Is it the deepest, most complex game on the App Store? Of course not. You can plow through the entire thing in a few hours, maybe less. On the flip side, The Lorax was more entertaining than we expected, and the fact that we didn't have to spend a dime was key. A treat indeed.

Skylanders Swap Force is another entertaining 3DS game, and one of the few that compliments its console counterpart. Considering it's compatible with previously released Skylanders, there's a tremendous amount of value packed into the box. The missions feel familiar, but that probably won't matter much to hardcore fans desperate for their newest fix.

For the most part, though, Lock 'n' Load provides several hours of dark, twisted fun.

Although Unit 13 has one foot deeply rooted in the past, the challenging missions and online connectivity will you keep you coming back.

There's no denying the fact that the entire game involves sitting on a swivel and rotating around the same old scenery. There simply aren't enough stages in the game, and the lack of creativity with the weapons means you'll see everything this title has to offer within an hour, at best.

Everything you've enjoyed about both Harry Potter and the wonderful Lego series of games can be found here: the exploration, the intricate puzzles built into the very fabric of the world, and a chance to savour the world of Potter and friends just one more time. It may not be the best use of the brand, but there's still plenty to be had for existing fans.

Even with its somewhat crude presentation and hands-off gameplay experience, Every Hero has plenty of appeal and replay value. Plus, it's free of charge - and it's not every day you can get a hero to do something for nothing.

Although it's far better enjoyed in sips, rather than gulps due to its short length and simple nature, Super Lemonade Factory Part 2 is just as savory as the first game. Pick it up if you're a fan of the classics.

Even allowing for these ad hiccoughs, Monsta Brick Breaker is still an enjoyable addition to the ball-and-paddle genre. Let's just hope the developers can come up with a patch that doesn't make these minor problems more monstrous.

Ultimately, this could have been the definitive Tekken. As it stands, Namco Bandai will have to settle with having a good video game, by no means a bad thing, and if all you plan to enjoy is multiplayer, raise the score another half star.

Mindless fun.

If you're a huge JRPG fan or just enjoy playing on mobile for long bouts of time this game may scratch your itch. However, with the high price and time investment, this game isn't particularly conductive to mobile gaming.

Everyday Spelunker isn't for everyone, and some people will simply give up before even attempting the game's later levels. That said, old-school platforming fans - and nostalgic NES lovers - can very happily buy with confidence.

While light on narrative, This Could Hurt comes with an abundance of 3D platforming goodness that'll challenge players of all skill levels. And with just four worlds to explore, it should evolve over time as the developers figure out new ways to drive us nuts. Worth checking out.

Ultimately, what I took away from Pokemon White Version 2 was this: that the series, much like the monsters that call it home, desperately needs to evolve.

Turret Commander may not quite possess the gripping grimness of, say, Zombie Gunship but it is a enjoyably throwaway arcade experience that should satisfy any shooter fan looking for a slightly different mobile blaster.

Unfortunately, SummitX suffers from choppy play, despite a recent update to improve overall performance. Things don't flow smoothly enough, which puts a slight damper on hitting intended spots with ease.

We'd like to have seen more than 20 individual levels, and a little more variety in each of those for that matter, but otherwise it's another win for mobile cartoon gaming.

It's absolutely worth your time, even under the frustrating veneer of free-to-play madness.

Diehard, mobile-owning Cavanagh fans won't think twice about downloading Don't Look Back, and they're quite right to do so. While we can't help but shudder at the thought of playing the teased VVVVV on mobiles, we'd far rather Cavanagh had a chance to acclimatize to touchscreen controls before embarking on what will likely be his most high-profile mobile endeavor.

Cheeseman's one of the App Store's coolest new characters, while the addictive play (just one more time) should keep you hooked. Serve with a fine Swiss and enjoy.

We'd loved to have seen an alternative to tilt controls on offer in the game, as the precision required to pull off a strategy with any kind of satisfaction is held back by the current controls.

It's mindless to a fault, where eventually, you just want the mission over with. At the same time, this is exactly the type of experience hardcore DW fans want, and for these people, NEXT delivers.

Beyond the crisp and bright graphics and hit-and-miss humor, One Epic Knight may be just another endless-runner with an upgrade store bolted on, but if you have an endless appetite for the genre then the opportunity to smash up enemies and blast through scenery should be more than enough to motivate you into just one more run.

Considering you don't have too many basketball games to enjoy on mobile - save for the always-enjoyable NBA Jam - NBA 2K14 is a good choice, especially if you're a fan of LeBron and want him back in Cleveland. Fans can dream.

Yes, some things work better than others, but you'll learn to deal with the game's quirks in exchange for that old Disney magic, though if you're a big Kingdom Hearts fanatic, Square Enix already had your support.

