MacLife's Scores

  • Games
Select another publication »
For 282 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 40% higher than the average critic
  • 8% same as the average critic
  • 52% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 5.1 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 70
Highest review score: 100 Ridiculous Fishing - A Tale of Redemption
Lowest review score: 20 Final Fantasy: All the Bravest
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 125 out of 282
  2. Mixed: 123 out of 282
  3. Negative: 34 out of 282
282 game reviews
view
per page
    • 93 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Skulls of the Shogun
    Players looking for the chance to devise a plan and execute it perfectly may bristle at Skulls of the Shogun’s reliance on slow-moving chaos, but open-minded tacticians will find a sense of levity, flexibility, and improvisation not found in most turn-based strategy games.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Threes!
    Threes!' engaging mechanics add up to iOS puzzle perfection.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Papa Sangre II
    Papa Sangre II’s audio-only horror adventure offers an intense and unsettling improvement on its stellar predecessor, but its uncompromising latter stages may prove too much to bear.
    • 92 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    DEVICE 6
    Simogo’s keen eye for design and multimedia elevate what otherwise could have been a breezy mystery novella into one of the best puzzle games on the App Store.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Asphalt 8: Airborne
    Fast, slick, and startlingly affordable, Asphalt 8: Airborne redefines iOS arcade racing.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Ridiculous Fishing - A Tale of Redemption
    Ridiculous Fishing is absurdly fun and seriously memorable.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Final Fantasy VI
    Despite the strangeness of some of its surface-level changes, Final Fantasy VI has aged surprisingly well, and holds up beautifully on iOS.
    • 91 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    XCOM: Enemy Unknown
    Casual fans might balk at the huge download or $20 price tag, but for serious gamers and strategy fans, the lure of a near-perfect portable XCOM may be irresistible.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Bug Heroes 2
    Bug Heroes 2 builds on the fine foundation of its predecessor to assemble a strong and varied MOBA-style game, which only stumbles on a few minor points.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    LIMBO Game
    As mesmerizing on iOS as anywhere else, Limbo is a concise and fascinating puzzle platform adventure that really sticks with you.
    • 89 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Monument Valley
    Monument Valley’s dazzling aesthetics and deceptive terrain combine wonderfully to form a rich, memorable experience.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Magicka: Wizards of the Square Tablet
    A clever spell system, great cartoon visuals, and loads of humor make Magicka's side-scrolling spell brawling a real treat.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Joe Danger
    Joe Danger Touch is a bright, addictive platform game that should serve as required playing for any developer interested in moving a console favorite to the App Store.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Darklings
    Boasting a minimalistic design style and simple controls, Darklings is a delightful affair that pulls you in further each time you play.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    FTL: Faster than Light
    FTL's seat-of-your-pants strategizing hits the sweet spot between careful planning and unpredictable action. This survival sim can be a heartbreaker at times, but it's one of the most thrilling downloads you'll find on iPad.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mikey Hooks
    Mikey Hooks is a worthwhile successor to Mikey Shorts that's short, but a rush while it lasts.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Room Two
    The Room Two builds on the original game in smart ways without losing the thrill or depth of its finely tuned puzzle play.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Castle Doombad
    Castle Doombad is an impressive tower defense game that charms and challenges in equal doses.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
    Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of the best games of the 2000s, and the iPad version is an uncompromisingly faithful port.
