10 Must-Have iPhone/iPod Touch Games

Despite the issues Apple had with product launches this past week, the launch of the App Store has been an overwhelming success, with over 10 million downloads in the first weekend.
The App Store is home to a plethora of applications in over a dozen different categories. Some applications do make you wonder how Apple ever approved them, but for the most part the selection really is top notch. The most entertaining category (and certainly the one that has wasted most of my time and money) is the Games category.
With over 40 different games currently in the store, it can be a bit overwhelming to know what is worth your money and what is not. I took a go at quite a few of the games and have put together my top 10 favorite ones (some free, some not). Check out the list and then let me know what games you have been enjoying.
Aurora Feint: The Beginning
Cost: Free | Game Link
There is so much more to this game than simple puzzles. With a complete system of level ups and in-game addons, this game will seriously keep you occupied for hours.
The sound effects and background music really help move the game along and keep you zoned in on the game and zoned out of anything productive.
Most amazing thing of all? The app won’t cost you a dime.
Break
Cost: Free | Game Link
Block-breaking games are probably one of the most basic games that just about any has played. Break is no different. Simply use your finger to move the paddle back and forth and break the blocks.
It won’t win awards for being the best block-breaking game you’ve ever played, but at a cost of zero bones you really can’t pass up this sort of fun.
Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D
Cost: $9.99 | Game Link
Out of the four racing games I tried out, Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart 3D was my favorite. The way the accelerometer handles just feels more natural than the other games and thus you spend less time being frustrated and more time just having fun.
There are 12 different tracks as well as a number story line to follow, if you choose to do so.
I highly recommend this game if you’re looking for some racing fun.
Cro-Mag Rally
Cost: $9.99 | Game Link
Pangea’s Cro-Mag Rally will most likely be familiar to a lot of Apple computer owners as demo of the regular version of Cro-Mag Rally has been included in the past with some new computers.
The iPhone/iPod touch version of this game delivers quite well and certainly is the best Neanderthal fun you could ever hope to have. There are 9 tracks, 11 vehicles, and a slew of different power-ups to snag while racing.
The game handling came be a bit frustrating at times but overall it’s worth the time/money.
Cube Runner
Cost: Free | Game Link
A surprisingly addictive game that simulates flying/running through a maze of cubes. The flow of movement is quite soothing and a lot of fun.
If you’ve got this game, you were definitely an early adopter as the game creator pulled the game a few days after the App store launched. The game should hopefully be back in the store within a few days. This game is now back up in the App Store. Hooray!
Enigmo
Cost: $9.99 | Game Link
Oh my. This is easily the most loved and hated game on my iPod touch.
50 levels of bouncing, dropping, sliding, and shooting water, oil, and lava through a maze of walls and obstacles creates hours of fun and pure hatred for this thing. This is by no means something you could sit and finish in a couple of hours…so don’t even try.
Seriously though, this really is a fun and challenging game that is worth every penny.
Moto Racer
Cost: $9.99 | Game Link
This racing game handles quite well and is a lot of fun. With 10 tracks and 3 different characters, game play can stay fairly unique. Each stage has a series of check-points to pass and early on they make sure it isn’t super easy (a good thing).
The graphics feel a tad cheesy and this is probably one game I’m not convinced is worth $10 (demo’s would be great right now for this sort of thing), but overall if you’ve got the cash to spend, I would definitely suggest this one.
Super Monkey Ball
Cost: $9.99 | Game Link
Reviews for this game have been surprisingly negative. My guess is that there was so much hype for this that the final product sort of let some people down, but I love this game.
With 110 stages and the level of difficulty being pretty hard early on, this game won’t get old any time soon.
My only gripe is that the controls were quite hard to get a hold of. The “ball” is significantly harder to control than it should be so it can take quite a bit of time to warm up to the game.
Tap Tap Revenge
Cost: Free | Game Link
Certainly you’ve played (or at least heard of) Guitar Hero. Just imagine this as Guitar Hero for your iPhone.
Tap Tap Revenge throws a series of dots and arrows at you based on the beat of the song that you must tap or shake.
This is another game that you really can’t believe is free. I’d pay for this in a heartbeat. The only thing lacking is the ability to pull from your own music collection.
Trism
Cost: $4.99 | Game Link
For fans of games like Tetris and Bejeweled, Trism is a puzzle game where you line up series of triangles to game points and level ups.
Trism uses the iPhone/iPod touch tilt sensitivity to decide how to slide in rows of triangles (which has a significant impact on the game).
Some say this is the best game in the App Store. I say at $4.99, it’s worth at least trying.


#1 Jake says:I just wanted to say I got the Ipod Iphone 2.0 update (£6 less than half price!!)
I just love it!
The IPod touch can do things faster than my computer (Like looking for and downloading E-Mails)and sometimes even stuff my PC cant do (like opening PDFs without downloading them)
My fav’ apps are “Cube runner” and “Remote”
Thanks apple worth every Penny

#2 mogosh says:Haven’t tried the other racers but I’m enjoying the cheesy realism of Moto Racer. Works much better when I modulate the gas in the turns. Doh. Lost some sleep on Enigmo before finding a solution–but it wasn’t pretty. Cube Runner reminds me of the old Amiga game Vaxxine but they both just lack in action. iTiltpinball was a real disappoint even at $1.99. One of my faves right now is Chopper, and a real bargain at $7.99! Like having a Vertibird in your pocket.

#3 Galley says:MotionX-Poker is the coolest app I have played.

#4 Umar says:Awesome list!
I almost have all of em on my iphone

#5 Colin Walker says:My only beef with Aurora Feint is the text truncation on any directions on any power-ups. I’m able to complete levels fine and it’s still fun, but I imagine I’m missing out on half of the game without being able to tell how to use any of what I’ve been building.
Can anyone point me to a site somewhere that has either a way to fix this or even a reference to how to play?

#6 pinchies says:Most of the apps you list are deservedly awesome, with a few exceptions.
I don’t see how an app that you describe as “The graphics feel a tad cheesy and this is probably one game I’m not convinced is worth $10″ as a Must-Have.
“Some say this is the best game in the App Store.” (Trism)
Also, please qualify who “some” people are, and describe how this game is “the best” as opposed to plain addictive.
Cheers.

#7 Anonymous says:That Crash Bandicoot game looks awesome. I used to have a similar game on Playstation 1.

#8 DenTPuzz says:Enigmo is on sale this week for 5 bucks! Grab it!!!

#9 Blaine says:Super moneky ball is my itouch game of choose. I just love it. I wrote a review of the ipod touch on my blog. Check it out sometime. http://postafterpost.com
Thanks

#10 ryan Flanagan says:I love how they stole tap tap revenge from the hackers. Leave it to apple to advertise a game that hackers created for jail broken ipods. PS those games are such a wast of money just another way apple jews you out of you money. Just jailbreak your ipod or iphone. Apple why waste your time!

#11 ReaderX says:How can anyone take seriously someone who uses the phrase “jews you out of money.” Join the 21st century (or the 20th for that matter), ryan Flanagan.

#12 Chia-chen says:um, I have a problem, my uncle bought my ipod touch from Taiwan, and i downloaded a few of the free games =] theres a problem now.. which is that, i can’t sync them in, cause my ipod touch doesn’t have a games icon!!

#13 infoweekly guy says:got to infoweekly.weebly.com

#14 Maria Ale... says:I dont understand!!…the price is incredible….please…FREE!!!..XD