Colourful, packed with a genuine sense of play, and far more than the sum of the parts; a simple set of building blocks that combine to form something full of nuance and depth.

Luckily, you don't need power-ups to appreciate Funky Smugglers. On its own, the game is fun, silly, and addictive. But it is unsettling that the game's planes always take off regardless of how shoddily you perform behind the scanner.

For everything Infinity Blade II has added to the formula, Chair seems to have been just as quick to take something away. It's a sizable adventure to be sure, and there's no doubt it's an absolute must play – but at the same time, it feels like they're holding back content simply so they'll have something to offer as an update down the road. And when that "something" could be content that was in your last game... well... that just feels like cheating.

Its combination of engaging gameplay and good looks should be a winner, and even if it gets lumped in with other strategy titles in the minds of mobile gamers, at least it should emerge as the first thing people think of when they hear its name.

It might not be purrfect, but Cannon Cat is still a great iOS title. It's challenging, fun, and full of personality. It's a little light on variety and a tad glitch toward the end, but that's nothing a few updates can't fix.

Taken as a whole, My Muppets Show is charming and addictive. Not even Statler and Waldorf will find much to tear apart here—though they’ll certainly try.

Pixel Ranger has been a blast to play for a few years now, and this new iPhone version is no exception. Even better, though, is that Pixel Ranger on the iPhone ends up feeling more like a sequel than a simple adaptation. There's more structure, more power-ups, more modes – more of everything.

With its lovely aesthetics and unique mechanics, Causality is a satisfying challenge that will make you feel pretty darn accomplished for getting through it. If brains need workouts to get stronger, I can guarantee that Causality will have your brain doing some handstand pushups in no time.

You get a lot of decks to play with, sure – but we would still expect a much more refined party game experience for such an outlay. So with that in mind we’d only truly recommend Heads Up! Phones Down Edition when it’s on sale, and even then you may be better off investigating some of the other more unique party titles the Switch has to offer first.

Art of Conquest’s strength lies in its ability to combine all of these in a way that feels fairly fresh. This is a game that’s ideal for those short bursts of gaming that mobile gaming can be so good at. Paying your way ahead is possible but it’s not necessary and you won’t feel too corralled into doing so. Simply playing at your own pace works well enough, ensuring that Art of Conquest is the kind of game that’s going to stick around on your phone for a while yet.

Shadow Cities really manages to hit all of the right notes. It's a mobile MMO, yet it's casual enough for 60 second sessions. It's a location-based game, yet you can enjoy it from the comfort of your couch.

It holds up incredibly well as a multiplayer experience, and the inclusion of enhanced graphics, additional levels and online play makes the game feel like so much more than just a simple port of a classic. And as a bonus, nostalgia goggles are far from required here; a love of explosions and humor, on the other hand, most certainly are.

Big Win Football isn't going to interest people who want to control the action, but if you're a football fan looking for a simple, fun way to run your own team, it certainly fits the bill. And if football isn't your thing, no worries: There are Big Win baseball, soccer and hockey games, too. Get going on that dynasty.

If you’re intrigued by the idea of being hobbled thusly, Spelldom is definitely worth your time. Its concept is definitely clever, and proves that words can indeed hurt.

Overall, though, Act of Fury: Kraine's Revenge proves that revenge doesn't always have to be served cold. Sometimes, when vengeance is all sound and fury and hot-blooded madness, the results can still be a pretty tasty dish.

A quality game from a play stand point, but it doesn't offer anything truly new.

Yes it's a little too easy, too short, and completely devoid of a story – but Batman Arkham City Lockdown is also a fast-paced, finger-swiping good time that looks stunning, keeps you hooked, and lets you be Batman. What more could you ask for in a video game?

That said, Burn the Rope 3D might be too similar to Burn the Rope to satisfy burninators looking forward to a "true" sequel from Big Blue Bubble. It's been a long time since we've seen level updates to Burn the Rope, though, so maybe think of Burn the Rope 3D as a level pack.

With vibrant visuals, clean animations and straightforward mechanics, Dragons: Rise of Berk really delivers. So if you’re a fan of the movies, dragons, or both, Rise of Berk is well worth taking for a spin.

