Whether you’re a history buff or a sci-fan fan, chances are you love a good steampunk game. In these games, there’s Victorian-era clothing and steam-powered machinery with the right mix of fantasy, robots, and magic. App stores are rife with options for this gaming genre. But, as always, endless options make it harder to choose the best ones. Luckily for you, that’s what we’re here for. In this guide, we’re giving you a rundown of the best steampunk games you can play on mobile right now.
Also Read: 24 Best Cross-Platform Games to Play on Mobile, PC, and Consoles
Inside This Article
- What Are Steampunk Games?
- Best Steampunk Games to Play on Mobile
- 80 Days
- Allan Poe’s Nightmare
- Machinarium
- Layton: Unwound Future
- Final Fantasy VI
- Steampunk Tower 2
- Sunless Sea
- Pocket Kingdom – Tim Tom’s Journey
- A Study in Steampunk
- Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
- Teslagrad
- Skyland: Heart of the Mountain
- Malevolent Machines
- Cloud Chasers
- Steamburg
- Trulon: The Shadow Engine
- Redcon
- Noblemen: 1896
- Steampunk Syndicate
- Steamworld Heist
What Are Steampunk Games?
Steampunk games are those that combine elements of science fiction and 19th-century steam-powered gadgetry. Think old-school techs like airships, steam-powered trains and cars, and machines using clockwork—but with magical and fantastical twists.
In steampunk games, you’d normally see time machines, ray guns, flying machines, and lots of self-operating gadgets. These games are usually set in the Victorian era in Britain or in the American Wild West, so their characters are often dressed in waistcoats, corsets, high leather boots, and the like. Steampunk games also often combine elements for role-playing games and adventure.
Best Steampunk Games to Play on Mobile
Now that you have an idea of what steampunk games are, let’s get right into it. Here are 20 of the best steampunk games you can download to your phone today.
1. 80 Days
Price: $5.99
Developer: Inkle
Google Play Store Rating: 4.3/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.4/5
Inkle’s 80 Days gives a steampunk twist to a story we all know and love: Phileas Fogg’s 80-day trip around the world. In this game, you play Fogg’s French valet, Jean Passepartout. As his right-hand man, your task is to manage Fogg’s health, your finances, and the time as you race with other players to see who can travel around the world the fastest. Essentially, you control every action made in the game. So, whatever method you choose to get to the finish line first—whether through bribery, romance, pacts, or rebellion—is up to you.
The game combines good storytelling and a delightful adventure. Plus, the stylish art style makes it seem almost like a graphic novel. Truly, it’s one of the best steampunk games today.
Pro Tip: The keys to winning this game are balance and resource management. For instance, you can arrive at your destinations early through bribing, but you have to be careful not to get bankrupt. Also, make sure to collect only the items that you really need. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself with too much luggage, and that’ll slow you down significantly.
2. Allan Poe’s Nightmare
Price: $0.99
Developer: Gametopia
Google Play Store Rating: 4.7/5
Apple App Store Rating: 5/5
Next on our list of the best steampunk games is Allan Poe’s Nightmare. It follows the story of Edgar Allan Poe, who finds himself in a drug-induced nightmare after taking a bottle of laudanum to overcome writer’s block. In his nightmare, his literary works have come to life and are trying to kill him. Your ultimate goal is to get Poe out of his nightmare by helping him recompose his works and dodge traps and obstacles set by the Red Death, his biggest enemy.
Allan Poe’s Nightmare has a unique, minimalist art style and a classic soundtrack that matches the game really well. Much of the gameplay is a lot like Flappy Bird and requires timed tapping to keep Allan Poe afloat. But the Red Death is also at your tail, so timing isn’t enough; you also need speed. The game for sure is challenging but just enough to keep you engaged.
Pro Tip: Find your rhythm, but also be ready to adapt when the level changes. Also, stay calm, and don’t let the Red Death throw you off your game.
