Overall, I would say give this a go, I think there is some fun to be had with this game you just need to adapt to bad controls and look up what to do. I personally would not invest in this game. Stealth horror games aren’t for everyone and I think there are many better attempts out there on mobile.

Overall, Might & Magic: Elemental Guardians isn’t a particularly unique experience, but what it lacks in innovation, it more than makes up for with polish. The animations, visuals, and overall feel just oozes quality, and that alone just might make this the hero collector RPG for you.

Not only would I recommend this game, it’s one that’ll be staying on my phone for future playing. Mastering the game is not simple, and I need to crack the ‘Hard’ level before I can feel like I’ve achieved something!

A simple but addictive word game that will give your brain a good workout while simultaneously helping you relax from a stressful day. The nice cartoon visuals help with that, giving you the same vibes as hanging out on campus.

Hexologic’s gameplay will feel familiar to anybody who’s ever completed a sudoku or a nonogram, but it’s a very worthwhile offshoot of that genre. It’s easy to grasp, satisfying to solve, absolutely gorgeous, and it provides a serious challenge at the sharp end.

It might not go down as the best Harry Potter video game ever, but it offers some stretches of fun that you won’t find anywhere else, and the guess here is that Jam City will be dreaming up more to throw into its world for some time to come.

Ultimately, BarBarQ blends PUBG, Agar.io, and Brawl Stars and the result is far tastier than you’d imagine. The action is packed, the perk system deep, and the visual style keeps things nice and simple but remains pretty. It’s just a shame that the free to play faff, pay to win, and a cluttered UI slightly tar an incredibly fun and unique experience.

Minor gripes aside, Shadowgun Legends is a strong contender for best mobile shooter on the market. The game would have shone on previous-generation home consoles from a visual standpoint and everything about it feels tailored for tablets and smartphones. Until there comes a time when the likes of Doom, Call of Duty and Battlefield can run on mobile with zero concessions, Shadowgun Legends is Google Play and the App Store’s definitive FPS.

Yes, that’s an awfully hefty price for a mobile game, one so large that it does make one wonder whether it’s worth it to take the plunge or simply buy the console version of Final Fantasy XV, which by now can be had for less than its original price. Still, if seeing the game on mobile is what prompted you to want to give it a try in the first place, it’s well worth trying out the initial, free chapter to see if you want to invest more money and time into it, as well as to marvel on how a full-fledged RPG can be translated to touchscreens without compromising all that much.

If you don’t overthink it or expect the world, Mad Skills BMX 2 gets the job done when it comes to quick, fun bike races that aren’t overly complicated. It’s fine for a quick action fix, as long as you aren’t stuck at a race you can’t pass, and as we said at the top, it definitely beats the wear and tear of riding bikes off ramps in the dirt in real life.

This is one of those rare times when a game simply wouldn’t work on any platform other than mobile. Gorogoa is a tactile experience, one that demands to be poked and explored. And you’re going to have a brilliant time doing just that.

If you don’t mind just stomping through levels as a giant monster, building new weapons and special hats, and watching your numbers go up, then you’re going to enjoy pretty much everything that the game has to offer. Mainly because, that’s pretty much everything the game has to offer.

It’s the kind of game you can easily find yourself getting lost in for hours at a time even when you aren’t making progress toward the end of the story. That’s good value, especially when you consider that it’s only a few bucks for iOS or Android. We may get too sidetracked along the way to ever jump through every portal, but we’re definitely anticipating having a lot of fun regardless.

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.

If you enjoyed the original Reigns then you’re going to love this sequel. And you don’t need any knowledge about the first to jump in and experience this new game either. And if you’re reluctant to play a game that focuses on a female character, well, not to beat around the bush, but you don’t deserve the fun that Reigns: Her Majesty offers.

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.

Over time, it’s easy to imagine that Football Manager Mobile will grow to be even more like the full-on PC game as the devices in our pockets allow more soccer to be packed into a smaller space (there’s also Football Manager Touch 2018 to bridge the gap). Until then, this is the best way to see if you’re smarter than the gaffers you see in real life. And while you probably aren’t, at least you can have fun pretending.

