There's enough content to keep players engaged, and the loot system works well in keeping you coming back to try and find a better piece of equipment.

It's sexy, fast-paced fun.

There's a lot of things going on in Pocket Planes. There's simulation, there's strategy, and then there's the world that you've created and the people you might have interacted with along the way. While it's probably true that the game's mechanics will only keep your interest for so long, there's a lot of game here to like. More importantly, though, Pocket Planes is just ... fun. Game business doesn't need to inform game design, after all.

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.

Gauge looks artistic, and it looks experimental. It sort of is, but it's not pretentious.

The simplicity of Shoot The Zombirds is definitely key in making it such an appealing pick-up-and-play title.

Flaws aside, LostStar Tactics is one of a too-small list of games strategy lovers really ought to have on their devices. It isn't perfect, but it improves on Tactical Warrior in ways that should make it accessible to a much larger audience.

So despite the crushing sense of familiarity, Zombie Carnaval is a game you really need to own. Running with a pack, devouring humans to add them to your crew-this is good stuff.

This isn't innovative or the first of its kind, but Surfers does expand and evolve what we've come to know as the endless runner.

Plague Inc will snag your attention in all the right ways and keep it there long after you've come to terms with the fact you'll be indirectly responsible for human testing.

Fortune Street Smart is a classic example of a title with great mechanics hampered by some of the other supporting elements.

ChickenBreak is a cute, funky little title that looks great and plays well, and has an appropriately frantic soundtrack to go with its fast-paced gameplay.

The game's simplicity belies its lasting appeal-the timeless "just one more round" feeling is there with Razor, and it's because of that hook and a few of the game's small but important features that it can burrow its way into your brain and illicit the craving for earning just a few more Razorbucks.

Mega Run is an engrossing, vibrant game that has a fantastic presentation, controls and art direction. At its core, the action is pretty standard, but the execution is near flawless. Give it a spin.

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

A massive, sprawling affair that will keep you busy for weeks. It's the kind of MMO that serious-minded iOS gamers have been waiting for, the sort of game that will draw a trill of appreciation from Angry Birds haters. If you have the right mindset, Empire of the Eclipse will rock your world.

This is one of the few iOS titles that really does not skimp on any of the features that make RTS games exciting. When you add in the beautiful visuals and multiplayer, it's a no brainer that anyone with even a remote interest in strategy games needs to pick up.

What's there is fun, but at five dollars it's difficult to support Sega's apparent decision to treat Virtua Tennis Challenge as an afterthought.

Tiny Plane eschews some of the newer innovations found in recent endless runners. You won't find any mission or leveling systems, and there isn't much in terms of actual progression (other than collecting coins, of course). As such, if you're looking for a cute, well-done endless runner and you're not too concerned with longetivity, I highly recommend Tiny Plane.

Slingshot Racing is a fresh take on racing games and is a shining example of a game that's well-suited to the touch screen and the mobile nature of iOS devices.

So math fans and strategy nuts, enjoy. Exponential Invasion, is, as it claims, a game of mathmatical warfare, and it's a clever one.

A must-own, Score! Classic Goals is a love letter to the game of soccer.

But this sequel takes what was already an excellent game and cleans it up in all the ways that count.

The whole package is a visual treat with a real knack for design, and it's also a fun, fresh game.

Slowdown issues aside, I found O2Jam U to be a fun little music game. There are enough initial points to sample all the songs, and the decent amount of options ensures some replayability.

While it may be easy to say Crash Mayhem is a simple copy-and-paste job of the Burnout series by looking at screenshots, you'd be entirely wrong. Crash Mayhem is certainly derivative of Burnout (and especially Crash), but adds its own flavor and features that make it stand out on its own.

If you're looking for a new dual stick shooter and you aren't tired of zombie hunting, you could do a lot worse than mini. Just don't expect much in terms of innovation either in the gameplay or zombie front.

Adventurer Workshop is a game worth playing. It may wear its inspirations on its sleeve, but it's something new, something fun and challenging. You can let out your inner adventurer in other games; Adventurer Workshop gives your inner artisan a chance to shine.

