A true work of art, in so many ways. It's smart. It's challenging. It's gorgeous. But most importantly, it's fun - dizzying, dreamy, and delightful fun.

By combining the breakneck endless pace of games like Temple Run with Sonic’s old school sense of speed, Sonic Dash manages to champion two things quite well; taking an existing formula and bettering it, and developing a Sonic game that’s finally worthy of the hedgehog’s good name.

From the first breezy stage to the last blisteringly difficult one, Bean Dreams is replete with sprites and sounds that twinkle and bloop in just the right way.

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.

This is gaming stripped down to its bare bones. Woah Dave! is the grunge rock of video games, and I’m loving every minute of it.

In conclusion, Vampire Survivors is a gem. It’s a wonderful example of a successful indie game that has a simple concept but executes it perfectly. The catchy tunes in the background and the retro pixelated art combine to create an entertainingly addictive experience, and it’s even well priced – including all the DLC in the core price.

If you have fond memories of Tetris, or just like puzzle games and own an iPhone, you should pick up Mosaique. You might even be compelled to complete your seven rounds every day to unlock “hidden bonuses.” Here’s to more addition by subtraction.

So all things considering, Galactic Skater is a fantastic addition to the endless runner genre at large, and with its swift and simple controls, its rewarding sense of progression, and the sheer amount of variety in its addictive skating gameplay, I think it’s safe to say that this one is truly out of this world.

There’s an elegance to Knotwords that puts it in the hallowed company of the likes of Wordle. In fact, if anything, it’s a far deeper experience than that most recent of word-based phenomena. Those little moments of success, that affirm that your brain can still figure things out, make this the sort of game that’s going to stick around on your phone for a good long while. And you’re going to enjoy every challenge it throws at you.

For three dollars (or five in HD)? This is a game for everyone.

This game could sell for $35 on the 3DS and it wouldn't be out of place next to the other pieces of software available for the system.

But whatever you attribute it to, Blockwick 2 is sure to go further than challenge your mind, making you feel at the best of times like it’s expanding it completely.

Simple though it is, SPL-T proves we can count on Simogo to give us its very best regardless of whether its games are interactive puzzle-novels, or white lines on a black screen.

Buddha Finger is incredibly addictive and fun, and even though it's a humble iOS game, it's probably one of my personal favourites of the year.

We love the entirety of Star Billions, including the moments with NULL and without. The story is a true space opera with high stakes, surprising twists, deadly confrontations, and galaxy-wide impact. The series keeps up its thrilling and engrossing pace from the first moment to the last, changing up the format just enough in Season Three to keep things fresh without feeling forced. All of the characters—even the “bad guys”—are endearing, their interactions with each other entertaining, and their growth throughout the series engaging. Even the occasional moments of feeling like a decision didn’t matter are understandable due to their use in pursuit of the larger, save-humanity story that is being told.

If you’re looking for an addictive, challenging, creative game that’s perfectly suited for mobile play (and why wouldn’t you be?), then Zoombies: Animals de la Muerte is the zoo for you. The game doesn’t overstay its welcome, and intelligent design decisions ensure that failure prompts you to retry the level rather than delete the app. Unlike first-person shooters with virtual sticks, this is a game that belongs on the iPhone, and belongs on yours.

One of those rare gems that manages to get everything right. It's clever and goofy and charming. On top of that, the game is surprisingly addictive. Anyone who enjoys physics puzzle titles would be out of their mind to miss picking this up.

To me, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is the perfect game to snuggle up with. Even if you play for just an hour, there’s so much to do, and it’s all so relaxing. With an abundance of side quests and main quests, you’ve always got something to do.

With more than 100 characters from nine different properties in the game at launch and a seemingly endless array of possibilities for what could be added in future updates, it’s hard to fathom that Disney Crossy Road could be anything but a smashing success.

