The Top 50 Best Indie iOS Games of 2014 So Far

Last year we detailed the Top 50 Best iOS Games of 2013 at the end of the year, but 2014 has already been so jam-packed with fantastic gaming experiences, we just couldn’t wait it out. So we’ve compiled the top 50 best games of 2014 so far, from January to June, and you’re sure to find plenty of fantastic experiences below that will suit your particular taste perfectly.

If you were wondering who we are, we’re a AAA digital magazine that you can pick up for US$2 on the App Store anywhere in the world to get dedicated coverage of the indie iPad gaming scene. We’re trying to not only push the boundaries on what a digital magazine can be by making the reader experience feel like playing a game with dynamic and interactive video, audio and animations, but we’re also full of hours and hours of exclusive developer interviews, footage, images, insights and more. Below you will find the trailer for latest episode, and links to each edition.

- Episode 1 - Includes The Making of République (*free sample issue)

- Episode 2 - Includes The Making of Oceanhorn

- Episode 3 - Includes The Making of Monument Valley

- Episode 4 - Includes The Making of Last Inua

- Episode 5 - Includes The Making of World of Tanks Blitz

- Episode 6 - Includes The Making of Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers

- Grab It Presents Nihilumbra - Classics Collection

So, without further ado:

50. Sky Force 2014 (Infinite Dreams)

If you love vertical scrolling shooters, then you should be downloading Sky Force 2014 whilst reading the remainder of this top ten as you’re in for a real treat. The genre has always been a great fit for iOS, and developer Infinite Dreams is making the most of modern touchscreen tech, milking the horsepower to create stunning weapon effects, explosions and enemies. These are then painted over a canvas of sparkling oceans, islands and tropical beaches. There are a couple of touch control options, and the accuracy the genre demands is thankfully not compromised by either choice. It is F2P, with the expected timers to navigate and currencies to collect in order to upgrade your ship, but even without alleviating them with IAPs, Sky Force 2014 still brings a whole lot of shoot ‘em-up goodness to your day.

Grab the game now.

49. Globosome: Path of the Swarm (Navel Games)

The idea for this exploratory action game spawned from the 2012 short film Globosome, written and directed by Sascha Geddert. The film’s themes delve into the similarities in how humans and bacteria develop - an unusual inspiration for a platformer. Rolling along and feeding on your environment in order to replicate and increase your swarm, Globosome draws out the theme of achieving through the power of community - its tools being lush platform environments and imaginative obstacles.

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48. Broken Age: Act One (Double Fine)

The game that started as the Kickstarter that kickstarted crowdfunding, has finally made its way to iPad and what a delightfully charming point-and-click adventure it is, too. Looking a treat, its big win is its engaging story. Excellently voiced, it follows the separate tales of two teenagers who, despite living worlds apart, suffer the same disillusionment about the traditions of their culture and long to break free. A rich vein of humour runs thought the game – a hallmark of developer Tim Schafer’s earlier work on titles like The Secret of Monkey Island – which drowns out concerns about simplistic puzzles.

Grab the game now.

References:

- The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition

Read our full review in Episode 5.

47. Star Horizon (Tabasco Interactive)

This mostly on-rails space shooter is one to fire up when you’re out to impress your friends - it really shows off the power of your iPad or iPhone. The cinematic space battles are executed in triple-A graphical showpieces that’ll make you wish for a longer campaign once it’s over. Hopefully, if Star Horizon finds enough success, a sequel might flesh out what is already a thrilling ride.

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46. Third Eye Crime (Moonshot Games)

Third Eye Crime is a very slick noir stealth crime puzzler from indie developer Moonshot Games (founded by three ex-Bungie devs). Viewed from a top-down perspective, the player controls a psychic criminal as he attempts to evade security and carry out heists in gorgeous comic book-style environments. It's a game that will make you think, while still featuring tense set-ups that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

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45. Blackmoor (Mooff Games)

This sidescrolling 2D brawler with upgradeable RPG elements has enough character and style to make it stand out from an ever-growing crowd. In Blackmoor, players are slowly introduced to various fighting elements that add up to a satisfyingly deep combat system. Amongst the cartoon graphics, Mooff Games has squeezed in pop-culture nods and winks aplenty, including a boss fight against what might as well be Boba Fett. This is a joyous highlight amongst an already strong month’s lineup.

