Doomsday Clicker is not really what I'd call essential, and hardly the apex of the clicker genre, which already has a tenuous relationship with the concept of gameplay to begin with. But, it's amusing with great music, and had me checking in and blowing up the world in comical ways for at least a few days.

Super Arc Light is a game that has some key shortcomings, but nothing too damning.

At the end of the day, Dream Machine is definitely reminiscent of Monument Valley, but the tones and mechanics of each vary greatly, and the former is somewhat lacking in polish.

Aside from its slow start and minor UI quibbles, 7 Mages is a very good game.

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.

There's not much else on iOS like 9th Dawn 2 except the first game, and this sequel is a clear improvement in virtually all regards.

Revenant Dogma is another good effort from EXE-Create, a JRPG very much in line with their usual strengths.

Beat Stomper is a far more interesting game than I was expecting. Sure, at a very basic level it’s a pretty standard vertical high score chaser. What makes it stand out, though, is that the developers seemingly rounded up all the drugs and stuffed them into the coding somehow.

The rope swinging feels great and the racing is fast and fair.

It's impossible to put down, and inspired me to spend entire afternoons trying to be the very best for multiple reasons. Start playing Tomb of the Mask now, and you may never stop.

Make no bones about it, Adventure To Fate: Quest To The Future is an RPG for those who are looking primarily for an enjoyable, yet familiar, battle experience.

If you’re looking for a game that’s fun, challenging, and costs absolutely nothing, then this is the train you’re gonna wanna catch.

Only the most hardcore gamers should play this, but those who do will find a challenge worthy of them.

With its tilt-based controls, single-screen environments, and arrow-and-dot based characters, you’d be forgiven for thinking Abzorb was trying to be the next Tilt To Live. Luckily, it has a surprising number of clever new mechanics that set it apart from its obvious inspiration, to the point where at some points it almost feels more like a puzzle game than anything else.

The game itself gets in the way at times of enjoying the art, but otherwise, The Swords is a worthy experience.

Add all of that together and you've got a game that's certainly worth playing for a little while to experience its high points, but one that is unlikely to hold your attention for all that long.

There's some microgames that are fun to play and others that feel too difficult. All the levels are varying degrees of uneven. In the game developer level where all the microgames are based off of video games, there are some that I never failed at because they're so easy even at higher speeds.

For all the merits of Samurai Love Ballad: Party, it's that essential aspect, more than anything else, that makes it hard to recommend.

Although combat never really elevates itself to the level of a true action game, there's enough fun to be had traversing the various dark depths within to last you a while -- and without spending any money, mind. And sometimes, that's all you can really ask for out of a bite-sized experience.

Ultimate Briefcase is going to be one of those things you pop out every so often to try to chase a high score, and with its semi-interesting progression system, occasionally earn something from. It gets a little aggressive at times when it comes to microtransactions, but it's fun, and it's playable, which counts for something.

Taken as a sequel to Strike Wing, it's a major success, expanding on it in almost every way and offering a much bigger experience for your money.

In truth, from where I’m sitting Thumb Drift is nearly perfect as far as fun little highscore chasers are concerned, and the central mechanic is just ridiculously fun and feels like butter.

I encourage everyone to give this game a try, even if you're a vigilant hater of free to play. Monetization methods aside, you'll still be able to see what a clever formula Supercell has stumbled upon to here with this hybrid of card games, strategy games, and MOBAs.

If you are looking for a board game designed for two players that feels strategic but tries out some fresh ideas, Patchwork delivers a replayable experience that weaves a great theme with solid mechanics.

So, Telltale has another hit on its hands, and as long as you have even the slightest interest in the character of Michonne, you should definitely be playing this miniseries.

Do you enjoy “experiences” that transport you to another place even if what you’re doing there isn’t particularly challenging or long-lasting? Or do you prefer your games to be tough-as-nails and stressful, putting your brain and/or fingers through a gruelling workout? Like most people, I think I fall somewhere between those extremes. _PRISM is definitely more toward the first category, but I still found it absolutely delightful from beginning to end.

If you're not too exhausted from the recent deluge of quality RPGs that have come out, you might want to give Asdivine Menace a try.

The game costs $6.99 with no IAPs and is definitely worth your money, your time, and the tears you'll shed every time you lose.