Apple flavored Kool-Aid. Ohhhh yeahhhh!!!!!!!

It’s no secret that I’m completely obsessed with my new iPod Touch. The device is basically everything I’ve ever wanted in a handheld: It’s Wi-Fi enabled and has a slick browsing experience, there’s an online store full of practical applications that make my life easier, and most importantly…there are tons of games! 

Not wanting to drink a whole glass of Apple’s Kool-Aid (however delicious it may be), I opted for the 8GB 2nd Generation iPod Touch. It’s perfect for my needs and holds a whole hell of a lot of games that perform spectacularly. Similar to the insane Steam sales we see, the App Store holds a host of inexpensive games and applications that are way too cheap NOT to buy (typically free-$4.99). My library just continues to grow and grow as Apple happily micro-transactions me to death. And you know what? I LIKE IT. 

I’d like to share just a few of the games I’m currently enjoying on the iPod touch. This is just a small sample of the things I’ve picked up but they give a nice idea about the range of games available in the App Store. 

Words With Friends 

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Words With Friends. It’s the fun, free, Scrabble-like staple that’s living on nearly everyone’s iPhone, iPod, and iPad. Turn based and casual, games can last for weeks depending on how frequently you play. If you enjoy words, brute forcing words, and spelling, “TURD” and “HO”, I highly recommend Words With Friends. 

Undercroft 

Undercroft is a first person, party based, turn based RPG with a great sense of humor. It’s in the same vein as Lands of Lore, but not quite as hardcore if I remember correctly. Different difficulty settings allow you to play as casually as you please – I personally set it to easy so I can hack and slash my way through the game. There are plenty of quests and tons of gear to keep the game interesting. The auto-map and inventory systems are also very well done. Undercroft is a step above many other iDevice games and continues to be a delight to play. 

Phrase Party! 

My friends and I have recently become acquainted with the game Catch Phrase and enjoy playing it while hanging out. It’s fun, easy to learn and good for a laugh. Unfortunately, the dictionary isn’t as robust as we’d like, so in comes Phrase Party! Phrase Party! is a Catch Phrase clone with traditional and “party modes” that mix up the classic formula while adding in a more robust and customizable dictionary. You can also name your teams and play with a host of other options to cater the Catch Phrase experience to your liking. 

Gamebook Adventures 

Similar to the Lone Wolf series of hybrid choose your own adventure/RPG game books (check out the Nintendo DS Lone Wolf homebrew if you’re equipped to do that!), Gamebook Adventures reads like a fantasy book while presenting you with different decisions about how you’d like to proceed in the story. There’s lots of combat, chase scenes, and other various events which are resolved by a simple, automated throw of the dice. I’m currently playing through the first chapter, “An Assassin in Orlandes” and other than a couple of distracting typos, the story is interesting and the action is frequent. Apparently there are several different endings but I have yet to get even one since death is around almost every corner. 

Do you own an iPhone, iPod, or iPad and have a favorite game that you’re playing? Feel free to share in the comments – I’d love to throw some more money at the App Store and build my collection even more!