There’s barely anything we can say against Tetris Effect: Connected. It’s a fantastically fresh take on a puzzler that refuses to age. This Switch iteration is the definitive way to play the game thanks to the handheld element too.

It’s all fairly lightweight stuff, but that’s what works so well for Flipping Legend. It’s ideal for frantic but brief gaming sessions, and is sure to stick around on your phone for a while to come.

The remaster basically makes everything better – particularly the visuals, which have been lovingly brought up to modern standards. While the gameplay didn’t really need such sweeping changes, the dual-stick controls are an incredibly welcome addition. It’s just a shame that a few other modern touches couldn’t have made it into the final experience, including auto-saves, fast travel, and a more useful map.

Go buy this game.

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.

It’s The Binding of Isaac on your phone. That’s awesome. If you’ve had your fill with any of the other versions on almost every other video game platform imaginable, then you probably don’t need to check this one out — but otherwise, it’s definitely a good time.

Atmosphere plays a huge role in Spider, and the beautifully hand drawn artwork pairs nicely with the hip soundtrack to evoke and intensify the sense of mystery that's so crucial to the game. Tiger Style's innovative iPhone debut is easily worth putting at the top your must-have game app list, and at $2.99, you simply can't go wrong.

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

It’s difficult, but never frustrating.

Twilight Struggle is both a less demanding entry into the game for first time players and a perfect way for more seasoned gamers to take their addiction with them on the go. It won’t be for everyone, but the people who like it will absolutely love it.

Punch Quest is what an endless runner would look like if you threw it into a time machine, spat it out in the early 1990s, and put it on an SNES cartridge. This goes well beyond the (masterful) 16-bit graphics to the ethos of the game itself.

Sure some elements, like the happy-go-lucky soundtrack that sounds like C&C Music Factory for Kids, feel a little dated – but Sonic CD delivers everywhere that it counts. If you're a fan of the Hedgehog from way back, but have had your heart broken by other mobile ports, fret not – Sonic CD is the game you've been waiting for.

It has simple mechanics, quick bursts of gameplay, and each enemy warrants a different strategy to handle. It’s just going to ultimately come down to whether you like 2D brawlers or not — and if you do, The Executive is a very easy recommendation.

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

Implosion might just be the best action game that fans of the hack-and-slash genre can find on modern mobile devices.

Full of variety, truly innovative, and uncompromisingly willing to mix things up, The World Ends With You: Solo Remix is a game every iOS RPG fan should have, and one every fan of the series should have all over again.

Overall, I really do love Super Mario Bros Wonder. It brings in classic elements of past games but sprinkles in a ton of new features to create something new. I love the variety of characters you can play as, and the variety of new items and power-ups. I’m a big fan of the badges and think they are really useful! Some levels and boss fights are easy compared to past games. I think they could have squeezed in a few more levels in each world too. It is a magical and vibrant experience for all ages! Not to mention, it has a super catchy soundtrack (Piranha Plants On Parade is a true masterpiece)

Feeling like a premium experience at a free-to-play price, Rogue Wizards is an excellent conversion of a PC based roguelike. Ideal for dipping into, it’ll scratch that itch on the commute while also fulfilling your needs when you want a longer session in the evening.

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.

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.

It’s hard to really express through words or through visuals what Papa Sangre II does with the manipulation of sound, but believe me when I say that it is unbelievably unique, and just all sorts of incredible.

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

No two trees will grow exactly the same, and in this they become less like a program we’re operating and more like a pet we’re caring for. You try your best to help it thrive, to protect it from danger, to see it grow up strong. When it falters, you feel more guilt than frustration. When it succeeds, your pride is not as a player, but as a guardian.

This oddball mix of roguelike and rhythm game is a ton of fun. It’s definitely earned all the praise, and it feels right at home on a touch screen.

Again, Device 6’s unorthodox presentation may be off-putting at first, but stick with it, especially if you’re a fan of Year Walk. It’s a perfect accompaniment to the current Halloween atmosphere, though like any good mystery, it keeps well at any time of the year.

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.

Warbits is one heck of a strategy game, though it has a couple of issues.

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.

Despite its sometimes-slow battles (which honestly do speed up a bit once you gain a few levels and learn how to use your skills efficiently), Attack the Light is a solid, budget-priced RPG that gets by on its own merits regardless of how much you know about Steven Universe.

