Touch Arcade

I also like that in allowing you to take a few hits, Plax isn't quite as brick-to-the-face hard as it could have been on start-up. You get time to get your bearings before things get really stressful, instead of the game starting off at the maximum tension level. At the same time, the game is still incredibly challenging in the long run. It's definitely worth checking out for gamers who appreciate a good score attack.

Tiny Dice Dungeon is generally fun to play and it's packed full of interesting ideas, even with its shortcomings. ... As it stands now, it's a game that is great fun in bursts with some rough stretches in between, but one that unfortunately winds up in an unpleasant grind unless you start paying up regularly for uncut dice. It's definitely worth checking out for free, however, warts and all, even if only to appreciate its design ambitions.

Either way, I really don’t think the difficulty makes or breaks Hack, Slash, Loot. Instead, I think its focus on simplistic gameplay leaves the overall experience lacking, especially when compared to the competition on the App Store. Whether you’ll enjoy HSL or not is dependent on your preference for an “old-school” rogue-like. If that’s something up your alley, then by means give it a try.

It's hard to really talk at length about Sometimes You Die without giving it away entirely, but it's not only worth playing, it's worth finishing. With a core mechanic as simple as climbing over the fallen bodies of your past incarnations, Sometimes is fun, unique, and memorable.

Gorgeous visuals and established gameplay featuring great puzzles are wrapped inside a cohesive narrative that drives the entire game. As mentioned earlier, there isn’t a lot here in terms of sheer innovation, but the execution is so top notch there’s really no reason not to check it out.

Stunningly beautiful, jam-packed with replay value and secrets, and loaded with tons of great action, Wayward Souls is an absolute must-have. Seeing everything this game has to offer will take tons of time, but it's time you won't at all mind spending because it's just so downright enjoyable.

Throw in some clever difficulty options and a well-realized visual style, and you've got something that puzzle fans are very likely to enjoy. It feels a bit bare in terms of bells and whistles, but the gameplay itself is accessible, well-thought out, and fun to play.

I think if you're interested in trying a game of this genre, Fable Age isn't a bad choice, especially if the theme works for you. I doubt it's going to steal away many players from Puzzle & Dragons or Brave Frontier, but it's certainly a competent, if not all that exciting, entry into the ranks.

Dark Guardians may lure you in with its striking visuals, but don't expect much more than smoke and mirrors. If you're a huge fan of the runner genre and can't get enough it may be worth it just to check out the epic drum slammin' soundtrack, but everyone else can stay away.

There's something here for a wide range of skill levels, and it easily bests the first game in overall design and execution. I'm not sure if I'd call this the best platformer on iOS hands-down, but it's certainly on the short list, and if that's not worth throwing down a few bucks for, I don't know what is.