Sure, the CRPG is not for everyone, but for those that appreciate it a great game in that vein is an incredibly fun experience.

Like Capcom's courtroom drama, Devil's Attorney is an addictive puzzler whose courtroom metaphor for battle makes for one of the most unique and absorbing games you'll find on mobile or any other platform.

The action point system adds a whole new dimension to a genre that frankly has gotten a bit stale of late, and I’m happy to be having to use my brain in a new way for a puzzle RPG again. If you enjoy match-3 RPGs and can forgive a healthy sack full of rough edges, I strongly encourage you to check out Bright Reappear. It’s good stuff.

Although Adventure Beaks is a free-to-play game, there’s not really any essential in-app purchases you will need to make unless you really want to kit out your penguin squad.

It may seem like a fairly basic package overall, and I suppose it is, but what’s there is really damn good--and easily worth the current two dollar asking price.

RunGunJumpGun was created by developers who are not only passionate about old games, but the sci-fi genre in general. It might not have a compelling story that stands on its own, but everything else about it does.

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is a game worth getting for anyone looking at grabbing their next relaxing experience on Switch. I was afraid of technical issues given recent games from Marvelous on Switch, but this is the best Story of Seasons on the platform, and well worth its asking price. As someone completely new to this entry, the developers have made it feel good enough to be a brand new game as well.

As the title of the game shows, Seek is really about the process of looking and exploring; it's about experiencing the journey along the island's narrow paths and wide valleys while pulling back layer after layer.

My biggest issue with the game, as I’ve said, is undoubtedly how much less clear it is with how traffic behaves than in Mini Metro, and how upgrades like the traffic light are supposed to help. I’m not ready to definitively say Mini Metro is better, though–it might just mean that Mini Motorways is a deeper game that I haven’t fully cracked yet. As it stands now, it’s still incredibly addicting and satisfying to play and very beautiful to look at and listen to. Even with the few problems I had, it’s certainly a top-tier Apple Arcade exclusive that shouldn’t be overlooked by fans of the original or newcomers to the series.

Dissembler is one of those puzzle games that just feels good to play around with, but it backs that simple joy with a solid spate of puzzles and gameplay modes. Unlike this developer's previous games, I think this one is welcome to players of a variety of skill levels, too. If you're looking for a mellow puzzle game that will help pass the time without making extra demands on your wallet, you'll likely be quite pleased with what Dissembler has to offer.

It's already a darn solid game as it is, but there's plenty of loot to be added, new levels to be challenged by, and just more that can be done. But until then, there's plenty of fun to be had with Space Marshals.

Stela is a beautiful, cinematic game that does a great job keeping you curious and scared since the beginning. While it could do a better job when it comes to guiding the player through the game or making the gameplay mechanics a little more intuitive, Stela is one of the more enjoyable gaming experiences I’ve had in a long time.

My chief complaint about Golf Zero is that there isn't more of it. This is the kind of game I could play for hundreds of levels at a time, and although there is more content in the pipeline it couldn't come soon enough. The 40 standard levels won't take you that long to blaze through, but that's because they're so addicting to knock out in rapid succession. With a more forgiving ad system and some extra levels it would be even easier to recommend.

Just like Resident Evil Village, I recommend downloading Resident Evil 4 Remake for free if you have a supported device to see how you find it. I love this remake with its Separate Ways expansions, and it has been amazing re-experiencing it all on iPhone 15 Pro and also on iPad Pro despite the few performance issues. While the lack of graphics options is disappointing, this release feels a lot more optimized for the devices it supports than Resident Evil Village, and I hope to see more improvements over time in updates. I’m glad to see Capcom continue the tradition of bringing Resident Evil 4 Remake, like the original game, to as many platforms as possible.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a excellent refresh of one of the all-time classics of the genre. Those who have any love at all for the genre owe it to themselves to play it if they haven’t before, and even those who have tried another version in the past will find enough improvements and differences to make it worth wading in again. A fine treatment of a game that only seems to get better with age.