A beautifully created action (adventure?) game that places you in the role of a spider who must spin webs in order capture enough food to make it to the next level.

It's a game worth playing, a story worth experiencing. And it will leave you wanting more.

So caveat emptor: Witch Wars is out to part you from your hard earned money. It doesn't make any attempt to hide that fact. But there's no reason you can't rack up quite a few wins (and coins) just by playing with the free witches.

Ultimately Scotland Yard is not a success, but something to be shelved in the hope that Ravensburger soon revisits it.

Look beyond all the thongs and pasties and you'll find an engaging, if somewhat simplified, monster-hunting experience.

If you can get past the spotty controls, Deadmans Run is an adequate racer with enough meat in its campaign to offer genre fans something to try.

The sky isn't quite the limit, but The Sandbox is well on the way. And with a planned Universal update in the works, its canvas is set to grow. So go, make something amazing.

With plenty of challenges, unlockables, an upcoming iPad version, and promised updates to the visuals and AI, Wings of Valor makes for a very attractive package at $1.99.

A ridiculously fun diversion, a great way to while away the minutes. I wouldn't put too much effort into climbing the leaderboards, knowing that someone with deeper pockets could easily outmatch me with less skill, but just for fun? Sure, I'm happy to give this game my time. If fun, charm and character are all that matter to you, then you should definitely pick it up.

Punch Hero's invisible paywall feels terribly mean-spirited.

Don't think twice about tagging along with Guy as he journeys to and from the stars in a journey crafted from charming storybook graphics and a unique twist on puzzle games that only a platform as diverse as the App Store can provide.

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.

LostWinds2: Winter of the Melodias is a beautifully presented bit of childlike magic and irrefutable proof that wholesomeness does not necessarily have to be boring.

Worth obsessing over if you love numbers, tactics, collecting and crafting.

The game you can buy today is a solid one in its own right, even if only for its unique, rhythmic combat.

Bouncy music, crisp and colorful graphics and a basic but effective formula make Jumping Knights the kind of thing that I immediately considered to be one of those games that I will never delete from my phone.

If you've been craving that simple arcade experience, Pinch Peeps is the way to go.

This Could Hurt isn't quite what we'd been hoping for when it comes to the next generation of iOS platformers. That said, the game still plays great and you could still get at least several hours of enjoyment out of it, just set your expectations accordingly.

Packing in over 60 levels across 3 distinct planets, Monster Shooter is likely to hold on to your attention for quite a while.

Maybe it's just a case of irrational expectations, but I was a bit disappointed in the overall package of Kotomon. It feels less like a music/rhythm adventure and more of a simplified platformer with frustrating controls and little in terms of variety.

Unfortunately, there's just too much variability in terms of match quality to unequivocally recommend N.O.V.A. 3 based on its multiplayer. The annoying glitches and matchmaking system don't help and the lag is an issue that needs to be addressed. It's a shame because the underlying advancement and build systems are solid with a large potential for customizability.

A little rougher around the edges maybe, but a ridiculous, ageless thing that can be enjoyed by anyone. And that's okay.

The characters and the world will slowly grow on you. Combat is brief and brutal, yet satisfying.

Yggdrasil is giving Elder Sign a serious run for its money in the field of board games I most like to play solo. It plays beautifully on iPad, and looks nearly as good as it plays. Most of all, I enjoy Ygdrassil because it's a game that gives me a good measure of control over my fate, and the fate of the world by extension.

While the game's content doesn't yet measure up to other more padded entries in the App Store, what it does offer will keep you entertained, and for a fair asking price.

Still a fantastic game, and I had a great time playing it. What it's missing in variety it makes up for with heaps of charm, and for the amount of content you get, it's worth way more than a buck.

Bug Princess 2 shares a ton in common with the original Bug Princess, but thanks to some key differences in scoring and completely new stages it really stands out on its own. And like Bug Princess it's also not overly complex like some later Cave titles, so for shooter newbies it remains a strong entry point to the genre.

A few missteps aside, the puzzles -- while of the traditional match-this-item-with-this-NPC sort -- are clever and well-realized, even if they tend to be a little on the nose. It's still one of the best in the series, funnier than "Moai Better Blues" and with clearer puzzle design than "Raving Dead."

