I find it ironic that the story, which is what kept me interested in the series during it’s technical rough patch, is now at its weakest when the technical issues have been patched up.

It may not break any new ground, but Hospital Story is a good deal of fun that's hard to put down thanks to how well it pulls off each of its parts. As a free download, it's hard to lose with a game this fun.

Super Arcade Racing ultimately doesn’t do quite enough to stand out amongst the many old school racers available on the Switch then, but it certainly manages to compete with the majority. And that’s enough for us to recommend it if you’re looking for a new title to try out in the genre, and one that certainly won’t break the bank.

Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of fun playing Genso Manège. The mini-games and overall art style were well executed. The age and adoptive sister/brother romance did put me off though, as well as the lack of dialogue options. I wish the game gave you more chances to get to know the characters and interact with them before throwing you into their route. That being said, once you start romancing them, each character has an in-depth backstory. You could also see the progress levels with each character, which was nice to know.

I like Amber Route in spite of its faults. The art is just lovely, each session weaves a unique narrative, a palpable sense of journey and adventure.

Even after enjoying the puzzle mode to some extent, I find it baffling that we’ve got an app version a divisive title like Abalone when there are so many great modern abstracts to choose from. Great games like YINSH and Qwirkle would make superb candidates for jumping the digital divide, but instead we’re landed with overly defensive marble jostling.

Certainly not a bad game: it’s just a little too much on the simple side. It has a shining presentation and beautiful visuals, but the lack of things to do can quickly sour the total experience.

There’s an entertaining game here, if you’re willing to slog through it. And when you do manage to get to the end you’re really going to feel like you’ve accomplished something. Even if, in the grand scheme of things, you really haven’t.

If you like the base game, and you’ve completed all stages, we’d say this DLC is worth your time. You get a bunch of new levels to work through, all of which are just as creative and innovative as the original.

The main gameplay beats get repetitive before long, and there are no great arcs in terms of your character’s development. It simply feels like a load of mini quests are thrown at you with no real progression in the stakes. Still, RPGolf Legends is a diverting enough adventure that wisely doesn’t take itself too seriously – and will just about scratch that itch for anyone eagerly waiting for Sports Story.

If you're looking for a charming theme park game that you can check in on a few seconds at a time each day, Dream Park delivers everything you're after. If you were hoping for something a little meatier though, this ride may not be worth lining up for.

Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon is an interesting mobile specimen that takes what made the PC release so memorable and translates it to your iPad in a way that makes perfect sense.

Batman – The Telltale Series has been a very enjoyable story overall. I certainly don’t regret the time I’ve spent with it. However, I do feel a bit let down by Telltale’s handling of the port. Mobile and PC/console platforms are very different in terms of performance, but with all the technical problems that have been a constant irritation across five different episodes, I have to wonder if any real effort was put into this particular version at all.

Hunters: Episode One is a good title that's on the verge of being absolutely great. Aside from needing some bugs fixed, the game could also use some story missions to provide a solid narrative that players can get behind.

When you do manage to eke out a victory, however, and balloons are popping, Birds flying, and Pigs falling over, Angry Birds Blast is true to its name. It has much of the Pig-bashing and Bird-saving excitement we look for in our Angry Birds games, wrapped in the joy of puzzle-matching with dynamic power-ups. Although it sometimes feels too generic and like it missed out on some Angry Birds-specific thematic opportunities, we still consider this yet another bullet on the Birds’ long list of successful avian excursions and human diversions.

Oasis: Path to Redemption has several good ideas and great qualities, but it’s the execution which is unfortunately a bit lacking.

Evolution was probably inevitable, and it plants the Birds’ flag in a genre that works well on mobile in a unique manner, but it also jettisons a lot of what many would probably expect, right down to the birds themselves. If you simply adore turn-based RPGs or are down to glide with this IP all the way until the end, you need to try it, but otherwise, it feels like more of a curiosity than an essential.

The variety of the missions is nice, and the visuals really suit the game well. It's no landmark or memorable title, but to kill a few hours one could certainly do much much worse than this little Nordic getaway.