Shiny The Firefly has it all – slick controls, puzzles, epic boss battles… but most of all, it has my heart.

Maybe my favorite thing about Progress to 100, though, is that most games have one or two gimmicks, and I think there’s something to be said for a game that has all the gimmicks.

If you've been itching to just kick back and rip apart some zombies, Second Chance Heroes is a great place to start.

Hyper Breaker Turbo finds simple ways to improve on a time-tested game. I got a lot of replay going back through levels, trying to get four stars. The physics, free-floating paddle and awesome level designs make this one game worth checking out. Just be wary of those drunken balls.

The gallery, presentation, and various options make this a more enjoyable experience than simply reading the actual book. As with most electronic versions of gamebooks it’s certainly more easier to thumb around and explore different branches, too. The whole vibe Tin Man has infused this game with matches perfectly with the words by North and art by his various collaborators. Exploring all of the routes, collecting all of the art, and just seeing what silly little things you can find make for an incredibly pleasant gaming experience, one with few games to compare to on the Switch.

If you’re an RPG fan who likes a good battle system or character customization systems, you’ll find a wealth of enjoyment in Adventure to Fate Lost Island. If you’re looking for an intricate story, hot graphics, or a fancy world to explore, this might not be your cup of tea. You could certainly levy the accusation at Lost Island that it perhaps doesn’t push its design in new directions enough when compared to its predecessor, but what might have felt like going to the well one too many times in 2018 instead comes across as rather refreshing in 2024. Easily worth the asking price, and a game that will do a nice job of filling the RPG lover’s time for hours upon end.

Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is one of Capcom’s best collections yet across everything and not just fighting games or arcade games. It offers superb extras, fantastic online play on Steam, and it has been a joy to experience these games for the first time. I just wish there was more than one save slot for the entire collection for save states.

I think Super Mario RPG is a really good remake of a classic game. It makes a lot of improvements while staying true to the core of the original, and that’s all you can really hope for from something like this. Just keep in mind that its faithfulness extends to the game’s length, with the whole thing taking around fifteen to twenty hours to bring to a close. For some that will be a negative, and others a positive. At least for my part, I really appreciate a quick-paced RPG that feels like all killer and no filler. Something I can actually replay without setting aside a ton of time. If that sounds appealing to you too, then you’ll want to add this to your library.

I didn’t have any expectations of The Kids We Were when I went into it, but it turned out to be an extremely compelling game that I had trouble putting down until I finished. There’s a blend of tones here that probably shouldn’t work well together but somehow do. Romping around the streets of Kagami and getting to know its residents while solving mysteries big and small in service of a far bigger goal is quite entertaining. The voxel-style graphics may or may not appeal depending on tastes, but the story is well-written and the sense of nostalgia comes through clearly. If you enjoy narrative adventures, you should definitely give this one a look.

It’s a clicker that was clearly made by people with a deep love and understanding of music, and because of that, it just might be the most satisfying one I’ve ever played.

There's also the simple fact that Vice City is an amazing game in most regards. In this regard, the high points far outweigh the control issues, making Vice City for iOS a no brainer for most gamers.

But it's hard to dismiss what a fantastic game Castlevania Puzzle actually is, and most importantly how much fun it is. My only real complaint about the game is that the controls during battle can be overly sensitive.

While the game is limited to one survival map at the moment, it's hard not to be impressed with the overall adaptation to the iPhone, especially with online Co-op play.

The simple fact that I found myself having to retrain my mind on how to solve the challenges in Lums is a testament to the success it has in taking a well-known genre and giving it its own unique stamp.

This is the most fun I've had racing boats in a video game in quite a long time, and I'd strongly recommend it to anyone who enjoys side-scrolling arcade games or can appreciate a different angle on the racing genre.

It might take a little adjustment to get into the interactive fiction swing, but it's well worth learning the language.

Ys Chronicles 2 is another quality DotEmu port, and the game itself is a genuine classic.

