Back in the mists of time when the first iPad was released there quickly followed a range of games with multiplayer modes for 2-4 players. Some used the sides of the screen, some the corners, and others split the screen in two.
The size of the iPad Pro, which is closer to the size of a gaming board than any other iPad thus far, started me thinking about whether all those old games would still run in iOS 9.1 on the Pro, and what they'd be like. It turns out that the games I remember playing back on the iPad 1 (with a single exception) still run and are well suited to the larger iPad with far less finger clashing (and lag) than before.
Multiponk by Fingerlab (£2.29/$2.99)
This first game took me a while to track down because I couldn't remember the title but sifting through the bottom of my purchased list (for the oldest apps I own) I located Multiponk, a 1-4 player game deflecting ball bearings to stop them getting past your bat. It's a must play for those seeking a multiplayer experience for three or four people.
Virtual Table Tennis HD by SenseDevil Games (Free)
This is one of a number of table tennis games, it's not the most sophisticated but it works well and is a basic bit of fun for two players.
Fruit Ninja by HalfBrick Studios (old version)
The version of Fruit Ninja that I have in my purchased list isn't still available on the store. There is a new version, but I'm not clear about whether that has multiplayer or not. As with all these games, I'd search your purchases first if you've owned an iPad for a while because some games have been taken down from the store but still work.
Mirror's Edge by EA (no longer available)
Check your purchased list for this game. It runs but warns of not having space to save progress.
Pool Bar by Future Games of London (£2.29/$2.99)
Set in a seedy pool bar, this turn taking pool game is pretty good and very easy to play.
Foosball by Illusion Labs (Free)
Another free game that's still available on the store. You've nothing to lose except a minuscule 33.5 MB of disk space, so go ahead and download it.
Air Hockey by Acceleroto (Free)
Another classic. The ads are a bit much on the free version, but there's always a paid one if you really like it. I've also found it drops sound after displaying ads, but restarting the game fixes this.
Marble Mixer by GameHouse (£1.49/$1.99)
This is a game that should never be forgotten. It's great fun and if you haven't tried it then I highly recommend that you do (and preferably on the iPad Pro).
Bop It! by EA (£2.29/$2.99)
Good (if somewhat slightly infuriating) fun. One of the many EA games that was updated, so if it's in your purchased list you'll have a different version to the one currently being sold. It's a maximum of two players.
Game Table by Label Interactive (no longer available)
This is one that will only be in your purchased apps. It is a selection of classic board games without computer interference. If you make an illegal move you won't be warned. It is like having a selection of board games as they would be in the real world.
Chess by Byterun (Free)
It's chess and it's free, but it feels sort of upside down because it's only the right way up for one player, and I'd also like to have the board fill the whole screen. (If you have Game Table and know the rules of chess, this might be a better option since the board does fill near enough full screen, it also has a switcheroo button to turn the perspective around for the other player in-game.)
Monopoly by EA (£3.99/$4.99)
You know the game. As with some of the other EA apps, I have an older version that I hunted down in my past purchases. The new one is the one linked to above.
Game of Life by EA (£3.99/$4.99)
I can't say that I find this the most engaging of games to play on an iPad but it does allow up to six players at once, which could be handy. As with Monopoly, I have an older version that I hunted down in my past purchases. The new one is the one linked to above.
Millionaire Tycoon by Savy Soda (£0.79/$0.99)
Recently updated (3 Nov 2015). Although at first it doesn't look that special, I remember quite a few hours of fun when it first came out. It has up to three human players in "Challenge" mode.
Table Twister by GameHouse (not working in iOS 9)
While Table Twister is still available on the app store, unlike its sibling from the same game studio (MarbleMixer), it doesn't work on iOS 9, so avoid the temptation for now.
Ice Rage by Mountain Sheep (£1.49/$1.99)
This one is a suggestion from State of Tech, it's a simple hockey game that places two players head to head. If you follow the link to their site you'll see four more single-device multiplayer games there as well (Ten, OLO, Lub vs. Dub, and 8 Ball Pool).
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