The 50 best iPad games of 2010 The 50 best iPad games of 2011

When the iPad launched last April, some speculated it'd become a host for scads of enhanced iPhone ports, a device capable of hosting sharp iterations of AAA console and PC releases, or a breeding ground for all-new types of gaming experiences. Luckily, all three came true without fail, and we watched the device transform into one of the most diverse and wide-ranging gaming platforms around. With many months of iteration and experimentation under their belts, we're certain iPad game developers will deliver even more inventive and exciting experiences in 2011, and look forward to what rumored hardware revisions will mean for gaming on the platform.
But before we close the books on last year, we've compiled an A-to-Z – or rather, an Age-to-Zen – guide to the 50 most essential, must-have iPad games of 2010. Some of these started life as iPhone or Flash apps in earlier years, but as the iPad's enhanced capabilities and larger display have the power to transform existing titles, we considered anything that could be played natively on the device by year's end. And though we know you lot don't need reminding, please do let us know which under-loved treasure or surefire mega-hit we've missed in the comments – we'll try and hit any overlooked gems in the coming weeks with our iPad reviews of the week feature.

Game: Age of Zombies
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 18.2MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Halfbrick's seriously funny twin-stick shooter puts you in the shoes of Barry Steakfries, a badass commando who travels in time to dispatch cartoon zombies in ancient Egypt and the prehistoric era, among others. Shotguns, rifles, grenades, and mines are all plentiful in each amusing scenario, wherein Steakfries pops off smart-ass comments as you decimate hordes of the undead. Age of Zombies is a relatively quick play, as you can knock out the campaign in about an hour, but it's one hell of a good time while it lasts. It's seriously worth it for the amazing CSI: Miami gag alone, but you'll find plenty more to like about this pixel-based shooter.

Game: Angry Birds HD
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 19.6MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Last year was inarguably the year of Angry Birds, as the casual game – which launched at the tail end of 2009 on iPhone – expanded out to iPad and other platforms, spawned a similarly addictive holiday version (Angry Birds Seasons), even generated plush toys and a forthcoming board game. It'd all seem pretty ludicrous if not for the quality of the core experience, in which the simple act of toppling towers by launching differently skilled birds becomes an obsessive quest for perfection. We've played this through and through multiple times, and it's really a fantastic little casual experience on any device – but we prefer the iPad version, which gives you more screen space to plot out your epic assaults.

Game: BIT.TRIP BEAT HD
Price: $0.99 / £0.59
Size: 37.8MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

We were really excited to see this awesome WiiWare gem come to the iPad and iPhone last fall, as the Pong-inspired gameplay, trippy pixel graphics, and sharp retro-stylized soundtrack really coalesce to create something special. Luckily, the iOS versions maintain everything that made the Wii version a favorite, especially the iPad iteration, which utilizes the large touch screen interface to let you easily move the paddle up and down to keep up with the increasingly chaotic action. While the balls initially attack in straight lines, it doesn't take long before they're zigzagging around the screen, sending you into a visually monochromatic spiral with each missed hit.

Game: Canabalt
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 12.5MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Curious how resistant your iPad is to sweaty hands? Play Canabalt and find out. This super intense, side-scrolling, skyscraper-leaping hit continually tests your reflexes and wraps the whole experience in an alluring throwback pixel aesthetic. Following its initial iPhone launch, Canabalt expanded to a universal release last summer – much to the excitement of iPad owners everywhere – delivering more of the randomly generated thrills and high score-chasing escapades that made it an absolute favorite in the first place. Plus, thanks to a recent update, the game now runs at 60 frames per second and includes Game Center integration, letting you easily boast your top distances among friends.

Game: Carcassonne
Price: $9.99 / £5.99
Size: 129MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Many fans of the German board game Carcassonne no doubt discovered the game in part due to the success of the awesome 2007 Xbox Live Arcade version, but we think this excellent iOS universal version will capture even more curious parties. The five-player game challenges each participant to earn the most points by building roads, cities, and cloisters, all by placing randomly picked pieces on the board then dropping followers on the tiles. While the iPad version handily replaces the core board game with local matches, it also features an online pass-and-play mode, in which players swap turns at their convenience – which makes it easy to fit a little kingdom building into your everyday life.

