Freak Tower is an interesting take on an iOS classic that adds just enough of its own flare to make things interesting. The only problem is that the pacing drags a good deal of the fun out of it when attempting to play for longer than a minute or two at a time. So long as it’s played in small bursts, though, it’s actually quite enjoyable.

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

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

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

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

There’s no reason to not try Champs: Battlegrounds, as most players will find enjoyment, but how long that joy lasts is the biggest question.

While other mobile FPS games might still be drowning in a sea of shoddy touchscreen controls, The Drowning offers just enough moments of ingenuity and potential insights to these traditional issues that gamers will always be able to keep coming up for refreshing breaths of air.

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

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

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

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

Taken as a whole, My Muppets Show is charming and addictive. Not even Statler and Waldorf will find much to tear apart here—though they’ll certainly try.

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

Dragons of Atlantis for mobile thus marks an improvement over the first incarnation of the game, but it doesn't necessarily mark an improvement on the conventions of the city building/strategy genre as a whole.

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

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

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

Despite this, An Alien with a Magnet is still enjoyable and provides a nice level of challenge across its story and bonus modes, though one might not be inclined to marathon it. But in shorter spurts, or if you manage to get on a roll, it satisfies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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