28 of the best iPhone and iPad games

T’is the season to be choosing quality iOS games for your brand new iOS device, tra-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la. Hmmm, doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as the traditional holiday jingle, but the bluntness of the lyric is still relevant.

For those of you  lucky enough to find an iPad/iPhone/iPod Touch under the tree this Christmas, the first thing you’ll want to do is load it up with games to occupy your mind while the oldies hog the TV and your grandma sprout-farts her way through the entire day.

Well, you’re in luck, because GamesRadar is here to save you valuable time in your search for a variety of delicious titles. Think of it as a tasty tapas menu approach to some of the best iOS games out there. Read on to find the tastiest options and if you have any recommendations of your own, leave 'em in the comments. Onwards…

Game Dev Story

On paper, a title based on the development cycle of a games company, complete with 16-bit graphics, looks as fun as sniffing chilli powder, but it somehow manages to capture your attention and keep it held until you’ve finally produced a AAA blockbuster.

We doubt that the actual development process is as fun or addictive, but KairoSoft really nails the copious entertainment in this one.

Angry Birds

What, you thought we could really produce a list without including this? No chance. Before the over saturation of these feathered fiends, Angry Birds was simply a very good game and as close to harming swines as you could get without being paid a visit from Johnny Law. 

Mega Jump

We umm'd and ahh'd long and hard about whether to include the very similar Doodle Jump here, but then we remembered that this is way more fun.

Tilt the device left and right to guide your critter higher into the atmosphere by hitting the coins on screen and collecting power-ups like fireballs that shoot you faster into the sky or magnets that bring the shiny coins to you.

Bejeweled 2

One of the most important puzzle games since Tetris. Line-up the jewels to create combo chains of explosive delight. It’s that simple.

The added layer of interest comes in the form of Blitz mode, which is connected to Facebook and enables a weekly high-score board to compete against all those folk you never actually see but still class as ‘friends’ because that’s what Lord Zuckerberg would want.

Jetpack Joyride

Barry Steakfries could be one of the best character names of all time, and his jetpack escaping antics are certainly in the higher echelons of iOS gaming.

Touch the screen to initiate the jetpack and float over missiles, electric zappers and lasers. You can upgrade your aircraft as you go and collect power-ups such as a big dragon to flame-grill anything in your path. 

Infinity Blade II

iOS games don’t get much more AAA than this, and rightly so. Epic Games’ Chair division have done a bang up job delivering a stunning looking game with plenty of violence.

Engage in swordplay duels with various monstrosities as you slash your way to save the creator of the titular infinity blade. If you want to see what is possible with the graphics on iOS then look no further than this.

iStunt 2

Want to experience the gyroscope tech (read: tilt controls) in your iOS device? Then download this lovely little snowboarding game.

There’s depth to the action as you can perform flips and grabs as you go, plus there’s a few anti-gravity moments where you have to slide upside down and avoid spike pits of death.

Tiny Wings

Continuing the trend of million selling apps featuring feathered creatures comes this absolutely charming game about a bird with, you guessed it, tiny wings.

The short wingspan maybe a problem for the little bird that can but it makes for a great game as you dive-bomb slopes to launch him through the air to see how many islands he can visit before the sun sets.

Zookeeper DX

I'm sliding out of the royal 'we' to say that this is easily my favourite game on iOS. Creating massive chained combos of animal tiles is a real test of dexterity as you clear the zoo before the time ticks down to zero.

The old-school plinky-plonky sounds that intensify as you keep the combo going longer, makes you crave the next helping in your ear holes. There's even an obscure but touching little story that comes at the end if you're skills are up to the task of completing it.

Say What You See: Collection

If you're after something less frantic, but still taxing on the ol' grey matter, then look no further than this.

You're presented with canvases of various subjects, like 80s movies, and there are loads of references to old films that you have to decipher by literally saying what you see. Like the guy above who literally has his back to the future. Clever, eh? It's free but you can download different scenes at 69p/$0.99 each too.