Mad Merx: Nemesis takes a while to ramp up and suffers from some fairly problematic latency issues, but it still has its moments.

Hatch, raise and collect butterflies in this freemium title, but don’t expect too much excitement.

Penumbear is a shadowy puzzle-platformer that succeeds thanks to both the sheer amount of levels and the variety presented within them.

Simple to play, Yet Another Zombie Defense is a dual stick shooter with slight elements of tower defense but not quite enough.

1001 Attempts is a basic high-score game that succeeds by focusing just on the challenging essentials.

There’s plenty of reason to return to Toy Story: Smash It! regularly and while it’s perhaps not the hardest of titles out there, it’s a heck of a lot of fun.

It's admittedly similar to another popular number game, but it's different enough to set itself apart and darn fun either way.

Free-to-play or not, Real Racing 3 is a fantastic game that no iOS gamer should be without. Especially if they have Game Center friends to compete with.

This retro homage to one of the Atari's earliest dungeon crawlers is a bit too retro for its own good.

Red Rusher allows players to seek revenge, one swipe at a time!

The Gods: Rebellion is very similar to the God of War series, but should be fun for mobile gamers looking for a similar title.

Coign of Vantage is a casual puzzle game with unique and novel gameplay.

247 Missiles is a homage to the classic Missile Command. It's fun, too, with a handy upgrade system to extend play.

Simple yet nostalgic, Mythic Mountain could do with more structure, but it's still a quite pleasant snowboarding-themed endless runner.

Everything about Crosswords Pro is as clean and simple as it can get. Its simple controls are ideal, never feeling overly complicated or frustrating. There’s no gimmicks or anything like that which detracts from the gameplay. The focus is squarely placed on word game skills. It’s the kind of game I’ve already found myself using to wake my brain up properly in the morning and I can see such a trend continuing.

Grudger is an auto runner that lacks some heart, as well as quality controls.

Like a true horror movie, some will love it but for others it will be just too scary.

It might help to try and view Dreamjob Kid’s Doctor – My Little Hospital as more of a time management game than a simulation, but even then it’s kind of middle-of-the-road. It can be strangely hypnotic for a while though, even if the overall experience feels somewhat sterile.

There's a certain amount of randomness to success here, but Stardust Hero proves to be a highly entertaining Peggle-style game.

Sporos intrigued me somewhat but unfortunately its too-basic premise left me wanting more from the game, and yet somehow also less from it.

Turbolab Pursuit provides fun and easy gameplay which I think most who like runners will enjoy.

Hell Yeah! Pocket Inferno can be a lot of fun for a quick play-through, but some of the tougher elements were only first introduced in the final world, where enemies fire at the player with different weapons and where it is more difficult to maneuver.

Even with cartoon-style animations, Devils at the Gate: Pacific War still manages to remain an entertaining tower defense game based around the conflict in the Pacific during World War II.

Yushino turns turn-based multiplayer word games into a numbers game, and it works brilliantly.

Word Up Dog is an incredibly weird concept that seems all the more random when compared to the developer’s other releases, but that doesn’t make it any less amusing to play. It’s weird enough to enjoy without being too obtuse to follow. It’s also just plain goofy and worth showing off because it features animals dressed like rappers from the 80s: it practically sells itself.

I can’t honestly call RPG Aeon Avenger the next big iOS RPG, but it’s certainly not a bad entry into the genre. The story isn’t exactly captivating and the combat is fairly standard, but it does make use of an interesting equipment system that’s worth experimenting with.

Although Dog Monster is entering a now-saturated market, and it does bear similarities to other endless-running games – the fun gameplay and fresh control scheme definitely lend it enough kudos for it to be a very fun and enjoyable game for fans new and old of the endless-runner genre.

Simple to look at, Stealth Assassin might not look immediately beguiling but it’s a highly enjoyable experience and one that’s perfectly priced.

There’s nothing inherently bad or boring about any type of game. However, some games, like Dragon Storm, just need a little more effort to be made interesting.

Gun Bros 2 isn’t a clever game in the conventional sense but it’s been keenly designed to draw players in. It’s a potent mix of achievements and that sense that even 10 minutes can further the cause substantially.

Aces of the Luftwaffe is a game hardcore players will like strictly for its three boss battles, especially the final one. It is, however, hard to recommend this title until it receives more content, because easily flying through 9 missions to just play three difficult boss battles isn’t enough. It’s not a bad purchase for $.99 cents, but don’t buy in to purchasing medals when it only takes a few replays to earn them.

Major Magnet is a passionate project, one that tries to honor its forefathers while existing as its own original work. And it succeeds tremendously.

Worm Run is fun, but it sadly is not perfect. Still, for those looking for something that’s a bit different, this is worth checking out.

