If you have other apps to play or have the patience of Job, this cash grab exists as a minor hindrance to an otherwise addicting app. Hills of Glory 3D is a multifaceted gaming experience, and its comic strip style animation and battle style instantly won me over. Due to empty pockets, in-app purchases are not exactly on my to-do list. I can play the waiting game and still play this app for free. Patience is a virtue, especially when you’re winning the battle.

It would have been cool if there were other features, such as monsters in the field or hidden areas to explore, but going from Point A to Point B gets rather boring. But, if you ask me, the only thing that Lead the Brave has led me to is a hunt for better games on the App Store. I suggest you leave it alone and search out better titles!

For all it sets out to do, Spellcaster: The Forgotten Spell is a fine start to what is supposed to be a trilogy.

In-game purchases aside, Drift Mania: Street Outlaws is a solid racing title with one big problem: the gyroscopic controls will probably make you dizzy. Still, if you’re good at resisting vertigo and the like, and you want a drifting-oriented racer with tons of car upgrade and cosmetic options, you could do much worse than this.

Maybe if there were more games to play without paying first would Ariel’s Musical Surprise be a bit more enjoyable.

Kingturn Underworld RPG could be a game that one could easily see pop up on an old Playstation, but the retro feel and fun battles makes this app so much fun to play.

Pixel Karts GP, sadly, lacks that fun, and feels like an unearned attempt to cash in on the nostalgia for better games of years since past.

Even though Seven Dwarfs: The Queen’s Revenge borders on the line of dullness, there are at least enough things to do before it’s off to work you go.

You can pay for the premium version to remove ads and open up the options to play as a guard or a civilian, but if you don’t mind the constant ads and being relegated to a prisoner, then Hard Time is worth a look.

So unless you positively have to find out what happens to Brian and Gina for $4.99, I’d skip over this one and play another run-through of Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead.

Even with its online flaws, Mr. Ludo is an engaging, free to play app which caters to board game lovers.

Arc Squadron Redux is the pinnacle of this genre and well worth a play if you’ve ever fancied yourself an X-Wing pilot or other hero of the stars.

Ghost Toasters is a well made game with a ton of character, but it doesn’t make up for its repetitive nature.

Is Optical Inquisitor a great game? I’d be hard pressed to label it as such. But it’s certainly memorable. And for only a dollar, I would say it is definitely worth a look. If for no other reason than to see the crazy mishmash of inappropriate hilarity that is collected here.

With a variety of cards for you to assemble and test against the masses, Combat Monsters is a great title for players to unleash the strategist within.

Juice Cubes is another winning release from Rovio, and if it motivates you to put a few healthy slices of fruit in your freezer, all the better.

Go grab a cup of overpriced coffee instead. You’ll still get ripped off, but at least you’ll have more fun and actually feel something other than seething anger.

Star Wars Pinball 2 is an engaging journey that should please fans of the sci-fi epic as well as tablet gamers looking to throw a few balls around.

This app may have its drawbacks, but it scores enough points to keep me kicking in the right direction.

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced action puzzle game from the creator of Tetris, look no further.

The addition of online multiplayer and vehicular customization could give players who really love bike racing a reason to try out Extreme Bike Trip. However, as it sits now, it’s just another drop in the mediocre, free-to-play hat.

Monsters Rising’s heart seems to be in the right place, at first, but the sloppy crafstmanship, uninspired combat, and aggressive microtransactions in a game that already has an upfront cost all lead to this being a dissatisfying experience.

Its simplicity and design make it engaging, addictive, and fun. It is challenging, but in that teasingly attainable way.

A few more levels may have placed Mr. Montgomery’s Debonair Facial Hair on a different creative stratosphere, but it’s still a bargain as a $0.99 download. In-app purchases are also not needed to complete the game, so credit the developers for not going for the all too frequent cash grab.

In short, Khaba is a self contained adventure that, though seemingly simple in concept, is thoroughly sublime in execution.

Even with the freemium distraction, Beetle Breaker succeeds is a solid puzzler whose entertainment value amplifies if you dig the game’s slingshot mechanic.

Halos Fun is an enjoyable enough experience that should appeal to physics puzzler lovers.

Even if this game is triggered for the mandatory use of IAPs, I’m giving Let Me Loose a pass. It gave me enough bang for my buck, and if I scrape a few more nickels together, I’ll head back to the lab for some quality amoeba time.

