gaming.

Here are 18 game controllers which offer user-friendly control schemes, coming to you in a gamer’s favorite forms, from the retro arcade cabinet to a modern PS3 controller design. We’ve also thrown in a couple of game controllers that can help give the next generation a head start with gaming on the iPad. Ready, start your engines!

iCADE

It’s the age of the Mini’s when it comes to gadgets and the iCADE is the dream of every gamer in the 80’s. Slide in the iPad, purchase and download the Atari’s Greatest Hits containing a whopping 100 games, and game on!

Atari Arcade

An Atari fan? Atari Arcade is the one for you. Besides the classy design with three sexy red lines that make up the Atari logo, the console seamlessly supports all Atari games that debuted on the iPad. And heck, you don’t need to fear about the size compatibility of the tablet, we’re bound to reach the 20 inches display by iPad 19!

iCade 8-Bitty

Not a fan of the joystick? Prefer the gamepad? They’ve got that too! iCade 8-Bitty awaits your reunion with its absolutely retro design. Guaranteed compatibility with the iPad, iPhone, and *cough*, Android as well! Looking at the design you will know that the device simply supports all Atari Classics, but app developers could add the gamepad support to their game. [$29.99]

60beat GamePad

Suffer no more from gaming lags with the 60beat GamePad, your first choice for a complex iOS gaming experience. With every possible feature you can find in a modern console controller, down to the ergonomics and the touch, this gamepad connects to your iOS device with a headphone jack. Lagging? Nonsense!

iCADE Mobile

Whip it out and slot your iOS device into the iCADE Mobile and get ready to game. The controller combines your iPhone or iPod Touch with its physical shell, in portrait and landscape mode, and after you hear the “kacha” sound, you could start playing the iCADE-compatible games, or 150 extra apps that’ve just been added to the support list!

Joypad

Joypad magically turns your iPod Touch or iPhone into a functional controller with just one step, then it’s off to play the League of Evil and Super Mega Worm smoothly. Yes your iPhone becomes the controller. That feature alone is enough for me to download this free app into my iOS.

Duo Pinball

Love Pinball? Then, get serious with Duo Pinball, a gadget developed to maximize the pinball experience! That’s not all, you will able to unlock five free tables in the Pinball HD Collection iPhone app including Wild West, The Deep, Snow and DaVinci. Just a quick reminder, the app has killer graphics!

Pop

While retro games are certainly addictive, it might be too challenging for kids. Pop is the brilliant answer to this issue giving you a ‘buzz to answer’ gameshow feel. The iPad asks a question from a series of education apps, and whoever with the fastest mind could buzz the controller to answer the quiz. Fun and engaging, maybe this will be your new favorite family game.

Plink

There is no shortage when it comes to innovating the way kids learn, and Plink is a wonderful game parents can play with their kids. Players just need to bet their tokens on the answer they want on the Plink, and it will drop the winning token into the bank. No one has to keep count on who is winning! A range of iPad educational games keep the questions coming.

Arcadie

It’s tiny, but it’s mighty! Arcadie is a, uhm, mini gaming cabinet built specifically for iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S, and it supports famous iOS arcade titles such as Blasteroids, Alien Invaders, Ping, Stacker, and moar! Fully powered by your iPhone, Arcadie is the perfect excuse to introduce your kids to arcade gaming. [$24.99]