iPhone and iPod Touch - Games of the Year (2009)

Though this site hasn't been around too long, this reviewer has been playing iPhone games for quite a while.  In fact, I have probably logged hundreds of hours in iPhone gameplay this year (much to my wife's chagrin).  All of that gameplay allowed me to get a good feel for what is out there and to come up with a list of the iPhone Gamer Blog's top 5 games of the year.

Number 5:  Boxed In 2  - (Dennis Mengelt, $1.99)

Boxed In 2 offers puzzle loving gamers hours and hours of fun.  The full review can be found here but a shorter review is as follows: If you are a gamer with an appetite for intelligent gameplay, this is a must buy.

Number 4: Baseball Superstars 2010 -  (Gamevil, $4.99)

I played this game more than any other game this year.  It's story mode allows you to create a player and follow him through 7 years of his career while accumulating stats, trying to make more money and upgradiing his abilities much like an RPG.  The only down side of this game, playing 7 years with 30+ games per year just doesn't seem long enough.  If you are a sports fan of any type, this is an absolute must buy.  The game also includes a ton of additional modes as well and is just an absolute treat for the price.

Number 3: Need for Speed Shift  (EA Mobile, $9.99)

NFS Shift beats out all other racing games with its great graphics, fun setting and hours of gameplay.  See the full review for additional information.

Number 2: Rope N' Fly 2 - (Robert Szeleney, $1.99)



The first Rope N' Fly literally gave me hours of enjoyment.  In that version you literally were only able to play one mode.  The idea: You have 30 seconds to swing skyscraper to skyscraper with a rope (much like Spiderman) and get as far as you could.  If it sounds simple, it is, but it is also a wonderful time waster to try and beat your best time.  In Rope N' Fly 2, many more modes have been added, the graphics have been upgraded, music has been included and there is an easily accessible online screen that compares your scores to others around the world.  The end result, a game that is even more addictive.  No matter who you are.  Buy this game right now.

Game of the Year 2009:  Ragdoll Blaster (Backflip Studios, $1.99)

You like puzzles?  You like ragdoll physics?  Do you like shooting people out of a cannon?  I thought so!  This game is single handedly the game that I have shown to my friends to make them buy an iPhone.  A simple idea that uses physics based puzzles that you solve by shooting people out of cannons.  The music is perfect, the graphics are clean and the game is addictive!  My only complaint is the game ends much too soon.  For $1.99 you can go download the best game of the year.

Summary

What can we make of this list?  Small studios rule the day!  While one huge publisher is included here, the indie game makers are are showing that creativity and new ideas can still beat huge advertising budgets.  2010 looks to be yet another great year for iPhone and iPod game development and iPhone Gamer Blog will be right here calling it as we see it all year long.