Wednesday, February 12, 2014

12 Phone Games To Suck Your Life Away

It could be argued that the very LAST thing we all need is another time-sucking phone game, but hey, do you really need that slice of cake, either?

WHY YES. YES, YOU DO.

I like strategy and puzzle games like Candy Crush or Bookworm, but John likes action picks that require quick reflexes, like the now infamous Flappy Bird. So between the two of us, I think I've got a good variety of games for you!

(All links lead to the iOS versions, but unless noted everything is also available for Android.)

My Picks:


Swap colorful candies around to make matches of 3 or more. It's basically Bejeweled, but unbelievably addicting with fun graphics and sound effects. (And yes, I am so, so addicted.)

This is a free game, and I'm proof that you CAN get 3 stars on every level at least through level 118 without giving the Candy overlords any money. You only get 5 lives at a time, though, which is good, since otherwise some of us might neglect more important things in life, like eating or showering. ;) 

(And if you run out of lives and still need your fix, switch over to Jewel Mania. Play your cards right, and you can alternate between the two while your lives regenerate. [Yep, that's the voice of experience talking.] ;))

UPDATE: Apparently King, the maker of Candy Crush, is a thieving bully. Just an FYI, before you decide to spend any money with them. (That story broke just as I posted this. Gah, what timing!)

Clumsy Ninja: (only available for iOS - sorry!)


Omigosh, you guys, this game is freaking adorable. Lead your Pixar-esque ninja around by the hand and train him up in sweet ninja skills, like jumping on a trampoline, or later toss him through a basketball hoop. :) Clumsy Ninja is apparently the most advanced AI program to ever hit the iphone, and it shows: the interaction between you and your ninja is endlessly amusing. (Try dangling him in the air by one foot, and then just wait. His reaction is hilarious.)

The game is free, but with built-in timers that make you wait between training sessions - or pay with tokens to speed things along. (And the tokens cost real money, of course.) I'm not too far in, but I can see how the training might get a little boring/repetitive. Still, the first hour in this game is pure magic, and well worth a download.


Blendoku:





Blendoku is as beautiful as it is addicting: just place the colored squares in order to blend one color into the next. It starts out incredibly simple, but then ramps up the complexity as you progress.

The game records your time, but there's no time limit, which keeps the stress factor to a minimum. Plus there are lots and LOTS of levels, and you can choose your difficulty. And did I mention it's free? A definite "must-try!"


Triple Town:


My friend Renee turned me on to this one, and I'm kind of terrible at it. It's a strategy game: place three bushes next to each other on the map to form a tree, then three trees to form a house, and so on.
Then the ninja bears jump in to mess you up. :) Even though I'm not very good, I like the graphics and animation, and the gameplay is easy, even if the strategy is not. Again, a free download, so give it a try and see if you're any better at it than I am.


Plants vs Zombies, 1 & 2:


Plant your defenses and hold off the zombie invasion. This game requires complete concentration and focus, and feels more like a console game than a quick two-minute-round-in-the-bathroom kind of game. It's also thoroughly addicting, so be prepared to lose a few hours in your first go. The fast pace and timed nature can also get your adrenaline going, so I've learned the hard way that this is NOT the game to play before trying to get to sleep.

The first installment stole my heart (and brains?), while PvZ 2 brings more variety and new plants to the mix. It's a little more complex, with ratings to meet and a maze-like gameboard to navigate between levels, which starts to feel a bit much, but at its heart it's still the same amazing game.

Both games are free, with in-game options to purchase upgrades and other cool toys.



For more classics puzzle games you can't beat BookWorm (find words in a jumble of letters), Word Warp (make as many words from 8 letters as possible), Sudoku (I've tried 4 or 5, and that's the best version I've found), and my all-time favorite and trusty standby for years, Solitaire City. (Solitaire City has every solitaire variation you can think of, decent graphics, and fun sound effects to play with. It's the one game I always come back to, and is well worth the $2 for the ad-free version.)


John's Picks:

Minion Rush:

You control a minion running through an obstacle course and collecting bananas. (BANANAAS!) Swipe your finger side to side, or up and down to jump/duck. Sounds easy, right?

IT'S NOT EASY.  >.<

So John gets even more obsessive about his phone games than I do, and last week he exuberantly exclaimed that this is the best iPhone game of all time. I cannot even begin to tell you how much he loves it. Because of this game, we finally watched Despicable Me 2. However, I have to tell you: I am so, so bad at it. I can't even get past the first level. BUT - I keep trying. Because it's fun, and the sound effects are endlessly entertaining.

Minion Rush is free, but like most games these days has options to purchase tokens for upgrades in-game. (And you should have seen the look I gave John when I discovered he'd purchased $20 in tokens. TWENTY DOLLARS. I'll be watching to see if he needs an intervention anytime soon.)


 Sadly Flappy Bird is no longer available (John's high score is 48, in a game where most people like me can't get past 3) but here's a less frustrating bird he loves even more:

Tiny Wings (iOS only, as far as I can tell):

Hold your finger on the screen to accelerate, sending your little bird zipping off the rounded hills skyward as you attempt to outrun the sun. When the sun sets, game over.

This is a simple game that's all about timing, and John played it obsessively until he discovered Minion Rush a few months ago. The sound effects are surprisingly pretty; I love the music, and the little bird noises are fun, too.

And finally, no phone game list is complete without Angry Birds, although both John and I have found that the game (and its various incarnations, like Star Wars) gets too hard too fast, which makes it less fun. Even so, everyone should play it at least once, and the beginning levels are always a real hoot. (Oh yes I did!)

One final note: Sometimes there's nothing better for coming down off a panic attack - or even for staving one off - than a thoroughly engrossing phone game. Just something to keep in mind for you supportive friends/family/SOs out there.

Ok, guys, your turn! Tell me your favorite phone games in the comments - and please, no iPad games, since that'll just make me sad I don't have one. ;)

136 comments:

  1. I think this may be a Tiny Wings alternative for Android: Dragon, Fly!

    free version

    full version

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. careful, this one is HIGHLY addictive! I've been playing for over a year, almost daily...

