It simply calls for a level of precision that you're not easily afforded on the device, thus turning a potentially fun and challenging game into an overly-frustrating affair.

As match-three games go, Candy Blast Mania is moderately entertaining, if blatantly unoriginal.

Nakama's issue is with its unbalanced gameplay and awful controls. It may well be possible to turn this title around and fashion it into something enjoyable, but that would require massive overhauls to a number of the game's core mechanics. As it stands, Nakama isn't an experience I can recommend.

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.

Puzzle Knights is one of those games that feels like a good idea, but it manages to prove itself otherwise nearly every step of the way. Players looking for an exciting new match-three puzzle game are better off playing just about anything else they can find on the App Store. As for the combat, there's hardly anything that makes it a worthwhile experience.

With an engrossing variety to the level objectives and the things you can do on a simple match-three grid, to the gorgeous and smooth presentation, it’s clear that to make a great game in today’s technological age, sometimes all you need to do is take things back to their prehistoric roots.

Amigo Pancho is a fun game and an easy recommendation, and it's not difficult to see how it racked up 50 million plays over the two years it's been online. Despite its relative ease, it still manages to hold your attention, and never really feels repetitive throughout its 60 levels. And with more content promised to be on the way, this one should have some longevity to it.

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.

Although not particularly inventive, Dragon Academy could be a fun little time waster were it not so full of fun-busting issues.

Pocket Trains sticks close to NimbleBit’s successful Pocket Planes and Tiny Tower, but it’s not hard to understand why. This is a fun ride, and best of all, it’s free.

This is true of Lost Echo as a whole: while its plot stumbles in the final act and its characters never fully get off the ground, the surrounding build-up and adventure is worth experiencing.

Those aren’t reasons big enough for soccer fans to bypass FIFA 14 though. Assuming you’ve got room on your device for the 1.3 GB download, this is soccer done right, and for a price that can’t be beat.

Trouserheart is a well-built hack-and-slash game that simply turns you loose to rip things up with your sword. It could use a little more meat on its bones, but with any luck we’ll see more levels in future updates. In the meantime, a short adventure isn’t so bad: a person shouldn’t walk around without pants for an extended period of time if they don’t want to bring the cops running.

Those gripes aside, I was impressed with just how entertaining Gang Lords can be. It has a solid, if a bit by-the-numbers, free-to-play foundation, and a combat system that’s a heck of a lot more strategic than it first appears.

Fading Fairytales is cute, and it offers a compelling story. If you don’t mind an otherwise typical turn-based strategy game that takes its time, you could do worse than visit this storybook world.

While Infinity Blade III doesn’t break any significantly fresh ground, it manages to refine everything that we’ve loved about the series to absolute perfection. As the end of a trilogy, I could think of no better way to close things out.

Whether you enjoyed Super Hexagon or not, Boson X is a game that needs, nay, requires a place on your mobile device. Its manic split-second gameplay will reel you in, while the thought of someday topping the leaderboards will keep you coming back time and time again.

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.

DuckTales: Scrooge’s Loot is an example of what happens when a developer combines a beloved franchise with a genre that has no logical connection.

Provides kids with superb opportunities to create and experiment with environments and then explore them. Accessible and very appealing to use. Lots of scope for emergent and collaborative play.

Heroes of Camelot is a well put together and inoffensive collectible card game with some beautiful illustrations and not much else. It’s certainly fine for genre fans looking for a new fix or newcomers that are curious to know what all the fuss is about, but it doesn’t stay entertaining for very long.

Angry Birds Star Wars II is more of Angry Birds Star Wars, which, in turn, is more of Angry Birds cross-bred with Angry Birds Space. If that sounds appealing to you, then pick up Angry Birds Star Wars II with all speed.

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.

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

If you’re in the mood to run with zombies, Infectonator: Hot Chase will scratch your leprotic itch. All you need to do is tear yourself away from the original Infectonator long enough to play it.

In the end, though, I can honestly say I’ve had a lot of fun with Valkyrie Crusade.

Though not without minor flaws, Ninjin is jam-packed with content and variety, and you definitely you need this.

Boom! Tanks is a wonderful example of how simplicity can make for a fun action game.

Disney has made a number of admirable changes to Where’s My Water? 2, but these are overshadowed by the money-grubbing nature of its energy meter and pay-to-play focus. What was once a relaxing, refreshing change of pace in the App Store is now just another poorly implemented freemium model. It will take a lot of baths to get this stench off Swampy.

