This week’s best game is an iPad transplant that has made its way over to the iPhone, with fantastic results. Kingdom Rush is an addictive tower defense title that will have players wrapped up for at least a few hours. You can read all about it below, along with four other titles we’ve been addicted to this week.
Kingdom Rush (iPhone, iPad) $0.99
Fantasy-themed tower defense title Kingdom Rush can get very challenging, which is part of what makes it addicting. Throughout the game’s campaign, players can earn stars in various levels that can then be traded for upgrades to their defenses, helping to make replaying the game essential to completing the game’s later levels with a decent score. It also features a pair of actions players can take on the fly that allow them to change the flow of the game, which adds a bit more strategy. Originally appearing on the iPad, Kingdom Rush’s jump to iPhone is a pretty great one, and definitely worth checking out.
Darkside (iPhone, iPad) Free
The most notable quality of Darkside is that it looks awesome. The 3-D shooter has players defending asteroid mining colonies from enemies and clearing out floating rocks and debris, and is packed full of quality power-ups players can apply to their spaceships to boost their abilities. The free title comes with one game mode you can play at the outset, and investing a dollar unlocks a couple more, including a story-based campaign mode. But the speed of the play and the cool 3-D perspective make Darkside a title you should check out, regardless of price.
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Nihilumbra (iPhone, iPad) $2.99
The understated style of Nihilumbra is part of what makes the side-scrolling platformer fairly beautiful. Combining an interesting, shadowy graphical style with an interesting story, the game would have been cool to begin with, but takes things to the next level by adding a puzzle element that’s executed very well. That element has players earning special powers that can be used by adding “color” to the game world with the touchscreen. Colors have different properties, like creating ice or making the ground bouncy, that help players overcome different obstacles. The result is a great side-scrolling experience that presents itself in a way that makes it feel fresh.
TheEndApp (iPhone, iPad) Free
Endless runner The End owes a lot to Temple Run. The game has some similar controls and uses the same behind-the-back perspective that Temple Run employs for its gameplay. You’ll also tilt back and forth and swipe up and down to dodge obstacles, and need to turn corners to keep moving. But The End is worth a look partially for its great graphical presentation – it’s set in a post-apocalyptic urban environment – and partially because it runs on challenges that push players to hone their skills. There’s also a free run mode that lets you just try to earn the highest score you can, but challenges help to keep The End focused and players coming back.
Doodle Fit 2: Around the World (iPhone, iPad) $0.99
The best part about Doodle Fit 2 is that you’ll likely never run out of puzzles to solve. The game packs 200 levels of its own, in which players have to fill in an outline of a shape using several smaller shape blocks. Points are awarded for finding all solutions to a given puzzle and for doing so quickly, but while the puzzles that ship with the game are fun, there’s also a level editor that allows players to create outlines of their own. That means you can make your own levels, or download the ones created by other players in the Doodle Fit 2 community. That way, you should never run out of levels for the game.
