Games for iPhone and iPad

If a 2-dimensial iPhone game were based on building toys like k’nex or even tinker toys, then Structk would be the closest outcome. Essentially, Structk is a physics application that is played out as a game.

Tagged: earthquake, physics-based

GameRoom is a great way to play checkers on the iPad. The game is very responsive and has some nice customization features.  Unfortunately, GameRoom teases you with what could be but feels like it falls a big short.

Tagged: board games, checkers, chess, classic games, mashup

A simple little arcade style game, Fortune Panda features a hep little panda bear wandering a beach where it's raining money. Living vicariously through Fortune Panda, you collect money in your tiny bucket while avoiding the bad stuff.

Tagged: panda

Online Artillery (subtitled Medieval Multi-player Fortress Siege) takes an aggressive approach to iPhone online gaming by only pitting the player against online opponents.

Tagged: Game Center, strategy game

Kart Toons Racing is is akin to Crash Bandikoot Nitro Kart or Mario Kart, but unfortunately suffers from bad controls, poor graphics and overall mediocre gameplay. To play you choose one of four cartoon characters; Bomber Cat, Lola, Igor, or Spike to participate in a series of races.

Tagged: 3D games, OpenFeint, racing game

The average iPhone user doesn’t typically get too excited over apps specifically designed for small children. Unless you’re a parent, grandparent, or preschool teacher, apps like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Preschool Storybook Piano are probably not on your radar.

Tagged: karaoke, kids games

Anyone who loves a good trivia game, especially the multiple choice restaurant and pub style trivia games that pit players against the clock as well as other players, will surely appreciate iPUBQUIZ-Triva Quiz.

Tagged: astronomy, football, trivia game

Touch Racing Nitro is a great racing game, though it takes some getting used to thanks to the unique controls. Instead of the virtual directional pad popular in most iPhone games you lead a race car on a virtual leash controlled by your finger.

Tagged: OpenFeint, racing game

WordMonger HD is another in the line of word games that that are quite popular on iDevices. Words with Friends and Scrabble are among those that dominate this category.

Tagged: board games, word game

Color Puzzle 3D is a three dimensional, multifacited puzzle block solved by switching and rotating the faces of cubes until all the colors are matched up together.

Tagged: 3D games, puzzle games

Mr. Giggle (editor's note: now replaced by Mr. Giggle 2) is a very fun and addictive game that plays well on the iPhone but is even better with the extra screen real estate on the iPad. Unlike its predecessor, Mr.

Tagged: addictive game, puzzle games, universal app

Finally, a game that completely lives up to its name. The Impossible Game is exactly what it sounds like. Well, OK, while "impossible" may seem like a strong word, "improbable" or "really, really hard" doesn’t have the same ring to it.

Happy Blue Fish’s Feng Shui Game: Keep the Balance! is a charmingly animated app that tests your memory and balance skills in a Zen themed, interactive game. The Feng Shui Game offers four modes of gameplay including a two-player Duo version.

Tagged: kids games, memory game, single-player games

Even if you were not a fan of the movie, James Cameron's Avatar is an outstanding game that takes advantage of the strengths of the iPhone/iPod touch platform or the iPad platform in a separate app. The virtual joypad control was among the best I have used.

Tagged: action games, adventure games

Don't worry, it's not in your eye, it's with an I and an E, O, U and sometimes Y. Word Droppings is a word building game played by tapping letters to form words, which as expected, scores you points.

Tagged: multi-player, word game