      Delete
  2. Haha you can get more lives on Candy Crush by switching the date in your iphone settings ahead one day, then switching in back when you're done. You're welcome/not welcome haha :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just make sure not to start playing before you change the date back, or you'll have to wait for a day and 30 minutes for your next life.
      So: 1. Change the date to tomorrow. 2. Enter Cc and ckeck your lives. 3. Change the date back to today. 4. Go play!

      Delete
  3. Cytus: Free to play rhythm tapping game. It is worth buying the app (low price) to remove the "countdown" on free songs. It is -not- worth paying for the 2 newest song packs since they will be free once more people download the app.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My husband daughter and I are all hooked on My Singing Monsters (and My Muppets Show - the same game, just different characters). We play it on our Kindles, but it is also available for iPhone. Give it a try and you'll be hooked very quickly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We also love My Singing Monsters, it's on android too. Another one I really like is Flow Free, it's a "simple" where you connect dots of certain colors, but it fulfills some kind of need in me because I can play it for a long time. Also I have become horribly addicted to Doctor Who Legacy. It's like a mix of bejeweled type games, an rpg, and Doctor Who.

      Delete
    2. I'm addicted to flow free too. I don't know how many times I've played it now. Trainyard express is also an addicting puzzle.

      Delete
    3. Yes! My Singing Monsters is so fun! My mom (turning 70 this year) is also addicted to it. I love it when our phone conversations turn towards successful breeding programs.

      Delete
  5. Panda Pop is the big obsession in our house. My husband of course has finished all 100 levels, I think I'm at 68. Even our 4 year old and 7 year old love it. It is another timed game to get additional levels etc... but I usually take that as a sign that it's time to put it down for a bit. I am going to check out a few of these others too though.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd forgotten about triple town, it used to exist on Google too as some sort of Chrome app. I like Free Flow where you connect dots of the same colour.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cut the Rope! So adorable, and the entire point is to get candy to a cute monster. :)

    Game Dev Story. You basically control a small studio, hire people, and try to make awesome best-selling games.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love Cut the Rope! I'd second that one for sure.

      My other favorite is Bejeweled. The full version is only 1 or 2 dollars, and it's definitely worth it. My favorite mode is Diamond Mine.

      I'm downloading Blendoku right now. Sounds right up my alley!

      Delete
    2. Bejeweled now has a 'butterflies' version that's a little more complicated. I find myself continuing to play just so I can see what the next level of achievement is called.

      Delete
  8. I find Temple Run fun and pretty addictive. And I've made it past level 250 in Candy Crush without paying anything, so it is possible! I had a lot of extra time on my hands last October when the government shut down, and I may have spent an inappropriate amount of that time playing Candy Crush...

    ReplyDelete
  9. Have you tried Doctor Who Legacy? It is like Puzzle Quest (which is like Candy Crush but with attack sequences). They keep adding new characters all the time! My husband and I are addicted to it...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh my. I love PQ and Doctor Who! This could be epic...

      Delete
    2. Yes, yes, YES! I was hoping someone would have pointed this out! It's Candy Crush for Whovians who want a REASON to be matching things other than "chocolate is apparently evil? KILL IT"

      It is a nerdy, time-sucking delight. Highly recommended.

      Delete
    3. There's also Marvel Puzzle Quest. They have been making change to it lately that make the progression scheme even slower, but if you just want some good puzzle combat, it's pretty solid. It's F2P, but there's no good reason to spend money in it anyway.

      Delete
    4. I love love love Doctor Who Legacy. I've completely given up on Candy Crush for it. Also they love to give back to the fans with promo codes, and constantly get fan input on what should be next.

      Delete
    5. why, thanks, for instantly hooking me on another addicting time-sucking game. i've just emptied the battery of my phone a SECOND time today playing doctor who legacy!

      i've long back deleted candy crush from my phone, but after reading what a butthole company king is i'm going to delete every single other king game i have.

      Delete
  10. At work the other day, someone was going on about Candy Crush and I just stared at her blankly. She was like, you know what Candy Crush is, right? I really didn't! I've had a flip-phone with no internet/texting for over a decade now, and just got a Smartphone one month ago. Haha - I'm getting made fun of for that.

    Welcome me in to the 21st Century Jen! :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Badland and Limbo are both very fun games. A little pricier, I think they're both $5. Badland has gorgeous graphics and you get to play as a cute flying bunny-bat creature. Basically you just navigate by flying through the levels, which get progressively harder as you go. There's lots of different obstacles to get past. The multiplayer option is so fun too! It's an award winning game, definitely worth playing. Limbo is similar, but more difficult since it originated as a PC game and the controls didn't transfer to iOS as well. Still, a fun game that makes you think and has creepy cool graphics

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I played Limbo on the Xbox ages ago: a gorgeous, frustrating game. Ha!

      Delete
    2. I definitely second Badland! The overall feel is VERY limbo-esque, with creepy but gorgeous apocalyptic feely graphics. It's out on both iOS and android :)

      Delete
  12. Ah, PvZ... I started with the PC version and have played it on pretty much every platform (Xbox, DS, iPhone and iPad) and loved every one of them :D
    On my iPhone, Temple Run 2 has me playing every day (daily challenges!). Graveyard Shift is another game similar to Angry Birds (you have to drop a skeleton in a grave) but I don't find it nearly as frustrating. Unblock Me is good if you like sliding puzzles and I think you would really like Zed's Alchemy. I had my entire work team playing a couple years ago... our staff meeting always started with sharing new combinations ;)

    I'm a fan of puzzle/strategy games, too. Can you tell?

