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Top Mobile Games of 2010: Part One

2010 was a landmark year for mobile gaming. We saw a meteoric rise in the number of games and devices available to consumers, and a substantial increase in the quality of both as well. That being said, let’s take a look at a few titles that people will still be talking about in the new year:

For strategy gamers, 2010 saw the release of several variations on your classic tower defense title. The most insanely popular of these games was easily PopCap’s Plants vs. Zombies ($2.99). For the uninitiated, a quick breakdown: the object of the game is to defend your home (and your brains) from zombie invasion using a variety of weaponized plants. You must be on your guard in the day, night, fog, water, and even on the roof -- these zombies are more persistent than the postal service.

Originally released for the PC and Mac in 2009, PvZ was an instant hit with iOS users when the mobile version became available through the App Store in February 2010. Pop Cap followed up by releasing an Xbox Live Arcade version in September with additional features and gameplay modes, and will do the same for the Nintendo DS version hitting stores later this month.

Speaking of titles originally developed for computer gamers, let’s talk about Riven ($5.99), the point-and-click puzzle adventure game that dominated the charts way back in 1997. The recently released mobile version is just as visually stunning as the original, and playing this game on a touch screen device makes for a far more immersive experience than my beloved 5-disc PC copy could ever give me. Riven is hands down one of the best PC-to-app transformations of 2010 -- or any other year, for that matter. It is worth noting that Myst, the predecessor to Riven, is also available in the App Store, but for eye candy alone my money is on Riven every time.

RPG fans have had a lot of new and exciting games to choose from this year as well. My personal favorite is Zenonia 2: The Lost Memories by Gamevil, a title which proves yet again that in video gaming, the sequel often surpasses the original. (Too bad we can’t say the same of the film industry.) The developers responded to criticisms of the original game by improving character and control customization, and their work has paid off. Zenonia 2 offers a rich environment, your choice of four characters (warrior, paladin, shooter, or magician), and three play modes: normal, hard, and hell. You can even challenge your friends -- or foes -- in the PvP arena. At $0.99, it’s well worth a look.

Got it? Now get to downloading those apps, and stay tuned for Part 2 of the Top Mobile Games of 2010!