It takes the best aspects of addictive bubble popper gameplay that we've seen over the last year, and matches them with exemplary social options and decent premium pricing. If you're looking for a new spin on an old classic, don't feel shy about falling in love with this one. I know I have.

Quite possibly the best game on the App Store. Its twenty dollar price tag may seem a bit high, but the amount of detail and polish makes it easily worth the price.

A wonderful time sink that hasn't forgotten the principles of giving back to its players. This is a title pared down to precious few actions, but designed so well that nothing ever gets stale. A glowing, beeping slice of pure, simple fun.

I suppose what I like most about Asphalt 7 is the fact that it doesn't go out of its way to grab your money beyond the 0.99 cent pricetag.

Lumines Puzzle & Music isn’t your typical mobile puzzle game. You’re going to need a pair of headphones, a lot of time, and a willingness to get lost in trance. If you’re comfortable with that proposition — and if you’ve ever played a Lumines in the past, you know you are — Lumines Puzzle & Music is everything you’re hoping for.

An adventure lined with missing left shoes, wrestling addicts, bi-dimensionsal spirits, an occasional Archer quote, and cheese-infused fart-monsters.

Go buy this game.

The music takes what it already a really good game and helps make it great.

And if it weren't enough that their game was spectacular, One Man Left have gone and proven to be some of the most classy designers out there, integrating a seamless chat system and game center friend request button alongside easy-to-navigate menus.

The decision by the team behind Battle of the Bulge to start with board game mechanics but implement them specifically for the platform has paid off handsomely. The result is an outstanding title that makes full use of its digital capabilities to smooth over complexity, deliver top-notch multimedia presentation and make an approachable-yet-compelling strategy game.

Witch Wars is one of those rare gems that manages to get everything right. It offers up a fresh, competitive take on a well-worn genre, while reimaining fast-paced, addictive, and perfect for quick bursts of on-the-go gaming.

Overall, it’s a huge thumbs up from us for Call of Duty Mobile. This release very much blurs the lines between console and mobile, feeling every bit the huge profile console release on our phones. The fact you get so much for free is astonishing, and Tencent and Activision wisely stayed clear of pay to win – even if the freemium monetisation will remain off-putting to some.

Ultimately, it’s a game best experienced for yourself, and we recommend it to literally every single person who owns an iOS device. Sky is a breathtaking, heartwarming, and incredibly rewarding experience.

If you played the first part of Steve Jackson's Sorcery! then you already know what's in store, and if you haven't, you should! Then play this one, too – and don't forget to post those kudos when you're done.

This is not only one of the more charming games in recent memory; it’s one of the most impressive examples of gaming period, regardless of genre.

One of those mobile games that are so simple they just work. The swiping/tapping mechanism will be familiar to everyone, even kids, and the bright colors and easy-to-see stars make it a very accessible game. Star Thief also has a lot of replay value, a good variety of environments, and straightforward gameplay that doesn't punish you if you're not an iOS virtuoso. Extraordinarily enjoyable on every level!

I absolutely adore the art in this game. The character models are gorgeous, the art pieces during romantic scenes are beautiful and cosy, and the UI has a charm to it.

Stellar Wars looks and plays like a greatly improved version of Legendary Wars, the development team's previous release, with a lot of new units and upgrades to toy around with.

Mini Metro is an absolutely fantastic puzzle game that ticks all of my boxes – including some boxes I didn’t even know I had. I love the style, I love the simplicity, I love the complexity, I love the concept, and I love the execution. And I hope that you’ll give it a try and love it, too.

Everything about Fearful Tales: Hansel and Gretel is just fantastic.

We literally haven’t got a bad word to say about Bad North. It’s a delightfully well-paced strategy roguelike that’s as fresh on your first run as it is on your 10th, with new features, enemies, skills, and troops drip-fed to you as you play. You’ll constantly be developing new strategies and trying to make the most of your limited number of troops. We have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending it to everyone. That premium price point won’t look so high when you’re on your 10th run.

