Given everything about Riptide GP: Renegade that's new and improved, this is easily the definitive game in the series. Newbies should go straight to this game in the Riptide series and not just because it skimps on the IAP. For veterans, Renegade's not that different, but it's worth returning for Vector Unit's strongest Riptide yet.

No, it's not something you're going to necessarily get addicted to or want to show all your friends. But if you're the type of person who loves looking at aquariums, give it a look.

Hero Generations assuredly has a feel of its own, and although it's occasionally a double-edged sword, the generational aspect of the game does present interesting challenges and tough choices.

This game, like many Warhammer games, gives plenty of signs that there's a huge, interesting universe, it just needs to do more to be welcoming to someone who's curious enough to find out more, but wants some guidance. And the rest of the experience isn't good enough to really justify non-Warhammer fans checking this out.

If you played the original and loved it, Space Marshals 2 is a better version of that. If you were on the fence in part because of the original game's stealth handling, the new stealth kills might help you out. If you didn't care for the original, or the concept doesn't appeal to you at all, then stay the course.

Leap of Fate is a very good arena-based twin-stick action game that layers on plenty of fun extras. It might not click with you at first, but I encourage you to give it some time to roll out its spread a little.

Regardless of what the future holds, Access Denied was a fun episode with some interesting - yet not very original - questions and critiques. It definitely was a shift from the previous episode and had a slightly lighter tone at times, which was welcome.

Jurassic Go might not be as memorable in say, 15 years, but it's a unique game that has a lot of heart. Instead of creating new IPs they may as well just go with this one again for their next creation.

At its core, Legend of the Skyfish is just a game with a winning premise that its developers cultivated into reaching as much of its potential as possible. I could see where future content or sequels could expand the breadth of actions you can undertake with your magical fishing pole, sure. But this game right now is a joyous experience worth checking out.

The main plot is interesting and the characters seem to have had a lot of effort put into them, but the English text could really use a few more editing passes. Ultimately, I think it's best taken as an extension of the original game, but I think I'd rather just play that instead.

So, if you're going in fresh to this series or love Deus Ex, don't hesitate to check it out. Otherwise, if you wait for a sale on this I won't judge you, though it's still a well-made game

It's an interesting experiment, but I don't feel the results turned out terribly well.

I think it's easy to tell why I like this game, and if you like strategy games with character and strategy games that play great on mobile despite their board game origins, Heroes of Normandie is definitely for you.

While it may be easy to start the descent in Journey Below, it's a far harder task to reach the bottom - and even more difficult to put down.

It's a fantastic example of the way that mobile-focused design doesn't have to mean that a game has to be any less deep or engaging in a long-term way. However you decide to play Reigns, you have to play this fun, inventive, and engaging game.

Eden: The Game is a special type of project that won't appeal to everyone. If you're looking to feel a rush pretty much at all times, battling danger left and right while you build your new utopia, directly interacting with other hostile players, look elsewhere. Everyone else will find a little bit of respite, even if the overall system could stand for a few upgrades and new scenarios down the line.

If you want a great one-handed mobile platformer that will test you, check out Blitz Breaker.

It's a particularly nice gateway game for fans of classic JRPGs thanks to the presence of the aforementioned legends, but it also shows its roots in its very gameplay structure and difficulty design.

Perhaps if we all try our best to avoid eye contact, Legends of Heropolis will go away.

Ultimately, Lanota is a work of art - while occasionally an ordeal, Noxy Games have proved they are capable of crafting an ambitious and appealing adventure that succeeds more than it sometimes falters.

It's a well-built JRPG, if not a terribly exciting one, and certainly doesn't do anything poorly.

It's not the best point-and-click adventure game you'll ever play, nor is it the lengthiest experience. But it's got charm in spades, and is a great way to spend a couple of hours.

Don't expect it to blow your mind, but if you want a well balanced puzzler, Quell Zen is your huckleberry. It could use a lot of polish but that's mostly from a visual perspective, because the brain teasing elements and accessible controls are intact.

