Oh! Edo Towns doesn't come close to the highs of Grand Prix Story or Mega Mall Story, but it's quite a bit better than Hot Springs Story and Pocket Academy in the town building area. It's definitely worth playing.

Ultimately though, Infinite Skater is still a little on the shallow side. At its heart, it’s always no more than a fairly typical endless runner, having you avoid the usual bunch of obstacles in the customary way.

Ultimately, Super Arc Light delivers on its promise of a “relentless retro shoot-em-up” and fans of the genre will not be disappointed.

If you’ve never played Nonstop Knight and simply love the idea of Chuck Norris memes turned into a simple yet funny mobile game, you’ll probably get a kick (no pun intended, honest) out of this. If you’ve played Nonstop Knight, though, it’s hard to justify taking up precious space in your device’s memory with both games.

Elemental Dungeon is fun in all the right ways. It’s unlikely it’s going to win any game of the year awards, but it’s a brilliant way to waste a few minutes. This is the perfect shaped commute roguelite, and it’s going to keep your fingers and your brain busy without getting you too furious or frustrated.

It just doesn’t seem like enough motivation to get people invested in the previous game to upgrade to something that is essentially the same.

From the funky little heroes themselves to the striking enemy models to the user interface and soundtrack, Rush of Heroes is a charming little casual adventure game that is sure to please kids, and maybe their parents too.

Inertia: Escape Velocity isn't quite like anything else you'll find in the App Store. It manages to take a fairly simple and familiar concept and craft an entirely new experience that's -generally- pretty fun and challenging, in spite of a couple of issues that keep it from being truly exceptional.

Bringing back such an old game is never easy and making one with so many ideas feel relevant in 2022 is a tough feat. But Live A Live does a good job of modernising this lost game and making sure a whole new audience can experience it. If you love JRPGS or HD-2D Live A Live will have something for you, or if you are looking for something different with a unique story you’ll be happy here. At times it can be frustrating in its older game design and often a little easy but at the end of the day it never stops being interesting.

This is a solid, enjoyable mobile game that’ll keep you entertained for a good few hours if you’re willing to put the work in and stick with it.

Even with the lack of an addictive progression curve, Bug Assault is a nice addition to the arcade-style app library. The upgrade system might be a little flawed, but the unique two-finger gameplay and colorful cast of critters are enough to make any gamer happy.

Finally, in case you’re wondering, it does indeed live up to its title. This is a seriously, face-meltingly tough game, but rarely frustrating.

If it doesn’t bother you that you’ll need to assemble the basketball equivalent of a small army, NBA LIVE Mobile is good fun, and unquestionably the best free NBA game on mobile right now.

Cannon Crasha is a rather simple game backed by a ton of fun. The standard cannon battles are consistently exciting and they steal the show. It’s a shame that the other gameplay modes are present at all because they do nothing but damage the overall experience.

Even with the porting issues, the mobile version of Realm of Shadows is still a great start to Telltale’s take on Batman — assuming you don’t have the means or desire to play it on a console or computer, anyway. The story is engaging, the action is decent enough, and it ends on one heck of a cliffhanger (the good kind). Play it wherever you can — even if your only choice is mobile.

Whether or not you can finish the tougher puzzles in the right number of moves, it’s always satisfying to clear them. Plus it’s pretty to look at while you’re doing it.

Dragon Land is a lot of fun, but simultaneously sums up many of the issues with free-to-play.

Legend of the Skyfish might be a little awkward in a few areas, but it doesn’t ruin the experience so much as disappoint me a little when I think about what could’ve been. It’s a tiny big adventure that should have felt better, but is still worth taking.

Since control preferences are somewhat personal, it’s still easy to recommend NBA 2K17 for its impressive overall package despite that one caveat, but since it’s a fairly expensive premium game, you may want to test it out on a friend’s device first before you go all-in on a purchase.

