Last updated on January 3rd, 2026 at 11:01 am
The Talos Principle – Adventure Game Review
The Talos Principle is a Adventure/Puzzle game from Devolver Digital, Inc., first launched in 11th October 2017.
It’s rated 9+ and currently has 1,964+ ratings on the App Store.
What Makes The Talos Principle Stand Out
"If you're yet to experience one of the most intriguing puzzle games of its generation, then picking it up for your iPhone or iPad is pretty much a no-brainer."
9/10 & Gold Award – Pocket Gamer
"The Talos Principle is an excellent open-world puzzle adventure that is just jaw-dropping beautiful on your iOS device."
9/10 – AppAdvice
As if awakening from a deep sleep, the player finds himself in a strange world of ancient ruins and advanced technology. Tasked by his creator with solving a series of increasingly complex puzzles, he must decide whether to have faith or to ask the difficult questions: Who am I? What is my purpose?
With the innovative tap-and-swipe control system that immediately feels natural, an engaging story and challenging puzzles The Talos Principle is a full-fledged game with over 20 hours of content and entertainment, be it a short challenge for the brain or an entire afternoon filled with exploration and excitement. To round the experience out – the combination of Metal API and the cutting-edge Serious Engine ensures jaw-dropping graphics and amazing performance on iOS devices.
Features:
• Enjoy jaw-dropping graphics, harnessing the power of Metal API and Serious Engine
• Use the innovative and intuitive tap-and-swipe control system, opt for gamepad emulation available in options, or take advantage of MFi support with a regular gamepad
• Overcome more than 120 immersive puzzles in a stunning world
• Divert drones, manipulate laser beams and even replicate time to prove your worth – or to find a way out
• Explore a story about humanity, technology, and civilization. Uncover clues, devise theories, and make up your own mind
• Choose your own path through the game's non-linear world, solving puzzles your way
• But remember: choices have consequences and somebody's always watching you
This Adventure game offers engaging gameplay and regular updates for mobile players.
Player Feedback
As a newer release, The Talos Principle is building its player community. Early feedback suggests .
Recent Updates & Development
Latest Update: 28th October 2017
Recent improvements include:
This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.
- fixed rare sound issues after taking a phone call
- reworked the virtual gamepad based on community feedback
- added support for iPhone X
- performance improvements and other minor enhancements
Download & Availability
The Talos Principle is available through the official App Store for iOS devices.
Get The Talos Principle on App Store
Requirements: Requires iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Air (Cellular) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina) / iPad Mini 2 (Retina, Cellular) / iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus / iPad Air 2 / iPad Air 2 (Cellular) / iPad Mini 3 or later.
Compatible with iPhone and iPad devices.
Player Experience Highlights
Community Insight:
Even though the game does not include any DLC (Road to Gehenna was released on other platforms in 2015), this version of the game is still a blast to play, even without the QoL updates added for TTP:Reawakened (instant rewind and keep connections, specifically).
We were drawn into this game as soon as we started playing and have been collecting sigils and stars ever since. We strongly advise playing this game with a compatible game controller. There are many areas in the game that require twitchy fingers and we dont think we would have gotten through them without a controller.
We keep checking every few months hoping to see a 2nd one is coming soon Maybe.
Indeed at first we were worried about it now cant get enough of talos and we understood it now we enjoy it more and more this game is not for everyone.
Hello, how can we buy all the extra campaigns thanks! Road to Gehenna!!!! Ive NEVER had a problem with the controls! We find them to work awesome fast and smooth. Just have to get a little used to it or turn up the sensitivity. We guess it is finicky sometimes to find certain points you need to connect to with the beams but other than that no probs.
We love this wonderful idea of a game. We feel like its a problem solving simulation like experience…. Thanks for this wonderful Ride YOOO*.
One of the best games out there. Beautiful and challenging.
(Please do yourself a favor and get this game on console or pc instead of ruining the experience with touch controls. This game deserves it.) Story This game makes you question your existence by asking profound philosophical questions about the nature of consciousness and what it means to be human. Gameplay Very fun and well thought out puzzles with a beautiful world modeled after ancient Greece.
