Top 10 most promising iPad launch titles

Now that you've got your shiny new iPad in hand (or you're considering picking one up), it's time to fill it up with games!

Reviews of the biggest games are being worked on right now, but if you just can't wait to dive into the smorgasbord of titles on the App Store let us recommend ten of the most promising games.

Adventure games are a fantastic fit for iPad and none better than the comic duo Sam & Max. The series has been strong for years, though this new episodic adventure marks the first time the pair appear on an Apple platform.

While similar to other adventure games with lots of funny dialogue and puzzles to solve, the rich animated 3D graphics set this series apart. Previous seasons of the revitalised franchise have been good, so we expect this one to be equally entertaining.

Originally expected for iPhone and iPod touch, Mirror's Edge caught our eye with its speedy platform play and it's looking even better on iPad. The game's delay has allowed for a thorough polish of the 14-mission single-player story, as well as the introduction of same-screen multiplayer.

The screen splits in half, enabling you and a buddy to race in special levels designed just for the iPad version. There's also a package hunt multiplayer mode that crowns whoever finds the most hidden packages within certain maps the winner.

An iPad-exclusive multiplayer shooter at launch - talk about a surprise! EXO-Planet hopefully follows with the same high quality as SGN's iPhone and iPod touch flight games, F.A.S.T. and Skies of Glory. Going on the first batch of screenshots, it's certainly looking good.

The gameplay puts a spin on capture-the-flag by pitting you and a teammate against another two-person team in space. Money - which is referred to as Scrip in the game - acquired from victorious matches can be used to buy new weapons and upgrades.

We're concerned that 2v2 matches might be a little small, though it's difficult not to hope this iPad original will be as action-packed as it sounds.

As one the early iPhone and iPod touch gaming success stories, Zen Bound proved that truly compelling, original experiences could be created for the devices. The sequel appears just as notable, if only for its stunning high-definition graphics.

All of the levels from the first game have been re-rendered for iPad and join a slew of new stages. New tunes have been composed, too. While it may not be as revolutionary as the original, it still seems like an early one to watch.

There's been plenty of pretty twin-stick shooters on iPhone and iPod touch, but Geometry Wars is the king of the genre. This touch-enabled version of the original has been given a visual update and an exclusive mode of play.

Joining six modes from the original is a new Titan mode, which we're eager to try out. While there's rightfully some scepticism about how the controls will feel, we're hoping they do this great series justice.

Considering Flight Control was our iPhone and iPod touch game of the year, this HD version has our attention. Firemint hasn't been content on just chucking the original game on iPad, though.

Along with new high resolution graphics, the game sports a few new maps and cool same-screen multiplayer modes. Both cooperative and competitive modes are offered on the new maps. There's even a novel 3D mode that you can play with if you have glasses.

It's rare when a hidden object game manages to pique our interest, yet Amazon: Hidden Expedition takes a unique approach to the genre with split-screen multiplayer.

While it's sold as a universal app for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, loading up this gorgeous game on iPad grants access to competitive same-screen multiplayer in which you race against a friend to find all of the objects in a particular scene.

Even if you're only interested in single player, Big Fish Games has done well by us with previous titles, making this worth a shot.

The vastness of space is mirrored by this gigantic space trading and exploration game that has been oft-delayed so that it could launch alongside iPad. Warpgate has been a long time coming, yet from the impressive screenshots it appears to have been worth the wait.

There's a wide range of missions to tackle, from peaceful trading to assassination contracts against pesky pirates. The star map is gigantic and exploring it should be enough to keep you busy for some time. It might be overwhelming in scope, but the depth is undeniable.

The comic tower defence gameplay of Plants vs. Zombies wowed us on iPhone and iPod touch, so there's no reason to believe this enhanced iPad version won't grow on us. Beyond the high-definition graphics, the game sports an iPad-exclusive mini-game called Buttered Popcorn.

We're dying to check it out, along with new achievements that have been written just for this version. It would have been great to see the Zen Garden mode from the PC version included here, but for the price it's still a good deal.

When a device launches with a 3D massively multiplayer role-playing game on day one, you have to sit up and take notice.

Pocket Legends aims to do more than just throw a technically functional online experience on iPad and actually deliver meaningful gameplay. Role-playing appears to be the primary focus - customising your character with gear, unlocking new skills, and upgrading existing abilities is a big part of the game.

There's all the social aspects of an MMO, too, with party quests, a friends list, and Facebook integration. Guilds and PvP are expected in an update, too. Of course, you can embark on quests by yourself without any penalty. It's free to celebrate the iPad launch, though downloadable quests and equipment will be offered.