Strata’s gorgeous and elegant interface, simple yet thoughtful puzzles, and moderate challenge level all work together to create a playable work of art that is easy to lose yourself in.

Heroes of Loot will pull in both dungeon-crawling fanatics and twin-stick obsessives in equal measure, with its fast-paced, randomly-generated action. You'll never reach the end of the dungeon, but you'll have plenty of fun trying to find it.

So even though Joust Legend isn't what we had in mind when we first heard the name, it's still a fun game with a great sense of atmosphere and fun mechanics. Don't be afraid to give this one a look.

Farm Story 2 isn’t a terrible game. It’s just typical of a social farming title.

Racing Rivals is an enjoyable drag racing game with intense real-time multiplayer matches.

So in the end, Giant Boulder of Death is a decent endless runner game.

Rest assured, Call of Duty: Strike Team can actually hold its own, not only in the iOS gaming ecosystem, but in the world of handheld FPS titles as well.

As near as I can figure, it's aimed at children: easy to understand, easy to play, and not in the least bit punitive. Got a youngster who's hung up on zombies and likes to collect things? Give 'em this. But most people, I suspect, will find it too insubstantial to appeal, even for a collectible card battle game.

It's not much of a "game" in the strictest sense, but if you're looking for a way to recapture the glory and frustration of Star Wars card collecting in the digital era, you might just have a good time with it.

As noted, with some degree of dismay, Bravoman: Binja Bash! is free-to-play, so if you're a fan of Bravoman, there's really no good reason not to at least check it out. But as fans of Bravoman ourselves, we warn you to temper your expectations on this one.

If you were a fan of the original, Junk Jack X is going to need a place on your iPad.

Look, the bottom line is that this is a complete rip-off of a title most gamers already tired of ages ago, and no matter how many cool 80s throwback sound effects are found within Tiny Missiles, it doesn’t change the fact that you’d be better off throwing your $1.99 down a storm drain.

It’s certainly commendable that EA wants to give mobile gamers a “real” Madden game, but this still isn’t quite it.

At its core, Joining Hands 2 is another round – well, 140+ rounds – of Joining Hands. It's endearingly cute, easy to play, and won't demand any more of your time and attention than you want to give it.

With a real lack of twists to the formulaic gameplay, not to mention a lack of real content overall besides that which is simply repeated to feign substance, Jelly Splash ends up being an unfortunate sticky mess that you’ll want to clean off your kitchen counter, rather than a delicious experience that you’ll want to eat between two slices of bread.

Asphalt 8: Airborne's numerous features and modes, including multiplayer, help round out this package. It's an easy recommendation for anyone who likes their racers a little more realistic than a cartoon kart racer, but with a healthy dose of over-the-top arcade action.

I don’t mean to imply that I haven’t been enjoying Tyrant Unleashed, because I have been; but playing for extended periods can start to feel pretty tedious. I’d still recommend it for most CCG fans. Although I’m not too sure how long it will hold everyone’s attention.

Everlove: Rose is a little cheesy (as might be expected from a romance novel), but it also involves intriguing characters and an addictive story. May your medieval love never suffer the same inevitable decay as the teeth in your jaw.

With lots to do, plenty of unlockables, and tons of explosive destruction, Smash Bandits represents the fundamental reasons why gamers love games. It’s an incredibly solid driver with spot-on physics, flawless controls, and the exhilaration that comes with outrageous destruction.

This Pocket Gems release is just as fluffy as the animals you're asked to rescue in-game.

Ben 10 Slammers is good enough to appeal beyond fans of the TV series. There are some minor issues: I found one nasty, game-ending bug and there should be an option to speed up animations. And while it’s impressively varied, those simple mechanics will wear thin eventually. But there’s lots of fun to be had before that happens, and such a parent-friendly app deserves support in a world of rip-off freemium titles targeted at unwary children.

In the end, Indie Pixel is a truly unique, if not completely innovative way to play a mobile game online with others.

There’s little to complain about with Gold Diggers, and little touches like your hit points being communicated by the number of cars left on your drilling machine, or the perturbed facial expression of your anime-esque character when you run directly into a wall will charm you for the duration. None of the limitations with the genre are solved here, but you’ll still strike some gold with your time.

It’s a warm, witty trip down memory lane, but it’s likely destined to be a short one for most gamers.

