The controls take some getting used to, but the effort is worth it as Sky Gamblers provides hours of excellent dog-fighting fun – both in solo and multiplayer form.

Pyramids is a clever puzzler at times, but more often than not it's too leaden to let you fully appreciating what it has to offer.

A solid and good-looking puzzle game that was pipped to the post by its more characterful rival.

Fun but forgettable, this physics-based puzzler is the very definition of 'candidly disposable'.

While it can't pretend to be breaking entirely new ground, SteamBirds: Survival manages to refine the concept of the original and turn it into something even more tense, gripping and addictive.

An atmospheric zombie shooter whose annoyances are outweighed by production values which put full-price games to shame.

High Flyer Death Defyer provides nice fast-paced arcade action, though it does get repetitive after a while.

A well-built and novel take on the tower defence genre, Anthill: Tactical Trail Defence doesn't quite fulfil its promise, but it's still worthy of your attention.

A decent shooter retooled into something approaching a classic. Buy with confidence.

One of the most addictive racers on the market, only freemium grumbles stop Forever Drive being an instant classic.

It's one of the most creative and ambitious ideas to hit the world of games, but being able to magic up a fire-breathing giraffe counts for little when the included puzzles are often so cryptic and dull.

Like a bowl of deep-fried calamari with sliced lemon and mayonaise, every bite is a delight. It's just a shame about the pricing model.

Worth a look if you're flush, but not quite as chillingly effective as it could have been.

With wonky controls and lacking even the most basic of features, Warm Gun is a multiplayer-only FPS that should be left alone.

It might be Amore for Namco, but our love affair with Katamari is all but over.

If you've ever complained about games being dumb, buy this game - it genuinely might make you that little bit smarter.

PES 2012 serves up a decent game of football, but its lack of depth and control flaws mean that it's going to be a long, hard season.

As movie game tie-ins go, Thor: God of Thunder is definitely one of the better ones, but that doesn't stop it growing stale and repetitive rather quickly.

Minor grievances with the finer points of combat aside, Mediatonic's latest is a handsome, challenging, laugh-out-loud funny arena-based brawler.

Don't be fooled by the sickly sweet visuals – Roll in the Hole has a sadistic difficulty level which is amplified by awkward controls. It might exude a casual aura, but most players will end up as frustrated as a zoo keeper with a pair of endangered but romantically uninterested pandas.

This twin-stick space shooter offers addictive and compelling blasting action that is almost certain to enthral fans of the genre, although the inevitable repetition of the gameplay does dull its impact a little.

A finely crafted RPG-lite of the simple life, set against the backdrop of an idyllic rural world.

A simple, one note space simulator that gets very old, very fast, and fails to save itself from the yawning oblivion of the cosmos.

A collection of sporting mini-games that, while initially entertaining, prove far too simple and lifeless.

A straightforward tower defence game blessed by beautiful visuals.

While Idyllic isn't terrible, nor does it live up to its name or its intriguing premise.

Brick People is high on repetition and noisy spectacle, low on meaningful depth or addictive elements. Kids will embrace it, but it's a shame the gameplay isn't as sticky as the product design. Instead of being a brick flung through the church window of mediocrity, it's just another brick in the wall.

Pixel Ranger's presentation can't be faulted, and it offers a stern arcade challenge for those who are skilful enough to master its occasionally taxing control system.

A decent slice-'em-up with a ridiculous premise, Ninja vs. Vikings fails to offset its borrowing of ideas with some unique ones of its own.

Commander Pixman takes good old-fashioned gameplay and wraps it up in an appealing retro package which will keep adrenaline junkies sated for quite some time. The steep challenge may be a little too much for some players, however.

TwinBee is a fun little shooter, but rather quickly its lack of depth is exposed.

Compared to other better one-finger games, Tiny Whale! isn't worth the time.

The Sims Medieval is a good Sims game, but it doesn't bring much new to the series.

Raising the game in terms of its slick and sleek delivery, FIFA 12 stands up to its big billing on the pitch, serving as EA's ultimate attempt on goal to date.

A great Foosball game that anyone can play, with enough packed in that it'll keep you entertained for hours.

Galaxy Express adds charm to a classic puzzle scenario.

Aliens: Infestation is the side-scrolling Metroid you've been waiting for, and will especially excite fans of the original movie.

Monster Island relies on appealing physics-based gameplay and a rather off-putting in-app purchase system to lure gamers in. Regardless of the questionable nature of the latter, the game is worth a punt if you're fond of hurling objects at other objects.

It's not a bad game by any means, but Tiny Defense suffers from a crippling lack of originality, and comes across as a merely passable amalgamation of many other superior titles.

Slam Dunk King's clever combo-based scoring system won't be to everyone's tastes, but once it gets hold, it's hard to put down.

A fleeting pleasure, Panda Picnic shows freemium can sometimes mean forgettable.

The best third-person action game available on mobiles, with stunning graphics and tight controls.

A tremendous port of a great indie game, and a must-buy on iOS.

A decent twist on the connect-four genre, with a pricing scheme that's almost guaranteed to put off all but the most committed devotees.

The best Adult Swim title to date, and a squeak away from classic status.

Giving the impression of an interactive cartoon, Where's My Water's physics-heavy puzzling should appeal to everyone, despite its childish exterior and some control irritations.

Kirby Mass Attack is one of the most innovative and varied platformers in Kirby's long, diverse repertoire, making it a fitting swan song for the aging DS.

A unique puzzle game that adds regular twists to keep itself thoroughly entertaining and playable.

