PRUNE (£2.99)

One of the most stunning games to hit the App Store in quite some time, Prune is a slice of pure digital bliss, challenging players to cultivate a tree while unearthing the secrets of the world around them.

Emphasising that less is more, Prune implores you to lose yourself in a world of minimalist beauty, cementing its place as one of the most captivating titles available on mobile.

Add it to your "must have" list and savour ever moment, because games like this don't come around very often.

PAC-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION (£2.29)
Look, it's Pac-Man. It's been around since 1980 and it isn't going away anytime soon. If that doesn't convince you that the franchise has legs, then maybe you'll be more interested to hear that the Championship Edition comes packed with new features.
Indeed, sporting optimised mobile controls, 30 courses, 120 missions, challenge mode, and online tournaments, it'd be fair to say that there's plenty to sink your teeth into. At this point though, I shouldn't need to sell the series.
If you like Bandai Namco's yellow pill-popper, add this to your collection. If not, then scram. There are plenty more games on this list.

VAULT! (FREE)


Just when you think the endless runner is about to go the way of the dodo, another one comes along and blows your world wide open.
This time the culprit is indie developer Nitrome, whose latest effort, Vault!, combines the endless runner with that most gracious of sports: pole vaulting.
It sounds preposterous, and that's because it is. That being said, Vault! is an addictive, colourful, retro-inspired effort that manages to resuscitate a genre that's was close to being on its last legs. That alone means it has our vote.

CLOUD PATH (FREE)

If Flappy Bird and Monument Valley both got drunk one night and went back to ustwo's place,Cloud Path is likely what'd pop into existence nine months later.
A solid isometric puzzler from mobile veterans Ketchapp, Cloud Path is a simple beast, challenging players to walk along the titular cloud paths as quickly as possible, setting high scores and collecting rewards in the process.
Look, it's not going to change your life, but if you want to kill some time on the way to work, you could do a lot worse.

THIS WAR OF MINE (£10.99)

Speaking of games that'll change your life, This War of Mine might just do the trick.
Instead giving you control of a juiced up super-soldier whose sole purpose in life is to save the world and look as cool as possible while doing so, This War of Mine aims to shine a light on the civilians caught in the crossfire - those who live in fear day in, day out.
The £10.99 price tag might give you some reservations, but, what you're getting is a heart-rending tale of life and death that's grounded in reality.

FIND-THE-LINE (£2.29)

Chillingo has a knack for creating smart, elegant titles that feel right at home on our portable screens, so you probably won't be too surprised when I tell you they've cooked up another one.
This time the mobile moguls are bringing us lines. Yes, you heard me right. Straight lines, colourful lines, wavy lines, curly lines: you name it, they've got it.
There is one catch, though - you've got to find them. By using your finger to move lines into place, you'll need to unearth the art before you can sit back and admire its beauty. There are over 100 pictures to discover, so don't just sit there gawping. Get to it.

DON'T STARVE: POCKET EDITION (£3.99)

Don't starve. No, seriously. Don't starve.
Easy enough, right? Well, maybe for you. I mean, you can just nip to a Tesco Express if you get peckish, but once you step into the shoes of gentleman scientist Wilson you'll soon realise that finding food, or even building up the courage to explore the world, is easier said than done.
A mobile port of Klei Entertainment's PC sensation, Don't Starve: Pocket Edition is that rarest of things: a survival-horror title that's a joy to behold - when you're not sending poor old Wilson to an early grave, that is.

THE MESH (£1.49)

Can you reach 200 points and unlock the 12 creatures of the Zodiac? Well, can you?!
I know, unlocking 12 polygonal creatures of the Zodiac might sound easy - wait, no it doesn't. In fact, it sounds a tad difficult, which is apt really, considering that's exactly whatThe Mesh is.
Not for the faint of heart, Creatiulab's innovative numerical number cruncher is frustrating, rewarding, and very easy on the eye. So, if you're a puzzle veteran looking for a new challenge, look no further than The Mesh.