You’ll enjoy moments of Puzzle Fighter but it’s rarely enough, and it’s certainly not enough to make you want to throw money at the situation. The basic formula might be correct, but, ultimately, Puzzle Fighter feels a little lazy at heart.

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.

Assuming Nintendo adds new animal campers, furniture, and clothing; allows for more expansions to your RV and (hopefully) the Campsite; opens up additional islands; and introduces holiday events to go along with the changing seasons, Pocket Camp will be a fantastic Animal Crossing game for years to come. The current iteration is already an exceptional transition of the series to mobile, complete with a large cast of animals with tons of adorable interactions and charming dialogue options (these animals are unapologetic coffee snobs); plenty of things to do, collect, and decorate; and the relaxing, open-ended gameplay we know and love coupled with more specific goals to work toward. The opportunity for regular future updates could make Pocket Camp the best Animal Crossing entry yet, but like every other real-time event in this series: we’ll have to wait and see.

The game is also simply beautiful to look at: while there’s no shortage of Solitaire options on the App Store, many default to the classic green background and bland cards we’ve seen time and again since Windows 3.0. Flipflop Solitaire is fresh, both visually and thanks to its invigorating gameplay twist that’s given us a new reason to play an old standby.

Phone Destroyer is simply so well-made that it makes you forget or overlook some of its pay-to-win DNA, and that’s no easy feat. Viva la New Kid.

With so many other options available out there, there’s just nothing to recommend RainbowTail to anyone. At best, it’s a partially-functional Match-3 game with some cute artwork. At worst, it’s a crashy, technical mess with no real allure. If you came for Pokemon, go play Pokemon. If you came for the match puzzles, almost anything else available would be an improvement.

Subsurface Circular is a premium game, priced at $4.99USD on the App Store. Though the developers kept the game’s length in mind when pricing, it’s still easy to argue that the game is quite a steal. Less than half the cost of a movie ticket while providing at least as much entertainment, it’ll be one of the best fivers you’ll spend all year.

Playing straight through, Frost would likely take a day to finish, though with no hints or skips if you get stuck, certain levels might extend that timeline depending on how patient you are. Frost is a premium game with a higher price at launch than many other options in the App Store, and that might cause some to be wary of the purchase. However, the intense beauty and satisfying problem solving of Frost exemplifies why we play mobile games. The game is absolutely worth the investment and I hope to see much more of Frost and more from its creators in the future.

Sure, you can ‘capture’ iconic locations eventually but it’s all a cynical way of making you feel like you’re truly part of Game of Thrones. Instead, this is a retread of an overly familiar concept. You’ll regularly be asked to spend money on starter packs or other forms of currency, all in a bid to make you more invested in the experience. Anyone who’s been playing mobile games for a while will have already done this elsewhere. Game of Thrones: Conquest doesn’t deserve to be rewarded with your time, money, or loyalty. It’s a poor use of a franchise that’s rich with imagination.

Those looking for a fierce puzzle fix with relentless high score chasing should look elsewhere; this is not a twitchy manic experience. Players who enjoy a mellow, contemplative process of puzzle solving, with room for ongoing improvement should certainly consider Campfire Cooking.

Little touches, like different dialogues from NPCs depending on who you have selected as your active character, bring the world to life and reward players who explore in depth. The amount of game here—easily six hours plus—is massive for an app that is 100% free without ads or in-app purchases, with each of those hours lovingly crafted by a team that obviously cares about all of its source material. This is a gift to fans of Stranger Things or NES/SNES-era adventures with no strings attached, except the time you’ll inevitably lose once you’re sucked into its world.

It’s fun and satisfying playing what is there, even if the players you go up against aren’t exactly that tough to contend with. But it immediately feels like a game that you’d be better off waiting for a few updates later to check out. Hopefully by then, the community will have matured and there’ll be additional maps and objective types to delve into. For now, it’s a little too half baked.