Game: Chaos Rings for iPad
Price: $15.99 / £9.49
Size: 265MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Square Enix frequently has some of the most absurd price points in the App Store – six bucks for a Final Fantasy XIII artwork gallery, anyone? – but Chaos Rings for iPad comes closest to justifying the super-sized entry fee, offering a role-playing experience with impressive depth and production values. Ported from the earlier iPhone version, Chaos Rings delivers traditional turn-based action augmented with collaborative attack moves, which ties into a narrative in which you can play as four unique pairs of characters for a large, wide-ranging experience. And while you'll see a fair amount of pixelation in the backgrounds, the sharp building architecture and enemy designs meet our expectations as fans of the publisher's console efforts, which help to make this one of the more ambitious RPGs for the iPad.

Game: Cut the Rope HD
Price: $1.99 / £1.19
Size: 27.8MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Cut the Rope launched a bit late in the year to take the iOS throne away from Angry Birds, but it put up a damn good fight, hovering near the top of the charts for the last few months. The whole premise is perfect for a touch screen interface, as you need to get a piece of candy to a little green "Nomster" creature by slicing ropes at the correct time and properly utilizing (or completely avoiding) various items or hazards in each stage. But for many, simply feeding the beast wasn't satisfying enough – they played the many dozens of stages over and over again, attempting to grab the three optional stars in each mission along the way. Kudos to you, obsessive Cut the Rope players – we're sure Chillingo will keep your addiction fed well into 2011.

Game: Edge
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 15.6MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Edge earned a lot of press over the last couple years for a ridiculous, drawn-out legal battle with a trademark hoarder who objected to the game's title (and had it pulled from the App Store multiple times), but with all that nonsense in the past, the game can now be appreciated solely for its compelling touch screen gameplay. Bumped up to a universal release last summer, Edge challenges players to command a little cube around a series of obstacle courses by touching in any direction around the cube, being careful to avoid moving platforms and dangerous gaps. It's a simple concept that works wonderfully on the iPad display, and freshly added Game Center support lets you compare your top clear scores with pals and the worldwide competition.

Game: Flight Control HD
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 17.8MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Firemint's iPhone smash is surprisingly even better on the iPad, as the core experience – using your finger to draw landing paths for a variety of planes and helicopters – benefits from the larger tablet display. Flight Control HD's new stages offer considerably more space for plotting each aircraft's safe descent, but also create further opportunities for chaos, as the screen is quickly loaded with vehicles that must land at certain destinations. Managing the mayhem without a crash is the goal, but you'll quickly find that doing so for more than a few minutes per session can be immensely difficult. The HD version also includes online and wireless multiplayer modes, as well as a split-screen option for co-op controlling.

Game: Fruit Ninja HD
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 33.2MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Fruit Ninja HD is sort of like the extrapolated full-game version of the fruit slicing mini-game from Wii Sports Resort, challenging players to use their fingers to slash the hell out of an endless array of apples, oranges, watermelons, and other juicy treats. It's actually a very entertaining little app, with the main mode tasking you with notching combos (by slashing multiple pieces with one swipe) and avoiding bombs with limited lives, and the additional Zen mode gives you just 90 seconds to amass the highest possible score without a single bomb in sight. Plus, the iPad version includes a split-screen mode, and what's better than cutting fruit with a friend?

Game: Geometry Wars: Touch
Price: $0.99 / £0.59
Size: 41.5MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

When we first started playing Geometry Wars: Touch – an expanded version of the excellent Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 for Xbox Live Arcade – it was hard to overlook the fact that touch-screen virtual sticks don't offer the same kind of reliable precision as actual analog knobs. It should've been a sticking point, yet we didn't stop coming back to this stellar adaptation, which contains all six thrilling modes and a brand new one, Titans, that absolutely deserves to be included in the bunch. It's not perfect, but it's darn close – and the fact that Activision later made it a universal iPad/iPhone app and dropped it down to a buck only makes it that much more essential.