On multiple occasions I've paid three or four times as much for games that have far less to offer and aren't nearly as fun as Reckless Racing 2. It bears repeating that this game can stand proudly side-by-side with almost any arcade racer on any other platform.

Downwell is easily one of the best action games to hit mobile this year. It’s intense, it’s unique, and every game you play goes towards unlocking something new.

In fact, in all regards Scribblenauts feels wonderfully natural on the iPhone. Not only does Remix make appropriate use of the keyboard, but they've made controlling Maxwell feel less clunky, cut out the weaker puzzles, and delivered it all at an iOS gamer friendly price.

It’s a tasty puzzle experience that offers more of what Cut the Rope fans love, plus it has a few magic tricks up its sleeve.

All told, if this game isn't on your phone, you're doing yourself a huge disservice.

Paper Monsters is one of those rare games that come along once in a blue moon. It's more fun than a night out with friends, and as flawless as diamonds. For lack of a better word, it's perfect. Everyone should play this.

Cavern of Dreams is effortlessly nostalgic, whimsical and charming. I’ve been so eager to get my thoughts out on this title since it is wholeheartedly my current favourite game I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing. Before I’m Fynnished (ha!), Cavern of Dreams really is a title kids and adults can easily enjoy.

The zaniness of the sound effects and the aesthetics combined are off-kilter in the most pleasant way, and there's plenty for you to do, even if you exhausted the first couple of games. Weird sound bites, Duck Hunt cameos, and more make Mr. Runner 2: The Masks a worthy contender for your next App purchase, especially at its 99-cent price tag.

The genius of Ridiculous Fishing comes from the fact that it’s actually three tightly woven mini games in one, which tie together in one of the most magnetic compulsion loops you’ll find.

There are probably plenty of people who will skip over this game simply because of its name. After all, it's hard to imagine a title that sounds like more of a generic cash-in than Margaritaville Online. But those people will be missing out. With so much to do and see, Margaritaville Online is easily one of the biggest and most enjoyable games on Facebook.

Polished, deep, and a complete joy. I could go on for hours about how much I've enjoyed Dungeon Raid, but your time is much better spent actually playing the game.

The core experience of Land Sliders—flawless controls, entertaining characters, interesting levels, and a variety of viable strategies—is already a fantastic game that we would highly recommend. But Prettygreat has gone even further above and beyond by including a number of secrets and mysteries to uncover that transform Land Sliders from a high score chase into a true adventure.

Squids is a rarer find than an all-natural Tahitian pearl. From the gameplay to the graphics to the sound, everything here is pitch-perfect. More importantly, it's impossible to come away from the game without wearing a damn idiot grin on your face. It's great.

If you don’t mind a virtual joystick, getting a complete console game for use on your phone for $5 is a sweet deal. The levels certainly aren’t meant for mobile play, but it’s not the kind of game that causes you to frequently lose your place either.

Any gamer who enjoys platformers should not miss this one. Anyone who appreciates a good story should play as well. Despite the few nicks in Nihilumbra's armor, I'm happy to give it five stars. It is an earnest experience. It might not be perfect, but it's a fine example of artists using a medium to tell a story. And it's tons of fun too.

Taking over the world is a lofty goal, be it for a player or a developer. But as far as unique mash-ups go, Tiny Token Empires might just be the best we've seen yet. Demanding a good deal of strategy on multiple fronts, gamers with a thirst for global conquest and a taste for fantastic gameplay owe it to themselves to pick this one up.

Traps n’ Gemstones is more than just another great release from Donut Games — it’s essential gaming for fans of classic back-tracking platformers. I

Ultimately, that's the stock and trade of Duckers: plenty of charm. Retro Dreamer has traded highly nostalgic visual design in for squeal-worthy adorableness, and jumped on the freemium bandwagon, but like the era to which they pay homage, some things always stay the same: great gameplay drives this studio, and this title is no exception.

The gusto with which it sets out to send no message, but rather play the part of a perfect, tactile distraction, might be a message in of itself.