Very difficult, but doable and enjoyable! Did ok in getting to level B-6. Some very challenging puzzles, but after working through the complexities, managed to solve each one to this point. Great graphics and a few real head scratchers. But then came to Egyptian Arcade in level B-6. The first part of the puzzle is manageable with some thought and deft maneuvering. After trying it multiple times, we concluded the second part was impossible. There is only a second or two in which to move a small distance with a jammer, then turn and jam a ours that is coming at you. And then you have to stop jamming the ours, shift the jammer to a portal, grab the other jammer, bring it inside the enclosure, then release both jammers to close the portal before the ours can get through. This must be done when the jammed ours is only feet from you. Needs another jammer, or more run distance on the first ours outside the portal And then we figured out how to beat it and found out it wasnt functionally impossible after all. Just very difficult. But managed to get through the whole game eventually (with a little help from an online walk-through.) Over all we recommend the game. But be prepared for doing some of the levels time after time after time until you finally see a way to make all of the pieces come together. It would be better if you were able to reconstitute at the last safe place you were before blowing up. The way it is you can get nearly to the end of a scenario, blow up, and go right back to the beginning to do it all over again, even the parts you successfully navigated the first time around. Tedious.
Brief review: we love this game, and the core gameplay – getting all intended gameplay levels, sigils, stars and endings – works well (not perfect) on tough. Not quite as smooth as mouse-and-keyboard on PC, but we have played a 100% game multiple times on iOS and it is very very doable. Our only complaints are that there are a few graphical things that dont display right on iOS (like the mirror or the fans on fan-supported platforms), Road to Gehenna isnt available, and iOS controls DO make it almost impossible to reach some of the games many Easter eggs that involve precise platforming. SPOILERS AHEAD For WaterBear55: Egyptian Arcade isnt impossible – your setup is busted. SPOILERS: two gates (lets call the one closer to the key inner and the other outer) and two corresponding mines. 1: release inner ours and use jammer(s) to get them floating as close as possible to each other. 2: while mines are floating towards inner gate, place a jammer jamming outer gate on BOTH sides of the gate. Ours distance gives you plenty of time. You now have a jammer in between gates. 3: grab outer jammer. Gate will stay open from the inner jammer. Wait for mines to be as far away from key as possible, then jam the inner ours. It will hold both mines away from the outer gate with room to move past. 4: switch inner jammer to inner gate, grab keys, and reverse all moves to leave mines locked inside outer gate and you can proceed through the key doorway. No part of this involves having to rapidly do a bunch of difficult touch-control moves impossibly fast. You convinced yourself your setup was the only way. Good luck.
This game is not easy, but is the best game that we have played. We were sad it had to end. Hoping there is a sequel.
Easily the most immersive iPad game Ive played. Good puzzles that are challenging but arent too hard, and interesting storyline.
The iOS version of this game is super well optimized, on our iPhone 13 Pro it actually plays a lot better than our Xbox One X (worse image quality, but much higher and more stable framerate). This game does need to be updated to support ProMotion, the frame rate is consistently high and but persistent judder makes it feel less than entirely smooth.
Wonderful game concept in all regards except the guards. We came here for a mental challenge, not a physical reflexes challenge and certainly not to expend what little adrenaline we have left after a day at work. Is there a version without guards? Beautiful graphics and creative puzzles. We particularly like that its not explained, as we enjoy figuring things out and it makes the fun last longer. Im quitting, though, after only finishing three or four of the rooms. Its so lovely, that we hate to leave it undone. But facing the guards makes us feel nervous and angry.not our idea of a game.
We've never had a game instill feelings of complete awe or terrifying vertigo, or made us think deeply and philosophically about our worldview. How amazing to luck into getting this on sale during the holiday season for 99 cents! 8 months later we finally finish it and now want to go back and play it again (even though some of the levels were irritating to the nth degree!) we question if the game is really completable without an external controller (Eagle's Nest), but overall we found the virtual gamepad to be easier to work with on most things than our GameSir T4 (don't even try to use the Tap&Swipe option!) By far the most immersive gaming experience of our life, thank you CroTeam.
This game is awesome. It helps to make you more intelligence.
How is it you a hit like this game and have yet to follow up on it with a part 2.
We bought this after much consideration thinking it was a bit expensive but we wish we had bought it right away. Not only is the game beautiful to look at, the ease of controls and the increasing level of complexity made for weeks of play. Some levels are extremely difficult but in the end, the game teaches about the use of limited resources and how to make the most out of them. This game is largely non-violent outside of being blown up by mines which is actually an aspect of strategizing the game teaches as your progress. There are no time limits so its not stressful in that way. The amount of game time you will put into this will amaze you. We played it nightly on our iPad for nearly 9 months as a way to relax. Online videos showing hard to find Easter eggs will add hours to your game play. The philosophy aspect of the game was intelligent and thought provoking. In the end, it was one of the most satisfying games Ive bought and Im hoping they develop part 2.
Challenging puzzles, immersive story line, thought-provoking philosophical dialog, beautiful graphics, and 10s of hours of content. Dont pass this one up.
Why doesnt Sigils of Elohim work anymore? Either way, its awesome to have this on all our devices. Thanks.
