Word Lubbers takes some time to master but it's worth persevering. With a relatively tight time limit before the enemy pirates wipe the player out, it's a frantic race but one that is winnable and quite satisfying in the end.

Rarely are there games that can successfully manage to tickle the critical thinking and humor quadrants of the brain. Tales of Monkey Island – Episode 3: Lair of the Leviathan does this with ease, while showing players a little taste of old school gaming. This is an quest well worth continuing.

While it's an incredibly deep and rewarding game, there's an enormous barrier for entry. And even after learning most of the ins-and-outs it can still be a rough road. Still, it shows an incredible amount of promise. With an update or two it could be a real gem.

Wind-Up Knight is a game I have no problem referring to as a "Must Play." It's perfect for short bursts or prolonged sessions. There's a surprising amount of customization. It can be accessible and brutally punishing, depending on what the player wants. This, my friends, is a perfect example of mobile gaming at its finest.

By giving players a decent amount of lives and plenty of time to explore the level, Donkey Jump seems at least aware of its own difficulty. Still, that isn't enough to make up for how one must fight against the game itself to make any progress. It's hard for all the wrong reasons.

The original Lumi was a must-have game. This iOS port is even more so. It's actually less expensive and will be featuring even more content (game modes, levels, etc.) thanks to planned future updates. Fans of platformers or stylistic indie games in general shouldn't let this one slip by unnoticed.

The puzzles are fun and the game is very well designed. If players can play without losing their lunch, they are likely to have a great time.

As someone who grew up idolizing fictitious cartoon characters each weekend, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I was instantly drawn to Seal Force. It plays to that particular audience incredibly well. However, it's more than just a nostalgia trip. It's also a clever mash-up of two popular iOS genres that, surprise surprise, work quite well together.

At risk of sounding jaded, Blobster Christmas feels like a glorified level pack set to a soundtrack that repetitively resembles a holiday orchestra. If this were say, an Angry Birds game, this would have been a completely free update.

Newcomers might be a tad lost with some of the story elements, but that won't stop them from enjoying themselves. Plus they can always download every other game in the series for a grand total of "hardly anything."

Kingdom Rush offers enough variety in towers and enemies to take up more than a few minutes of someone's time, especially those who enjoy a very well done tower defense game. And this is one of them making it an easy recommendation to buy.

The controls can be a little hard to handle and the environments can feel a little cramped at times, but Dead on Arrival is far from DOA.

The visuals are superb and it's easy to tell that Kieffer Bros. is really in the business of honing its craft as an app developer. It's so easy to enjoy this puzzler and so hard to get tired of it, and as a free app it is so worth the time to download and try it out.

LostWinds is a very worthy purchase. It was relatively expensive for its length on the Wii but on the App Store, it fits in nicely. There may be limited replayability once completed, except for those desperate to collect all the Melodia Idols around the game, however the general ambience is warm and enjoyable. It's backed up by some neat wind based mechanics. LostWinds is a fine way to spend some time.

Though the game is extremely fun, it is certainly not worth its current $4.99 price. When you top that off with the additional lure of microtransactions within the game itself, it makes me wonder why it even costs anything to begin with.

The original game had some great artwork, although the finer details were a bit absent, and that's no different here. However, the lack of detail is almost completely nullified by being on the small screen.

Really, with the control flaws, and with so many other physics puzzlers that aren't as frustrating to control, why spend any time on this one? It's not bad…but there are a million alternatives. Play one of them first.

Sin or Win takes a few minutes to warm up to, but it's entirely worth a download. Toxic Blob takes one of the most attractive features of Pocket God, and builds a full game out of it, one that will leave gamers desperately clawing at the screen in an attempt to save these unbelievably dumb cavemen.

Microsoft's motivations aside, Kinectimals still proves itself to be a cute way to indulge the inner pet owner in everyone. As long as players go in with realistic expectations of a kid-targeted experience, there is plenty to enjoy and even more to love.

Sadly, the difficulty of getting into the game ruins a lot of the fun that could be had. With better tutorials and training, and a clearer control scheme, this could be something a lot of fun. For now, this is only really for those with an interest in snowboarding.