Despite its shaky start and less-than-precise controls, Death Golf manages to turn itself into an entertaining game. Simple on most fronts and without many frills to contribute to the wow-factor, it's still an interesting experience that blends something ordinary (golf) with something fascinating (jumping over alligators) to produce a game that's several steps outside the norm.

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

There might not be a lot of actual adventuring to do here, but Passpartout: Starving Artist is still an interesting addition to the sim genre on mobile. If you fancy yourself a budding Picasso then you should definitely be considering picking this one up.

It isn't ahead of its time, or working on the cutting edge of its genre, but for some gamers, it may just do you one better: illustrate the joys of something completely quaint.

All in all, NHL SuperCard is a fun little card game that NHL fans should look into — and might I add it’s an excellent way to spend a commercial break during a game.

With a beautiful cartoony presentation, and a huge amount of variety in both the puzzle designs and the gameplay mechanics that get introduced the further you progress in the game, Catch the Berry ends up losing its footing a couple times along the way. But in the moments when the game finds itself completely on point, this one can be even sweeter than the biggest red berry at the top of the tallest tree.

Those willing to forgive Rain On Your Parade’s rough edges will find a lot to enjoy though, especially at its well judged price-point.

It’s still fun, just a bit frustrating at times. I applaud Area 777 for mashing up two familiar concepts in a way that hasn’t been done before, even if the result isn’t as epic as it might first sound.

I really did like Woody Woodpecker, which probably has a lot to do with how much I love Tiny Wings. I don't think this game surpasses or meets Wings, but it's a lot of fun on its own.

While the game might not have the heart of the original Puzzle Fighter, it’s still an enjoyable diversion. It’s super polished, and some of the animations are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

Hardwood enthusiasts should take a look, but everyone else can safely give My NBA 2K15 a pass.

If you’re not a fan of these types of games, Doomsday Clicker won’t change your mind. But if you like the never-ending grind for more and more cash – or if you’ve never played anything like this before – then I’d say it’s certainly worth checking out.

Gemini Strike is not a perfect game, but one with enough redeeming elements and things that can, at worst, be addressed in updates, that it’s worth checking out for the curious – especially at that free price.

My Little Hero might not be the perfect and deep Legend of Zelda clone that many await for iOS, but it still offers a charming and nostalgic look into the iconic childhood hero fantasy. Like your average nightmare, things get pretty crazy toward the end, but players willing to brave through the challenge will find a fun and rewarding experience.

Even if you’re getting kind of sick of match-3 stuff, I’d recommend giving Zombie Match Defense a look. Underneath the basic matching formula is an unexpectedly solid (and difficult) strategy game.

So it’s safe to say there are some very rough edges present – some of the character models are quite frankly terrifying, and there’s a glut of typos – but Mail Mole still ends up being quite the charmer. It’s breezy no nonsense comfort food platforming. It’s certainly an impressive first title from Talpa Games, and we’re looking forward to what it makes next.

Ultimately, Drop Not is a low-impact, lightweight little reflex game with some cute graphics. Twitchy tapping and changing environments will keep you on your toes and a decent milestone system will keep you moving forward if you’re willing to watch some videos. While there might not be enough substance for anyone looking to expand their mind, folks who like a cute, casual, tappy game will likely enjoy this free download.

As far as stealth titles go, Robbery Bob is a pretty enjoyable one. The levels are varied enough to keep things interesting and the difficult ramps up at a steady enough pace that you'll never feel too out of your element or like one level is totally impossible compared to the last one. It's good for delivering some moments of legitimate fear of being caught, and the sneaking around feels authentic and tense. The game works despite the elements working against it, including some outdated graphics and painful dialogue.

It’s an intriguing concept that’s reasonably original compared to so many other adventure games, even if it doesn’t always quite hit the spot. You’ll need a dark sense of humor to fully appreciate it, but it’s certainly memorable. Just expect to be frustrated at times by that picky attitude to where you tap.