Briquid is a solid puzzler that really challenges the brain cells. The levels are quite challenging and the retro appeal works well. It’s definitely at the top of my recommendation list for the year. Those who like to try before they buy can check out Briquid Free.

The puzzle genre is filled with games like Cyto but I think there is enough amoeba fun to be had that makes this game worth the small investment.

Wanderer: War Song is the kind of game I want to like, but it goes to great lengths to keep me from doing so. The controls are a mess, the hitboxes need adjusting, and getting booted back to the main menu after each level is a pain. I’d say wait for an update or two before investing any money here.

Spunk and Moxie might sound brief, offering 30 levels, but it’s so much more than that. I’m hopeful for extra level packs in the future but that’s more than enough for all but the hardiest of twitch gamers. Patience is vital but there’s a heck of a lot to enjoy here.

Year Walk is a fantastic experience that’s going to stick with me for a while. It’s haunting, mysterious, and is a must-play for those willing to stomach the dark tale it weaves. This is Simogo’s magnum opus.

I can absolutely see this app used as an educational supplement in a science class. Students would be assigned to gather a specific number of facts about each planet. In order to do so, they’ll have a bit of fun by playing the game and completing the missions. Additionally, this app would be great for any science or space enthusiasts that just want to learn more. Either way, it wouldn’t hurt to try it out for free.

As an endless runner that mixes in some light-gun-style action with the endless runner formula, Die Hard ain’t terrible.

While Burt Destruction could use a few upgrades, it’s still a pretty rad game that’s worth the download as long as gamers don’t mind the challenge.

It’s a shame then that Finding Teddy is all too short, clocking in at less than a couple of hours. The story doesn’t outstay its welcome but it does leave the player wanting more. Like precious already out there, Finding Teddy is a delightfully original change of pace.

Early Birds and Friends will definitely appeal to kids with its simple controls and cartoonish looks. The controls can definitely be improved, but considering it is free, anyone who has been waiting for the follow-up to Early Bird should download and give it a try.

BlindSide is definitely an atmospheric and pretty freaky game when played with headphones on and eyes closed, but the experience suffers quite a bit thanks to the trial and error navigation and poor voicework. It’s still worth checking out, especially for adventure and horror fans, but a fair amount of patience is required.

Amelia vs. the Marathon comes out of the gate with some ambitious new ideas but stumbles a bit over their execution. However, eventually it gets going and becomes a race worth seeing through until the end.

Despite such flaws, Puzzle Restorer is still well worth its $0.99 price tag. With 64 levels, plus a series of secret stages, it’s going to take a while to finish the game but it’ll be good fun getting there.

A game like this could have so easily seemed like terribly bad taste but its cartoon style nature ensures that Hackycat is simply mindless fun. It’s the kind of game that easily turns “just one more go” into an hour of joy. Just remember: Don’t try this at home.

Arlo’s Adventure may not be the glorious homage to classic adventure games that I was hoping for, but it has been a fun ride for the most part. It’s certainly not running short on potential. Plus it’s fun to utilize Arlo’s powers in unique and interesting ways.

Thanks to such an experimental nature, Loop Raccord takes more work to learn to love, but its arty nature makes it quite endearing for those who persevere. It’s great to see such original thinking emerge on the iPad.

Like the rest of the game, CraftedBattle‘s map creation shows promise amongst its many limitations. It’d be tough to recommend it above other, more polished offerings out there, but it’s still an interesting curiosity. With plenty more work, it could be something more tempting. Maybe.

Rock Blocker is a ton of fun. It’s got a great combination of intense action, solid controls, and plenty of replay value to justify coming back to it. Based on this and what I’ve played of 1001 Attempts, this Retro Revival series shows some real promise.

The game has just enough Adventure Time references, particularly with Fionna and Finn’s weapons, and cameo appearances from enemies like the butterfly with a laser gun from “The Other Tarts.” There’s even a tease for a “Finn Fights” mode, which may be welcome if only because Fionna’s grunts and yelps get a bit repetitive and grating. Otherwise, her game stands at the top of the class of Adventure Time games for iOS.

While Flick Champions isn’t anything worth writing home about, the many different ways to approach the title helps augment the replayability. It is hard to say how long it will maintain a player’s interest, but at least the potential for preoccupation is there.

It’s just tanks, battling it out. It’s not the best-controlling game ever, and the concept won’t light the world on fire, but it’s just tanks. It’s 99 cents to control a tank across 70 levels, and that’s it.

Aerofly FS certainly does flight simulation well enough, but it still could have been much better.

As I said earlier, this game is perfect for those who ride mass transit and want something to do while standing up on a bus or train, or for anyone that just enjoys a low-res retro experience. The game is relentlessly simple, but it’s got fun in it.

