Best games for iPad

[Exodor]

So 1000000 sounds a but like Puzzle Quest - is that a fair comparison?

Kind of. It will appeal to people who like Puzzle Quest.

Although I learned yesterday that you don't want to go directly from one to the other.

[wigg7es]

Hey there! Thanks for chiming in.

I really have no idea what happened. I was enjoying the game, and it was on my phone before I plugged it in and synced it for the night. Next morning, it was gone (and that was the only app that was missing.) I was able to re-install it, but all of my saved data was gone. I will say this was the first time I synced the phone since installing the game, so I don't know if that had anything to do with it.

Thanks!

Apparently that kind of stuff is well outside the area (which I suppose would make sense). So I suppose that would point to either an issue with syncing or some obscure bug on apple's side. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Carpet_pissr]

OK, I think I have a latent "thing" for monster trucks. Or at least monster truck games on the iPad. Funny thing is I am ambivalent with a sprinkling of "averse" to monster trucks in real life. But for whatever reason, devs make some kick ass racing games with the theme, though, so I buy 'em. And this is one of the best:

Offroad Legends

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nKGGyF1o1M

Awesome graphics, awesome physics, but most importantly FUN. Addictive. Good, progressive campaign that keeps you wanting to win just one more. No in game purchase bullshit.

Also, I love the fact that if you take a jump to hard, or even hit something the wrong way, depending on what vehicle you are driving, you can break an axle, or knock a wheel off, so you can't just floor it through these maps like so many racing games on the App Store...you have to at least initially go a little bit slow to see if that next hill drops straight off, or is a gradual slope. It's very easy to get "big air" as it were, but unlike most games of this ilk, it also usually means you will need to hit "restart", unless you get real lucky.

My only gripe is the inclusion of lava (?!) as a vehicle killing tile. Really annoying, but thankfully not present in most maps.

Very, very fun, and I would say easily one of my top three favorite side racing games.

[Carpet_pissr]

Catan HD, a title that rarely goes on sale, is a whopping $1 less today for those that don't have it.

Also, in the "You don't own this yet?!" category is Angry Birds HD, normally $2.99, today .99.

I first played Angry Birds on PC, I guess the first version, freebie...and really liked it, years ago. More recently, I tried a few of the most recent Angry Birds apps for iPad (FREE versions), and they were absolutely AWFUL. And ridiculously hard. Now I don't know if they were intentionally insanely unpossible due to the fact that there are in game content purchases, which I assume helps you somehow? But damn...what horrible versions of what is basically a great concept.

Also recently tried the Angry Birds that came installed on my Roku player...and wow, what a difference. This is the game I remember, but with the addition of a wii-like controller! Awesome.

I assume this one on sale today is the original, good one.

Edit: unfortunately it's not and apparently has game imbalancing in app purchases too. #+?|]#%^!

[YellowKing]

If you want a cheap, addictive little time waster, try out Puzzle Craft which just came out last night.

It's basically a Match 3 type game mixed with a city building sim. To build new buildings you have to "farm" or "mine" for resources. This consists of playing a Match 3 grid and connecting 3 or more adjacent resources in any direction.

A couple of twists make this interesting. You have a limited number of turns on each grid, and each grid costs gold to play. So you will have to optimize each turn while also collecting the appropriate resources you need. In addition, higher level resources require you to make chains of lower level resources - this provides some depth and makes more valuable resources much more challenging to acquire.

Power ups are available to help you collect resources, reduce resource requirements, etc. These can be crafted from resources just like buildings. You can also hire workers who also help reduce requirements or provide bonuses. However, they require lodging so you'll have to build enough residences to hold them.

There is of course some "Facebook-style" gameplay involved. Taxes (gold) can only be collected every couple of hours or so, so you occasionally find yourself out of cash with no real way to progress further until taxes are due again. You can also purchase gold via IAP. However, so far I haven't really felt the need to do so. The game is perfect for brief pick up and play sessions, and it's fun to grow your village and earn new bonuses as you level.

[Skinypupy]

If you want a cheap, addictive little time waster, try out Puzzle Craft which just came out last night.

It's basically a Match 3 type game mixed with a city building sim. To build new buildings you have to "farm" or "mine" for resources. This consists of playing a Match 3 grid and connecting 3 or more adjacent resources in any direction.

A couple of twists make this interesting. You have a limited number of turns on each grid, and each grid costs gold to play. So you will have to optimize each turn while also collecting the appropriate resources you need. In addition, higher level resources require you to make chains of lower level resources - this provides some depth and makes more valuable resources much more challenging to acquire.

