Each month, a member of the iOS GAF community will host a new thread for the chronicling of new game releases, rumours, discussion and petty personal attacks that have come to define the fast-moving world of iOS gaming.
The OP will contain a list of all the best new releases for that month as they come out. This way we get to keep tabs on the best games and you (yes you), the mythical unicorn known as the iOS Novice will have an excellent resource to look back on to find games you may have missed.
Also keep an eye out for the ‘GAF iOS Challenges’; events where GAF members battle it out on the Game Center leaderboards of a chosen game for both fame and fortune (prizes donated by generous members of our community).
Without further ado, let’s do this!
The OP will contain a list of all the best new releases for that month as they come out. This way we get to keep tabs on the best games and you (yes you), the mythical unicorn known as the iOS Novice will have an excellent resource to look back on to find games you may have missed.
Also keep an eye out for the ‘GAF iOS Challenges’; events where GAF members battle it out on the Game Center leaderboards of a chosen game for both fame and fortune (prizes donated by generous members of our community).
Without further ado, let’s do this!
A non-exhaustive list of iOS games that released both towards the end of the previous month and games that have released during the current month so far -- games which have been highlighted by the GAF community in one way or another. Feel free to post feedback on this list in the thread.
Trailer
The character is made entirely of explosive material. The aim of the game is to "splode" through a series of levels consisting of puzzles, traps, and enemies to escape the facility.
• 50 levels with big splosions and 4 huge boss battles
• Physics-based gameplay mechanics
The character is made entirely of explosive material. The aim of the game is to "splode" through a series of levels consisting of puzzles, traps, and enemies to escape the facility.
• 50 levels with big splosions and 4 huge boss battles
• Physics-based gameplay mechanics
Trailer
Lead a conga line of heroes to glory against hordes of enemies across an endless number of stages. How many enemies can you defeat? Swipe to steer your unstoppable (seriously, you can’t stop) party as they cut a path of destruction through levels filled with different enemies and power-ups.
Lead a conga line of heroes to glory against hordes of enemies across an endless number of stages. How many enemies can you defeat? Swipe to steer your unstoppable (seriously, you can’t stop) party as they cut a path of destruction through levels filled with different enemies and power-ups.
Video
From psychedelic retro-game mastermind Jeff Minter.
Whereas GoatUp was a continuous-climbing game, GoatUp 2 delivers more traditional platforming action across a variety of self-contained levels.
From psychedelic retro-game mastermind Jeff Minter.
Whereas GoatUp was a continuous-climbing game, GoatUp 2 delivers more traditional platforming action across a variety of self-contained levels.
Trailer
Previously part of Pinball Arcade, now also stand-alone. Choose to support the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance with your high scores as the Star Wars Pinball community fights for the Balance of the Force!
The initial Star Wars Pinball download comes with the Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back table. Other Star Wars Pinball tables can be purchased as in-app purchases.
Previously part of Pinball Arcade, now also stand-alone. Choose to support the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance with your high scores as the Star Wars Pinball community fights for the Balance of the Force!
The initial Star Wars Pinball download comes with the Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back table. Other Star Wars Pinball tables can be purchased as in-app purchases.
Trailer
Made by GAFer razu!
Chopper Mike is a charming, fast-paced, arcade helicopter time trial game featuring super smooth graphics and amazing controls. Fly through 3 difficulty modes and 48 levels, picking up gems, avoiding collisions, and landing as quickly as you can! Skillful play will be rewarded with mysterious bonus aircraft!
Made by GAFer razu!
Chopper Mike is a charming, fast-paced, arcade helicopter time trial game featuring super smooth graphics and amazing controls. Fly through 3 difficulty modes and 48 levels, picking up gems, avoiding collisions, and landing as quickly as you can! Skillful play will be rewarded with mysterious bonus aircraft!
Trailer
Follow a young boy on a sensational journey like no other as he sets off to rescue his dog Bear from a mysterious fire hydrant that snatched the canine in the night!