One could say that not playing it would be criminal. And should you be accused of such a felony, I can only hope a lawyer as corrupt as Max McMann is serving as prosecutor.

Arguably the best version of the game to date. With subtle enhancements of the hugely overhauled DS version, Square Enix has provided fans a reason to own the game on yet another system, and newcomers a chance to experience one of the series' greatest entries in peak form.

If you like sokoban, puzzle games, or cute things in general. A Good Snowman is Hard to Build will definitely be worth your time.

Rules! is that sort of lightning in a bottle that only comes along every so often. I’d rank it right up there with Threes!, and not just because both games so gleefully abuse exclamation points.

Quell Memento is an easy recommendation, if not a must play, for fans of puzzles, indie-style games, art games, people who want their games to take story more seriously, and anyone with an iDevice in need of a new relaxing distraction. Quell Memento is ideally suited for mobile play, and exactly what I want from a mobile title, and games in general.

It's difficult to come up with any real flaws in Where's My Mickey?, as it feels like the best iteration to date.

Each individual piece of this skiing adventure is brilliant, but it’s the combination of everything that makes it a must play. We can’t give Grand Mountain Adventure anything but a perfect score because everything it does it does well, and there’s a ton of content on offer for those that pay the inexpensive IAP to unlock it all. The developers have only got themselves to beat if they choose to work on a sequel.

Simply put, Batman: Arkham Origins is the definitive example of a console tie-in game done right, with a shining presentation, rewarding touchscreen controls and combat, a refreshing amount of variety, and a free-to-play model that accentuates the overall experience, rather than takes away from it.

In every way possible, Tiny Thief manages to raise the bar between what can be accomplished on the mobile platform today in 2013, as it settles right into its impeccable balance between fun, original gameplay, and the bright accessibility of games like Angry Birds.

What Alto’s Adventure is pales in noteworthiness to what it does: imbue you with a sense a longing for a perfect digital dreamscape.

The Major impresses where it counts: gameplay and innovation.

Every aspect of the game feels minutely considered, like the fact that the skulls of victims you’ve killed remain in the level and will be kicked around as you pass by or the way still-alive characters shake and glance around nervously once they’re aware of your presence. The inclusion of hints, full solutions, and level skips; tons of achievements and leaderboards; and optional gore sliders to reduce the blood and carnage indicate Blue Wizard was truly thinking of all their players when they created this game. It worked: this Valentine’s Day, we’ve given our heart to Slayaway Camp.

It’s the kind of game you’ll sit down to play one session of, and the next thing you know you’ve killed the battery on your phone.

In the end, Rayman Fiesta Run is a platforming game that’s all about food, and not only is that food incredibly delicious and 5-star restaurant superb, but we’re all going to be gorging ourselves on it for quite some time until we’re no slimmer than our old pal Globox.

I don't want to sound too overdramatic, but if I were looking to sum up Horn in two words, it would probably sound something like 'mobile masterpiece.'

While the game feels devilishly difficult to the point of nigh-impossibility at times, eeking out your wins always manages to prove a method to Bad Hotel's madness. And despite the occasional crash here and there, Lucky Frame have delivered on too cool a concept for that to matter.

Mikey Jumps is a great mobile action game, whether you’ve never heard of Mikey before or if you’re a long-time fan. The game controls as well as you could want, the levels are designed to be the good kind of a pain in the butt, there’s lots to unlock. It’s just straight-up fun.

In every way imaginable, Bardbarian steps up as the perfect mobile experience, and it has everything you could ever want in a video game, for that matter: a fun-loving presentation, a seamless blend of different gameplay types, and an addictive balance of challenge and progression that will always keep you coming back for more.

If you love your games fast, ferocious and filled with bloody feasting then Hungry Shark World should be your next download. A lot will look familiar to Hungry Shark fans, but the new features will make your journey from pup to greatness worth every bite.