If you’ve conquered Gardenscapes and are looking for a new version of roughly the same experience, Homescapes is a must-play. But newcomers to the series should stick to Gardenscapes for now, at least until Homescapes catches up to all the updates and enhancements of the original.

Ultimately, The Witness is a solid mobile adaptation of a really enjoyable puzzle game. It’s every bit as clever and compelling as it is on PC and consoles. The main thing that sucks (see what I did there?) is how little of it you’ll be able to play without either keeping your phone plugged in or having a backup charger handy.

When NBA 2K18 is considered on the whole, it represents another significant step forward in terms of a realistic, authentic and rich basketball experience. There’s still room for improvement — the disappearing undershirts, pick your own country, and maybe even a slightly more forgiving teammate rating in rookie mode — but on the whole it’s the best NBA experience you can have for mobile.

Morphite is the type of game that I can’t help but love despite having a surprising amount of flaws. It can be frustrating from time to time – more often than I’d like, admittedly – but I’m willing to put up with it because, dang it, I can’t get enough of exploring planets, discovering useful items, and upgrading my stuff. There’s enough right here that I think it’s easy to overlook what’s wrong. If you like sci-fi exploration stuff, I think it’s definitely worth checking out.

For the most part Queen’s Tales: Sins of the Past plays things safe. The puzzles and mini-games don’t take any changes, the hidden object scenes are on the average side of ordinary, and the story progression is largely predictable. There are a few fun extras that keep you entertained along the way, including hidden chess pieces and other stashed secrets. Overall it’s an enjoyable game that will leave you with a satisfied smile on your face.

Grumpy though I may seem about it, I actually kind of love Thimbleweed Park. It’s got a couple of weak spots, sure, but I’ve got no problem parroting all of the other reviews that have called it a love letter to classic point-and-click adventure games. They were right. So if you like that kind of stuff and you haven’t tried Thimbleweed Park yet for whatever reason, now is as good a time as any to see what the fuss is about.

Outside of its quirky storyline and off-base puzzles, The Mystery of Marie Roget pretty much keeps things middle of the road. Many of the mini-games are super fast and easy to solve, barely even qualifying as “mini” by some standards. You do have some fun diversions to keep you entertained, however, such as the mirror that provides clues and the morphing item collection screen that takes the form of an aquarium. If you don’t mind a little rough voice acting and the occasional frustrating puzzle solution, Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Mystery of Marie Roget will give you a fantastic ride from beginning to end.

My NBA 2K18 is essential for serious NBA 2K18 players and something close if you enjoyed previous versions, but could be hit or miss for other basketball and sports gaming fans. If you’re looking for something light and well-made to play whenever you have time, you could do worse than this, but if you’ve tried it in the past and found it didn’t do much for you, there’s not much new so far to make you feel differently.

This isn’t a gaming experience where hand-holding would feel appropriate, but there are definitely times when a little more guidance would be nice. Once you’ve sunk some time into Iron Marines, though, you’re likely to be delighted by the way it works both your brain and your fingers simultaneously, which is what truly excellent RTS titles always manage to do. It’s not easy, but when the going gets tough, the Iron Marines get going. If that’s not a phrase that people say, consider it officially coined.

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.

Witches’ Legacy: Slumbering Darkness is built on a pretty standard hidden object frame, but it stands out thanks to excellent art design, unique puzzles, and creative mini-games. The hidden object scenes alone are worth the price of admission. If you’re in the mood for an off-beat casual adventure game, turn off the lights and let Witches’ Legacy creep you out.

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.

I’m glad my problems with Burgle Bros aren’t serious, because I really wanted it to be a fun but not overly-complicated board game heist and that’s exactly what it ended up being. If you’re into tactical board games and have a thing for heist movies, you might want to check it out.

Overall, even leaving the performance issues aside, it’s unlikely that Mini Guns will be the best mobile game you’ll ever play. It’s fun, but once you’ve collected all the minis on offer, the game loses its major hook. Still, for the first several hours or days you might just discover that you’re more of a fan of strategy games than you were before.