Game: Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars HD
Price: $9.99 / £5.99
Size: 449MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

If you somehow missed Rockstar's portable masterpiece on Nintendo DS, PSP, or iPhone, here's another chance to soak in a complete Grand Theft Auto experience without a console or PC. Chinatown Wars may not have the visual sheen of Grand Theft Auto IV, but the diverse fictional metropolis of Liberty City is well represented in this exciting metropolis, where you can cruise around, take on missions, and evade the police just as always. As on the other platforms, Chinatown Wars HD includes a drug-dealing mini-game, where you can buy and sell for fun and profit, and the whole experience gets a nice visual bump here, along with a larger soundtrack and touch controls.

Game: iBomber Defense
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 93.2MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

We love Plants vs. Zombies, but the candy-coated cartoon world may not be right for every player. Those seeking a slightly more even-toned tower defense experience are best served checking out iBomber Defense, a stellar original iPad strategy game that lets you battle invading forces in worldwide conflicts using machine guns, cannons, anti-air guns, and more. At its core, iBomber Defense doesn't stray from traditional genre tenets, but it does offer a couple interesting twists beyond that, including mid-mission weapon and ability upgrades, as well as mission-extending Counter Attack segments that let you deal a little more damage to the enemy. Plus, we love the semi-realistic hand-drawn aesthetic.

Game: The Incident
Price: $1.99 / £1.19
Size: 13.6MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

What is The Incident? No, it's not whatever dark memory you're conjuring up from the past (not this time, at least) – rather, it's a clever indie game that we've been playing over and over again for the past few months. Fantastic pixel artwork sets the stage for an experience in which your hero must survive the heaviest rain of all: a constant downpour of items like cars, doors, doghouses, soda machines, ladders, aquariums, and much more. Your goal is to stay atop the ever-building trash heap by rotating the iPad to move side to side and tapping to jump. And in case you don't think there's enough trash on television, The Incident includes a TV-out mode that lets you play on the big screen with a video-out cable.

Game: Infinity Blade
Price: $5.99 / £3.49
Size: 318MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

When Infinity Blade launched near the end of 2010, it became an immediate sensation, and for very obvious reason. Developed by Chair Entertainment (best known for the fantastic Shadow Complex), Infinity Blade immediately became the showcase for what the iPad and iPhone processor was capable of, displaying gorgeous architecture and armored warriors with nary a significant hitch. But Infinity Blade is luckily more than just a pretty face: the Punch-Out!!-inspired swordfights offer a surprising level of depth and strategy, while the campaign approach – wherein you take the role of a descendent upon each death, while maintaining accumulated skills and gear – kept players on the tail of the God-King until he finally fell. And the promise of new areas and even multiplayer support will keep this one in our hearts and minds well into 2011.

Game: Labyrinth 2 HD
Price: $7.99 / £4.99
Size: 16MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

One of the things that makes the iPad such a magical device at times is its ability to mimic real-life objects, creating the illusion that you're not just using an app on an expensive tablet computer. Labyrinth 2 HD is one of the best apps for discovering that sensation, as it nimbly transforms the screen into a perfect replica of a wooden labyrinth, using the iPad accelerometer to let you manipulate the ball in a very realistic manner. Labyrinth 2 HD includes a wealth of stages, both those included with the game and those created and shared by the community, as well as the many thousands developed in the previous iPhone and iPod Touch version of the game. And you can create your own, to boot.

Game: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
Price: $9.99 / £5.99
Size: 395MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Guardian of Light takes the Tomb Raider heroine on an all-new adventure, wherein the series' traditional third-person exploration is supplanted by an overhead, co-op action experience that manages to thrill and surprise on the level of Croft's best expeditions. After a strong launch on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and PC last fall, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light hit a couple stumbles upon its release on the App Store, as app-crashing bugs were widely reported. Luckily, many of those complaints have been addressed with a recent patch, making this very solid port worth a look, especially if you're looking to tackle the co-op adventure with a local buddy or online via Game Center.

Game: Little Things
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 28.2MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Hidden image puzzles (think Where's Waldo?) tend not to be particularly memorable or entertaining to those who've outgrown the schoolyard, but Little Things puts the iPad display to great use with a charming and colorful new take on the genre that appeals to all ages. Each time you load up the app, Little Things randomly generates a new puzzle in the shape of some common item or animal, then tasks you with finding numerous objects, or several of one type within the collage. Identically colored items and stellar menu screens help make a strong impression, as does the ability to use hints, which sucks some of the frustration out of each fevered find.

