Top Essential App Games for 2016

Here's our refreshed and revised list of essential game apps for 2016. This list does inlcude older games which are still hot and being regularly updated by their developers.

We will keep adding to this list over the course of the year, feel free to add in any suggestions of your own in the comments section at the bottom of this article

HoPiko

https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/hopiko/id969961138?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.laserdog.hopiko&hl=en

HoPiko developed by Laser Dog Games is among the essentials. This is a ridiculously old school game. We love it. The thing is it does old school in all the best ways. It’s a wonderful reflection of the old reaction-based arcade games for your iPhone. It’s got a superb soundtrack and an unabashedly retro vibe. HoPiko might not be the ideal for some of the more casual gamers, but for the pros, everything about it is A OK.

Cut the Rope 2

https://itunes.apple.com/en/app/cut-the-rope-2/id681814050?mt=8

Among the current best puzzle games on the Android is Cut the Rope 2, where you give candy to a little alien looking thing, called Om Nom. And how is this done? By rope cutting, naturally. This title is free-to-play and has wondrous painter quality graphics and insanely smart puzzles. The cutesy visuals can be deceptive, Cut the Rope 2 gets really hard when you get to the high levels. Of course, since winning is a mere few snip-snips from you, the game never bores.

PewDiePie: Legend of the Brofist

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pewdiepie-legend-brofist/id1028623510?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.outerminds.pewdiepie&hl=en

Not having heard of PewDiePie (how could you not?), this game still makes sense. The massive YouTube star put his name on this, his first foray into mobile gaming—although it was created by Outerminds.

This game is well-crafted and fun to play. It’s one of the best of the iOS releases for 2015. This game has great level design. It’s well balanced when it comes to challenge. It has a great soundtrack with really cool retro visuals. And it doesn’t take itself too seriously either which is always a virtue. It is available on both iOS and Android platforms which is always good.

PewDiePie shows up in his own video game here and it is barrels of fun. This is a title that will be thoroughly enjoyed by many.

Plants vs Zombies 2

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/plants-vs.-zombies-2/id597986893?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ea.game.pvz2_na&hl=en

This is a wonderful addition to the Android platform for 2016. The first one was one of the classics among free-to-play Android games. This one is even better. Maybe the great shining star of its genre, it is no doubt going to be a smash hit with video gamers. What you do in this game is use the services of various shrubs to breakdown and defeat the approaching army of zombies.

This is a well designed, highly colorful, highly addictive, well-balanced game of strategy with great replay value. Always inventive, each stage has got its own set of unique traits. This means that getting through them always presents fresh challenges. Plants vs Zombies 2 is very generous in the what unlocked content is available for free. It’s also a game of great fun to play.

Tales from Deep Space

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tales-from-deep-space/id980307863?mt=8

This gem comes from Amazon Game Studios and is for iOS platforms.

It is a very ambitious game from these great developers. This is a titel that was developed with finesse and experience by UK developer Frontier Developments.

In the game you are Travelling Salesman E who finds he is entangled in a dark revolution on the so-called Big Moon Space station. His luggage has been replaced by a suitcase that talks and the two characters must get to the truth behind Meek’s revolt.

This game gives a high level of quality that hardly any mobile games ever have, action gaming and puzzles are blended uniquely to make one of the best mobile games there is.

Defense Zone 2 HD

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/defense-zone-2-hd/id564748913?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.defensezone2&hl=en

This is an Android game for those who want something a little more real in the tower-defense game arena. It has a modern military theme. By comparing it to its cute competition, this game stands out with its grit, but also with its great gameplay.

This is a game that has depth. Therefore it may be difficult to get started if you have not played a game in this genre before. But veterans of the genre will love the challenge they’ll find here.

Space Age: A Cosmic Adventure

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/space-age-a..

This game has a phenomenal storyline and great dialogue too. The soundtrack is awesome. The gameplay is varied and never feels to heavy. The levels are short and accessible but still challenging.

This is one of those rare games that has the strength of confidence to grasp out our attention with very little promotion involved—mostly this is just based on gameplay by itself. This game has early 1990s design (so many retro games these days!), and the soundtrack is like something from Doctor Who. This game won’t jump around and try to get your attention. No posting of scores across social media as a major factor for this game. No, it’s subtle instead. Every element of the game shows reflections of gaming from eras long gone. I don’t know how such a design works in the modern era of the smartphone, but it does. This is one of the best games there is. No doubt.

Dragon Heroes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dragon-heroes-shooter-rpg/id977056011?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.perplelab.hod&hl=en

This is a vertical-scrolling game that is a shooter, plus elements of the RPG. Moving through the levels, we find the possibility to unlock various super cool heroes and upgrade them in an attempt to save Dragonia from a certain group of evil Dragons, the bosses of the levels.

The shooting is simple. This game is kinetic and colorful, as there are apparently endless things to press via the menus, giving it an arcade feel. This is a great Android game.

Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/agent-a-a-puzzle-in-disguise/id940006911?mt=8

With the interlocking of puzzles, the easy to play controls, the great cartoonish design, and a great adventure to boot, this is one of the winners among iOS games this year.

This game takes every point-and-click game and builds on them. That’s why this is a great game. What’s interesting is that this game comes out at the same time as Lumino City, another point-and-click release that’s destined to be popular. But this game is king when it comes down to the very puzzles in it. That is the heart of the game and its strength. Enough said!

The Walking Dead: Road to Survival

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/walking-dead-road-to-survival/id969316884?mt=8

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.scopely.headshot&hl=en

This Android game is based on the popular television series. And who wouldn’t love to play in that actual world, if only for a little while? You go on missions and raids that include very good graphics and loads of fun.

The only drawback to this game is the obvious play-t-win design that you will come across after a short time playing it. Still, that aside, this is a great action game that will provide you with hours upon hours of fun in an adventure in the style of the hit TV show. And, tell me, who wouldn’t want that?

Here is our list as it stands, please feel free to make your own suggestions in the comments below. We will continually revise and update this list throughout 2016.