With over 500,000 apps now available for download in the iTunes app store, the gaming options are nearly limitless. In the sea of games for the iPhone, some are worth your 99 cents (or download time) and others are not. We’ve taken on the burden of sorting through the endless games to bring you what we think are the best iphone games for everyone from the intense console gamer to the casual word puzzle enthusiast.
Have a suggestion? Let us know in the comments section!
Also check out our picks for The Best iPhone Apps, The Best iPad Apps, and The Best iPad Games.
Walking Dead: The Game ($5 per episode or $20 for all five)
The Walking Dead comic book series already spawned a successful TV show and so a licensed game was inevitable. The surprise here is that developer, Telltale Games, has crafted a decent release in five episodes. It features a new storyline set in the same universe and players take on the role of Lee Everett, a former history professor. If you’re looking to blow heads off with your boomstick then keep looking, rather than zombie slaying action this is all about characters, exploration, quick time events, and puzzles.
SongPop (Free)
SongPop is a music quiz where you compete against people to guess the song that’s playing or the artist faster than they do. It’s a simple idea, but it’s great fun and fiendishly addictive. You can earn coins for wins or buy extra coins to remove some of the wrong multiple choice options or to unlock new playlists. The music is organized into various categories so you can play in a genre that you’re comfortable with. Speed is the key thing here and the faster you answer, the more points you earn, and the more likely you are to win.
Bastion ($5)
Take on the role of the warrior kid and explore a range of lush environments to uncover the secrets you’ll need to rebuild the world around you. There are plenty of creatures to battle and an amazing range of weaponry to unleash on them. This is a highly polished action RPG adventure with high production values and an absorbing story mode. The visual style, music, and narration combine to create a story book feel and a memorable gaming experience.
Cut the Rope ($1)
Is it a good idea to feed a cute little monster candy? That’s the aim of this addictive puzzler and you’ll be feeding Om Nom for more than 300 levels. This is physics-based puzzle gameplay at its finest and it’s a game for the whole family. Instantly accessible when you pick it up and very hard to put down again, you’ll find Cut the Rope is well deserving of its place in the pantheon of casual gaming.
Horn (Free)
You can hardly fail to be impressed by this third-person action adventure. Horn casts you as a blacksmith’s apprentice intent on unraveling a curse that has transformed everyone into mechanical creatures. The story will draw you straight in and the blend of combat and puzzle gameplay is a lot of fun. A rich fantasy world has been brought to life in Horn and it’s a polished title that’s looking to push mobile boundaries.
Outwitters (Free)
Turn-based strategy is not a well-represented gaming niche on iOS, so Outwitters’ blend of accessible multiplayer battle is a welcome addition. You build up resources called “wits” that you can spend on moves, attacks, or new units. The basic aim is to destroy your opponent’s base. The factions are well balanced, the art style is cute, and you can play one-vs-one or two-vs-two player games. The basic game is free, but there are in-app purchases.
Fieldrunners 2 ($3)
It has taken a while, but the sequel to one of the most popular tower defense games ever is finally here. The original Fieldrunners helped to spawn the tower defense craze and this follow up does not mess with the basic formula. It is graphically gorgeous and highly polished with tons of satisfying gameplay to get your teeth into. If you’re a tower defense fan, this is an essential purchase.
Nihilumbra ($3)
A clever and puzzling adventure that tasks you with escaping from The Void which wants to reclaim you, Nihilumbra is original, engaging, and challenging. It looks very stylish and you’ll unlock new colors to bring life to your drab world and give you powers as you progress. It’s essentially a mixture of platform and puzzle gameplay. The story and the art really elevate this game, but be warned, it gets very tough toward the end.
Minecraft – Pocket Edition ($7)
The chances are good that you’ve heard about the smash hit indie sandbox game, Minecraft. It challenges you to explore, mine, construct, and survive in a series of randomly generated environments. You are free to choose how you want to play the game, which has virtually infinite replay value, but the main focus is on building. The initially disappointing iOS version has been updated in the last few months and now offers crafting, a survival mode, mobs, and a creative mode.
Draw Something Free (Free)
Insanely addictive and occasionally laugh out loud funny, Draw Something is essentially a one-on-one version of Pictionary without the time limit. You pick one of three words, sketch it, and then the other player uses their available letters to guess what it is. You score points for correct answers but they don’t really matter. If you can’t cope with intrusive ads then you might feel the $2.99 premium version is worth splashing out for.