3. Machinarium
Price: $4.99
Developer: Amanita Design
Google Play Store Rating: 4.6/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.4/5
Here’s another banger from indie developer Amanita Design, who has produced award-winning games like the Samorost series, Chuchel, and Botanicula. In their Steampunk game Machinarium, you meet Josef the Robot whose girlfriend, Berta, was just kidnapped by a gang called Black Cap Brotherhood. Your goal now is to reunite Josef and Berta by solving a series of brain teasers and puzzles around the city of Machinarium.
The game has zero dialogue and zero narration; it’s just you tapping away at your screen and solving puzzles, which makes the game all the more engaging. Its hand-drawn art style is truly remarkable and adds to the eerie vibe of the game.
Pro Tip: Stay in one spot in Machinarium long enough and you might get an Easter egg backstory. Some of these backstories can help you solve the puzzles.
4. Layton: Unwound Future
Price: $15.99
Developer: LEVEL-5, Inc.
Google Play Store Rating: 4.9/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.8/5
This is definitely one of the pricier Steampunk games on this list, but we assure you, Layton: Unwound Future is such a treat. The game follows the story of a time machine demonstration gone wrong. Luke, Professor Layton’s young apprentice, receives a letter from himself ten years in the future asking to meet. When they do, he warns them that Layton will become the head of an evil mafia and take over London. Your task now is to help the trio stop evil Layton and save the day.
The game has more than 150 puzzles you need to solve, and the types range from logic to memory puzzles. With every puzzle you solve, you get closer to saving London from Layton’s mafia. The game has a compelling storyline, fun but challenging puzzles, and a simple interface, and all of these add to just how good it is.
Pro Tip: Being a social butterfly will do you good in this game. Talk to every character you run into, and talk to them again when you get the chance; the same person can lead you to different puzzles. When they start to repeat themselves, that’s how you know you’ve gotten everything you need from them.
5. Final Fantasy VI
Price: $14.99
Developer: Square Enix
Google Play Store Rating: 3.4/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.3/5
Final Fantasy VI, which now has a mobile version, is also one of the best steampunk games you can get your hands on. Essentially, your task in this game is to beat the Gestahlian Empire, which seeks world domination by exploiting espers and breeding supersoldiers with magical powers. To do that, you need to defeat supersoldiers, learn magic, get stat boosts from espers, and collect equipment such as shields and weapons. Final Fantasy VI is a retro gem, with dramatic performances and catastrophes that add layers of emotional depth to the game.
Pro Tip: When you go shopping in Figaro Castle, place King Edgar in the lead so you can buy items for half their price.
6. Steampunk Tower 2
Price: Free
Developer: DreamGate
Google Play Store Rating: 4.3/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.5/5
In Steampunk Tower 2, you act as the commander of Lord Bingham’s military service. Your task is to defend his tower from various enemy forces, like infantry, steam robots, tanks, and flying units. To do so, you need to strategically place weapons around your tower and use special bonuses that’ll increase your chances of defeating the enemy.
Beyond defending your tower, you also need to get extra resources by sending your agents on special missions. For that, you’ll have to develop a railway system. In addition, you also need to reinforce your defenses by building research labs, warehouses, and factories to upgrade your tower.
Steampunk Tower 2 puts a spin on tower defense games by letting players relocate and add reinforcements as the fight ensues. Its design is also on point and complements the gameplay really well.
Pro Tip: Choose your loadout carefully before every battle. Each type of enemy calls for a specific type of turret. For instance, if you have incoming troops on foot, go for shotguns.
7. Sunless Sea
Price: $9.99
Developer: Failbetter Games
Apple App Store Rating: 4.4/5
Sunless Sea is one of the best steampunk games you can play exclusively on iOS. The game is set in Fallen London—a version of Victorian London that’s been seized into the underworld; it’s now a city where demons and monsters roam free. In this game, you play as the captain of a steamship who sails the Unterzee, which is the city’s vast underground sea.