Personally, I'm completely hooked on 1-bit Ninja, and if you think you're able to accept some of the design decisions in the game and you're a fan of its retro aesthetics, then I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

This isn't a novelistic game. It's poetic. It doesn't say much, but it says it with quiet elegance.

Little Noah: Scion of Paradise is a surprisingly fun take on the side-scrolling roguelite genre, with plenty of personality courtesy of its charming character designs and solid gameplay mechanics that are perhaps a little easier to come to grips with than those found in some of its peers. While I wouldn’t consider it among the best in its category, it’s a very well-made game that is worth playing if you’ve enjoyed games like Dead Cells or Rogue Legacy.

Sure, Triple Town is just another matching game, but it's deep and surprisingly strategic.

A Highland Song is another winner from inkle, and despite being a complete genre shift from 80 Days it has a lot of the same things going for it. It’s a beautiful game to be sure, and the writing is both meaningful and a pleasure to parse. But the gameplay itself uses what are fairly basic mechanics to create a surprisingly complex journey, one that offers so many secrets and branching paths that you’ll almost certainly want to play through it again the minute you arrive at the conclusion for the first time. A real joy, in every sense of the word.

It’s worth every penny you put in, and you’ll get a good three or four hours of enjoyment, along with a heartwarming tale of friendship.

In the end Emerald Beyond is another SaGa game that is preaching to the choir, but it’s a choir worth joining if you think you’ve got the patience for it.

Impulse GP continues the trend with tons of speed, great visuals, and a few clever new tricks to set it apart from the pack

If you're a fan of board games, you kinda owe it to yourself to pick this one up. I'm usually adverse to the idea of playing a board game on my iPhone but this actually went swimmingly well. It's a solid package and one that will keep your inner entrepreneur happy for hours on end.

While I hope it gets a demo at some point on mobile like on other platforms, The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a gem of an FMV game, and one of my favorite Square Enix games in over a decade. The story is fantastic and the actors were amazing across the board. All of this was elevated by its magnificent soundtrack. Having hit mobile with all updates included and controls well, The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story on iOS is the best portable version of the game. My favorite version is still the PS5 release, but I’m very pleased with how The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story turned out in its mobile debut. Hopefully the few issues I have can be sorted in updates.

None of those marks detract from Plight of the Zombie's satisfying and strategic experience that offers a fresh take on the zombie formula. Puzzle fans shouldn't hesitate to devour this one.

Whether it’s the hilariously helpless sheep boss, or the way in which the developers never introduce too much mayhem in terms of environment-manipulating madness (a colorblind mode is even included for complete accessibility), It’s Full of Sparks impressed me throughout with how well thought out virtually all of its individual elements are. Whether the developers decide to experiment with more rhythmic, twitch-based platforming, or even do the opposite and emphasise some of the more lengthy levels and their elements of exploration and intrigue, there is so much potential in It’s Full of Sparks for refinement and expansion, despite a few minor flaws along the way.

I’m glad SNK finally brought The King of Fighters XIII to modern platforms with netcode that makes it worth playing online. Despite the few UI issues, The King of Fighters XIII Global Match is an easy recommendation on Switch as long as you don’t try playing it with the pitiful d-pad on the Joy-Cons. Hopefully this is the start of the modern SNK re-releases finally hitting Switch as well.

GTA: Vice City – Definitive is worth buying, but I think this is the first actual killer app Netflix has to get people onboard its games initiative. Having the original GTA: Vice City would have been enough, but this release is actually better than the PC and console versions in almost every way. I don’t even think I’ll go back to those versions without the Classic Lighting option. The original game is a timeless classic, and my favorite GTA game, so I’m glad we now have a great version of the remake on mobile alongside the original which is still available.

A weird, wonderful and almost surprisingly expansive experience that will both infuriate and enchant.

Essentially, what Tin Man has done with The Warlock of Firetop Mountain is to transform the classic gamebook into a single-player role-playing board game, one that comes with its own colorful storyteller and several modules to vary the experience on multiple playthroughs. The presentation is sublime, the considerable amount of new content has been implemented carefully and respectfully, and the mechanical changes sand off some of the original gamebook's harsher edges. I would have been quite happy had Tin Man done their usual fine work on a straight conversion of The Warlock of Firetop Mountain (and that is indeed on its way), but this is something altogether different and more special.

