These aren't the top five reviewed games though. No, these games are being judged on a slightly different basis. I'm looking at games that you can continue to play for long periods without getting bored; games that sip gently on the battery to preserve the running time of your handset; and games that you want to keep coming back to but can easily pause or exit without losing your place.
The Treasures of Montezuma
The 'match three' style of play is a popular one for mobile games, but one of the best implemented is from Alawar. What I like about Montezuma is the fast moving nature of the game. Not only do you have the match three mechanics, but you have the special powers available when you can make two consecutive matches with the same colour. This adds a touch more strategy and planning to a game where speed of play is already unequalled.
I also like the level based approach, where each you have to collect five more diamonds than the last level. This gives a learning curve to the game, but actually maintains the challenge of the game at roughly the same level. This is a great title which allows you to measure your progress but in essence continue to play the same game all the time.
Here's our full review, and you can download The Treasures of Montezuma from the AAWP App Directory.
iStunt 2
A bit of arcade fun now. iStunt 2 (no, I'm not sure where the first one is either) has you on a snowboard, and asks you so slide down until you reach the exit. By virtue of tilting your phone one way or another you can not only start to move, but spin in the air, and perform tricks for more points. Tapping the screen lets you jump up, duck down, or grab onto the edge of your snowboard, and it won't be long before you realise you need to do these actions just to avoid the deadly obstacles around each level.
And once you've worked out how to get past them, the urge to do a quick spin and nose grab in the air for the points multiplier as you dodge a spinning fan and some spikes in the ground is just a little too tempting.
Fast moving, one of the few summer games here demanding quick reflexes, and demanding a lot of your short term memory as you replay a level (but nothing long term), iStunt 2 is definitely one that's worth a spin.
Here's our full review, and you can download iStunt 2 from the AAWP App Directory.
Farm Frenzy 2
I'll be honest here, when i first reviewed Farm Frenzy, I didn't get it. The short levels seemed very regimented, with simple goals. I came back to it a few months later, wondering if I had missed something. I must have been in a more mobile frame of mind the second time around, because Farm Frenzy had me hooked. The format of the levels, with time limits of between three and five minutes makes it perfect for mobile play, but there are always various ways to rear chickens to lay eggs to turn into cake mixture. One will be the fastest, can you find it?
And from that a huge game of time and resource management is made, a game that could see you play each level countless times to get the gold time. It's fast to play, it's engrossing, and it has more than enough 'one more go' to get you through two weeks on a beach.
And that's before you hit the massive 'how much can you earn in forty five minutes' final level!
Here's our full review, and you can download Farm Frenzy 2 from the AAWP App Directory.
Blocked In
A simple puzzle, can you get the red block out of the sliding block puzzle? A digital game with hundreds of puzzles, but one that still feels very physical to play, thanks to a a great UI that allows you to slide the blocks around quickly, with a crisp digital noise on the move.
Each level can play very quickly, or you might spend a few minutes trying to work out just how to move all the other blocks around to free the red block, but always at the back of your mind is the knowledge that it each level has a solution.
That it adds a three star system to show how good your solution was is the galling icing on the cake.
Easy to pick up, and easy enough to play, it's also an infuriating challenge which demands you solve one more puzzle before switching away.
Here's our full review, and you can download Blocked In from the AAWP App Directory.
GeoDefence Swarm
My final title of the five is a Tower Defence style game. GeoDefence Swarm is the second GeoDefence title on Xbox Live, and it brings a lot of variety to the table. The simple move to a hex grid creates some wonderful options, the weapons and upgrades in the towers are well balanced, and it remains clear and easy to play as all the action stays on a single screen.
I also love the neon style used by the graphics. The colouring makes differentiating your own towers very easy, and the upgrades are easily distinguishable with their tweaked iconography. It's also got a good difficulty curve so this is not going to be a walk in the park through to the exit hex.
Here's our full review, and you can download GeoDefence Swarm from the AAWP App Directory.
Honourable Mentions
It's not to everyones tastes, but the flight simulator Infinite Flight (review) is a title that I love playing - there's something nice about taking off in an aircraft, doing a circuit, and landing again, all under my own control.
Spy Mouse (review) is a twist on the line drawing genre, where you have to plot the route of your mouse between the cats to grab the cheese and escape the level. With different bonus challenges per level (do not be spotted, draw the whole route in one line, etc), this title is fun and easy to play, while retaining a nice level of challenge.
Although it is still a Nokia exclusive, Zuma's Revenge (review) is the match three game where every ball is in a line, and you need to slow down the inexorable march to the end of the level. Smart controls, fantastic sound effects, and a feeling of solidity to the graphics make this a winner... albeit one that needs a lof storage space for no clear reasons.