Filed under: Gaming, iPhone, App Store, iPod touch
Eleven iPhone games I won't delete

Cro-Mag Rally [iTunes link] -- I used to play this on the older PPC-based iMacs and it was also an early entrant to the store. Cro-Mag is cute but it also plays exceedingly well. If you want something like Mario Kart on your iPhone, this is about as close as I've found. For a quick racing game that nearly anyone can enjoy, Cro-Mag is a true iPhone "classic."
MotionX Dice [iTunes link] -- You never know when you're doing to need some dice. Plus, MotionX gives this app away, and it's a beautiful example of what can be done on the iPhone. When someone wants to "see something" on my iPhone, often I'll show them how the shadows cast by the dice change as I move the iPhone. Then we'll play some dice games.
Flick Bowling [iTunes link] -- There are faster, cheaper versions of bowling on the iPhone. I find Flick provides just enough eye candy and immersion to suit my taste. Plus, it loads pretty fast and you can get to bowling without a lot of setup. It's a casual game that looks bigger than it is.
Dizzy Bee [iTunes link] -- One of the big, early hits for the iPhone, in no small part because the super cute free version moved a lot of units. Dizzy Bee is the app everyone seemed to give to the kids to play with, but the challenges get pretty tough. Like any great game: simple to learn, hard to master. Plus, there's now a sequel.
Keep reading for some games that are a little more under the radar and some genuine iPhone essentials...
Endless Abyss [iTunes link] -- This one is great for kids, and the sounds are somehow extra soothing. It's the basic game of keep away (you tap and drag a little crab around the screen to keep him safe), and there are other games that feature more "stuff" (Pixel Pusher is a good example), but the straightforward nature and pleasant ambiance of Endless Abyss earns a permanent home on my screen.
Fieldrunners [iTunes link] -- Um, it's Fieldrunners. This is like the one game that everyone must own if you enjoy tower defense games. Seriously. I have tried dozens of "tower defense" games on the store (and there are tons), but I keep coming back to Fieldrunners, as do my kids. It's just a well-balanced, well-produced game. I will say that Star Defense is a very close runner-up.
Pocket God [iTunes link] -- There's a reason this winds up in the top 10 now and again: it is a lot of fun to torture little cartoony people in new and creative ways -- sort of like Tom and Jerry. The developers behind this app keep adding new content to the game by listening to feedback, making replay value high. Plus, I will somewhat abashedly say my kids love this one. If the content worries you, I recommend Pocket Fish [iTunes link] -- a cuter, gentler toy for kids.
Zombie Nombie [iTunes link] -- I used to show people Koi Pond as a "look at this cool 3D" example, but Zombie has taken its place. Koi Pond is great, but Zombie is a 3D interactive zombie head! Plus, there are several games baked in to the app and you can use it as a basic egg timer. With a slew of unlockables and a low price, this is a no-brainer.
Pharos IV [iTunes link] -- Perhaps one of the most under-appreciated games on the store. If you ever blew an afternoon playing X-Wing or Wing Commander, you'll be right at home here. Pharos has some of the best controls on any iPhone game I've played so far, and the graphics and sound and game balance can't be beat. Best of all, it is a quick pick-up game for when you just want to fly around and blast something. If you're looking for something more in-depth and with a story, check out the superlative Galaxy on Fire 3D [iTunes link].
Flight Control [iTunes link] -- Truth be told, my new love is Harbor Master [iTunes link]. It offers the same mechanism as Flight Control with a little more depth to the game. So, like Sang, perhaps I'll retire.
Sway [iTunes link currently unavailable] -- This is my favorite game so far. I played the Lite version [iTunes link] before realizing I simply had to try the other critters and levels in the full version. Once you get the hang of swinging around, you'll find this is a perfect example of leveraging the unique capabilities of multi-touch game controls versus the more simplistic "touch screen" game controls seen in most apps. The game isn't perfect, but the challenge is just right, the unlockables are timed perfectly, and the polish on the game overall is simply astounding. A must-have, and something you will want to show off to people who doubt the fun of the iPhone ecosystem.
For more reviews check out our new iPhone/iPod touch App Hub.


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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Poltras said 3:46PM on 9-08-2009
No love for Rolando?
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utterer said 11:18AM on 9-09-2009
You mean Loco Roco?
rick said 3:49PM on 9-08-2009
Or Metasquares?
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Hass said 3:52PM on 9-08-2009
Good list...forgot 'Symbolism' though. That game eats 2 hours of every day. Damn you ChewSoft!!
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jonbruck said 3:53PM on 9-08-2009
Tris. It appeared in the app store, and was gone in a flash, but its a fantastic Tetris game.
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jak33 said 3:59PM on 9-08-2009
yeah, I just found that game again yesterday, and it's beautiful, and fun. felt really good to set my self up for a four row combo :D
jak33 said 3:54PM on 9-08-2009
yeah! where's rolando?
I'll admit I never finished it (because the levels got to hard to casually earn all three medals, and my OCD wouldn't let me keep going) but that game was amazing for the three environment I played through, especially with all the bonus content leading up to rolando 2 (BTW, did that ever come out?)
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Icello said 4:53PM on 9-08-2009
Yes, Rolando 2 is out.
Daniel said 5:08PM on 9-08-2009
haha yep it did come out. quite expensive tho :|
H3 said 4:02PM on 9-08-2009
"play football" is my current addiction...
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Dale said 4:26PM on 9-08-2009
Bejeweled 2 and Rolando > all. Although I would like a port of Klondike from the iPod Classic. Other versions aren't as solid... or as free with the device.
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Brian Whitney said 5:33PM on 9-08-2009
Try Sol Free Solitare
drew.borland said 4:58PM on 9-08-2009
Woohoo. Symbolism love!!!
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Vicente said 6:03PM on 9-08-2009
Personally, i won't delete PathPix, Orbital, neither Harbor Master. What do you think guys?
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(01) said 6:33PM on 9-08-2009
Can't believe you didn't mention Trism. Radial 50 is another favorite of mine, but is harder to play on the go.
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ghostshadow said 7:08PM on 9-08-2009
I love TokiTori. I haven't heard of some of these games, I might have to check them out.
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Bones3D said 7:49PM on 9-08-2009
Hmm... let's see:
- Castle of Magic
- Glyder
- I Love Katamari
- Gangstar
- Fantastic Contraption / Magnificent Gizmos & Gadgets
- Crazy Machines
- Crayon Physics
- Zen Bound
- Tiki Towers / Moonlights
- Jungle Bloxx / I'm Destroyer
- RoboLogic
- Prison Break
- Fuzzle
- Mahjong Epic / WordJong
- Warfare Inc
- Civilization Revolution
- Spore / SimCity / Sims 3
- Tiger Woods
- TNA Wrestling
- Anytime Pool
- Freeballin'
- Rolando
- Sway
- Galaxy on Fire
- Cooking Mama
That said, I'm sure even these will eventually be replaced as the iPhone game development matures.
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blaman said 8:10PM on 9-08-2009
peggle!!!!!
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Carl said 9:39PM on 9-08-2009
WTF???? Where is PEGGLE? STONELOOPS!?!?!? Where is your HEAD, man?
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Ross said 10:00PM on 9-08-2009
No Jellycar?
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