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44. Glorkian Warrior: Trials of Glork (James Kochalka, Pixeljam)

Mashing up a classic Commander Keen style platformer with a Galaga inspired shooter sounds like an awkward mix on paper, but after watching the trailer for Glorkian Warrior: Trials of Glork, you'll probably be wondering why you haven't played a game like this before. With hand-drawn comic book visuals from artist James Kochalka, and game development from Pixeljam, this has cult classic written all over it.

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43. God of Light (Playmous)

God of Light is an interesting experiment. The game itself is a mind-bending, light-reflecting puzzler that looks visually stunning. But adding to its immersive qualities is legendary beatsmith James Lavelle and his trip-hop crossover band UNKLE, who provide the soundtrack. This makes for a fascinating game that draws you in with simple thought-provoking gameplay, but keeps you hooked with soothing and catchy beats.

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Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 4.

42. Twisty Planets (FirstSight Games)

Twisty Planets is a cute and colourful little puzzle-game with a unique gameplay… well… twist. Manipulating stages in 3D by twisting and rotating the world, you need to guide your little digital avatar, Qub, through a variety of cube-shaped puzzle planets while delightful music plays in the background. The worlds feel like they could have been sucked straight out of a Super Mario Galaxy and there’s a hint of Monument Valley in there, too, but its overwhelming charm and confidently created puzzles give it plenty of entertainment value all of its own.

Grab the game here.

References:

- Monument Valley

41. Cally's Caves 2 (Jordan Pearson)

On paper, a little pixelated girl with blonde pigtails setting out to rescue her kidnapped parents doesn’t sound like a brutal gun-fest that will test the depth of your platforming skills. But here we are. Jordan Pearson’s delightful sequel Cally’s Caves 2 brings 16 unique weapons, 20 enemy types and six challenging bosses to its old-school table, as well as rolling in some levelling-up RPG mechanics for good measure. There’s a surprising amount of content here (some 100 levels!), and the attention to detail everywhere does a great job of sucking you into long sessions of play. Collecting coins to spend on boosters adds a bit of strategy, too, and it even comes with a rocking soundtrack. A bit of gem!

Grab the game now.

Show Next 10

30. Fighting Fantasy: Starship Traveller (Tin Man Games)

Australian developer Tin Man Games has continued its amazing run of quality gamebook titles by bringing Steve Jackson's epic 1983 Fighting Fantasy novel, Starship Traveller, to modern touchscreen devices. Players jump into the shoes of a starship commander whose vessel is sucked through a black hole into an unknown universe. Players must explore a number of hostile alien planets to collect clues that will enable them to plot a course home. Tin Man Games has done an amazing job in utilising the best aspects of touchscreen devices whilst maintaining that authentic gamebook feeling.

Grab it now Read our exclusive feature on Tin Man Games and the revival of the gamebook in Episode 6. 29. Oscura: Second Shadow (Chocolate Liberation Front)

With its spooky soundtrack, gorgeous world detailed in silhouette and gargoyle-like hero, Oscura: Second Shadow is what we’d expect a Super Mario Bros game directed by Tim Burton to be like. Precise platforming is the order of the day, and with no weapons at his disposal our fugly hero is instead granted the ability to slow time. He can use this to outwit his foes, solving level puzzles and manipulating traps as he heads through the Driftlands seeking out the shards of the Aurora stone that will bring back the light needed to fight off the darkness. Challenging, especially if you want all the collectibles, and memorable.

Grab the game here. Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 6. 28. Lex (Simple Machine)

Ever wished Scrabble was more psychedelic? Well, this is Pscrybbledelica… actually it’s called Lex, but you get the idea. Lex is a mesmerising puzzle game where you try to make words from a selection of random letters and as you do, you not only score points for the letters used and how fast you use them, but you create inspiringly beautiful kaleidoscopic mandalas out of them, too. Accompanying this fast-paced word creation is a soothing electro score and an ambient swirling symmetry of the alphabet, giving you a unique experience that’s as demanding as it is relaxing.