    ReplyDelete
  13. I found a an awesome gem of a game in Tiny Thief - it's a puzzle game where you are young kid in old England and you figure out the puzzles & avoid the guards the cause mischief and steal from the bad guys. Love the graphics & game play. I also love Simpsons Tapped Out & Hay Day for some midless game play. My wife loves Hexic Flow & FLow Free - color matching puzzle games. all on iOs, unsure about android availability

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just love tiny thief!! I kept playing until I finished all the levels and then played them all again!! So fun! And Tapped Out has sucked away so much of my life, but still play daily

      Delete
    2. I love Simpson's Tapped Out! They do stuff for the seasons which is fun. The town was haunted for Halloween, it snowed for Christmas and Marge and Homer went on a date for Valentine's Day. It is totally addictive!

      Delete
  14. I like Flow Free -- you have to connect dots of the same color in a continuous line, without crossing the paths of the other dots (there's a new one with bridges where they cross over) and fill up the entire board. They draw you in by giving you a few free clues, then you have to buy more if you get stuck -- which I refuse to do -- but there is also a website that shows all the solutions, so if you get REALLY stuck you can look them up for free. It's a fun, relaxing game, great for waiting rooms, or when your lives are regenerating in Candy Crush. It's really satisfying to find the right twists and turns in a 13 color puzzle, and after a while you have an almost subconscious idea of how they lay stuff out.

    Osmos is also fun -- your mote has to absorb smaller motes until it reaches critical mass. You lose if the other motes absorb enough matter that you can't become the biggest. It's based on Newtonian Laws, physics, and sometimes planetary physics. You move by expelling mass -- when you tap the board, your mote expels mass and you go in the opposite direction. Some of the orbit ones are really hard, but they can be mastered. The soundtrack is also great.

    I have to go try Minion Rush NOW!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thinking of you as I wrote that one up, Sharyn!

      Delete
    2. I agree, Osmos is a great game and the soundtrack is so soothing.

      Delete
  15. Tiny Tower is a long-running favorite of mine. Build a tower one floor at a time, decide what businesses to move in, and watch Bitzens. Cute graphics.

    Fruit Ninja is always fun for some stress relief. Swipe your finger across to slash fruit.

    Finally, Ynth is an adorable and fun puzzler. Move a cute little bug in a box across obstacles. Addicting!

    ReplyDelete
  16. My favorite game by FAR is Robot Unicorn Attack . You play as a unicorn (yay!) which you can customize using points you earn in the game by dashing stars and collecting fairies! It was made by Adult Swim and is so so fun. :) Free game and unlimited lives!

    ReplyDelete
  17. I've just discovered Tiny Death Star, which is essentially Tiny Tower but with added Star Wars
    I'm hooked

    Also cookie clicker for probably the easiest game ever
    Tap the screen to get cookies, use the cookies to buy things to enable you to get cookies faster
    And repeat

    Both super addictive

    ReplyDelete
  18. Sounds like John might like Swordigo - it was on a free promotion when I got it, but I think it might be about $3 now... but really good and fun! Kind of a Zelda tribute game.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh man, I'm going to go download blendoku right now! That looks like an ideal game for me :D. You may like the Disney Frozen Free Fall game. It is similar to bejeweled game-play but with some added challenges like melting ice. Also, the music is really pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love Temple Run 2. I am addicted and play every single day to reach the goals. I also really like my Pou. It is a virtual pet, and I have kept him alive and happy for over a year now. It doesn't take a lot of time, and it's fun! I might need Blendoku.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love, Love, Love so many of the PopCap games. Chuzzle is another fun little puzzler from PopCap.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Doctor Who Legacy is a gem matching game that is quite fun, plus you can earn characters.

    My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic is a fun game. Bronies Unite!

    Jurassic Park Builder is also fun, thereis the classic park, the underwater park, and the glacier park.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Monster Busters. Used to be just for Facebook but just recently released games for iPhone and Android. It's your classic match 3 game but SO CUTE. You have to save Gingerbread Men from Monsters while you climb the tower. Cute graphics, great playability and you can 'play' with your character and it's surrounding area in the tower between games. Best part is when you have to get keys to make it to the next level all you have to do is wait. Yes, you can ask Facebook friends for help, but every 12 hours they give you a key so you can continue playing.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Badland

    Super Hexagons

    My daughter adores Free Flow

    And the kids loved the Room so much they asked me to get the Room 2

    My time waster standbys are Spider (a solitare variation) and Scramble

    ReplyDelete
  25. Have you tried Threes? I never thought a number game could be so cute. You have to play it with sound for ultimate cuteness though.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agree with this...Threes is my new addiction.

      Delete
    2. I just flagged that one a few days ago to try, but haven't downloaded it yet. Must do that soon!

      Delete
  26. Oh, I also wanted to mention that King, the company who makes Candy Crush Saga, has been doing some really awful things behind the scenes, like trying to copyright common words like 'candy'. There was a recent well-publicized case where they tried to sue another game company, Stoic, that made a game called Banner Saga, for daring to use the word 'saga' in the title.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Seriously? Everyone is already addicted to their game. Why do they have to try to make life difficult for everyone else. Maybe they are getting too rich and too bored. Reminds me of a certain company that starts with M and rhymes with on-plant-oh.

      Delete
    2. As well, they've petitioned to have another game's prior trademark invalidated, simply because the other developer is much smaller: http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2014/02/12/candy-swipe-dev-pens-furious-open-letter-to-candy-crush-makers/

      As much fun as the game may be, I'd find it hard to support a company that is willing to go that far.

      Delete
    3. Indeed, and I've come down pretty harsh on them in comments around the web. I've been encouraging people to boycott Candy Crush. The company is being really jerky.

      Delete
    4. I was going to comment about the King being jerks thing, but since you already did I'll just say you should really add this to your post!

      Delete
  27. My favorite iphone game is Buddy & Me, a gorgeous continuous-run game which was inspired by Miyazaki films and the Pacific Northwest.