A lovingly remastered version of an iconic game, but sadly one that will only frustrate and annoy when not viewed through rose-tinted spectacles.

A wholly unique adventure that has no equal on the iPhone, King of Dragon Pass makes up for in depth what it lacks in accessibility.

A running game that doesn't stand head and shoulders above the crowd, but is still fun enough to warrant a try.

Bit.Trip Saga is a game you could crawl into and live inside of comfortably for a good few weeks.

Old before its time, Hunger Calls's disjointed approach to time management doesn't call for second servings.

Much like the first game, your tolerance of the whims of fire will determine whether you enjoy this or not.

Pod Odyssey is a nice Lunar Lander homage, but heavy controls hamper the fun.

Wildlings is perfect for those who want a more active tower defence game without having to worry about too many variables, but others will find its lack of options frustrating.

Fittingly shallow and suitably silly, this auto-runner is one of the better examples of the genre, if still limited in its appeal.

Like Doodle Jump on absinthe, GoatUp is another welcome dose of Minter madness.

It looks and sounds great, but the dire AI, weak combat, and a lack of online multiplayer leave Ancient Trader HD's strong premise all at sea.

A retro remake with a real sadistic streak that fails to bring anything other than frustration and annoyance back with it.

Well produced and highly addictive, Tiny Heroes will find favour with fans of the genre – providing they don't expect anything startlingly original.

This old skool casual puzzler is functional but lacklustre.

Riot Rings may not be as violent as its title suggests, but its huge amount of content, excellent polish, and addictive gameplay ensure it runs rings around its opposition.

A novel gravity-centric take on the traditional karting formula, jAggy Race is betrayed by its meagre level selection.

A lack of content clips its wings, but Flapcraft is a real hoot while it lasts. Definitely a flight worth taking.

To-Fu 2? It's barely To-Fu 1.2. A major disappointment

Both visually strong and effortlessly old skool, NFL Rivals is an addictive arcade take on American football.

Megastunt Mayhem is a light-on-its-feet monster truck game with arcade fun.

Some interesting gimmicks can't disguise what is essentially a lacklustre street-racing title.

Less strategic than it wants to be, but this is a fun and hugely likeable time-waster for iPad owners.

Machinarium is irresistible - a splendid little point-and-click adventure bolstered by a truly artful sense of character, storytelling, and world design.

Bright, simple, and fiendishly addictive, Explodables is in desperate need of some simplification and a balanced level structure with a more gradual learning curve.

The best Frogger game in ages (or should that be decades?), this attractive and enjoyable arcade romp packs in gorgeous visuals, impeccable presentation and plenty of hard-as-nails gameplay. Just be prepared for the odd moment of intense frustration.

An addictive and alluring action platformer with a unique hook and lots to unlock, Muffin Knight comes highly recommended.

A shiny new look for tower defence games that breathes some new life into the genre, Defen-G Astro isn't quite a revolution, but it's still good fun.

MiniGame Paradise is a slick and varied mini-game collection with optional in-app purchases that's slightly guilty of sacrificing gameplay for profit.

Inazuma Eleven is an intriguing blend of RPG and soccer that works on so many levels, though the occasional scripted match leaves us crying in the stands.

Pixel Hell has great retro style and 8-bit sound design but is condemned by its own wrath-rousing bugs and luck-of-the draw mechanics.

A superb word-strategy game with enough polish and charm to overlook its lack of multiplayer.

StarFox 64 3D reminds us why we've been begging Nintendo for a proper sequel for nearly 15 years.

Cute, charming and creative, but Tiny Invader's twisted take on challenge means it rarely compels obsessive play.

The release of Urban Champion as a 3D Classic makes us wonder if Nintendo has gone stark raving mad.

Driver Renegade 3D has sparks of greatness in its Career mode, but the main Story mode is a disappointing experience.

Far from an Angry Birds clone, Pigs in Trees is a line-drawing action game with plenty of variety.

Jetpack Joyride is simplistic fun, but Halfbrick's suite of bonuses, unlockables, leaderboards, and achievements makes it near irresistible.

A faithful conversion from page to screen in almost every way. While the journey is troubled at times by a brutally unforgiving role playing philosophy, it's still one you'll want to take time and time again.

Rogue Sky is arcade fun with a smooth, simple control scheme.

A visually impressive point-and-click adventure, 1112 episode 3 continues the saga without offering too many answers. Despite all of its qualities, its high level of difficulty may limit the appeal.

Hector Ep2 is more welcoming for newcomers, without losing the sharp wit, funny jokes, and tough puzzles that marked it out in the first place.

Attractive and addictive, Cubes vs. Spheres is a geometric war worth waging.

Gamevil's deranged freebie aims for 'quirky', but hits 'annoying'. For nutters only.

Madden NFL 12 has plenty of detail, but the rough graphics and slow controls make it fumble.

Pac-Man's ears may be burning, but Rally-X Rumble is no threat due to its iffy controls and dated unoriginal gameplay. It's all been done better elsewhere.

Speedway GP looks great, but bad controls and anally retentive gameplay make it mediocre.

This Wesley Snipes-driven adventure manages to be both boring and frustrating.

The decision to withhold consumable items as optional extras makes it feel like you've only bought half the game and ensures that Drawin' Growin' is more of an ordeal than entertainment.

Taking its cue from as many popular iPhone casual games as it can, Contre Jour is polished and perfectly fine to play. It's just not very original or exciting.

A brilliant second outing in the Edge series, brimming with good ideas, and polished to a remarkable sheen.