When Apple revealed last year that it would bring a batch of blockbuster games to iOS devices months after their console counterparts were released, I was sceptical. Would a game designed to be played on an Xbox or PlayStation really work on an iPhone or iPad? The answer so far has been a surprising yes, albeit with some important caveats. Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the latest title to make this jump, is no different.
Mirage was released on consoles and PC in October last year and it was a breath of fresh air for the developer Ubisoft’s long-running series. We are transported to 9th-century Baghdad where we play as Basim, an artful pickpocket who is forced to leave his village after a burglary goes awry, then fulfils his ambition of joining a mysterious organisation called the Hidden Ones.
Like earlier games in the franchise, Mirage prioritises stealth and veers away from the combat-heavy gameplay of more recent titles such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Basim relies on silently ambushing enemies in dark street corners or bribing his way into high-security buildings to complete missions, making for a more thoughtful experience.
I played this on an iPad Pro with a 12.9in screen and the game performed well overall. As you would expect with a less powerful platform, there is a downgrade in the visuals compared with the console version. Character animations are stiff and scenery lacks detail, but on the whole Mirage iOS manages to comfortably capture the scale typical of an Assassin’s Creed open-world.
Most of the problems concern the touchscreen controls the game uses, which is a problem I found when playing other high-profile iOS ports such as Resident Evil Village. They are simpler here, but for the first chunk of my playthrough the only things being assassinated were the tendons in my thumbs as I awkwardly juggled the myriad buttons scattered across the screen.
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Parkouring over rooftops was tricky because I had no real control over Basim’s movements, and parries in combat were painfully late because the virtual button was too easy to miss. Acknowledging defeat, I connected my PS5 controller to the iPad and the experience dramatically improved.
Mirage iOS is not a terrible port — in fact it is quite impressive, but at the hefty price of £44.99, the benefits of an iPhone’s portability do not outweigh the ease and cinematic joy of playing this on a big screen through a console.
★★★☆☆
Available on iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and iPad devices with an M1 chip or later
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