    • 88 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Room
    The Room is a gorgeous, unique, and mentally stimulating exercise in mechanical puzzle-solving that's steeped in atmosphere. It's a gauntlet of challenges worth running through.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Year Walk
    Year Walk is smart, thrilling, and absolutely stunningly crafted. It'll throw you for a loop, leaving you transfixed to the screen until you shake out all of its dark secrets.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Stickets
    Stickets looks deceptively simple, but, well, there’s the rub. Brilliant.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Super Stickman Golf 2
    Minor quibbles don't keep Super Stickman Golf 2 from being a brilliantly fun and addictive iOS game, whether you prefer to swing solo or outshoot the competition.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Icebreaker: A Viking Voyage
    Icebreakers: A Viking Voyage is a puzzling treat that packs a surprising amount of depth into a few simple mechanics.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Gemini Rue
    If you like unspooling a good sci-fi detective story, Gemini Rue is well worth the investment.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Eliss Infinity
    We’ve been dreaming of an Eliss update for years, and Eliss Infinity proves dreams can sometimes come true. More importantly, what was innovative in 2009 remains fresh, tactile, and truly terrific today.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Rayman Fiesta Run
    Rayman Fiesta Run may not dramatically deviate from the formula, but it maximizes the excellence held within and delivers a richly entertaining mobile platformer that’s tough, funny, and ultimately pretty wonderful.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Plants vs Zombies 2: It's About Time
    More isn't necessarily better, though Plants vs. Zombies 2 still shines as a slick and fun free offering.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Anomaly Korea
    While it doesn't reinvent the wheel like its predecessor, Anomaly Korea is an almost wholly different strategic experience than anything else found on the App Store.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    NightSky
    Tight controls and effective ambience make NightSky one of the best physics platformers around.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tiny Thief
    Tiny Thief is a cute, challenging, and inventive offering that sucks you in from the get-go with it's ample charm. It has its tough moments, but they're worth muscling through.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    rymdkapsel
    Accessible and engaging, Rymdkapsel puts a fun retro-minimalist spin on a familiar genre – a perfect combination for gobbling up your free time.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    King Cashing 2
    While it's a short romp, there's a lot of replay value in this unusual game of chance. King Cashing 2 duct-tapes some strange ideas together to make a fun and funny offering that'll hook you right away.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    BADLAND
    Simple, gorgeous, and brutal, Badland is a real treat for the senses that marvels as it challenges.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Oceanhorn
    Though not perfect, Oceanhorn delivers an impressive Zelda-like adventure that anyone can enjoy.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Kingdom Rush Frontiers
    Kingdom Rush Frontiers is another excellent – albeit now familiar – tower defense entry for strategy fans seeking a potent mix of brains and brawn.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Hundreds
    Ingeniously conceived and expertly executed, Hundreds is one of the very best iOS games to date.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Strata
    Elegant and taxing, Strata is a great choice for aesthetes and thinkers alike.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Magic 2014
    More than just checking the familiar boxes you'd expect from a yearly update, Magic 2014 adds a few welcome fresh elements to the mix alongside a glut of new cards and foes to tussle with. It's a must-have for Magic fans, whether you played last year's edition or not.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    The Walking Dead: 400 Days
    It doesn't have quite the same emotional punch as Season One's lengthier story, but 400 Days does an admirable job with what it's given. If its purpose is to get us primed and ready for the second season, then mission accomplished.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Cut the Rope: Time Travel
    It's the same Cut the Rope that we know so well, albeit with a little more to love.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
    It may be nearly a decade old, but in spite of technical hiccups, difficult controls, and a slow start, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is still one of the best open-world games of all time.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Toy Story: Smash It!
    Toy Story: Smash It! is easy to pick up, hard to put down, and always enticing to play again. While completion may be brief and easy for experienced players, aiming to notch a perfect score provides sufficient challenge and shows just how clever the puzzles really are.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Star Wars Pinball
    Whether you love Star Wars or just crave new tables to dominate without needing rolls of quarters, it's digital pinball done right with a licensed twist.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Robot Unicorn Attack 2
    Robot Unicorn Attack's trademark brand of dumb fun hits a new apex in this improved and smartly executed free-to-play sequel.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Frozen Synapse
    This great indie port flops turn-based strategy on its head with delightful asynchronous chaos and intense multiplayer matches.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Leo's Fortune
    Leo’s Fortune looks amazing and plays equally well. iOS platformers don’t get much better than this.