So long as players don’t have anything against the idea of shooting wild animals that are just milling around nibbling on grass, there’s every reason to think that they’d have fun with Deer Hunter 2014. The typical freemium hurdles still get in the way at times, and the cash requirement for joining co-op hunts feels contrived, but it’s still a remarkably enjoyable and surprisingly strategic game.

With no crutch system in place, you know without a doubt that you've earned every point you got, and that's a pretty good feeling.

Unfortunately, Car Toons! shares the biggest shortcoming of the previously mentioned title – too often it's too easy. The chain reactions are fun to watch, but they're all over too quickly.

In navigating the tension between reverence for something old in a new package, Disney have done a wonderful job at delivering an experience that deftly straddles nostalgia and novelty. Next time you're in the mood for some great pint-sized play, save your bag of quarters. You only need four.

Walking away from Ice Age Village feeling satisfied is an easy thing to do, especially if you're a fan of the film series. While it would have been nice to see a bit more social in this social game, the gameplay that exists stands on its own as being fun and compelling. Considering the cost of entry, I'd recommend the game to anyone even mildly interested.

If you're getting a little burned out on the idea of match-3 mixing with role playing, 10000000 probably won't do much to change your mind. Then again, if you're a little burned out on the idea of match-3 mixing with role-playing, you're probably not very much fun, and I don't want to talk to you. For the rest of us though, 10000000 offers up another great example of genre mashups done right. Congratulations – we've just found your next month-long addiction.

A wonderful reminder of how unique a video game can truly be. Whether you're a fan of the original release or a gamer who's never heard of the work of Eric Chahi before, Another World: 20th Anniversary Edition is one you'll want to be adding to your collection.

Mul.Mash has beautiful graphics, an immersive soundtrack, and thoughtful design features (progress-saving notwithstanding) that any arcade game fan is going to love. It’s clean, robust, and a gorgeous update on a Pong-meets-Breakout mashup, done well for mobile.

Dungeon Legends is an epic free-to-play dungeon crawler and while it straps players in as a single character, it gives you a fun enough time doing so that the game’s few hiccups are easily overlooked.

Dead Stop isn't really doing anything new with the tower defense concept. Then again, it doesn't pretend to, either. If you go into the game knowing how the genre works and are just expecting it to have a little fun with the zombie theme, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Pokemon Unite flashes moments of brilliance, and the battles always feel like they’re balanced on something of a knife edge. Is it perfect? No, some of the IAPs do feel a bit pay-to-win, and the roster of characters isn’t as expansive as MOBA fans might want. But when it works, boy does it work.

Dragons of Atlantis for mobile thus marks an improvement over the first incarnation of the game, but it doesn't necessarily mark an improvement on the conventions of the city building/strategy genre as a whole.

With great level design and some unique twists, Blade Guardian is an absolute must-play for fans of tower defense. It's not a flawless game by any stretch, but with so many competitors on the market, Blade Guardian does more than enough to set itself apart from the crowd.

Despite some mildly rough edges, there’s plenty here to recommend.

On the surface, Godzilla Defense Force looks like a generic copy of an overpopulated genre of game, but it delivers more than expected. I have played a lot of city builders/ base managers and none of them has had me focused on my screen for this long.

Crucially, Drop Wizard Tower is fun because of the nostalgia element. It’s so much like arcade platformers of old, that 80s fans will lap it up with enthusiasm. That means its difficulty curve is just as tough as back then, but it’s worth pursuing. With its simple to learn one-handed controls, it’s the kind of thing that lends itself to commuter play sessions. Just don’t expect to beat it any time too soon.

Indies’ Lies isn’t as good as Slay the Spire, but it offers enough to anyone who enjoyed the mechanics of its inspiration to be worth a punt. This is a game that will keep you entertained for long stretches of time, even if it is lacking a little when it comes to imagination.

Disney Checkout Challenge will keep you on your toes and entertained, if only for a few minutes at a time. Scanning item after item can only remain fun for so long, but at least you’re not obligated to play the game for eight hours straight for the sake of a crummy paycheck.

Overall, BTS World isn’t my cup of tea at all, so its to the game’s huge credit that I ended up really enjoying my time with it in spite of that. The plot is excellently placed, the collections addictive, and the interactions with the characters is genuinely charming.

It takes an enjoyable concept, slices it into two fun modes, and respects the player's competence by getting relentlessly difficult. It's a little simplistic, sure, but that's just as often a compliment as it is an insult in the world of mobile games.

