Star Realms continues the trend and provides superior gameplay even amongst it's venerable peers.

As someone with no particular affinity for motorsport or management, I can nevertheless offer a very strong recommendation for Motorsport Manager.

By casually lampooning itself, He-Man: The Most Powerful Game in the Universe is entirely accessible to both the young and old alike. It's a celebration not only of He-Man and Eternia, but a respectful bow to the type of gaming that became so popular when Price Adam was still a boyish whelp, and you'd be mad to miss it.

Even with its minor faults, Ash is one of the better RPGs available in the App Store. It tells an engrossing story with characters that are full of personality and emotion. It's definitely not the most complex game when it comes to character progression, but the gameplay is fun and a nice change from some of the more convoluted RPGs out there.

Botany Manor has been a pleasant surprise from start to finish. It is equal parts relaxing, educational, and gorgeous. It also is a perfect fit for the OLED screen on Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. If you’re looking for a five or so hour first-person puzzler that doesn’t waste your time, Botany Manor is for you. Now please release a retail limited edition of it with a physical research book.

For a new IP, WWE SuperCard manages to hang with the best of them. Even without purchasing cards left and right you can still enjoy yourself, which is great news for skeptics or WWE fans.

After all is said and done, Beach Games is one of Donut's best offerings yet.

When Animal Crossing: New Horizons released around the time people were going into lockdowns across the globe, a lot of people praised the way it helped people. Unpacking is exactly that for me right now with so many long games and deadlines. It has been a perfect game to dip into as a break from longer and more stressful games. While the gameplay might be too simple for some, Unpacking has managed to make something as mundane as arranging furniture and items be a lot of fun. It also helps that Unpacking on Nintendo Switch makes great use of the system’s features.

It is rare for me to pre-order the limited edition of a game I’ve gotten for review 2 minutes into playing it for the first time, but here we are. Coffee Talk Episode 2 isn’t a huge change or upgrade from the original, but it didn’t need to be one. It is an easy recommendation if you enjoy relaxing games, coffee, and want to brew up some for interesting characters. I hope we get more from this world in a few years in a potential third entry. For now, it is time to mix dri.. I mean brew coffee and change lives.

Telltale have put a dense tale on offer, red in tooth and claw and tantalizing in its player-driven possibility, and the second episode is already overdue.

In its current state, Railgrade is an easy recommendation if you enjoy trains and logistical puzzles. Just don’t come into this expecting a simulation-focused experience. I never played Railgrade before the Steam version so can’t comment on what changed or improved, but I see myself dipping into the game regularly over the coming months as a nice relaxing experience. The shorter mission structure also perfectly suits the pick up and play nature of the Steam Deck.

The game that should come with a warning label attached, Crobble takes a beautifully simple concept and mixes it up with some fantastic gameplay modes in order to provide players with one of the most enjoyably captivating games this summer.

Despite a lack of high-concept features, MovieCat 2 manages to capture the fun of the original game with an updated collection of trivia

The Wingspan European Expansion felt like good DLC for an amazing base game, but the Oceania Expansion feels like an actual big expansion that adds to the experience across the board (no pun intended). The new Nectar food type, board, and birds accompanied by the new music all make the Wingspan Oceania Expansion an essential if you’re comfortable with and enjoy the base game. The asking price is definitely higher than expected, but this is an easy recommendation. I just hope Monster Couch gives the iOS version a bit more attention to make it feel more tailored to the platform. It has always looked amazing on modern iOS devices, but a bit more can make Wingspan feel truly special.

Xiaomei and the Flame Dragon’s Fist isn’t going to come for Streets of Rage 4‘s crown anytime soon, but it’s not really trying to do that. It speaks to a particular point in beat-em-up history that doesn’t see a whole ton of love these days, and anyone with nostalgia for those games will have a big smile on their face while playing it.

In some ways, the sheer depth of Cafeteria Nipponica acts as both a blessing and a curse.

