I really like that Wordbox isn’t just about spelling as many words as possible. The different task each quest has makes it more about finding the right words, instead of just any words. At the end of the day, it’s still a word game, but there’s more to it than just spelling words.

BladeZ is campy fun. Which also translates to it not being the most polished experience, but for an amusing laugh with a high sense of difficulty and challenge, as schmups tend to promise, it delivers in droves.

In an age where far too many physics puzzle games try to stump the audience into submission, Tito’s Shell proves that variety can be just as fun. Though the title may not be overly long, the process of perfecting each level could end of being a tremendous time suck. Never has venturing into the deep dark unknown sounded like so much fun.

Table Top Racing offers hectic combat racing for a very reasonable price.

It’s remarkably different from the direction the rest of the App Store has taken, and it’s worthy for the way it and its creator have stood tall in making it. But beyond that the game is perfect for pick up and play, and has plenty of satisfying fast-paced action and insanity to be definitely worth checking out.

It’s not a concept that automatically endears anyone but Sortee does it all well. It’s a simple yet enjoyable casual focused game, but one that will trick one’s brain more than expected. A fine combination for the grand price of nothing.

Descent: The Adventure has some potential but it's far too rough at the moment. Too rough and not very fun, sadly. There's always a chance it could see a few improvements along the way but until then it's probably best to keep a safe distance.

Little Inferno won't take long to reach its inevitable conclusion provided players burn all the things at a steady pace. However it's the puzzle-like combos and the funny, sometimes freaky, reactions objects have to fire that should keep them coming back even after unlocking the final catalog.

Mostly, Mushroom Wars is all about outnumbering the competition and that's something that is down to timing rather than tactical thinking. It's a fun ride for a time, but with little else in terms of content such as the PSN original's multiplayer mode, it's lacking.

Still, despite the occasional hiccups, Rescue Rush is an ingenious concept that succeeds at turning real-world locations into a fun arcade game. It's just too clever to not enjoy on at least some level.

Fans of endless racers that feel like the genre has been lacking zombies (because they're so underrepresented in modern culture) or just want an interesting new twist on the familiar concept should check this one out.

For those brave souls willing to put their musical talents (or lack of them) out on display, Jam for iPhone is bound to be a lot of fun, assuming they can tolerate the wonders of auto tune. It's quite satisfying watching one's creation work its way up the charts.

Streetfood Tycoon: World Tour doesn't evolve a huge amount beyond these core concepts, even though it does throw in frivolous extras such as the presence of celebrities. Play it for 30 minutes or 3 hours and it'll still be mostly the same. And yet, I still find myself going back for more, which isn't bad going at all for a free to play game.

Art Mogul might not expand hugely upon its initial opening gambit, instead building upon that and rewarding the player with arbitrary rank boosts, but it's a fun mix of simulation and Hidden Object gaming, nonetheless.

Take My Machete is worth a look, given it costs nothing to play, but I can't see it lasting as more than a mild distraction for many.

Even with the knowledge that Pixel People has no real meat to it and is about as "fun" as browsing someone's Facebook page I still have a hard time putting it down. Heck, the whole time I've been typing this I've been itching to get back to discovering new jobs. I can't quite explain why but this is definitely one time-waster worth checking out.

Baseball Superstars 2013 finds a way to hook players in though bite-sized game sessions, and keep them coming back for inning after inning. This is a worthy successor to the franchise's throne and sure to coax another few million downloads from iOS gamers.

Which is to say, it's an amusing romp that manages to touch on a lot of little desirable bits of a strategy RPG game without getting too much in the way of having fun.

There's no denying that Pantheon the Legends isn't much of a game. However, even slight fun is better than no fun at all.

Assuming the extremely unfortunate crash bug is taken care of I could see Dungeon Lore being a decent fix for genre fans. It has its quirks but the actual gameplay and exploration can be enjoyable. It's just a shame that the shop breaks everything.

Stratego can be great fun when playing against another person, even with numerous losses due to playing against people who actually know what they're doing, but the single player should be avoided at all costs.

Ruzzle is without a doubt one of my favourite word games currently available – and why wouldn't it be; with it's super tense game play, fun social elements and unique take on the word game genre, it's definitely worth a try in my book.