Speaking of bragging rights: MumboJumbo has earned some for delivering a great rendition of its marble-matching hit, which marries the tried-and-true puzzle approach with great visuals and sharp touch-screen controls.

However, even though Puzzle Trooper is a blatantly obvious clone, it’s a good blatantly obvious clone.

BattleLore: Command is a premium strategy game that requires a bit of patience to get into, but can be a rewarding experience once a basic understanding of the flow of the game is acquired.

Don’t expect a deep, meaty gameplay experience — but if a fun story and great atmosphere are most important to you, aim your assembling finger at the App Store or Google Play and dive in.

This is a puzzler that gets all of its pieces just about right. There are times you might find yourself frustrated, but that’s usually when your play session comes to an end. Pop back in later and you’ll find that the solution was maybe a little more obvious than you thought. Throw in a neat aesthetic, simple controls, and a progression system that isn’t afraid to let you figure things out for yourself, and you’re left with a game that’s as smart as it is welcoming. And we don’t get to say that much.

Bridge Constructor is tricky, but it's accessible for (ahem) engineers of all skill levels. There's more than one way to build a bridge (at least in the virtual world), and it doesn't matter if your constructions are creaking, swaying abominations that would give an acrophobic the screaming horrors. As long as the cars make it over safely, you're golden.

Ultimately, though, there are enough of those great ideas - both artistically and mechanically - to ensure that Third Eye Crime stands out as a singular experience in its genre. Like one of Rothko’s capers, the game is not without its hitches, but Moonshot managed to handily steal my heart with their first mobile title nonetheless.

While other mobile FPS games might still be drowning in a sea of shoddy touchscreen controls, The Drowning offers just enough moments of ingenuity and potential insights to these traditional issues that gamers will always be able to keep coming up for refreshing breaths of air.

The rounds are as fast as the action, and given that it’s free and features very little in the way of intrusive in-game ads, there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t give AwesomeBoots pride of place on your home screen today.

In the end, Train Conductor World: European Railway is a colorful and interesting riff on time management sims with plenty to offer.

It’s not the smartest game out there but there’s a rugged charm to it. Its physics engine is well designed, and you’ll enjoy seeing how different vehicles react to different scenarios. The promise of new levels each month should keep you coming back for more too. Simply put, it’s a lot of fun.

This sandbox aspect will be a negative for players who prefer more guided gameplay, but a boon for those who appreciate nearly limitless replay value and opportunities for creativity. The few rules and features that do exist must be discovered on your own, and doing so can greatly change how you view past levels.

SlamBots is good solid fun, and a novel experience based on a seemingly simple idea. If you like to bop every now and again, this is definitely one for you.

It has that subtly addictive quality that the company does so well, and it's likely to have many people who never play slots games downloading it soon just to check it out.

The Lion’s Song offers an affecting and beautiful translation of artistic genius to in-game interactions within an atmospheric and alive pre-World War Austria. Even without experience in music, painting, or mathematics, the struggles these protagonists face and the choices they make are relatable and human, especially as we see the world through their distinct lenses. Although the chapters are fairly short—under an hour each—they are filled with moments both large and small which have game-wide consequences for characters and the player alike. Whether you choose to revisit those moments directly by making new decisions or simply by ruminating on how your choices played out, they are bound to stick with you long after fin.

While it may be a familiar experience, there's more than enough of a twist here to make Chop Chop Slicer a worthy addition to any Fruit Ninja fan's game library.

If you’re a fan of puzzle games, it’s still very much worth checking out despite these occasional frustrations.

Joe Danger is an extremely polished and well-developed game, so I'm going to be nitpicky for a minute as I mention some cons. For as gorgeous as the graphics are in the game, there is a disappointing lack of variety in scenery, and a very anticlimactic final level.

Fantastic Knight does a lot of things really well, but the two areas where it truly stands out are its user interface and its production values.

At the end of the Smearth day, though, SimpleRockets is a fantastic sandbox builder with logical physics and an effortlessly easy-to-use construction system. While its lack of extended guidance may frustrate players new to the genre, experienced aeronautical gamers and fans of KSP will be treated to a surprisingly deep on-the-go alternative.

While an inaccurate title though, Pudding Panic delivers where it counts, which is in the fun department.