SpellTower ($2)
An odd blend of Tetris and word search puzzles, SpellTower is extremely addictive. Letters on tiles fall from the top of the screen and you have to find words to clear them away. The longer the words you find, and the rarer the letters you use, the more tiles you’ll eliminate. The aim is simple: stop the letters from reaching the top of the screen. The local multiplayer mode is a great addition.
Total War Battles: Shogun ($5.50)
Real time strategy addicts are not well served on the iPhone but Total War Battles aims to change that. This is a gorgeous game with stylized Japanese artwork and fluid animations. You must guide your clan through a series of battles on hex-based maps. Basic resource management is thrown into the mix with the same split between the turn-based management and the real-time battles as you find in the PC games. Naturally, this is simplified and scaled down by comparison but there’s plenty on offer to get strategists frothing at the mouth.
Angry Birds ($1)
This notoriously obsession-inducing game begins with the story of some ugly green pigs who stole eggs from their neighboring birds. These birds are now, as you would assume, very angry. Users fling the angry (and squealing) birds at fortified castles inhabited by the green pigs in an attempt to destroy the pigs and get to the next level. It’s a game of trial and error, but birds with different advantages (extra power, wider coverage) and pigs with extra protections (hardhats, etc.) keep things interesting.
Amazing Breaker ($1)
If you’re a fan of addictive and challenging puzzle games then check out Amazing Breaker. The goal of the game is to blast the various ice structures with bombs from your launcher. Each blast takes away bits of ice, leaving tiny shards behind. The fewer amounts of shards left over at the end of each round, the better your score. With over 80 levels and full high-resolution retina display graphics – Amazing Breaker is one of those games that is easy to learn but hard to master.
Temple Run (Free)
This addictive game has you running from a pack of gorillas as fast as possible through a temple-like obstacle course. You must make quick turns, jump over logs and bridges, slide underneath rings of fire, collect gold coins and make it as far as you can without getting trampled by the gorillas or meeting your death from a fall or smack in the face. This one’s good for adrenaline junkies and those who like a good race.
Ski-On-Neon (Free)
This skiing game is addictive thanks to the difficulty of getting the slopes just right. It’s a simple game where all you have to do is press your finger to the screen when you want to crouch (going into a downhill slope) or not. The slopes make for tricky timing and you must get to a certain height jump before making it to the next level.
Epoch ($6)
This newly released action game has you controlling a robot as it struggles to survive a post-apocalyptic world where humans are no longer around and robots live to fight a never-ending war. The game utilizes a unique cover system and features stunning visuals not typically matched on mobile devices. Endless customization awaits you as you configure your robot with salvaged parts and battle waves of robots in arena-style action.
Fruit Ninja ($1)
Like Angry Birds, this action game is extremely simple but extraordinarily addictive. Users swipe a finger across the screen to slice fruit as it flies across the screen. Miss slicing one too many and you’re out. Slice multiple pieces of fruit with one swipe for combination points and watch out for flying bombs, which will kill you and your score in an instant. The game features classic and arcade modes as well as multiplayer for Game Center-enabled devices. Turn the sound up because, trust us, hearing your fruit be slashed and splattered is the best part.
Plants vs. Zombies ($3)
The much-loved tower defense game that started out as a hit on PC is now available for the iPhone, to the relief of countless fans. Users must defend their homes against hoards of angry zombies attempting an invasion. Planting a variety of zombie-zapping plants will fend off the walking dead, and the more zombies you kill the more plants you can get to defend your home. The game has 50 different levels that feature different scenes and backgrounds. The game stays interesting thanks to the variety of zombies with special skills and tricks.
Sparkle the Game ($3)
This action puzzle game puts speed and accuracy to the test as users shoot orbs into a constantly moving line, hoping to make them disappear fast enough that they don’t fall into the dreaded abyss. Users tap the screen where they want to shoot orbs; match three orbs of the same color to make them disappear. Three game modes, different scene locations, and hidden bonuses and secrets keep the action fun. The game is simple in concept, but the entertainment will last hours.
Bejeweled 2 ($1)
This addictive game is one of the top paid apps of all time, and for good reason. The puzzle game challenges users to match sparkling jewels to get points to get to the next level. The premise is simple but the fun of beating each level is addicting. Different modes allow for intense or relaxed play, and new Facebook integration allows users to challenge their friends to a match.
Where’s My Water? ($1)
This extremely popular game revolves around an alligator named Swampy who is desperate to take a nice hot shower. To get the water to him, you must cut through rock in just the right places, avoid obstacles, and figure out the puzzle in time before Swampy starts to shiver. The game has over 200 levels and is surprisingly fun and addictive, despite the game’s strange initial premise.
No comments:
Post a Comment