10 great games for your smartphone or tablet
That smartphone or tablet you scored as a holiday gift is more than just a tool for surfing the Web or keeping in touch with family and friends. It's also a great gaming machine.
Games also happen to be the most popular type of application downloaded by smartphone and tablet owners. According to the iTunes charts, 16 of the top 20 most popular paid apps are games.
So, which ones should you pick? Here are 10 great games to give a try. (Note: Many of the games labeled "free" include in-app purchases that are optional for the player.)
Angry Birds Epic
Platforms: iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows Phone
Price: Free
Details: Instead of getting flung by slingshots in this role-playing adventure, these angry birds use more conventional, fantasy-themed methods for targeting their piggy enemies like swords and magic.
Candy Crush Soda Saga
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Details: Players save stranded gummy bears in this colorful puzzle game. They match candies of the same color to fill each level with soda and finish with the highest score possible. More than 140 levels are available.
FarmVille 2: Country Escape
Platforms: iOS, Android, Amazon
Price: Free
Details: Players take charge of their own farm, growing apples and carrots, herding sheep and fishing at the nearby lake to bolster their countryside enterprises.
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (tablet only)
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Details: This collectible card game is perfect for a die-hard video-game fan. Players create decks with a variety of spells and minions from goblins to dragons, then battle against other players online.
Kim Kardashian: Hollywood
Platforms: iOS, Android, Amazon
Price: Free
Details: Ever want to live the life of a celebrity? After being discovered in a clothing store by Kim Kardashian, players start their ascent to fame and fortune, jet-setting around the world and hobnobbing with Hollywood's elite.
Marvel Puzzle Quest
Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Details: Players assemble teams of superheroes and villains to do battle, earning new powers and beefing up their abilities along the way. The twist is combat takes place through a bejeweled-style puzzle game, where players match gems to complete attacks.
Minecraft: Pocket Edition
Platforms: iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows Phone
Price: $6.99
Details: The hottest video game out there is now available for your pocket. With concepts similar to Legos, Minecraft allows players to create anything they can imagine with special blocks.
Spider-Man Unlimited
Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows Phone
Price: Free
Details: This "runner" requires players to make quick swipes of the touchscreen as the savvy wall-crawler darts across rooftops dodging obstacles and beating up bad guys.
Threes
Platforms: iOS, Android, Amazon
Price: $1.99
Details: Ever play the hit mobile game 2048? You can thank Threes, the original puzzle game where players try to clear a group of numbers by matching them in multiples of three.
Yoga Retreat
Platforms: iOS, Android, Amazon
Price: Free
Details: In need of some relaxation? This simulation has players managing their own yoga studio, teaching poses to students, and expanding their business with perks such as juice bars and meditation spaces.
Follow Brett Molina on Twitter: @brettmolina23.