All in all it makes for an experience that you’re going to quickly lose yourself in. It thrums with the sort of excitement that few other match-stuff puzzlers can match, there’s always a game waiting for you, and the compulsion to build your team is pretty darn pressing.

There are times you’ll feel restricted by any unwillingness to spend real money, and there are plenty of adverts to suffer through, but Idle Empires is mostly a pretty good example of the idle clicking genre. With a steady stream of new content, along with achievements and challenges to complete, you’ll find a regular urge to go back for more. It’ll last you longer than most games of this ilk, even if eventually you might realise you’re just tapping like crazy.

Overall, if you’re already an Eight-Minute Empire fan, you’ll likely be impressed by how it’s been transported to mobile. If you’re a strategy fan in general, it might be the perfect game to add to your arsenal for those days when you’re short on time but still want to play. It’s also a great game for families who are planning road trips. This isn’t a game for everyone – it lacks the crossover appeal that’s likely to convert massive amounts of folks who aren’t keen on strategy – but it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Very Very Valet is perhaps a touch overpriced for something you’ll only really enjoy with friends, but if you do happen to hold regular games nights then this is a title you’ll want to seriously consider adding to your roster.

Compass Point: West does take some getting used to, as the game’s tutorial is lackluster and there’s no list of “Quests” to guide you through your shaky start. Still, it’s all relatively easy to sort out, especially since you’ll likely find yourself returning to the ranch over and over.

Fighting Fantasy Legends won’t be to everyone’s taste due to its hefty difficulty level, but it’s the ideal game for many to chip away at bit by bit. In particular, fans of the series will love having a different way of approaching some of their favorite characters. It’s an entertaining twist on the usual Choose Your Own Adventure format.

Even with the control issues, I had a permanent grin during my time with Blast-A-Way. It builds up to more difficult elements -- like portals -- with an incredible level of tact, and it respects the player's intelligence in a way you don't always see in the puzzle genre.

For a game that relies on dimensional travel and ancient evil spirits, Secrets of the Dark: The Flower of Shadow feels remarkably cohesive and down-to-Earth. The puzzles are a joy to solve, the mini-games keep you guessing, and the visuals hit the sweet spot between realistic and artistic.

Ultimately, Lifeline: Crisis Line will satisfy fans of the gamebook or text-based adventure genre. However, as 3 Minute Games continues to develop more of these, putting more power into the hands of players by creating more opportunities to make truly meaningful decisions will only improve the experience.

A great little title. It's fun to play, its levels are easy to beat (most of the time), and it features some seriously adorable style. On top of that there are a lot of levels to play through, which means players aren't likely to get bored with it.

A fun game. It is incredibly simplistic, but each aspect of the game is polished and entertaining.

But despite these minor annoyances, Type:Rider is still as elegant as anything in mobile gaming today, and the constantly changing canvas is always brimming with inspiration and captivating ways to think about words, and the letters that help to craft them in particular.

If you skipped the previous game in the series but enjoy baseball sims, MLB Manager 2016 should be considered a must buy.

If you’re a fan of the physical version of Pathfinder Adventures, I think there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy this mobile port. Especially since it takes up a lot less shelf and table space. And if you’ve never played Pathfinder Adventures before, well then this is a fantastic place to start.

The three different game modes, as well as the numerous challenges and achievements across them, offer tons of goals for completionists to strive for. And the gameplay in each is simply a fun, unique twist on auto-running platformers that is fast, fresh, and lovably hard to put down.

If spelling games aren’t your thing, then keep on walking, because AlphaBetty Saga has nothing for you whatsoever. However, if you do dig spelling games, you’ll have no trouble enjoying what AlphaBetty Saga spells out for you.

But minor inconsistencies and imbalances aside, Dunk Dreams is still a fantastically unique take on a basketball RPG experience, with fun and challenging gameplay, a deep and engrossing sense of progression, and more style and customization options than you could shake a giant foam finger at.

It's funny to me that a genre like text adventure could be resurrected and brought to a full color tablet device like the iPad or iPhone. Adding the high-res graphics and fantastic music/sound add a lot to the game, and make it much easier to feel the theme like a weight around your neck than back in the day when it was all just text. ZDay Survival Simulator may not hold your attention for more than a few sittings, but what's there is fantastic and deserves to be seen.