Football Manager Handheld 2012 isn't quite a revolution in soccer management but the addition of Challenge mode does go some way to encouraging that idea. It'd be nice to see some more hands on controls mid match in a future edition.

Even with this rather large laundry list (I don't have enough space to list them all) of bite-sized problems, I'd still recommend Terra Noctis wholeheartedly to anyone who loved to jump on things. It's beautiful to look at and listen to, but it's also just plain fun to play.

The Sims Freeplay offers plenty of hours of fun. Some in one big dose, while other sessions are in shorter drop in sessions as is common with the freemium model. In each case, it makes The Sims Freeplay a worthwhile download at an excellent, non-existent, price.

Trenches 2 is a great way to enjoy some real-time strategy in a very user-friendly way. While controls are still an occasional issue due to screen size, the gameplay is still engrossing enough for anyone who's a fan of games like Plants vs. Zombies to check this one out.

Aside from the Old School implementation of game saves, The Bard's Tale is a great trip down memory lane that actually feels more suited to iOS.

Funny Hell is a nice combination of interesting gameplay, unique graphics and easy controls for an almost perfect gaming experience. Well, it can't be perfect if it's in hell.

It's just nothing substantially memorable.

Overall Subject 7 is a fun game if players have the patience to figure out some of its more 'interesting' puzzles, though at around two-hours long players probably won't want to revisit the world once they have seen all there is to see.

Pucca's Restaurant is an incredibly involving game. The initial stages are a total slog, as the player tries to earn enough money to upgrade the basics, but once this is done the game starts to flow nicely and there are many hours of entertainment on offer.

Despite these drawbacks (I'm sure Mountain Sheep is aware of them), I'd say this is a solid attempt at an iOS hockey game.

For a casual game, Tiny Places can get more frustrating than most.

This is still a classic and still a fantastic game that needs to be played by any and all RPG lovers. The controls can be very, very irritating at times but the core experience, characters and storyline have weathered the storm of porting and still provide as much enjoyment as they ever had. I'm still kind of cheesed-off by the butchering of Frog's script, though.

The comic portions of this game are where it really shines, but the gameplay is enjoyable enough that it doesn't feel like a chore to get to the laughs.

Suffice it to say, Cave has done it yet again. Bug Princess is another great shooter to add to the ol' iOS library. It's significantly cheaper than its brethren, too, so it's also bound to appeal to frugal entomophobics everywhere.

Overall, Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World is worth a look for those after a challenging yet humorous adventure.

Breakout Boost doesn't have a lot going on for free, but its very fair and affordable IAP practices are appealing in a world where even someone like myself, who understands the move to consumable IAP, feels kind of annoyed by the shoehorning of it in games where it otherwise doesn't belong. Breakout and Arkanoid fans should give this one a test.

Pretty much the only issue with Sonic CD is the controls; the d-pad is kind of small, but that's about it. The game holds up really well, and its relative scarcity in terms of re-releases makes it only that much more special now.

I might have more complaints about EnbornX than I do direct compliments, but that's only because I want it to be all that it can be. With a bit more attention and tweaking, this could be a serious App Store contender. One with virtually unlimited possibilities.

It would be naive to claim that Boom Bugs isn't derivative as a game, but it's well though out approach to an iOS gaming standard is refreshing and well worth a look. The game is definitely very fun to play and has enough content to keep players busy for a good amount of time.

Overall I like what this indie developer has come up with and I think the game has a lot of potential.

There's a lot to love about Tank Riders. It looks and sounds fantastic, and the idea behind the gameplay is sound; in fact some of the levels are quite tense. It's a shame that the controls always feel a bit too sluggish, because while it doesn't ruin the game, it's a prominent niggle in an otherwise fine game.

I really enjoyed Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots while it lasted, but it didn't last long. Once I'd trained up my fighter (the Blue Bomber) there wasn't really anything else to do. Hopefully we'll see a few more additions in the future, but right now it's pretty sparse.

Mini Motor Racing takes a proven genre and improves upon it by providing its own additional artistic touch. The result is a very gratifying racing experience that will keep players coming back for lap after lap. Everyone start your engines!

A great freemium game that makes the location-based check-ins feel natural and doesn't overly punish lower level players as many others tend to do.

For anyone who enjoys an action-puzzler, but is tired of variations of the same themes over and over, this is a solid pick up with a lot of promise.

