What are the best election simulator games for iPhone?

By Mert Yerekapan, maker of Midterms 2026 · Updated 2026-10-28

Midterms 2026 is the election simulator I'd point to on iPhone, because it was built for the phone from the start. It's a free turn-based game where you found a party and try to win Congress. Most other well-known election sims, like The Political Machine and President Infinity, are PC-first.

I made Midterms 2026, so I'm biased. Here's the honest picture.

What to look for on a phone

Election sims on desktop can lean on big screens, long sessions and menus within menus. On iPhone I think a few things matter more:

Sessions you can finish in a sitting, or pause and resume
Controls that work with a thumb, not a mouse
No account or constant connection needed
A clear goal, so you always know what the next tap is for

Midterms 2026

Midterms 2026 checks those boxes. Progress saves on the device, no account is needed, and the game itself works offline. You create a party with a name, logo, colors and a leader. You answer press questions about your ideology, and that decides where voters like you.

Then you get 20 turns before Election Day on November 3. Each turn you spend actions on things like opening state offices, going on TV, holding rallies or meeting citizens and answering their problems. Decision cards bring offers from interest groups, and you choose whether to take the money. Election night counts 35 Senate races and all 435 House seats.

What about the others?

The Political Machine is a presidential campaign game across the Electoral College, mainly known as a PC game
President Infinity and Congress Infinity by 270soft are very detailed simulators, and I'd expect them to suit people who want lots of options and mods
Democracy 4 is about governing a country, not running for office

If you're not sure about the platform for any of these, check the store listing before buying. I only want to tell you what I know.

Who it's for

If you want a quick campaign on the train, a free download and a map you can read at a glance, Midterms 2026 fits. If you want hours of tinkering with real-world detail on a computer, a PC sim will serve you better. All the parties in my game are fictional and it doesn't take sides, which also makes it easy to hand to a friend.

Whichever you choose, my one tip is to give a game two sessions before you judge it. The first run is usually spent figuring out what the buttons do, and the second is where the strategy shows up.