Power ups are available to help you collect resources, reduce resource requirements, etc. These can be crafted from resources just like buildings. You can also hire workers who also help reduce requirements or provide bonuses. However, they require lodging so you'll have to build enough residences to hold them.

There is of course some "Facebook-style" gameplay involved. Taxes (gold) can only be collected every couple of hours or so, so you occasionally find yourself out of cash with no real way to progress further until taxes are due again. You can also purchase gold via IAP. However, so far I haven't really felt the need to do so. The game is perfect for brief pick up and play sessions, and it's fun to grow your village and earn new bonuses as you level.

+1 on Puzzle Craft. Played it yesterday until my index finger hurt. It's a fantastic little game.

[Carpet_pissr]

Looks fun. Wish listed, for when I have more space/less apps installed that haven't been played.

[kganey]

If you want a cheap, addictive little time waster, try out Puzzle Craft which just came out last night. . . . You can also purchase gold via IAP. However, so far I haven't really felt the need to do so. The game is perfect for brief pick up and play sessions, and it's fun to grow your village and earn new bonuses as you level.

I just completed the campaign mode yesterday and immediately uninstalled to avoid the temptation to continue playing or to replay from the beginning. You really shouldn't need to purchase gold. There were only a few times where I had to grind for ten or twenty minutes. Even then, I probably could have avoided the grinding by selling down my resource stockpiles.

[Mr. Fed]

If you want a cheap, addictive little time waster, try out Puzzle Craft which just came out last night.

It's basically a Match 3 type game mixed with a city building sim. To build new buildings you have to "farm" or "mine" for resources. This consists of playing a Match 3 grid and connecting 3 or more adjacent resources in any direction.

A couple of twists make this interesting. You have a limited number of turns on each grid, and each grid costs gold to play. So you will have to optimize each turn while also collecting the appropriate resources you need. In addition, higher level resources require you to make chains of lower level resources - this provides some depth and makes more valuable resources much more challenging to acquire.

Power ups are available to help you collect resources, reduce resource requirements, etc. These can be crafted from resources just like buildings. You can also hire workers who also help reduce requirements or provide bonuses. However, they require lodging so you'll have to build enough residences to hold them.

There is of course some "Facebook-style" gameplay involved. Taxes (gold) can only be collected every couple of hours or so, so you occasionally find yourself out of cash with no real way to progress further until taxes are due again. You can also purchase gold via IAP. However, so far I haven't really felt the need to do so. The game is perfect for brief pick up and play sessions, and it's fun to grow your village and earn new bonuses as you level.

Oh crap this is addictive. I'm in trouble.

[PLW]

Puzzle craft is fun, but it keep crashing on my iPad 1. Any ideas?

[coopasonic]

Puzzle craft is fun, but it keep crashing on my iPad 1. Any ideas?

Get a newer iPad?

[YellowKing]

Oh crap this is addictive. I'm in trouble.

Yeah, and the farther I go the more tempting the buildings they throw at you. "Stay in a mine for 50 days? MUST HAVE!" "You mean if I build this then harvesting chickens won't cost me a turn? SIGN ME UP!"

I haven't bought any gold yet, and don't plan to. At my current rate I can typically only afford to build 1 major building per play session, so it really feels like a major achievement when my city grows a little bigger.

While on the subject of these types of city builders, I also suggest trying The Simpsons: Tapped Out if you haven't already. It had a lot of problems when first released but they have polished it up and re-released it (Free). You're tasked with rebuilding Springfield after Homer blows up the nuclear plant, and slowly get to unlock all the characters and locations from the show. The gameplay is derivative of other Facebook-esque city builders, and there is a heavy focus on IAP, but the great show references and humor are worth it.

[Carpet_pissr]

Oh crap this is addictive. I'm in trouble.

Yeah, and the farther I go the more tempting the buildings they throw at you. "Stay in a mine for 50 days? MUST HAVE!" "You mean if I build this then harvesting chickens won't cost me a turn? SIGN ME UP!"

I haven't bought any gold yet, and don't plan to. At my current rate I can typically only afford to build 1 major building per play session, so it really feels like a major achievement when my city grows a little bigger.

While on the subject of these types of city builders, I also suggest trying The Simpsons: Tapped Out if you haven't already. It had a lot of problems when first released but they have polished it up and re-released it (Free). You're tasked with rebuilding Springfield after Homer blows up the nuclear plant, and slowly get to unlock all the characters and locations from the show. The gameplay is derivative of other Facebook-esque city builders, and there is a heavy focus on IAP, but the great show references and humor are worth it.