I was genuinely shocked when I'd first started playing Swing Away. It came out of nowhere, but it does such a good job of incorporating many a proven iOS game mechanic ("endless" gameplay, constantly changing goals, adorableness, etc.) that I have a hard time imagining it doing poorly. Hopefully this will help to spread the word.

Six Guns feels like a missed opportunity. While it starts off an enjoyable enough romp, the issues mentioned start to have an impact on the overall enjoyment.

This is a great little game of small, guilty pleasures.

Overall it's a good free-to-play game that almost gives players the monster brawling they've been clamoring for. It's just the fights that drag it down.

A unique puzzle/memory game that turns players into taxonomists. Strange paper creatures waddle across the screen and must be properly categorized before they escape off the page.

Clay's Reverie is for the obsessive in all of us and will take multiple restarts to finish levels, which will be loved by the hardcore puzzler lovers.

It can get really freaking tough, but it's a surprisingly solid game. Especially considering that it's freemium.

Although the tower defense genre seems to be a little saturated, I think that Defenders of Ardania is a nice addition. The fact that it allows players to actually play some offense makes it stand apart from the rest.

This game looks nothing short of gorgeous, and it really shows off how pretty an iOS game can be. The action may be a bit scripted and linear but it is so varied from moment to moment and executed so smoothly that players will hardly feel confined or restricted. This is a much needed addition to the iOS library, and it shines.

A charming conversion of a much loved platforming classic.

Simple and to the point, nothing detracts Bejeweled Blitz from a format that's worked for years.

For it's modern take on a classic, Laser Walls HD will provide a new way to experience the game, but many will be just as happy with their paper and pencil.

There's a surprising level of depth behind SpellCraft School of Magic. It is a freemium game that requires some real money input to really get anywhere after the first few hours but it's worth it.

Control issues aside, this is a great block matching game with some strong elements that fans of matching and stacking games can certainly enjoy.

At the end of the day a portable game is only as fun as the number of times it can be replayed and NFL Flick QB lacks the staying power to justify a $2.99 purchase. While it isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, it is just a bit too much over our salary cap.

No doubt Star Trip for iPhone is one of the most simple games there is to be found in the iOS app store, but that is not to say that it is a bad game. Its simplicity is definitely one of the game's strengths.

For the patient gamer, this is still a decent choice.

Combining gaming with reading, kids get the perfect opportunity to catch up on Nancy Drew's adventures.

Zombie Area! may not have a ton of unlockable content or special challenges to artificially draw out its length, but it honestly doesn't need any of those things. It hearkens back to the good old days of video games, where there were no save points or tutorials. A simpler time where games were just fun, and that fun is what kept us coming back again and again.

Smash Toons is a very enjoyable game and its wet paint style will certainly make its mark.

Like a lot of MMOs, Conquer Online needs a few more patches until we see precisely what it has to offer. I'm hopeful that things like the unwieldy tutorial and slightly cumbersome controls will be sorted in the future.

A great little puzzler, and if folks are not easily frustrated it could keep them going for a long, long time.

Galaxix has a steep initial learning curve – just look at how many buttons are on the interface. There's the possibility that there is an untold amount of enjoyable depth waiting to be uncovered.

Michael Jackson The Experience HD is a really enjoyable rhythm game, with some great visuals and stunning sound.

Desert Zombie Last Stand is actually quite the fun third-person shooter involving waves of zombies. Which makes the horrific and constant framerate dips all the more frustrating.

The price tag for this game may seem a little high at first glance but the sheer number of levels in the game makes it well worth a couple of bucks. There are literally hundreds of levels to keep players busy for a good time.

A fantastic package. While the puzzles are a little easy for old hands at the genre, the storytelling more than makes up for it. It's a game that's most suited to playing with alongside young family members but it's still very enjoyable for adults too.

For the Time Management fan, Fix-it-up: World Tour is a solid entry in the genre and will provide plenty of hours of fun for the asking price.

This game is a competent homage to the classics of the genre and it brings some unique mechanics to the table, but the execution is fairly bland and the controls are sticky.

Bouncing the skull around the random environments that border on hallucination is fun in the way that throwing sparkling confetti in the air and watching it float around randomly is fun. There isn't much focus to the game, but it is kind of interesting to see what it will do next.

