After reintroducing its Texas Hold’em for iPhone back in July as part of the App Store’s tenth anniversary, Apple has now expanded this classic mobile card game to the iPad tablets with support for iOS’s multitasking modes such as Split View and Slide Over.
App Store Games
Arcade review: Jenny LeClue – Detectivu
Everyone loves a good mystery game, but we don't get many of those on the App Store. Sure, there are mystery games for you to play, but they are not the vast majority. Not the good ones, anyway.
That's why I was looking forward to playing Jenny LeClue - Detectivu. A murder mystery literally at my fingertips. And now that we've got the chance to play it, it's time to see if it's the mystery adventure I was waiting for, or if it's just another forgettable game. Fingers crossed.
Retro review: Geometry Dash
When you hear Geometry Dash, you probably remember the nightmares you got from this game. It's probably one of the most frustrating games that have ever been on the iPhone. And yet, you still wanted to play it.
Nowadays, you don't hear about the game as much, which makes sense. Not only it has been out for a little over 6 years now, but it’s got other more recent spin-offs. Now there's an even more popular and frustrating game on the App Store, the infamous Getting Over It. So should you still play Geometry Dash in 2019? Or should you try one of the other games that will cause you the same amount of frustration and emotional pain? Let's find out on today's retro review.
Retro review: Infinity Blade
Do you remember when Epic Games actually made epic games? No, I'm not talking about Fortnite, I'm talking about an objectively good game: Infinity Blade. This game took the world by storm when it first came out in 2010 and it was the first game on iOS to use the Unreal Engine.
This game made over $1.6 million in its first week and $23 million by the end of 2011. Epic Games knows how to make high-grossing games, I'll give them that. Due to its success, it got two sequels and even got two novellas. Now, the game is just a memory that's almost forgotten. I'm saying almost because we're bringing back for today's retro review.
Retro review: Tiny Wings
Who would've thought a tiny bird who couldn't fly would end up being such a popular mobile game. Keep in mind this was before Flappy Bird. I'm talking about Tiny Wings, a game that released back in 2011 on the App Store. This game was really successful, becoming the highest-grossing game for a couple of weeks after its release.
It has sold over 12 million copies for the iPhone and iPad. What's more impressive is that this game was developed by a single person, Andreas Illiger. Nowadays, Tiny Wings is not getting many updates, and it seems like there won't be more content in the future.
Apparently, the game has been forgotten by its developer, but does that mean we should forget about it too? That's what we'll discuss in today's retro review of Tiny Wings.
Retro review: Jetpack Joyride
Jetpack Joyride was one of my favorite games for the iPhone back in 2011. It almost feels like it was yesterday when I played it for the first time. Setting nostalgia aside, this game was well-received by players and reviewers. It wasn't a big surprise, though, giving the fact that it was developed by the studio that brought us Fruit Ninja.
Surprisingly, this game is almost a decade old. Now, there are even plans to make it a tabletop game. As impressive as that is, we need to go back and review Jetpack Joyride to see if it's good for today's standards.
Retro review: Badland
Badland might not be the oldest game on the App Store, but it sure is one of the best. This game was originally released in 2013 for Android and iOS platforms. Its success led Badland to become Apple's iPad game of the year in 2013, and since then has been released on other platforms, like consoles and PC.
This game was amazing back then. Now, it may even be overlooked because of its own sequel and a Brawl game that doesn't share many similarities with the original title. So, if you haven't played this game and you are thinking if it's still worth buying it, I'm here to help as we retro review Badland for iPhone and iPad.
Top 5 best Nintendo games on the App Store
Fun fact: Nintendo was a company that sold Japanese playing cards before it became the gaming company we know now. Clearly, the big N is ready to adapt. Nintendo is actually adapting right now, bringing some of their popular titles to mobile devices, with many more to come, including Mario Kart and a Pokémon game where you play by sleeping.
But if you can't wait to sleep with your pokémon, as weird as that sounds, or to race your friends, you can always try some of the great Nintendo games already available on the App Store. If you don't know where to start, you're in the right place. Today I'll give some of my favorite Nintendo games for your iPhone or iPad.
Retro review: Shadowgun
I remember Shadowgun as one of the first games on the iPhone that used 3D models. For me, it was ground-breaking at the time and it made me think of the possibilities for mobile gaming in the future. It was one of my favorite games back in the day, and I wasn't the only one. When the game was released in 2011, it got so many positive reviews it was featured in the App Store Essentials Hall of Fame.
Currently, the game has created its own universe, with sequels like Shadowgun Deadzone, Shadowgun Legends and an upcoming game titled Shadowgun War Games.
Shadowgun was great back then, but is it great now? Should you spend $4.99 for it, or you're better off with the more recent, free-to-play sequel? That's what we'll cover in today's retro review.
Pokémon Masters arrives in App Store
As promised, Pokémon Masters, the next Pokémon mobile game in the series, is now available for iPhone and iPad in App Store at no charge.
Retro review: Plants vs. Zombies
What comes to your mind when you think about your backyard? The undead trying to eat your brain and a crazy annoying neighbor? Hopefully, you only thought about a video game. If not, you should go see someone about that.
For those of you who just got their daily dose of nostalgia, probably only thought about Plants vs. Zombies, a game that released almost 10 years ago on the iPhone.
Now, with a third entry for the series, it's time to go back and see if the first game is still as good as we remember, or if we're better off forgetting it and focusing on the future. Get your plants, your tacos, and your brain ready for today's retro review on Plants vs. Zombies.
Retro review: Angry Birds 2
Who would have thought that such a simple game with some birds with anger issues would have become so big that ended up getting spin-offs, animated series, and even movies? I'm talking of course about the Angry Birds franchise, a simple game about birds trying to recover their eggs from a gang of piggies that want to eat them. Not the smartest plot, but it worked at the time.
Now, almost 10 years later, the birds' franchise is still around. And with a sequel that no one asked for, to a movie that no one asked for releasing in theaters, I wanted to do something special for this occasion. That's why we'll be taking a look at Angry Birds 2.