Dracula 4: The Shadow of the Dragon isn't a fast-paced action-oriented game, but it's filled with enough mystery and intrigue to rivet you to the screen from the beginning.

It is with no hesitation that I say Rayman Jungle Run is a must-own title for every iOS user. Its bite-sized structure fits perfectly on iOS, and Ubisoft has done a fantastic job crafting a complex experience that works perfectly with a touch screen interface.

It’s precisely this fascination with mirroring form and function that makes The Sailor’s Dream so uninteresting to rate. To rank neatly among a pantheon of other toys assigned numbers. If there was every any question of it before, let there be none now: Simogo is doing the most significant, impactful work in mobile today.

Although the first step in Oceanhorn is steeped in Zelda nostalgia, every step after leads farther into a world that stands on its own two feet.

At face value, Date Everything may seem like a silly little dating game. The hilarity of the memes and social media posts regarding the game is certainly attention-grabbing, but they don’t touch on the intricacies of the title. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that it’s so much more than that. Characters interact with each other, and some even have a bit of history. Harper and Dirk, I’m looking at you. It creates a world that feels real, as they speak of other objects, immersing you in a sort of hub world within the walls of the house. You forget the fact that you don’t touch grass, and instead, you spend all day, every day socialising with your furniture. Okay, it sounds weird when you put it like that, but despite the game taking place in one major location, it doesn’t feel limited in the slightest.

FreePlay takes everything that's great about The Sims 3 and twists it into a new freemium shape, without relying on the changes to the formula that took place in the series earlier freemium iteration. Kudos to EA. This is one of the best games of its kind.

Super Awesome Quest is a great little dungeon crawler-like that borrows mechanics from Minesweeper to deliver a fun, awesome experience.

Big Fish Games has long been known as a publisher of the highest-quality games, and Cascade is the latest feather in the company’s cap.

Overall, lovers of board games in general will likely adore this mobile version, as it feels like an analogous experience. Folks who like beautiful environments and a sense of journey will love the game’s graphics and charming interactions. And those who like developing competitive strategies with priority-based decision making and resource management will enjoy how many options they have to maximize their stops to ultimately claim victory. For travelers of all kinds, Tokaido is undoubtedly a journey worth taking.

Tales from the Borderlands is everything fans could possibly want out from a Telltale game set in the Borderlands universe.

Definitely one of the best games on iOS. You should expect everyone to be talking about this game soon enough – this one is as platform defining as games get on the App Store.

KeroBlaster's compelling retro-style graphics, sharp controls, intense shooting action, and charming character designs make it one of the best action games on mobile.

Drive on Moscow is a triumph, a game as sweeping as the campaign it seeks to simulate. Shenandoah continue to single-handedly redefine the strategy genre on iOS, and you should get on board: the entry price looks steep but it’s worth every penny.

You owe it to yourself to explore Mayday! more than once, hearing everything it has to offer.

The simple mechanics, deep strategy, and stacks of charm are balanced so perfectly together that it’s impossible to imagine a single change that could really improve upon what Sirvo has created.

Not only is it addictive and fun, but it's loaded with some of the best graphics and sound you'll find on iOS devices. This is one of those games that's just impossible to put down, and it's even harder to find any fault with it.

Celestia: Chain of Fate completely took my breath away, and it truly felt like I was in a fairy tale. The art and music are beautiful, and I loved that even the people you only meet a few times have additional stories and extras dedicated to them. I’ve already romanced Luke… so I think I’ll go for Ash next!

Bubble Mania is an app that I want to keep on my phone and my iPad. When you play video games for a living and flit between games as frequently as other people move from meal to meal, that's saying a lot.

Everything about this game is precise while still maintaining a unique sense of surprise. If you’re looking for the perfect slice, Super Sharp will surely satisfy you.

Heroki isn’t just one of the best 2D platformers on mobile — it’s one of the best games on mobile, period. Do yourself a favor and play this thing immediately.