The best games for the OLED iPad mini start with the console ports, since the A20 Pro adds hardware-accelerated ray tracing and mesh shading to a 0.56 pound tablet. Death Stranding Director’s Cut, Control Ultimate Edition and Assassin’s Creed Mirage already support the iPad mini with A20 Pro.
The amount of storage on your OLED iPad mini decides how many games you can install, since Death Stranding Director’s Cut needs about 50 GB of downloads, Control up to 45.1 GB, Resident Evil 4 about 30 GB and Assassin’s Creed Mirage up to 23.7 GB on a tablet that starts at 128GB.
1. Death Stranding Director’s Cut Already Supports the OLED iPad Mini
Death Stranding Director’s Cut is Hideo Kojima’s delivery adventure, and it costs $19.99 on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and Mac. It supports the iPad mini with A20 Pro in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular versions and needs an iPad with an M-series or A17 Pro chip.
The first time you launch it, the game downloads about 13 GB before you can start, and you need about 50 GB of downloads in total. You can play with PlayStation, Xbox and MFi controllers, iOS adds high frame rate and a photo mode, and iCloud Drive has to be on to play. The game is rated 18+.
2. Control Ultimate Edition Costs $2.99 and Takes Up 45.1 GB
Control Ultimate Edition is Remedy’s supernatural action game, built around transforming weapons and telekinetic powers, and it costs $2.99 on the App Store with no in-app purchases. It runs on both the iPad mini with A17 Pro and the iPad mini with A20 Pro and needs iPadOS 26.1 or later.
You need up to 45.1 GB of free space for the app, and it downloads asset packs the first time you run it. Remedy added touch controls, and PlayStation, Xbox and MFi controllers also work. The game is rated 18+.
3. Resident Evil 4 Is Free to Try and $59.99 to Unlock
Resident Evil 4 downloads for free with a limited part of the base game playable, and an in-app purchase on the App Store unlocks the full game for $59.99. Separate Ways costs $9.99 more, and the game needs an iPad with an M-series or A17 Pro chip. Capcom also sells Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3 and Resident Evil 7 biohazard there.
The app is about 30 GB, and you need at least twice that much free storage to install it, so plan for about 60 GB during the download. A controller gives you a better experience, keyboard and mouse are not supported, and your save data moves between Mac and iOS devices.
4. Assassin’s Creed Mirage Is Free to Download With a $29.99 Full Game Upgrade
Assassin’s Creed Mirage downloads for free, and a $29.99 in-app purchase on the App Store unlocks the full game. It supports the iPad mini with A20 Pro and needs an iPad with an M-series or A17 Pro chip, plus up to 23.7 GB of free space.
The free Valley of Memory update adds more than six hours of story content set in AlUla, along with Hardened Assassin and Ultimate Assassin difficulty presets that carry their own Permadeath rewards. PlayStation, Xbox and MFi controllers work, and the game is rated 18+.
5. Genshin Impact Recommends 60 GB of Free Storage
Genshin Impact is a free open-world action RPG with optional in-game purchases, including random virtual items. You should have an iPad (9th generation) or later with 60 GB of free storage, and the minimum is 40 GB.
You can team up with friends across platforms for co-op, and the Miliastra Wonderland mode adds a creation and social space where you customize Manekins and build in the Miliastra Sandbox. The game is rated 13+ and contains loot boxes.
6. Balatro Costs $9.99 and Takes Up 98.5 MB
Balatro is a roguelike deck-builder that mixes poker and solitaire, with more than 150 Jokers and campaign and challenge modes. The touch controls are rebuilt for the screen, and PlayStation, Xbox and MFi controllers also work.
It needs iPadOS 15.0 or later and is rated 13+ for simulated gambling themes. Balatro+, a separate edition, is included with Apple Arcade.
7. Stardew Valley Costs $4.99 With No In-App Purchases
Stardew Valley is ConcernedApe’s farming RPG, rebuilt for touch, with auto-select for tools and a virtual joystick. It costs $4.99 with no in-app purchases and needs 463.7 MB of free space.
The mobile version includes the single-player content from the 1.6 update, but multiplayer is not supported. Autosave keeps your farm even if you close the app. Stardew Valley+ is a separate edition included with Apple Arcade.
8. Crossy Road Rush Joins Apple Arcade on November 5
Crossy Road Rush is a platforming island runner from Hipster Whale in which you chase an angry Octoboss out of Crossy Cove and free your friends. It supports controllers and SharePlay, and the download is 941.1 MB on the App Store. It needs iPadOS 17.2 or later and is rated 4+.
Apple Arcade costs $6.99 a month after the free trial, and you get three months of Apple Arcade with a new iPad if you are a new or qualified returning subscriber. Arcade games have no ads and no in-app purchases.
9. Football Manager 27 Touch Arrives on Apple Arcade on November 10
Football Manager 27 Touch launches on Apple Arcade on November 10 for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple TV. It can continue saves from past Football Manager titles, and the cloud keeps your career in sync as you move between devices.
If you already have Football Manager 26 Touch, it updates to Football Manager 27 Touch on its own that day. The new version also changes the iPhone Skin, Recruitment and Match Preparation.
10. Petit Planet Launches Free on December 4
Petit Planet is HoYoverse’s cozy life sim, and it launches as a free download on the App Store on December 4, with pre-download starting December 1. Apple uses it to show the iPad mini running a game on its product page. You need 3.7 GB of free space and iPadOS 15.0 or later, and the game is rated 9+ with loot boxes and messaging and chat.
Our Take
I would start with Death Stranding Director’s Cut, which supports the iPad mini with A20 Pro, and I would pick the 256GB model if you want more than one console port. The 256GB iPad mini costs $799, which is $100 more than the 128GB model.
