3 Games That Are Better on iPad
These exciting titles may appear on other platforms, but they thrive on the iPad's large touchscreen interface. From puzzlers to action titles, we detail the best and brightest games that truly take advantage of the iPad's abilities.
Battle for Wesnoth HD
Battle for Wesnoth is the strategy darling of the open-source community, and is available to download for free on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. The game pulls elements from numerous sources of inspiration––there’s RPG-style leveling ala Fire Emblem, terrain bonuses and city/village capturing (Advance Wars, anyone?), and even more complex sets of rules like a “zone of control” surrounding each unit, a concept that has roots in older strategy titles like Hudson’s Military Madness.
In 2009, Wesnoth came to the iPhone courtesy of developer Kyle Poole. The iPhone version supports fully functional cross-platform multiplayer with the desktop versions of the game, as well as save-game syncing, meaning that players can pick up their battles in the land of Wesnoth wherever they go, all without losing progress. The iPhone version of the game is certainly playable enough, but it suffers from the limited screen space of the device. The iPad version of the game solves this handily. Battle for Wesnoth HD has all of the features of its elder iPhone-compatible sibling, but it plays much more similarly to the way it does on PC.
GamePro Rating: 5/5
Price: $0.99
Broken Sword: Director’s Cut HD
The original Broken Sword is widely recognized as one of the most influential games in the point-and-click genre, making the game’s re-release on the iPhone and iPad worth noting. The iPad version is something of a remastering of the original––Watchmen creator Dave Gibbons returned to create new art and animation for the iOS release, and multiple new story segments have been added for this version. The re-release also features a revised hint system, which should make the game far more accessible for those who usually get stumped by similar titles.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with the iPhone version of Broken Sword; it’s extremely well-done, given the circumstances. The facts remains, however, that this game was not originally designed for a 3.5 inch screen. The iPad version is much better suited to the swipe-and-poke gameplay that point-and-click games translate to on touchscreen platforms. The gorgeous animation is far easier to appreciate when it’s closer to its original size, and many of the environments in the game are rich with detail. You’re not going to want to have to squint to see it.
GamePro Rating: 5/5
Price: $5.99
Spider: Bryce Manor HD
Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor for iPhone won numerous game of the year awards in 2009, with reviewers Praising it for its original design the which Could have only been possible on the iPhone. The game follows you as a spider as you explore an abandoned mansion. You'll leap from platform to platform, spinning webs and trapping Insects as you go. The 2D artwork is beautiful, and hidden areas to discover give the game a sense of mystery That makes it all the more Engaging. There's a subtle That story unravels as you progress - you'll learn bits and pieces about the People who once lived in the mansion.
Yes, this game does feel like it was always Meant for the iPhone, but the iPad is just a much smoother experience. All of the art looks even better than before on the iPad's larger display, and controlling the spider feels noticeably better Pls you have more room to swipe around with your fingers. iPhone / iPod Touch owners Certainly Should give Spider a go, but iPad owners are in for the best overall experience.
GamePro Rating: 4 / 5
Price: $ 4.99