    • 84 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Second Chance Heroes
    Second Chance Heroes calls on some big-name historical figures to kick ass in the zombie apocalypse, with just enough style, variety, and depth to keep you engaged.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Calculords
    Calculords inventively combines math with collectible card gaming and old-school aesthetics to offer a deeply enjoyable experience that’s more than the sum of its parts.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Type:Rider
    Getting around has its frustrating moments, but Type:Rider remains a fascinating interactive exploration of typography that's unlike anything else on the App Store.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Wolf Among Us: Episode 1 - Faith
    It doesn't quite have The Walking Dead's emotional weight or instantly relatable characters, but Episode 1 of The Wolf Among Us is a fun, intriguing opener for what promises to be a macabre supernatural noir thriller.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Lost Yeti
    Lost Yeti’s throwback aesthetic and charming puzzles are a Super Nintendo-lover’s sugarcoated dream come true.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous
    Take Redonkulous lightly at your peril – the gameplay here is hardcore with a vengeance.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Block Fortress
    Block Fortress hides ample fun and depth behind its clone mask, yielding an arguably more entertaining experience than the iOS hit it draws its visual inspiration from.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Fetch
    It doesn't take a long time to play through Fetch from start to finish, but this whimsical, kid-friendly puzzle journey is brimming with style and charm.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Solstice Arena
    If you’re looking for a very solid mobile MOBA, Solstice Arena is compact but robust enough for quick bursts of fun on the go.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes
    This amazingly deep and addictive puzzle-RPG hybrid gets a mostly solid port that's still a blast to play, despite some rough edges from the transition to the App Store.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Yomi
    Intricate yet fun to learn, Yomi mixes fighting and card games together into a compact package that plays just as well on iPad as it does on your tabletop.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies
    Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies isn’t a drastic re-invention of the original, but adding more content and refined gameplay to an already impressive strategy game is hard to argue with.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Terraria
    Even if you've played it elsewhere before, Terraria on iOS is a must-have for on-the-go exploration, building, and adventure.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    GT Racing 2: The Real Car Experience
    While it doesn’t stray far from genre conventions, GT Racing 2 is competently executed and fun to play. There may be higher-profile racers on iOS, but few that nail the controls and upgrades quite as squarely as this does.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Duet Game
    Duet’s elegant brilliance is starkly defined against its unforgiving difficulty, and there’s a truly entrancing puzzler lurking beneath its surface.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Boson X
    Boson X is easier than quantum mechanics, but don’t call it easy.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Shivah
    Point-and-click adventure games have always worked well on touch devices, and The Shivah makes the jump to iOS gracefully. It’s rare that a game’s plot, characters, genre, and platform mesh as neatly as they do in this short and bittersweet tale.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Icycle: On Thin Ice
    Strange, surreal, and spectacularly designed, Icycle: On Thin Ice is a one-of-a-kind platformer that only stumbles when it proves overwhelmingly punishing.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Pathogen
    Pathogen offers a stylish and elegant tactical struggle against computer or human opponents that draws immense depth from a simple set of rules.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Hitman GO
    Hitman GO is a clever and stylish work of alchemy, bringing elegant stealth mechanics to a new platform and a fresh genre.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    FIFA 14 by EA SPORTS
    FIFA 14 feels more at home on iOS than any of its forebears, thanks to a deep-but-approachable Ultimate Team mode and a similarly layered gesture-driven control scheme, but its A.I. still needs work.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Sid Meier's Ace Patrol
    Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol is a deceptively deep, highly polished and surprisingly addictive look at the strategy behind old-school dogfights.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Joe Danger Infinity
    Cool setting aside, Joe Danger Infinity is largely more of the same stunt biking action seen in the first iOS game. Luckily, sweet rides and vibrant characters help keep it interesting, and the underlying action is as entertaining as ever.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Journey Down: Chapter 1
    The Journey Down's unique setup and well-implemented adventure gameplay gets the series off to a promising start.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Karateka Classic
    Karateka Classic is a superb port of an excellent (if ancient) fighting game, and is a great way to rekindle old memories or to simply see what all the fuss is about.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Poker Night 2
    Even if you're not much of a poker fan, Poker Night 2 is crammed with enough entertaining banter and silliness to keep things fun — and the poker's pretty good, too.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    A Ride Into the Mountains
    A Ride Into the Mountains overcomes a few small rough spots to offer a challenging, intriguing, evocative, and memorable adventure of horseback archery with a stellar minimalist aesthetic.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Smash Hit
    Smash Hit turns the simple pleasure of shattering glass into an enjoyable arcade-style cruise through abstract terrain.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    David.