Can Knockdown 2 is the next best thing from hitting the midway at your local fair. It may not have cotton candy, but it's still plenty of fun.

The clunky interface makes it difficult to get things done, and in spite of the Final Fantasy connection, it's really not very much to look at. The added gameplay elements do give it a certain unique appeal, but as collectible card games go, there are better options out there.

Zenonia S is a tricky recommendation. As an MMOG, it’s good, if uninspired. As a Zenonia game, its format shift is disappointing. Think of it this way: It’s a free download. Give it a try; there’s a decent chance you’ll like what’s here.

The game will be enjoyed most by players already familiar with the aspects of Icewind Dale and are seeking a mobile dosage of Dungeons and Dragons on the go. But if you’re not a seasoned veteran, approach these cold mountains with caution.

Overall, we find it pretty easy to recommend Fury Survivor: Pixel Z. It’s an awful lot of fun, with crunchy combat, lots of stuff to collect, and some great visuals and special effects. The freemium mechanics weren’t very intrusive during our run either, so that’s another win for this awesome new beat ’em up.

Despite having the earmarks of a much-maligned genre, Battle Camp is a cute little game. Its match-three is unusual enough to provide most casual gamers with something they've never seen, and its RPG and PvP aspects add a layer of depth to the proceedings.

Fly With Me is undeniably fun. The visuals are pretty and polished, and the package is robust for the asking price. Unfortunately EA has opted to bend the rules a bit and make it near impossible for players to complete the game without spending a little extra. Game Center support has also been bucked in favor of EA's Origin network. I wanted to love Fly With Me, but it simply isn't ready for a long-term relationship.

Minecraft: Story Mode – Season Two Episode 1: Hero in Residence (yikes) is a good kick-off for another big adventure, with some familiar characters returning and some all new ones coming to the forefront. Some of the first season’s problems still persist — and now there’s a surprising number of performance problems — but the series has always been more about the story, and I think this story is definitely worth following along with.

Looks-wise, To-Fu 2 evokes an odd sense of deja vu but that, in turn, isn't really a bad thing. The visuals are lovely and surprisingly adorable, the Eastern references far from overdone and there's also a decent amount of particles available.

I can’t help but find the game’s diversity to be endearing, but it’s also something of a weakness. Not all of these actions are up to snuff, and unfortunately the ones that are the weakest (namely hacking and base defense) are also the one’s you can’t really avoid. Even so, there’s quite a lot on offer here and most of it is pretty entertaining.

Monster Mouth has all the components of a top-notch title, but lacks the quantity to match the quality.

A lot of fun, providing two great minigames and one that's just okay (though, admittedly, it's far from bad). On top of that, there's a ton of style to appreciate and replay value to take advantage of.

Incidence will not enrapture everyone who gives it a try – it’s probably more of a love it or hate it kind of game. Additionally, the premium price point might prove a barrier to entry for some, as it’s the sort of game you’re more likely to devote a few hours to completing rather than making it a permanent fixture on the precious home screen. But, with the prospect of additional levels and new challenges with future updates, it’s best to consider Incidence a low-maintenance long-term investment.

The main problem with Burn It All ends up being its repetitive gameplay. While having 100 levels is certainly nothing to sneeze at, the fact that you're presented with virtually the same problems and pitfalls all the way through (i.e. burn things in the right order, don't get extinguished) gets a little stale after a while.

Ultimately Space Invaders Forever puts together three very different takes on the arcade classic, but it’s a shame nothing new was created for this collection. Because of this lack of new content the pricetag feels a little high, although if you’re a shooter fan who hasn’t played all three of these games before this is undoubtedly worth picking up.

All in all, Strike Wing: Raptor Rising isn’t a bad game, but it kind of drags a bit, and isn’t helped by its predisposition towards nudging you to get your wallet out. There is something with the potential to be really good here, but it needs more refinement to truly make it shine.

Spunk and Moxie may be a little bit too demanding and imbalanced for some, but that’s not to say it’s not a pretty sound experience overall. The cartoon visuals look great, and there’s some nice replay value to be had in all of the bonus challenges, depending on your skill.