Small Town Terrors has a lot of classic adventure style puzzles that are straightforward but always fun to complete. If you find a bucket you know you’ll need to fill it with water. Because obviously, right? These flow well with the often abstract solutions that need a little trial and error to solve. They’re also helped along by a few small extras such as the morphing crystal ball objects hidden in every scene. While the story of Galdor’s Bluff will draw you in (everybody loves magician drama!), the off-beat puzzles and approachable mini-games will keep you coming back for more. Just remember that these are professional tricksters you’re dealing with. Nothing is ever as it seems.

Even the strong wrapper can’t overcome the lack of focus with this title. As great as the whole package sounds on the tin – shooting, strategy, historic gameplay, alternate realities – it just doesn’t pay off.

It’s an argument that could extend to many idle clickers, but usually the genre offers titles that distract you from realizing how futile things are. Merge Town! hardly does this, and it certainly doesn’t last for any great deal of time. Throw in the fact that there are just too many adverts available to you, either through your own choice or in a compulsory manner, and Merge Town! just isn’t much fun. There’s too little game in here to keep you amused for longer than a few minutes.

The entire Redemption Cemetery: Salvation of the Lost experience is understated and intriguing. The puzzles are well thought out and provide just the right amount of challenge. Mini-games and hidden object scenes are used sparsely so you always appreciate their arrival, and the game’s unique raven-element system is a nice touch. Redemption Cemetery also manages to avoid most of the cliches common in casual adventure games, freeing you up to enjoy some crazy items and even crazier puzzle solutions.

The mood of Dark Dimensions: Homecoming is slightly on the spooky side, but this is a game that doesn’t take its story genre too seriously. Expect a healthy amount of mystery and intrigue as you dig through the mansion’s otherworldly mysteries, and expect a solid grounding in character motivations and puzzle solutions, too. Homecoming is a well-balanced and entertaining game that hits all the right marks.

It’s cute and quite charming, and its controls are spot on accuracy wise, but all too swiftly it finds itself lacking that ‘wow’ factor. This is a title that’s a bit disposable.

Ultimately, Angry Birds Match is near replica of just about every other basic match-3 game, offering very little beyond a nominal collection mechanic. To successfully contribute a new entry to the overcrowded match-3 space, there must be something special about the mechanics, the characters, the environments, or the extra features. Rovio has skimped on all of that to produce a glorified rehash with some cute baby birds. However, if you’re desperate for some new match-3 action and are a fan of the Angry Birds aesthetic, then you may find something you like here.

Overall, Toon Blast is a great game, particularly for young players. The only thing holding it back? A revenue generation model that isn’t quite compatible with its core audience. It’s possible that the developers didn’t foresee that Toon Blast would be presented as a ‘kids game’, but positioned alongside the likes of Toy Blast, it’s hard to imagine that this isn’t their main demographic.

From top to bottom, Holy Potatoes! is a delightful game. It really, truly is. There are few games that can deliver as many days, weeks or even years of fun as Holy Potatoes! A Weapons Shop?!

Overall, Snipers vs Thieves might not rock your world. It will, however, provide you with a few hours of fun, particularly if you’re looking for something a little bit different to do with your friends who wouldn’t call themselves gamers.

At times, there’s the odd moment where you’ll wonder if your finger slipped too far away from the button/general area and you’ve failed at gliding, but Cat Bird! is mostly pretty well constructed. It’s completely free too, albeit backed up with many ads, unless you choose to pay up to remove them. That gives you the ideal opportunity to try out Cat Bird! and see if it’s for you.

With a steady stream of freebies via daily bonuses, and chests that can be unlocked for extra goodies, Battlejack does a good job of drip feeding content and therefore luring you in. It may never quite stick in your mind as a game to remember for years to come, but its charm and steady progress means you’ll likely return to it any time you want a win during your day. Sometimes, that’s just what you need.

