Until Apple gets into gear and makes good on their hidden iPhone gaming references, we’re going to have to rely on third-party developers to bring gaming to our iPhones. The “Lights Off” game is the first truly native iPhone game application and takes full advantage of the iphone’s touch-screen. We know, there are tons of web-based gaming apps (as well as the NES emulator and proof-of-concept Doom app) out there, but what good are they when you don’t get any wireless reception (or run less-than-perfectly) .
“Lights Off” works just like it sounds – you’re goal is to turn off all the lit-up squares on your screen. Tap a light to toggle up to four surrounding squares. If the square is lit, it turns off. If it’s turned off, it lights up. Once you’ve turned off all the lights, you move to the next level. It’s simple and fun – and it’s always the simplest games that are the most addictive (we’ve had hour-long battles of “Rock, Paper, Scissors” with a friend).
As these third-party apps go, you’ll have to Jailbreak your iPhone to get the “Lights Off” game installed. But, the hack is relatively benign and you’ll reap all the benefits of a jail-free life.
Download the game here. And you’ll find the installation instructions there as well. Kudos to Lucas Newmans and Adam Betts for their work on “Lights Off.”