The IAP is what kept me from installing The Simpsons. Is it possible to play very far without having to buy anything? I sooooo wish they would just charge a flat damn fee upfront. (shakes fist)

[YellowKing]

The IAP is what kept me from installing The Simpsons. Is it possible to play very far without having to buy anything? I sooooo wish they would just charge a flat damn fee upfront. (shakes fist)

There are two reasons for donuts (the in-game currency). It allows you to buy premium items and it allows you to speed up tasks. Tasks are the main way for gaining XP/levels, and they take real time. Spending donuts could bring a 4 hour task down to only a few minutes, for example.

So ultimately if you don't mind playing it leisurely and can live without the premium items, there is plenty to do to keep you busy for awhile. All the popular Springfield landmarks/characters seem to be able to be earned in-game, with the premium items (at least from what I've seen so far) being made up of mostly stuff only die-hard fans would recognize.

[PLW]

Puzzle craft is fun, but it keep crashing on my iPad 1. Any ideas?

Get a newer iPad?

Boo

[YellowKing]

PLW,

Have you tried making sure all apps are closed out that are running in the background and/or rebooting? I used to have that problem in a lot of different apps on the iPad 1 but doing those two things often fixed it.

[PLW]

PLW,

Have you tried making sure all apps are closed out that are running in the background and/or rebooting? I used to have that problem in a lot of different apps on the iPad 1 but doing those two things often fixed it.

Good idea. I've notice Pandora often conflicts and leads to crashes, but I forget to check to see if it was going in the background.

[J.D.]

Puzzle Craft ... wow.

Also big to into New Star Soccer but I seem to be getting close to hitting the wall where I'm just grinding games with no carrot to entice me and everything is feeling same-y.

[kganey]

Also big to into New Star Soccer but I seem to be getting close to hitting the wall where I'm just grinding games with no carrot to entice me and everything is feeling same-y.

After you max out the skills, then the game is just a (mildly enjoyable) grind. The latest patch did add a little more challenge.

[Carpet_pissr]

Second that "wow" for Puzzle Craft. I knew by looking at the screenies, that this was going to be one of THOSE games, so finely crafted using some kind of nefarious algorithms of heightened additctiveness, but I bought it anyway. CURSE. Exactly as I expected.

In other news, the newest version of N.O.V.A is on sale for .99 (normally $7), and it was on my wishlist of kick ass iPad games to buy on a price drop. Anyone have it already? I ask, instead of just buying it outright, because apparently I don't have enough room on my iPad to download it (thus I can't buy it...or maybe I can?), so I would have to delete some stuff to make room (it must be huge, file size-wise). Just wondering if it's actually worth it.

Also thought this was very interesting, in the update note:

What's new

Only for the new iPad:
- Choose between a higher resolution or improved visual effects;

Linky: http://www.appshopper.com/games/nova-3- ... d-alliance

[hentzau]

Just started playing Puzzle Craft. Tons of fun. Just wish the game world was consistent between my iPhone and iPad. But, if wishes were horses...

[Carpet_pissr]

Just started playing Puzzle Craft. Tons of fun. Just wish the game world was consistent between my iPhone and iPad. But, if wishes were horses...

That was my wish too. Especially after I plunked down a few hours into both formats (why?!?), then REMOVED the version on my phone, and WHAM, "City of the Living Dead Farmers" was gone on my iPad.

Be vewwy careful if you delete it off one device. I'm not even sure what I did wrong.

[FishPants]

So puzzle craft... I bought a larder but for some, reason I'm still only getting ten days worth of supplies in the mine? What am I missing?

[coopasonic]

So puzzle craft... I bought a larder but for some, reason I'm still only getting ten days worth of supplies in the mine? What am I missing?

You can put in 20 days supply when you enter the mine. You still only get what you put in.

I've played enough to get the second main upgrade (village maybe, level 12 or 13-ish) and I don't get the appeal. It's an absolute grind of a pretty uninteresting puzzle game. That shouldn't be too shocking because I have been disappointed by all of the other games as well (except New Star Soccer, but I hate to repeat myself ).

[Chaz]

I find myself playing Puzzle Craft off and on, but yeah, I'm maybe kind of missing the appeal. There are two variations on the game, and then you grind so that you can get more things to grind some more? I guess there's some light strategy in getting chains to get better items, but since you can't control where they come down (can you?) it's very likely that you'll never be able to collect them unless you've got the appropriate tool.

I was kind of hoping they'd introduce some additional mechanics, but they don't seem to be.