Remarkable in its ability to match its core conceit to both its mechanics and interface, and then to mix, match, recontextualize, and refine as needed. It's finely crafted, well presented, and precisely executed.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is not the sort of thing we typically see from Nintendo, but if there was any rust on the team it assuredly doesn’t show. It’s perhaps a little too adherent to the original games in its mechanics, and while the plot is mostly excellent there are some times where the pace falls off or things resolve in ways I didn’t find as satisfying as I would have ideally hoped for. Still, these are minor complaints for what is otherwise a thoroughly enjoyable mystery adventure. Welcome back, Detective Club. Don’t stay away so long this time.

If you want to spend a little bit of time in an interesting world, play Milkmaid of the Milky Way. Developer Mattis Folkestad has put forth a tremendous solo effort here into a charming game that's worth your time.

Suffice to say, LEGO fans have little reason not to check out DC Super Heroes, while anyone else interested in a light-hearted adventure should take the plunge.

Overall, the game plays great and is a good improvement over EA's first FIFA game, they have learned from their mistakes to provide a better soccer game for the iPhone. With the top-notch graphics, a well-balanced AI, and an enjoyable soccer experience, it's hard to pass this game up if you are a soccer fan waiting for the World Cup to start.

DooWaru is very simple, but what it does, it does very well.

The random power-up selection between stages makes each run a little different, and the meta-goal of unlocking more character and modification chips makes it all too easy to try again after you lose. Throw in a really attractive presentation, and you’ve got an excellent arcade-style game with a style all its own.

Here's the rub: simoleons and lifestyle points are expensive. The smallest simoleon packs you can buy are $4.99, and give you about enough cash to buy one shop in town. You can do it all yourself instead, but it's going to be a long grind to buy homes to unlock all 16 Sims, open all the shops and build all the workplaces.

It's fun for a while if you're in it for the RPG, but it's great for a lot longer if you're the sort of person who can't resist a checklist or a spreadsheet. On the whole, this game is a steal-but only for the right sort of person.

This is basically a straightforward shot of pure, distilled Great War Game campaign, served up fully at a more than reasonable price for the amount of enjoyment found within.

That's really what Dungeon Of The Endless comes down to: time. It's a matter of how much time you're willing to invest in the game in order to get the most out of it.

As word games go, Spell Rift is a tense and varied title, one comfortably at home on iPad. It's certainly a worthy addition to any lexicon lover's collection.

There are no leaderboards, timers, extra modes, characters, or any of that stuff. Heck, there’s hardly even any color. But there’s still something to be said for a game so focused on one single, brilliant idea, and Hocus is a fine example of that.

Epic War TD 2 is a pretty straight-forward tower defense title. There aren’t any RPG-like elements, story, or anything other than good, difficult gameplay.

The Knight Witch is a very well-made game that takes two very different genres and binds them together with a fair bit of success. You really have to be into both Metroidvania-style games and bullet-hell shooters to get into this one, but if you can check off both of those boxes without much thought, then this is a slam-dunk pick-up. It’s not the lengthiest of games, but it’s certainly quite satisfying thanks to its solid gameplay and charming presentation.

If you're a Sonic fan that can deal with the differences from Sonic's '90s greatness, or if you just like fun platformers in general, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II has a lot to offer and is a worthy entry in this new era of classically-inspired Sonic games.

I think MinoMonsters has the potential to become a pretty big deal. It's in a hell of a package, and it's clear that the developers want to continue expanding the world and building upon what they have.

If you like logic puzzles, you’ll probably have a good time with Railbound. It’s a very focused game, but it has enough twists to keep things fresh through its rather generous amount of stages. The striking comic-style art and the little sounds of everything clacking together when you get it right only add to the game’s considerable amount of personality. All in all, a rather lovely little game that is nice to sit down with and puzzle out when you’ve got a spare hour or two.

Desktop Dungeons has made a pretty great effort to port their game to the iOS world, and it packs a lot of replay and problem solving into this app.

When you’re out zipping around on the water and flinging yourself about like an ocean-bound Spider-Man, the sheer glee is palpable. Indeed, the game could have been twice as long and I doubt I would have tired of that core gameplay. Alas, it finishes up fairly quickly. A grand time while it lasts, though.