This is mainly a game of strategy and survival. In the Sunless Sea, you’ll inevitably run into and battle with pirates and sea monsters. If you win these fights, you’ll get food and other valuable items. If your battles don’t pan out well, though, that can be the start of your spiral into misfortune. Besides fending off hostile sea creatures, you’ll also need to keep your crew’s sanity intact. Otherwise, they may resort to infighting or—if they’ve gone on for too long without food—cannibalism.
Overall, the game is great. It’s written well, the art style and music score are striking, and the game can even be funny at times. It’s definitely worth checking out.
Pro Tip: Death is the name of this game, so don’t be discouraged if you die and fail multiple times. Before you set sail, don’t forget to buy extra crew, as well as some fuel and supplies. When you’re on your voyage, explore as much of the sea as you possibly can so you can plot your routes better.
8. Pocket Kingdom – Tim Tom’s Journey
Price: $0.99
Developer: Plug In Digital
Google Play Store Rating: 4.1/5
Apple App Store Rating: 3.6/5
Who said steampunk can’t be cute? In this retro-inspired pixel art game by Plug In Digital, you play as Tim Tom, whose airship has just crashed into a place called Pocket Kingdom. It’s a strange and enchanted place, and according to the warlock you met upon your arrival, it’s impossible to escape. Your goal now is to prove him wrong and get out anyway and unravel the kingdom’s mysteries along the way.
In this game, you mainly have to solve a series of puzzles. In these puzzles, you need to push blocks, clear paths, and block deadly lasers to get to the exit. There are valuable items you’ll collect along the way, which will lead you to more complex challenges and help you unveil new mechanics. The game is truly inventive, and you’ll never run out of places to explore in Pocket Kingdom.
Pro tip: Always interact with locals whenever you come across them. They’ll point you to new puzzles and might even give you tips on how to solve them.
9. A Study in Steampunk
Price: $3.99
Developer: Hosted Games
Google Play Store Rating: 4.8/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.7/5
If you enjoy text-based games, then A Study in Steampunk is one of the best steampunk games you should try out. It’s an interactive mystery novel that’s inspired by classic stories like Sherlock Holmes, Jekyll and Hyde, Dracula, and Jack the Ripper. In it, you play a John Watson-esque character — a Medical Corps officer who’s just been injured in the war against the Vlaski Empire. You come home and work as a government agent alongside a man named Garrett Finch.
The gameplay of A Study in Steampunk is pretty straightforward: control how the game pans out by selecting which action to take at every turn of the story. With your choices, you can either defend your city from spies or overthrow your government from within.
Pro Tip: Remember to explore every corner of the city. You never know what clues you might find in them.
10. Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
Price: $9.99
Developers: Image & Form Games, Thunderful Group
Apple App Store Rating: 4.7/5
Next on our list of the best steampunk games is Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech. It’s a game that uses a turn-based combat system, but it’s got a twist: your moves are limited to the cards you’ve collected in your travels and battles. Steamworld Quest combines traditional fantasy with steampunk elements, so prepare to fight dragons, knights, and steampunk robots. Despite your choices being limited to the cards you have, the battles still offer you a wide range of combat options. Plus, the game’s got beautiful, hand-drawn graphics, which is always a huge plus for any game.
Pro Tip: It may not seem like it, but the Poison card is extremely helpful. It’s especially useful in later levels, where you’ll meet enemies who can heal themselves.
11. Teslagrad
Price: $6.99
Developer: Playdigious
Google Play Store Rating: 4/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.3/5
Prepare to test your knowledge of physics as you battle it out in Teslagrad, a 2D platformer/puzzle quest. In this steampunk game, you play the role of a young boy fleeing from the King of Elektropia’s band of soldiers. You’ll need to solve a series of puzzles and win battles against bosses in your journey. Along the way, you also need to collect scrolls and trophies and unveil secrets hidden in the abandoned Tesla Tower.
The game doesn’t have a lot of combat segments which is good, considering it runs on a one-hit death system. The puzzles are brain-bending but fun, and its nostalgic music and hand-drawn art style are on point.
Pro Tip: If you’ve already reached the boss door but you can’t come in, that means you’re still missing at least one scroll. Go back and retrieve the missing scroll/s so you can face the final boss.
