A really great shooter for the iOS that expands the offerings in the App Store. It’s fun, exciting, and handles great. But, it lacks its own identity and much of the time, you might find yourself craving after your console and the disc for another video game that has already been out for quite a while.

Samurai Shodown II is basically a straight port of a classic game to the iOS. It doesn’t do much to optimize the new hardware of current mobile devices and that’s where the title falls down a bit. It is nice to see an old cult classic still breathing and, in spite of those damn controls, Samurai Shodown II for the iOS is still a lot of nostalgic fun.

It’s not just retro, pixely platformers that deserve the port treatment. Colin McRae Rally was and still is a good racing game. The speed and handling remain just as tight as ever, and the game is sure to keep your hands sweaty as you try and keep your ride ahead of the competition.

Charade Parade is a beguilingly simple game mired in freemium hell.

Its progressive upgrades and zany nature are reminiscent of other great mobile titles like Punch Quest and any of the games by the Adventure Time people. If simple and weird is the way you like it, and you don’t mind wrestling with the controls, then Zorbie might be ze thing for you.

Puzzle Pirates is one stop shopping for gamers. Whether its multiplayer challenges, mini games, upgrading tasks, or cutting a destructive path on the high seas, the game’s goal is to fully immerse us in its expansive world. Sega America has a winner on its hands with this engaging journey, and suddenly it’s a pirate’s life for me.

Unlike the Pixar movies themselves, which parents can enjoy just as much as their young ones, the same cannot be said for this pair of games.

Kingturn RPG Plus is a worthy turn-based strategy game, if that is your thing. If you aren’t familiar with the genre, then you’d best look for a more accessible introduction.

Ultimately, Mad Dragon is an uninspired but charming title most people can enjoy for free. As with most free iOS games, players will eventually reach the harsh conclusion that you cannot get the things you want most from the title (that afro-wig!), without having to spend money for supplementary in-game content.

If you’re a fan of mysteries and locked-room games, this one’s definitely for you. There’s a lot to do and it could take you a while to solve everything. But there’s something about the game that just keeps you enraptured and wanting to chug along, despite the fact that you might have prior obligations.

If you absolutely loved Aladdin and would like some form of a modern game that follows in a Cave of Wonders-esque adventure, then Treasure Tower Sprint is an inexpensive choice that would occupy time. Otherwise, I’d rather just keep the dollar and not chase peacocks.

Giving us two different prices is also a rather blatant form of game gouging, especially when there are a healthy amount of in-game purchases to be had. Even with these complaints, Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage is still worth a look, especially if you have three bucks to blow.

X-Com: Enemy Unknown controls perfectly on the iPad. The touch controls for the camera, the soldiers, and choosing commands are all intuitively designed and responsive.

Overall, Pocket Mobsters is a decent game. Anyone wanting to play with others in an online community will probably enjoy it, but know that it could cost you some money.

I’m madly in love with Cover Orange 2, and that’s a big deal coming from a commitment phobe.

As disappointed as I was in the experience, I can’t help but look forward to future installments. There’s a lot of promise in Spiral and I’d like to see where the story goes and whether or not Pixel Hero Games will tighten up the controls. For now, I’ll rate Episode 1 with a modest 6.5. Let’s hope that subsequent episodes warrant higher scores.

If you’re a fan of games like Diablo and Torchlight, you will likely enjoy the casual, simplified version that Gloomy Hollow offers you to play on the go.

Where’s My Mickey? delivers simple yet addictive puzzle gameplay filled with animation sequences that make it more than a worthy download.

If you’re looking for a basic game without a lot of bells and whistles and a high difficulty, Crush! might be right for you. However, if you want something that’s a bit flashier, more skill-based, and more fun, look elsewhere.

Although many of Pyramus’ charms are subtle, don’t let the lack of flash fool you. It’s a solid RTS that should gradually win you over once you master the controls.

Raising a family in 17th century Europe may never supplant my love for dungeons (or dragons), but next time someone asks me to help farm their land, maybe I’ll stay awhile.

In the grand scheme of the tower defense genre, Defense Technica is near the top. It sets itself apart and is mostly an enjoyable experience. It has its quirks, but they are minor and overshadowed by the great visuals and gameplay.

