Casual gamers who are unfamiliar with games of this sort will most likely be turned off by the complexity of the game's inner workings, but those who know what they're getting into and enjoy similar games will probably agree with me when I say that Inotia 2 is one of the best action-RPG's on the App Store.

Band Together winds up feeling just a little bit inconsistent. Judged purely on its puzzling, it doesn't really distinguish itself. The puzzles are well-crafted, but they aren't going to seriously tax most players. But bring in the themes, the atmosphere and the presentation and it starts to resemble an experience that shouldn't be missed.

It's mature, old school design. Very rough around the edges, and certainly not showpiece for the platform. Ugly, in fact. But it's also a lot of fun, and interesting enough that, given my resistance to cheating, I have a feeling I'll be squatting my way through for another solid three or four weeks.

I actually had a fun time with this. It has that great pick-up and play feel that makes for a terrific palate cleanser between bigger, more complicated games. It’s easy enough to just make your way through, but the added objectives layer on more challenge for those who desire it. It even has leaderboards so you can see how you stack up time-wise on each stage against other players. Games like Unimime tend to get lost in the crowded hallways of the eShop, but it’s one that is worth paying some attention to.

Setting aside considerations of overlap with other releases and a more complete version coming down the line, Wonder Boy Collection is a fine set. The original game has a lot of charm even now, Monster Land‘s ambition is admirable, Monster World is an excellent action-adventure, and Monster World IV is one of the better late-era Genesis games. As dull as the usual interface is, I can’t argue with the suite of features it offers. Please apply your own circumstances as needed, but taking Wonder Boy Collection for what it is, it’s well-worth the price of admission.

The overall story, character development and pacing are excellent. The modifications to the core gameplay, whether they were changed from the US SNES version to the DS version or created exclusively for the iOS port, make the game more accessible to a wider audience.

It's simple, fun and best of all challenging.

I'm a bit of a sucker for cute art styles, but Joining Hands marries its cute art and sound design with solid, original gameplay.

While not every element was perfectly executed, it really has a tremendous amount going for it with its lovely score, beautiful art, and memorable gameplay.

While it's very derivative of that game, it at least feels like it justifies its existence beyond its surface theme.

Most of the time, though, The Grading Game is pretty cool-assuming your idea of cool is finding other people's mistakes and punishing them.

In its current state, Stacklands is a fantastic game held back by some interface issues on Nintendo Switch. If you have the option to play it with a mouse or touch controls on Steam, I recommend getting it there. The Switch version and the controller support in general for the game need a bit more work for the game to be an easier recommendation. Stacklands has definitely sent me down the Sokpop Collective rabbit hole and I’ve been checking out some of the team’s other games. Hopefully we see some more come to the console soon.

The art style is what drew me to the game, and it looks as good as I could have hoped. The whole thing has a layered paper craft aesthetic that's simply adorable. Everything looks hand-made: the backdrops, the monsters, the levels and even most of the interface elements.

As for the game itself, you can love it, you can hate it, and I've certainly done both over the last 18 years, but however you rank it in the overall series, I feel like it's hard to argue against it being a really good JRPG.

Raceline CC is a fun game, and while it does only one thing, it does it quite well.

A difficult game to evaluate. Its challenging gameplay and numerous options in terms of power-ups and vehicles doesn't make it a particularly approachable game. Yet it's those exact features that make it a delight for fans of trial-and-error score-chasers. In that regard, assuming you know what you're getting into, Stunt Star is well worth a recommendation.

Thoroughly impressive. The art is cute and welcoming and the games are fun, with quite a range of difficulty levels. The music that is included is, of course, great.

I doubt I'll unlock all of The Fleet's endings, and I'm fairly certain I know everything about the Grix that the game has to tell me, but I'm not done with this one, not yet.

There's some rough edges to Space Grunts, but a lot of that can just be attributed to a unique feel that Orangepixel has and that I wouldn't necessarily want to go away. And the overall product is a really cool blend of different styles.

Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir is impressive if only for the fact that a new lick of paint and a few tweaks here and there leave it feeling so close to a modern game in so many ways. It will at times betray that illusion with some frustrating progress-blockers, but for the most part this is a great choice for fans of adventure games or even just a good mystery story. Mages has done a fantastic job of updating the game’s presentation, too. This isn’t the kind of game we’re used to seeing from Nintendo, particularly when it’s reaching into its classic library, but I’m glad it’s finally available to a wider audience.

KarmaZoo is an odd platformer that isn’t going to work for everyone, but I think those who both have the right context and are less concerned about the goal and more with the journey will find a lot to like here.

What makes Lunistice work is just how spot on the controls are. The gameplay here is very tight, which makes the platforming fun no matter how tough it gets. The stages can get a little long for my liking, but I appreciate how thoughtfully they are designed. You can find some very clever shortcuts if you keep your eyes open and have the guts to try. It’s not the lengthiest of games, but it’s a lot more substantial than most lower-cost 3D platformers on the Switch. If you like the genre, pick it up.

The 20 included episodes are far less than the console versions, and due to their linear nature there's not really much reason to replay them multiple times, but the developer seems keen on adding additional episodes and features in updates.

It is a well-rounded package that can be breezed through in a couple of hours, but offers you replayability as you unlock and learn to master the many different planes composing your sizable squadron.

Pixely People is a lot of fun, much more action-packed than Game Dev Story and at least as full of personality. But the static structure hurts it a little bit. You'll always have the same crew members to unlock, and you'll always perform the same actions on the same timers to make movies.

All in all, Nobleman: 1896 has an extremely unique blend of ideas and mechanics that show their potential at the beginning of the game but don't quite hit their stride until the latter half of the game. However, if you learn the game's various mechanics and press forward through its slightly repetitive beginnings, there is a unique and strategic experience to be had. Remember, it's free and you have nothing to lose by trying it out.

I went into this expecting, at best, a mid-level Kemco RPG, so it's kind of funny that this has turned out to be a better game all-around than most of the JRPGs available on iOS.

A simple game. It's a fun way to test your reaction speed, and it does a great job of motivating players to keep pushing their high scores forward. But the slick interface, colorful art and cheerful soundtrack boost it beyond the confines of its gameplay, making it a great choice to pull out whenever you have a good 90 seconds to kill.

It might not be the most full-featured game out there, but the gorgeous environments, hypnotic music and sound effects, and attention to detail all make Dragons Dream a compelling offering, especially for fans of Dean's work.

SteamWorld Build is, like the other games in this series, a very friendly and well-paced game. I think that’s a double-edged blade, as veterans of the genre might find it all a bit too streamlined and deterministic. Still, the game is a really good time while it lasts, and I appreciate all the attempts to mix things up without losing the basic enjoyment this genre offers. The game plays really well on Switch, too. If you’re looking for a fun entry-level builder, you might want to give this a look.

It's a true testament to my enjoyment of the game that I kept at it, grinding my way through old battles time after time and coming up with new strategies along the way. The retro-centric charming visuals certainly don't hurt matters either if you're a fan of the style.

Fellow robot sympathizers, players looking for a mental workout, or anyone bitter their iPad still can't play Machinarium: don't let this one pass you by.

Infinite Warrior isn't subtle or deep, it's a game about being being being badass and making it look easy... and a little campy.

If you're interested in classic games, especially fantasy and/or strategy games, Lords of Midnight is a must-have. On the other hand, if you are an action gamer whose idea of "old school" is Goldeneye 64, you'll want to give this one a pass.

Cook, Serve, Delicious on Switch is an easy recommendation whether you’re new to the series, or curious about its origins as a newcomer. Once the touch controls can be improved, this will be my favorite version of this classic. I’m glad it finally got ported, and hope we get a physical trilogy release now.

Yohane the Parhelion: Blaze in the Deepblue is a great introduction to the Metroidvania genre for newcomers, but I was hoping for more given the developers’ pedigree. It is possible we see tweaks and updates bring more to the table, but right now Yohane the Parhelion: Blaze in the Deepblue is a mechanically solid good Metroidvania, but not a great one as I had hoped for. If you are a Love Live fan, you likely will have an even better time with it. If you aren’t, this is a great and accessible game that might make you a Love Live fan. I just hope Inti Creates does more for this game in updates.

