The range of scenarios that crop up is impressive, and the gameplay is complex and rewarding, but only if you can get past the fact that the lack of animation, multiple menus and statistics make for rather a dry experience.

Bung in a vexation-defeating undo and an AI that amusingly flat-out lies during proceedings and you've got an essential iOS action-puzzler.

It's brutally difficult. Also, it's utterly brilliant; ever since we started to get our heads round it we've been hooked by the concept and enthralled by the potential of its waldoes and reactors; part of the fun is seeing how other players have solved the level that you've just cracked, because you can guarantee that you'll discover an exciting new way of doing things.

You have to admire Cave's audacity. It's basically saying that here is the greatest shooter to grace iOS – and that if you want it, you're really going to have to pay for it.

Our sole complaint is its baffling demand for an iPad 2; we honestly can't see what it's doing that needs the extra power. It spends quite a bit of time loading and there are lots of animated things going on, but nothing especially excessive that we'd expect to require an iPad 2. What do we know, though? If you have the technology, we strongly recommend it.

We love it, especially on iPad, where the bigger screen affords you more precision, while a boat-hat-wearing mutant crab and mecha-driving giant dog aim to bring your tower down. Like we said: odd.

One of the earliest iOS smash hits. The game was released in April 2009, and by the end of the year it had been downloaded over a million times. It's since spawned a slew of similar titles, and although few have come close to matching the original's financial success, many offer enough innovation for any iOS gamer obsessed with helping a virtual character bounce towards the stars.

It's pretty much Ants vs Zombies, but Ant Raid's controls are more organic than those in PopCap's game, and the oddball sense of humour and design is, if anything, superior. Our only criticism, bar the game's slightly repetitive nature, is it falls between two camps: a bit lightweight for dedicated RTS fans and too tough for casual gamers. Otherwise, it's f-ant-astic. (Sorry.)

But creator Zach Gage is clearly some kind of evil genius, because no sooner had we weaned ourself off his furiously addictive game than he laughed like a maniac and presented this update, which boasts Retina graphics, universal support and two new modes.

In short, MC3 is a game that, while slightly muscle-headed in its approach to character development, more than delivers when it comes to gripping, relentless and spectacular gameplay.

However closely you choose to follow the ravages of war, in the turn-based strategy genre Ravenmark reigns supreme. Boasting AI that can outflank you at 10 paces, and 15 varied campaign missions with the promise of more to come, at two quid it's a steal; with multiplayer, it'd be obscene.

If elaborate construction is what you had in mind, check out the more scholarly - not to mention free - Tinkerbox. But for when you want fun firing catapults at dolls to knock bowling balls onto see-saws, Casey's your man.

Whether you're a word-game dabbler or a recovering Tetris addict with a penchant for letters, SpellTower is essential.

It's shameless in its copying, but we still like it.

We suspect too much predatory play might leave you with few friends to play against, but the mode's inclusion nonetheless propels Greedy Bankers to the top of the iPad match-game heap. Let's hope the dev doesn't blow the cash on subprime credit.

You get four visually stunning locations, driven by the alien's desire for different cuisines, and each level has plenty of potential for exploration and experimentation. Even some slightly iffy controls didn't dampen our hunger for this game.

Not much to it, but simple, fast fun when you've got friends about. Better still, it's free!

If you're a veteran, a discordant Blue Danube from Manic Miner and characters from 8-bit classics will raise a smile; if not, revel in the lovely craziness and wonder why all iOS games don't have this much imagination and heart.

In fact, it not only beats Atari's Greatest Hits, but also the original Asteroids! Hello, Atari? Oh, you've gone.

We hugely enjoyed our time with Swampy. The game looks great - Swampy has plenty of character and the cut-scenes are a reminder of creator Disney's animation pedigree. It also controls well (bar an awkward, out-of-place scroll bar for navigating larger levels), especially on the iPad, which allows more precision (not least for younger players) due to its larger screen.

With each jump consuming energy, they must periodically switch places, and the angled chunks of ice make movement less predictable than in most jumping games.

The game is therefore a little like Doodle Jump, but if jet packs and rockets were platforms and everything else was to be avoided. [Gold Edition]

It's challenging and entertaining, with courses that feel alive, and it has more than enough content to justify its price-tag.

If you're the sort of person who stares at your open fridge for hours trying to find the butter, only to realise that it's slap bang in front of your nose, then you won't get on well with Stray Souls, since you find most of your objects by spotting them in a very detailed scene.

Yes, it's maybe just a little on the shallow side, and it has this annoying stash of red power-ups that you have to avoid because they leave you decidedly worse off for a while, oh, and it features boss battles, too. We honestly don't mind too much, though, because of the non-stop rocket action.

In short, it's an RPG that anyone – fans, old gamers, youngsters and newcomers alike – can enjoy.

Chances are that it's not going to be up your street, but if you're gazing at the screenshots and drooling at the prospect of lightspeed arcade action then, well, step right up.

Few of these challenges are tough enough to rouse your ire or hold up progress – we happily powered through much of the game without resorting to the 'skip' button. Delivering your projectiles to their targets is still as satisfying as potting the black into the designated corner on your first go, though.