The lack of fidelity in the controls can be a bit frustrating, but these issues usually resolve themselves quickly enough to get on with enjoying the game. The story is fairly entertaining, but the real joy of this game comes from a depth not often seen in iOS games.

The pizza power is weak when it comes to this Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game.

Impatience aside and AbraWORDabrA is a great twist on the word gaming genre.

Larry Laffer's innuendo-laden exploits haven't been worth talking about for years, but Replay Games is about to change that.

My only real complaint with the game (the gameplay itself could be criticized, but it does have charm) is that it takes an incredible amount of time to really get started.

Where Ash II falls down is in the combat.

Not for the faint hearted or the squeamish, Surgeon Simulator is often awkward but there really isn't anything else like it.

Fun yet sometimes frustratingly slowly paced, Royal Revolt 2 is a conflicting reverse tower defense game, and not one for those who despise freemium elements.

But the challenge and relative complexity of Gravity Hook HD are part of the package – this is a game that is unashamed to be unforgiving, and if you can appreciate that, you will likely appreciate Gravity Hook HD to be more than just the typical pick up and play game, but what makes it unique keeps it from being truly great.

An extremely well made game that is lacking the required depth to make it a must have game.

Mafia Rush is a fun dual-stick shooter that is different from other games in the category.

The real fun of Neoteria comes when playing with the iCade.

Lumber Jacked is a trial platformer that's a decent genre entry, but won't light the world on fire. Which is a good thing because forest fires are bad.

Iesabel scratches that action RPG itch, but just barely.

Finally, a game that tells the player to go to hell... bullet hell, that is.

Most players have probably seen or played this game before, but they're still going to enjoy this title regardless.

Those who own the oil will own the battlefield. Oil Rush is a real-time strategy title that has players moving their fleet of boats and planes to numerous sectors as they try to overrun enemies to achieve victory.

From the makers of Papa Sangre comes a defense game that forces players to listen carefully; unless they want to hear the sound of zombies feasting on their flesh, that is.

Paradise Bay is King's attempt at Farmville. It could well revive the genre.

This billiards puzzle game is a little too minimalistic for its own good.

Street Fighter IV Champion Edition is a hugely disappointing game. It does almost all of the right things when it comes to making a great mobile fighting game, but really messes up the most important thing: the multiplayer. Playing Champion Edition online is such a compromised experience, it feels like a different game, and not one you'd ever want to play.

Fish Out of Water from Halfbrick's core mechanic is fun to play, but it is far from the endless replayability that came along with Fruit Ninja or Jetpack Joyride.

The option to add a custom photo face to the main character in BLOODMASQUE is a total gimmick, but the game said gimmick is attached to is actually pretty cool.

A refreshingly new entry into the genre that foregoes button-mashing memorization, replacing it with a well-designed, extensive, progressive control scheme that is very rewarding.

All I do know is that in its current form, Etolis Arena is on the lower end of the dual stick shooter spectrum.

It all feels so cynical. Sure, there's no requirement to buy any in-app purchases but there's always that sense that you're missing out on something if you don't. For the stubborn, being pushed to buy help so regularly will no doubt infuriate all the more.

Want to wreak havoc all over the high seas? Then Assassin's Creed Pirates is a great way to do so, Assassin's Creed fan or not.

Diablo Immortal is a fine social rpg with a pacing problem, and absolutely none of that has to do with its monetization.

Romance of Rome is a classic example of quality over quantity. It would have been nice if this Hidden Object game could have been a little lower in price, though.

Games like Bunny The Zombie Slayer are an amusing illustration of how fun simplistic themed games can be successful as long as players are not fixated on an extended experience.

As much as we would love to say Trial Xtreme 3 is the rebirth of the genre, it proves to be the exact opposite. Absurd spikes in difficulty don't do much to help matters along the way either. Downloader beware, this is not the Trials you should be looking for.

A fast-paced action-packed on the rails shooter, John Woo's Bloodstroke is a commendable work of art.

This free-to-play game based on the hit book series and TV show is as dense as they are, but with a lot of menu navigation and wait timers.

Although the content was a little too much for me at times, players who don't mind the junk will find it to be an excellent addition to their game collection.

Fara is a well polished action RPG from a small team. The game may not be epic in scale, but it seems about the right size for a small device and it is compelling enough to merit a look. The hand-painted environments are beautifully crafted, and the dialogue is funny even if a bit over the top at times.