As long as you don't mind that Mimpi Dreams is more about taking you on an audio-visual journey than putting your twitch skills to the test, you'll likely find the game to be worth your time and money.

Eets Munchies is a satisfying and complete puzzle game, and given the included level editor you could spend a ton of time playing around in its world. I kind of wish some of the puzzles were a bit more inventive and a tad less remedial, but the latter arenas will have you satisfyingly scratching your head.

NecroBouncer has an interesting premise that it doesn’t do as much with as you might like, but it’s a perfectly adequate take on the somewhat well-worn roguelite action genre. My time with it was largely enjoyable, even if I don’t know that I’ll remember much about it in the long run. If you’re looking for a cheeky little roguelite to pass a few days with, this will certainly fit the bill.

Lumicon requires razor-sharp focus and nimble fingers, and there are plenty of strategies to suss out. If you think you and your vocabulary can handle it, you really ought to take a look.

You really shouldn't pass Continuity 2 up if you're a puzzle-game fan. Screenshots don't do it justice – the minimalistic style works beautifully in motion-and both the music and sound effects are great.

Five bucks is a bit steep for yet another re-release, but Crazy Taxi's iPhone-sized package presents the perfect time-killer while you're waiting for a table, bustling along on the commute to work, or looking for a fun pass-and-play style game with friends. Check it out.

And check out the game's story. It's a delight and delivered just right.

While the average player may be better off waiting until the arrival of the Spelunky games on Switch, Spelunker HD Deluxe has charms of its own. The multiplayer modes alone add a lot of value to the game provided you can find people to play with, and pushing up the leaderboards in single-player is quite satisfying as well. Its adherence to the fussy rules of a rather early computer game will surely turn some away, but approach it on its own terms and you’ll find a challenging adventure that rewards you for your patience and investment in its mechanics.

Guild of Dungeoneering Ultimate Edition brings a very enjoyable roguelite packed with personality to the Nintendo Switch in fine form. The button controls work well, and the game looks nice on the handheld screen. If you’ve played this game before on another platform, all you need to know is that this is another excellent option to play it again. If you haven’t played it before and you enjoy a good roguelite, you’ll want to check this out. It has some additions, improvements, and refinements, but truthfully speaking the core game was good enough that all of that is just icing on the cake.

Despite initially not feeling like I’d care much for the setting, I enjoyed most of my time with Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei on Nintendo Switch. It is repetitive with how some aspects play out in different routes, but is worth playing if you’re looking for something with a historical setting like this. One thing is certain. I’m hoping Idea Factory International continues to localize more otome games because the subgenre of visual novels definitely seems to be doing great on Switch after some uncertainty after the end of the PS Vita.

When you combine the large amount of depth on the gameplay side with a good narrative tale and a fairly decent control scheme, Time of Heroes is well worth a recommendation for any fan of strategic turn-based games.

The price is a bit on the stiff side given the game is as brief as it was in the 16-bit era, but taken as a whole this is as it ever was: fun, feel-good, and something you’ll want to come back to now and then in the future.

Hectic Space 2 is a rare game in that it looks like it doesn't amount to much, but it actually offers up a shooting experience on par with many big development studios.

The levels are interesting, the controls are spot on, and the game uses adorable pixel art graphics and an awesome chiptune soundtrack.

I'm pretty anxious to see where this goes. If you dig the retro, don't miss P1XL Party.

An excellent hidden object game and is a great evolution of the original.

Deadcraft isn’t what I would call fancy dining, but it’s a lot better than it looks. It’s a solid survival-based action-RPG with a few unique elements that make it more engaging than the average entry in that category. It’s a shame it doesn’t have a catchier title or more striking visuals, because I can’t help but feel people are going to miss it with things being what they are. If you’re not totally sick of zombies or survival RPGs, make sure you give this one a shot.

A huge improvement over the original, and I just can't believe how hooked I've been on it since it came out. It's just pure, simplistic, fast-paced, arcade racing fun.

Fantasian is a very demanding experience, and you really have to be in love with its mechanics to put up with it all. Heaven knows the narrative isn’t going to keep you motivated. Fantasian is an absolute masterpiece in most regards, and yet I find myself struggling to recommend it.