If you’re interested in the idea of a fast paced arcade hidden object game or just a fan of the source TV show, it’s definitely worth a look.

The game is not only fun, but wonderfully, absolutely silly and unique.

I'm pretty big on a lack of direction for games as I feel like there is way too much handholding, but a lot of you may not feel the same way. If the demo is grinding your gears, odds are the rest of the premium levels will too.

There is potential here, and I don’t regret buying this game, but I’d recommend holding off on checking it out until there are some tweaks to this crazy RNG and progression.

I can see a few key aspects where Phoenix 2 could really improve in order to be a better experience, or at least are shortcomings that are tough to adjust. But regardless, the core concept behind Phoenix 2 is great, and it does a great job at being a game worthy of playing daily.

Severed is just a game that's all-around cool. Its aesthetic is top-notch, its combat is deep and engaging.

I personally think it's a rather excellent off-shoot of HeroQuest that lays down a foundation for even greater advancement in the future.

While video poker handheld machines have been around for decades (I had one myself as a kid), Politaire is pretty much the perfect way to pass the time if you're looking for a solo card game. It's also much more convenient than setting up a deck yourself, and you get some snazzy visuals while you're playing it.

But this is a must-download not just because it costs you nothing, but also because it's such a clever and fun game.

There may be some aspects that time and later iterations have improved upon, sure. But you can definitely understand why this work is a classic, and whatever flaws time has revealed pale in comparison to the quality of the original experience.

This likely isn't going to be your new favorite game or anything, but it's definitely worth downloading for the novelty.

In the end, Able Black's premise is probably stronger than its execution, but it's nevertheless an enjoyable little thought exercise in more ways than one.

Don't Be Squared looks gorgeous, sports a great animation style, and is very fun to play, but it has a tendency to gate a lot of that fun behind walls to push people into IAP. As long as you have the fortitude to deal with all of those ploys, you'll have a good enough time.

This game is glorious, but severely lacking in bells and whistles.

If you were one of the many people who wiled away the time on their Palm Pilot playing this game, you'll have a blast going through it in its shiny new form. If you're coming into it cold, just be prepared to put up with some quirks and a somewhat merciless difficulty curve. I think it's absolutely worth hanging in there, as the overall game is quite enjoyable, but it doesn't do a lot to hide which era it sprang from.

At the very least, it’s the best monster catching game released this week. Gotta collect ‘em all!

A little pachinko, a little pinball, Dungeon x Balls is a cool example of a paid game that has learned some good lessons from free-to-play.

LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is the same old LEGO juice in a Star Wars mug. I happen to think that juice tastes slightly better in that mug, but it all depends on how much you like Star Wars.

The game over screen was hilariously bombastic and over the top, which was one thing that made the high frequency of game overs tolerable. I’d recommend playing on an iPhone. Even though it’s a universal game, the visuals don’t scale very well to the iPad. If you want a smoother gameplay experience, or you just have a low tolerance for some clunk, you should probably look elsewhere.

If you are a fan of Uncharted, this is a must download. If you like puzzle games, this will definitely scratch your itch for a while.

Crypt of the NecroDancer is one of this generation's finest games, and the mobile version only makes that even clearer.

This game is a true mobile gaming classic and is a must-download.

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.

It's worth a shot if you're a fan of Square's classic RPG series, but in trying to stretch out to two different camps, I fear it may not entirely please either.

At the end of the day Drifty Dash knows what it is. It doesn't try to act like it's a simulation of any kind, nor is it going to provide you with pinpoint physics and even fair objectives.

If you're just looking for something that plays Lonely Rolling Star while you hammer away at the screen, trying to reach increasingly distant basketballs and cows, you might be satisfied with this game for a few minutes here and there. I just can't help but think this could have been far more interesting or fun than it is, even within the limits of the tapping genre as we know it.

There are a few things Frantic Shooter could do differently, most notably a world map, the addition of a light campaign, and unlockables that don't involve watching ads, but you get a lot of mileage out of the free download as-is, and the developers nailed the aiming feature.