It's a very high-quality, polished effort, even if the difficulty curve is probably a bit too high for its own good.

If you're in the mood for a thinking man's game that doesn't rely on twitch action, Sputnik Eyes will probably be up your alley.

Heroes Rise is a real step forward for Choice of Games. Their next step should be to improve the visual appeal of their apps and add a few basic options.

While there aren't a ton of bells and whistles in Brain in Jar, what it does do it does extremely well, almost better than any of my other favorite running games.

Being a shoot-em-up with an emphasis on racking up a high score, Gaplus is well-positioned to take advantage of the extra modes and online leaderboards that are a standard part of the Arcade Archives package. If you enjoy Galaga, I’m confident you’ll also really have a good time with this under-the-radar sequel. As single-screen shooters go, it’s frankly one of the better ones.

A big update with new control options is in the works, so things are likely to improve in the future, but it's a shame about TowelFight's controls in their current state because otherwise it's an incredibly enjoyable game.

Like a donut, Donut Dodo is a small, sweet confection that you’ll likely chew through in a few bites. But the delicious taste will having you reaching back into the box for another, and you’ll likely come back for more here and there as you go about your other business. Given the highly reasonable price point, this arcade game-that-wasn’t is a more than fair pick-up for those pining for the quarter-munching days of the 80s.

The current version of PewPew 2 is one of the best dual-stick shooters available, and is well deserving of its modest price tag.

There is something about being able to play a golf game that takes itself seriously, but not too seriously on an iPhone, one-handed, any time I want that I think makes this a great addition to any gaming arsenal. And when you’ve done that, maybe check out some of Colin Lane’s other work? There’s plenty to choose from.

Pocket Warriors has some lovely atmospherics which make the game pleasing to play. Some backdrops include the plains, wilderness, forest, and a lost temple, each with quality sound effects, such as birds, sheep and frog noises in the background.

This isn't a game for the easily defeated, but if you're willing to persevere then Stardash will leave you well rewarded.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft does exactly what it says on the tin, presenting the first three adventures of the famous heroine with some optional improvements to help them shine a little brighter. These games have a feel and logic of their own, and those wading into them for the first time might find the games hard to wrap their heads around. For better or worse, this is the original Tomb Raider trilogy, and if you’re going to play them this is the best way to do it. There are a few bugs to address and it really needs a brightness setting for the modern visuals, but otherwise I can’t find much to complain about here that isn’t endemic to the original games.

I have my share of issues with NEOGEO Pocket Color Selection Vol.2. The untranslated games are a bummer. It’s extremely likely that if you’re interested in this, you’ve already bought some of the separately-released games. But as a whole, even counting out a few games for lack of translation or double-dipping, this is still a really strong set of games that show what the road less-traveled looked like on the handheld. The oddball nature of the line-up gives it a strong appeal for those looking for something a little different, warts and all.

Siralim is a fun, complex, well-designed RPG for the on-the-go fan.

Sky Tourist boasts clever controls and a beautiful world. Travelling through that world means dealing with occasional frustrations, but they're small bumps in an expansive road. Every good journey has its problems, after all—without them, how would we grow?

With over 100 puzzles to work through, Spellsquares offers the word-puzzle fan a lengthy and entertaining experience. It won't last forever, but its well-crafted puzzles are a joy to work through once.

Overall, Discolored is a short, pretty game that’s worth checking out. Despite some gameplay mechanics, Discolored is enjoyable and rewarding if you’re into puzzle games. Plus, its story, if you can call it that, gives you just enough details to make you wonder a lot of things, like who’s giving you these jobs and what’s that evil thing doing here. You feel like there’s more to the story than we know of right now, and it leaves you craving for more.

Folks that don't like tilt-based games may be turned off by Crazy Hedgy's control scheme, but I implore you to put those feelings aside and check this game out.

The engine is here, the physics are terrific, and it plays divinely. If you've got fond memories of Pro Pinball, get on this right away.