Game: Madden NFL 11
Price: $6.99 / £1.79
Size: 327MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Sure, Madden NFL 11 isn't the prettiest-looking game in the App Store, what with the jagged player models and decidedly stiff animations, but we have to give some props to EA for delivering a full and pretty playable NFL simulation to the iPad. All the licensed teams and players are included in a surprisingly robust mobile adaptation – complete with the new GameFlow play calling option introduced in the console versions – and you can play through single games or jump into a full season or playoffs mode. Plus, the iPad version includes an exclusive Vintage Voltage mode that captures the essence of throwback electric football boards, along with all the nonsensical entertainment they deliver.

Game: Mirror's Edge for iPad
Price: $9.99 / £2.99
Size: 123MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

As the console and PC versions of Mirror's Edge hinged entirely on the first-person perspective, we didn't have a lot of expectations when EA announced a side-scrolling adaptation for the iPad launch. Amazingly, it turned out to be a really interesting and engaging take on the futuristic parkour aesthetic DICE introduced in the initial release, utilizing swipes of your fingers to run, jump, slide, and attack enemies. The iPad version also includes a split-screen race mode, in which you and a pal can grab opposite ends of the device and flick and swipe to your heart's content. With luck, this successful little tablet version generated some publisher interest in a proper Mirror's Edge 2 on traditional platforms, though we'd certainly take another one of these, too!

Game: Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus HD
Price: $9.99 / £5.99
Size: 450MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Until Activision decides to offer a proper Call of Duty experience on iPad, your best substitute is Modern Combat 2: Black Pegasus HD, a highly capable knock-off that treads very similar ground with a single-player campaign and some surprisingly entertaining online battles. The campaign includes a dozen missions with distinct environments and occasional scripted moments, but it's the online multiplayer that really earned our attention. We didn't expect much from touch-screen battles against worldwide competition, yet we found ourselves sucked into the 10-man deathmatch and capture-the-flag fights, with a persistent ranking and unlock system to boot. Gameloft takes a lot of flak for its iOS knock-offs, but this is one done right and at a pretty reasonable price for what's included.

Game: Monopoly for iPad
Price: $9.99 / £5.99
Size: 62.8MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Many hoped the form-factor of the iPad would make it a perfect fit for digital adaptations of popular board games, and this late-year release of Monopoly decidedly meets such expectations. The classic property-amassing hit comes to life on iPad with four-player matches filled with all the famed iconography, plus the ability to set the board down between all participants and have the perspective shift with each turn. You can also play against the computer or wirelessly with local iPad users, plus the game includes a Teacher Mode for those looking to improve their Monopoly skill set, along with a House Rules menu for tweaking the experience to your preferences.

Game: NOVA 2 – Near Orbital Vanguard Alliance
Price: $9.99 / £3.99
Size: 739MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

There's really no need to deny it – NOVA is Gameloft's attempt to mine the popularity of Halo on the iPhone and iPad, with similar-looking environments, weapons, and enemies, along with online multiplayer action. But what this sequel lacks in thematic originality it largely makes up for with entertaining action, both in the varied single-player campaign and the robust online suite, which features 10-player battles across 10 maps, with five play modes and a persistent ranking and unlock system. Both NOVA entries hit iPad in 2010, but the sequel gets the nod for the significantly enhanced online offerings. Still, the original is well worth a look for shooter fans.

Game: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit for iPad
Price: $9.99 / £5.99
Size: 367MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Publisher Electronic Arts' revitalized take on the classic cops-against-racers concept comes to the iPad in an entertaining iteration that, while not as robust or memorable as Criterion's console and PC versions, remains a very good pick for portable thrills. While the iPad version of Hot Pursuit originally launched with just a cop campaign, letting you bust racers with bumpers and spike strips (as well as race other cops, for some reason), a recent update effectively doubled the available content by adding a separate racer campaign, letting you experience both sides of the high-speed battle. We're still hoping for online play at some point, but even without it, Hot Pursuit's a fun racer on the go.