Turd Birds also lets you collect feathers that unlock more birds with hilariously appropriate names (if Otis Splotus can’t get the job done, no bird can). The new birds have awesome abilities like rapid-fire pooping, but some of them require hundreds of feathers to unlock. You can, of course, spend real-life money to unlock birds and power-ups, and of course, you’re probably not going to want to bother (unless you’re really itching to explain to your significant other why you spent $100 in a game called “Turd Birds.”)

EPOCH isn't a game changer in the way that Infinity Blade was (the comparison is perhaps a bit unfair, but they seem like spiritual brothers in a sense). It is, however, more than the sum of its parts, and much more entertaining than you might expect a shooting gallery game to be.

A well presented collection of some of the more interesting titles from the Pac-Man series. Not all of the best ones are included of course, but you can’t have everything.

What could have been a fairly fun vehicle shooter is all too often limited by such irritants.

It seems like for every positive that Burnout Crash! provides, there is a negative to counterbalance it. While the great gameplay may win it a few bonus points to put it over the edge overall, the game suffers from things that shouldn't be a problem.

I have to emphasize the first two worlds here, because while the puzzling in Sprinkle is fairly easy, unlocking World 3 and beyond is incredibly hard.

Deep War is a bit quirky as shoot 'em ups go, for better or worse, but it certainly isn't a bad investment.

Overall though, for a free game, Happy Wheels is worth checking out, even just for the free laughs your initial playthrough will give you.

WWE Immortals is almost certain to be a big hit, building on its “obvious once you hear it” theme, it just needs its execution to catch up with its high concept.

An interesting blend of a single-player RPG with some MMO-like mechanics. It's got an epic and well-told story, but the grind-heavy gameplay will like turn off some folks. That said, it's got an impressive level of polish and is certainly worth checking out.

The classic "60 stages, more stages coming soon, three stars per level based on performace" physics puzzler app is definitely growing stale, but that doesn't keep Expand it's unique mechanics from being fun. To its favor, my largest issue is simply that the game is surprisingly short: just like the rainbow-hungry dinosaurs, I just wanted a little more.

It’s a shame that the graphics and management portion of the game are so rough around the edges, because as I said earlier - playing the naval warfare, which us Tropical Wars’ main draw, is quite enjoyable.

Hoa looks to offer up a relaxing experience first and foremost though, and because of its amazing aesthetics it largely succeeds in this aim – but it’s still hard to overlook its lack of ambition in the gameplay department.

This game is a bit different than Spelltower, but not that different.

The Act strives to do a great thing by bringing new ideas and new blood to the full motion video/quick time event genre, but the execution is lacking. React Entertainment shouldn't give up, though. Far from it. Some tweaks might help make The Act more satisfying to play, and we look forward to seeing how the studio will bring games and animation together in the future.

You could say worse things about the game than "I wish there were more of it," and that means the base game is pretty darn entertaining. But the fact remains I worry about how long the one mode will hold a player's interest.

Mad Acorn might have a generic soundtrack and strange mechanics, but it serves as a fantastic example of a budget rhythm-based game that captures a few elements from the all-time greats.

If you’re a fan of the franchise, you’ll get a kick out of seeing your favourite Pokémon and trainers in such stunning detail. The writing is also a joy, providing a genuinely engaging story that we didn’t feel the need to skip. Core Pokémon RPG fans will find the battle system too easy, with little challenge. Heck, even gacha RPG fans might find the poor AI baffling, as their Pokémon don’t use the elemental strengths to their advantage often.

Micromon is worthy of criticism because it’s a very decent Pokemon-style game. With a little more polish (and an extra coat for its online issues), it could roll over the App Store’s competition like a Fire-type over a Nature-type.

Slashy Hero is fun – it’s just also a little irritating at times. But it does make for a good dungeon-crawling (ish) romp and makes good use of the kind of swiping mechanics you don’t see often outside of games involving air traffic control or harbor management.

All together, Harvest Moon: Seeds of Memories succeeds more than it stumbles.