Overall, Chicken Boy is a good time that is marred by its repetitive nature. It features some clever gameplay wrapped up in an adorable chicken costume and that is something we can all come to appreciate.

At the end of the day, Super Hammer is simple, moderately fun game that can get pretty addictive depending on how you feel about endless runners.

Though there is a bit of inspired madness behind Coaster Crazy Deluxe, I was left a tad uninspired with my roller coaster experience.

If you’re a huge Anchorman fan, throwing some coins to spend time with the mustachioed San Diegan shouldn’t be a problem. But after 15 minutes of ice tossing, you’ll be clamoring for more Burgundy in your mix, and a little less of that same old Scotchy Scotch.

Considering the Disney source material, it could do with an injection of magic, originality, and amazement. But, it did make me want to check out the movie, so in that sense, I might consider it a success.

Zya is a fine platform for young-ish people who are trying to get a better grasp of how music is being made. I’m not a big fan about the price system, along with how quickly you run into the possibility of paying so shortly after you start playing, but it’s still a good time waster.

If you’re looking for an ass-beating, ’80s-infused good time that’s playable on your iOS device, however, look no further.

Aside from the control kinks, Cutiebots succeeds as a diverting enough app which, thanks to an intriguing tone and variety of game play, doesn’t disappoint. After several hours in this shadowy world, I’m still ready for a few more rounds, even if these killer ‘bots are about as cute as a bullet to the head.

While we recommend the free version of Gregg to most people looking for a solid game on the go that most people could enjoy, paying the extra amount to unlock the other levels should only be for puzzle enthusiasts, those looking for a challenge or to support an excellent gaming craftsman.

From an RTS perspective, there are too many small details and nuances to keep track of for AntiSquad to be enjoyable for gamers.

As a game that is inspired by the experiences of someone who’s actually lived it, Circus Life is wonderful. But as a game itself, it is somewhat lacking in the fun factor department, mainly because the games are too simple and easy.

Big Win Racing has the worst elements of every free social game out there and offers nothing new, fun, or original in return. If you value your time or have any self-respect, you should avoid this at all costs.

Disney Hidden Worlds may not be as hidden as it wants to be, as this app is a complete cinch to play. But visiting these lands with the touch and tap of a finger will always be a sublime experience.

Lara Croft: Reflections, after its initial speed bumps, is a diverting enough app that, if you love card games, is worth a peek.

I love tilting and tapping my iOS devices just like any other gamer, but occasionally I’d rather let the action do most of the work. Loot Hero doesn’t offer a lot of chills and spills, and maybe I’ll grow tired of this title in the coming weeks. But for now, I prefer life on easy street, and as long as I have enough loot and a sharp enough sword, those dragons won’t be touching my kingdom anytime soon.

Overall, Defenders and Dragons is a damn good defense game.

The necessary cash grab for Modern Command is understandable, but I wish the advertising pop-ups and the need for in-app bundles would have hit me at a later stage in the game. It’s an annoying flaw that saddles many a free to play experience, but since I really enjoyed what Modern Command had to offer, I’ll definitely rejoin this military campaign, even if it costs me a couple of stars along the way.

We hope you’re in it for the long haul, because Episode 1 can take a very long time to complete, depending on how adept you are at solving puzzles in adventure games. Suffice it to say that you’ll be getting every dollar’s worth and more with this installment of The Serpent’s Curse.

Overall, World of Gibbets is a strange little physics puzzle game that is slightly creepier than it first appears. It has a decent number of levels that are cleverly built, but it doesn’t do quite enough to set itself apart from the rest.

Unfortunately, The Tribez & Castlez undermines a potentially great experience by forcing you to buy in-game currency with real money or to wait for excessive cooldowns to progress through the game at a snail’s pace.

Ava’s Quest is a little rough around the edges, but it’s still lots of fun to play.

Tanglers Blitz is an innocuous and mildly entertaining app that, in the end, is also easily forgettable. It’s a worthy enough download since it’s free, but don’t once the ads stop popping up on your device, you may want to leave these aliens behind and let someone else do all the work.