    I also enjoy Winter Bells, because the Orisinal games are always so pretty and have such lovely music.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I am fond of Where's Perry? and Where's My Water? I am definitely going to have to try blendoku. That looks like one I will love.
    Karyn

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love room escape games in general. The first couple levels are always easy and I think "wow, am I getting better at this or is this a poorly made game?" Then I hit the hard levels and I get so frustrated. I've never given up on a game yet, but I have had to cheat occasionally, looking up a walk thru or asking my husband for help.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am loving Dots: A game about connecting. Timed and moves mode are free. There are powerups you can buy but you can also pay for them with the dots you collect. You really only need to buy them if you are impatient and can't wait to collect enough. ;) There is infinite mode that is $1.99 and includes gravity on/off which is basically a shuffle. (I bought it) It's a really fun puzzle type game. My other favorite game is Bejeweled if that helps with what type it is. I have it on Android, no idea if it's on iOS. It did crash my older phone but is fine on my new one and my tablet.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love the Blitz games - Bingo Blitz (this is best played with the sound on), Tetris Blitz and my favorite is Solitaire Blitz. My kids like Hot Donut And yes for Triple Town! Love that game! After playing it quite a bit, you get better. I suggest playing it in Peaceful Valley with no bears at all or Practice mode with no Ninjas.

    Now, off to look up a few of these other games!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm totally addicted to the Simpsons Tapped Out on my iPad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it is life-ruiningly fun! Yup. Also addicted. I also really enjoy Carcassonne and Ticket to Ride on my iPad.

      Delete
  33. Check out Threes. It's incredibly addicting. Also, read up on King (candy crush) and what they are doing with copyrights. It will make you want to stop playing their games.

    ReplyDelete
  34. LOVE Minion Rush!! I also suggest trying Juice Cubes (similar to Candy Crush) and Giant Boulder of Death, where you control a boulder going down a mountain, trying to cause as much damage as possible while avoiding spikey walls, mines, and other hazards!

    ReplyDelete
  35. How about Nyan Cat: Lost in Space, which has two elements: A game with multiple variants (my favorite is similar to Tiny Wings you have here) and also a Tamigotchi-type portion in which you have to care for your Nyan cat: feed it, play with it, pet it, and decorate its home. You earn coins playing the game that you use to buy food and toys for your Nyan cat. This is a GREAT way to kill time in the waiting room at the doctors office!

    ReplyDelete
  36. This is amazingly hard for me to answer. If you ask about phone games, I'll list a few,but if you want iPad games, I would have a completely different list as the bigger screen lends to different type of gaming. Also, my kids each have favorites. I also have little patience for free-to-play games that nag constantly about making purchases, so I tend to avoid them. I would rather pay more to purchase than make micro payments.

    First off, I have been playing a lot of Final Fantasy. They had a sale around new years and I think so far FF4 is my favorite for mobile. you can play it in little bursts, getting through a few cut scenes or battles and it auto-saves when you turn put the phone away.

    Zombie Moon... it's a little text/picture based MMO where you can chat with other players and follow a kind of single player story where you are trying to find out what happened to a space station that stopped responding.

    Of course I recommend Plants vs. Zombies, the original was a favorite for years. Years I tell you! (haven't gotten into the second one... the free-to-play is different then the first and kinda breaks it)

    Ticket to Ride pocket editions (US and Europe I have played) are great fun if you have a partner or group who will join you for quick games.

    Badland is also highly recommended.

    My oldest daughter loves the Temple Run games. Especially the Brave edition where you play as Merida (from Pixar's Brave) and also have to shoot archery targets while you run.

    Peggle. A classic that plays great on the iphone.

    Battleeart is my favorite little action rpg. The battles take about 2-3 minutes and are pretty fun and balanced. You click and drag to order your party to attack and perform magic. It's kid safe and fun.

    Jetpack joyride is great fun for quick, addictive goal oriented action game.

    Doodle Army is a fun little action war game that John might enjoy. There is a demo of the first level to try out.

    Not games, but fun apps...

    Try out Soundrop. You draw lines on the screen and little dots drop down and hit them. The longer the line the deeper the sound. but you can angle the lines and make the dots bounce around at different angles and trap them. Basically you end up with a giant percussion sandbox. It's noisy, but fun.

    Last on, I promise.... if you like Doctor Who, try out iAmADalek. it records your voice and plays it back with a Dalek voice filter. My kids will play this for hours saying things to each other and cracking up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Battleeart --- actually that is spelled Battleheart

      >.<

      Delete
    2. Lots of my favorites are already listed here (PvZ! Minion Rush! Bookworm!), but no one has mentioned Crossfingers yet. It's kind of like tangrams, where you have an outline and pieces to fill in that outline. But there are also levels where you have to move and hold red blocks out of the way, and levels where it doesn't look like there's enough room to move the pieces around. There are a variety of levels of difficulty, and even my four year old enjoys it. The levels are timed, too, so you can replay to try to beat your own times.

      Delete
  37. Downloading Blendoku right now! Looks fun!

    If you enjoy Sudoku, Sudoku 2 is a fun version of the game. Several difficulty levels and it's easy to switch between pencil marks and finalized numbers.

    I can attest to the panic attack staving off--that's a technique I use quite often. It gives you something not too taxing to focus on instead of whatever is setting you off.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Pocket Mine - vertical auto-scroller where you have to tap to dig (think tunnels/caverns). The upgrades and leveling are great, and I thought I would have gotten sick of it by now, but NOPE I'm on level 141.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I agree about Juice Cubes and Jetpack Joyride...those two are my favorite. I also like the Where's my Water/Perry? games too. Naught is a fun one too, with different but pretty graphics. (I have an Android phone so I'm not sure if they're available on iPhones) My kids adore Dragonvale, and of course Minecraft. :)

    ReplyDelete
  40. Personally, I love Flight Control and Frenzic. One of my most-missed games from iOS (I'm on Android now...) is Ramp Champ: a great skee-ball game with beautiful graphics.

    ReplyDelete
  41. If you have an iPad, these are my favorites.