    David presents an abstract, dangerous world that’s as tough as it is beautiful and surprisingly emotive.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Stealth Inc.
    Smart, funny, and challenging as all get out, Stealth Inc. is one of the most interesting puzzle-platformers to hit iOS this year.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Jet Car Stunts 2
    Jet Car Stunts 2 demands extreme skill and patience, but the payoff is four varied and equally stellar game modes that offer style, speed, and character in spades.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Temple Run 2
    Familiar framework aside, Temple Run 2's notable upgrades and thrilling pursuits make it one of the most entertaining free-to-play options around.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Monster Adventures
    Monster Adventures mashes up different genres to give you a compelling and seemingly fresh experience each time you play.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Dudeski
    Dudeski pits your shredding skills to the test in a race against an avalanche—and totally nails the run.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    First Strike Game
    First Strike is a fairly simple strategy game, but its fast-paced games and demands for smart thinking yield challenges on all difficulties.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Incredipede
    An innovative indie experience that melds the bizarre with the sublime, Incredipede tests your problem-solving skills and patience in intriguing ways.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Frontline Commando: D-Day
    Streamlined without being dumbed-down, Frontline Commando: D-Day is a fun, accessible romp that shooter fans will find easy to like.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Blip Blup
    Blip Blup is a very good puzzler for abstract visual thinkers, even if the difficulty spikes can be tough.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Fiz: The Brewery Management Game
    Fiz's slow-burning but incredibly entertaining brewery management simulation really nails the nitty-gritty details, offering addictive beer-making entertainment for hardcore enthusiasts and casual imbibers alike.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy
    Ace Attorney is one of the best series to come out of Japan in the past decade. Despite some issues, this compilation is recommended whether you’re a dedicated fan or a newcomer to the franchise.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Infinity Blade III
    Infinity Blade III caps off the epic franchise in a largely dazzling manner, though the repetitive nature of the series resonates more strongly than ever.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    LEGO The Lord of the Rings
    LEGO The Lord of the Rings may not match its much pricier Mac counterpart on features or gameplay depth, but it's still the best LEGO game on iOS by a wide margin.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Football Heroes (2013)
    Football Heroes is a fun pigskin game that offers a continual stream of great moments, though it’s held back by unintelligent computer opponents.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Wave Trip
    Wave Trip may feel derivative in spots to multiplatform players, but it's nevertheless an exciting and engaging musical odyssey.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Republique: Episode 1 - Exordium
    Streamlined stealth and an intriguing premise blend well to get République off to a promising start in Exordium.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Combo Crew
    An intuitive control scheme and loads of cartoonish charm make Combo Crew's brawling action a real treat for your fingertips.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Backyard Monsters: Unleashed
    Backyard Monsters: Unleashed offers a solid blend of base building and tower offense in a free-to-play package, although its cycle of monster and building upgrades drags it down as you reach higher levels.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Mr. Crab
    Mr. Crab features plenty of entertaining levels that make it easy enough for a child to pick up, but tricky enough for adults to enjoy.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Third Eye Crime: Act 1
    Third Eye Crime serves up a masterful blend of stealth puzzling and noir-inspired storytelling, with misdirection cleverly applied on both counts.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Metal Slug 2
    In spite of a few control issues, Metal Slug 2 is a surprisingly strong showcase for old-school action and rich 2D presentation.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Star Command
    Star Command's violent romp through the galaxy is equal parts challenging and clever, making it a must-play for sci-fi strategy fans.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Pocket Trains
    A great mix of strategy and time management, Pocket Trains offers a lighthearted and awesome diversion for rail enthusiasts with a sweet tooth for cuteness.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Ridge Racer Slipstream
    Ridge Racer Slipstream delivers the unique and thrilling flavor of the well-known arcade racing series without messing up the controls, but it relies too heavily on its console predecessors for inspiration.
prev
Page:

Top Trailers

See all »
See all trailers »