Well planned out, Bumpin’ Uglies is a fun distraction, regardless of whether one wants to spend extra or not.

Overall, Help Volty is an impressive indie title. This is Tvundra Producties first game, and it’s evident that the developers really know what they’re doing. From the haunting and gorgeous graphics to the mind-bending puzzles, everything just works together to create a thrilling gaming experience.

Clear Vision 2 is a great follow up to the original game. It’s a lot of the same thing but I like that it keeps going with the same story and delves deeper into Tyler’s troubled life. Fans of the original will want to pick this sequel up, especially since it’s only $0.99. My only complaint is that it can be repetitive and the missions are short, but this can also be seen as a benefit for those only wanting to distract themselves for a few minutes during the day.

I found Survivor Z an ideal game to drop into on a daily basis, hopeful that I’d continue to survive, especially when travelling further afield. Fans should greatly enjoy the change of focus, much as I did.

The boost mechanic is what makes Rock Runners feel truly special. Performing a perfect run on a level, all while boosting, feels so smooth and rewarding that you just want to do it again on the next stage. Although there are some issues with in-game hitching (that, and the pause menu could use a count-down timer on resume), there is very little negative to say about Rock Runners.

Overall, Tapforss is quite a clever game. The graphics and soundtrack are really top-notch and original, the gameplay is addicting and there’s plenty of fun to be had before players have to decide whether or not to shell out any extra cash. This is one game that I highly recommend for everyone from casual gamers to physics-platformer fanatics. After all, it doesn’t hurt to give it a chance since it is completely free to try.

Cordy 2 offers plenty of in-app purchases but none other than the initial $4.99 outlay for the full game, are actually needed. Instead, they offer customization options that I found unnecessary to my enjoyment of the game. Offering plenty of charm and little reason to criticize, Cordy 2 is an utterly delightful platformer.

Throw in the hefty price tag of $2.99 and it’s tricky to recommend Super Mad Matador above others. For $0.99, it might feel more worthwhile but as it stands, there are too many better and cheaper Endless Runners already out there.

After Burner Climax is loud, fast, and chaotic. For fans of Sega, on-rails shooters, and ‘true’ arcade games, this is worth checking out.

Feast or Famine is a non-endless runner with a great sense of style and personality. Every now and then Glyph may not react as intended but that doesn’t undo all the fun that’s been had up until that point. Runner fans: stoke those cooking fires.

This is by far one of the best games I’ve played on the iPhone. It’s fun, addicting, and simple to play. I strongly recommend checking this one out.

Despite such signs of a changing market, Beastie Bay might not be the finest of titles from the developer but there’s still satisfaction to be had, once fully understood, although don’t expect to be able to play across multiple devices as there’s still, oddly, no iCloud save support.

Players that don’t mind waiting for that energy recharge will probably love this game. Aside from the controls, there is not much else to show fault with. The solid graphics and sound, combined with the depth of upgrades and achievements make this a great turn-based fighting game.

Despite a few areas of improvement, Bacteria Arcade Edition is still a fun and addictive arcade game.

Zuko Monsters is a mostly innocuous knock-off that’s still too exploitative to be considered great. However, it’s not bad and for any iOS owners looking for a Pokémon fix there really aren’t too many legal alternatives.

Zombies & Trains! isn’t cerebral in any way but it’s a great way of annihilating stress levels at the speed of, well, a fast moving train. Coins that can be used to accrue new upgrades and bonuses increase at a slow rate, but other than that, it’s smooth sailing for the gory yet fun filled zombie slasher.

Getting accustomed to Castle Dracula’s slightly different approach to puzzles and interaction doesn’t take long. And once that happens the game can be downright enjoyable. Until the numerous tiny issues start building up, that is. Still, an update is already in the works and I’ve no doubt that most of the kinks will be irons out in short order. As-is, however, it’s not great.

P.R.O.B.E. is a pretty cool puzzle game with some seriously frustrating (in a good way) puzzles for anyone looking to nail 100% across the board. The initial offerings are a little misleading as a significant portion of these levels act as extremely basic tutorials but things do pick up towards the haldway point. It’s just unfortunate that it all has to come to such an abrupt end so soon.

I’m getting to the point where I think the casual puzzle game genre is getting a little saturated. It seems a new game comes out every week that attempts to become the next Angry Birds. That being said, I don’t think that Be Together will dethrone the top games out there but I do think that it is a worthy addition to the genre. It has some lovable characters and visually-appealing artwork that makes for a friendly game environment for players of all ages.

Roar Rampage is loud, full of things to smash, and a giant dinosaur wearing boxing gloves. With controls that improve on the Flash original and the ability to smash the Eiffel Tower, what’s not to love about Roar Rampage?