The concept of playing against real celebrities is actually quite entertaining. It's a little weird at first, but I enjoyed the game's style.

HeadshotsAlley is not a "for all ages" kind of game. The subject matter, visuals, and overall difficulty might be too much for some to handle. Anyone who isn't bothered by these three elements, however, should have a grand old time blasting face and chasing that high score.

Corrypt is a game that got my attention with its visuals, gained my favor with some interesting gameplay twists, and finally earned my utmost respect and adoration when it pushed those twists even farther.

Cracking Sands is a comprehensive top-down racer. Although it plays like many other racing games, the numerous game mode, races, and customization features make it one of the better racing apps available.

Ride 'Em Rigby is a game that doesn't break any new ground, but it is good enough to satisfy the Regular Show fanbase that will check out the game because of the license. It's solid yet inoffensive and that's perfectly fine.

It's tough to resist the charm of Banana Kong and while it's never going to be as exceptional as the Donkey Kong Country series, it's a warm, Endless Runner focused alternative.

Taking a step back and looking from a place of objectivity, it is genuinely hard to recommend picking up NFL Quarterback 13. Last year's game now costs a dollar less and features nearly an identical on-the-field experience, not to mention a more streamlined user interface. Though there was no real reason to re-invent the wheel this season, trying to send the same tire through the car wash a couple of times and sell it as new feels like an insult to the fans.

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.

Undead Slayer is really entertaining. It controls well, it's simple, yet uncannily deep. It looks good, and despite the painful dialogue, shallow story, and lagginess, it's a solid hack-em-up. Lively and outrageous, we had a blast with this one.

Blade Lords does get points for really trying to do something different with the one-on-one combat experience by going down a familiar route. While I'd like to see less monetization influence and more pure fighting game influence added, this is still interesting enough to check out for fighting fans.

Half-Inch Heist can be nerve-wracking in a good way, the chiptune music is intense and a great fit, and I enjoy the pixel art style. With some tweaks to be more user-friendly, I think this could be a challenging-yet-fun game, instead of merely challenging my patience.

Rocket Island scratches that itch between casual strategy game that is just tap-and-move and far too full of dense information so that entire evenings are lost in the bat of an eyelash. There's just enough depth and charm to keep one entertained for a dozen minutes here and there, and the same amount of whimsy found in older god-simulation titles.

The gameplay and controls are just about flawless and although it won't blow anyone's socks off with stunning 3D graphics or really innovative game mechanics, Hungry Oni offers a simple and easy gameplay.

Ninja, Inc. is a little rough around the edges and possibly suffers from having a bit too much to do at one time, but it's surprisingly difficult to put down.

Since the majority of my guild mates don't seem to play much, if at all, Immortalis almost feels more like a single player game with an internet connection requirement than an online one. That's not to say it isn't fun even without much peer participation but I could only imagine it becoming all the more formidable if the social interactions got a little more prolific.

Tennis in the Face is not about tennis at all. It has a crazy premise, but good level design and fun game play. It's a very easy and casual game to kill a few minutes with.

Squarescape is a clever little puzzle game that takes a simple concept and challenges the player to succeed at it. I can dig it.

Dingle Dangle runs the risk of frustrating more impatient gamers, especially with such awkward controls, but it's certainly got something about it. With a bit of fine-tuning, Dingle Dangle could be really something quite addictive.

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.

Simply put, there aren't enough reasons to play 3Heroes for very long. There are plenty of games like it that offer a higher quality experience in many ways. Unless players have very specific reasons for getting into this game, 3Heroes is a hard sell.

Jelly All Stars doesn't do a single thing new for the kind of puzzle game it's representing, but that's not always important. Aside from a slow burn it's a respectably entertaining title that great for some light "snacking."

Just too boring to play.

Delivers smart and stylish match three gameplay that will keep you occupied and satisfied for hours.

Momonga Pinball Adventures is a sugary sweet pinball title that has plenty to offer for every audience. What it lacks in photo-realistic physics and ridiculous bonus multipliers, it more than makes up for in charm and replayability.

Heroes and Castles is quite possibly Foursaken Media's most refined strategy title yet, and I personally find it to be their most entertaining. It's still a little rough around the edges in a few places but it's full of enough upgrades and unlocks (not to mention fun) to keep fans of the genre, or the developer, busy for quite a while.

