I’ve never been big on handheld gaming, especially in recent years. This has a lot to do with my work situation and the fact that I’m very much a home body. Given that whenever I’m on the move, I’m typically the one behind the wheel, there simply aren’t many opportunities for me to spend time with handheld gaming device. Factor in the lack of desire to stare at a small screen for extended periods and my preference to lounging on the couch gazing at my 40″ TV screen, and we’re not left with many viable reasons to indulge in handheld gaming.
Then, along came the iPhone
With a focus on instant action, short and fun gameplay sessions, super simple control schemes, and price points that top out at $5-$10, it’s hard to think of a reason not to indulge. There are thousands to choose from, but here are a few of my current favourites…
Canabalt
My interest was piqued when a status update on Facebook read, “I ran 3630m before hitting a wall and tumbling to my death on my iPhone.” Followed by a link to the game’s website which contains a Flash version of the game that is free to play. After spending 10-15 minutes playing in my browser, I jumped to the App store to see how much the iPhone version is – a mere $2.99. This was an absolute no-brainer. Canabalt is possibly the simplest game I’ve played in years, but is perfectly executed with fun and intense gameplay delivered in short bursts, and driven by an amazing soundtrack.
Orbital
Another game I caught wind of via chatter from friends, Orbital is also a one-finger game with simple, yet rewarding gameplay. The visual style is reminiscent of Geometry Wars, with vibrant glowing shapes and beautiful explosions. I believe I paid $1.99 for it a few months back, but it’s available for $.99 at the time of writing. Like Canabalt, Orbital is tied to your Facebook account (Canabalt also supports Twitter), which posts your score each time you best your high score. Also like Canabalt, there is a full Flash version which is free to play in your browser.
Star Wars: Trench Run
I was skeptical when I first read the title of this game – “They made a game based on the trench run alone?” Yes, and no. There is indeed a trench run mode, which has you flying an X-Wing through the trenches of the Death Star. Taking out defense towers, avoiding obstacles, and evading Darth Vader’s crosshair along the way. The original score and sound effects are in tact, so it’s truly an authentic experience. There’s also a dog fight mode, where you’re flying above the Death Star in combat with Tie Fighters, which is a lot of fun. While it’s a short experience overall, that hasn’t stopped me from playing it multiple times and feeling like I got my money’s worth. With a more steep price point of $4.99, it might not be as much of an impulse buy as the others, but it’s still just $5 for a great handheld Star Wars experience.
Honourable Mentions
These aren’t the only games I’ve played, just a few of my favourites. Some others worth checking out; Fieldrunners, iBomber, iFighter, Peggle, Ramp Champ, Tiki Towers, UNO, WordFu, Yahtzee Adventures, and Zen Bound.
What are you playing?