It’s an unusual thing but Data Wing rarely puts a foot wrong. It’s satisfying to play through, offers an intriguing storyline that’ll leave you wondering, and it doesn’t overwhelm you with options. Throw in the fact that it’s entirely free, there’s simply no reason why you wouldn’t be downloading it right this second. It’s quite the delight.

I hate how much it feels like the dice are intended to roll against me, because otherwise Bottom of the 9th is a solid example of digital board game conversion. I want to say it’s well worth checking out if your a fan of the regular game, or even if you’ve never played it before, but it feels too much like the random number generator that is the dice rolls just isn’t up to snuff. Even then I’d probably recommend it if the frustration of near constant (and seemingly purposeful) failures didn’t undercut most of the fun.

Overall, Super Phantom Cat 2 offers a lot of free gameplay, with some complexity that elevates it from basic platformer to more robust experience. The appealing graphics and the cool soundtrack make the game feel updated while still nodding to its 80s inspirations.

Mystery Case Files: Ravenhearst Unlocked is an excellent continuation of the long-running series and proves there’s always a new mystery to uncover. The asylum slant steps out of the usual horror setting and makes you question what’s real and what’s a hallucination, even when you break out and explore the countryside. Keep your wits about you, as this is one of the creepiest MCF games to date.

In the end, there’s so obviously a better version of this game out there. Sure, it might not be on your phone, but rather than scratching your Pokemon itch, Nexomon is more than likely going to aggravate it. It walks that fine homage line very well, but sometimes it leans just a little too close to its inspiration.

While there’s little realism here other than basing the planes on the actual plane models, War Wings is a blast. It has that arcade style feeling to it while not being too cheap. You’ll still be able to achieve a fair bit in short bursts, or you can invest yourself fully into being the flying ace of the world. It’s a good mix of keeping you hooked but not requiring a significant commitment, unless you choose to.

Cat Quest combines epic world-building with endearing and self-aware humor into a package that should not be missed. Fur real.

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.

This is a charming, sometimes enchanting, way to spend some of your time. It’s not going to stick in the memory for very long, but it’s still a fresh and entertaining slice of pocket-sized gaming that’s going to paint a broad smile squarely in the mouth region of your face.

Dead Reckoning: Brassfield Manor does a lot of interesting things with the hidden object genre. There are plenty of mini-games to solve, clever puzzles to tease apart, and detective-style diversions to keep you scratching your head. It’s equal parts story and substance, and even though the game itself falls on the easy side, it’s a unique experience that will hook you from the very beginning.

Overall Beat Fever is a rare game that lives up to the hype. It’s not perfect but it’s a massive amount of fun!

Haunted Hotel: Death Sentence delivers a classically creepy experience, and it never tries to disguise that fact. There are jump scares, there are disturbing scribbles on the walls, there are shadows and red eyes watching you from every corner. And you know what? It’s fantastic. Because Haunted Hotel doesn’t pretend it’s the epitome of horror games it manages to deliver a fun and engaging experience. The fast-paced hidden object scenes and bounty of puzzle items is just icing on the cake. A dark, black, evil death cake.

It’s fun experimenting and seeing what works best in which scenario. Crucially, that same flexibility is the best way to ensure that you don’t find yourself bored by doing the same thing over and over again. It’s easy to get hooked on the same mode all the time, and find yourself a little bored, but the key really is to try a mode you’re not instantly comfortable with. Almost all of them are fun in the end. Eventually, you’ll have unlocked all the knives available to you, but it’s an enjoyable ride along the way.

There doesn’t seem to be any limit to the appetite for good live multiplayer games, and any of them that arrive with an established name figure to have a leg up on the competition. With seasons, guilds and other standard features built in, Titanfall: Assault is definitely positioned to support an enthusiastic community. Will one form? Waiting to find out is probably going to carry some of the same anticipation you get while waiting for those Titans to drop.

Neo Angle is the kind of puzzle game you’re going to want to clear an hour of your Thursday night for, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself hooked for the weekend.

