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Pocket Gamer's top 10 best iPhone and iPad games of 2013... so far

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Pocket Gamer's top 10 best iPhone and iPad games of 2013... so far
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iOS

Can you believe it? We're already more than halfway through 2013.

Hell, it feels like it was only last month that I was stuffing my face full of turkey and thanking that big-bearded fat guy in the red suit for my brand-new Apple TV.

But now we're in July. That means it's - once again - time to choose the best iPhone and iPad apps of the year. So far.

It's a tough job, and we can only choose ten.

So, if you disagree with any of our picks or fancy adding a title or two to the list, be sure to let us know in the comments section below.

Real Racing 3
By EA - download free on iPhone and iPad

Many gamers condemned Real Racing 3 as soon as they heard it was going to be free-to-play. But this hotly anticipated sequel still nabbed a glittering Gold Award at review.

This simulation racer features more than 50 of the world's greatest super cars from some of the world's greatest manufacturers, and plenty of real-world tracks where you can take them for a spin.

Limbo

By Playdead - buy on iPhone and iPad

In Limbo, you take on the role of a nameless boy, who awakens in a mysterious forest on the edge on hell. Your sister is missing, and it's your job to get her back.

In order to do this, you have to solve a variety of environmental puzzles, avoiding dangerous hazards along the way.

Limbo is gorgeous, and its monochromatic visuals make the forests and cities that you're exploring that little bit more eerie. This iOS version has top controls, too.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes

By Tag Games - buy on iPhone and iPad

Clash of Heroes isn't a traditional RPG. It's actually a puzzle-RPG, and there's a big difference between the two.

Each time you enter a ruckus in this title, you see, you're presented with a match-three-style game board that's split into two distinct halves.

You then proceed to deplete your opponent's HP, by moving your soldiers around your half of the field and matching three or more similarly coloured units.

Joe Danger
By Hello Games - buy on iPhone and iPad

Over the past few years, a number of Joe Danger-like titles have landed on the App Store, but only Hello Games's official mobile port has managed to capture the excitement of the Xbox Live Arcade title.

It's colourful, it's silly, it's lots of fun, and it's absolutely stuffed to the brim with wacky characters and dangerous tracks.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown
By Firaxis - buy on iPhone and iPad

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a hulking turn-based strategy title in which you're tasked with saving the planet from a bunch of nasty aliens that seek the destruction of humanity.

Between battles, you have to research alien technology, build a fully operational base from which you launch missions, and meticulously plan forthcoming combat tasks.

Bridgy Jones
By Grow App - buy on iPhone and iPad

Bridgy Jones is a pretty simple puzzle game. In each level, you're tasked with building a stable bridge that's capable of carrying a heavy locomotive across a dangerous chasm or ravine.

Of course, this isn't as easy as it sounds. You have to think about strain and weight, and there are bonus objectives to complete, such as using a set number of building materials and beating time limits.

Gemini Rue

By Wadjet Eye Games - buy on iPhone and iPad

In this sci-fi-infused point-and-click adventure port of the 2011 PC game, you assume the role of a ex-assassin called Azriel Odin, who's now a reformed law enforcer searching for his missing brother.

Gemini Rue doesn't take place on earth. In fact, it doesn't take play anywhere remotely close to earth. It takes place during the 23rd century in a war-ravaged planetary system known as the Gemini System.

Slamjet Stadium

By Alistair Aitcheson - buy on iPad

There are tons of games on the App Store that feature multiplayer in some way, shape, or form. Very few of them, however, possess great same-device multiplayer modes.

Slamjet Stadium (much like its developer's previous title, Greedy Bankers) does.

The sport of slamjet has no rules, you see. So, you're allowed to reach across your iPad in order to push, shove, and even steal opposing team members.

The Blockheads
By Majic Jungle Software - download free on iPhone and iPad

The Blockheads is, essentially, a 2D Minecraft. That's far from a bad thing, mind. You can explore randomly generated worlds, and create almost anything you can think of in this build-'em-up.

Thanks to a recent update, you're not limited to playing on your own or as part of a small group. You see, you can now play with up to 32 other budding builders in persistent online worlds.

Ridiculous Fishing
By Vlambeer - buy on iPhone and iPad

I've never really been a big fan of fishing titles.

I liked the fishing mini-game in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, but I've never had the urge to sit down and play Mark Davis Pro Bass Challenge or any other bait-fuelled title.

I absolutely love Ridiculous Fishing, though. Why? It's probably got something to do with the fact that you can destroy schools of fish with machine guns, rocket launchers, and toasters.

Yeah, that'll be it.

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.