Mini Metro
Mini Metro ($5)
Threes!
Shadowmatic
Threes! ($3)
You Must Build A Boat
Shadowmatic (Free) When he encounters a monster, try to link up three or more blue swords, red or yellow, in rows. Run into a treasure chest? You’ll need to match keys to open it up to push ahead. Speed is essential, and the dungeons are randomized, so there’s a new challenge each time. And the quest keeps building, as each run helps you upgrade your gear. Expand your boat with rooms and crew members. And become faster and more robust. It’s addictive! You Must Build a Boat ($3)
Lara Croft GO
Moving one space at a time on board game picturesque terrain. You’ll surprise-attack enemies, flip switches, evade obstacles, and solve brain-teasers that block your path. Lara Croft Go includes more than 100 puzzles, with more promised. She does an impressive job of translating the Tomb Raider allure into an intelligent, take-anywhere challenge. Lara Croft Go ($5)
Pocket Bonsai
Pocket Bonsai ($4)
The Room
And it’s never just one solution. And the challenge is finding which approach unlocks the next opportunity, and so on all. At the same time, you rotate the box, focus on clues, and seek out curious details to explore. It’s also very haunting and atmospheric, with great graphics and cleverly designed boxes. And if you dig the original, add The Room Two and The Room Three to further expand upon the premise. The Room ($1)
Alphabear
Alphabear (Free)
Framed
Framed ($3)
Monument Valley
Each level is a new treat one might find you working your way to the top of a tower with no obvious path ahead. At the same time, another is a puzzle box that exposes surprising new areas as it unfolds. While relatively short, a couple hours, tops, Monument Valley is lovely. It even has an affecting little story parceled out along the way. The Forgotten Shores ($2) expansion is well worth the money. Monument Valley ($4)
Blek
Blek ($3)
A Good Snowman
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build ($5)
World Of Goo
World of Goo ($5)
Four Letters
Four Letters (Free)
Two Dots
It doesn’t take long for the concept to evolve. Lines become boxes, then you have bombs, fire, and anchors in play, all while maintaining that accessible approach. Two Dots has loads of content, more than 1,000 stages as of this writing. And gorgeous design outside the minimal game boards. It’s a great freebie option. And the sequel, Dots & Co., delivers even more fun. Two Dots (Free)