An adventure tale that will warm your heart and keep you glued to the screen!
Follow a young boy on a sensational journey like no other as he sets off to rescue his dog Bear from a mysterious fire hydrant that snatched the canine in the night!
An adventure tale that will warm your heart and keep you glued to the screen!
Trailer
25% OFF - LIMITED TIME SALE
A puzzle adventure that combines tricky puzzle solving, alluring exploration, and an engrossing atmosphere. Set in a fantastic world of flesh, rock and steel, your journey to freedom requires you to solve a great variety of puzzling challenges, and while it’s easy to pick up and play, later challenges may prove very difficult indeed.
25% OFF - LIMITED TIME SALE
A puzzle adventure that combines tricky puzzle solving, alluring exploration, and an engrossing atmosphere. Set in a fantastic world of flesh, rock and steel, your journey to freedom requires you to solve a great variety of puzzling challenges, and while it’s easy to pick up and play, later challenges may prove very difficult indeed.
Trailer
Ridiculous Fishing: A Tale of Redemption |OT|
A handcrafted game about fishing with guns, chainsaws & toasters. Based on Vlambeers popular 2010 original, Ridiculous Fishing was lovingly hand-crafted over the course of two years by Vlambeer (Super Crate Box), Zach Gage (Spelltower, Bit Pilot, Unify) and Greg Wohlwend (Hundreds, Solipskier, Gasketball).
Ridiculous Fishing: A Tale of Redemption |OT|
A handcrafted game about fishing with guns, chainsaws & toasters. Based on Vlambeers popular 2010 original, Ridiculous Fishing was lovingly hand-crafted over the course of two years by Vlambeer (Super Crate Box), Zach Gage (Spelltower, Bit Pilot, Unify) and Greg Wohlwend (Hundreds, Solipskier, Gasketball).
Trailer
Limited time sale only!
Super Stickman Golf 2 out does the original in almost every way possible. With over 20 dynamic courses, new power-ups, customizable characters, 60 achievements and two different multiplayer modes (asynchronous and real-time), Super Stickman Golf 2 will keep you on the fairway for a long time!
Limited time sale only!
Super Stickman Golf 2 out does the original in almost every way possible. With over 20 dynamic courses, new power-ups, customizable characters, 60 achievements and two different multiplayer modes (asynchronous and real-time), Super Stickman Golf 2 will keep you on the fairway for a long time!
Trailer
The cast of Stargate SG-1 is reunited in an entirely new episode that will awaken all your Stargate memories.
Starring the voices of Richard Dean Anderson as Jack O’Neill, Amanda Tapping as Samantha Carter, Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson and Christopher Judge as Teal’c, this is an all new immersive third-person adventure. You control the actions of O’Neill, Carter, and Daniel as they explore and discover new worlds through the Stargate.
The cast of Stargate SG-1 is reunited in an entirely new episode that will awaken all your Stargate memories.
Starring the voices of Richard Dean Anderson as Jack O’Neill, Amanda Tapping as Samantha Carter, Michael Shanks as Dr. Daniel Jackson and Christopher Judge as Teal’c, this is an all new immersive third-person adventure. You control the actions of O’Neill, Carter, and Daniel as they explore and discover new worlds through the Stargate.
Trailer
Tower Defense meets Minecraft. Block Fortress gives you the freedom to create a stronghold in almost any way you can imagine, and then puts you in the middle of the action trying to defend it from the relentless attacks of the menacing Goblocks! Put your skills as both a builder and a fighter to the test as you try to survive as long as you can!
Tower Defense meets Minecraft. Block Fortress gives you the freedom to create a stronghold in almost any way you can imagine, and then puts you in the middle of the action trying to defend it from the relentless attacks of the menacing Goblocks! Put your skills as both a builder and a fighter to the test as you try to survive as long as you can!
Trailer
A high-energy action shooter, previously on Nintendo 3DS.