    Pirates! the original Cid Meier's game, ported very beautifully over to iOS. You will spend lots of time plundering and sailing your little fleet around. It isn't incredibly easy, there is a strategy game learning curve, but it is so addictive and fun. (The old PC version happens to be on this week's humble indie bundle as well)

    StarCommand -- this was a kickstarter funded game. There are multiple versions, but I picked up the ipad one. You have a little ship full of different components and rooms you can upgrade (engines, guns, etc) and then you fill it full of little crew and you tell them what to do. There is a fun story that pits you against alien ships. suddenly your little crew is running all over putting out fires, repairing and healing and fending off boarding enemy soldiers all while shooting back at the enemy ship. It's all very Star Trek bases but lots of fun.

    If you like the old arcade games where you have a little ship or fighter plane and face off against wave after wave of enemy attackers.... try iFighter2, my favorite so far.

    BejewledHD --- if you like candy crush, play the original gem game from popcap. It is tons of fun and slightly more relaxing and satisfying.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I like Candy Crush, Pet Rescue and Diamond Dash. I also like Papa Pear Saga. I'm hooked on all of them! Nicole S.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I have an Android so I am unsure if all the games are on iOS.

    I've been playing other games from King.com - Farm Heroes Saga and Papa Pear Saga - they're set up like Candy Crush but slightly different.

    I grabbed one called Dots the other day - basically you match dots of the same color to get rid of them, and if you make a square it removes all the dots of that color. On the free version you can play a timed version or a limited moves version. If you buy the game you get an unlimited play version.

    I'm newly addicted to Tiny Death Star - it's not a puzzle or strategy game, but it's a fun time waster.

    Also Hidden Worlds from Disney - also not puzzle or strategy, it's a hidden object game. If your phone screen is tiny it's a little annoying, but it's fun. It can also connect to your facebook account so you can play in both places. You need at least one friend to send you a specific type of ink to build stuff, but so far that's the only thing you would need friends for. I'm "friends" with anonymous players directly through the game (on the phone, not on facebook) and that's worked pretty well.

    And I have to mention Moron Test and Moron Test 2 from DistinctDev, Inc. I think I paid $0.99 each for the full versions, but they're totally fun.

    ReplyDelete
  44. I love Chuzzle (esp, in Zen Mode which is without a time limit) simple color matching game with critters that look like Tribbles :)

    ReplyDelete
  45. I loved, loved, loved Plants vs. Zombies, played it through on Xbox, iPad and iPhone multiple times, and I just can't make myself care about PvZ 2. Hard enough that you really have to spend those coins to use the moves and I hate that. They recently heavily retooled it, I'm assuming in response to negative feedback, but I still don't like it.

    I mostly play a lot of board games on my phone. Catan, Carcassone and Ticket to Ride are all really well made apps. I play Tiny Tower and Pocket Planes as well, in spurts. They're good "I have 5 minutes while I wait for the train" sort of games. I recently got Adventure Town as well, which is another game you play for 5 minutes every few hours, and it's quite good. I haven't had to spend real money on any of them.

    Middle Manager of Justice is also reallllly cute and well-made. It's by Double-Fine, who have done a few great Xbox games including Costume Quest which I have to imagine you played. I haven't had to spend any real money on that either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm a fan of Catan on my Nexus 7 tablet. Very well done, and tough to beat!

      Delete
  46. If you like Blendoku, check out Color Zen! It's actually a really relaxing game for me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh yeah. Color Zen saved my life during a particularly stressful time. One of the few games that I've actually paid for. Now that I've done all the levels, I'm still going back and playing it because it's so beautiful and so relaxing. I really love it. Hope they do more levels soon. Another hearty vote for Color Zen!!

      Delete
    2. I was just about to recommend Color Zen as well. It's fun and the music and graphics make it so relaxing as well

      Delete
  47. I downloaded Blendoku as soon as I read this knowing it would be right up my alley, and I can already tell that I LOVE it. Another game I've been addicted to lately is Threes, which is a game where you basically have to combine numbers on a grid to make larger numbers. Wow, that just made it sound super boring. I promise it's not; I'm not a huge fan of math and I usually turn away from any games involving numbers, but this one is really fun and the graphics are wonderful. It's $1.99 in the App Store (I'm not sure how much it costs for Droids or if it's even available), but I can say it's so worth it and I hardly ever pay for apps.

    ReplyDelete
  48. SeeWord. You have a limited amount of time and a limited number of moves to form words. The basic version is free but for $1.99 you get the full version with several more options for game play. The best part is that all of the proceeds go to a charity to support brain cancer research as it was developed by someone to aid a family member during treatment.

    Also Papa Pear Saga. Highly addictive and frustrating and fun and ohmygoditsasbadascandycrush!

    ReplyDelete
  49. JEN! JEN! I have also left this in comment on the blog post about the sweet Brony, Michael Morones, but I don't want you to miss this so READ ASAP: Happy news is worth the risk of being an off-topic double posting pest.

    http://www.chicagonow.com/portrait-of-an-adoption/2014/02/great-new-update-on-michael-morones/


    From the article:

    "Today, we have wonderful and encouraging news!

    Over the last several days, for the first time, Michael has steadily improved. His body is starting to wake up and his brain is very slowly starting to function again. He no longer needs IV medications or sedation.

    There are recent signs of neurological function present in Michael’s body that have not previously existed. As such, the next steps include moving him to a wheelchair. His family attributes his improvement to the outpouring of love and support.

    The doctors still don't know what he will be capable of since his brain has a long way to go, but thanks to each and everyone of you out there sending love, positive thoughts and prayers, Michael is experiencing an evolving miracle of healing.

    There is now a new website for the Michael Morones Foundation located at http://www.michaelmorones.org and it is the go-to page for all information about Michael. The page is interactive and includes a place for supporters to comment and upload YouTube videos for Michael."

    I really thought you'd want to know.
    Hurray for MightyMichael! Keep fighting little Brony.