Arachnadoodle is definitely a hidden gem on the App Store, combining many tried and true gameplay elements in to a very fun iPhone game that I highly recommend downloading.

Still, minus any flaws and struggles, Dice Mage's core gameplay is interesting enough that you should download this.

While some may complain about the lack of significant improvements, I'm willing to be satisfied with the fact that Gameloft has taken a successful series and preserved the single player campaign with small changes and improvements to an otherwise well-done formula.

If you can deal with its shortcomings, SoulCalibur on iOS is actually an excellent port. It looks great, runs smoothly, controls as well as a fighting game can without buttons, and offers a decent amount of single player content to play through.

Whether in your own crypt before you go to sleep, or at a family dinner with ghoulish relatives, Le Vamp is a charming, clever runner worth checking out. If your last flirtation with the genre was with something like Punch Quest [Free], this may just be one worth sinking your teeth into.

You won’t want to miss out on Glorkian Warrior: Trials of Glork, especially if you’re a huge fan of arcade shooters with hilariously great jokes and some marvellous comic visuals. It's got a few flaws, but the good vastly outweighs the bad.

Madcoaster doesn't stray too far from the endless runner formula, but it does do a good job executing most of the elements we love in the genre.

Make no mistake, Solstice Arena isn't a full-blown MOBA. Still, I think there's enough here in the actual gameplay to overlook a some of the missing elements and quirky design decisions.

Smile For Me is a unique experience, and one that adventure game fans looking for something a little different should really enjoy.

Frankly, outside of a few minor issues with the controls, I think this is as good of a port of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night as we could expect on mobile. It’s a good game, and it fits mobile quite well. I’d probably recommend picking up Castlevania: Symphony of the Night ahead of this game, but there can and should be room in your life for both. And much to my own surprise, I would recommend this version of the game over the Switch port. It just plays better thanks to the reduced input lag, and it feels more stable all-around. The biggest snag here for most is going to be in the controls. You’ve got a choice between imperfect controller support or a non-customizable arrangement of virtual buttons. If that doesn’t bother you, I can heartily recommend this game. It’s great.

Forge And Flame is quite good, especially considering its scope, but it's not quite great.

Light the Flower has a cheerful, cartoon-inspired look, and it does present some replayability if you want to try to snag all the stars in every level or improve your time.

Whatever No More Heroes III lacks in fresh ideas, it makes up for with sheer refinement. If this is the way Travis and his oddball action series goes out, I think it’s a fine enough finale.

It's refreshing to find a game that respects your intelligence, money, and time. All the better that it's good fun, too.

I’ll be frank: if you don’t vibe with McPixel 3‘s extremely quirky sense of humor, you’ll have a miserable time with it. If you do? You’ll have a great time chasing down every last gag, good or bad. There were a couple of bits that didn’t work with me (one sequence was way too self-indulgent for my liking), but overall I found the game hard to put down until I had seen every last stupid thing it had to offer.

There is a backdrop of familiarity to everything Dédale does, but it does a great job with mechanics most of us know by heart.

That said, it’s free, and you’ve got nothing to lose by giving it a download and seeing if it clicks… err, swipes.

The higher buy-in price this time around means that I’d probably still recommend West of Loathing first to someone new to this series. That said, if you’ve already played that game the odds are good that you’re more than willing to pony up for Shadows Over Loathing. I ended up enjoying it just a little less than West, but that’s likely down to it being more of a known quantity to me now. Overall, another clever, well-written RPG that feels like a breath of fresh air in the same way its predecessor did.

If you enjoyed Heavy Metal Thunder, the sequel is a no-brainer purchase.

Magazine Mogul serves to at least partially fulfill the wishes of people waiting for a sequel to Kairosoft's first breakout release. It's not as original as some of their recent titles like Kairobotica, but the familiarity isn't a bad thing in this case.