Game: Need for Speed Shift for iPad
Price: $9.99 / £3.99
Size: 207MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

We initially struggled with the idea of including two different Need for Speed titles on a single list, but just like the last two console iterations, the iPad versions of Shift and Hot Pursuit are both extremely different and entirely worthwhile. Shift takes after the 2009 console release to large extent, with racing that leans a bit more towards the sim side of racing while still embracing the series' arcade-style roots. The iPad version includes 18 tracks across Tokyo, London, and Chicago, features 28 licensed cars from a variety of brands, and awards players in-race points for drifting, using boost, and overtaking the competition. It's not quite as new as Hot Pursuit at this point, but it's still a very entertaining ride.

Game: Ninjatown: Trees of Doom! HD!
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 24.3MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Based on the indie Shawnimals plush/toy line, Ninjatown: Trees of Doom! HD! is a colorful and addictive gem that sees you guiding the Wee Ninja up a pair of trees by jumping, climbing, and bouncing off branches and mushrooms. Climbing the highest possible distance is the name of the game – though floating enemies and poisonous goo will try and slow your progress – and the randomly generated stage layouts make for a different experience every time. Whether you play the classic endless mode or the notably more intense timed mode, Ninjatown's colorful visuals and endearing concept make it a game worth coming back to time and again.

Game: Orbital HD
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 11.5MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Orbital HD is one of those games that we loved on iPhone and grabbed on iPad simply to see how it transferred over, only to trigger an all-new level of addiction. Beyond the flashy, Geometry Wars-esque vector visuals, what we really love about Orbital HD is the blend of skill-based gameplay and the element of chance. It's a game about launching numbered balls into the game screen, then firing even more to clear them; the balls require a certain number of hits to disappear, and expand out from their final resting spots until they hit a wall or another ball. But one bad bounce can fill up the entire screen and seriously impede your progress, making this a challenging and exciting quick-hit iPad favorite.

Game: Osmos for iPad
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 18.7MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Apple named Osmos the iPad Game of the Year for 2010 – it's high praise, no doubt, but seriously well deserved from a game that draws you in with its engaging gameplay and minimalist interface. Based on an indie PC hit we awarded an 8/10 in late 2009, Osmos challenges players to become the biggest organism on the screen by absorbing others, with movement triggered by touches on any side of your mote. It's a risk-and-reward experience that requires very careful planning and considered movements, and the eight unique stage types keep things varied and interesting throughout. It's super-chill, with atmospheric music and zero flashy menus or cut-scenes, yet still manages to hit that pitch-perfect level of tension in every stage.

Game: Pinball HD
Price: $0.99 / £0.59
Size: 85MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Pinball HD was one of the first post-launch iPad games to really wow us, offering a near-perfect pinball simulation with three excellent original tables. Each table – Wild West, The Deep, and Jungle – is well designed and looks great on the iPad screen, plus you can experience the action from two very different perspectives: in portrait view, the active camera will follow the ball for a more visually entrancing experience, while holding the iPad sideways will reveal the entire board for a more measured vantage point. Whatever your preference, Pinball HD offers a lot of awesome gameplay for a buck, and it's very difficult to find significant issue with this excellent app.

Game: Pix'n Love Rush DX
Price: $1.99 / £1.19
Size: 12.9MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Pix'n Love Rush DX feels like a love letter to old-school gaming, with stellar pixel graphics and a catchy chiptune soundtrack, plus screen overlays that mimic retro handhelds. While all of that makes for an attractive and endearing play experience, it's really the in-game action that turns this expanded iPhone hit into a worthwhile purchase. In the Classic Rush mode, your little character is thrown into a random selection of brief stages – typically 15 seconds or less each – and tasked with collecting coins and avoiding or shooting enemies. Successful play is rewarded with a visual shift from monochromatic pixels to color and even a red-and-black homage to the Virtual Boy. Add in the new (and totally different) Cursed Rush mode and you'll find plenty to like about this fun little gem.

Game: Plants vs. Zombies HD
Price: $6.99 / £3.99
Size: 49.7MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

PopCap's casual take on the tower defense strategy genre popped up on multiple platforms on 2010 (and looks to continue into 2011), but until we see otherwise, we're convinced the iPad version sports the best interface of them all. Using your fingers to select and place aggressive plants – including ones that shoot peas and eat enemies whole – to stop the impending zombie invasion feels totally natural and effective, and the hand-drawn aesthetic shines on the large screen. Of course, the game itself is wildly funny and entertaining, and is great in short bursts, though you'll want to plow through the few dozen campaign levels to get to the challenging final boss battle.