Played this game on PS4 a few years back, and when we saw it on iPad, we had to get it. We use an iPad Pro, so the graphics are stellar. We also use a dual shock PS4 controller, and boy, Ill tell you: the control is 100% as good as on a console. Its very very easy to see that iOS games will be a big future for Apple. Our advice is to buy a controller and take gaming on iPad to the next level. We cannot wait until they take gaming to the very next level, and start competing with xbox and ps5 and such. We are really lucky with whats coming.
We were able to immerse ourselves in this world and successfully work our way through all of the mind-bending challenges using our iPad Pro. 5 stars, and we wish there were more like this Talos Principle around. In a class of its own.
This is the most intricate, thought-provoking, and genuinely clever game we have ever played. The game play is smooth. The main puzzles are fascinating, difficult but not overly so. But the real beauty of it all is in the extra content. Finding the secret levels and Easter eggs, playing through the different endings, solving the mystery of who you are, what you are, where you are, when you are, and what is going on is hands down the most enjoyable experience we've ever had while gaming. This game is so beautifully designed, and the intelligence that went into all of it is appreciated.
Please make the dlc available. This is an amazing game and many would appreciate the dlc being able to play on iOS. Please.
Im literally blown away but the sheer amount of content there is for this game, and that its available for anything under $30!! Most games like these we can finish in a day or two, but this one kept us (someone who is very ADHD) occupied through quarantine for like a week! Theres so many little easter eggs and hidden treats that make exploring every inch of the world absolutely worth it. On top of all that, we found the story remarkably relevant considering uh…the global pandemic, LOL. It was really nice to see the sheer love for humanity, even with all our past and current mistakes, in practically every inch of the story. So many stories that deal with the kind of situation this game presents would take the humanity is inherently evil and destroying the world path and Ive heard enough of that ecofascist bull in the past weeks to last us a lifetime, so it was a treat to be able to open up this game and see a story that actually values life, individual lives, and just all the beautiful creativity of humanity. Thank you so much for helping making our quarantine a little less hellish.
We highly remembered that you play this game with a Control.
We played this on PC but its wonderful. One of those games that we can play over and over.
ABSOLUTELY GREAT GAME! However, the only issues we had were with the virtual gamepad as the movements are a bit wonky. But, for a mobile port of an excellent pc and console game, we think we can manage.
Also reminiscent of portal. Less humor and more serious tone. The basic level is good and doable. Getting all the stars or the advanced ending will either take tremendous patience or sneaking a peak at online tips here and there.
Well written, intriguing mystery combined with fun, thought provoking puzzles.
AMAZING!!! Lol climb the tower just do it.
The levels all feel like a unique and fun challenge. The art is amazing, the story is solid, theres tons of gameplay, and its only 5 dollars, despite being easily worth more. Our only problem is that it really eats up the battery. It can completely drain a full battery in 10-20 minutes, so we have to keep it plugged in. But other than that, this game is brilliant. Definitely worth picking up.
A-mazing. Just excellent! Put on some head phones, turn out the lights, and enjoy being immersed in this world. The graphics are pretty good. The play is great. Very well done game for the person who likes puzzle, escape adventure type of 3D adventure games, a bit of suspense. We definitely recommend this.
We dont usually rate games but we have really enjoyed playing this one. The puzzles are challenging and fun. The scenery and music sets a mood somber mood of a lost past. If you like puzzles give this one a try.
Beautiful game, graphics, story – its a treat. However, the controls for place an object on top of the cube on this ours and walk forwards off the ledge and blow yourself up are precisely the same thing, making precise placement very frustrating on levels; we know a solution, but am unable to place the objects as needed (in specific the C5 jammed level). Update: tapping the ghost-object also places it, in addition to the dot that appears. Our issues were solved, and we were thoroughly impressed by the game.
Challenging, beautiful, vast, intelligent, suspenseful, good story line, can replay levels. We could go on forever about it. We wish there was more.
From the beautiful landscapes, thought provoking puzzles, and beautifully written story, The Talos Principle is by far one of the most amazing games we have ever played and probably ever will. We thoroughly enjoyed every second, and could hardly bring ourselves to stop until we had 100% the game and the DLC. If youre on the fence about getting this game we highly recommend it.
This game is amazing. THANK YOU for the controller support. Using a controller on the iPad for this game really is the closest to a console-like experience Ive had. We were also pleasantly surprised to see it running at what seems to us to be a solid 60fps. Very well polished, clean, looks great, hours upon hours of entertainment. We love the mystery, the cool hexadecimal hidden text, and well thought out puzzles. We love seeing games turn the industry on its head by doing something different (incorporating philosophy and such) we Wish there were more games out there like this.
