Last week, I ended my critique of Star Trek Rivals and Fast & Furious 6: The Game with the suggestion of playing something else. I would be remiss if I didn’t offer other games to play. In addition to Waking Mars and Ridiculous Fishing, the following are some of my favorite iOS games from the past year or so.
SpellTower by Zach Gage: Simple and sleek, SpellTower is a word game; you find words playing one of four modes. Tower mode has no pressure, just find as many words as you can with only 140 letters. Finding words adds a row of letters in puzzle mode; once one column of letters reaches the top, the game is over. Ex puzzle mode is for those who find puzzle mode too easy. For a real challenge, rush modes adds rows of letters over time; you have to make words quickly before the letters reach the top. Cost: $1.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
Puzzlejuice by Colaboratory: If Boggle and Tetris had a baby, Puzzlejuice would be it. You have to fit the blocks of various shapes together, which reveals letters, and then you have to form words as well. When the easiest level is “hard,” you have to be ready to work your brain. Frantic and stimulating, Puzzlejuice is fun and stress-inducing. Cost: $1.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
Writer Rumble by GameFly Games: While the multiplayer is a bit dead now as many have moved on, the Survive with Words mode tests your ability to make words quickly. You play as characters based on literary figures such as Edgar (Allan Poe), Agatha (Christie), and Howard (Phillips Lovecraft). Wave after wave of monsters, ghosts, and blobs attack, and your only weapon is your spelling skill. Cost: $0.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
Super Hexagon by Terry Cavanagh: Jenn Frank’s voice says, “Begin.” What comes is an onslaught of music and color as you point your shape in the direction of an opening. Frustration builds as you try and try and try to beat your last attempt. You’ll want to pull your hair out, but then you’ll past your best time, so you dive back in again. Cost: $2.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality, but I like playing on the iPad better because my thumbs don’t get in the way.
SpellTower, Puzzlejuice, Writer Rumble, and Super Hexagon
10000000 by EightyEight Games LTD: This is a cross between a dungeon crawler and a matching game. You slide the columns and rows to make matches of material, weapons, and spells. You play as a guy with no name who is trapped in a dungeon for no clear reason. The material you collect lets him fix up rooms and buy equipment to help him last longer in the dungeon. How quickly can you reach 10,000,000 and free him? Cost: $1.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
Fart Cat! by Summer Camp Studios Inc: You have to feed a picky cat enough food to make the cat fart to prevent the owner from petting the kitty. Stupid concept meets brilliant design in this game. Every loud fart made me laugh as I rushed to make sure the finicky kitty wasn’t petted. Cost: $0.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
Jetpack Joyride by Halfbrick Studios: Barry crashes through a wall and takes a jetpack. You have to navigate Barry through obstacles. You keep trying to better your previous attempts while accomplishing goals. Ride Mr. Cuddles, high-five scientists, and collect coins as you level up. Cost: Free. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
Time Surfer by Kumobius: This game is a runner like Jetpack Joyride, but in this case you have to catch curves just right so you can outrun the edge of the universe. Colorful and fast, Time Surfer also has a rewind mechanic that allows you to try to fix a recent mistake. Collecting gems fills up your time meter and pieces of cake lets you buy the use of a pet or new outfits. Cost: $0.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality, but I find I have better control of my dives with the iPad version.
The Room by Fireproof Games: You’re in a room with a mysterious box. Solving unique puzzles gains you entry into the box, and what I found exceeded my expectations. Cost: $1.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality, but the graphics are better on the iPad.
McPixel by Sos: This MacGyver spoof is funny and forces you to think quickly. You have 20 seconds to stop the destruction. Filled with gags, McPixel doesn’t take itself seriously. The game is best played in short bursts; as the game warns, playing too long will ruin the experience. Cost: $2.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP by Capybara Games Inc.: Beautiful, moving, and engrossing, S:S&S EP is an adventure game that emphasizes exploration. You play as a wandering warrior monk on a woeful mission. Rushing through the game is not the best way to play. Designed to be played in short bursts and during different phases of the moon, the game is the first one I played with the sound on all the time. The soundtrack and the whimsy are the reasons to play. Cost: $4.99 (worth every penny). iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality, but I preferred the iPad because my fingers didn’t get in the way as much.
Sorcery! by inkle: Recently, there has been a resurgence of interactive fiction. Sorcery! is more than a choose-your-own-adventure game; you get to fight, shop, and make friends. Sorcery! is told in parts; your results from Part 1 will continue into Part 2 and throughout all four parts. Currently only Part 1: The Shamutanti Hills is available. Cost: $4.99. With all of the icons on the screen, I like the iPad version better, but the game is designed for the iPhone as well.
The Room, McPixel, Sword & Sworcery, Sorcery!
Year Walk by Simogo: Year Walk is based on an old Swedish tradition. The first-person puzzle game is haunting and effective in setting a sense of foreboding. To experience the full game, download the Year Walk Companion, which is free. The game takes a surprising turn, so having the Companion is essential. Cost: $3.99. While the game plays well on both iDevices, I found the iPad version easier to play because of the manipulation involved.
Plague Inc. by Ndemic Creations: Create a disease and destroy the world. Your choices of weapon include virus, bacteria, fungi, and other types of pathogens. You have to mutate your disease to spread quickly and evolve to avoid treatment. You get to name your disease, and I thought it was darkly amusing when “MyButt” caused the extinction of the human race. Cost: $0.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
Catch-22 by Mango Down: This game is the definition of simplicity: you tap the screen and one of two gems jumps. The goal is to avoid the other gem and collect coins. When you control the blue gem, you have to dodge the green gem, which is moving in the opposite direction. After you collect all of the coins, you become the other gem, and you have to compete with your previous moves. Cost: $0.99. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
Spaceteam by Henry Smith: Spaceteam is the best local co-op iOS game ever. Players shout commands at each other to maintain their ship. The commands are nonsense, but the action is chaotic, ludicrous, and hilarious. “Asteroid! Everybody shake!” Cost: Free. iPhone and iPad versions are equal in quality.
