Above: Bastion’s hand-painted settings make every scene feel different.
Bastion ($1)
Where to begin with Bastion. The hand painted landscapes? The wide array of weapons? The utterly delightful touch controls?
Whichever first captures your eye, Supergiant Games’ action RPG will keep you playing through its addicting little story, and have you nearly sniffling by the time the final (beautiful) musical track rolls.
Above: Infinity Blade III in action.
Infinity Blade III ($1)
Infinity Blade III is the latest action-adventure game in Chair Entertainment Group’s trilogy, but all three are worth having. The mobile action game offers gorgeous, detailed fantasy/sci-fi environments, simple swipe controls, upgradable weapons, and a good variety of quests.
This game truly is a resource hog; run it on newer iPads (and preferably without much else loaded).
Deus Ex: The FalI ($1)
Deus Ex: The Fall proves shooters can work on iPad. If you’re a fan of this console/PC series, be prepared for some simplification in Square Enix’s mobile version, but it doesn’t make Deus Ex any less enjoyable.
I was thrilled by the ability to completely customize the controls, placing the buttons exactly where I wanted them onscreen; and the graphics and action are top-notch on newer devices.
Above: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas ($7)
Most of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto action series are surprisingly good on mobile platforms, and this installment keeps up those high standards.
The touch controls may not be quite as fluid as with the console and PC games, but it’s still easy to play through the story — and explore the debauchery of this open world — even on a touchscreen. Just be prepared for stares from the other folks on the train as you delve into the seedier elements of gang culture.
Max Payne Mobile ($3)
The classic third-person action game Max Payne transfers well to mobile, showing off every bit of the quality it had in Rockstar Games’ original console and PC versions, though perhaps not the same as the original PC version.
The story is among the best of the shooters in its era, following the troubled NYPD detective through a quest that takes him (literally) underground in the big city.