12. Skyland: Heart of the Mountain
Price: $14.99
Developer: Artifex Mundi
Google Play Store Rating: 4.2/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.6/5
Skyland: Heart of the Mountain is also a good steampunk game you should play. In this game, you play as a character whose father died tragically years ago for an unknown reason. Now, dozens of citizens of Skyland, your town, have been disappearing without a trace, and you think these disappearances are somehow connected to your father’s death. Your goal in this game is to find the truth behind these tragedies and uncover the secrets of Skyland.
The game is mostly a hidden object adventure with several puzzles and mini-games spread throughout. It’s got beautiful, hand-painted graphics, and the puzzles will definitely tickle your brain.
Pro Tip: A lot of the items in the hidden object scenes can be pretty hard to find. Remember to check the shadows and the nooks and crannies of buildings. You can use hints as well if you really can’t find the objects.
13. Malevolent Machines
Price: $0.99
Developer: Goodnight Games
Google Play Store Rating: 4.6/5
Apple App Store Rating: 5/5
Malevolent Machines is a steampunk game set in a world overtaken by malformed robots. In this endless runner-adventure/shoot ‘em up game, you play as mad scientist Dr. Leyla Green, the creator of these robots. Together with Juggerbot, your only remaining creation, your job is to stop these menacing machines from destroying the world completely.
In this game, you’ll swap between platforming and shooting enemies with the help of your robotic metacarpal claw and Juggerbot’s lasers. There are a total of 25 levels to go through, and once you’ve beaten the game, you get to unlock survival mode. The game is easy enough at the start that it eases you in. Later on, though, it becomes more and more difficult. Overall, it’s solidly constructed and has a distinct artistic style.
Pro Tip: The key to this game—especially in the later levels—is balance. Make sure to manage your use of Juggerbot’s ammo well. Otherwise, he’ll overheat, and he won’t be of use to you for a while.
14. Cloud Chasers
Price: $0.99
Developer: Blindflug Studios
Google Play Store Rating: 3.9/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.7/5
Cloud Chasers is set in a dystopian, steampunk desert. In this steampunk game, you play the role of Francisco, a father who’s traveling across the desert with his daughter Amelia. Essentially, the goal of this game is survival. You’ll need to manage your water levels and your health to win at this game, but the problem is, water is hard to come by in the desert.
The only way you’ll get water is by collecting them from the clouds. How do you do that? Amelia will do it for the both of you by soaring through the skies aboard the glider.
Along the way, you’ll get to examine different spots in the desert. Plus, you’ll meet people who will either help you out or rob you. The game can be unforgiving because once you die, you’ll need to start from the beginning. But if anything, that just adds to the fun of the game.
Pro Tip: Make sure to collect water from every single cloud that comes your way—even if you think you have enough to go on (chances are, you don’t).
15. Steamburg
Price: $4.99
Developer: Microids
Apple App Store Rating: 2/5
Next up, we have Steamburg, a puzzle adventure game set in a steampunk universe. In this game, an army of intergalactic robots has taken over the city of Steamburg. You play as Professor Vincent Moore, a genius scientist who’s searching for his fiancée amid the attack. Your mission is to defeat these death machines using your inventions and rescue the love of your life.
There are also some puzzles you need to solve and hidden locations you need to unveil. The levels are easy at the start, but they get harder as you progress, with robots getting faster and more skilled at every level.
Pro Tip: In this game, you don’t possess special powers in any way—it’s just you, your wit, and your inventions. Choosing the right tool and timing your attacks is essential.
16. Trulon: The Shadow Engine
Price: $3.99
Developer: Lillbacka Powerco Oy
Google Play Store Rating: 3.9/5
Trulon: The Shadow Engine also makes it to our list of hottest steampunk games. In this game, you control Gladia, a monster hunter who lives in the kingdom of Tripudia. A mysterious plague is threatening your kingdom, and your job is to put it to an end. You’ll manage a team of four, talk to villagers, and fight enemies in your journey. These fights are won over card combat. The richer your deck of cards, the more chances you have of winning.