If it wasn't for the lack of local multiplayer, Ticket to Ride would easily take the crown of best iOS board game from Carcassonne. Without it though, Ticket to Ride drops from brilliantly perfect to only damned-near brilliantly perfect.

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

King Rabbit is very much like Furdemption, which should immediately tell you whether or not you’ll find it a worthy play. If you liked Furdemption, King Rabbit is a must-play.

Oh Death Road to Canada, how I’ve waited for this moment. How I’ve longed for getting digital facsimiles of myself and my friends killed as I clumsily try to make my way through your particular brand of zombie apocalypse. So you have a few flaws. I have several myself. What truly matters is that we can finally be together — and I can’t ever imagine a day where that won’t be the case again.

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.

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.

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.

Final Fantasy VI on mobile is a lackluster port of a great game – but thankfully, not even a "blah" remake can bring down this classic.

A fantastic game for the iOS platform. It is refreshingly different than most of the other puzzle titles currently on the market, and challenging at that. Moreover, with 80 or so levels, there is plenty of longevity to be had. Visually pleasing, and gratifying in almost every way, Dekovir's crystal-destroying app is one that comes highly recommended.

Taken together, though, the two Spider games create an amazing gaming event that’s not to be missed. The disturbing narrative that spans both titles is best experienced via playing through each, the two threads of a dark and consuming web.

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.

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.

Just like the original, Badland 2 is an easy recommendation. It’s stylish, sleek, challenging, and most importantly: it’s fun.

Feeling suitably like a proper premium release, Kalimba is a delight through and through — and that’s just on the iPhone. On the iPad, you have the benefit of same device co-op which makes it all the more satisfying, while also potentially testing a few friendships too. Stick with those occasionally infuriating moments though, and you’ll be richly rewarded by an incredibly charming crossover of quick reflexes and lateral thinking.

It is a grand feat of compelling interactive storytelling that will keep you thinking long after all the clips have been uncovered and watched.

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.

The Room Three is exactly what fans have been hoping for, and more.

Bug Heroes 2 succeeds at practically everything it sets out to do. Its graphics are great (check out the detail on the bumble bee soldier's fuzzy coat), the fighters' bug-like voices are adorable, if a little hard to understand, and there's enough content to keep you busy for a while.

Lords of Waterdeep remains a stellar translation of beginners’ board game mechanics with hardcore appeal.

It’s just in a completely different class than anything else out there.

It must be said that there’s some loss of nostalgia in Sorcery! 3, however. It’s an amazing game that you absolutely must play, but it’s much less of a gamebook than similar apps are.

A game that keeps throwing surprises and different puzzles at you, Animal Well is arguably one of the very best indie releases from 2024.

Ant Raid is a fun, quirky and beautiful title well worth owning. If you've got an iPad, the HD graphics are really a treat.

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.

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

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.

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

Dragon Quest V has everything a decent RPG ought to be made of, and more.

Make no mistake, VOEZ is a rhythm game that’s well worth playing. It’s clever, fun, challenging (even if it can be a bit too challenging at times), and is oddly pretty in its simplicity – and what little illustration artwork there is looks great.

Steamworld Heist is great. From the world to the characters to the style to the gameplay, it’s a lot of fun and pretty much a no-brainer if you like turn-based tactics. Or robots. Or Firefly. Really, the only reason I’d suggest giving it a pass is if you already own it for another platform.

One especially great part of RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic is how it can introduce younger gamers to the series, and indeed, both my kids were clamoring for some time with it over their holiday break. Think of it as something of a combination love letter to the originals and apology note for the series’ previous foray into mobile, one that proves successful on both fronts.

To make a musical analogy, your run of the mill first person shooter game is like a stupid radio pop song, and King of Dragon Pass is Miles Davis playing live jazz in some hole in the wall Paris club. Sure it's easier to enjoy the stupid radio pop song, but the people that take the time to appreciate the jazz come away with a richer experience.

Halfbrick is one of only a handful of developers that seem to impress with every release on the App Store, and Jetpack Joyride is no exception. Is it yet another endless survival game on the App Store? Sure. But it's one that's brimming with personality, challenge, and a machine gun that you wear on your back to fly. If that doesn't say second amendment, I don't know what does.

Mikey Boots is a nice reminder of a time when mobile games weren’t aiming to compete toe-to-toe with consoles and PC. When you consider the series is only a few years old, that’s kind of mind-blowing.

Even though the market is full of physics puzzlers at the moment, iBlast Moki 2 manages to stand head-and-shoulders above its competition. It's incredibly clever and fun, and its stunning production values only add to the overall experience.