The funny thing is, I’m not sure even that’s a good way to describe Chaos Fighters. I think this is going to be a polarizing game; some people will love the JRPG flavor and unusual amount of content for a free mobile game, while other players will be turned off by the fact that there isn’t much play in the gameplay.

The game's heavy reliance on luck may well prove to be its downfall.

You’re the one with the power to influence the people to rise up in The Westport Independent, or trick them into following along – and neither result will be pretty or make you feel particularly good. But despite the short playtime and lack of variety, it’s something worth feeling either way.

But despite the problems, I’ve found myself coming back to Chainsaw Warrior time and time again. Being repeatedly slaughtered by the minions of the netherworld has never been so much fun.

Subterfuge is a fairly entertaining game for what it is, even with its quirks.

Embracing the subject matter, as well as maintaining a fast paced take on matching different colors, means you’ll find yourself frequently itching for just one more go.

It’s fast, it’s fun, and it follows the mobile gaming template close enough that it feels familiar and entertaining at the same time.

Aesthetically, Horizon Chase is exactly the sort of racing game that genre fans looking for a classic experience will want to check out. Unfortunately there are some odd mechanical implementations that make Horizon Chase feel a bit too wonky to net a full recommendation.

At the end of the day the control scheme is going to be a big divider for people. It doesn't really work the way you expect it to, and takes some time to get used to.

On the plus side, there is a lot to do here. Different game modes including multiplayer (which is still a little flaky), as well as hundreds of career events means you won’t be running out of things to do any time soon. As a title that’s so lightweight yet enjoyable, it’ll almost be worth throwing a few bucks its way. Just try not to be lured in too much by its promises of wonders if you keep on paying up.

It’s not so much that the game drags, as the genre does. If you’re not willing to pay, then there’s a lot of waiting around, and a lot of grinding to be done as well. When Pocket Legends Adventures clicks, it really clicks. It’s warm, it looks great, and it’s more involved than you might be expecting. Just be prepared for more frustration to creep in the further you get into the experience.

Despite its frustrations, Go Home Dizzy’s brand of twirly-twirly stabby-stabby gameplay is unique, nutty, and full of good times. Give it a whirl.

If you can look past the poor translations and forgive the occasional omission of vital information, you’re bound to have a great time. Just don’t expect to finish it on your first attempt.

DragonVale certainly managed to cast a spell on some people who don’t typically fall for mobile games, and its possible that people’s love for cuteness and dragons — especially mashed together — plus high production values will enable DragonVale World to do the same. But I can’t be alone in hoping there was something a little bit more involved that just breeding an decorating this time around.

What’s important is that DC Legends is much more worth your time and download space now than it looked like it was going to be earlier this year. It’s a very solid game with the potential to get even better over time, and we probably owe Canadian gamers our thanks for helping the developers work out its kinks.

Old school fans of Sonic tend to want two things: speed and challenge. Sonic Jump delivers both, but just a little too late in the game.

Luckily, Running With Friends works well as a single-player experience. You do need an opponent, but you can choose not to obsess over your distance. Just pull on your running shoes and get going.

Beast Bound is a peculiar adventure with odd little monsters, loads of loot, satisfying battles, and a quirky narrative that will keep you foraging and fighting. It’s worth a try for any fans of classic RPGs.

Despite this, An Alien with a Magnet is still enjoyable and provides a nice level of challenge across its story and bonus modes, though one might not be inclined to marathon it. But in shorter spurts, or if you manage to get on a roll, it satisfies.

As it stands today, Kumo Lumo is an adorably strange game that has stolen my heart, but not a spot on my must-play list. A rainy day game, for now.

It’s all so very close for Rayman Adventures, but in the end, you’re going to end up wanting more from it. It might look beautiful, but its increasing number of niggles let the side down in the end.

Zombie Anarchy feels a more respectable base-building game than most that have followed in Clash of Clans wake. It doesn’t offer enough innovations to be truly memorable, but if you’re itching to return to an old favorite genre, this is a pretty good one to try out. It won’t demand too much of you, but you’ll still feel like you’re getting stuff done.

With only a handful of traits and reactions to uncover, this current iteration feels less like a complete package and more like a jumping-off point, albeit an extremely beautiful, heart-wrenchingly adorable one.