Despicable Me: Minion Rush proves that, if handled the right way, there’s still some life left in the endless runner genre.

Cling Thing won’t blow you away with originality. But it’s hard to dispute that this is a solid, well made little title that pays homage to a lot of other titles, and makes something of its own out of it all. Anyone who’s a fan of this kind of game will definitely get a lot of value out of Cling Thing.

Despite the nice presentation, I couldn’t get past the blatant cash grab of how this game is designed.

Avengers Alliance is a worthy addition to Marvel’s already immense world, and getting the chance to lead your team into the breach is a pure joy. Whether you’re a vet of the Facebook game or an iOS addict with a superhero complex, Avengers Alliance delivers the goods, no matter whose turn it is.

Skip Runaway: A Road Adventure. Skip the silly animation and voice acting. Skip the long and drawn out story. Skip the pixel hunting and instead treat yourself to other adventure games on the iOS. There are plenty around, so just take your pick and run away with that one instead.

As a pinball game, Marvel pinball is wholly unremarkable, and in a marketplace overflowing with other great pinball games (like the Pinball Arcade), you can forgo seeing your favorite characters in exchange for a much more entertaining experience.

Ultimately, this is a cool effort from an already established iOS talent. While I don’t think Kyubo, as it exists now, has the right combination of influences and elements to come together into something that will set the world on fire, I do think that it’s a great bit of experimentation and will likely lead to something even better.

There are a number of artful indie puzzle games out there with this philosophy, such as Hexagon, Eliss, ColorShift and Hundreds to name a few. The latest title that belongs in this company is the super slick puzzler Color Zen, which offers a unique and relaxing new look at the mobile puzzle game.

Ultimately, most of this game feels as though it should have been patched into the original and it plays almost exactly the same.

I guess you could say stuff like this is also part of Plants vs. Zombies, but I feel like they handled it better and it felt more balanced. Overall, this is an enjoyable title that should please not only tower defense fanatics, but anyone who can appreciate a game that’s eager to have some silly fun.

It’s all do-able, for sure. But you really have to be ready to get your grind on in order to progress without paying money for coins. Fortunately, SlamBots offers a fun grind.

It’s not fair to write off a side scroller for being a side scroller, or a puzzle game for being a puzzle game. So in that sense, it’s only fair to treat ScribbleMix as its own thing, providing that it is contributing something new. And after playing around with it for a bit, I can safely say that it is.

It’s a semi-fun puzzler that’s held back by a cap on playtime, thanks to the key system, and an in-app purchase store that’s totally unneeded.

Sparkle 2 is an extremely gentle game (despite all the mentions of balls). Kids, elderly, the innocent and not-so-innocent at heart can enjoy this game without the slightest risk of corruption.

The real issue with Gangstar Vegas is that it’s not a ground breaking game and doesn’t offer any new ideas, just higher quantities of things — more missions, extra items to buy and upgrade, and a bigger map.

The true gratification behind finishing this dense and absorbing experience is to come to the final stages, when you are directly faced with every single consequence of your deeds.

Armed with arresting visuals and a slightly irreverent tone, Kingdom Rush Frontiers is a cut above the usual tower defense game.

Scurvy Scallywags is a surprise hit with a great pedigree and even better gameplay.

A bit of perseverance goes a long way with Bridgy and Bonner, so try to keep the faith even if everything falls apart around you. Once you find the patterns of what actually works, the train should be headed in the right direction.

Titan: Escape The Tower is a first rate block breaker that completely surpasses all expectations.

All in all, Jet Point feels a little too raw for a mass audience. But I do think it could serve as kind of a test run for a better title. Fortunately, all it takes is an update to fix some of the problems. Such is the magic of iOS indie releases.

A solid little game that will remind you of the days you spent in the arcade pumping quarters into the Missile Command machine. It is proof that some of the oldest gameplay styles still holds up today and that is always a good time.

As it stands, the controls don’t work very well and aren’t nearly as responsive as they need to be for such a fast paced game.

You’ll feel more adrenaline trying to catch a lie in a testimony than you ever thought possible in the Phoenix Wright Trilogy, which says a lot about how deeply it can immerse you in its stories.