Game: Radio Flare Redux HD
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 90.1MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Blasting enemies from your little ship is the primary objective here, but as with PSN/PC indie favorite Everyday Shooter, Radio Flare Redux HD caught our attention through a combination of flashy aesthetics and memorable tunes. Rhythm isn't particularly key to the combat here, but between the shape-shifting backgrounds and thumping electronic beats, we found ourselves falling deeper and deeper into its trance. Controlling the game amidst the visual chaos is quite simple, as you'll move the ship with your left hand and target enemies with the right, chaining combo shots before removing your hand to fire the volley of shots. Redux HD's 30+ stages will keep you bobbing your head and blasting away for hours, plus the game includes several bonus visual options and even a sound effects sequencer to toy with.

Game: RAGE HD
Price: $1.99 / £1.19
Size: 743MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

We're still several months away from the release of id Software's much-anticipated shooting/driving hybrid, RAGE, but you can get a brief taste of the game world with this attractive appetizer. Essentially an on-rails voyage through some of the grim, post-apocalyptic environments expected in the full game, RAGE HD lets you blast demonic looking enemies and targets in a faux game show setting, with each of the three missions preceded by an introduction from a sadistic, disgusting-looking host that encourages your brutal quest. RAGE HD might not be the best representation of what to expect from the actual game, but it looks great and is a fun little romp that easily justifies the slim entry price.

Game: Real Racing HD
Price: $9.99 / £5.99
Size: 153MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Pulling off a capable simulation-style racer on the iPad seemed like a daunting task, but Firemint nailed it on day one with Real Racing HD, an expanded and certainly shinier version of the iPhone hit. With super smooth tilt steering options and glossy visuals, Real Racing HD remains one of the true showcase titles on the device, but it's also a pretty engaging experience, with a lengthy career mode and time trials sporting Game Center leaderboards. Real Racing 2 recently launched on the iPhone to rave reviews, so it should only be a matter of time before it (likely) dominates the competition on iPad.

Game: Reckless Racing HD
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 54.6MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

The iPad has a handful of great racing options, but Reckless Racing HD smartly takes a different approach than the norm, utilizing a top-down perspective to great effect in a fast and dirty driving experience. Skidding around muddy corners using just a handful of turning and movement virtual buttons works well, and the sloppy races entertain throughout, whether you're facing A.I. competition, racing the clock, or taking part in the Crazy Taxi-like delivery missions. Online four-player races are expectedly a blast, as well, and the servers are still pretty packed with eager competition a couple months after the app's debut. What are you waiting for?

Game: Robot Unicorn Attack HD
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 29.2MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Chances are most of you have stumbled upon this absolutely ridiculous Flash game at some point, but now that a native iPad iteration is available for a couple bucks, we've been playing it to a nauseating degree. Robot Unicorn Attack is probably both the funniest and stupidest app around, but we can't help but love any game that marries Canabalt-like running gameplay with a visual approach primarily inspired by a six-year-old girl's bedroom. But what really takes it to the next level is the constant playing of "Always," a 1994 single from Erasure that promises to never leave your head after a few rounds of guiding the titular unicorn across cliffs and through shining stars. It's totally absurd, but amazing.

Game: Rock Band Reloaded for iPad
Price: $9.99 / £5.99
Size: 155MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Building off the success of the solid Rock Band app for iPhone, Rock Band Reloaded offers a larger and more robust iPad offering, with the ability to play a couple dozen tracks on guitar, bass, drums, and in multiple vocal modes. Tapping the requisite guitar pick or pad to play each note works well, with numerous screen orientation options available to customize the experience, and the iPad version also includes a "big drums" feature with pads that take up nearly half the screen. Plus, you can literally sing into the iPad for vocal parts, or choose to tap notes like with the other instruments. With luck, EA will keep the rock alive throughout 2011 via fresh DLC updates.