If you’re looking for a polished and good introduction to 4X games, The Battle of Polytopia is more than worth it. If you, like me, weren’t sure how The Battle of Polytopia would play with a controller, download the free demo to see how you find the UI. The developers have done a good job with the scaling across docked and handheld, and having full touchscreen support for handheld meant I had a much easier time moving to Switch.

Lumberwhack is perfect for quick sessions, long playthroughs, or anything in-between. Although it's incredibly simple in nature, it's also one of the most fun castle defense games I've played in a while.

Afterpulse is yet another example of a mobile game that strips away all the fluffy extras and instead focuses on delivering a tight, fun experience that's perfect for on-the-go gaming. Unfortunately, it sometimes feels a bit too focused, as it really could do with one or two other gameplay types beyond simple deathmatches.

With challenging gameplay complemented by some much-needed depth, Castle Raid 2 is a great sequel to a good original game.

Fans of vintage Japanese action games or Metroidvania-style adventures should definitely give this one a look.

If you're down with small and charming experiences, though, Blueprint 3D deserves a look.

Overall, the game looks great and controls well. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in action RPGs.

What Tales from Deep Space provides is a lot of puzzle-platforming fun, albeit not as a perfect package.

In the end, Apocalypse Meow does a lot right, and I think fans of Sky Force will dig it, even if it doesn't do everything quite as well.

With the proviso that the Switch version is the least impressive option in terms of presentation, MLB The Show 23 is a very easy game to recommend on its own merits. The improvements over last year’s version are modest outside of the excellent new Storylines mode, so it might be a tougher sell if you own MLB The Show 22, but that’s the nature of the yearly sports game beast. A solid-playing, well-rounded take on baseball with plenty to offer for any fan of the sport.

My Horse is a wonderful game for horse-lovers and is worth a free download just to check out the realistic horse. But if you're planning on playing this game for a long time, be prepared to spend some real money on gems, or accept that you probably won't be able to buy the best looking equipment, no matter how many coins you earn.

If you're the kind of person who is willing to make sacrifices for console-style gaming on mobile, and doesn't care if a game is a particularly good fit for mobile, then you'll enjoy Heroes and Castles 2. If you need something that can be enjoyed in short bursts or can be dropped at a moment's notice, if a lack of commitment is a feature not a bug for you, then I'd probably stay away from this.

By the end of the 20 levels, Popstar Physics feels more like an add-on pack of levels for Save Toshi than a verifiable sequel, but considering it's free for the time being, it's difficult to complain. The new mechanics show a lot of promise and although the core remains the same, the switch from "save" to "crush" is interesting enough you'll likely be begging for more.

Still, for my liking, an artistic attempt in video games is often worthy of its frustrations; especially if iOS is the only platform you have to experience it.

The game is still a little rough, but worth your time.

The biggest compliment I can give Tactile Wars is that it's really fun to play.

For those who enjoy arcade-style games, and I'm talking original Mario Bros. style, Woah Dave is a must, it's a great game to sink a lot of time into again and again.

Even when its story temporarily devolves into a series of extremely dull fetch quests, it's kind of a blast. For a game about such a particular hobby, it does a good job of being a crowd pleaser with well-designed RPG elements and odd little sim touches.

OrangePixel keep releasing platform games, as if trying to evolve the perfect platforming experience and INC is another step in the right direction.

As something fun and challenging to chew on over the course of a weekend or so, it does its job admirably, if not altogether surprisingly.

The game is a bit hard to get into. It takes a bit to get used to the timing of everything. Once you've established a consistent 'hey, ho' rhythm, you'll be prompted by specific sounds to do triple taps spanning one offbeat, and swipes to get over big waves

As a tower defense game, Siegecraft TD does a good job with its established gameplay and decent visuals engine. Toss in its great multiplayer system and it becomes a game that really stands out.

Sling Kong's core mechanic is fun because slinging feels good, and Protostar puts in all the work they can into their games to make them look and feel as good as possible.