100 years in the future, players take the role of Shoko Ozora, a high school student who steps into the role of President of New Japan after her father’s assassination. With her country all but taken by fierce invaders wielding advanced weaponry, Shoko rides out on her Liberator, Kamui, to free her people and restore the once beautiful nation!
A high-energy action shooter, previously on Nintendo 3DS.
100 years in the future, players take the role of Shoko Ozora, a high school student who steps into the role of President of New Japan after her father’s assassination. With her country all but taken by fierce invaders wielding advanced weaponry, Shoko rides out on her Liberator, Kamui, to free her people and restore the once beautiful nation!
Trailer
A musical flight simulator, if you're into weird offerings then this should be right up your alley. Explore the Tuniverse, where sound has matter and color is sound. Soar with the winds of music and seek out the Melodium-crystals that has the power to tune the world.
Melodive is a uniqe iOS-experience, a "flight simulator" built from the ground up to simulate dreamlike flight.
A musical flight simulator, if you're into weird offerings then this should be right up your alley. Explore the Tuniverse, where sound has matter and color is sound. Soar with the winds of music and seek out the Melodium-crystals that has the power to tune the world.
Melodive is a uniqe iOS-experience, a "flight simulator" built from the ground up to simulate dreamlike flight.
Trailer
Jones on Fire - a high-speed action game of kitty saving and flame evading, running and jumping, where YOU are the hero!
Watch the trailer.
Jones on Fire - a high-speed action game of kitty saving and flame evading, running and jumping, where YOU are the hero!
Watch the trailer.
Trailer
Temple Run 'clone' - play as Sonic the Hedgehog as you dash, jump and spin your way across stunning 3D environments. Swipe your way over and under challenging obstacles in this fast and frenzied endless running game
Temple Run 'clone' - play as Sonic the Hedgehog as you dash, jump and spin your way across stunning 3D environments. Swipe your way over and under challenging obstacles in this fast and frenzied endless running game
Trailer
METAL SLUG X is an updated version of METAL SLUG 2. Bosses and other enemy characters await you at different points on the battlefield, so that even players who have perfected the previous instalment will enjoy this new and improved game map.
METAL SLUG X is an updated version of METAL SLUG 2. Bosses and other enemy characters await you at different points on the battlefield, so that even players who have perfected the previous instalment will enjoy this new and improved game map.
Trailer
As the Gravity Duck you will flip gravity to help you reach the goal while avoiding obstacles in this silly puzzle platforming game!
As the Gravity Duck you will flip gravity to help you reach the goal while avoiding obstacles in this silly puzzle platforming game!
Trailer
PENUMBEAR is a platformer with an emphasis on danger, exploration and puzzle solving. Each of the game’s 100 levels combine lights and blocks to create drastically different layouts for Penumbear to explore as he tries to find his way out of the dark castle.
PENUMBEAR is a platformer with an emphasis on danger, exploration and puzzle solving. Each of the game’s 100 levels combine lights and blocks to create drastically different layouts for Penumbear to explore as he tries to find his way out of the dark castle.
Trailer
Many years after passing away, the King rises from the dead with the same old goal: Get more gold pieces!
Using a unique combination of role playing elements and slot machine mechanic, battle your way through more than 50 enemies in a quest for more gold pieces and more loot!
Get more and more powerful loot as you progress. Equip your loot to customize the outcome of the slot machine. Pick from 7 zombie classes, each with different weapon mastery and a unique play style. Combine any 3 of them as you see fit throughout the game.
Many years after passing away, the King rises from the dead with the same old goal: Get more gold pieces!
Using a unique combination of role playing elements and slot machine mechanic, battle your way through more than 50 enemies in a quest for more gold pieces and more loot!
Get more and more powerful loot as you progress. Equip your loot to customize the outcome of the slot machine. Pick from 7 zombie classes, each with different weapon mastery and a unique play style. Combine any 3 of them as you see fit throughout the game.