Grab the game here. 27. Kiwanuka (CMA Megacorp)

A strange and beautiful mix of magic and Lemmings, this is a puzzler in which you’ll create bridges and ladders from your band of intrepid citizens, guiding the way with a lightning staff wielding wizard. Rescuing prisoners and leading your lost crowd to freedom, Kiwanuka is unique, original and executed with a fantastical dreamy quality.

Grab It Now 26. First Strike (Blindflug Studios)

You’ll never forget this title after you finally “succeed” in bringing your chosen nation to global superiority by nuking everyone else into oblivion. Watching Earth’s fragile network of alliances crumble from out of space is frightening, but it shouldn’t put you off diving into this fast-paced real-time strategy gem. Well-presented, sleek and certainly fun, it’s the perfect way to bring about Armageddon on a touchscreen.

Grab It Now Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 6. 25. Sometimes You Die (Philipp Stollenmayer)

Simple colour palettes are a great way of removing distraction and help to put the focus on a game’s interesting concept. A simple colour palette and an interesting concept are both present and accounted for in Sometimes You Die. The gameplay revolves around sacrificing avatars so others can live, whilst the stark visuals are complemented by a post-modern self-referential atmosphere. This puzzle platformer deserves our attention.

Grab It Now Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 4. 24. Tengami (Nyamyam)

Developer Nyamyam has released an incredibly beautiful and surreal adventure in Tengami. When you find a game that is described as a "point & touch adventure game inside a Japanese pop-up book," you know you're in for something a little bit special. Don't go in expecting the wrong thing from the general gameplay, as it's the sheer sense of wonder that is worth your time.

Grab It Now Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 3. 23. Game of Thrones Ascent (Disruptor Beam)

It has been scientifically proven* that Game of Thrones is the most addictive substance known to man. For those who simply can’t get enough of Westeros, the former Facebook-only title Game of Thrones Ascent might satiate your need for a quick fix. Ascent features everything we’ve come to know and love about Game of Thrones - alliance building, treachery, marriage, murder and the constant struggle to be the greatest house in Westeros. *scientific proof not guaranteed

Grab It Now Check out our interview with the developer. 22. OTTTD (SMG Studio)

Over The Top Tower Defence actually does the term “over the top” justice. Destroying creeping baddies sends body parts flying to the four corners of the compass, which is already a head start down this path of justification. Not satisfied with limiting its scope to cartoon-stylised mutilation and Tower Defence, SMG has also included an RPG element that has the player choosing from different classes of hero and upgrading their skill trees and abilities. Throw in elements of RTS, forty different weapons and a sense of humour that ties the whole package together, and you've got the most original tower defence game to grace the over-crowded genre in a long time. Oh yeah, watch out for the chopper-riding octopus. He’ll come at you with knives.

Grab It Now Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 5. 21. 2-bit Cowboy (Cascadia Games)

Mix together Game Boy visuals, platforming mechanics inspired by League of Evil, and metroidvania level-exploration - all doused in an Old West theme - and you have 2-bit Cowboy. This fantastic 2D action-platformer offers up plenty of exploration for curious gamers in each of its twelve large levels. Ride horses, bulls and mine carts, collect rewards by completing missions found on wanted posters, and unlock thousands of combinations of outfits for your cowboy or cowgirl. It’s the first ever Westernvania.

Grab It Now Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 5. Show Next 10

20. Thomas Was Alone (Bossa Studios)

Originally created by Mike Bithell and making a big indie splash on PC, Mac and PlayStation, Thomas Was Alone is a great fit for iOS. Who would’ve thought plain 2D shapes could be imbued with so much personality and cause gamers to care so much about their plight? The visuals and the puzzle-platforming alone have enough charm to win the day, but throw in genius storybook narration by British humorist Danny Wallace, and you’ll soon discover why this has already become an indie classic.

Grab It Now Read our full review. 19. Doggins (Brain & Brain)

Do dogs have dreams? This is the question delightfully posed and charmingly answered by developer Brain & Brain’s point-and-click adventure Doggins. After going on a fantastical journey into outer space, involving time travel and against scheming squirrels - or as the App Store description states, "a dreaming terrier's battle of wits with a villainous monocled squirrel" - I don't think I'll ever quite look at a sleeping dog in the same light again. A wonderfully charming, humorous and casual adventure that is unfortunately cut short in its prime – sequel please!

