Our November game ratings are in place now, and here are the top of the heap. Our monthly “best of" round-up summarizes the top rated games that we looked at in the previous month. Each game reviewed receives a 1-5 star rating relative to the other games from that month. Generally, a 3 or higher is considered a “good" rating.
Our final scores are not the product of any traditionally objective measures such as graphics or sound, but simply reflect the games we would most recommend to others.
November was a great month for iPhone game releases, and our expanded list reflects that activity. November’s “Best iPhone Games" are highlighted here:
5 Stars
Jet Car Stunts – A remarkably fun jet car racer/platformer that had us coming back again and again due to its great controls, fresh visual style and mind boggling levels. The only real complaint we’ve seen voiced has been the relative difficulty of the game, but, honestly, that’s what made it so addicting. (Review, App Store)
Eliminate Pro – We know some readers were unable to get past this game’s pay model, but we’ve logged more hours in this game than almost every other… and we never paid a single penny for it. Online deathmatch with our friends and quick sessions throughout the day kept us playing this regularly all month. (Review, App Store)
4.5 Stars
I Dig It Expeditions – A wonderful followup to the original with all the added maps and upgrades that you would have hoped for. Pilot your digger throughout several different locales searching for archeological treasures and other valuable things to be sold at your base camp. Money is used to buy upgrades that tweak every aspect of gameplay as well as consumables like all kinds of different explosives and power-ups. (Review, App Store)
Call of Duty Zombies – A surprisingly faithful rendition of the console version of this zombie survival shooter complete with online coop play. While the game itself only comes with a single map, it has consistently been one of the most talked about games on our forums since its release thanks to its surprisingly fun online component. (Review, App Store)
Asphalt 5 – A really fun arcade racer with a great sense of speed and online multiplayer. Obviously inspired by the Burnout series, Asphalt 5 is the next best thing on the iPhone. The difficulty of Cop Chase mode seems to be the major sticking point, but that’s said to be addressed soon. (Review, App Store)
Honorable Mention (4 Stars)
Here are just a couple of several games that received 4 stars this month that we wanted to highlight:
Wheeler’s Treasure – An original game with a surprising amount of depth, you keep trying to ride your wheel further with each play as you earn special items and powerups. The gameplay is so original, however, you really have to “get it" before you can really enjoy it. (Review, App Store)
Ravensword – We felt compelled to highlight this impressive action RPG in our round up for its technical achievements as well as its fun. A few components may have detracted from the “full RPG" experience, but is still a very worthy title. (Review, App Store)
The rest of November game ratings can be seen in their respective rating categories (also found in the sidebar navigation): 5 Stars, 4.5 Stars, 4 Stars, 3.5 Stars, 3 Stars, and 2.5 Stars.
As always, we expect there will be some debate about relative scores, but keep in mind that everyone’s personal ratings may vary based on individual tastes.