Tactical Soldier is a pleasant surprise for fans of tactical turn-based strategy games. It's incredibly challenging, but as such it's also incredibly satisfying when you figure out the best way to deal with the many scenarios in the game.

The time investment it clearly demands, combined with some inconsistent story elements, forbids me from dishing out a perfect score here, but Food Fantasy has warmed the heart of this grouchy gamer and is one app I hesitate to close.

It's a playful light-hearted game, rather than a racing simulation and the characters and courses are based on Sonic and Sega game-worlds. Seriously, if you like Kart racers, just go download it.

Mainly, it offers tons of replayability as you go through each difficulty of each stage one by one, looking for coins and hidden paths that snake their way between the difficulties. It can be frustrating to the max, but it's my kind of frustrating.

Trulon is another strong effort from a developer that clearly knows what they're doing in this genre.

Well, this game is just plain awesome. It’s kind of a dungeon-crawl roguelite thing, but the battles use an interesting dice mechanic that really helps the game stand out. As you make your way through each floor, you’ll find various skills that you can pick and choose from to fill out your battle actions. Each turn you roll a number of dice and assign them to those skills to use them. There are lots of different kinds of enemies and skills, and the maps themselves, while simple, have some points of interest and branching paths you can choose to explore. One of those games where you fire it up meaning to play for twenty minutes and end up playing for four hours. I’d expect no less from Terry Cavanagh, though.

Paint It Back looks great, has fun and clever puzzles, and just plain feels good to play.

It’s crazy to think that a mobile game in 2019 would live up to a PC/Console game’s legacy, but I really believe that Alien: Blackout does. It may not have been the sequel I wanted, but that didn’t stop me from it being a sequel I enjoyed.

In its current state, Warframe is an impressive port of an excellent game. While I was hoping it was better in some aspects, Warframe is worth trying out on iOS for sure. It remains one of the best examples of free to play done right, and the complete game with no major compromises is now playable on iOS with cross play and cross save support. I can’t wait to see how Digital Extremes enhances the mobile version through the year leading into the Android version.

If you’re looking for a carbon copy of the original game with an improved presentation and nothing else of significance added, I’m afraid you may not like Actraiser Renaissance. This isn’t that kind of remake, and I personally don’t think it should have been. But if you’re fine with something with the flavor of ActRaiser, with the essence of the original but also a personality of its own, I think you will like this game. It has its flaws, particularly in its visual presentation, and some of its new ideas could use a bit more hammering out. But it, like the game it is based on, is a rather unique game that pulls you in powerfully the more time you spend with it. There isn’t a whole lot like this out there, and it’s handily better than other homages like SolSeraph. And hey, that incredible music sure doesn’t hurt.

I've been having a great time with Juice Belts, and I highly recommend giving it a try if you've got room on your device for yet another fantastic physics puzzler.

Touting leaderboards, special artifacts, and permadeath, there is a wide assortment of inspiring gameplay to keep any Apple device’s battery draining for hours.

Cytus II is a darn good one, building on what its makers have previously accomplished and wrapping it in a slick package. Even if you don't surrender to its story, you just might to the music. Just be sure to limber up those fingers first, because they're going to be moving.

If you enjoy games like Dear Esther or Gone Home, you will love What Remains of Edith Finch. If you’ve never played a walking simulator before, What Remains of Edith Finch is the best one to try out as your first experience. With The Unfinished Swan and now What Remains of Edith Finch, I will play anything Giant Sparrow releases going forward without thinking twice. Both of these are fantastic games and What Remains of Edith Finch is a must play for everyone who enjoys great storytelling and beautiful experiences.

A fresh take on two classic formulas with hours of content that should please the puzzle fans out there.