It's really hard to convey just how strange and wonderful a game Pizza vs. Skeletons truly is.

Just be warned when you go in that Yankai’s Peak is the sort of peak that will happily throw you off its summit, and you’ll be better placed to enjoy everything that this slightly mind-bending literal shape-shifter has to offer.

Perhaps it’s slightly overpriced for what is ultimately a 5-6 hour experience, but this is still a very unique release and one worth supporting for anyone with even the slightest interest in gaming history.

If you're into extreme sports, or extreme versions of extreme sports (it almost seems to B.A.S.E. jumping what Mirror's Edge is to parkour), then you should have plenty of fun playing this game. It's fun, plays well, and has quite a few (read: 47) levels to play through as you try to get the best score you can, and then beat that.

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.

Bug Heroes should be commended for its expert juggling act. In keeping intense action, strategy and RPG elements in the air simultaneously, developer Foursaken Media must have six arms of its own.

But all combined, YMBAB is the definitive way to play EightyEight Games’ unique puzzle-RPG-runner, and a notable advancement from the already great 10000000.

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

Coin Drop may seem pretty simple at first, but it's a blast and will keep most players entertained for quite some time.

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.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration serves to teach – and remind – us of a time in gaming that was very different to the one we live in now. One that was perhaps a little more exciting and imaginative. If you go in with an open and inquisitive mind there’s almost endless entertainment to be found here. Trust us.

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's the kind of game that doesn't punish you for failing, and leaves you with a great feeling of accomplishment when beating levels, especially the harder ones. A fun treat.

Kingdom Rush deserves a lot of goodwill, simply because it's able to make tower defense gameplay feel fresh and fun. In addition to the deep, challenging gameplay, the game's production values are simply outstanding. This is easily one of the best tower defense games currently in the App Store.

I was amazed at how quickly I was sucked into the Shadow Era world.

The Journey Down: Chapter Two is hard to put down, and is absolutely worth your time, regardless of if you play point-and-click adventures, though definitely check out chapter one first if possible.

A high-quality title. If you're a huge Sega fan, it's a fun trip down memory lane through games you thought Sega forgot like Jet Grind Radio, Crazy Taxi and Space Channel 5. If that last sentence makes no sense to you, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing is a good but flawed racing experience.

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

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.

Monument Valley is a technical and aesthetic accomplishment that rewards players with beauty, originality, and grace at every turn of its ten stages.

An absolutely adorable, albeit frustrating physics-based game for the mobile platform.

Spin Up takes that standard formula and adds in a unique take and control scheme, making the entire concept feel totally fresh once again.

Letterpress manages to make a new and addicting game with elements of some familiar titles. Its extremely stripped-down look puts focus on the game, and there's a whole lot to love there. Prepare yourself before diving into this title, because you're probably not going to put it down after picking it up.

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

If DrawRace was a prototype, DrawRace 2 is the finished product. Fans of the original will be tickled pink by what the sequel as to offer, and if you haven't played the first, chances are you'll be just as excited to dive in.

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

When you do eventually reach its conclusion, you’re going to feel a little bittersweet about the whole thing. Fortunately, Sorcery! 4 offers more than enough different paths to pursue, giving you plenty of reason to start over again. There’s also that delightful sense of satisfaction in knowing that you’ve played through one of the finest narrative experiences of gaming in recent years. And I don’t just mean mobile gaming, either.

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.

Elf Defense is a really great game. Between the addictive gameplay, the stunning visuals, and the clever (but not necessary) in-app purchase system, developer Jellyoasis has managed to really knock this out of the park.

All told, Capitals’ simple-looking graphics hide one of the most complex and engaging word games on the digital marketplace. As soon as you’re sucked in, you’ll learn to love to hate hexagons.

Sure I’ve got some minor quibbles about Miles & Kilo, but the game as a whole is plenty enjoyable. The slight but appreciated variety it offers is nice, it doesn’t treat players like infants, and it manages to be tough without resorting to frustrating punishment. All in all, it’s not a bad place to get marooned on.

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.

Hands down, Magicka: Wizards of the Square Tablet is one of the best action-adventure games I’ve ever played on my iPad. The game just has everything you could ever want in a mobile sidescrolling game: beautiful visuals, great gameplay, and tons of diverse environments and enemies that never seem to get old.

An absolute must play-it's just that there's more we'd love to see them do with it.