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Top 10 iOS games with Game Center

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Top 10 iOS games with Game Center
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iOS

Achievements aren't for everybody, but some of us love hoovering up points, trophies, accolades, medals, awards, and other shiny ego-boosts.

Luckily, then, Apple decided to launch Game Center - a social gaming network that allows you to unlock achievements, climb leaderboards, find your friends, and kick their arses in friendly multiplayer matches.

While most new games hitting the App Store feature support for Apple's Xbox Live-esque service, some don't. Some choose to utilise rival service OpenFeint, with others offering neither.

These are ten of the best iPhone and iPad games featuring Game Center support.

Real Racing 2

It's probably not a surprise to see Real Racing 2 earn a place in our top ten, given that we gave it a Pocket Gamer Platinum Award at review.

Firemint's racer offers a Career mode, online multiplayer for up to 16 budding racers, local wi-fi multiplayer for eight players, and split-screen multiplayer over Apple's AirPlay - providing you own a new iPhone 4S or an iPad 2.

Real Racing 2 has 27 unlockable Game Center achievements, which are worth between five and 70 points each. You can bag these by collecting all of the game's 30 cars, lapping an opponent, fully upgrading your vehicle, and more.

Download Real Racing 2
Download Real Racing 2 HD

Infinity Blade

Chair's awe-inspiring hack-and-slasher may be one of the iPhone's best looking games, but it picked-up a Pocket Gamer Gold Award for its engrossing gameplay.

Infinity Blade sees you setting off on a quest to slay the infamous God King, who mercilessly killed your father. Unfortunately, you first have to defeat his Titans - a selection of powerful trolls and agile assassins.

You can also jump into a multiplayer match with another Game Center user from around the world, and unlock 64 achievements. These range from defeating a Titan in under 60 seconds to collecting 1 million gold pieces.

Download Infinity Blade

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

The second racing title to speed into our top ten, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing also managed to grab a Pocket Gamer Platinum Award at review.

Far less serious than Firemint's offering, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing sends you spinning around 15 colourful courses as one of ten famous Sega characters. Naturally, there's a host of wacky power-ups for you to use to your advantage.

When you've torn the game's AI to shreds, you can attempt to take on three of your buddies in online multiplayer matches, or set out to grab each of the game's achievements. These require you to play 100 events, beat Time Trial records, and more.

Download Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing

Game Dev Story

Kairosoft's addictive simulation might not look like much at first glance, but it has the ability drag you in and keep you hooked. That's probably why Game Dev Story earned a Pocket Gamer Silver Award.

Your job is to run your very own games studio, which is a lot harder than it sounds. You'll be tasked with hiring and firing staff, buying console licenses, securing advertising, and even choosing the genre of each of your games.

Apple's Game Center is on board with 32 achievements, which can be earned by shifting 100 million copies of your game, recruiting special staff, and winning prestigious awards.

Download Game Dev Story

Jetpack Joyride

Halfbrick's Jetpack Joyride marks the Gold Award-winning return of foul-mouthed action-hero Barry Steakfries, as he steals a prototype machine-gun jetpack and tries to make his escape.

Your job, using one finger, is to elevate Barry to avoid obstacles, missiles, and traps, and collect coins. Despite its name, you aren't stuck with just a jetpack, and there are bikes, birds, and more crazy vehicles to master.

Jetpack Joyride contains 30 achievements. These unlock when you 'take a ride in every vehicle in the game', 'fly a total of 50kms', 'get fried 99 times', and complete a range of other tasks.

Download Jetpack Joyride

First Touch Soccer

Unlike FIFA, First Touch Soccer doesn't feature real teams, stadiums, and tournaments. That didn't stop it scoring a coveted Pocket Gamer Gold Award back in May.

There are 250 different teams to choose from, with 30 different competitions and seven varied game modes to lace your boots up for. You can even upload your best goals and bone-crunching tackles straight to YouTube.

Game Center really challenges your footy skills, with achievements that call for you to 'score a hat-trick of headers', win a match after being three-nil down, and 'score a goal directly from a corner'.

Download First Touch Soccer

Magnetic Billiards: Blueprint

Pocket Gamer Gold Award-winning Magnetic Billiards: Blueprint is a pool-esque experience with a twist. For starters, you play on pocketless tables, with the aim of combining similarly coloured balls.

It's not as simple as it sounds, though, as you're awarded extra points for completing your goal in as many moves as you possibly can. As you progress, you earn special keys that unlock newer and more difficult tables.

There are a whopping 67 achievements to be had, the majority of which are based around multipliers, highscores, and ranks.

Download Magnetic Billiards: Blueprint

Anomaly Warzone Earth

Chillingo's Pocket Gamer Platinum Award-winning graphically rich tower defence title Anomaly Warzone Earth alters the rules and places you in the shoes of the attacker.

Throughout the game, you have to complete a range of varied missions, which include escorting units, destroying towers, and blowing up other large installations. Naturally, you can upgrade your troops as you play.

Medals earned throughout contribute to a bunch of tasty Game Center achievements.

Download Anomaly Warzone Earth
Download Anomaly Warzone Earth HD (Universal)

Broken Sword: Director's Cut

Pocket Gamer Gold Award-winning point-and-click adventure Broken Sword: Director's Cut, is a remake of 1996 classic Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars.

This remake features the great storyline from the original game, but also manages to cram-in some all-new sections and puzzles. For example, you begin the game as French journalist Nico, instead of American tourist George.

Apple's Game Center rewards you generously just for playing through the game, though, there are several secret achievements to unlock too.

Download Broken Sword: Director's Cut
Download Broken Sword: Director's Cut HD

DeathSmiles

DeathSmiles is a Pocket Gamer Gold Award-nabbing bullet-hell shooter. What does that mean? It means you'll be furiously dodging screenfuls of approaching bullets.

There are two different game modes for you to tackle: the game's classic Arcade mode, and Smartphone mode. The latter of the two offering a new character and an original story.

Each of the game's modes and characters has a ranking system, with global leaderboards pitting you against other players from around the world. You can unlock achievements by completing in-game challenges.

Download DeathSmiles

Anthony Usher
Anthony Usher
Anthony is a Liverpool, UK-based writer who fell in love with gaming while playing Super Mario World on his SNES back in the early '90s. When he isn't busy grooming his beard, you can find him replaying Resident Evil or Final Fantasy VII for the umpteenth time. Aside from gaming, Anthony likes hiking, MMA, and pretending he’s a Viking.