Overall Tangle Tower is great and very enjoyable. The story is well done and will always have you guessing who the killer might be, the controls are very simple which leaves you to investigate rather than fumble around, and the atmosphere helps to draw you in. All of that coupled with the superb voice-acting found in almost every action in the game will surely leave you satisfied with your time. I for one am excited to see what comes next.

It’s not a perfect game, but it’s pretty B’sodding great.

Overall, there’s a lot to like with GT Racing 2 but the upgrade timers and forced linearity of the campaign mode really bring down an otherwise fun experience. Obviously racing aficionados will want to check it out, but I think GT Racing 2 is also approachable enough that novices can get into the mix.

Hero Emblems is simply a great match-3 title that’s worth the price of admission.

The character animations are incredibly fluid and give the movement a really good feel. The levels are a bit longer than most iOS platformers (it’s a port, after all), but never so long that they become frustrating.

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.

Persona 5 Tactica ended up surprising me in a good way. I initially thought it would be a throwaway story like Persona Dancing or Arena games, but it is so much more. While it doesn’t reach the highs of Persona 5 Strikers even for music, Persona 5 Tactica is an excellent addition to any Persona 5 fan’s library. Just don’t bother getting it if you haven’t played that yet. I can’t wait to check out the DLC in the near future.

This is a game I find myself returning to daily, and I'm constantly amazed at how great the writing is, how imaginative the world is, and the size of the whole thing; you can, and probably will, get lost in the labyrinth that is Fallen London.

OlliOlli World remains one of my favorite games of 2022, and the OlliOlli World: Finding the Flowzone DLC is the perfect finale to it. I still remember being skeptical of OlliOlli World when it was originally announced, and I’m glad to have eaten crow multiple times on this release. OlliOlli World is superb, and while the first DLC isn’t as good, the team knocked it out of the park for OlliOlli World: Finding the Flowzone. Now we need to get a complete physical release with everything on cartridge.

The controls may be a tad too finicky for players who weren't around for racing games before the advent of analog controls, but if you loved RC Pro-Am, Rock n' Roll Racing, and the many other similar games of the era, Cubed Rally Racer will become your de facto "I have two minutes what should I play?" game.

The Borderlands series definitely has a unique feel to it from its setting, dialogue, and characters that can be easily screwed up by a developer not quite in tune with the way the series operates. The good news is that Telltale Games are experts at story, so the idea that they could approach and do justice to this universe while also expanding on it in a way that isn't just a loot-filled first-person shooter is an interesting proposition.

Loop Hero feels like a game that was always intended for mobile, and the conversion from Playdigious is almost perfect. At a fraction of what it costs on other platforms, not only does Loop Hero feel right at home on mobile, but it is the best version of the game. It is going to be a mainstay on my iOS homescreens for a long time. I just hope portrait mode can be added eventually because it would make Loop Hero absolutely perfect on mobile.

Those who can get into it will find a limitless bounty, gameplay measured out in not just dozens of but more than a hundred hours.

Repulze is refreshing in its straightforwardness and execution, preferring to be excellent at one simple thing -- visually and mechanically -- than mediocre at several.

If you’re new to the world of Amnesia and just bought Amnesia: Memories on Switch or played it across its many ports and re-releases, this is an easy recommendation. It is more than worth the asking price and is one of the better otome releases from Idea Factory International. As far as fandiscs go, this took a while to release in the West, but the wait has been worth it.

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.

Mr. Robot is a very entertaining choose-your-own-adventure game and a great example of how to create believable worlds. At the same time, it's the perfect engine for paranoia and will probably make you rethink most of your internet behavior and practices.

It all comes together to create a game that has a really mellow atmosphere, but challenging and active enough gameplay to keep you involved.

The setting and characters in Empyrean are the sort that you want to get to know more of, while the situations you find yourself in sometimes feel like a cross between Batman and the Rocketeer. It takes a while for all the pieces to get into place, but once they do, this is simply a fantastic romp through a highlight reel of great moments in pulp fiction. Even though I secured a happy ending, when I reached the final page, I was sad that there was no more. For a gamebook that exceeds 300,000 words to leave me feeling that way, I'm not sure how I could do anything but give a very firm recommendation, no matter how slowly it starts.

