Flappy Bird returns exclusively on Android through Epic Games—Where’s the iPhone alternative?

Flappy Bird, the infamous mobile game known for its addictive yet punishing gameplay, has officially returned and is now available exclusively for Android users through the Epic Games store, according to Noisy Pixel. Originally created by Dong Nguyen in 2013 before being pulled from app stores in 2014, the game is now under new management with Flappy Bird Publishing. The revived version includes the original Classic mode with familiar one-tap controls and pipe navigation, alongside a new Quest mode featuring unlockable worlds with fresh themes and increasingly difficult obstacles. Noisy Pixel reports that developers promised regular updates throughout 2025, including new characters, worlds, and themes, while specifically avoiding Web3 elements in favor of traditional ads and in-app purchases for revenue.

Epic's mobile Games Store has been struggling to gain traction despite its legal battles with Apple and Google, as Mobile Gamer reveals through analysis of the platform's performance against its ambitious goals. Despite setting a target of 100 million installs by the end of 2024, Epic claimed fewer than 30 million by January 2025 and has been noticeably quiet about its mobile store since then. While Mobile Gamer acknowledges that Epic's court battles have benefited the mobile game industry overall, these legal victories haven't significantly increased competition between app stores. Instead, developers are primarily using the resulting changes to direct high-spending players to web shops where they can avoid the 30% platform tax. According to industry observers at Mobile Gamer, the Epic Games store on mobile risks becoming little more than a Fortnite launcher, with limited success for other games in its catalog.

The existence of alternative marketplaces like Epic Games store on Android highlights the need for similar options on iPhones, as How-To Geek explains in their analysis of digital marketplace competition. Currently, Apple maintains complete control over app distribution outside the European Union, where alternative app stores are now legally required. How-To Geek argues that competition in app marketplaces benefits consumers through better pricing and innovation, pointing out that Apple's tight control comes at a cost despite security benefits. 

Epic's approach of offering developers incentives like keeping 100% of revenue during the first six months of exclusivity could encourage more developers to bring their apps to different platforms, addressing How-To Geek's concern that finding quality apps on crowded first-party stores is increasingly difficult. While Apple maintains baseline security reviews for all software regardless of distribution channel, third-party marketplaces could offer niche apps that don't meet Apple's restrictive guidelines, as evidenced by Apple's recent policy change allowing emulators only after feeling competitive pressure from alternative stores in the EU.