Best iPad Games – February 2013

With the holidays over and fresh gadgets in tow, it’s a good time to start outfitting those new toys with fancy features and accessories. There are few better ways to improve the entertainment value of an iPad than by expanding your mobile gaming library, but deciding which games to buy can be a chore all on its own. We put together a list of the top iPad games for February 2013 to help you make the critical start-of-the-year decisions.

There is nothing better than getting to sit back and relax after the holidays, but FishCo by Big Fish Games keeps boredom at bay by giving you your own fish tank to manage. Ever dream of starting with a small-scale fish store and building into an aquatic empire? Now you can have the opportunity right from your iPad! Of there is more to managing your own business than sitting back and watching the fish. Each level brings unique upgrades. You also get to decide which fish to buy – will you go for cardinal tetras or java fish first?

 
The game was well received at the Apple store, with more than a four-star rating and favorable reviews. Players commended the graphics and the educational value in learning about different kinds of fish. The best part is you don’t need to know your panzerwels from your corydoras to have a good time!

They say time is money, and Little Inferno is an iPad Game that reminds us of that while also having a little humor at our expense. You do need to be a little thick-skinned to appreciate the satirical nature of this title, but Wired noted that it skyrocketed in ratings. Players are tasked with ordering things and throwing them in a fire. The catch is that there is some waiting time involved between ordering something and when it gets there. The title is also filled with not-so-subtle criticism of some free games that charge way too much for essential add-on features. For example the description of the “gaming tablet” item says it is “filled with ‘free’ games that will cost you thousands.” Besides unleashing your inner pyromaniac, the game serves as a fun reminder that your time is worth something!
 

“An unexpected twist leads players away from the monotony of the inferno and into some characters who share a message that made me realize that Little Inferno isn’t a cynical, mean-spirited hate letter to the games industry, but something far more thoughtful and valuable,” wrote Wired contributor Ryan Rigney.

In 1993, a Hidden Object Game franchise launched that would help define the genre. The original game was Myst, which put the player in a strange world with little explanation. The objective was to explore and let the plot unravel through a series of clues. The game world evolved over several sequels, the first of which being Riven, originally released in 1998. However, January 2013 put some life back into the series by bringing Riven to the iPad.
Reviewers, such as Modojo contributor John Bedford, did note that the game can be “uncompromising” in challenge, but features a new hint system to help shorten the learning curve. The game may hail from a bygone era of having to keep physical journals of gameplay to help them navigate and a dire shortage of convenient walkthroughs, but some frustration is well worth experience the iconic adventure.
“It might represent a sharp change of pace for traditional tablet gaming, but if you’re prepared to give a lot of yourself to Riven, your reward is to be lost in a world of unparalleled intrigue and exploration,” Bedford wrote.

Joe Danger Touch comes from the widely popular console game of the same title. It’s an arcade racing game, featuring a motorcycle stunt rider named Joe Danger. You’ll have to make your way through obstacle courses as quickly as possible while collecting coins for even more points. The iPad version was redesigned to incorporate touch controls and gesture functionality, so imagine getting to pull off flips and all kinds of crazy stunts by swiping at your tablet! For example, players can swipe backwards to pop a wheelie.

 
MacLife contributor Matt Clark noted that the first several levels seem simple, but the game ramps up its difficulty to challenge players later on. He commended the developer for successfully bringing a console game to the mobile platform by making the controls intuitive and using iPad and iPhone functionality to offer a unique gaming experience.
“Joe Danger Touch is a bright, addictive platform game that should serve as required playing for any developer interested in moving a console favorite to the App Store,” Clark wrote.

Conor is a Marketing Manager with Big Fish, working out of the Seattle office. In his spare time he enjoys watching science documentaries and playing old school adventure games. Get in touch with him on Twitter! or Google+

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