For the past couple of years, the iPhone has led a kind of mini revolution in the gaming world. Developers are using the platform to launch compelling, innovative games that often have a focus that’s missing elsewhere in the industry.
This year, Apple’s US and European branches have selected their Game of the Year on both iPhone and iPad. Both regional offices have come up with different winners but all four games honoured are deserving of praise.
The US wing chose Tiny Towers on iPhone, a compelling freemium game in which you must build a skyscraper and keep its residents happy. The European side of Apple chose a European game – Tiny Wings, which has a single control simplicity and a compelling hook to keep you levelling up.
For the iPad, the US Game of the Year was EA’s Dead Space while the European iPad Game of the Year was Contre Jour, a puzzle game with a beautiful art style from Chillingo.
All deserving winners but there are, of course, others that I feel deserve a mention. Jetpack Joyride, Swords and Sworcery and 1000 Heroz all spring to mind. What have been your favourites this year?
Source: App Store via Pocket Gamer
KeRaSh
Tiny Wings is a great pick. Looking at the list of games I currently have installed I’d probably stick with their choice.
Youles
Always happy to see Dead Space getting some appreciation. Can’t get on with the controls though, damn touch screen when a necromorph jumps out at me.
Pro Evo 2012 – but I only play the Free Kick Challenge – it’s awesome!
Reckless Racing and Crystal Defenders are also very good.
Selachii
Tiny Wings is a great game and well deserved winner. I like how they managed to keep the games relatively short, even when going for high scores at higher level.
This year also marked the release of my own game, so allow me to shamelessly plug:
Phoenix HD
which is doing quite well, almost 1mil downloads (hopefully getting that before the end of the month). It is free, so please give it a try :)
Selachii
Ah, now with linking goodness
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/phoenix-hd/id445791750?mt=8
colossalblue
oh wow, you did that?
I’ve been playing that for a while now! Not my genre of choice, usually but it’s a great achievement.
Dan Lee
You made Phoenix HD?? Hats off to you, sir! My type of game
Selachii
Yes, though it’s basically a 2man production. My partner in crime built the engine and did all the coding. I did the game design, content implementation(scripting) and art.
Glad you guys like it, spread the word :)
the bottler
Downloading now
ron_mcphatty
I can’t remember whether it came out this year or last, but Slopskier has been a particular highlight for me.
CNWLshadow
For me it would have to be Bumpy Road, should check it out if you haven’t already. A bit like Slopskier in that it has a clever twist on the endless runner genre and the art style is brilliant.
CNWLshadow
Also I think Mage Gauntlet deserves a mention for those you like the old school rpg. Not normally a genre I play but this one caught my attention. Anomaly Warzone earth also deserves a mention nice twist on tower defence, its a port of the steam version but I think the touch controls work remarkably well.
bunimomike
Thanks for the heads-up on Anomaly Warzone. I’m downloading the demo on the PC as I don’t seem to hit the iPhone as much these days. Looks great fun! I do love me some tower defence! :-)
shields_t
Tiny Tower is possibly the most addictive yet simple game I’ve ever played, I have been completely hooked to restocking all my stores and putting my bitizens in jubs since my honeymoon in July.
The Dead Space game was very good too on the iPad, it didn’t seem to comprimise too much in term,s of scares, controls and appearance – and to give it a completely seperate story was a masterstroke.
I’d probably give “Water?” a recommendation for Cut the rope style addictiveness too.
bunimomike
Water? Can you give us a link as I’m having trouble searching for such a popular keyword on the store. :-(
mugsybalone
I assume it’s “Where’s My Water?”, by Disney, which is very good.
bunimomike
Thanks, guys. Bought and installing. Top stuff!
colmshan1990
Contre Jour and Football Manager are the only games I genuinely enjoy on iPad.
mugsybalone
Only picked it up this week, on the back of Kevatron’s podcast recommendation, but Battlehearts is a really slick, enjoyable RPG-lite battler, which I would echo Kev’s sentiments and advise anyone who likes their games, y’know, good, to pick up.
Michael
I don’t get Tiny Wings at all. Or Tiny Tower. Not sure what my fave is this year though.