Overall, Jetpack Jinx is an easily recommendable game. It has all the right elements for a solid title, it’s addicting, and it is often quite challenging. Since it’s completely free, gamers who love this genre will want to add this to their collection.

Tiny Kingdom is still very much a fun and accessible freemium sim. It’s definitely easier to get into than many of its peers, just not quite as much as I’d have hoped. Still, it’s certainly worth a look.

The interesting ideas behind Dynasty of the Magi are certainly worth noting and since it’s free there’s no harm in taking a look. Sadly it’s just not a good game. Free or not, it’s just not something I could see anyone playing for an extended period of time.

It’s unfortunate that Virtual Families 2 suffers from such problems, as the foundations are quite solid. The language might be a little odd (adopting an adult? Really?) but with a bit more focus on fun rather than humdrum day to day activities, Virtual Families 2 could be something quite special. Here’s hoping that the promised updates shake things up a bit.

It’s hard for me to say anything too bad about the game, nor anything that’s especially effusive in praise. Syder Arcade just exists as it is, a retro-styled shoot ’em up that wants to let players destroy waves of enemies, unleash special abilities, and just have some mindless fun for a little while. That’s perfectly fine! It’s not a game of the year candidate, but it’s something those who download it and check it out will enjoy.

All in all, Stratosphere: Multiplayer Defense probably isn’t for serious gamers. I feel like it may have more of an appeal for casual gamers and children alike, but that doesn’t make it a bad game by any means. It’s still a great way to compete against friends, and I’m looking forward to what the developers have in store for future updates. It’s off to an awesome start.

Even though this game may suffer from being overly simplistic, it still deserves a try. Senkai Puzzle is an intriguing app that brings with it a different take on the popular cube-rotating game we all know and love from our childhood. Give it a shot.

Ultimately, though, Claustrophobic‘s gameplay is a little on the shallow side. There’s the prospect of new updates at a later date but, for now, it doesn’t quite have the longevity of other Endless Running games. The addition of challenges could have helped this significantly, so hopefully that will be one such update. For now, though, Claustrophobic is an interesting idea but one that lacks that “just one more go” factor.

Multiplayer and pinball have never gone hand-in-hand, but after playing PinWar it’s hard to wonder why it hasn’t happened sooner. Factoring in an insane amount of missions and stage structures to boot, and this is an experience worth pulling the plunger on. Just try not to be too competitive when crushing the opposition. Sometimes sore losers and fragile electronics don’t exactly mix.

It’s a fun ride, but one that isn’t quite as gripping as it should be. Tin Man Games has done a fine job of converting the book to the iOS format, but it’s just not the greatest of Fighting Fantasy titles. Still, nostalgic fans will enjoy it sufficiently for the asking price. Others can feel their interest piqued ready for further installments.

Ku: Shroud of the Morrigan isn’t a perfect iOS adventure game, but it’s definitely a good one.

Frog Orbs has some interesting elements to it, but only those looking for new takes on Missile Command should really check this one out.

Aside from the few minor issues Steampunk Racing 3D is absolutely a fun racing game. There are plenty of apps in this genre, but this one is particularly intriguing and worth checking out.

This game is more obfuscating than it is complex, and while its disparate elements made me want to like it, playing it did a lot to dissuade me in an immediate fashion.

Bloody Epic is one surpisingly fun runner. It’s got plenty of unlockables (even without counting the “special” IAP gear), an unexpected amount of strategy to employ, and buckets o’ gore. Not even buckets, more like swimming pools or something. All in all it’s a great use of $1 and a great way to kill time. Also orcs and undead.

There’s clearly fun to be had with Checkpoint Madness, but at times, it feels more stressful than enjoyable.

Wordchemy is a good choice for a free word game. It’s unpolished but its core is just fun and unique enough to keep that from completely bringing it down. It’s not alchemy but it can still be a little bit magic.

Minor miscalculations aside, Megamassive is an impressive physics-only puzzle game. It’s incredibly easy to learn and fun to experiment with even if it can be a tad too unforgiving.

Though it may be hard to believe, Beeline may have found the perfect way to distill the Ghostbusters experience into iOS game form. The fact that it is completely free and fun to boot makes it an even heartier download recommendation. So, who you gonna call? It should definitely be these guys.

The best aspects of Ski Jump Pro are the customization that players can make to characters, the sheer amount of content in the game, and the straightforward controls. The simple gameplay does get repetitive like so many other casual games, but it is nonetheless fun.

Given such a high level of difficulty, Puzzle Retreat should last many players quite a while, providing they don’t mind that the sole competition involved is with themselves.

Hamster Chase is a smart, delightful little game. Only those with hearts of stone will be able to resist its charms.