Mystery Ball does a good job at being more than the sum of its parts. When the story gets too ambiguous the gameplay will do something neat and when the gameplay starts to sag the story will take another weird left turn. And when all else fails, players will remember that they are controlling a paranoid marble named Fred.

Overall, Paul & Percy gets high marks. This is definitely a game for those who are interested in testing their planning and strategy skills. Currently, there are 50 levels that will take a decent amount of time to complete, especially if players want to obtain gold medals in each level.

With a slight adjustment to the units, The LeftOvers could be a home run for Motiga and Tinfoil Fez, but until then, it feels more like a demo than a full game.

Holiday Havoc is a good way to enjoy the holiday season and let off a little steam during this often-stressful time of year. It is a bit on the shallow side, but it only needs to last through Christmas.

Egg Punch is, quite simply, a fun game. To the point that revisiting a few levels for more cash feels like a treat rather than a chore. It's cute, it's colorful, and best of all, it's free. This is a game that's totally worth checking out, whether someone's a fan of golf or not.

The game's short and simple gameplay is bolstered by a reasonably enjoyable animations.

An enjoyable game, despite a few niggles. Of course, more maps would have been welcome, but what's included will keep the player busy for quite a while.

There are few other games on iOS with the kind of gameplay that is deceptively complex, and with the kind of addictive properties to keep me going at it for hours on end, shirking all other responsibilities. When it isn't having technical issues, it is a must have.

It's a wonderful toy, of sorts, and a great introduction, but it's far too simple for those looking for any sort of challenge.

Overall, I've been having a good time with Book of Heroes. It's somewhat par for the course as far as general RPG experiences go, but it offers plenty of quests, loot and abilities for freemium fanatics. Provided they have some form of persistent online connection, 3G or otherwise, I think role-playing fans should definitely check this out.

Rebellion and publisher Fuse need to make a decision: 1) make Judge Dredd vs. Zombies free and keep the current microtransaction system, 2) make the game a little more expensive and relax the progression restrictions a bit, or 3) keep it at the current price and relax the restrictions a lot. A simple, decently fun shooter of this caliber is worth a couple of bucks, but don't virtually lock already paying customers out of the experience for the sake of milking a few more dollars. That's disappointingly disingenuous and just plain unfair.

Sparkle 2: EVO feels like a much more complete version of the PlayStation Network title, Flow. Some of the levels go on for too long, but the combination of relaxed gameplay, top-notch graphics, smooth control scheme and Game Center integration means the player will come back time and again.

It's a great package for card game fans and Assassin's Creed fans alike. The story mode within Assassin's Creed Recollection promises 8-10 hours of fun and the online multiplayer will no doubt extend that. Throw in the time it'll take to collect all 280 cards/memories and there's a lot of gameplay to be had for fans of the franchise.

Once players are comfortable with the mechanics, Inertia: Escape Velocity becomes an absolute joy.

Traffic Panic 3D is an excellent combination of simplicity and addictiveness. Each session feels rewarding, win or lose, and there's always something new to unlock just around the corner. Provided no one takes the easy way out, anyway.

The unique tornado-as-a-weapon mechanics bring something new to the genre and players should definitely take notice.

Major Mayhem is yet another addictive time gobbler to add to [adult swim]'s rapidly growing battalion of quirky, tongue-in-cheek titles. Almost anything under their aegis is a safe purchase and the Major is definitely no exception.

There is absolutely no reason not to get Tap Tap Muppets unless you are a hater. So stop reading, start downloading and show Animal who's the real king of Muppet-style Rock and Roll.

Legendary Outlaw is an ambitious western-themed shooter, but it's going to need a lot more polish before it earns that "legendary" status.

Ultimately, Paper Wings is one of those games I will likely keep on my phone for a few days, which is about as long as it takes me to fill it to capacity, and then quickly discard.

Despite some complaints here and there, this is not a bad little title, though it's a little pricey at $2.00 and lacks lasting appeal.

In all, this is a must-read for fans of comics and history, especially that of the middle east – the pages of supplementary materials, drawn from Kinzer's own research for his 2003 book, are fascinating to go through.

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