With its sharp and colorful visuals and classic gameplay sensibilities, Super Phantom Cat is a pretty perfect hybrid of the new and old.

For free, you'd be silly not to check this game out, especially if you enjoy word games.

Despite my issues with the performance, and I’m more annoyed by technical issues than most, I ended up adoring Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. It joins Monster Hunter Stories 2 as my two favorite monster collecting games. It has heart, charm, and one of the best gameplay loops in a monster collecting game. I hope we see some patches improving the performance though, because that’s the only thing holding this back.

Tinkering and experimenting is rewarded- it's a joy to see every moving part a half-moment from lining up. The elegance of the later levels, as each piece takes its part in a grander pattern-that's something worth experiencing. Assuming, of course, you can get that far.

Another Crab’s Treasure is superb. It has a few polish issues holding some areas of it back, but I can’t recommend it enough at its asking price right now. I’ve already spent nearly 25 hours with it across platforms, and can’t wait to keep doing more as I play it on Steam Deck and PS5. Just avoid the Switch version for now. Another Crab’s Treasure feels like this year’s Lies of P at a smaller scale, and that’s about the best compliment I can give a soulslike right now.

Ouros is a relaxing and great puzzle game that feels like something we’d see hit iPad a decade ago in a good way. It plays perfectly on Steam Deck with full touchscreen support, and has enough accessibility in its progression and hint system to be a great introduction to puzzle games as well.

The original Small World was a great example of what could be done with board game on iOS, and this update has given it a needed rebirth. It is now able to stand against iOS strategy greats like Ascension, Agricola, and Eclipse without shame. Small World 2 is worth a second look for mobile strategy aficionados.

Le Parker: Sous Chef Extraordinaire seems like a really out there game based on the trippy visuals and the odd premise alone, but it's actually a safe bet if you grew up with retro platformers. It marries that '90s aesthetic with its own voxel-like art, and manages to maintain a tight control scheme that relies on simple directions and a lone action button. Oh, and the low price and lack of hidden catches don't hurt.

While the asking price might seem high for some, TEVI is absolutely worth it. There are a few issues holding it back like some visual clarity ones for certain parts of levels or the slow opening hours, but this is a superb Metroidvania experience that I hope gets a physical release. I adored it on both Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.

I really have to recommend Tiny Dangerous Dungeons to anyone who enjoys platformers or Metroidvanias

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

I can see some people getting bored of this very quickly considering there isn’t any in-game goal or progression barring what you build and want to see yourself. After seeing so many screenshots of gorgeous things my friends made, I’m glad to finally have a perfect version of Townscaper on my iPhone and iPad. While iCloud sync would’ve been great to have, there is a workaround and everything else in this conversion is exactly what I wanted. If you held off on getting Townscaper on PC or Nintendo Switch, the iOS version is definitely worth it. If you already own it elsewhere, you will likely enjoy it a lot more on iOS thanks to the added control options and ease of access.

If you've got even a little bit of love for the single-screen action games that used to dominate the hobby, you'll want to pick this up and start counting sheep immediately.

To The Moon doesn't offer much in the way of mechanical depth, and there's really only one way to experience the story, so its replay value is not great in theory. It's certainly one of the jobs of a review to inform readers of things like that. But the ultimate goal of a review is to tell you if something is worth your time and money, and in that capacity, I can't recommend To The Moon enough. The mobile version has some issues with fiddly controls, but don't let that stop you from playing this superb adventure. It's beautiful in the most human way possible.

Fans of Tiny Tower will love this Vegas sequel and for others I’d advocate checking it out.

Barring the few features I’d like to see in potential patches, Venba delivered in spades, and I can’t wait to see what Visai Games works on next. Venba is a great 1 hour or so long experience that will definitely have you salivating at some of the food while probably thinking of your own family or friends while playing.