Trade rainbows for darkness and magic dolphins for screaming death skulls.

Catch the Candy has fun elements to it, but the awkwardness of the grappling hook mechanic with movement along flat ground and the lack of content makes it suffer a bit.

With the addition of new settings with the charm of Circus, more robust multiplayer action – and my personal wish – an endless mode that gets progressively harder, Woody Woodpecker could be epic. As it stands, it's a great bet for kids, a kick for nostalgia junkies and for all, at $.99 for a universal build, it definitely offers some ha-ha-ha-HA-ha's!

Each of the seven different worlds is as creative as the last, and Boy Loves Girl is the ideal game to drop in on for short doses or extended sessions. It makes a pleasant change to play something so full of charm and originality.

Despite the control issues, this is still a fantastic compilation for fans of classic arcade games. The effort that went into making this more than just a bunch of repackaged arcade titles makes it worth checking out for that alone.

This is a game great in theory, and smashing nukes with bare fists is never not just exceptionally awesome, but it only goes so far to raise the quality of the experience.

As cute and charming as other Bookworm games, Bookworm Heroes pits player against player in a battle of word creation.

Ninjump Rooftops goes endless running across challenging rooftops full of obstacles and attacking enemies! Don't worry though, destroy three in a row and players will get a short ride.

Endless Boss Fight brings forth plenty of beat 'em up action against just one boss, but its asynchronous multiplayer mode is the star here.

Anyone expecting a huge, story-driven first person shooter might be a bit disappointed but that doesn't mean there isn't plenty of fun to be had with Overkill 2.

A gorgeously animated and designed world, guiding Tic through these adventures was relatively easy and ramped up in difficulty toward the end of the first world.

The end of the world turns into an opportunity for acts of mayhem against the undead. However, it's not all fun and games!

This shooter is pretty great, but there are many, many free-to-play annoyances surrounding it.

Ring Run Circus has an ingenious and well-executed concept and structure, but there's just something about the mechanic that keeps it from being an excellent game.

Personally, I could care less about a fair few of these games, but a couple of them are surprisingly good. Good enough to be their own game in a few cases, actually.

These Robotic Hearts of Mine is a story-focused puzzle game where players try to get all the hearts in a level upright.

Raid Leader can be frustrating due to the controls, and its length is a bit disappointing, but it's an interesting experience. Strategy fans might want to check this out – it's a bit different than what they might expect, but it might just appeal to a certain player.

Pandemic 2.5 is one of those games that really has to be played in order to understand what all the fuss is about. It's not perfect, sure, but it's the best viral Armageddon simulator I've ever played.

Don't let the gorgeously stunning art style fool you either, because it actually manages to play EVEN BETTER than it looks.

Incorporating a blitz style mentality with Time Management gaming makes for a fast paced Diner Dash experience.

Do you like Borderlands? Do you prefer to shoot first and ask questions later? If answered yes to either question, we have just the game for you...

Building an empire should really be more exciting than this.

Well made yet shallow, Atomic Fusion: Particle Collider is a simple to learn arcade-style game about science.

Another Case Solved is a fun take on crime solving with a mixture of strategy and Match-3 action, but its freemium elements are a little restrictive.

This throwback title challenges players to dock or be destroyed.

Blood Brothers 2 is built on a simple, solid foundation, but its free-to-play system doesn't play fair.

Jurassic World: The Game is a worthwhile follow-up to the popular Park Builder.

South Park: Phone Destroyer is an ok Clash Royale clone, but does precious little with its license and feels overburdened with free-to-play hooks.

It's a clever, rewarding, and adorable game for the most part, and one that probably shouldn't be overlooked.

I've been really impressed by Pangolin. The artwork is great and the gameplay and controls are different enough to set the game apart from other games in the genre.

Having to jump through hoops to reset the tilt controls is a bit of a pain, but aside from that Zombie Fish Tank does a fantastic job of bringing an old genre back from the dead. The core mechanics are plenty of fun in their own right, and there’s plenty of bonus content and additional levels to keep players occupied.

Kamikaze Pigs is a game about chain reactions to destroy pigs. Sure, it sounds fun, but randomness only goes so far.

Dungeon Defenders just reeks of an idea that wasn't fully thought through. It is as if someone got the idea to make a hack 'n slash and tower defense hybrid, but never considered if it would actually work.