Telekinesis Kyle is too clunky, too short, and too unfinished in so many ways, that I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw our titular hero trading in the mind control for some other more interesting super power later on down the road.

Plants vs. Zombies 2 is everything you could have wanted, or expected, from the sequel to one of the greatest casual games of all time. It’s safe to say this one was well worth the wait, and then so much more.

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.

While the gross-out concept and humor might not be for everyone, there’s still no denying how much fun and rewarding the actual gameplay is, for gamers and real-live surgeons alike. And if you happen to have a friend or family member who’s been impaled by something lately, don’t hesitate to give me a call – I’ve been trying to boost up my field experience lately.

If all of this makes Ultima Forever sound like a mixed bag, that’s because it is. While the Mythic team deserves a pat on the back for the effort it made to restore the Ultima brand to relevancy, the end result is something that still leaves you wanting, at least a little bit.

Baby Nom Nom is a cute and cuddly way to spend a few hours or perhaps a few minutes on the way to work. Just don't expect it to last forever. Like the rice left in Baby's food bowl, it'll be gone before you know it. Downloadable levels, anyone?

If this is the direction that the Worms series is going to be taking in the years down the road, then I think Worms 3 can easily be seen as the starting point for these little guys’ eventual world domination (well you know, if they’re able to really crawl that far).

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.

Mikey Hooks' only real hiccup is that the controls aren't perfect. I know, I know, I said that they are some of the best platforming controls I've had the pleasure to play on a touch-screen - but they're still not spot-on. The sliding in particular feels irksome at times, especially on the later levels which require far more precision thanks to the plethora of spikes and traps scattered about the place.

High School Story’s familiar gameplay won’t win any awards for originality, but the game definitely has heart and a great sense of humor. Older players might not want to re-visit high school, but younger players will find a lot to relate to here.

Even if there weren’t already a bunch of space adventures/MMOs on iOS that do it better, Starborn Wanderers would still be incredibly disappointing. It looks great and controls great, but it doesn’t seem like that same level of attention was given to the rest of the game. It’s downright painful to try and follow along with the story, and it simply isn’t any fun to play.

Overall, Swift Revenge is a fun addition to the App Store. It has enjoyable characters with amusing dialogue, some nice music, and is overall fun, if a little frustrating at times. If you don't mind a game with a bit of bite, then pick this one up.

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.

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.

Rivals at War 2084 is not for those light on strategy. There’s a ton of depth in team building and in executing strategy.

If you’re a real enthusiast of tiny bodies of water and other types of liquid, then by all means, you should give this one a try. But if it’s a quality physics-based puzzle experience with an actual sense of purpose and riveting gameplay that you’re after, then Puddle is more likely to make a tiny PLOP! instead of a triumphant splash.

Its simplicity allows players to focus on the big picture aspects of building, directing, and growth, while its puzzle-like room construction adds a layer of complexity that encourages different approaches each playthrough.

Dropchord is one of the most stylish experiences you can have on your mobile device, and if you're looking for just a short experience to fill the good part of an hour, then it's well worth grabbing.

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.

Kid Tripp is a fine game, but it is probably not going to be for everyone, as its aim seems to be intensely focused on a certain type of audience. But if you're up for a challenge, then you should waste no time in downloading this one.

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.

Sky Tourist requires an unexpected amount of patience, but brings an unexpected offering of creativity and visual charm in trade. If you’re looking for something that isn’t another endless runner, animal-flinger, or puzzle solver, and you’re ready to play nice with a demanding control scheme, this skycation is for you.

Game of War: Fire Age takes some important steps toward something truly revolutionary, but it lacks the gameplay advances to make it all the way there. It's likely to appeal to the same players who enjoyed the games that preceded it, yet it feels like a missed opportunity for everyone else.

Even without its “HeadTwister” technology, Droidscape: Basilica is a unique experience that maintains momentum from its beginning to whenever the actual end comes.

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.

Taken as a game, Pivvot lack the edge-of-your-seat challenge I’d hoped to find here. Taken as an experience, Pivvot is a trippy, hypnotic ride that’s perfectly suited to a touch device. Whether or not you’ll enjoy Pivvot is largely dependent on what you’re expecting from it. If you’re in the mood for hypnotic rather than hyperactive, consider Pivvot money well spent.