Don't let an unbalanced economy make you shy away from Shark Dash, though. Cracking a level's puzzle-like configuration is a real kick that comes wrapped in a fun theme, vibrant graphics, and, quite likely, the first and only time you'll ever root for a shark.

Every aspect of the game has been built with PikPok's trademark care. It's hard to turn down gorgeous animation and well-crafted levels. If you're a fan of How To Train Your Dragon, this game is definitely worth a download. If you're not, you'll still find a solid set of logic puzzles within.

Bubble Pig is one of those games that achieves a great balance between being straightforward, while still managing to be challenging too. Dismissing the game as being too formulaic would be unfair, as it manages to be very fun despite its simplistic premise.

It's fun, it's deep (you've still got all the challenges and your personal records to break even after you've opened everything up), and it's free.

Sure, Years 5-7 looks good visually, but the switch to a virtual gamepad along with the issues mentioned above deter the game from being better. As it is, the Lego gameplay is intact, meaning that fans of the series should continue to enjoy it.

Where Tractor Trails really nails the fun factor is in its simplistic, yet rewarding gameplay. A game that you can pick-up and play for a few minutes or up to a few hours is still rare, so it's nice to see that Tractor Trails stays as fun as it should long after you've started.

Robbery Bob isn't bad by any stretch of the imagination, it just isn't good.

In between all of this, crammed between the good and the bad, nestled between the occasional guilty crystal expenditure, that's where the magic happens.

Tower Of Fortune may not have the progression elements, compelling story, or depth of its meatier RPG brethren, but it has all the stats, levels, loot, triumph, and tragedy a RPG fan needs for on-the-go gaming.

Don't miss this one. It might be free, but I'd have easily paid for a title as interesting as this and am eagerly looking forward to Bar Oasis 2.

A cautious recommendation. If you can stomach the mild horror of obliterating humanity, if you can handle a somewhat clunky port, it's pretty great to have Pandemic on the go.

The great presentation, well-implemented control scheme and overall enjoyable gameplay simply lead to a game worth playing.

Street Fighter IV Volt now has some serious competition, and it looks like the future is pretty bright for fighting games on the App Store.

Like all games that control with virtual sticks, Omegapixel's controls suffers from minor virtual-stick touchiness, but my fried reflexes cost me more missions than occasionally spot controls. Other than said spottiness and grating music (the sound effects are the right kind of bleepy retro, but the soundtrack, which you can disable, sounds like an 8-bit game that froze right in the middle of a high chord) Omegapixel is a ton of fun, and especially shouldn't be missed at its current price of free.

Brainnsss strategy and action feel pretty unique in a space that's been done to undeath, and they probably really pop outside of this vacuum. I can dig it, at least.

None of these things are revolutionary; Ballistic SE doesn't rewrite the twin stick shooter or bring us a brand new perspective on the genre. Instead, it's an incredibly solid, well-balanced game that makes up in entertainment for what it skips in flash.

Cannon Cat is precise and easy to play, it's fast, and it's a lot of fun.

The only thing that I didn't really like about McGuffin's Curse is, perhaps, the controls.

"Chariots of the Dogs" is smoothly and tightly paced, and nothing feels misplaced or kludged together. It's a charming, warm, and funny game, and it's the best episode in an increasingly good series.

A great endless runner. I'd argue that it warrants consideration simply from its visuals.

The controls aren't perfect, which can sometimes lead to mistakes. The game's distinctly retro aesthetic will be a turn-off for some. And I can sympathize with the feeling that roguelikes can be a bit pointless. I enjoy the repetition, the fight to improve my score in a pretty randomly generated experience, but there's no shame in preferring persistance.

With some elbow grease and a good once over, Spellsword could easily earn a permanent spot on my iPhone. It's really that good.

The controls are passable, but nowhere near the likes of Street Fighter IV Volt, King of Fighters-i, or SoulCalibur on iOS.

