EDGE magazine's 50 Best iPhone/iPod Touch Games List

[Geo]

I bought the UK magazine EDGE the other day, mainly cause it had a fun feature article on what they consider (opinions always vary of course) the 50 Best iPhone/iPod Touch Games available today. They didn't bother to categorize it though. At another forum I put together a loosely categorized (some games are really tough to fit into one category, so I'm guessing in some cases) list of the 50, and includes the U.S. price and web site link (where available).

Hope you all find at least one gem in this list.  Try  not to get bent out of shape if your fave isn't on it (it's unlikely they played all umpteen thousand iPhone/Touch games). I've highlighted a "Yes" for any game that has a free "lite" version to try (equivalent of a limited playable demo). I probably had only played maybe a half dozen of these and only owned one (Let's Golf), though I did buy Flight Control (very fun and addictive) after reading the article.

EDGE Magazine: The 50 Best iPhone/iPod Touch games
---------------------------------------------------------------
ACTION/ARCADE (7)
Name: Dr Awesome
Web site: http://drawesome.ngmoco.com/
Similar to? Qix, and perhaps the old Tron light cycle game [I don't find it similar to Trauma Surgeon on DS in terms of the actual play]
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? Yes* [Caveat is that you have to set up some sort of free account on their "Plus" network and be logged in to play, I think. See http://plusplus.com/]

Name: Last Cannon
Web site: http://www.shadiradio.com/toys/lastcannon
Similar to? Missile Command
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Newtonica
Web site: http://www.newtonica.net/newtonica.html
Similar to? Maybe Asteroids, tough to categorize
Cost: $4.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: One Dot Enemies
Web site: http://www.next-gen.biz/features/the-friday-game-one-dot-enemies [dev's web site isn't in English and didn't seem to mention the game afik; this is an Edge review link]
Similar to? Uhhhh...
Cost: Free

Name: Pinball Dreams
Web site: http://www.shadiradio.com/toys/lastcannon
Similar to? Uh, pinball games?
Cost: $4.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Taxiball
Web site: http://www.selfawaregames.com/games.html
Similar to? Labrinyth, Crazy Taxi, Marble Madness, and the growing "marble-rolling" genre.
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Zombie Pub Crawl
Web site: http://www.orangecranegames.com/OrangeCraneGames/Welcome.html
Similar to? Gauntlet? Robotron? (albeit with zombies, drunks and tanks :icon_smile:)
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? No
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVENTURE (1)
Name: Soul Trapper
Web site: http://www.rtaudioadventures.com/Soultrapper.html
Similar to? PC adventure games, but with a focus on interactive audio
Cost: $4.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ARCADE SHOOTER (3)
Name: Space Deadbeef
Web site: http://osxreality.com/2008/12/10/side-scrolling-shooter-space-deadbeef-awesome-and-free/
[official site is kaput, but the osxreality review has nice screenshots and and a video]
Similar to? classic side-scrolling arcade shooters
Cost: FREE [I assume the dev guy hoped to expand it into a paid app, but presumably gave up on it]

Name: geoDefense
Web site: http://www.criticalthoughtgames.com/geodefense
Similar to? Geometry Wars, Asteroids
Cost: $1.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: iBomber
Web site: http://www.cobramobile.com/iphone/
Similar to? 1942, other classic, overhead military arcade shooters
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? Yes
---------------------------------------------------------------
FPS (1)
Name: Wolfenstein 3D Classic
Web site: http://www.idsoftware.com/wolfenstein3dclassic/
Similar to? Uh, Wolfenstein 3D?  :smirk:
Cost: $1.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

---------------------------------------------------------------
MUSIC RHYTHM (2)
Name: Lilt Line
Web site: http://www.differentcloth.com/
Similar to? Tap Tap Dance (Lilt is sort of a racing and music game mixed up)
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Mevo and the Grooveriders
Web site: http://www.redrocketgames.com/games/mevo-iphone
Similar to? Music "tapping" games, such as Elite Beat Agents (DS)
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? No
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLATFORMER (5)
Name: Cops & Robbers
Web site: http://www.glu.com/noram/pages/product.aspx?pr=Cops+%26+Robbers
Similar to? original Crash Bandicoot
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Go! Go! Rescue Squad
Web site: http://www.gogorescue.com/
Similar to? Exit, Lemmings, Lost Vikings
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Rolando 2: Quest for the Golden Orchid
Web site: http://rolando2.ngmoco.com/
Similar to? LocoRoco (DS)
Cost: $5.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: :Shift:
Web site: http://armorgames.com/page/iPhone
Similar to? Exit, and various side-scrolling puzzle-platformers
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Sway
Web site: http://www.swaythegame.com/web/home.html
Similar to? Maybe Marble Madness (though the graphics suggest a platformer)
Cost: $4.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

---------------------------------------------------------------
PUZZLE (16)
Name: Bejeweled 2
Web site:
Similar to? Bejeweled [Sorry, couldn't resist... :smirk:]
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? No [fwiw, you can probably play a trial version of the PC version]