At a time when it’s ever more difficult for a game to convince us to not only listen, but just keep the sound on, Miracle Merchant offers an engaging audio environment for its players. Thanks to a score and sound effects by Craig S Barnes, the game is able to offer a soundtrack that lets you think without being distracting. The sound effects themselves also seem incredibly true to the fantasy world that you’re temporarily inhabiting in the game, itself another real accomplishment. The lack of progression means things may get stale fast for some players, but if you’re the type of gamer who strives to find new strategies that let them bump their score up over time and dominate their friends on the leaderboards, Miracle Merchant is a potion that’s well worth sipping.

Egglia: Legend of the Redcap is a stellar adventure from start to open-ended finish. Its strategy RPG dice system and wide variety of equippable spirits allow for different experiences each time you explore a location. Its large cast of characters is filled with personality and humor, and each resident you recruit is lovable in their own way. The little touches sprinkled throughout highlight the sincere attention to detail put into the game by its team and the influences of the Mana series itself: the world is alive, from butterflies and birds flitting around town to Chabo’s ears twitching during conversations; the furniture residents request is actually added to their homes once delivered; the diverse cast of races and characters all have their own histories, dialects, interests. Quests do emphasize item fetching over anything else, but to the end of building relationships, your town, and the very kingdom itself. Watching your efforts turn into a living, breathing world is a fantastic experience, but the real reward is embarking on this journey with your new neighbors and friends.

Off the Record: The Art of Deception does a great job taking the gimmicks out of the hidden object genre and providing an honestly entertaining game. It comes across as a little basic, maybe even barebones, but as soon as the story tickles your intrigue you’ll be happy to keep solving puzzles until the very last mystery is resolved.

Mystery Case Files: Key to Ravenhearst keeps the series running with an all-around great hidden object experience. It’s suitably dark and dreary with just the right balance of difficulty and ease of gameplay. Come for the continuation of the Ravenhearst story, but stay to see what’s inside that enigma box.

It’s all a little too unfair, which is a shame for a game that, at heart, is pretty fun. While it was never going to rival proper golf games, Golf Clash is a great little blast for arcade sports fans until you realize how unfairly balanced it is. Then it becomes a game that’s a brief distraction, but one that you really can’t get behind. All too soon, you’re going to be vanquished by people with a lot more money than you. And that’s just no fun at all.

I wanted to have fun with Vista Golf, and even though first impressions had me a bit worried, that’s absolutely how things turned out. This is the kind of mobile golf game that I’m happy to keep on my phone as a random way to kill time — right up there with the likes of Desert Golf and Super Stickman Golf, although maybe not quite as wacky. It takes a bit to find its footing, but once it does you’re going to have a good time.

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.

Linelight is the sort of game I never get tired of stumbling upon. It’s an unexpected gem — slightly imperfect, but far too interesting and charming in its ambition for me to care. Not that it’s hurting for accolades, but if you haven’t tried Linelight, yet you definitely should.

It’s got all the trappings, but scrape them away and you’re doing the same thing you’ve done in countless other mobile RPGs. There’s more meat on these bones, for sure, but Tales of the Rays isn’t the fulfilling meal you might have hoped it was going to be.

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.

Galaxy of Pen & Paper may not fill you with exactly the same delight as Knights did when it first came out, but it’s a welcome way to extend the fun and probably the most logical direction to go after two journeys into fantasy. Space, we welcome your vastness and look forward to taking these new quests as far as they go.

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.

Full Throttle Remastered isn’t perfect – nor was the original Full Throttle – but it’s a great adventure game in its own right. If the name LucasArts fills you with nostalgic adventure gaming warm-and-fuzzies you should definitely check it out. Especially if you haven’t already.

Even if math isn’t your thing, Calculator: The Game will make you feel like a mathlete as you progress into more complicated, dynamic tests of your puzzle-solving prowess. At the very least, the game presents compelling scenarios where you must think about the relationship between the numbers in new, unique ways. The simple puzzles are validating, while the complex puzzles are satisfying, and there is a nice balance between them. Math is a functional part of coding and by extension, game design, but we rarely see it showcased as the main gameplay motivator. Calculator: The Game takes an ordinary object that’s just supposed to help us do our taxes and turns its core functionality into an engaging puzzler.

