Brimming with content, eminently replayable, and much improved over previous iterations, Sid Meier's Pirates! is a must-have for any self-respecting iPad buccaneer.

A brilliant deconstruction of the roguelike, presented with Nitrome's customary flair.

An excellent version of an arcade legend, Pang Adventures is an update and a history lesson rolled into one.

Athenian Rhapsody is a must-play game for fans of humourous RPGs. With a distinct combat system, bizarre characters, and dialogue that will make you giggle, it offers an experience you don't want to pass up.

Just as involving, dramatic and downright addictive as its PS3 predecessor, Valkyria Chronicles II will have you glued to your PSP for weeks to come.

Between its nods to the RPGs with which we grew up, memorable characters, and moreish gameplay components, Weapon Shop de Omasse is the shining gem of the Guild series.

Tiny Bubbles is a clever and addictive experience that keeps things simple in the best way.

A dark, funny, and super tough mix of genres. And mobile is as good a place as any to start your journey with it.

Conclusive proof that retro games can still mix it up with modern releases, Gridrunner is a shooter fan's dream come true. Sublime controls and a stern challenge make this one of the best blasters to grace iOS in ages.

Plants vs. Zombies belies its cartoonish appearance with a deep and engaging tactical experience providing lasting appeal.

A more expansive take on its six-year-old predecessor, Spider: Rite of the Shrouded Moon still feels admirably fresh and inventive in 2015.

A brilliant game for Star Wars fans and DS fans alike, The Complete Saga combines childlike simplicity with fiendishly hidden depth, providing an involving experience you'll find difficult to beat.

A rich and rewarding fight sim that gives you plenty to do, and makes sure you have fun while you're doing it.

Finding Paradise is an emotional narrative journey that will make you question the truth about happiness, reality, and what it means to live a life without regrets. If the story itself doesn't make you shed a tear or two, the soundtrack (which I now have on loop on Spotify) certainly will.

Much more than a shooter, PixelJunk Shooter Ultimate is an ingenious game of elemental manipulation.

A brilliant, addictive shooter, Blazing Star might have a few niggles, but they're made up for with bombast and bullets.

A brilliant, sometimes maddening mix of a boring sport and a brilliant concept. Just go and play it, yeah?

Energetic, exuberant, and engaging: Surge Deluxe is a puzzler from an earlier time... and is all the better for it.

Few games stand the test of time like Chrono Trigger. A role-playing classic, it's one of the very best the genre has to offer.

Skiing Yeti Mountain is a future classic. The quintessential winter sports experience on mobile.

A bold, bright, and brilliant point-and-click adventure, Botanicula is an experience to be savoured.

A stylish, eye-catching fighter that proves to be one of the Vita's essential games, even if it is marred by a poor storyline.

Terafyn is immersive fantasy at its finest. The game expertly wields the power of a strong narrative to pull you into the magic of its lands and the mystery of its enchanting creatures with every single word, all under the guise of a collectible card game RPG. Its only drawback is that the prologue is much too short and will definitely leave you wanting, so get your wallet ready - those episodic microtransactions may just bleed your budget dry.

Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack is the best downloadable launch game for the PS Vita.

A solid port of one of the best games ever made. It's expensive, but you'll get an awful lot of bang for your buck.

Rarely have we seen a zombie slaying FPS with this much life in it. Seamless online play and intense action make this an instant iPhone classic.

It won't be to everyone's taste, but Stone Age: The Board Game is a deep and entertaining multiplayer package.

A gorgeous, surprisingly deep shooter that sucks you back into Halo's universe. Fun and flashy in all the right ways.