Teeny Titans could have been a nasty and probably quite effective free-to-play money-cruncher, but I'm quite happy it took the road less-traveled.

As long as you're okay with a well-paced adventure that doesn't let up from start to finish, you won't be disappointed with Hyperburner. It might not deliver as much extra junk as you're used to for a premium game, but it's engaging from minute one.

Rodeo Stampede is essential for anyone looking for a casual experience that is hard to master and even harder to put down

As a fast-paced real-time action game, Heroes of Loot 2 does enough well that I enjoy my time with it, but I didn't find it as compelling as I hoped it would be.

Despite all of the fluff involved, this might actually serve as a gateway for players to experience the core series. In that sense it does a great job of showing off the beautiful artwork, rocking soundtrack, and diverse cast of characters.

You certainly could pick your way through the game's many levels, and you might even find it passes the time nicely. I suspect, however, that most players would have a better time with one of the more traditional examples in the genre.

Yes, Rule with an Rule with an Iron Fish doesn't do anything wholly new in the fishing space, but it does just about everything right.

I suppose Elio isn't outright terrible, but it is well below average. There are a lot of interesting pieces that fail to come together into something decent, and I can't honestly say any part of it is particularly fun.

Was the thematic departure we see in this episode successful? I would have to say yes because it managed to insert the characters into a different story genre and make the story work. It was a bit of a shame that in the process we lost most of the characters' backstories (outside the flint and steel part) because it felt that all the time and choices I invested in the series barely had an effect in this one.

If you've been waiting for a genuinely great rally racer for your mobile device, well, here you go.

Diehard pinball fans will likely want to stick with the usual suspects, but if you're looking for something different or at least open to the idea, Pinball Breaker Forever is a most tubular sensation.

For anyone else, whether you’ll find 2-bit Cowboy Rides Again to be an essential title is down to your own interests and most importantly the degree of patience you’ll be willing to afford it. Nonetheless, it will be very interesting to see what Retro Phone Games do next and whether it’ll be a bullseye or if it will just keep beating a dead horse.

Choice of the Pirate isn't a must-have gamebook, but it wears its concept well and has an enjoyable time along the way. As such, fans of fantasy pirate stories and those who enjoy lighthearted adventures will likely get their kicks out of this story.

This is still a must buy game for any strategy fans. It’s been compared favorably to Warbits, with people citing the story mode as more interesting and engaging.

From a purely mechanical point of view, Never Alone is good more often than it's great.

In the end, you’re crazy not to pick this up if you enjoy adventure games. But you probably won’t enjoy this game as much if you don’t like stuff like Dark Souls and Dark Seed, the latter of which was another point and click adventure based on H.R. Giger’s art.

Having said all that, Rockabilly Beatdown is a good mindless beat 'em up that actually has a decent amount of strategy involved.

Amidst the trend of instant gratification that the internet and gaming as a whole has perpetuated, having a game that both excels in its puzzles and also challenges your wider perception of it is commendable, and makes Human Resource Machine exponentially essential.

The writing in Hearts of Iron: War Stories was interesting enough to hold my attention for its brief running time, but the dull choices and disappointing ending system make it pretty hard to recommend.

Clickers are all about progression, and keeping the player interested for as long as possible. Nonstop Knight hits that point way too soon.

Those who like strong story elements or rich characters in their RPGs might want to give the game a pass, though, because it's not particularly good at either of those things, and the weak translation hurts what little is here. Otherwise, Romancing SaGa 2 is a fun, off-beat, challenging addition to Square Enix's mobile line-up, one well-worth tackling.

I highly recommend giving Sky Force Reloaded a shot. It's a fun, well-made shoot 'em up with some unique quirks to it.

Instead, the game shines because of the way it does the core mechanics so well, and invigorates a stale genre that has been copied and churned out so many times since iOS gaming began in 2008.

This is one of my favorite iOS games of 2016 so far, and I strongly recommend giving it your attention, regardless of whether you're an old hand at the genre or a newcomer. Just make sure you play it through to the true ending, because if you don't, you'll never truly get ahead in your studies at this strange school.