In spite of my (great) frustration with the game, there is some part of me that fell head over heels for Puffle Launch. The game can feel abusive at times. Controlling your Puffle almost feels broken. But it's fun. I know that sounds crazy, but it's a crazy game.

It’s so close to being something really special, but doesn’t quite manage it.

It's cute, lively, and the match-three movement gives it a strategic puzzle element not usually found in RPGs. For gamers new to role-playing, it's the perfect way to learn the RPG basics. Role-playing veterans, though, could easily grow impatient with the over-simplification of their beloved genre's complicated game mechanics.

Ultimately if you’re a fan of Lovecraftian and Eldritch horror this game is definitely worth a try. While there are a lot of games that take inspiration from Lovecraft, Skautfold: Usurper does it right and manages to provide a challenging yet enjoyable experience.

You might be tempted to play through most of Rust Bucket’s Puzzle Mode before diving into the Endless Dungeon, but I wouldn’t recommend it. You can figure out most of what you’ll need to survive after only a few levels, and the constant appearance of obnoxiously long ads might make it unbearable if you have to deal with too many of them. Instead, play a few puzzles and then jump straight into the Endless Dungeon – it’ll be a lot more enjoyable that way.

If you like first person shooters, you’ll probably want to give Combat Squad a try — but I wouldn’t be surprised if, for many of you, it doesn’t turn out to be a fast favorite or earn a permanent place on your homescreen.

Though the gaudy Vegas theme may not be for everyone, the core gameplay can be incredibly addictive, and you can eventually build up an impressively huge and complex tower. You'll just need to look past some of the design and interface issues on your way to the top.

I think the biggest problem this game faces is the appeal factor for folks who aren't already interested in the Serious Sam world. If you aren't already familiar with the franchise, the game doesn't do anything to tell you why you should be.

Although it’s not revolutionary in its gameplay or narrative elements it combines the two to far better effect than it has any right to – and is ultimately a well priced passion project that’s well worth investigating.

I think Robots Need Love Too is worth downloading just to see how non-binary gender representation can be done. It’s just ironic that a game with progressive values actually does a poor job with game progression.

Vehicle management games were once a healthy, proud genre on the App Store, but examples of hearty category specimens are dwindling. If you want to play with some lives, Traffic Rush 2 gets you where you need to go.

If you’ve been lonesome for some Draw Something action, it’s definitely a game worth making your mark on.

In time I am certain that I’d become just as good as these conquerors, but Galcon 2 just doesn’t present me with enough motivation to play long enough to get good. If you’re not already a Galcon fan, there’s a slim chance you’ll stick around long enough to become one.

A fun third-person action/RPG that isn't as original as it'd like players to think it is. It's got some kinks that need to be ironed out, but it's definitely something that most action RPG fans will like while it remains simple enough to appeal to genre newcomers.

For a first effort, Suspect in Sight shows a lot of promise. It successfully puts to use every feature that an iOS gaming enthusiast would want from a title while delivering a unique game. The stylistic theme that is carried throughout the game is spot on, and it makes the experience pretty immersive. That said, the game tries to coast a little on that uniqueness and doesn't put a ton of time into varying the gameplay.

The bad taste left in my mouth after playing Do Do EGG is unfortunate, because it really is quite a fun little game. But you're constantly bumping up against the paywalls they put up, and even after paying you're still forced to endure their banner ads for other titles.

Planet Diver is a fairly straightforward and stylish “endless” sort of game that’s perfectly enjoyable if you’re looking for something to eat up a few minutes here and there.

Cardboard Castle isn't without its problems to be sure, and some of them are bigger than others. But I think the look and feel of the game make up for those issues for the most part. It's a short but enjoyable ride that's definitely worth the price.

LUNA is far from a failure of course, and is certainly worth checking out for fans of slower paced puzzlers – its beautiful presentation should help attract a good helping of casual problem solvers too, even if the experience might leave them feeling a little empty in the end.

