[ This article is part of our 2010 App Gems Awards serial , honoring the best apps of 2010 . ]
Best Transition to the iPad
Angry Birds HD($5 )
By Chillingo
( read review )
In making the saltation to the iPad , Angry Birds HDkept the core gameplay of the popular iPhone adaptation — overcome egg - steal green pigs by bombarding their fortification with the none - too - pleased ornithoids of the secret plan ’s title — while making the most of the tablet ’s roomy screen . On the iPad , you may really appreciate the ingenious animations and intricate level design . With newfangled updates let in a Modern boomerang bird and new levels , Angry Birds continues to improve — and impress.—CHRIS HOLT
Platform Game of the Year
The Incident($2 )
By Big Bucket Software
Frank Solway ’s having one of those days where it seems like the whole world is falling down on him — which , to be fair , it kind of is . large Bucket Software’sThe Incidentis not only gorgeous , featuring detailed 8 - bit graphics exhort by platform games of yore , but its simple tilt - to - run and tap - to - jump ascendance make it a picnic for even the insouciant gamer to pluck up and protrude wager . The game ’s ingathering belong beyond the retro , too : innovative feature article let you use your iPhone as a accountant for the iPad or — with the help of Apple ’s iPad video adapter — use your HDTV as a display.—DAN MOREN
Casual Game of the Year
Fruit Ninja(iPhone version , $ 1 )
By iPad version , $ 5 ; Halfbrick Studios
Whether in iPhone or iPad forms , Fruit Ninjaboasts two idealistic character for free-and-easy gaming — it ’s easy to learn and playfulness to master . In this suspect , warm biz , you slit your room through a diverse regalia of delicious fruit fly across your filmdom in aKill Bill - style pulpy yield massacre . add to the fun are majuscule visuals , including lots of fruit juice fly with every slice , and a great , Eastern - infused soundtrack . revenge yourself against green groceries has never been so fun.—CHRIS HOLT
Tower Defense Game of the Year
industrial plant vs. Zombies($3 )
By PopCap Games
Another game that deliver the good in either iPhone or iPad form , Plants vs. Zombiesis a unique tug defense game in which you must plant peapods , mushrooms , squelch , and other deadly legumes to fight back the zombie spirit host . The beautiful sketch artwork is on the right side of goofball and sets a light - hearted tone from the get - go . The zombies are silly , typical enemies that diverge in character reference — besides your received groaning zombie , you also have to stand off zombie football players and balloon riders , who each boast their own distinctive battle attainment . Various mini - game and legion achievements to unlock will keep you number back again and again.—CHRIS HOLT
Puzzle Game of the Year
Osmos for iPad($5 )
By Hemisphere Games
When you first try about it , Osmos for iPaddoesn’t sound all that exciting : You tap the screen to actuate your small blob of issue , take aim to absorb smaller blob while avoiding those large than you . And the truth is , Osmos is n’t all that exciting . But it ’s undeniablyenthralling , combining gorgeous graphics and hauntingly beautiful music — use of goods and services headphones or you ’ll miss out — with Multi - Touch gestures that let you surge in and out and slow down and speed up meter . Gameplay is simultaneously effortless yet exacting , thwarting yet curiously relax . It ’s a game that feels made for the iPad , and like the object on the covert , it will take in you in if you ’re not careful.—DAN FRAKES
Strategy Game of the Year
Carcassonne($10 )
By The Coding Monkeys and Hans i m Glück
Though it hew close to the democratic German board game upon which it ’s ground , Carcassonneseems tailor - made for the iOS . Like its cardboard predecessor , the mobile version is all about repose down tile , building roads and castle , claim territory , and judge to prevent your resister from doing the same . But the iOS oblation add multiplayer modes ( via Wi - Fi , Bluetooth , or pass - and - wreak ) as well as solitaire play against eight different computerized opposer with differ strategies , and the unproblematic graphics expect great on the touch screen . It ’s a great iOS app for one other reason : A individual game accept about as long as the average American ’s daily commute.—DAN Glenn Miller
Multiplayer Game of the Year
Words With Friends HD($3 )
By Newtoy
Words With Friends for iPhone consecrate the Facebook Scrabble craze its first veridical contest , let you toy multiple Scrabble - like word game with protagonist near and far — even when you ’re on the go . ( The build - in New World chat sport for lexical folderol talk is also fun . ) ButWords With friend HDeliminates the iPhone rendering ’s big frustration by reach you a available full - board view — no more zooming in and out , in and out . Once you ’re addict , you ’ll find yourself anxiously await that trenchant bell have you know one of your adversary has finished a turn — and hop it ’s not a triple - letter / three-fold - word romp of Q - uranium - I - Z.—DAN FRAKES
[ cover on to read abouta dozen of our other favourite appsof 2010 . ]