Selling wares to heroes didn’t seem appetizing until Merchant to the Stars found its way to my iPad. Bashing someone’s head in for glory, honor, and a few trinkets may, upon further review, seem a bit foolhardy. Besides, bloodshed is really bad for business, unless you’re a merchant.

“Serviceable” is the word when it comes to Warhammer Quest. Its job is to be a turn-based dungeon crawler, and that it is. What it doesn’t do, however, is find a way to light that fire in a player’s belly, the hunger for loot and the thirst for the blood of the unrighteous.

If you want a cheap, but surprisingly solid game that will grab your attention for bits at a time, then Bloom Box is definitely one to get. After all, what could be more fun than proving to a machine that you’re smarter than it? It may not be Boom Blox, but this little puzzler manages to topple a lot of other titles in the App Store.

The actual game play and visuals, though simple, don’t disappoint. The first rate music, which is worth the $0.99 download just by itself, will keep you dreaming for the stars.

Chock A Block is quite the fun little game. It’s simple, while providing a decent challenge and a workout for your fingers and your brains. If you like puzzles and crave a variety of game modes, consider checking it out.

World War Z could dramatically improve its controls, but that irritating flaw doesn’t ruin the entire experience. There is a visceral thrill to mowing down as many zombies as possible, but thankfully the developers bring much more depth to the overall proceedings.

This is a flawed platformer with some admirable qualities. I like how strange Incredible Jack is, combined with the heartfelt mission of a parent rescuing his kids (a plotline that’s not featured in many games). But I can’t get past some of the more egregious bumps in the road that serve to take the game down a few notches.

This game had a lot of potential as a strategy game, but it’s just built on a shoddy foundation of gimmicky retro graphics and painfully basic gameplay that does little to inspire the tactician in players.

In terms of innovation, CastleMine doesn’t break any new ground, but it exceeds expectations with its addicting game play.

Nikko RC Racer is well worth its free price. Anyone more familiar with racing games may not enjoy the finicky controls, slow-moving cars, and uninspired level design, but as a game for people who just want to drive some cars around, you could do worse.

As dull and uninspired as its name suggests.

The actual racing, though nothing to write home about, is diverting enough to pass the time.

While it adds some great extra controls, the game lacks in the customization found in most iOS titles.

Evilot is an engaging journey that pretty much fires on all cylinders. The only thing this title needs is some Game Center integration, and it’s just a shame that a few achievements can’t be unlocked along the way.

Frozen Synapse requires a bit of time to adequately pull off a mission, since learning all of the squad’s commands and finding a strategy that works just doesn’t happen within minutes.

This game is a snooze.

A fantastic entry to the tower defense genre.

There’s a real satisfying feeling of the game getting more complex the further you get.

It’s not a point-and-click and it’s not a straight up puzzle title, but rather a mixture of the two. Take one part Professor Layton and one part Sasquatch, throw in a generous helping of Psychonauts, and you have this charming title.

The controls work well, there are lots of achievements, and it has some of the best music of any iOS game. It’s so cheerful you don’t care when someone doesn’t make it to the urinal.

Poker Night 2 for iOS is a great looking game that runs well, packs in all of the great conversations and music from the console version (the jazzy version of Borderlands 2′s theme, Short Change Hero, is amazing), and delivers an addictive experience that you can take on the go.

1968 captures the mood of the 60’s well and is a quality title that you’ll spend hours enjoying. The controls are decent, it looks great, but more importantly, it is something different and interesting.

While console brawlers may be more satisfying, it’s hard not to recommend Combo Crew for anyone with a hankering for martial arts action.

Downhill Supreme isn’t reinventing the bicycle wheel or anything. but it does deliver a solid little game and will please both hardcore fans and casual gamers alike.

Hits all the right notes, giving players an intriguing and entertaining gameplay experience.

With everything presented in a tidy package, Dead Ahead manages to make old ideas seem fresh again, which is not a small feat considering the amount of rotting flesh and gore I had to deal with.

A completely immersive game that will continue to hold my attention well past the film’s sell date.

More forgettable than memorable. If it had done more to be unique and embrace all the opportunities it set up for itself, it could have been an engaging title.

Although there’s a lack of Game Center achievements and a horrendous misstep with the manual running feature, Stickman Tennis won me over with its straightforward game play.