Hopefully an update makes Zen Training more exciting. It does have a lot of potential, but it appears that maybe it was released too soon. Anyone dying to spend $0.99 on a simple color matching game may want to consider it, but most gamers may wish to wait for a few improvements before committing to a purchase.

Virtual pets are great for people that can't or won't take responsible care of a real one. Still, even fake pets should feel more alive than Pixel Buddy.

Lode Runner Classic is not really essential for anyone that isn't in love with the series, and while the game does pack loads of content, that's really just it – there's little redeeming value here.

Such sign up issues aside, and Fridge Words is a simple yet enjoyable word game. It even throws in a quick game mode, enabling players the chance to hone their skills without requiring another person, handy for when one is away from a wi-fi or 3G area. It's hard to significantly criticize.

While the premise is simple, the game offers enough depth to keep itself interesting. Draw Wars puts the power of combat in the tips of player's fingers and it works a treat.

Busy Bags is just like so many other time management games. Nothing really stands out to be as being really good or really bad. The gameplay has its moments of fun, but the controls and pace of the game need a little work.

Even with the difficulty Rise of the Blobs is still plenty of fun. So much so that losing typically ends up being just another excuse to play again. Or maybe get Mal a new hat.

There's a great game to be had here in Growtopia. The crafting mechanic is unique, and growing all sorts of little trees for doors, bricks, wooden platforms, and (!) super crate boxes is compelling enough to get me to purchase more gems at times.

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.

Much like the games of old that inspired it, Gunslugs can be unforgiving yet so satisfied when it's conquered – and the procedurally-generated levels means that players don't always know what to expect. Fans of the run 'n gun genre need to check this out.

The game definitely works as something that requires some thought, but nothing too strenuous.

Criticisms aside, Alpha Squadron strikes enough of the same notes that its overall chord will certainly feel and sound familiar. Though the mission structure seems rather dogfight heavy, players will find more than enough gameplay to justify the $2.99 sticker price. Most importantly, it plays like it could have existed in the GameCube era, which is enough to render it an instant purchase.

It's one of a very small handful of games that I would recommend wholeheartedly. I've yet to see such an impressive amalgamation of war gaming and the RPG genre, even after all these years. Just don't expect an easy ride.

I was honestly shocked when I started playing 7 Elements. It's a very overall polished match-3 game with enough twists to make it feel unique and keep it entertaining. Very entertaining, in fact.

This is a game that is both punishing and rewarding in equal measure, though at times it feels like the balance is still being tweaked and understood.

jtpck is a good infinite runner game. It doesn't have any innovative or novel features, but there aren't really any negative aspects to it. Fans of infinite runners will definitely find something to like in it, but others who are tired of the genre may want to think about it.

The cartoon visuals are sharp and vibrant and the music is plucky, infectious, and filled with great uses of harmonica bayou tones.

Bouncy! is without a doubt one of my top go-to games for when I have a few spare minutes, with it's stunning graphics, fun and inviting gameplay and addictive incentives (such as new trampolines), many avid iOS gamers might just find themselves also charmed by it.

On the whole, Total Defense is a decent tower-strategy title. It's not the best, but certainly not the worst. At the unmissable price of free, we encourage at least a fleeting glance.

When it comes to solid ports of a board gaming experience, Upwords is about as faithful as it gets. The problem is that without the wide install base provided by releasing the app for free, the needed audience to push the social mechanics are just not there yet.

Its mechanics are still pristine. Its controls are still pretty much immaculate. The formula has been tweaked, and I think it has come out for the better. It's evolution, not revolution, but it's still Temple Run and it's sitll a lot of fun.

ROD is a unique, entertaining effort. One I'd highly recommend everyone try at least once.

There are certainly ways to innovate on retro gaming's classics, but this one felt a bit too close to the original with some additions that it didn't really function quite as well into drawing me into wanting to play it.

Though Death Golf shows early promise, the lack of variety, repetitive mechanics and frustrating movement controls hold it back from reaching its aspirations.

Crucially, though, Little Amazon's main offense is that it just isn't interesting enough. It's the perfect definition of average and nothing more. Something that really doesn't cut it any more in the Endless Runner genre, even for free.