If you’re new to card-style play, don’t worry because the game makes it easy enough to understand.
Pro Tip: When you have your first playthrough of the game, don’t forget to complete every side quest, as doing so will boost your points.
17. Redcon
Price: $5.99
Developer: HEXAGE
Google Play Store Rating: 3.9/5
Apple App Store Rating: 3.9/5
Redcon is a real-time strategy game set in an alternate steampunk universe where World War I never ended. You play as a Strike Commander whose task is to lead the artillery offensive against General Franz, a traitor of the Empire State. Destroy the enemy’s fortress without being defeated and you might just end the war.
In the game, you need to fire attacks using weapons and facilities in your fortress. Other than that, you also have to manage your troops who are also your intelligence officers, engineers, and pilots.
Overall, the game has great graphics and great gameplay. It’s more challenging than most mobile games, but not to the point that it’s not enjoyable anymore. It also packs a lot of action and content, with more than 100 missions to complete.
Pro Tip: To cause structural damage to your enemy’s fortress, use steady mortar bombardment instead of energy weapons. This will cause gradual but definite damage to their fortress, even if all their equipment is still working.
18. Noblemen: 1896
Price: Free
Developer: Forsaken Media
Google Play Store Rating: 4.2/5
Apple App Store Rating: 4.8/5
Noblemen: 1896 is another one of the best steampunk games you can download. In this game, you are a commander in a Neo-Victorian civil war, and your task is to lead your troops to victory.
The gameplay can be a lot to take in; it’s a combination of real-time strategy, turn-based strategy, and third-person shooter. That said, it all works to keep the game interesting. You need to plan out your army’s moves, execute those plans, and earn Battle Points—all while ensuring that you don’t run out of supplies.
Pro Tip: When you’re on the ground, always prioritize your cover. Get behind trees or any part of the terrain before you start firing, or else you’ll likely die in combat.
19. Steampunk Syndicate
Price: Free
Developer: Stereo7 Games
Google Play Store Rating: 4.3/5
Steampunk Syndicate is a card/tower defense game. In this game, the main enemy is the Syndicate, a tyrant who has been terrorizing citizens since the Great Revolution started. You’re part of the rebel forces that plan to defeat the tyrant with the Defender, a gigantic steam robot. Unfortunately, the Syndicate and his troops have found out about the robot and want to destroy it. Your goal now is to protect it.
To fend off the Syndicate and his army, you need to set up weapons and defenses around your territory. You start off with a deck of cards, which will determine the weapons you can use in your battles. To get more cards, you need to earn gears, and to earn more gears, you need to defeat oncoming soldiers.
Pro Tip: View the scout report before you begin each battle. Besides information on how much resources you have left, the report also tells you how many of the opposing armies there will be in battle. This helps you plan out your defenses accordingly.
20. Steamworld Heist
Price: $4.99
Developer: Image & Form International AB
Apple App Store Rating: 4.6/5
Last on our list of the best steampunk games is Steamworld Heist. In this game, you’re the captain of a steam-powered pirate crew fending off enemy spaceships. Essentially, it’s a turn-based strategy game with some action elements. Your mission is to board and loot your opponent’s spaceships and eliminate as many of their troops as possible. When you’ve earned enough points, you can upgrade your crew’s gear, weapons, and abilities to increase your chances of winning.
The game’s combat really hooks you in, and the characters can even be charming. Overall, Steamworld Heist is a must-try.
Pro Tip: You can restart a turn by heading to a mission’s menu, quitting, and reloading the save. You can use this technique if anything goes wrong, and it’ll help make the game much more forgiving.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to journey into a steampunk universe, there are lots of steampunk games that’ll satisfy your craving. There are RPGs, shoot ‘em ups, puzzle adventures, and a whole lot more. So, whatever genre of gaming you’re into, there’s surely a steampunk game for you.
Let us know in the comments what your favorite steampunk games are!