    ReplyDelete
  50. King, the company behind Candy Crush is an awful company. A month or so ago they were trying to sue another company just for using the word Saga in their game title despite it being nothing like Candy Crush & now they're trying to take down a small app that was created before Candy Crush called Candyswipe that Candy Crush looks awfully similar to. Felicia Day shared a link on g+ to an open letter from Candyswipe's Creator, don't know if she tweeted it.

    I was a huge Candy Crush player (thankful I never shelled out money, though) but I've replaced the void with Jelly Splash which connects to fb but doesn't have to. It's a lot of fun but you connect jellies rather than swapping them but has similar things to Candy Crush like things you have to clear, release or bring to the bottom. :)

    ReplyDelete
  51. Thanks so much! I love phone games and I hate striking out on my own to track down good ones!

    ReplyDelete
  52. An older, but incredibly addicting game, is Pocket Frogs from Nimblebit. You breed frogs to try to get new combinations. (There's currently 36800 different frogs you can breed). There's a heap of different goals and achievements you can work towards. It's free to play, but after you've played for a while, you'll find yourself very happy to spend the $5 on a baby-proofing kit, so you can have more eggs at a time. There's a few mini games you can play to try to win new frogs, or make them grow up quicker. It's also a help to have a friend who's playing, so you can send each other new frogs.

    ReplyDelete
  53. You have to try Pet Rescue Saga, I alternate between that, Candy Crush and Jewel Mania LOL

    ReplyDelete
  54. I've never played Floppy Bird but a friend of mine made a really well done game called Leyenda which looks kind of similar! I would recommend checking it out, I can't remember if it is free or a dollar but for someone who isnt even into games I really liked it.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Thanks for the suggestions! I've tried many of them, but had never heard of Blendoku before. Love! I'm officially addicted. I've always enjoyed color mixing, so this is a lot of fun.

    I really like that if you have trouble with a level you can skip it and go onto the next one. That's one of the reasons I stopped playing Candy Crush after getting to a level in the 200s. I just hit a level that I didn't like to play and had trouble beating so it wasn't worth continuing with, and there was no way I was putting any real money into it.

    ReplyDelete
  56. The only phone games I currently play are Temple Run 2 and PVZ 2, really need to find 1 though. That Bookworm and Minion games look cool though, will have to try those out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bookworm is fun, but I have to play it without the sound. I can't stand the smarmy little worm's voice! If you like Bookworms, you'll like Wordsworth. I actually like Wordsworth better because you can get super high scores and earn extra privileges. My life is stressful enough without playing timed games (boy, do I sound wimpy!) and you can earn tiles in Wordsworth that give you extra time, or scramble the board, and other things that make it more fun and less stress!

      Delete
  57. My go to phone and tablet games are Bejeweled Blitz and Subway Surfers. I started playing Bejeweled on my tablet instead of my phone because I can play with 2 hands and I find that I get better scores that way. Subway Surfers has been a long time favorite of mine. It stays interesting too because of the missions and characters and boards to unlock.

    ReplyDelete
  58. My favorite is Bejeweled, which I see mentioned up there already. It's like Candy Crush, and the version I have doesn't require lives. Just endless play.

    And also Tetris, because who doesn't love Tetris? There are actually studies out there that show that playing Tetris (or another repetitive game like it) after something traumatic happens can reduce the likelihood that a person develops PTSD. Basically, the focus on the repetitiveness and strategy involved can help your brain regroup and keep you from getting stuck in the anxiety loop that PTSD creates. And how cool is that?!

    ReplyDelete
  59. My current addictions (which some may have been mentioned already in the previous comments) are:
    Tetris Blitz
    Tiny Tower
    Clash of Clans - (I found a clan full of great people which has only fueled my addiction even further!)
    At the very least, watch the commercial for Clash of Clans! It's super cute and funny. ("Did someone say Hog Riders??") It's one of the rare occasions where a commercial actually worked to get me to try a product. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I can't believe I forgot to add Tiny Thief! I obsessively burned through all the levels, because it's so darn clever and cute!

      Delete
  60. Free Flow has been my favorite since getting a smart phone. Now I know my fav will be Blendoku. I don't know whether to curse or thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  61. PvZ and Pocket Frogs keep me occupied.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I am highly addicted to DragonVale. You get to breed & raise dragons, super fun game :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't believe I forgot about Ticket to Ride. Don't know whether or not you're familiar with the board game, but the app plays the exact same way, with options for pass & play, multiplayer (local) where you connect with other players near you, or you can play against the app. Super fun!!

      Delete
  63. Another vote for Osmos the music is pretty and the game is super fun although it can be frustrating in later levels. I also like Robot Unicorn Attack. Puzzle quest is fun as well. Tetris is a classic favorite of mine but I don't really like playing without buttons.

    ReplyDelete
  64. Wow, Triple Town is the only one I don't have. I see we both have excellent taste. My six year old son thinks Clumsy Ninja is the bees knees. And he loves Dragonvale, but i have to admit that I am a little obsessed with it and nearly lost it when I saw he had spent some gems on hatching a dragon. I am trying to save up for a Gen Dragon dammit!

    Looks like there are a bunch more I need to try listed in the comments here. Hmm, I feel a cold coming on. Might have to stay home sick tomorrow...

    ReplyDelete
  65. I downloaded one from both your list and John's list, Clumsy Ninja and Minion Rush. Thank you both! I was instantly addicted and wasted so much time. :D

    ReplyDelete
  66. Not sure if these are available for iPhones or not since I have an Android. There is one called "Word Search", which is, you guessed it....word searches! Another one I like is called "Pinball Deluxe". Pinball! On your phone! There are 6 different "machines" to play, so you don't get bored. I like the on called Brix (arcade). In this one you are using the pinball to clear bricks from the board to get to the next level. The game pauses between each level, so you can catch your breath, if you need to.

