Top 11 iPad Games You Need To Be Playing

The release of the iPad is finally upon us. Some of you were sitting at home, sipping your morning cup ‘o joe when your friendly FedEx man came by to drop off your iPad, while others sat outside of your local Apple Store on a milk crate for a week straight eating nothing but Doritos and Mountain Dew. Regardless of how you obtained your iPad, the important thing is that you have it.

I posted an article on Friday showcasing games that were readily available for purchase on the App Store. The list covered a lot of great games from equally great publishers, but it lacked something important: My own personal picks! That’s right, this here article is a way for me to share with you what games I’ve played and recommend to new iPad owners. So without further ado, let’s get down to business.

Mirror’s Edge for iPad ($12.99) – [iTunes Link]

If you’ve played Mirror’s Edge on the Xbox 360, PS3, or PC, you’ll know how enriching an experience the game can be as you navigate through the game world in a first person perspective. Mirror’s Edge for iPad’s perspective isn’t first person, instead you play on a 2D level as you navigate Faith from one side of the level to the other. Incorporating gameplay mechanics similar to Canabalt, as well as online leaderboards, and offline co-op on the same iPad, and you’ll see why this is a game that has definitely been on my radar for quite some time.

Command & Conquer Red Alert for iPad ($12.99) – [iTunes Link]

As great as Command & Conquer is for the iPhone, the game’s GUI was the only thing holding it back. Having all of those on-screen commands was necessary for an RTS, which is why Command & Conquer Red Alert seems like a no-brainer for the iPad. With all of the extra space, you can focus more on what’s going on in the game rather than all of the inputs on screen.

Geometry Wars: Touch for iPad ($9.99) – [iTunes Link]

If you’re a fan of twinstick shooters, Geometry Wars is the best of the best. The iPad version successfully recreates the experience we all know so well from its Xbox LIVE Arcade version. Geometry Wars: Touch for iPad for the most part is a port of the latest Geometry Wars Retro Evolved 2. It offers multiple game types and online leaderboards to compare your score with other Geometry Wars: Touch for iPad players.

Plants vs. Zombies HD ($9.99) – [iTunes Link]

In case you couldn’t tell from my review, I absolutely love Plants vs. Zombies. Plants vs. Zombies HD for the most part is the same game, but with some slick graphics that takes full advantage of the iPad. The slowdown I mention in my iPhone 3G is no longer a factor as the iPad handles all of the Plants vs. Zombies goodness flawlessly!

We Rule for iPad (FREE) – [iTunes Link]

Here’s another title that you probably realized I enjoyed from my review. We Rule is the closest thing the iPhone currently has to Farmville. Since your kingdom is stored on ngmoco’s servers, this means that all of your work & friends are accessible from the iPad version. The iPad’s larger display means you get to see more of your kingdom, which makes micromanaging a lot easier to handle.

Fieldrunners for iPad ($7.99) – [iTunes Link]

I know, I know. You probably thought Plants vs. Zombies was going to be the only tower defense game on this list. Even though PvZ is a great game, I enjoy a good traditional tower defense game and Fieldrunners is by far the best! The iPad version has updated graphics and a larger view of the playing field.

Words with Friends HD ($4.99) – [iTunes Link]

Move over EA’s Scrabble, there’s a new king of crossword games and it’s Words with Friends. Words with Friends HD brings the same experience you know and love from the iPhone version, but the HD version improves the game by giving you a larger view of the board and the ability to chat with your opponent while you’re viewing the board.

Sam & Max Episode 1: The Penal Zone for iPad ($9.99) – [iTunes Link]

This game was a surprise for all of iPad gamers. TellTale Games has been working on adventure games for the PC, Xbox 360, and recently the Mac & PS3, but this is the first time one of their adventure games has made the jump to the iPhone platform (or should I say, iPad platform). Sam & Max Episode 1: The Penal Zone for iPad is the first episode in the upcoming The Devil’s Playground season. This season hasn’t even debuted on the PC yet, so if you want a sneak peek at what PC gamers have been waiting for, here’s your chance!

Call of Duty: World At War: Zombies for iPad ($14.99) – [iTunes Link]

Do you like shooting things? Do you like shooting zombies? Do you like shooting NAZI ZOMBIES?? Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies has been in the App Store’s Top 10 selling apps list ever since it was released. It just goes to show you that you can’t keep a good shooter down, especially when Nazi zombies are involved. The iPad version incorporates some enhanced graphics, reconfigured controls specific to the iPad version, and it includes both the ‘Night of the Undead’ map, and the ‘Zombie Asylum’ DLC map.

Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition for iPad ($9.99) – [iTunes Link]

My last recommendation has got to be SEGA’s Super Monkey Ball 2: Sakura Edition for iPad. Super Monkey Ball 2 was a huge improvement over the original Super Monkey Ball on the iPhone. SMB: Sakura Edition for iPad has new mini-games, a new multiplayer mini-game which allows up to 4 players to play on a single iPad, and updated graphics.