We don't mean to be too hard on Ion Racer, because it certainly delivers a pleasurable experience, but it's also a proverbial one-trick pony, a game you'll probably check out for a few days and then discard.

Considering the sheer wealth of content and attention paid to the DC lore, Scribblenauts Unmasked manages to rise above its shortcomings, making this game a smart pickup for comic book fans and players interested in using words, not just weapons, to save the world.

A Little War isn't a particularly deep or challenging game in its own right, but there is a lot of fun to be had from this free title - and it's one that doesn't push you too hard to hit up the coin store either. If you're looking for something to kill a few commutes to work or school, this micro-strategy title should be just the ticket.

It's tough to dislike Blood Roofs, simply because its creators a.) set off to release something more ambitious than the competition, and b.) it's still an enjoyable video game. With this mind, don't be afraid to give it a taste.

So it's challenging (and perhaps a little too much so), but if you want something different that also highlights the extraordinary potential for placing game development in the hands of players, then we can't recommend the game enough.

By and large, Amazing Ants is a solid puzzler. At the same time, we can't help but feel déjà vu each time we fire it up, largely because we've seen and played titles like this before on touchscreen devices.

Space Wolf is a gorgeous and full-featured card battler with layers upon layers of strategic finesse that fans of the universe and genre will no doubt eat up. However, it relies on a hefty amount of "buy Y to do X" sensibilities, so if you can't get behind that, you might be better off with another strategy game.

If you're happy to treat the game as something you'll play through once then likely move on, then there's bags of entertainment to be had from Tin Can Man.

If you don't mind a rather steep learning curve, and are prepared to experiment with the default controls, you'll get plenty of mileage out of this tricky title.

It's a good game, but with some tweaking, Empty Flask could transform it into a great one. That said, it'll be interesting to see how it evolves over time, but for now, it provides a few sword-slashing thrills.

Wipeout isn't perfect, but it still delivers enjoyable platforming that'll only get better with the inclusion of future updates. For now, it's still worth $1.99.

To play as the other demons, and enjoy their music and rhythm patterns in the corridor sections, you'll have to shell out an astonishing $2.99 per demon, or simply put up with repetitive corridor runs to get to the better stuff. If you think CSR Racing was greedy, you ain't seen nothing yet.

The Dingles themselves have bags of charm and personality, and while the gameplay is a little repetitive, there's plenty of challenge to be had for those who simply must get every star.

Bitcoin Billionaire is a very interesting game to say the least. The game can be very addicting because it is so simplistic and you really want to make as much money as you can. On the other hand though it is not really a game at all and if you are looking for something more challenging than tapping a screen over and over than look elsewhere.

The visuals look first generation iPhone, circa 2008. We understand there's only so much a developer can do with a mostly white background, but character faces, outfits and the countryside are mostly devoid of detail.

/ ESCAPE comes up short, however, with its lack of online leaderboards, which is quite baffling, given the fact that most games these days (at least on iOS) come with Game Center support. That ultimately knocks / ESCAPE down a peg. Otherwise, it's a fun and action packed romp with plenty of thrills. Leaderboard or no, it's still worth a buck.

Our only complaint involves a noticeable lack of imagination when it comes to stage design, where each level begins to look the same, with similar enemies and hazards. If anything, cybertime played things too safe instead of letting its creative juices flow.

Though its gameplay and presentation could use a little tweaking, Dead On Arrival 2 really isn't half bad at all. If you're a fan of zombie killing mayhem, you've no excuse for not giving it a go.

Zday's a cool game worth checking out, and at $1.99, you have little to lose. Moving forward, though, we'd like to see free updates that flesh out the story. Much like a zombie, this title could use more meat on its bones.

While not as in-depth as the duo's platforming adventures, Ratchet and Clank: Before the Nexus is an enjoyable endless runner with fun visuals and plenty of stuff to collect. It only makes you wonder if Sony might consider doing the same for other franchises - Sly Cooper, perhaps?

Angry Birds Stella is a good title with solid gameplay and quality cartoon visuals. The problem is that the game is one in a long line of similar entries, and people have come to expect a lot out from the franchise. On its own, Stella is definitely a great pick up, but if you are getting sick of Angry Birds it won't do much to get you back into the series.

Dumb Ways to Die was clearly designed with casual players in mind, as it only takes a minute or so to croak (maybe less), depending how good you are. It's addictive, no question, but there's a considerable lack of games.

It's a technically solid, enjoyable title and includes enough new features (just) to make it a worthy addition to your device. With that said, if you possess even a smudge of cynicism, then the immediate influence of Tiny Wings on Sugar High can only take a little of the shine off Biscuit's adventures.

Expansion missions are ubiquitous to the genre and so it's no surprise to see them make an appearance here: grow so many berries, buy another farm, clear out some swampland for further territorial growth etc etc. As I say, these sorts of tasks aren't exactly unique to Monster Story, but it certainly enforces the sense of deja vu.