    ReplyDelete
  67. Anodia: really really pretty, you have to use your "paddle" to shoot your ball and clear the table very fun.
    Stretched: a cute-faced ball that you move via slingshots up through the puzzle; again, very pretty and you move at your own pace.

    ReplyDelete
  68. I don't know if it's still available but try Easter Sneeze. It's a silly little game of advancing levels. It's bunnies that float around and you touch the screen once to make one sneeze (and then float away on a parachute) and then they all start sneezing. If you reach your goal of number of sneezing bunnies, you advance. Some screens have a few big bunnies, some have 100 tiny bunnies. It was a free app a few years ago and really stinking cute. The bunnies go "ah-choo!" in this little high pitched voice and when they all start sneezing, I start snorting.

    ReplyDelete
  69. I just checked--it's now .99. And it's called Easter Sneezies.
    https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sneezies-easter-edition/id307878529?mt=8

    ReplyDelete
  70. My all-time favorite app is Griddlers Plus. From what I understand, the Apple version is not as good as the Droid version, but you can still play on their website: www.griddlers.net It is a great game to play while watching tv, since there's no time limit and you can put down a puzzle and come back to finish it later. I've solved an embarrassing number of puzzles on the website so far (16,000+).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If you like nonogram games like Griddlers, try FillDoku.

      Delete
  71. I am now a HUGE Blendoku fan now, thanks to this post. I LOVE IT! I'm sad that the ninja game is only for iOS, but maybe it'll come out on Android later.

    My recommendation is Tiny Death Star. It's fun, simple, and doesn't require a lot of concentration, which makes it a good multitasker game. It has the style of an old pixelated game and it's just cute! You build levels (restaurants, shops, entertainment) for your tiny Death Star. (I guess the mall section didn't make the final movie cut.)

    ReplyDelete
  72. For strategy/puzzle games you can't go wrong with Trainyard (and the smaller Trainyard EX). A LOT of levels and it can get very thought provoking to complete the higher levels.
    Another pseudo puzzle game I like is Siege Hero. Plus you get the advantage of breaking things or blowing them up! All while killing the bad guys and saving the innocent "villagers".
    Hoggy is also a classic puzzle game than can be incredibly addicting and quite complicated at times. A good blend of quick reflexes and critical thinking are needed to clear some levels.
    The Quell series of games are also very fun and challenging - but are not free, unless you catch the occasional deal

    For "fun" games - as other have mentioned "Simpsons: Tapped Out" will suck hours out of your life both in game play and decorating your Springfield, Krustyland, and Squidport.
    Ski Safari is a fun "how long can you survive" game with some hilarious elements added in that games like Temple Run do not have (come on - how may games let you perform backflips on Yetis?)

    Kind of in a real life/game cross-over - Zombies, Run! is an entertaining way to actually get off your butt and exercise. And when you're done exercising, you can come back and play some more.

    If you're a classic board-gamer - try out Scotland Yard. Supports both single-player play (with semi-intelligent computer players) plsu multi-player local or network. A great board game that translated very nicely to the iPad (also available on iPhone - but the smaller screen makes it a little more difficult to make out the details)

    Yeah - I think I play too many mobile games...

    ReplyDelete
  73. If addiction is your thing, then check out the My Little Pony game. I downloaded it for my 4 year old, then her 8 year old brother and I took it over. It's a city-building platform and really fun. We all get a kick when we get to welcome a new pony!

    ReplyDelete
  74. Peggle, Tiny Thief and You Don't Know Jack!

    ReplyDelete
  75. My favorite puzzle game is Refraction - you have beams of different colored lights and have to use prisms and mirrors to combine, separate and reflect the proper color onto a series of targets. It's a really good puzzle game.

    My all-time-favorite game on any platform, though, is Waking Mars. You're an explorer on Mars who has to revive a dead planet by planting seeds and restoring ecosystems. It's got a compelling story, and since I'm a biology/ecology geek, it pushed all my buttons. I wish there were more biology/ecology/evolution type games available. Most games seem to come down to some kind of combat, and that's just not my thing.

    ReplyDelete
  76. I recently heard that King (who does the Candy Crush game) might be kinda plagiarizing another complany and being dicks about it, so I'm on a hiatus with that one i must admit!

    Blendoku looks lovely and i totally just downloaded it!

    My favourite IOS games are: Dubble (though i only ever play the single player set up), Puzzlejuice (tetris WITH word-matching!!), and Sir Benfro (which is a short game, but gorgeous and fun!)

    ReplyDelete
  77. I really like Fairway Solitaire. It's a solitaire-type card game, but the twist is that it's also like golf. And the running "golf commentary" and the theme of a gopher trying to mess you up all the time makes it pretty fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YES! This was the game I was going to add. I think it's important to note that you don't have to like/know anything about golf. I just like the different card patterns and interesting twist on a solitaire game ("golf bucks" you can spend in the pro shop and mini-games including a sideshow type horse racing). Very fun.

      Delete
  78. Quiz Up! Quick trivia game with a category for EVERYONE. From Classical Music to Buffy to any specific NFL team.

    ReplyDelete
  79. There is a Frozen game by Disney that is basically Bejewled. But the levels are a mix of timed, reach a score with a number of moves, move certain objects to the bottom of the screen, and break a certain number of ice block depending on the level. It's pretty basic, but easy to avoid buying lives or power-ups, AND there is little Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff as your "companion! *squee*

    ReplyDelete
  80. My current faves (on Android) -

    Word Hero - same idea as Bookworm, but in real time. All rounds are 2-ish minutes. When the round is up, you get to see where you rank in comparison to everyone else in the world who was playing the same board you were! Then you break for 30-ish seconds, and onto the next round. It keeps track of your best scores, and slots you into 'leagues' - silver, gold, platinum and diamond. I don't think I can adequately describe it, but I love love LOVE it.

    Elemental - Sudoku-esque but with wind, water, fire and earth instead of numbers. Another one that's hard to describe, but very addictive. Kind of a steampunky interface too.

    Dragon Fly - bascially Tiny Wings, but with a baby dragon.