The over-the-top violence and humor will simply not work for some people. However, I implore anyone on the fence to bite the bullet and check out this title. It strikes that hard sought balance of accessibility, appealability (again, for some more than others) and enjoyability with very little in terms of detraction, and it's certainly one of the better physics-based titles that I've checked out.

The game draws me in because it lets me be creative. It's freeing to play a puzzle game that lets the player decide when a piece is finished.

As a test of reflexes it's not the worst game in the world by any means, although there's an overwhelming feeling that the game has missed a few opportunities in the execution: varying grids, stage selection, or the ability to enter the training mode to practice against specific mechanics (rather than the basic "lights-out" gameplay). All or even some of these would have made the game far easier to recommend.

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

Even if you have an adverse reaction to IAP, Lock 'n' Load still offers a decent amount of content with more that can be eventually unlocked (even if it takes a long time).

I think it's safe to say Crow is a mixed bag, but is still worth picking up because it so much uniqueness to offer. Because it does look so stellar, you can't help but wish those little design flaws (like trading a d-pad for your finger being in the middle of the screen at all times) weren't there.

Both smart and fun, making it a worthy successor to the Cubis titles of old. It also fits in nicely amongst its modern peers, with Game Center support, lovely art, and a cheery soundtrack-the whole package when it comes to top-notch presentation.

If DevilDark had a more cohesive story accompanied by randomized maps and a little more complex battle system, it would be at the top of my list on iOS. As it currently stands, the visual engine and sense of progression are enough to merit a recommendation, but there is potential for it to be much more.

The biggest issue I have with Ion Racer is that the game never really evolves beyond what you see at the onset. You can buy different skins and upgrade attributes, but the gameplay never really feels different. Even the environments hardly change, with the same futuristic tunnels with each run. It's a shame, because the visuals are excellent and, when combined with the framerate and sense of speed, look very much like Wipeout.

If you're willing to overlook the fact that movement in the game can sometimes be genuinely frustrating, On The Wind is a pleasant way to wile away your time.

If you love platformers, you have to pick this beauty up. It really is a standout in all categories. The only possible turn off I can see is the difficulty, but maybe that's just a fine excuse to bone up on your skills. Get that itchy trigger finger ready and come out of the gate with guns blazing, and you should do just fine.

While it looks old, and has virtual joysticks, Max Payne is every bit the great game it was 11 years ago. I wish Rockstar had put more love into the port, but for costing me 1/25th of the original game, I'll cut them some budgetary slack.

Burnout Crash perfectly embodies the horrid cliche of "Easy to learn, but difficult to master." It'll only take you a few tries to get a handle on the game physics, but actually learning the nuances of where to try to stack up cars on each intersection and how to position your own car to not mess up existing piles almost turns Crash an entirely unexpected physics puzzle game, especially if you jump into it expecting something like previous Burnout titles.

There might be an end somewhere in sight, a time where the grind outweighs the entertainment, but the hours of fun to be had in the meantime are well worth the initial purchase. Don't miss this one.

In many ways, Chaos Rings II is the quintessential JRPG. You will spend a lot of time grinding. You will be gently but firmly led along the story's path to its inevitable end. You will see all of the familiar JRPG tropes. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but your decision in regards to whether or not you actually want to purchase the game is going to be dependent on this. For all of its flaws, Chaos Rings II has done more than ample justice to the formula. It's refined, it's meaty, and it's definitely worth the high price of entry.

The overall feel and pacing of the game -- a bit more relaxed than the typical shooter out there -- combined with the ethereal audio stylings deliver an experience that might come across as a bit of an oddity to the typical gamer as compared to most of his other iOS releases, or certainly most other shooters out there.

Letterbox is one more play on traditional word game mechanics, and it isn't quite cool enough to overcome the creeping sense of familiarity.

Amoebattle succeeds wonderfully at creating a touch-based RTS for iOS. When you take into account the deep gameplay, beautiful visuals (iPad-retina compatible, no less) and approachable control scheme, Amoebattle is a title well worth checking out and joins the short list of great iOS RTS titles.

A fun, easy going, RPG with a heavy coating of 80s nostalgia. With an upfront cost of "free", it's hard not to recommend it.