FIREWHIP (£0.79)

Mobile platforms have given arcade gaming a new lease of life, with the genre's simple controls, retro-inspired graphics, and easy-to-learn-but-hard-to-master gameplay emerging as the perfect formula for gaming on the go.
FireWhip takes that recipe and, quite literally, adds its own unique spin. As challenging as it is rewarding, FireWhip asks you to fend off hordes of enemies by harnessing the power of, you guessed it, a flaming whip.
Though it might look easy at first, you'll soon realise that it takes restraint and a surprising amount of tactical awareness to turn your leathery knout into a swirling inferno of molten death.

HAR•MO•NY 3 (£1.49)

Simplicity is underrated. Some of the most beautiful things in the world are the most simple, and zen puzzler har•mo•ny 3 is nothing if not beautiful.
Indeed, stripping away unnecessary mechanics and cluttered UIs, har•mo•ny 3 is reductive in the best possible way.
The digital equivalent of a first class spa getaway, the game lets you wander through each of its 90 levels at your own pace, giving you room to soak in every drop of Hammock's gorgeous ambient soundtrack while you solve colourful, handcrafted riddles.
Those of you looking to de-stress after a long day at work need this game in your life. I promise it'll do the trick.

MONUMENT VALLEY: IDA'S DREAM (FREE)

Sure, it's not strictly speaking a full game, but a free chapter for one of the finest puzzlers on mobile - and, if we're being honest, on any platform - isn't something to shake a stick at.
As long as you've purchased the original game you'll be able to download Ida's Dream, originally released in support of the Project (RED) charity, right now. No questions asked.
When you consider that the only complaint levelled against Monument Valley dev ustwo was that its Escher-inspired title was too short, this one really is a no-brainer.
Oh, and if you haven't already downloaded Monument Valley, you should probably take a minute to atone for your sins. Although, we doubt any God can save you now.

FORT MEOW (£2.99)

We've devoted a lot of time this week to some of the App Store's more nuanced titles, so to help balance the equation this last entry is as bizarre as they come.
Doing exactly what it says on the tin, Fort Meow is a physics-based puzzle adventure that challenges players to survive wave after wave of projectile felines, each hellbent on destroying your hastily-crafted pillow fort.
While it's the gameplay and unique concept that have us hooked, believe it or not there's also a story to sink your teeth into. No. We're not joking.

FALLOUT SHELTER (£FREE)

Bethesda's free-to-play title puts a cheeky post-apocalyptic spin on the management sim genre. Fallout Shelter is essentially what would happen if you took Tiny Tower and dunked it in a vat of nuclear waste.
We know it's no substitute for the real thing, but with Fallout 4's 10th November release date still a lifetime away, you should probably grab Shelter to make sure the wait doesn't drive you completely mad. It's been known to happen.

TRANSISTOR (£7.99)

Yet another console title that's found a new home on mobile, Transistor is the second Supergiant effort to make the switch to the small screen. Following in the footsteps ofBastion, Transistor is a reminder that games don't need hyper-realistic graphics to take your breath away: it combines stunning, hand-painted neo-noir visuals with a compelling story and unique soundtrack to create an experience that’s, quite simply, unforgettable.
Some of you might balk at the £7.99 price tag, but it’s worth remembering that this is an award-winning console experience, not some cheap cash grab. A worthwhile investment if ever there was one.

GREEN NINJA: YEAR OF THE FROG (£FREE)

You should never judge a book by its cover, but is it alright to judge a game by its name? We’re not sure, but when we saw Nitrome’s kung-fu puzzler Green Ninja: Year of the Frog had landed on the App Store, we knew we should probably expect something decidedly ludicrous.
A madcap tale of an amphibian hellbent on revenge, Green Ninja stands out due to its turn-based puzzles, charming character design and, well, the fact that its leading star is an ass-kicking frog. If that doesn’t pique your interest, we don’t know what will.



TAGS : | |