Ridge Racer Slipstream is flat in a few areas, particularly with the strenuous earning system and the lack of online multiplayer. However, if you're a fan of the series or looking for an ideal racer for the holidays, this one will rev your engine.

Thankfully, the game runs decently enough most of the time, and that being the case, Sushi Mushi is one of the surprise gems of the App Store, an attention-grabbing match-three puzzler that'll provide hours of enjoyment, while making users the slightest bit hungry in the process. Recommended.

So is Unstoppable Fist worth a purchase? Yes, especially if you're a fan of those brawlers from back in the day. The game's enemies are a bit cheap (we would nix two-hit baddies altogether), but you'll make serious headway on Easy and Medium. On top of that, the outstanding presentation (the soundtrack is free, by the way) makes spending that $0.99 a smart decision.

Monster Quest isn't a revolution in the genre, leaning as heavily as it does on elements of other successful games. What GREE has managed to achieve however is to blend those elements together in such a way that the end result is a deeper experience.

Overall, we like Tiny Plane, as it provides that all-important "just one more try" element that helps make it addictive. Unfortunately, we struggled getting online multiplayer to work.

It's all about traveling from one side of the stage to the other, slashing bad guys, avoiding hazards and gathering collectibles, which you then give to the blacksmith to create different swords that as far as we can tell are just for show.

Give it a go if you've grown tired of other favorites such as Temple Run or Jetpack Joyride.

Madden NFL Mobile is a simple and fun game, albeit a little short and outdated.

This simplicity and novel approach of Mosaique is really where it falls short a little.

All that's required though is a little willingness to teach yourself, along with the patience to dig deeper into the game's surprising charms. Puzzle Restorer won't be to everyone's tastes, but if you're ready for a stiff challenge this is one puzzle game you won't want to miss out on.

Personally, we think it's a good management sim that's worth pouring at least $6 into. That'll give you a solid foundation with a fast track to scoring resources at a fairly consistent clip; it also helps if you're a Jurassic Park and/or dinosaur fan. However, if the mere thought of in-app purchases makes you cringe, this simply isn't the game for you.

As with most newly released games, there's room for improvement, and with more content on its way, we can only hope Scopely tweaks the experience. For now, Mini Gold MatchUp is an addictive effort you don't want to miss, especially if you love the sport, to which we have to ask, who hates miniature golf?

Tap Sports Baseball is a fun game for casual and hardcore fans of the sport. The game is very simple to play and has great stat tracking. Unfortunately, the lack of pitching holds the game back from being great.

MotoHeroz provides the type of experience hardcore fans crave, while offering a mostly accessible racer casual players can also enjoy. It just needs more stuff.

NBA 2K13 may be a sloppy mess at times, but it's still one of the more enjoyable basketball games for smartphones and tablets, one that'll presumably get better well into the season as 2K Sports tinkers behind the scenes, as it should.

Robocop is hardly the best representation of the cybernetic officer we've seen - the classic Data East arcade game still can't be beat - but Glu Games did better than expected with the movie adaptation, providing plenty of shooting frills and good-looking graphics. When it comes to shoot-em-up goodness, we'd buy that for a dollar.

The fact that you'll often see the worm a section or two above the character adds to the adrenaline rush you'll experience, and the constant need to stuff your pockets with Grubies adds a welcome mini-game of sorts, but despite all of that, you'll probably curse the controls at some point. Heck, we'd even take an old-school NES controller. Instead, we'll just have to settle for Worm Run being flawed, but good.

In other words, there's just enough that's good about Gold Diggers to overcome its occasional frustrations. It won't revolutionize the genre, but if you can overcome a few control niggles, there's a decent game to be enjoyed here that packs in all the gameplay staples we've come to expect from the genre.

It's not often you see a serviceable third-person shooter for mobile, especially one suited for all ages. That said, DuckTales: Scrooge's Loot is worth diving into - even if you don't have your own custom money bin.

Another solid retro homage, made even more appealing by the fact that it's free. That said, the high level of frustration makes it a bit too polarizing. You'll either relish the challenge, or delete the game out of anger.

There's little about Virtua Tennis 4 that'll surprise longtime fans, making this entry feel like more of the same. Yes, it comes with Vita exclusive bonuses, but you'll quickly grow tired of them and fall back on intense volleys and furious cross court smashes. To that end, World Tour Edition falls short of an ace, but still manages to hold serve.

It's not likely to worry the likes of Final Fantasy any time soon, but Pocket Titans provides a pretty fun RPG experience that's definitely worth the one dollar asking price.

Drift Mania Street Outlaws may not possess the same technical flair of the Real Racing series, or the polished arcade thrills of Asphalt 8, but it's a very welcome addition to the racing genre nevertheless. Just be prepared to work a little harder than you should to master the tricky controls.