It's hard to give Space Settlers a full recommendation. The base building sections are so good and strangely relaxing that it may be worth suffering through the combat. For some though, it may just be insufferable.

This isn't a title for adrenaline junkies, but Underground Kingdom is ideal for adventure fans. I'm hopeful to see future titles from Choose Your Own Adventure covered on the App Store.

The art and parodied characters are probably the best thing about the game since the gameplay seems a little too familiar.

I know the iPad's screen probably wouldn't be able to accommodate 3-5 players very well, but the two player limit is still kind of a shame. Other than that, though, it's an absolutely stellar port of an absolutely stellar board game. One that fans of the genre (and obviously the original) shouldn't miss.

Thanks to microtransactions that hog the spotlight, Dropple may very well be one of the most generous free offerings released in this New Year. When the barrier to entry is this low, there is no excuse not to put the game through its paces.

Swarm! sometimes feels like it's straining against its own limitations but it is hard to fault a game too much for just trying too hard. It's a meaty, quality adventure with balls to spare.

While Time Surfer will not win any awards for uniqueness, it is a great example of how a fun idea can be iterated upon by blending in concepts from other games to create something that feels at least somewhat new.

I don't believe this is a "bad" game per se, but it just feels like something built to let the player do as little as possible, and there's just not much fun to really be had from it because of that.

I love The Blockheads for much the same reason I love baseball, I suppose. I can watch baseball while doing something else, and The Blockheads is a perfect game to fill my time. Check it out.

Anyone who enjoys thinking hard will enjoy Rails, but people who want a really easy to play casual game should probably look somewhere else.

While there is some room for improvement, I still enjoyed the clever dialogue and intriguing gameplay. Those who aren't quite sold on the platformer can check out Crash Dummy Lite for free to get a feel for it first.

For a lo-fi indie production of examining Legend of Zelda, Mazes & Monsters goes quite far. It tweaks the formula, adds a few new weapons (so that the default does not have to be sword), and yet keeps true to many of the mini-games and general sense of progression.

Amazing Ants is a fun game with great levels, controls, and graphics. Unfortunately, the gameplay suffers from the amount of ads and the constant need to accumulate enough coins. I really wish this app was a couple of buck and had no ads, with cheaper items in the store. However, I still recommend this app since the levels and gameplay are so good.

Noble Nutlings is the kind of casual iOS game that's over way too soon. Not because it's lacking in content but because it's so easy to plow through everything in big chunks thanks to all the wacky fun.

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.

With 60 levels and 180 stars to gain, I suspect Wake the Cat will be a pretty long lasting experience. With its ridiculously cute exterior and an intelligent selection of puzzles, it should satisfy anyone looking for a quick puzzle fix.

Ignoring the bizarre internet quirks and slightly disappointing fifth consecutive series of minor missteps, Zenonia 5 easily does the series proud.

Virtual buttons are a nuisance, yes, but sometimes they're just the better way to do things. Or at least with Joe Danger Touch, while touch-optimized controls were clearly important, they were not perfected before shipping, and they're a large part of why this one crashes and burns too much for me.

Rocket Warrior is a fun game that is very similar game play to other games, but stands out for the content it includes. The controls take a little while to get used to, but the levels and many obstacles keep it interesting.

This game is a no brainer for any fan of the physics puzzler genre, especially at a price of just $0.99 for a universal app.

Lost Treasures of Infocom is a delightful tribute to a fascinating time of gaming history. More impressively, the games still maintain an ageless quality to them.

Despite the game's lack of mechanics that are overly groundbreaking or compelling, Catch The Ark manages to provide a polished, family-friendly experience that is second to none.

It's difficult to say that it will be of interest to everyone who may otherwise be amused by the well-done graphics and cute asides muttered by Stan as he plummets.

The Cyrus Chronicles is like a fancy wrapper on a bland piece of candy. It seeks to be an avant-garde darling like flOw, but that game understood that unique isn't enough. Games have to be enjoyable too.

It's very shallow and some more structure would have been appreciated. While there are some basic missions to work towards, it lacks focus, but there is still some enjoyment, especially for those who have suffered from a long day. For free, that's not a bad offering but I'd struggle to be tempted to spend real money on items.

While Nemo's Reef may not be revolutionary, it's hard to ignore the eye popping graphics and the familiar character appearances like Dory and Marlin.