It’s also a great choice for those that are new to management simulators and are a bit intimidated with the depth usually on offer. If that’s you, LEGO Tower will ease you in gently and within an hour you should feel confident enough to move onto something more challenging. Because ultimately, anyone looking for a game with a bit of meat on its bones will likely find LEGO Tower a bit unsatisfying. That’s the price the developers had to pay to build a game for a younger audience though, so we’re loathe to criticise NimbleBit too much for that. Solid stuff.

Some people may decry the lack of variety involved (the game only offer two modes – endless and time attack), but games like this don't need to be anything more than what they are to be a success. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some monsters to feed.

Maybe the first game with its shiny new cars satisfied your drag racing fix, and that’s okay. But classic is cool, and CSR Classics doesa pretty nice job getting that point across. Rev it up and let’s race, daddy-o!

Any kids who are still enamored with the Cars franchise are going to love this game, and parents should appreciate the fac that it’s not pushing anythng on us but itself.

If you’re looking for complex moves or the kind of variety that wildly different fighters can provide, it will be too shallow to hold your interest for long. But if you’re just looking for something that’s fun and accessible, or have just been waiting for Marvel to give us an alternative to the DC-powered mobile version of Injustice: Gods Among Us, Contest of Champions is a super game to add to your collection.

Ultimately though, Fumble In The Dark is a triumph. It takes the solid foundations from The Darkside Detective and gently improves upon them, while still offering up a hugely charming adventure.

Because of the relatively early difficulty, Ion Storm might struggle tackling similarly frantic games like Temple Run and Jetpack Joyride. Constantly beating your old score is a big reason the runner genre is so addicting, and it's a shame it wasn't implemented a little better here.

Reiner Knizia's Yoku-Gami is a true winner of a title.

It takes care of all of the grunt work for you, it’s a nice looking game, and the IAPs aren’t as greedy as we expected. Yes, it is yet another gacha RPG so if you really don’t like the genre this will do very little to change your mind but for fans of the genre this is absolutely essential stuff.

Blastron is in every way a competent Worms-style battle that translates well to touch screens and does more than most games on the style front. If you’ve got a strong stomach for microtransactions and a hefty appetite for physics-based humor, then open wide to catch this hand grenade between your teeth.

If you like the Phoenix Wright or Professor Layton series, or enjoyed games like Hotel Dusk: Room 215, then it stands to reason you're going to like The Secret Chateau de Moreau. The story is well paced and wonderfully interesting as a murder mystery.

On one hand, it's got some really solid production values, increasingly frantic gameplay, and some really interesting RPG-like elements. That said, it's frustrating because it doesn't always feel like strategy is the focus, with button mashing being a more effective technique.

It's got everything you'd want in a social game, a few twists, and some fun times that are easily enjoyed in short bursts or long stretches.

PixWing has no in-app purchases, so it’s a nice change to receive compensation for simply flying well. There’s an added incentive for buying new birds: They come in a wide variety of cool designs. Who doesn’t want to be friends with a wolf in a bomber jacket that flies a biplane?

Asides from the occasional turn-based gem, great multiplayer mobile games are few and far between on the App Store. Assassin's Creed Rearmed is easily one of the best we've seen. It's totally unique, and a great mobile extension of an already stellar franchise.

Toca Mini might proffer an unexpectedly steep learning curve, but it’s still easier to pick up and play than a lot of other kids’ apps. And as we’ve come to expect from the developer, it’s streets ahead in terms of flexibility and fun too.

I really did enjoy Mass Effect: Infiltrator and is serves as a wonder companion to the just released Mass Effect 3. I do wish it tied in story wise a little closer to that game, since I'd wager that most of us are playing the two concurrently. Despite this, it's given me a way to enjoy the world while away from home, and more Mass Effect is always a welcome sight.

This is a game that deals in purity – even when it’s holding your hand, its grip is loose and careless. You’re on your own, just you and the track. It might not be the best looking game, or the most exciting, but if you’re looking for a racing experience that does its best to capture what pushing a car to its absolute limit is really like, Assetto Corsa Mobile is your best option.

Might not be the most original game, but it's a solid entry in the treasure hunting genre. The combat is fun, there's plenty to collect, and, besides, the game stars pirates who are also zombies. What's not to love?

A must-have for any puzzle fan, Continuity 2 is remarkably elegant in its simplicity.