sonic dash

RELEASE: 3/2013 | PUBLISHER: Sega America | DEVELOPER: Hardlight | Rated: 4+

The flood of “Endless Runner” games for iOS and other handheld devices is in full swing. I can’t take the subway to work without seeing half a train car playing Subway Surf; much like last year at this time everyone was playing Temple Run. Always aspiring to be the odd-man-out, I’ve been searching for an alternative. Then I saw a tweet from @SEGA that made me smile; the blue hedgehog has released its own endless runner game called Sonic Dash.

temple run

PLATFORM: iPhone

RELEASE DATE: 12/2011

PUBLISHER: Imangi Studios

RATING: 9+

Highest Score: 242,144 (as of posting)

I’m not going to break any news with this post. Sadly, I discovered this game after seeing dozens of fellow straphangers playing it on their phones. It was a 10(ish) year-old kid that I just had to ask. “What game is that?” Temple Run he said. Soon as I came up from the subway I downloaded it and started playing. Quickly, I discovered the secret to this game app’s addictive popularity: It’s free.

fara

PLATFORM: iPHONE

RELEASE DATE: 10/2011
PUBLISHER: Pixel and Texel
RATING: 12+
Progress: Halfway

This app is a witty, little role playing game (RPG) game I picked up during a promotional free download. Fara is just the kind of light-hearted easy to play game I was looking for on my iPhone. The story in this RPG doesn't require franchise knowledge and a deep imagination, in fact, it doesn't take itself too seriously at all and even jokes about the user; breaking that forth wall in some comedic ways.

continuity 2: the continuation

PLATFORM: iPHONE

RELEASE DATE: 07/2011
DEVELOPER: Ragtime Games

APPLE APP STORE RATING: 4+

RETAIL: .99¢
Progress: lvl 5-5

With my recent acquisition of an iPhone comes a growing interest for mobile game apps. The sheer number of games available is quite daunting. I was pleasantly surprised to find a familiar game available (temporary) for free: Continuity 2 for the iPhone is just what I was hoping for. This psychics based puzzler is casual enough to pick up and play for short intervals, yet difficult enough to challenge your brain for much longer.

words with friends by goose egg

PLATFORM: iPhone
RELEASE DATE: 2009
DEVELOPER: Newtoy, Inc
ESRB RATING: 4+

Progress: NA 

As a life long Scrabble aficionado, I was immediately excited about playing Words with Friends (Words) on my brand new iPhone 4. You can download a free version that is riddled with advertisements or spend $2.99 to get the Ad Free version. I am not a fan of paying for apps and I have no problem bypassing the advertisement that displays following each turn.