Trailer
You are a marooned space traveler whose ship has crash landed on a mysterious alien planet and must navigate through beautiful but perilous environments while fighting bloodthirsty creatures to save your crewmates and escape with your lives.
Use a grappling hook, jet pack, high-tech weapons and awesome powerups – create friggin’ black holes! - to fight through non-linear levels set in explorable, hostile environments.
You are a marooned space traveler whose ship has crash landed on a mysterious alien planet and must navigate through beautiful but perilous environments while fighting bloodthirsty creatures to save your crewmates and escape with your lives.
Use a grappling hook, jet pack, high-tech weapons and awesome powerups – create friggin’ black holes! - to fight through non-linear levels set in explorable, hostile environments.
Trailer
Backflip Madness is a fast-paced, parkour-flavored extreme sports game. Your goal is simple - make tons of spectacular tricks and stunts.
Backflip Madness is a fast-paced, parkour-flavored extreme sports game. Your goal is simple - make tons of spectacular tricks and stunts.
Trailer
Freemium with wait timers. This is the highly anticipated and now controversial second sequel in the Real Racing series. Everything in the game is essentially better/improved upon from RR2/RR1 except now you'll need to fork out $$$ if you want to play it like you may have played RR2 and RR1. General opinion is that this is an excellent game; mired heavily by a freemium business model. The developers have listened to feedback and have been making adjustments since the game's initial release in New Zeeland in mid February.
Freemium with wait timers. This is the highly anticipated and now controversial second sequel in the Real Racing series. Everything in the game is essentially better/improved upon from RR2/RR1 except now you'll need to fork out $$$ if you want to play it like you may have played RR2 and RR1. General opinion is that this is an excellent game; mired heavily by a freemium business model. The developers have listened to feedback and have been making adjustments since the game's initial release in New Zeeland in mid February.
Trailer
Experience the ancient Swedish phenomena of year walking through a different kind of first person adventure that blurs the line between two and three dimensions as well as reality and the supernatural. Venture out into the dark woods where strange creatures roam, on a vision quest set in 19th century Sweden.
Eurogamer Review said:
Experience the ancient Swedish phenomena of year walking through a different kind of first person adventure that blurs the line between two and three dimensions as well as reality and the supernatural. Venture out into the dark woods where strange creatures roam, on a vision quest set in 19th century Sweden.
The Year Walk Companion is the definitive guide to the mysterious myths and creatures encountered in Year Walk. A mini-encyclopedia to keep handy when playing, or in preparation of your adventure.
The products are available from other places than the ones linked, use your own judgement when or if you want to purchase an accessory.
iCade Arcade Cabinet | $65.99, iPad
Retro-styled tabletop arcade cabinet for your iPad, controls via Bluetooth.
Here are a couple of video reviews of various iCade supported titles (thanks Alextended!)
iCade hardware
Blazing Star
Shogun: Rise of the Renegade
Gridrunner
ElectroMaster
Enborn-X
Midway Arcade
Vectrex Regeneration
AirAttack HD
Temple Run
Gameloft Duo Gamer | $39.99, UniversalHere are a couple of video reviews of various iCade supported titles (thanks Alextended!)
iCade hardware
Blazing Star
Shogun: Rise of the Renegade
Gridrunner
ElectroMaster
Enborn-X
Midway Arcade
Vectrex Regeneration
AirAttack HD
Temple Run
Only works with certain Gameloft games (see the link)
Q - Should I buy this new EA game?
A - Maybe. While most older EA titles can be seen as hot garbage, we can't predict the future. Just be aware that EA has a tendency of sales where even recent titles can be a dollar/euro rather than premium $4-5. Spend your pack of gum money wisely.
Q - I just got an iPhone/iPad. What are the best games?
A - Best iOS Games Ever v1 / Best iOS Games Ever v2. You're welcome.
Q- For gaming, should I get the iPad Mini, or iPad 4?