It’s amazing how much of a difference knowing how to play properly can make. After my initial attempt I was ready to write A Planet of Mine off as a frustrating mess. Now that I’ve finally gotten the hang of it (no thanks to the tutorial) I actually kind of love it. If you like your spacefaring empire expansion simulations cute and (relatively) accessible, it’s absolutely worth checking out. Maybe even a purchase.

Tap Mania has its place in that overall scheme, as it’s the one that you can take out, play for a few minutes while tapping furiously and then switch off until you check in before bed — or maybe during commercial breaks in Raw or SmackDown, which would make WWE execs smile. There’s gold in them taps, but maybe not in the long term for everyone.

I hate that I hate the puzzles in Layton’s Mystery Journey, because I like almost everything else about it. It looks great, the characters are fun, the scenarios and cases are charmingly whimsical — but the puzzles are either boring and frustrating. Maybe the series has always been like this. I’m not experienced enough to know. But after Layton’s Mystery Journey, I certainly don’t care enough to go back and find out.

It’s quite the compilation of treats for word game enthusiasts. Sidewords is a well made pairing of conundrums, albeit one that could maybe do with a hints system for the wimpier player. Free of any pesky in-app purchases, it’s a rich, premium experience. The kind that’ll stick around on your iPhone for a while to come.

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.

Simply put, the original Motorsport Manager was great and somehow this just made everything even better. It’s an essential purchase.

Overall, Street Fighter IV Champion Edition is definitely a contender when it comes to great games, but it isn’t exactly a champion. If it sorts out the multiplayer issue it’ll likely earn a place on many a homescreen. Until then, it’s a beautiful but sometimes lonely journey into your own nostalgia.

Completing a level is remarkably satisfying, particularly for the type of person who needs to hear the hook of a song all the way through before they turn off their radio. Anyone who can appreciate the process of creating music, especially the complexity of layered loops found in electronic music, will enjoy Resynth. Puzzle lovers in general can also indulge in a fresh perspective on problem solving that offers some hearty challenges. Ultimately, this conceptual representation of synesthesia makes for an artful gameplay experience.

Ultimately, it’s a weird mishmash of different elements. The base building stuff is all a little too lacklustre and like something you’ve played before. Recruiting new crew members is briefly fun, but you’ll never feel like you get to know them. Similarly, your decision making might feel initially satisfying, but you’ll soon realize that you don’t get to affect as much as you want. All put together, and Valerian: City of Alpha doesn’t quite work. Its main saving grace is that at least it’s not an overly safe film-tie in.

Inevitably, there’s a pay to win style system in place. If you throw money at the problem, you can unlock things faster and progress at a steadier rate. It’s tempting to do, but SIEGE: Titan Wars just about throws enough freebies at you to make it possible to resist. There’s also the issue that you’re going to end up fading away from SIEGE: Titan Wars. After all, it’s a mixture of things you’ve seen before. Without the touch of class and precision that something like Clash Royale offers, it doesn’t quite have the staying power. For a little while though, it’s quite appealing.

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.

Overall Mini DAYZ is a thoroughly solid survival experience, although it doesn’t necessarily wow. It likely won’t make many game of the year lists, but for those who like to test themselves against zombie hordes you’ll likely have a good time.

When the worst that can be said about the game is that the hint screens look a little weird, it’s safe to say that Grand Prix Story 2 is well worth your time and energy.

If you’re wondering just what redeeming features Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire may have, it’s mostly down to the visuals. There’s an occasional glimpse of something that does feel quite Final Fantasy-ish. Even if it’s just an animated chocobo. That makes it a teensy bit better than most other games of this ilk, but it’s a really small amount. You know when you’re trying to convince your non-mobile games playing friends that there are some good freemium games out there? This is the kind of thing they’ll throw in your face to counteract your argument. They almost have a point.