Along with the ability to swap your gunfighters in the middle of combat and a seemingly endless achievement-based system, Pocket Gunfighters should have been a can’t miss title. With treasure chests to discover, gold coins to grab and villains to eliminate with a quick finger swipe, this app still has me hooked even with its gaping freemium flaw. It’s a compromise I’m willing to make, but it’s still disappointing that this app isn’t more than just a charming little dog and pony show.

Despite its tepid graphics and smartphone control issue, Lost Light is definitely a brainteaser that can keep most puzzle fans occupied for quite sometime. Unfortunately, its overall presentation was rather lacking and mental addition while swiping a finger on a dull-looking screen can get boring after a while.

While System Link presents an interesting new take on visual puzzlers, and comes to us from the mind of Tetris creator Alexey Pajitnov, most fans of puzzle games will probably find themselves turned off by the lack of complexity and the free-to-play annoyances. With a little more depth and a little less greed, this could have been a title worthy of its creator’s name, but as it stands it’s simply decent.

Even if my current city is days away from adding a premium commercial site, I’ll continue to plug away and stay the course. I’m more than fine with incremental improvements with Tiny City, and if you understand that Rome wasn’t built in a day, this app isn’t such bad company.

No app is ever perfect, and as long as you’re able to handle this title’s rougher waters, you may enjoy what’s beyond the horizon.

If you’ve got a couple of bucks and feel like you need something to occupy your time in minutes-long intervals, whether on bus rides, in waiting rooms or just while you’ve got a moment, Triblaster is a pretty fun distraction.

Although Zombie Stampede can be a enjoyed as a simple touch and tap shooter, but it also brings an extra level of nuance with its card character elements and nuanced upgrade systems.

Where’s My Water? Featuring XYY is a great addition to this light-hearted puzzle franchise.

If episode one of Isolani had a bit more variety to its gameplay, this title would continue to pull me in.

At the cost of nothing up-front, however, Horde of Heroes still makes for a fun offering for anyone craving something a bit different, and who doesn’t mind a little shallowness.

If you’re into strategy based titles filled with upgrade and customization choices, Tales of Honor: The Secret Fleet is a highly recommended download.

Unfortunately, these mutants are high maintenance, and unless you’re in the mood for burning a hole through your wallet, I’d find another group of warriors to battle with.

It may be an ode to a time gone by, but Ekon The Cyborg carries its own unique identity.

Tappy Chicken is, without a doubt, the best-looking Flappy Bird clone on the mobile market. Unfortunately, its physics need just a little bit of fine-tuning in order to make it the perfect game out of the plethora of similar titles on the market.

Meerkatz Challenge is the perfect little game for a child who’s just getting into video games or an adult who played as a child and moved on, as there’s enough appeal for both groups to enjoy. It doesn’t add to the core formula, but it emulates it well.

Addictive gameplay, an inspired visual design and a ridiculously fair freemium mechanic will keep me coming back for more. There are so many cards to gather and enemies to vanquish along my journey, and hopefully more app enthusiasts will join in on this uniquely epic experience.

With over 30 in-game achievements, a catchy score, and the ability to even change the color modes of your totems, Light in the Dark is a solid puzzler that should keep you entertained for hours on end.

Find The Line is a highly impressive puzzler which literally takes gamers on an unexpected, mind-bending journey.

Super Glyph Quest has a foot in both the puzzle and role playing game worlds and delivers on both fronts.

This is an endless runner that’s headed in the right direction, and thankfully a portion of that race is entirely free to play.

Rescue Quest is a solid enough puzzler that could keep you intrigued.

Priced at a reasonable $2.99, Polyform delivers a solid three-match puzzle experience, giving gamers a visually spellbinding and intriguing take on a well worn genre. The title functions as a pleasurable pick-up-and-play app or as a fully immersive adventure.

Crusaders Quest is a first rate adventure that excels in its combat and customization mechanics. If it wasn’t for the long wait time between missions, I could play this app for hours on end. I usually don’t throw my money away for in-app purchases, but with Crusaders Quest I might just change my tune.

Hero Pop is too entertaining to pass up, and eventually I’ll start level 21 and let bygones be bygones. There’s a ton of fun to be had with Hero Pop, and if you don’t mind a little irritation and carry a zen attitude towards free to play apps, grab a balloon, save a few heroes, and pop to your heart’s content.

Whether you want some hardcore platforming action or an easygoing trip through a land of hugs and high fives, LittleBigPlanet 3 has what you’re looking for.