If you like the idea of building castles, goofy or otherwise, and like a little bit of economics simulation, this game is tailor made for you.

If you've enjoyed any of Brough's other works, or simply want an easy to pick up, moderately deep strategy game, Imbroglio is an easy recommendation.

As with the first game, once you've spent your two bucks, you've got the whole game. There are no IAPs, no premium currencies, and no timers. Just you, a huge dungeon, and a whole lot of death. Grab your knife and fork and dig in.

With no need to spend any money, Leap Day is the perfect pickup for people who want to find a new platformer to warn them by the fire. Some levels are randomly better than others, but tomorrow is always another day.

Mekorama might not wow you from minute-one with incredible visuals, but once you start getting addicted to the QR creation aspect, you may not be able to put it down or a while.

If you loved all of the previous games in this series, you'll probably enjoy Lifeline: Whiteout as well, but it's harder to make a case for the game if you fall outside of that particular category.

Genre fans will likely get a kick out of it initially, but I have to believe that only the hardest of the hardcore will stick around once the grind sets in.

I have to give Goo Saga a solid recommendation, ironically enough. I have my qualms with the upgrade system, but the core game here is more than strong enough to recommend on its own. And the progression issues may not matter as much if you are particularly skilled, or if completionism is not a factor for you at all. But if you want a platformer with a fun premise and great production values, do check out Goo Saga.

Whether you're racing through a canyon in an attempt to avoid a pterodactyl to shoot lasers or just listening to the spot-on soundtrack, it's worth checking out.

If you like Adventure games, this is a must have cult-classic. If you like psychological horror, this is likewise a must have cult-classic.

Action-RPG gems of this size and quality don't hit mobile very often.

In terms of its core mechanics, this is probably one of the better side-scrolling beat-em-ups I've played on iOS in a while, so the potential is there if the tech and balancing issues can be sorted out.

It's a no-frills platformer that hearkens back to an era of simplicity, which comes with its own set of flaws and issues. But as someone who grew up during that era and has put up with worse, I could put up with those problems to find an interesting little surprise at the end of the tunnel.

The last episode of the miniseries definitely redeemed the whole series for me as we finally got time to stop, breathe, and enjoy the complex characters populating TWD universe.

In spite of a few moments where it feels like it's taking on a little too much too quickly, I found The Sea Eternal to be a very compelling gamebook that gives you good reasons to play through multiple times.

So, Pathfinder Adventures is an excellent digital card game that will offer many hours of entertainment and equally many hours of cursing your luck as your three 12-sided dice add to a total of 4.

In the end, it’s still a very solid game, and it’s totally free.

Outside of a stark difficulty increase in the latter part of Chapter 2, Amidakuji Knight is a game I can't put down. It's easy to play either with your full concentration or while something is playing in the background, and my reaction time has improved because of it.

It's fine that Redemption Season is less a game about superheroes and more a game about contemporary social issues, but it doesn't handle either of those subjects with the sophistication or care they merit.

If you're looking for something that's not as stressful as other platformers but still attempts to provide some semblance of a challenge, you could do a whole lot worse than Egz.

INKS. is a clever spin on one of the oldest concepts in electronic gaming. Much of the cleverness is admittedly tied up in the visuals, but it is interesting to play a pinball game where you aren't trying to rack up a high score, I suppose.

Black Hole Joyrider has no IAP whatsoever, and like Boson X, there are no collectibles, coins, or anything like that. It's just you against the game. It's a lighter experience all around than that game, but it's enjoyable enough to play and the presentation certainly doesn't slouch on its end of things.

If I don't sound particularly excited by Glorious Savior, well, it's because I'm not. It's a serviceable RPG with a good sense of humor, contentedly treading water on the line of mediocrity.

With a fair monetization scheme, gameplay that's hard to put down, and a fun retro aesthetic, Hammer Bomb is something I'm going to be playing for quite a while. I didn't expect it to be that deep going in, but as we all know looks can be deceiving.