Flight Control HD ($4.99) – [iTunes Link]

I’ve actually never played Flight Control on the iPhone due to my complete laziness and procrastination, but I finally played the iPad version, Flight Control HD, and now I see what everyone was all worked up for. The game is simple: guide various planes to their color specific runway while making sure none of them crash into each other. Flight Control HD includes more space to guide your planes, more airports, and new co-op and versus modes that can be played on the same iPad.

About The Author

Daniel Perez

Daniel is a Jersey boy, born and raised. He currently lives in the Northern NJ area, close to New York City. He prides himself in being known as a geek and knows his way around technology. He’s the kind of person that if he can’t figure out a solution to a tech problem, it’ll keep him up at night. Daniel has experience in editorial from his previous work with Ziff Davis Media. With a strong background in the journalism field, he’ll chime in from time to time on IntoMobile to share stories of interest with the IntoMobile readers. You can follow him on Twitter @xBBx to read his ramblings on games, anime, and everything awesome.

http://www.dailytechpost.com DailyTechPost

Nice list, I was searching for iPad games then I found your site…extremely useful..thanks for sharing it
Anonymous

I also cellect some nice ipad games and you must to know these game.
you can download directly from”Aneesoft blog”
Maggie

Wow! This is a great source! However many good apps so we say, but how hard it is as a parent and an iPad owner I am to find a great fun and educational game for kids for my iPad. I came across this game and would recommend this music and rhythm game for kids called “My First Songs”. This game is great as it keeps my son entertained and educated after finishing his homework. Maybe you’d like to follow this link for more info! http://myfirstsongs.com/ipad-rhythm-game-for-kids.html
Maggie

Wow! This is a great source! However many good apps so we say, but how hard it is as a parent and an iPad owner I am to find a great fun and educational game for kids for my iPad. I came across this game and would recommend this music and rhythm game for kids called “My First Songs”. This game is great as it keeps my son entertained and educated after finishing his homework. Maybe you’d like to follow this link for more info! http://myfirstsongs.com/ipad-rhythm-game-for-kids.html
http://www.facebook.com/mohanrao164 Mohan Rao V

I think demessify HD also must be in the top. it has good physics and graphics . the puzzle solvers and the board lovers u defenetily like it
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nagendra-Reddy/100002070915068 Nagendra Reddy

http://itunes.apple.com/in/app/de-mess-ify-hd/id417590077?mt=8this is 3d game demessify game itis very intersting game
seetaiah nagaram

yes, this demessify is an original iPad game, designed specifically for iPad screen and size. A simple 3D puzzle game with realistic physics and amazing graphics.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_G2ZUJ4PUYH4NSSNLIW5QYAHPUU luckie

Yes demessify is a truely addictive game, you’ll hang up for hours.
http://www.gamesontheipad.com iPad Gamer

Flight control is an awesome iPad game. You have so much more screen to play with than an iPhone. You can play it for hours and still feel challenged. Great game!
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_MNLBM3354PJAJTUKA72DVAW6PA JAGADESH Naga

i would like to say recently introduced one of the best i pad 3D game as “demessify HD” found in i tunes.
T-Bone

Order and Chaos didn’t make the list? World of Warcraft is the best selling PC game ever and Order & Chaos is a really impressive rip off of it for ipad. To leave O&C off this list is just rediculous.
Smrt

The other thing that is ridiculous is someone who knows how to type and use an ipad, but they can’t spell a simple word like ridiculous. Put down the ipad and go to college.
godlike

Not everyone has to known English very well. I can find you 5 grammar mistakes that you have done. So before being rude, better read what you have wrote. Please go to somewhere and keep the internet clean moron.
TBHonest

It’s “Not everyone has to (know) English”. Also, there’s nothing wrong with correcting grammar. This world is slipping into an idiot zone that everyone seems to be okay with, and to SMRT’s defense, some people need a kick of sarcasm to notice those mistakes…whether they speak English or not.
P.S. I don’t speak Japanese, but you don’t see me butchering it all over Japanese forums and replies. Why is it ok for others to butcher English all the time…is your hard to read and often annoying reply that important?
TBHonest

It’s “Not everyone has to (know) English”. Also, there’s nothing wrong with correcting grammar. This world is slipping into an idiot zone that everyone seems to be okay with, and to SMRT’s defense, some people need a kick of sarcasm to notice those mistakes…whether they speak English or not.
P.S. I don’t speak Japanese, but you don’t see me butchering it all over Japanese forums and replies. Why is it ok for others to butcher English all the time…is your hard to read and often annoying reply that important?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Saatvik-Verma/100002407364433 Saatvik Verma

saatvik verma good games daniel
Jeff Heon

Have you tried PewPew 2?
Better than Geometry war imho.
You can try the free version first (PewPew.)
http://www.surgedigital.co.uk Chris

I just can’t get used to controlling a shooting game like call of duty on the iPad screen.
noname

those game showing here is like Atari and Nintento… no standard at all.. pls find some HD and refresh this page pls…
Sleepwalkertv

those aren’t bad games but certantly not even close to the best games, gotta catch up buddy
http://profile.yahoo.com/XLX3UWGDCKG24LLRWTO2LKUXUQ Jose

Wow Ipad is so garbage for gamin im just going to stick with my MSI gaming laptop and keep playing Witcher 2 for that matter.