Some RTS fans are going to find GrimGrimoire a little too tedious at times even with the great new features, while those looking to enjoy the excellent visuals and solid time loop yarn will have to come to grips with the strategic elements. Still, I think there’s a lot here worth digging into. I like to think the audience is more receptive to things like this than it was in the late 00s, and that perhaps GrimGrimoire will get its due at long last.

If you are even mildly curious, pick the game up and enjoy the story mode and free visual novel. If you're a Lovecraft maniac, you'd have to be absolutely eye-bulgingly skin-scratchingly insane not to give this a download.

It's simply an entertaining game that manages to test both your reflexes and strategy IQ and offers enough diversity to distinguish itself from the pack.

There’s little reason not to at least try Adventure Xpress and if you’re wary of freemium to begin with, this one is certainly worth checking out.

It all sounds incredibly straightforward, but there really is something special here in Polyroll. And, well, it is no faint praise to say this about an iOS platformer: Polyroll is damn near effortless and a joy because of it.

The kitsch is intact, and so is the light-hearted fun.

Overall Battle Orbs is a good puzzle battler with simple elements of adventure that you can easily grab and leave for short periods of time anywhere you go.

While I doubt Lunark will go down in history as one of the all-timers of cinematic platforming, it’s well-made enough that anyone who likes this underserved niche should check it out. The presentation is on point, the story and setting are intriguing, and the mechanics feel like a close cousin to Flashback. This flavor of game isn’t going to be for everyone, especially those lacking warm and fuzzies for the specific era it’s paying homage to, but the target it’s aimed at is going to have a blast with it.

Pixeljam took a very simple and classic idea of controlling a ship with spin-and-thrust controls, and by applying a particular structure around the game with its goals, theme, and art (the music sets the atmosphere fantastically), they've made something that's compelling.

If you’re interested in the idea of having arcade-style shoot-em-up action grafted onto a more expansive framework, you’ll probably want to give Astro Aqua Kitty a shot.

Bloodstroke is a terrific action game, and a great introduction to John Woo action on mobile.

You won't be blown away by any of the auditory or visual elements in Boom Brigade 2, but in all honesty that's not what this game is about. Rather, Boom Brigade 2 focuses on a real-time strategy experience with loads of weapons and explosions. On this front, few people will end up unsatisfied.

Danganronpa Decadence is a good value if you’re looking to get into the Danganronpa series, packing in solid ports of three excellent adventure games and a mildly amusing spin-off. While these Switch versions aren’t as smooth or fully-featured as you might like, I would imagine most first-time players aren’t going to mind the few nicks and flaws. Provided you’re okay with the mature subject matter, these are games you really should play if you haven’t before. If you’ve already picked the Danganronpa games up on other platforms it’s harder to call this is an essential purchase, but those who have hoped for this series to hit Switch should be satisfied.

If you like artistic games, definitely don’t pass on this one.

If you enjoy digging into a nice, twisty story, and don't mind that the overwhelming majority of your time with the game will be spent reading, I think you'll have a good time cobbling your memories back together with Amnesia.

Simplicity isn't a dirty word, it's the core of Pixld's vocabulary.

Galactic Nemesis generally feels quite good to play, with good explosions and lots of feedback when you hit something. Its modernized take on the wave-based shooter gives it plenty of character to stand out among a fairly competitive genre on iOS, and there's a pretty good amount of content and challenge for the price.

It's not as slick as its inspiration, and its more complex rules will likely turn some off, but it's certainly worth giving the game a shot to see how you take to it.

This Switch version of the game is a good way to experience it. While I greatly enjoyed the PlayStation Vita port, it suffered from a lot of framerate issues that the Switch version has a better time with. While it’s important to keep in mind that this is a relatively low-budget game from 2006, I think its presentation holds up nicely. Ys Origin isn’t my favorite Ys game, but it’s a very good one and I think its distinct flavor when compared to Ys VIII makes it a great pick-up for Switch owners who want something a little lighter to occupy their time with.

As long as you’re not dangerously low on toilet paper, You Against Me should be a pretty safe bet.