The App Store definitely has its fair share of these stage-based affairs where you're trying to collect or earn three things, and if you're dead sick of those, TripTrap probably isn't going to be the one to change your mind. If, however, you like the sound of that gravity mechanic and aren't fully exhausted with the concept, you'll probably have a good time with the game

Let’s Build a Zoo is a dangerous game. When I decided to take a break from playing The Centennial Case on PS5 to spend a few minutes with Let’s Build a Zoo on Switch, I ended up putting in over an hour and barely realizing it was 1:30 AM. It is a perfect fit for a portable as well, but hope the UI issues can be addressed over time with updates. If you can deal with the small text and some interface elements, this is an essential. I like the controls, gameplay, writing, and never got tired of the music. While I’m sure it runs better on more powerful systems, I don’t think I’d trade portability for anything else with Let’s Build a Zoo, and I hope it does hit iPad in the near future.

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.

There's a strong sense of deja vu here if you've been playing along with the recent Tank Battle releases, but while Frontline covers a lot of similar ground, it still manages to offer some cool elements of its own.

If you're a fan of '90s RPGs and have been craving something that doesn't hold your hand or guide you along on the iPad, this is the perfect game for you.

Luxuria Superbia isn’t entirely reciprocal, but the rewards of giving yourself to its pleasures are great.

It kind of feels like the RPG equivalent to one of those Kairosoft sims. You’re going to win no matter what, but it’s charming and playable enough that the inevitability of it all isn’t a big problem. As long as you know what you’re getting into with it, Swords & Souls: Neverseen is a very good time.

With an excellent behind-the-car racer in Rush Rally 3 and now a superb overhead entry, it’s hard to imagine what more this developer can do in the rally racing category, especially at such an incredibly competitive price point.

If you enjoy relaxing puzzle games, A Little to the Left is definitely worth checking out. I hope some of the control issues can be addressed in future updates.

While each of the individual gameplay elements isn't particularly groundbreaking, Avatar's major achievement is the sense of immersion and scale that Gameloft has managed to create in an iPhone game.

The whole thing happens to the beat of an original techno soundtrack – make sure to wander into the music menu and play with the different songs. They take Current from a pretty interesting Puzzle Bobble clone to something really cool.

Vampire Boyfriends does what it sets out to do: it's funny, a little sexy, and seriously entertaining. The illustrations are a bit rough, the opening music a little too startling each time you start over, but those things are hardly real problems.

Even with it spinning its wheels in a variety of ways, I found Dragon Sinker to be very satisfying from a mechanical point of view.

The joy of taxonomy may fade in time, but you'll always have the knowledge that you were the one to identify the humble Lob-hog-bit, and that's a memory that will last.

The balance at work in Fist Face Fight is one between challenge and length. It's further confused by an IAP system that doesn't take into account the lack of consumable uses. If you can set that aside, however, and rise to the challenge, there is a great lot of fun to be had.

Don't write this off as just another knockoff. Hard Lines takes the formula further with six great game modes. Yes, you can play Snake mode, where your line grows ever longer as you gobble up glowy things.

Despite the combat being a bit repetitive, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon is a highly enjoyable experience on the whole. The presentation is distinct and fantastically-realized, the story is well-written and genuinely interesting, and the moment-to-moment gameplay is solid. Action-heads looking for their next challenge aren’t going to get what they’re after here, but both fans of adventure games and the Bayonetta characters and world should be more than satisfied.

Provided you don’t mind the fact that Nuclear Blaze ends just when it feels like it’s really getting going, this is an enjoyable action game I wouldn’t be shy about boosting. It looks good, plays well, has a lot of clever ideas, and really great pacing. There are some moments of frustration, but they’re fleeting and add texture to the experience. I wish there were more to it, but that’s really mainly down to how much I like what is already here.

The controls are mostly swipe-based and work fine.

As someone who still enjoys firing up Space Harrier now and then for some kicks, I had a fantastic time playing Air Twister. Don’t come into it expecting it to push the rail shooter genre to new levels. It’s very similar to the original in terms of pure mechanics and overall length. The presentation is wild, and you sure can’t say the game goes halfway on throwing imaginative stage designs at you. The average player might find this a bit too slight an experience, and I’m not sure the extras add much in that regard, but if you love rail shooters I think you’ll find Air Twister to be an audiovisual trip worth taking.

Its destruction serves as the overall objective to achieve victory in Armada.

The advanced control requires a good bit of practice to get it right, but should eventually be your control of choice.

Darkly cynical fun, but fun nonetheless.