Grab it now Read our full review. 18. Hitman GO (IO Interactive)

Legendary assassin Agent 47 has finally brought his iconic bald head and barcoded neck to touchscreens, but not quite in the way we might have expected. Developer IO Interactive has shaken up the usual tropes of the Hitman series, opting for turn-based strategic gameplay without the usual stealth experience we're used to. It's a bold change in direction, but it feels meaningful and works quite well on touch devices. And players can still expect to use Agent 47's tools of trade, including disguises and distractions. To top it all off, the game is presented with a very unique diorama-style set backdrop.

Grab it now Read our full review. 17. Botanicula (Amanita Design)

Playing as a band of adventuring insects and plant-creatures, you’ll embark on an adventure to defeat the parasites that are depleting Botanicula’s world of magic-infused nature. Amanita Design has followed up its previous title (and genuine classic) Machinarium with yet another beautiful work of art. The visuals and puzzles feel like they have been drawn from a well of symbology filled with the waters of dreams and the subconscious. Czech band DVA supply the music, too, and the resulting collaboration is a masterpiece of sound and light.

Grab It Now Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 5. 16. Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake (SleepNinja Games)

This tasty addition to the App Store looks, at first, like a cutesy rip-off off the old top-down Legend of Zelda games. You play a small boy who wakes up in a village and wanders between the huts and under the trees meeting characters, yadda yadda yadda. But this is no clone. As opposed to gallivanting across the countryside looking for quests, you’ll enter puzzle dungeons in the hope of solving its challenges to earn some cake. The deeper you go, the more you have to tweak your strategies and switch between characters to counter the traps, monsters and threats you face. The deeper you dig, the more this excellent game unfurls its humorous world and engaging gameplay.

Grab the game here. 15. Table Tennis Touch (Yakuto Limited)

There are already some solid table tennis games on the App Store, but Yakuto’s iteration takes the sport on iOS to a whole new level. Table Touch Tennis caters for both purists and fans of crazy minigames. The visuals are frighteningly close to photorealistic, the animation is smooth and the physics do exactly what you would expect them to do to ping pong balls.

Grab It Now Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 5. 14. Mines of Mars (WickeyWare)

On the surface, Mines of Mars may be a game played in only two dimensions, whilst the “mining” is simply depicted by breaking huge square blocks in a perfectly proportioned grid. But the story interwoven throughout, the expertly crafted atmosphere, and the genuine surprises you'll discover beneath the red planet's surface all come together to pull you in, encouraging you to role-play beyond the simple facade of a 2D action platformer. WickeyWare recently announced an upcoming update set to add multiplayer and a bunch of new helmets to collect as well, so there is even more to look forward to. Mines of Mars is one of our highlights of 2014 so far.

Grab It Now Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 3. 13. Prime World Defenders (Nival)

Prime World: Defenders is one of the most well-rounded and fun tower defence titles available on the App Store. Not only has Nival nailed the basics of what we have come to expect from the genre’s best, but it goes a step further by introducing new, meaningful and fun mechanics such as those found in collectable card games. It doesn’t hurt that it is also one of the more visually spectacular tower defence titles out there, too.

Grab It Now Read our full review and developer interview in Episode 6. 12. Battleheart Legacy (Mika Mobile)

Stripping away the excellent party system of Mika Mobile’s Battleheart and replacing it with a more standard RPG formula was a brave move that might have easily alienated fans of the previous game. But the developer has pulled off this bold move with grace. The original’s real-time combat system has been refined, and players can now concentrate on upskilling their hero using more than 150 skills across 12 different classes. An open world to explore, gorgeous graphics and fluid touch controls make this a must-have adventure for RPG fans.

Grab It Now 11. FTL: Faster Than Light (Subset Games)

The award-winning sci-fi indie smash FTL has finally made its way to iOS. Subset Games could easily have done a straight port of its PC game and called it a day. However, the love and attention to the finest of details has resulted in one of the best space-based titles to hit the App Store. The dev has added such a huge amount of new features, content and visual improvements, it could almost be considered a new game in its own right. Be warned though: FTL is one of the most difficult games to pick-up and play in history, sporting an incredibly steep learning curve for newcomers.

Grab it now Show Final 10

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