Siralim 2 is by no means a perfect, or even particularly refined, game. But none of that really matters when you’re fighting your way through the God of Anger’s realm as he occasionally swears at you and your menagerie of bizarre creatures. It might not look like much on the surface, and it may be a little rough around the edges, but there’s a lot to enjoy here.

There’s no reason to not try Champs: Battlegrounds, as most players will find enjoyment, but how long that joy lasts is the biggest question.

Builder’s Journey is an impressively put together experience for the most part, but is probably only worth investing in at full price for true Lego die-hards.

Coco Loco is an interesting creature for sure, as it's not quite good enough to knock those perturbed birds off their perch but it is good enough and fleshed out enough to warrant a cheap download. The game is especially worth it if you're a huge fan of these types of games and can't stand the wait for Angry Birds Space.

Freak Tower is an interesting take on an iOS classic that adds just enough of its own flare to make things interesting. The only problem is that the pacing drags a good deal of the fun out of it when attempting to play for longer than a minute or two at a time. So long as it’s played in small bursts, though, it’s actually quite enjoyable.

While Merge Dragons! is going to take a while for you to truly get your head around it, it’s a fun curiosity. You’ll want to learn more about it and see just how far you can go. Being able to see things improve and change before your eyes makes a key difference in breathing new life into a fairly stale genre. You’ll find yourself eventually a little frustrated at its enthusiasm when it comes to in-app purchases, but you’ll be mostly pleased with what’s here.

Chocolate Tycoon is certainly a charmer, and the combination of both running and managing a chocolate shop ensures there's always something to do.

Is that going to drag in the legions of Bat-fans? No idea, but if you’re looking for a strategy management game that does things slightly differently, and slightly darker, then it’s well worth a look.

Treasure Buster is a very enjoyable game for what it is, and the RPG elements are definitely welcome. It’s not quite enough to prevent a feeling of familiarity and possible dullness from setting in, at least not if you play for extended periods of time, but when played in short bursts it’s not all that noticeable. Either way, it’s a fun game that’s worth a look if you like this kind of stuff.

PAC'N-JUMP may be just another Doodle Jump clone, but it's a good Doodle Jump clone. With a little bit of variety and some fun retro flavor, PAC'N-JUMP offers a terrific alternative to The Doodler that any Pac-Maniac should enjoy.

So while it may wobble a little, you can count this among another LEGO experience built just as high as the world it's mirroring.

For the most part, Power Rangers: Legacy Wars is a fairly well designed fighting game. It includes various freemium elements that work quite well in this context. In particular, league tables are rewarding to traverse, and you’ll enjoy being able to collect up so many different warriors. You might never have the time to unlock everything possible without a ton of grinding, but the time you do spend with Power Rangers: Legacy Wars will be quite pleasant if not overly memorable.

Evertile: Battle Arena is a great addition to any smartphone. Once you’ve picked up the basics there’s loads of room for experimentation. And not only is the community thriving – there’s always a game waiting for you – it seems really welcoming too.

The mini-games that make up much of Max’s Pirate Planet are too simplistic for adults to enjoy for a long time, though very young kids will have a whale of a time. There are worse planets to vacation on, like that one filled with sentient, horse-riding apes.

Without the crazy awesome pop culture references, smart QR code implementation, and intentionally (and brilliantly) confusing character design, Cloneggs might just have been another ho-hum twist on matching games. Thankfully Cloneggs has all of those things, making it a delightful little matcher with just enough going on to put a smile on any nerds face.

Heroes and Castles isn't visually stunning, and its controls might cost you more than one battle, but it's not a bad package when it's taken as a whole. Glory to the king and his butterfingered champions.

Sadly, however, I found the controls somewhat lackluster compared to everything else in the package.

Overall, the game is worth the free download and at least a trial run, if you will.

A high-quality title. If you're a huge Sega fan, it's a fun trip down memory lane through games you thought Sega forgot like Jet Grind Radio, Crazy Taxi and Space Channel 5. If that last sentence makes no sense to you, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a good but flawed racing experience.