If it looks good and plays smoothly, which it certainly does, then maybe everything else simply falls into place in time like learning to be a better ninja. Or a better decorator. Or in this case, both.

Yes Chef! is a cute and fun match-three game.

While this version of LostWinds fails to live up to the lofty heights set by the 2008 WiiWare version, the game is all here and is just as visually pleasing on iOS.

It’s not the worst ending, but considering season two hasn’t even been announced yet, there isn’t any kind of a guarantee that players will get closure for everything they did in season one.

Paladog! is cute and charming, but it quickly wears out its welcome because if forces you to replay levels way too many times if you want to keep advancing.

The final decision of the third episode hints that that may be the case going forward, but we'll have to wait and see. With more independence and more influence her darker (or at least more mature) side can grow. Telltale just needs to be willing to let go.

A game that’s great in small doses but the flaws in which make it difficult to sit with for a long time, especially after the first play. For the most part that’s OK, in a world full of games it can be impossible to put down, sometimes not losing your whole weekend to your phone can be a great thing.

A hammer with dreams of being a scalpel.

It’s a nice follow-up to a pretty interesting story, and I’m curious to see where it all goes from here.

The Endless Mode is fun, but on its own it can only carry the game so far.

Devil May Cry 4: Refrain is trying too hard, while seemingly ignoring the device it's running on.

Make it Rain: The Love of Money is shallow and repetitive, which, given the current explosion of tapping games, might be exactly what some players want.

If you’re a fan of the Pocket God franchise or Doodle Jump-style games, you’re going to have a good time here. If you’re burned out on either, though, Ooga Jump isn’t going to do a lot to change your mind.

Midnight Star might feel a tad watered down to the hardcore console FPS gamer, but even those guys will appreciate the basic approach that Industrial Toys has taken in an effort to reduce friction as much as possible.

There isn’t a huge amount to Boltgun, but what’s there largely satisfies – just don’t go into expecting it to be the throwback shooter many have suggested it is.

Sometimes the rhythm of the music doesn’t quite match the rhythm the game asks you to tap in. It’s not the biggest annoyance in the world, but it adds a twang of frustration to what should be a simple and satisfying waste of time. Other than that there’s nothing particularly wrong with Groove Galaxy.

The Gods: Rebellion is no God of War killer. It’s quite linear, its controls need some touching-up, and the suggestions for in-app purchases (which are doled out whenever you die) are sure to cheese some players off. That said, the game looks fantastic and it still manages to offer a button-mashing good time—at least until all that button-mashing misfires and you start executing the wrong attacks.

With that said, UFC 2015 is a solid fighting game with a good assortment of ways to beat your foes into submission. The energy boosts and pay-to-play fighters aside, this is one I’m sure fans of MMA will want to check out.

War Tortoise 2 is a lovely diversion – spend too much time with it and the cracks start to show, but if you’re dipping in and out you’re going to be doing it with a smile on your face.

It's pretty simple, and there will be times when you have nothing to do besides sitting and waiting for a meal to finish cooking or for a zombie to resurrect. But it's all worth it when you get to serve people Hobo Delight. Whatever that might be.

The game adheres to the control scheme and tropes that most endless runner games possess, but it still manages to feel like something fresh.

Apart from the hurdle I had to jump to reach the second episode, I found that The Detail Episode 2 “From the Ashes” is just as solid an experience as the first was.

Where Airborne Brigade feels different is first, its obvious Final Fantasy wrappings, and second, its focus on smaller groups and collaboration as opposed to highly competitive player-versus-player goals.

Now, Dumpster Bear 2 is far from a perfect game – its low rent visuals can’t excuse some pretty poor boss stages and occasionally cruel deathtraps – but it’s far better than you’d expect. And its low price point is praiseworthy considering the large number of levels to get through. Dumpster Bear 2 knows exactly what it is, and is a prime example of how you shouldn’t judge a book (bear) by its cover.