A- Both have their pro's and con's. Mini is cheaper, and arguably a better grip for gaming, but the screen isn't as great and the device is less powerful than the 4. Most games these days all run fine on it, but I'm not sure about in a year.
Q- I'm a new iOS user, what non-gaming apps should I get ASAP?
A - This thread would be a great place to start. Asking here wouldn't hurt either!
Q - How do I back up my game saves for games that do not support iCloud save games?
A - Use a file manager program such as i-FunBox (PC/Mac versions available) - It's free and requires no jailbreak.
i-FunBox has a ton of different features, but to back up save games you would simply want to do the following:
- Click the iFunBox Classic tab
- Connect your iOS device, via WiFi or USB, it should then appear in the Connected Devices list on the left side of the UI.
- Under User Applications, navigate to the game you want to back up save games for.
- Select the Documents folder and copy it to your PC/Mac - this will copy the folder and all the contents. This contains your save files and settings for the game (a bunch of .lua files).
- Under User Applications, navigate to the game you want to restore save games for.
- Select the Documents folder and choose to copy from PC/Mac
- Navigate to where you saved the backed up Documents folder on your PC/Mac, open it and select all the files within it and open them. This will copy the folder and all the contents back onto your iOS device.
- Restart/fully close the game itself and your saves should be back!
Q - How do I hide my Real Name on Game Center?
A - Ever since iOS 4.3 your real first and last name, taken from your Apple ID, will be shown to your GC friends. If you value that information and want GAF's leaderboards to show your proper GAF nickname instead, here's how you do it:
- Open the Game Center app.
- Go to the Me tab and tap the yellow ribbon that has your email written on it.
- Chose View Account and you'll be prompted for your password.
- Scroll down to the Edit Account Info section and tap on the Apple ID profile.
- Change you First and Last name (you must enter both) to whatever you like (e.g. First Name: Tunesmith, Last Name: GAF)
This is a summary of other iOS game/iOS device related threads!
iOS Online Boardgaming Megathread (Carcassonne, Everything Playdek, & Many More)
Puzzle & Dragons |OT| Pokemon + Bejeweled + Dungeon RPG
Feb 2013 iOS Gaming |OT| Where some have halitosis so packs of gum matters here
Jan 2013 iOS Gaming |OT| We beat the apocalypse without buttons!
Dec 2012 iOS Gaming |OT| Santa touched me somewhere weird.
Nov 2012 iOS Gaming |OT| A Bold New Era!
iOS Apps |OT|
iOS Jailbreak/Unlock |OT|
iOS 6 |OT|
iPhone 5 |OT|
The New iPad |OT|
iPad Mini |OT|
How to Become an Official GAF iOS Game Center Member
The List
Updated: daily (mostly).
#RULES: How to get on the list / Update your profile / Add friends
- Send Dash Kappei or Tunesmith a PM if you want to be added or taken off the list, following this text formatting:
GAF Name = Game Center Name / iOS Device(s)
- When you add someone, add From GAF to the friend request and your NeoGAF name as to easily tell who's who.
- Send Dash Kappei a PM or send Tunesmith a PM if you are already on the list but want to update your profile with more info like iOS devices(s) owned, or to just change your existing GC profile.
- We are on the list and, if you are too, it's OK to add us even if we're not best buddies; don't be shy: we enjoy having more GAFers challenging us on the friends leaderboards.
- Don't just wait for others to add you first you should at least add some of the profiles posted above yours if you want to get the ball rolling... It's really up to you. Ideally the last member of the list will be the one to add the profiles above his, and so on and on with each new member. Or maybe just add whoever you like, that's also an option.
- Remember: your real name will be visible to your GC friends
- You can add everyone on the list at once; click the second sheet on the iOS Membership list and read the instructions, works on iOS and Macs
Thanks to Fuu & Dash Kappei for handling the community list's past/present duties, Dash Kappei for running the iOS Challenges and finally past OT hosts for having done a wonderful job thus far for our community!
...and that's everything for now. This is a live OP and so will change as the month goes on so check back often.
