We figured with the launch of the iPhone 3G S and the introduction of the $99 iPhone 3G, the number of iPhone users will have grown massively just over this past weekend. As a result, we expect we’ll see a number of new visitors looking for the best iPhone and iPod Touch games available in the App Store.
While we compiled a list of some of the best games from 2008 back in December, we haven’t done much of a wrap up since.
So, here’s list of notable games that have been released in 2009. It should be a great list to catch up on some of the best titles this year. Game titles link directly to the app store. Most review links contain gameplay videos.
Required Reading
It’s hard to come up with a must have list for the App Store, but you should be familiar with these titles that seem to have already become App Store classics.
- Fieldrunners ($2.99) – Ok, this one didn’t come out in 2009 but thought it needed a mention. The tower defense game that really started it all on the iPhone. (review)
- Flight Control ($0.99) – deceptively simple and addictive game that has hit over 1 million sales (review)
- Doodle Jump ($0.99) – Dead simple and crazy addictive. Jump higher and higher. (review)
- Pocket God ($0.99) – Not really a game, so not one I can blindly recommend but it’s got a massive appeal. (review)
- Real Racing ($9.99) – Not yet a true “classic" as it just came out, but widely considered the most technically impressive iPhone racing game. (review)
Cheap Fun
Some solid titles at bargain bin prices.
- Wild West Pinball (Free) – great pinball game that’s now free (review)
- Let’s Golf ($0.99) – high quality arcade golf game on sale (review)
- Stoneloops! ($0.99) – a high quality luxor/zuma clone (review)
- UniWar ($0.99) – turn based strategy with online multiplayer (review)
- iDracula ($0.99) – survival shooter (review)
- Underworlds ($0.99) – a hack and slash dungeon crawler (review)
- Gemmed! ($0.99) – a match-3 game where the goal is not to match-3 (review)
Other Notables
- Zombieville USA ($1.99) – side scrolling survival shooter. (review)
- F.A.S.T. ($4.99) – dog-fighting game with online multiplayer (review)
- Baseball Slugger ($2.99) – home run derby with online head-to-head(review)
- EDGE ($4.99) – wonderful platformer (review)
- Ragdoll Blaster ($1.99) – physics ragdoll game with a goal (review)
- Isotope ($2.99) – Geometry wars-like shooter with RPG elements (review)
- Monster Pinball ($3.99) – a beautiful pinball experience (review)
- Zenonia ($5.99) – an epic action RPG (review)
- Toki Tori ($4.99) – platform puzzler (review)
- geoDefense ($3.99) – a retro/action tower defense game (review)
- Word Fu ($2.99) – word finding dice game (review)
- Brick Breaker Revolution 3D ($2.99) – brick breaking in 3D (review)
Big Brands
- Peggle ($4.99) – named one of the most addictive games of all time (review)
- Bookworm ($4.99) – popular word finding game (review)
- Wolfenstein 3D ($2.99) – grandfather of first person shooters (review)
- Sims 3 ($9.99) – the latest in the Sims series (review)
- Dance Dance Revolution ($6.99) – one of the original rhythm games (review)
- Puzzle Quest ($7.99) – award winning puzzle adventure game (review)
- Need for Speed ($6.99) – great arcade racer (review)
Retro / Classics
- Saucelifter ($0.99) – Choplifter-inspired retro action shooter (review)
- Vector Tanks ($2.99) – Battlezone in your pocket review
- Rogue Touch ($2.99) – iPhone remake of dungeon crawler Rogue (review)
- Oregon Trail ($4.99) – Yes, dysentery can be fun again (review)
- Pinball Dreams ($4.99) – classic Amiga pinball game (review)
- Myst ($5.99) – the classic adventure game review
Only on iPhone / iPod Touch
Some standout titles that use the iPhone / iPod Touch controls in a unique way that couldn’t easily exist on most other platforms.
- Space Ninja ($2.99) – space shooter without the shooting. Dodge your way around enemies in “bullet time". (review)
- Touch Ski 3D ($0.99) – multi-touch skiing (review)
- Sway ($4.99) – multi-touch platformer. A true iPhone original. (review)
- Zen Bound ($4.99) – wind rope around wooden blocks in this beautiful zen-like gaming experience (review)
- Eliss ($2.99) – an amazing multi-touch puzzle game (review)
- Ignite ($1.99) – platformer designed with touch controls in mind. (review)
Be sure to check out our 2008 Holiday “Best Of" list (prices listed in the 2008 article may not be accurate any longer).
