As some of you may know, I’m hooked on iOS apps – especially games. Most days at the office, I spend my lunch playing while eating with fellow teammates. So I decided to take this time to blog a mini review of the top games I’ve played and currently playing. Though I should tell you readers right now, I prefer games that that I can easily put down and continue later; ‘cause you know, I don’t have a problem… so I haven’t really gotten into any RPG games… don’t judge me.
1. TripleTown (free)
When I started this game, I just couldn’t put it down for a month and a half straight. It’s a puzzle match-three game; where you match three of the same item adjacent to each other and it upgrades to the next item up (3 grass = bush, 3 bush = tree, 3 tree = hut, etc). The strategy is getting the next item to line up with the other matching items to upgrade. What I like about it is, every new game you start is a different map and the next item you get is unpredictable. It’s fun and refreshing.
2. Tiny Wings ($0.99)
Help the chubby bird by tap and hold down hills to give him momentum to fly (release when uphill). There are many objectives in the game to achieve the next ‘Nest’. I’ve made it to the 9th nest and can’t seem to get 5 perfect landing after each island jump; the task is rather frustrating, yet, addictive.
3. Temple Run (free)
Need a quick game to keep you occupied? This is the game to go to. A high-score Indiana Jones inspired theme. Your character is running from angry monkeys while dodging obstacles with a swipe or tilt on the device. Bored of beating your own high-score? There are mini objectives you can beat too, such as “run 2,500 meters without tripping” or “collect 500 coins”. My stats: Highest score 2,129,505. Longest run: 10,196m. Most coins: 3,816.
4. Fruit Ninja ($0.99)
Can’t stand fruits? Neither can I. So I enjoy slicing those suckers up every chance I get. A good feature on this game is the multiplayer option, where you can battle your friends on who hates fruits more. My highest score on Arcade Mode is 1,068.
5. Where’s My Water? ($0.99)
All this gator wants to do is take a nice shower with clean water. Get the water to Swampy by swiping around obstacles such as: poison, sludge, and other things. For $0.99 this app is constantly updating with new levels to unlock (currently 160 levels). My goal is to always get 3 rubber duckies before moving on.
6. Scramble With Friends (free)
Exercise your brain and expand your vocabulary with the multiplayer game. Swipe and drag vertically or diagonally to form words and use power ups to buy yourself more time or hints. The trick to doing well in this game is to focus on an area and get all the words you can out of it, if there’s an ‘S’, double your points by making it plural!
7. Draw Something (free)
How could I not like this game, it’s DRAWING! When I started I had limited friends playing so it was pretty easy to keep up. Now I have 30+ games going and it has become quite a task to knock them down. But some of the drawings I get can be pretty epic… like watching a 3yr old drawing done by a 30yr old. Oh, and what makes this app awesome is that it’s cross-platform! Androids and Apples UNITE! (don’t kill me for saying that…)
8. World of Goo HD ($4.99) or non HD ($2.99)
An excellent puzzle game where you drag and drop globs of goo to build structures to get to the pipe; the design of the game is dark and strange but the levels can be challenging.
9. Diner Dash/Hotel Dash/ Supermarket Mania ($2.99)
I’m kind of a sucker for time-management games. The tasks can be repetitive, but the thrill is to not piss off any of the “customers” and finish each level with Expert. I’ve finished all of these.
10. Sims Free Play (free)
I can’t have a mini game review without mentioning Sims. I’ve played several of The Sims app games and on Nintendo DS. They do not come close to the PC version in any way, shape, or form – just of bunch of meaningless repetitive tasks. But Sims Free Play exceeds any of those apps on so many levels. You have TOTAL control over customizing your Sims and their homes, yes, plural SIMS AND HOMES. You can create a whole town AND have pets! There are goals to achieve and traits to give your Sim more character. Though this is an app game, it still has its limitations compared to the PC version, but this is what the original Sims app games SHOULD have been. Did I mention it’s FREE?
So there goes my top 10 (in no particular order). I am not a professional reviewer in any way, just an average Jane who enjoys casual gaming. I hope some of you out there found this helpful, and if you play any of the games listed above, share your thoughts. If you have games you would like to recommend me, I’ll be happy to try them.
Signing off,
Tina
Lead Graphic Designer