Game: Samurai II: Vengeance
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 82.2MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Don't worry if you didn't play the original Samurai: Way of the Warrior – it's not essential for enjoying this gorgeous hack-and-slash title, which sports an Okami-like aesthetic that absolutely pops off the iPad display. We come back to this app regularly just to refresh our minds on how stunning the cel-shaded effect is, but Samurai II: Vengeance is also a pretty entertaining action game, letting you plow through enemies with your blade and violently decapitate foes in the process. Vengeance also shines between missions, with comic-like hand drawn panels that tell the story, plus this universal release can be played on your iPhone and iPod Touch when the iPad isn't handy.

Game: Scrabble for iPad
Price: $9.99 / £1.79
Size: 12.6MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

The iPad version of Scrabble is a great take on the classic board game, offering solo gameplay against the computer, pass-and-play options, and local network play. But what really made Scrabble for iPad a can't-miss app in 2010 was the admittedly grandiose option to use the iPad and four iPhones (or iPod Touch devices) to closely simulate the experience of playing the actual board game. Each iPhone or iPod serves as a portable tile rack, and through the magic of Bluetooth, you can flick your letters onto the iPad when it's your turn to lay down a word. We love the unnecessary extravagance of it, and really, if you have the hardware handy, why not give it a shot?

Game: Solipskier
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 14.5MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Here's another Flash-based favorite that made the leap to iPad this year with great results. Solipskier lets you command a little cross-country skier across paths that you create by holding down your finger. Gaining momentum is the key to this experience, as it'll notch you ever-higher scores and let you fly through gates and over hazards with ease. As the speed ratchets up to insane levels, the game becomes an absolute blur, with technicolor effects spawning in the skier's wake; plus, the whole experience is amplified by a ridiculous heavy metal anthem. You won't last for long in the world of Solipskier, but it's the kind of game you'll play a dozen times per sitting, at least.

Game: Space Invaders: Infinity Gene
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 41.5MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Space Invaders: Infinity Gene has since spread to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network, but it originated on the iPhone, and expanded to iPad with a universal update last summer. Like the other versions, it's a wonderfully enthralling modernization of the old-school classic, transforming the simple arcade shooting into something more akin to a vertical shoot-'em-up, with cascading masses of enemies and intense boss fights in brief missions. Infinity Gene continually changes up its approach with each new set of levels, and introduces new weapons and abilities at a near-constant clip. Add in the awesome vector visuals and techno tunes, plus the ability to spawn levels based on your own music library, and you have one of the best games on iPad.

Game: Space Miner HD
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 159MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Space Miner builds its experience around the core concept of Atari classic, Asteroids, but it's what the game does around that premise that makes it a worthwhile and memorable choice. Blasting space rocks and enemy mining bots to collect precious ore and parts is solid fun, but Space Miner amplifies the experience by letting you customize your ship with all sorts of found and purchased parts, which changes the feel of the game and look of your ride. On top of that, the campaign mode includes perhaps the funniest dialogue we've seen in an iOS game, with amusing characters and rich zingers that'll keep you plowing through the sizeable adventure.

Game: Spider: Bryce Manor HD
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 78.2MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor was arguably 2009's most acclaimed original iPhone game, delivering a touch-screen adventure that not only delivered unique and engaging gameplay, but also a slowly-developing mystery that kept players spinning webs until the conclusion. The HD version for iPad maintains the excellent hand-drawn look of the iPhone game, blowing it out with greater detail on the larger screen while enhancing the gameplay in the process. Crawling around each environment as the titular arachnid is a true pleasure, and the iPad version delivers a "director's cut" version of the campaign, along with an all-new two-player sidekicks co-op mode. Even if you loved and completed Spider on iPhone, it's worth a second go-round with this expanded iteration.

Game: Spider-Man: Total Mayhem HD
Price: $6.99 / £3.99
Size: 407MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

High-profile licensed games rarely draw up much enthusiasm on iOS platforms, but Gameloft's original beat-em-up take on the comic hero shines with varied action, solid visuals, and plenty of the webhead's light-hearted snark. The comic-stylized aesthetic suits the source material extremely well and pairs well with the action, which blends combo-heavy combat and platforming segments with quick-time events that have you perform an indicated finger swipe to avoid a hazard or trigger an action. With enemies like Venom, Green Goblin, Dr. Octopus, and Sandman in tow, along with a photography mini-game and unlockable black suit, Total Mayhem HD offers up a pretty sharp Spider-Man experience that feels like a throwback to Neversoft's classic PSone title.