Name: Blocked
Web site: http://www.appalbum.com/review/blocked/ [the dev guy's official site doesn't work right now, it's http://www.tiptopworkshop.com/blocked]
Similar to? Chinese sliding block puzzles
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Critter Crunch
Web site: http://www.capybaragames.com/critter-crunch-iphone-2/
Similar to? Bewejeled, to some extent
Cost: $1.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Drop7
Web site: http://www.mobigame.net/
Similar to? Tetris, Lumines, Bejeweled
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Edge
Web site: http://www.mobigame.net/
Similar to? the arcade trackball classic Marble Madness perhaps?
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Eliss
Web site: http://www.toucheliss.com/ [WARNING: Very *loud* web site video]
Similar to? Nothing really. Maybe a concept or two similar to Tetris or Bejeweled
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Evacuation
Web site: http://www.foddy.net/Evacuation.html
Similar to? Maybe the original Alien movie.  :icon_cool:
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Loopy Maniak
Web site: http://loopy.puzzlemaniak.com/
Similar to? Slitherlink [not that I've ever heard of it  :confused:]
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Monospace
Web site: http://www.nonverbal.ch/mono.html
Similar to? Crush (PSP)
Cost: $1.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Peggle
Web site: http://www.popcap.com/games/iphone/peggle
Similar to? Pachinko, pinball
Cost: $4.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Pop
Web site: http://www.nnooo.com/nnooo.html
Similar to? Maybe Asteroids with more of a puzzledy bent
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Primrose
Web site: http://primrose.sourceforge.net/
Similar to? Go [though the graphics are more like Tetris]
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Ragdoll Blaster
Web site: http://www.backflipstudios.com/ragdollblaster/
Similar to? Lemmings, Worms
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Tiki Towers
Web site: http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Tiki+Towers/review.asp?c=11828
[RealArcade's site was inscrutable, so I thought the PocketGamer UK review might be more helpful]
Similar to? Lemmings
Cost: $1.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Trism
Web site: http://www.demiforce.com/games.html
Similar to? Bejeweled, Tetris
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Zen Bound
Web site:
Similar to? Any other "wrapping wooden sculptures with rope" puzzle games that you know  :saywhat:
Cost: $4.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RACING (1)
Name: Real Racing
Web site: http://www.firemint.com/realracing/
Similar to? Gran Turismo, Forza
Cost: $6.99
Free "lite" version available? No
---------------------------------------------------------------
RPG (1)
Name: Zenonia
Web site: http://www2.gamevil.com/eng_new/iphone.jsp?game=2
Similar to? Legend of Zelda, various "big head" handheld console RPGs
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? No [there was a "lite" version, but it appears to have since been removed from iTunes]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RPG Hack'n'Slash (2)
Name: Underworlds
Web site: http://www.pixelminegames.com/Game.aspx?gameid=8
Similar to? Diablo
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Rogue
Web site: http://projects.gandreas.com/rogue/index.html
Similar to? Diablo, albeit with ASCII text-only "graphics" [replica of UNIX classic]
Cost: Free
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SIMULATION (1)
Name: Flight Control
Web site: http://www.firemint.com/flightcontrol/
Similar to? any heavy-multitasking, "keep things from colliding" game  :icon_smile:
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? No

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPORTS (3)
Name: Homerun Battle 3D [formerly Baseball Slugger]
Web site: http://iphone.com2us.com/game/overview.asp?gcode=slugger
Similar to? Wii Sports Baseball
Cost: $4.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Let's Golf
Web site: http://www.gameloft.com/iphone-games/lets-golf/
Similar to? Hot Shots Golf, Wii Golf
Cost: $1.99
Free "lite" version available? Yes

Name: Real Soccer 2010 [technically, Real Football 2009 is their fave but name was changed]
Web site: http://www.realsoccer2010.com/?country=us
Similar to? soccer
Cost: $6.99
Free "lite" version available? No

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STRATEGY (4)
Name: Fieldrunners
Web site: http://fieldrunners.com/
Similar to? Rampart, Master of Defense, other "tower defense" RTS games
Cost: $2.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Karmastar
Web site: http://www.majescoentertainment.com/games/iphone-ipod-touch/karmastar/
Similar to? Various board, dice and card games.
Cost: 99 cents (sale, at the moment)
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: UniWar
Web site: http://www.uniwar.com/
Similar to? Advance Wars, Panzer General, and any hex-based, turn-based wargame/strategy game
Cost: $4.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: Warfare Incorporated
Web site: http://www.warfareincorporated.com/
Similar to? Command & Conquer, Starcraft, any RTS strategy games
Cost: $4.99
Free "lite" version available? No
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WORD GAME (3)
Name: Scramboni [online ONLY]
Web site: http://byteclub.com/scramboni
Similar to? Scramble
Cost: Free

Name: Wurdle
Web site: http://www.semisecretsoftware.com/wurdle/
Similar to? Boggle
Cost: $1.99
Free "lite" version available? No

Name: WordFu
Web site: http://wordfu.ngmoco.com/
Similar to? Boggle w/ power ups
Cost: 99 cents
Free "lite" version available? No

[Geo]

What I've bought on the list are:

-Let's Golf (until Hot Shots Golf gets a licensed version, this is about the next best thing)
-Flight Control (which has supposedly sold more than 700,000 copies) is one of those simple to learn, tough to master games that's really well suited to iPhone/Touch. Just remember you can select different airfields (I don't think it's pointed out well enough).

I've had the free version of Drop7 for some time but wasn't understanding it. I finally had a breakthrough last night and enjoyed it a lot more, finally understanding the concept. 

Wolfenstein 3-D Lite (they didn't put Doom on their list as they felt it had some control issues) is pretty good retro-fun. Controls well. I have had no motion sickness issues, which is a change for me.