Raging Bytes can’t quite justify its high asking price, but certainly offers something a little different in the survival horror genre.

A flawed but perfectly serviceable strategy game. It manages to downplay those flaws with the help of a colorful aesthetic and fun gameplay, but even so, they might be enough to deter you if you and your friends already have a real-time strategy favorite on your mobile devices.

Time Geeks & Friends's otherwise entertaining, polished veneer begins to crumble at times under the weight of its seeming greed.

While those who stick with Ms Spell and cherish it’s ‘figure it out yourself’ spirit might feel morally superior to those who don’t dig it, it’s really just a matter of taste. If you take a car in to the mechanic, it matters less whether they learned how to fix a transmission from a YouTube tutorial, in a classroom, or through trial and error (unless your car is the experiment) and more how well it holds up as you drive away. It’s the same here. There are no right or wrong gamers, just those who this game suits or doesn’t. If you’re still on the fence about Ms Spell, there’s only one way to find out which camp you’re in: give it a try. With the game costing less than a great cup of coffee, there’s little to lose.

This videogame spin off isn’t quite as intricate as its inspiration, but still offers a far more interesting experience than anyone should rightly expect. And, most importantly of all, it’s fun.

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.

Ruby Skies really seems to have that "just one more tap!" element mastered – and that's exactly what a game like this should do.

If you’re the type of person who has enjoyed previous resource management plus multiplayer conquest mobile games, Galaxy on Fire – Alliances has you in its sights, possibly with just enough small tweaks that it could feel mildly fresh. Otherwise, there really isn’t much here that you haven’t seen before, albeit packaged very nicely and shot into space.

The Forest of Doom is actually pretty good, and packs in some nice extras including achievements, an extensive art gallery that catalogs your encounters, a history of the Fighting Fantasy series and the story behind The Forest of Doom. The biggest knock against it is simply that it lacks sophistication.

Compared to its prequels, Zenonia 3 doesn't exactly feel like a step forward. Instead, it feels like the same gameplay dressed in a new story. That's not a bad thing, but it means that things don't feel nearly as innovative and fun as they once did.

If you’re someone who wants more of the fighting aspect of this game rather than focusing on the fact that it’s Hunter x Hunter, I can see why it’s not as enjoyable. Fights are simple at their core, despite there being different attacks you can do. Story Mode had a lot of story. And while it was skippable, I’d often skip it just for a quick fight, before entering another long story-filled chapter. That being said, if you do love the Hunter x Hunter world, this game is a must-play for fans.

I wish I could say that Bombshells: Hell's Belles soared to - and past - its potential. The game has more than serviceable graphics, really tight controls, and some high-flying action that is really tough to match. Unfortunately, the action isn't different enough when weighed against the fact that you have to keep playing the same levels over and over to get your upgrades.

While the main game is a little slow starting and takes a while to offer more challenging levels, the unlockable ones are actually quite good and may have you pondering the possibility of in-app purchases, either for hints or more content to explore.

As movie tie-ins go, Monsters, Inc. Run is a great deal of fun – but it's also completely forgettable, and you'll have moved on to a new experience and pushed this one aside pretty quickly.

Despite the missteps, though, Jumping Finn Turbo still has me itching to pick up my iPad and go another five or ten rounds with it. The concept may not be entirely original, but the world wrapped around it most definitely is, delivering laughs for fans and newcomers alike in the ceaselessly optimistic way only Adventure Time can.

There’s a massive sense of reward in eking out every resource and collectible from a given region before turning to raze the next, and there's plenty of opportunity to do it. An unfortunate lack of freedom just makes that return on your time a diminishing one.

Larger questions of market trends aside, however, Hose it Down! is still a little slice of WayForward’s signature recipe: pixel-perfect, chiptune-infused challenge, ripe for replay.