The amount of effort put into this game is incredible. The game is very challenging and has so many secrets and extra content. You will literally spend hours and hours solving problems and progressing the storyline. The only complaint we have is in some of the puzzles you can die which resets everything you did in the puzzle. This can be very painful in some of the longer puzzles and make you want to stop playing. We think having check points in these puzzles would have immensely improved the experience. Still, for what it costs its the best value for money youre going to get on the App Store.
At first glance this game seems simply like a well constructed puzzler. However once we got into it it was apparent that this was much, much more. Its non-linear design is fantastic and Im totally hooked. Some of the puzzles are very difficult and some quite simple. It gives a good change of pace and there is a phenomenal story and feel to the whole thing. Im totally hooked. We personally changed the controls and we find it much more engaging to use the virtual game pad style.
Others have pointed out that the navigation can be tricky, and it is at times, but not insurmountable. Challenging but rewarding.
Surprisingly huge amount of content. Thinking of other $5 mobile games, we thought we were about finished, only to find we were just a quarter way through! They say its 30 hours of content. That might be true if you knew the solution to every puzzle and clicked straight through. Its easily five times that. Two favorite things about the game: 1. It provides many satisfying …but what if we… Ah ha! Moments. (Sometimes you have to put it away for a day before the answer comes to you.) 2. The amazing soundtrack that changes personality to match the world youre in. Its one of the few games we play with the music on. Two nits: 1. The touch target could be more forgiving. (If Im tapping on a drone that might kill us, we probably dont mean we want to walk towards it.) If weve figured out the solution to the puzzle, it can be frustrating to be foiled by the mechanics of the controls. 2. Yes, like another reviewer said, we miss some of the terminal conversation text as it scrolls by. Im just hoping they werent pivotal clues to the final solution. Thanks for producing a great game, with amazing attention to detail, at a steal of a price.
Played this on PC. It's an excellent game and we hope they make another. As a port it is well worth the $5.00. We play on an iPhone 8 which runs on the same chip as the regular iPhone x. Frames seem to be below 30 which is probably our only complaint but not sure on the capabilities to reach that fps on a mobile device. Thanks for the hard work guys we hope the game sells well.
The controls are frustrating on iPhone. We played through it on PC and loved it, but after trying for a few hours Im still not used to the controls that are limited and cumbersome on the touch screen format. They did as good of a job as they could converting the controls but its a game made to be played on PC or with a physical controller.
We have been savoring this game for months. We are afraid of it ending and we relish finding secrets, completing puzzles and new places to explore. Will the expansion Road to Gehenna be available on iOS.
This is the best adventure or puzzle game on the entire platform. Theres no contest. CroTeam smashed it out of the park when they made this game and bringing it to iOS is magic. We strongly recommend playing with a MFI controller. Hooked up to a TV, this game is gorgeous. Our son loves playing it too and seeing the gears turn in his head as he tries to solve these puzzles is a cherished memory Ill always have. Thanks CroTeam from a huge fan, and a father to another fan.
This is an engrossing game. The storyline and premise are interesting, and theres plenty of reading as the game goes along. Many of the puzzles are quite challenging, but very satisfying once you solve them. Be sure to thoroughly look around; theres tons of things hiding out of plain sight! Two things: 1. We wish there was a zip mode, like in Myst. Its a bit tiring to get from place to place, especially as you complete more of the game. 2. In Italian, some of the subtitles dont match up with the audio. Thats a bit frustrating.
It's a very good game and has beautiful graphics (as is to be expected of a port of a pc game) but also will heat up your phone and has slightly clunky controls (as is to be expected of a port of a pc game). All in all, though, it's an absolute steal at $5. Our only real criticisms for the game itself are that some of the 'puzzles' involving the robots feel less like puzzles and more like the reflex tests of an action game; and that it's not always clear when the game is saved (there's a saving indicator on the pc version we guess that didn't make it into the mobile port.
The Talos Principle will always be one of our favorite games. Yes, the graphics are gorgeous, but the story is even better. There are also a lot of philosophical questions that you are asked, which really make you think. 100%.
This game is unbelievable! The graphics are so amazing and realistic. The story line is imaginative. Money very well spent. Id give it 10 stars if we could. Dont start playing if you dont have a week to play because you wont be able to put it down. Extremely addictive.
User feedback from Apple App Store
App Details
- Version: 1.4
- Size: 1,842.22 MB
- iOS: 9.0 or later
- Languages: EN
- Content Advisory: Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence, Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humor
- Developer: Devolver Digital, Inc.
Last updated: 28th October 2017 | Genre: Adventure, Puzzle | Developer: Devolver Digital, Inc.