    The Simpsons - Tapped Out, Blendoku, and Doctor Who Legacy are also on my list of current favorites. I hope the Sherlock app comes to Android soon!!

    ReplyDelete
  81. I totally understand how playing a simple game can help with anxiety and emotions. When I had my miscarriage, I had to spend a significant amount of time in the waiting room of my doctor's office in between the exam, the ultrasound, and the consultation with the doc. Focusing on that silly game helped me keep my emotions in control until I was in a place where I felt safe to let it all out (ahem, home). Sorry if this is a downer! I still enjoy the game even though I connect it to an unhappy time!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Minion rush is awesome! My youngest, who is 8, and has autism, is phenomenal at it! she spends a lot of time playing it. She also spends a lot of time looking at the guys you can buy, because they each do something silly. We take it with us (on a kindle fire) to places that would have potential to cause anxiety and/or meltdowns (mall food courts, doctors appointments, long car rides [doesn't require internet connection], etc). the games like this (and sonic the hedgehog, when it wants to work) get her through the tough things, and she doesn't mind them so much. it even helped her be cooperative at the doctor, instead of tensing up while waiting, and being totally freaked out by the time they actually needed to do blood pressure, etc. :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My 10 year old son who has Asperger's is the same way. Games relax him when he's had a stressful day dealing with the neurotypical world. He'll talk your ear off for hours about the various things happening in his games. He's very good with computers too so I'm hoping he'll get into computer programming soon. I think he'd have a real talent for it.

      Delete
    2. Have you heard about Scratch (http://scratch.mit.edu/)? It's game creation software designed for 8-16 year olds that's meant to be educational about programming and related topics. I haven't used it myself but I've heard nothing but good things. One audio review is at: (http://www.sourcetrunk.com/episode095)

      Delete
  83. YOU NEED TO PLAY DUMB WAYS TO DIE
    It is so much fun, it is so addicting, just trust me and do it.

    ReplyDelete
  84. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  85. Dumb Ways to Die, completely addictive, totally stupid, and incredibly fun. You will end up singing the song all the time. Recently I also discovered Threes! which has numbers that you slide together to make three & multiples of three. It's a lot of fun & each game goes quickly.

    Totally forgot to add Sneezies. It is a ridiculously simple game but totally sucks you in.

    ReplyDelete
  86. I hate/love you for introducting me to Blendoku. I immediately downloaded it ang became addicted. And I must also recommend Dumb Ways to Die. My 10 year old found it and we love it.

    ReplyDelete
  87. Thanks to everyone who recommended DragonVale. I've installed it into both of my boys' tablets and they're busy breeding dragons now. Combine their love of that kind of game with the fact that we've been watching Dreamworks' Dragons: Defenders of Berk and this was a sure hit.

    My personal favorites are Buttons and Scissors (cut off buttons in a row) and Color Oil (connect paint blobs in a certain number of rows). Both are by the same developer and are incredible. (I scored them from Amazon as Free App Of The Day. I think they are usually about $1.99 each.)

    I'll second the Doctor Who game recommendations. If you're a Doctor Who fan, you NEED to be playing this. You are essentially playing through the episodes from the latest to the newest, collecting companions, incarnations of the Doctor, and other friends. The developers said they won't be happy until they've released levels based on An Unearthly Child. Very fun game.

    Another one I'm a fan of is My Muppets Show. You "digitize' Muppets and place them on a stage to perform. As they perform, they earn money which you can use to buy food (which levels them up, making them earn more money) or to buy items for the stage (which can make your Muppets happier and thus make them earn more money). You can also complete achievements for money, diamonds (the "premium" currency which you can buy using real money or earn via various actions), or experience points.

    ReplyDelete
  88. Just downloaded Machinarium. BEAUTIFUL game, a bit on the challenging side, but a great way to waste time! I wasted like 30 minutes without realizing it the first time I played. Plus its an adorable little robot, how could you go wrong!?

    ReplyDelete
  89. I've had Blendoku for a while and it's just so lovely and relaxing, and after reading this post, now I've downloaded Clumsy Ninja and it's TOO CUTE. Also, today I picked up a Starbucks App "pick of the week" for Machinarium - I love Amanita Design's games and Machinarium has been in my Steam wishlist for some time, but I wasn't aware that there was an app for it! I'm curious to see how it goes and will probably end up getting the one for PC too, just for comparison.

    ReplyDelete
  90. My husband and I are both completely addicted to Plague Inc. We have it for android not sure if t's available for the i phone.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Well, thanks for helping me find another time sucker ;) Downloaded Clumsy Ninja on my IPad and now I'm totally sucked in, and so are my daughter and my husband.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Whale Trail has to be the game that i've been most adicted to! The sound effects and animation and everything are so so cute!!

    ReplyDelete
  93. I really enjoy the free version of Drop7, which I can only describe as a mashup of Tetris and Sudoku.

    ReplyDelete
  94. Another wicked cool game is Beyond the Dead. It's for the apple market only. Essentially you have a team of five members and you have missions to complete where you kill zombies. Its pretty fun and lets just say I am addicted to it. Which reminds me....I bet I have energy to kill some zombies ::dashes to find ipad::

    ReplyDelete
  95. No one is playing Clash of Clans? Really? I'm soooooo addicted. You start off thinking you're not going to get addicted, but then you are.

    ReplyDelete
  96. but late to the comments on this one but.....Cookie clickers and cookie dozer (both found in the google play store) are my current favorites, cookie dozer is like an arcade bulldozer game but with cookies and cookie clickers is a tap the screen to get cookies to spend on ways to get more cookies faster. (i prefer the computer version because the goals are different, but fair warning, you will go through computer mouse batteries very quickly).

    ReplyDelete

Please be respectful when commenting; dissenting opinions are great, but personal attacks or hateful remarks will be removed. Also, including a link? Then here's your html cheat sheet: <a href="LINK ADDRESS">YOUR TEXT</a>