Game: Spirits for iPad
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 42.2MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

With a visual style that feels like a perfect blend of Limbo, The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, and the work of anime legend Hayao Miyazaki, Spirits for iPad immediately enraptured us with its impressive minimalist aesthetic. Luckily, the gameplay holds up its end of the deal, as well, as you'll utilize the abilities of the titular creatures to reach an exit in each stage. Wind plays a big part in the experience, and you'll use the creatures' abilities to burrow tunnels, build ladders, and generate focused sources of wind to tackle each puzzle. We're reminded of games like Lemmings and Downstream Panic, but Spirits for iPad maintains a unique sensation all its own.

Game: Sushi Boy
Price: $0.99 / £0.59
Size: 37.8MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Here's a game we didn't expect to hold our attention for terribly long, yet we've been firing up this universal app regularly on both iPad and iPhone. Sushi Boy is a very simple game: all you do is tilt (or touch) the iPad to make the little anime-stylized hero run back and forth to catch the titular falling food in his basket, all the while avoiding hazardous items. Mid-mission coin collecting sequences see your character vaulting through the air like a Dragon Ball Z fever dream, and the continual speed increases in the standard sushi-nabbing segments make for an unexpectedly intense experience. Plus, extended play is rewarded with higher difficulty options and numerous customization options.

Game: Time Geeks: Find All! HD
Price: $1.99 / £1.19
Size: 28.2MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Wait, another hidden image puzzle game? Do we really need two of these on the iPad? Actually, we do – Time Geeks: Find All! HD offers a distinct experience from the similarly great Little Things, and not just due to the sharp pixel artwork. Each of Time Geeks' stages is loaded with randomized objectives and amusing pop culture references, such as the abundance of LOST cues found in the initial island level. While the original iPhone version was totally worthwhile, the added screen real estate here really enhances the item-finding gameplay, plus all the amusing characters and touch-screen mini-games made the transition to iPad.

Game: World of Goo
Price: $9.99 / £5.99
Size: 75.5MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

2D Boy's WiiWare and PC indie gem finally made the transition to iPad right before Christmas, and we quickly found ourselves falling in love all over again. World of Goo is a colorful and immensely creative game about building wobbling structures to solve puzzles, but you won't be using lumber or girders. Instead, all you have to work with are different balls of goo that easily attach to each other, and some of which are flammable or can be removed and reattached. World of Goo's quirky tone and style, paired with a brilliantly moody original soundtrack, pull you in, but it's the fantastic and heady puzzles that'll keep you hooked until the finale. Easily one of the best iPad games around.

Game: Words with Friends HD
Price: $4.99 / £2.99
Size: 7MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Yeah, we know – we’ve recommended this as well as the original Scrabble. What can we say? We're writers. We enjoy words. Plus, we're somewhat of a social bunch, so sharing them with friends really just sweetens the pot. Words with Friends is an unabashed Scrabble clone, but what we love about the iOS smash is that it lets us play the game on our own time. No more do you need to invite over pals and devote hours to a match – simply play your turn on the commute or in the john, and then your opponent will do the same. It's an elegant approach that fills the little gaps in our days, and we love the expanded board space of the HD version. It's not super essential for fans of the iPhone version to grab this one as well, but die-hards will appreciate having it on yet another device.

Game: Zen Bound 2 Universal
Price: $2.99 / £1.79
Size: 152MB
Buy it now from the iTunes store: US / UK

Given the means to wrap a bunch of rope around wooden objects in real life, we'd probably pass in a heartbeat; really, who wants splinters and rope burn? Yet Zen Bound 2 enraptured us around the iPad launch with an engaging gameplay mechanic, responsive touch controls, and even some pretty swell-looking visuals. Each stage centers on covering some physical object with a set amount of rope, earning flowers for masking certain percentages of the surface. It's a great game to play when you're zoning out on the couch, and in our experience, parents and extended family think it's just a hoot.