WWE Immortals is an intriguing concept that WWE fans will appreciate. The problem is that this free-to-play game quickly grows repetitive, and in-game currency prevents you from obtaining your favorite superstars without opening your wallet.

A good but not exceptional game. Definitely worth playing because we feel it's one of the more intriguing titles on the App Store, but just a step short of being one of the year's best.

Penny Time's replay value may be a little stilted but there are plenty of score-based achievements on hand should you feel the need to compete against yourself.

As a toy, rather than a game, there's no denying that Little Inferno's sandbox is a satisfying one that will entertain for a time. But in hammering home its message just a little too forcefully, it also lacks a certain amount of graceful bite, and as a result it doesn't quite touch the greatness it might otherwise have achieved.

Killzone Mercenary didn't wow us, but we can live with that. It's a good FPS that showcases the handheld's potential, and while it does little to push the series forward, it'll make a fine portable companion for players with itchy trigger fingers.

However, casual fans will not find much to be had here as the gameplay doesn't lend itself to spontaneous play. For those who are looking to try the genre though, Battlelore is a great starting point, having challenge without an overwhelming ruleset.

A fairly basic but still entertaining adventure that provides a wonderful glimpse at the future of smartphone and tablet games.

It's a game in need of just a little more polish, then, but if you can look passed these problems you'll have plenty of fun with the game. It doesn't quite have the effortless style of the likes of Flick Kick Soccer, but it's enough to satisfy fans of this particular corner of the App Store, not least because we've been neglected for so long.

More vehicles, weapons and arenas would be nice, and we'll likely receive them from Glu in future updates, but in its current form, the game will definitely keep you fragging for hours, or just a few minutes a day.

Despite the game's stumbles, there's an awful lot to like about this mobile Deus Ex. It's an impressive adventure, one that sets a few new standards when it comes to navigating mobile 3D worlds, and squeezing mechanics onto touchscreens. It's an inescapable conclusion, however, that the game's undeniable accomplishments also serve to highlight its rougher edges.

If you've loved the likes of Flick Kick Soccer and New Star Soccer in the past, you should absolutely give Soccer Moves a go - although we'd hold some way back from placing this game in the same league as those mobile masterpieces. Just don't expect it to be an easy or intuitive learning experience in the early days of your career.

The combat aspects and graphics are both very good, but the all the time bars really hold this game back.

It's a fair addition to the Sonic universe, the kids will love it, and you may find that you yourself play it for far longer than you might expect.

Jumpster is more than a money-making vehicle. It's actually a well thought-out platform adventure with imaginatively-designed environments and tricky stages full of cool set pieces, from spikes and breakable objects to monsters, trampolines and switches.

There's a great deal to do in Marvel War of Heroes, and while it doesn't quite cause a revolution in the genre, Mobage can only be accused of giving gamers exactly what they want with a few new twists.

While by no means perfect, Castle of Illusion is a good enough platformer that pays worthy homage to the Genesis classic. That said, its high cost makes it too expensive to be an impulse buy, and we can only suggest waiting for the inevitable price drop.

While the bulk of the game is simple, it never stops being entertaining, and we think you'll also be won over by the clean visuals and 70s-sitcom jazz that noodles away in the background - very catchy.

Despite its flaws, Mutant Storm is still an easy enough recommendation for twin-stick junkies.

Jelly Splash is sure to find an audience, especially for those who have sworn off Candy Crush Saga because they can't get past that one level. It's enjoyable to play and a pleasure to look at, but chances are you'll run into a similar problem, either forking over some cash or waiting that 25-minute period. Bring your skills, and maybe a little patience.

Fun though it is to race across the landscape splattering anything that moves, the progression system really doesn't work as well as it should. The balancing of the randomized landscapes, objects and zombies feels noticeably uneven between attempts. As a result, your progress in two different rounds will differ wildly - regardless of how many upgrades you might have thrown at your overall loadout.

The deep single player component, in-game shop and multiplayer will keep you putting for weeks, and with the possibility of downloadable content, perhaps even longer. Not the most casual golf title on the market, but all things considered, definitely one of the best you'll find on a handheld.

Haunted Hollow gets a thumbs-up from us for offering something genuinely different on the App Store. But fun though it is for a while, it is a little rough around the edges - particularly when it comes to its premium purchases and AI performance.

The core mechanics of Zombie Fish Tank are certainly very, very familiar, but there's plenty of variety to be enjoyed here nevertheless.

All of the playable characters possess unique abilities, in addition to the many power-ups you can activate during play. The Twins, for example, can run underneath obstructions without having to slide, while the Troll just smashes things to pieces.

Bottom line, a lot of attention (perhaps too much) went into making the cats look impressive, and thankfully, they are. You can see a personality in their eyes that most virtual pet games lack, and before long, you may even begin to think about the animal throughout the day as if it were real.