Pocket Gamer's iPhone game charts: January 2009

As our own Andrew Williams pointed out recently in the first Pocket Gamer App Store free game Trawler Report, the App Store bears some small resemblance to a monkey: it throws endless handfuls of crap at you, but when it breaks out one of its smiles you can’t help but lower your rifle and forgive it.

Of course, just as the zoo provides bins to hide behind and toilets to duck into to avoid primate faeces, there are ways to avoid getting debased in the App Store.

Along with the mostly reliable system of user reviews, there’s Pocket Gamer’s indispensible mobile, handheld, and iPhone game Buyers' Guide (if you haven’t visited it before, you really must), and along with that there’s this: our monthly iPhone game genre charts.

Why are we doing it? Well, because the Buyers’ Guide, comprehensive and sublimely useable though it is, doesn't reflect the spectrum of difference that lies between a 6 and a 7 (or any other pair of consecutive numbers between 0 and 10.)

Lots of puzzle games have received any given score, but the ones in this list are the ones we really think you should download.

Of course, this is a two-way street. If there are games you’d like to nominate for inclusion in next month’s chart, please let us know.

Top 3 iPhone racing games

Low Grav Racer
CobraMobile

“Looks like Wipeout and plays nearly as well. This futuristic racer is a blast”
9/12/08, Stu

Asphalt 4: Elite Racing
Gameloft

“Looks good, has bags of depth, but needs just a bit more speed to be a true classic”
2/9/2008, Stu

Powerboat Challenge 3D
Fishlabs

“Full of thrills, spills, but not without delicate appeal, Powerboat Challenge is as smooth as it is frantic, as tense as it is tight”
28/11/2008, Keith

Top 3 iPhone platform games

Rolando
HandCircus

“The year's best iPhone game offers gameplay brimming with accessible controls, sophisticated design, and style - an emblematic title for a rising platform”
18/12/2008, Tracy

Toy Bot Diaries 1, 2 and 3
IUGO

Entry 3: “A cute and clever platformer marked by an excessive difficulty, but caps a memorable series with panache”
23/12/2008, Tracy

Dizzy Bee 2
Igloo Games

“Dizzy Bee 2 shows just how much fun the accelerometer can be when handled properly – just don't expect any kind of gameplay revolution from the original”
19/12/2008, Keith

Top 3 iPhone puzzle games

Edge
Mobigame

“Edge is the kind of iPhone title where style and substance unite, creating a block-shifting puzzler that's as maze-y as it is amazing”
28/01/2009, Keith

Theseus
Jason Fieldman

“Addictive puzzler that takes a Greek myth and turns it into an a-maze-ing maze title that will have people pondering and procrastinating for many an hour”
21/10/2008, Keith

Samurai Puzzle Battle
Vivid Games

“Moulds the strategy, action and puzzle genres into a game that's far more absorbing than the sum of its parts”
10/12/2008, Spanner

Top 3 iPhone adventure games

1112, Episode 1
Agharta Studio

“1112, Episode 1 is more than just the first of a series, it's an introduction to one of the finest adventure games in years”
12/12/2008, Tracy

Alternate Endings
Jonathan Huer

“Such a profoundly dedicated effort by the developers makes this unique and highly compelling game/interactive movie really stand out”
03/12/2008

Soul Trapper: Episode 1 - Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!
Realtime Associates

“Soul Trapper: Episode 1 strikes a chord with an inventive and enjoyable audio adventure, even if the interactive bits are a little monotone”
19/11/2008, Tracy

Top 3 iPhone action games

Hero of Sparta
Gameloft

“Control annoyances and lame sound effects can't shackle otherwise epic action in one of the best iPhone games of the year”
09/12/2008, Tracy

Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes
Gameloft

“Problematic controls wound an otherwise strong shooter”
04/12/2008, Tracy

Kroll
Digital Legend

“Short and sweet, Kroll slashes out a new standard with unparalleled visuals and great gameplay”
30/09/2008, Tracy

Top 3 iPhone retro games

Vector Blaster
Rude Scotsman

“Tempest-clone Vector Blaster hits the spot when it comes to moving and shooting with vector graphics. But its unsophisticated fun is limited to five-minute chunks”
29/10/2008, Jon Jordan

Mines in Space
High Five

"A simple, aging game brought back to radiant life by outstanding presentation and ingenious variations"
27/01/2009, Spanner

Pac-Man
Namco Networks America

“Though not without its disappointments, Pac-Man nevertheless enjoys a solid stint on iPhone, making good use of the phone's features”
13/09/2008, Tracy

Top 3 iPhone strategy games

Warfare Incorporated
Spiffcode

“Warfare Incorporated is a benchmark RTS on iPhone and packs plenty of bang for your buck”
23/01/2009, Fraser

Orions: Legend of Wizards
MoreGames Entertainment

“Meaningful strategic play gives Orions: Legend of Wizards great value, even if its learning curve can be intimidating”
13/01/09, Spanner

Fieldrunners
Subatomic Studios

“With clever controls and cartoony visuals, this is the best Tower Defense game on iPhone so far”
12/11/2008

Top 3 iPhone sports games

Real Football 2009
Gameloft

“Excellent football sim that proves iPhone can handle the beautiful game”
11/09/2008, Stu

Midnight Bowling
Gameloft

“Midnight Bowling is another shining example of the high quality entertainment Gameloft is bringing to the App Store”
13/01/2009, Jon Jordan

Flick Fishing
Freeverse

“The only thing Flick Fishing simulates is fun with great graphics, fine controls, and varied, if a bit directionless, gameplay”
11/11/2008, Tracy

Top 3 iPhone 'out there' games

newtonica2
Fieldsystem

“Though nothing like Newtonica in terms of gameplay, Fieldsystem's addictive follow-up retains the original's style and simplicity, resulting in the kind of puzzle title that stands out from the crowd with ease”
16/12/2008, Keith

synthPond
Zach Gage

“synthPond is a music creation tool that is perfect for those who know what they're doing, and just as rewarding for those who have no idea but just fancy a play about”
06/01/2009, Keith

I Love Katamari
Namco Networks America

“Sweet, sticky, and slow - I Love Katamari has great presentation and fun gameplay, but it moves at an excruciating pace”
17/12/2008, Tracy

Top 3 iPhone multiplayer games

TV Show King Online
Gameloft

“TV Show King graciously offers online multiplayer and solid single-player quizzes that are a royal treat”
18/11/2008, Tracy

Aurora Feint II: The Arena
Danielle Cassley

“A contender for the match-three crown battered by an instable performance”
24/11/2008, Tracy

Uno
Gameloft

“Despite great multiplayer options, touchscreen troubles keep this card game from being numero uno”
26/11/2008