Chillingo's new spatial puzzler serves up a series of mind-blogging experiments. It's just a shame that one won't be playing them for too long.

Gun Commando recalls the original wave of first-person shooters, but is far from a perfect game.

The Portal of Power is the best justification for this game. For those looking for a new reason to use their Skylanders figure collection, or wanting to get into it, then buy the Portal of Power and go crazy. Otherwise, stay away: as a purely-virtual experience, it's somewhat lacking.

I like everything about Gravity Runner except for the game itself. I love the concept to death. I think that done properly, it could be an incredibly fun platformer, one that could really play with gravity bending the way that this does. But as an endless platformer, Gravity Runner just does not work.

Original, sensual, and beautiful, Luxuria Superbia is quite the experience for those willing to be open minded about it.

Free-to-play management games tend to fall into the trap of monetizing before incentivizing. Band Stars forces players to decide if they feel the same way.

I wouldn't count Dark Shrines out for the count quite yet, but unless it receives some much needed updates, it will be forgotten in a world of millions of apps fighting for the top spot.

Super Cosmic Word Snake is a simple, yet addictive game that's best played with two players. How often can that be said about an arcade game on iOS?

I'm certain there are some people out there who will find NOM 5 enjoyable, but unless the tap-timing sees an improvement I have a hard time imagining it finding much of a fanbase.

It's simple, sure, but that's the idea. It's meant to be played over and over again. Players are supposed to try different strategies each time until they find one that works for them. Most of all, it's the kind of game that can drain an entire afternoon. Then the afternoon after that. And the one after that.

Manipulate a variety of different liquids in this challenging but attractive physics-puzzler.

Unity Games' Archangel is great for those who love the grind of a great looking dungeon-crawler but feels as though it takes a while to truly get going.

If repeating levels doesn't sound too bothersome, the idea of a quirky, different on-rails platformer appeals, and the letdown of the gondola being a cabin car doesn't seem too great then check out Gorilla Gondola.

Is a new 3D coat of paint worth spending $14.99? In this case, probably not...

The gameplay isn't deep, but it isn't meant to be. In the pure flick games, I would have liked a little more sensitivity to the strength of the flick – most of mine seemed to go the same distance and have the same impact regardless of my intended velocity – otherwise, the games worked as expected.

Crow is universal. But owners of the new iPad should definitely choose their iPads over their iPhones to take advantage of the beautiful and strange graphics in the game.

A dark and intriguing detective story awaits, behind some awkward controls and graphical glitches.

Mix Clash of Clans with Call of Duty, and this is what you get.

Zodiac: Orcanon Odyssey feels more like the start of a great idea rather than a fleshed-out experience.

Elements from several of the most popular (and beloved) modern tactical franchises come together to create something no strategy fan should be without.

It might not fulfil its potential but Wave – Against every BEAT! is still a pretty fun bullet hell type shooter.

While it's a bit of a jack of all trade and master of none, it's still well worth a look. The potential is great and hopefully Square Enix will soon be adding to the collection with new instalments. Oh and Final Fantasy fans will love the ending.

The very thing that makes this an attractive title for gamers of all ages and backgrounds – its simplicity – is the same thing that will likely cause gamers to stop playing: it's a little too easy and mindless.

I admit, I tend to get sucked right into these time-management, tower-building games, but if keeping these squirrels happy is the name of the game, I'm more than happy to oblige.

Blood of the Zombies won't entrance twitch gamers but for those looking for an interesting storyline and a delightful walk down memory lane, it's a sterling effort and one that very much deserves its asking price.

Kairo is the kind of game that should please most old school adventure game fans. Especially those who enjoy semi-obscure puzzles built around a series of rules they have to figure out on their own. However, thanks to the useful hint system even less puzzle savvy players can enjoy themselves without getting frustrated.

Last Inua is a visually beautiful and moving game, but the gameplay is left lacking.

For those of you that fit this category, first I hate you, and second you will find an immersive and complete game that did wonders on its console debut and is meeting with pleasant reactions in its iDevice debut as well.

There isn't anything excessively new and shocking in Red Ball 3, but the combination of concepts combined from similar titles makes an enjoyable experience. Game Center, Crystal, Achievements, and hidden gifts compliment the game nicely.

A great port of the 1992 arcade beat 'em up, for better and for worse.