[Carpet_pissr]

I enjoy these type games as VERY light distractions, more than anything else, but like the excellent Puzzle Quest, after a while, I just get completely burned out and delete/uninstall. It's funny, in every case, it's such a sudden thing...something snaps and I just stop.

Because of the lack of....what..mental challenge, I guess?...my brain probably eventually just questions what exactly it is I am spending this time on, and decides it's (they) are not worthy.

Very polished game though, you have to admit.

[Chaz]

Except for the lack of tool window in gameplay. There's no tooltips to remind you what the tools do, and if you have enough to fill the thing, the left/right arrows appear. However, if you have just enough tools to fill the window, but not scroll, the buttons don't actually do anything, and swiping usually winds up using a tool.

Generally, very polished, but my QA tester side says there are spots it could improve.

[Carpet_pissr]

Except for the lack of tool window in gameplay. There's no tooltips to remind you what the tools do, and if you have enough to fill the thing, the left/right arrows appear. However, if you have just enough tools to fill the window, but not scroll, the buttons don't actually do anything, and swiping usually winds up using a tool.

Good point. I noticed that as well, and it is very annoying. Definitely something they need to fix with an update.

You should be able to touch and hold, to see a definition of the tool or something.

One thing that I think is pretty cool, is the way they have added an extra dimension to the puzzle part by implementing different quantities of resources within your swipes (swipe x number, get one bread, keep going and if you have enough, you can get 2), AND different resource gathering possibilities. For example, if you know you need 2 pigs to complete the village, and you have a ton of chickens already, you aren't going to want to swipe any chickens until you have a good long chain, enough to be able to produce a pig. Small thing, but without that, I would have already quite I'm sure.

Amazing how people can keep modifying this same formula, considering it's such a simple concept. And I thought Puzzle Quest was the be all, end all "match 3" game, with it's unique/addictive take, but here we have another one that managed to make the genre interesting, and different.

[wonderpug]

Amazing how people can keep modifying this same formula, considering it's such a simple concept. And I thought Puzzle Quest was the be all, end all "match 3" game, with it's unique/addictive take, but here we have another one that managed to make the genre interesting, and different.

Have you tried 10000000?

[Carpet_pissr]

Amazing how people can keep modifying this same formula, considering it's such a simple concept. And I thought Puzzle Quest was the be all, end all "match 3" game, with it's unique/addictive take, but here we have another one that managed to make the genre interesting, and different.

Have you tried 10000000?

Not yet, but it's on my AppShopper wish list for when I have some extra space. Currently maxed out so much I can't even update some of my larger apps!

[Toe]

Pinball HD still gets the most mileage on my iPad. Nothing seems to hold my interest for very long other than that. I bought one extra table so far, da vinci, and is pretty sweet.

[J.D.]

Months later I'm still playing the heck out of Reckless Racing 2. Definitely my favourite game on the iPad of all the ones I've played so far.

[Carpet_pissr]

Months later I'm still playing the heck out of Reckless Racing 2. Definitely my favourite game on the iPad of all the ones I've played so far.

Spectacular game. Easily within my top 5.

[Carpet_pissr]

GAH!! This is the second time I have uninstalled Kingdom Rush on my iPad, only to see them release new maps within days of uninstalling. *&@#^$&^%@W%$ (OTOH, JOY JOY!). I was sure this time I uninstalled, that they would just come out with KR2 instead of continuing to add maps.

In other news, for the pinball lovers here, War Pinball HD, which is supposedly fantastic, is on sale for $1.99 right now. Even though I have a mega crap ton of pinball apps already, I can't resist yet another.

[YellowKing]

Somehow I totally missed Space Miner HD when it came out eons ago. Found it when it went on sale recently and I'm totally hooked.

It's basically a game of Asteroids with the ability to upgrade your ship, level your character, and with a nice little storyline running throughout.

[wonderpug]

Space Miner is also one of the few games with humor good enough to make me actually laugh.

[Octavious]

The Last Express was released on the Ipad this week. If you never played it before it's a must buy. I haven't grabbed it yet, but for 5 bucks I can't see why I wouldn't.

[Carpet_pissr]

Oh man. I have to get it even though I put many an hour into the original. Tks for the tip!


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[SpaceLord]

BEHOLD!

Through the Ages - the holy grail of iPad board game apps.

The best Civ/engine board game I've ever played, and I've played damn near 1000 board games. It has happiness, governments, science, leaders, religion, wars, technology, and takes your civilization from Hammurabi to the internet.



Indeed.

[Carpet_pissr]

Is there an actual board, or just cards?