Games like Jetpack Joyride succeed in hooking players because they’ll always want to do a little better than they did last time. Knightmare Tower slam dunks this idea by giving players items that will iteratively improve their performance time and time again.

These shortcomings are hardly ruinous though, even if the game would benefit from some early updates. Neither is the poor AI as much of a problem as it could have been, thanks to the way in which the simple joy of trampling your foes into the dirt manages to make empire-expansion games compelling even when they’re too easy. Sage’s track record means they get the benefit of the doubt on those upgrades and fixes, and their game gets a cautious recommendation.

If you’re looking for a deep, varied, and enjoyable match-3 game, then you’re probably better off sliding right past this game on your mobile device, because the cold, robotic heart of Blitz Block Robo is devoid of any life or gaming amusement.

There are so many things you could buy for $2.99 – a candy bar, a couple of lottery tickets, or most of a bottle of Charles Shaw wine. Any of those would be a more sound investment than Prince of Persia: The Shadow and the Flame. For a company like Ubisoft—one that usually releases fantastic games on multiple platforms—to drop the ball like this can only mean they’re cashing in on a fairly renowned series as quick as they can, leaving Prince of Persia fans feeling burned hotter than the Persian sands.

In addition to story mode, Mahjongg Dimensions Unblocked features two quickplay options: timed and puzzle. The former allots you 60 seconds to solve as many mahjongg puzzles as you can. If you thought the main game was fast paced, wait 'til you give this a try.

With a wonderful presentation, and just the fact that the game features tiny little turtles with deadly rocket launchers on their shells, I think that TurtleStrike will definitely have gamers saying “I like turtles” for quite some time to come.

A Ride into the Mountains won’t last you more than an hour, but it doesn’t need to. You’ll enjoy every one of those 60 minutes. Ride is the sort of experience that’ll hook you from its first moment and leave you completely satisfied in the end. It’s downright elegant in its presentation and gameplay. Don’t miss this one.

With a small price tag and a surprisingly deep system of upgrades, it’s easy to overlook minimal control flaws and a so-so soundtrack.

If you’re into time-management games, it’ll certainly keep your attention for a little while, especially when the challenge ramps up and you’re expected to get more done at a faster pace. If you adore time-management games, become a patron of Snack Mania – At the Theaters. But if time-management games give you awful flashbacks of your years in customer service and make you want to cry, skip it.

It's decent fun for the most part, but not as much fun as it could have been.

It’s a shame that Futuridium EP is such a chore to play because it is definitely one of the coolest looking iOS games currently available. There’s a stylish aspect to the color palette and polygonal level design that is undeniable. Sadly, though, a lacking core experience means that nobody—even old-school gamers—should have to require the kind of patience it would take to truly enjoy this one. Pick it up at your own risk.

Breach & Clear is a game that does a lot of little things right, but once the gameplay hits, almost all of that is thrown out the window. The customization alone may be more than enough to keep some players invested for a short while. On the other hand, the bare-bones gameplay will be a huge turn-off to both hardcore strategy fans and users looking for a new mobile game.

It’s hard to stop playing Ravenmark: Mercenaries once you get started, which is probably the highest form of praise that a strategy game can get. It’s fun to play solo or against other people, and it’s almost certain to have you plotting strategies even when you’re away from your phone or tablet.

Essentially, the source material for Zombies!!! was simply never good enough to deliver a truly compelling mobile experience.

Even all the cookies and 3D fruit in the world couldn’t satisfy my appetite of just wanting something more from this one.

If you’re looking for a new endless game and think that going up sounds like a nice change from going right to left, you won’t be disappointed with Flyro. What the game lacks in style, it makes up for in stuff, and good old-fashioned fun gameplay.

For what it is, Hakitzu Elite: Robot Hackers is actually pretty cool. It looks reasonably good, plays well, and I personally find programming a string of commands into my Codewalkers and then watching them carry them out to be incredibly satisfying. Of course, the downside to that is having to wade through a fairly clunky and unintuitive interface to make it all happen. It can be worth the headache, but it definitely requires a bit of patience.

Gentlemen! is great fun, and well worth splashing out on if you often find yourself wanting to play tablet games with a friend. Solo players need not apply, obviously, but if you're hankering for some friendly Victorian-style deathmatch, then this is a game that will suffice.

Yes, Saturn Defense is free, and there are dozens of hours just waiting to be played: just don’t expect it to pop up on any year-end best of lists, or even be remembered a few months down the road.