Pinball has always been considered to be a fun, addictive, intuitive arcade classic that refuses to go out of style. Years later and here it is again on the new age smartphone. Pinball Classic is very true to the name and old-school fans will appreciate the fact that the developer has not tinkered a lot with the game's layout.

Developed by Terran Droid, the same people who have the top rated game Pool Master Pro in their kitty, Pinball Classic in a similar way does not let down.

The game does not try to steer away from the actual game by throwing-in stuff like Zombies, Spaceships, Cowboys, James Bond etc. This is the true classic game at its best. The graphics are top-notch and just the way they meant to be. Moreover, the animations integrated within the board are also class and add to the whole intuitive feel.

What I really loved in this game was that the board is not unusually cluttered like some of the other virtual pinball games. The gameplay is very simple to say the least. To launch the ball, players need to slide their finger back and hold till the spring reaches its maximum stretch point. The Flippers are controlled by flicking them on the touchscreen.

Overall, Pinball Classic has its own share of shortcomings no doubt, but players who love casual gaming or love Pinball in any form away from the table, will adore this version. A great product by the developer and a big thumbs up to them for offering up a classic, the way it is meant to be.

Related Links:
Pinball Classic on Android Market

If you follow the latest iOS games quite faithfully, then you must have stumbled across Forget-Me-Not. This exciting game has been winning praises and scoring countless of minions ever since its initial release. Unfortunately, the game came with a price -$1.99 a pop at the iTunes App store - and was only offered for iOS devices, well, that is until recently.

Yep, the game is now available for download for Windows and Mac users. Plus, it's all for free! With additional features incorporated, this retro arcade Pacman-type game is destined to become an even bigger hit thanks to these new formats. 

Created by Nyarlu Labs, the game surprises with a simple but addictive gameplay as well as some really fun graphics. The goal is to eat off all the "flowers" or pellets inside the maze. Once you manage to eat everything, a gold key appears and you can use it to unlock  the exit door to the next level.

Of course, it's not always easy to collect all the flowers thanks to the many monsters parading across the maze. They will try to shoot and hurt you when you come in contact with them. There are different types of enemies lurking within the game and some of them react differently when you fire at them. There are ones that'll split into two, others will hurl fireballs relentlessly and some will explode off the bat. The good news is that you can fight back with your own weapon and kill them off but you still need to watch out for the projectiles since it can still hurt you.

Although the PC and Mac versions are quite similar to the iOS version, it's decidedly more challenging according to the developer. The new game is meant to be more "arcadey" too and filled with new types of enemies, more fruits as well as HD support.

Forget-Me-Not is an excellent game to try out. Filled with nice graphics, engaging gameplay that tests out the gamer's skill as they progress and simple controls; you'll have a fun time throughout. Grab the download.

Related Links:
Nyarlu Labs Official Blog
Forget-Me-Not on 148 Apps
Forget-Me-Not on Touch Arcade
Forget-Me-Not on Indie Games

Cave Story is a cool Japanese platformer that was originally released back in 2004. Despite the age, it's still winning plenty of gamers, thanks to its fun and engaging gameplay.

The nice thing with this game is the fact that it's so simple. Graphics are retro 8-bit yet it manages to be endearing still. The soundtrack, like the graphics, is simple but it certainly lends some lovely depth to the game. Of course, the gameplay is equally lovely.

The game was created by Daisuke Amaya and released in Japanese, but theres a full English patch that you can download as well.

Ever since it was released, the game has gained a steady indie following. Indie gamers have praised it as one of the best platform games out there. Because of its popularity, independent developer, Nicalis, teamed up with Nintendo's Wiiware; breathing new life to the game.

In the game, your character wakes up inside a cave with no memory of how or why he's there. Your amnesiac character must then explore the cave to try to piece together what's going on. Pretty soon, he stumbles across weapons and a plot by the Doctor to try and take over the world.

Luckily, you do have weapons at your disposal. There are a total of nine available but you can only bring five at any one time. You can easily toggle between your weapons as you fight plus, there's an option to upgrade each one up to level three. There are also other gadgets and helpful items you can use like a jetpack as well as life or health items.

The gameplay is really good. There are plenty of enemies looking to get rid of you so you have to be on your toes every single time. There's also a neat little revelation towards the end of the game that might come as a surprise.

In the end, the game deserves tons of praises not just for the gameplay, but the overall feel of it is just wonderful. It's often tough to like a game if it's overly simple but with Cave Story, simplicity works best.

Related Links:
Cave Story Official Website
Cave Story on Play This Thing
Cave Story on Wikipedia
Cave Story on Compact Action Games

You can say that 8bit Killer is like playing an NES game. The fact is that it was made to look exactly like an overhaul of an NES game. It features the same graphics and gameplay style that fans will definitely feel as if they have gone back in time.

The game is set in AD 2488, in a world where the human race is bracing on extinction. In the hands of Master Brain, the world is being threatened and now, a group of humans have formed to combat this growing evil. The game focuses on the final mission for these group of soldiers.

If you are looking for a nostalgic yet awesome NES-like game, then you'll definitely find it here on 8bit Killer.

Okay, so the game has a simple premise and the gameplay is quite basic, but the game excels in its simplicity and has a penchant for creating nostalgia. It features typical controls; using the arrow keys or WASD to move around.

The graphics are done in 8-bit which to some might be annoying. However, in the end, it is quite appealing even if you prefer the more fleshed out renderings. The music is amazing. It definitely takes hints from awesome games like Contra and Bionic Commando without losing its own identity.

Other features to expect in the game include: 8 sublevels and 5 boss battles; visible enemy bullets; and hidden bullets as well as weapons to name a few. You get an hour's worth of gameplay for this one yet there  is no savepoint. Hence, you would need to clear a good portion of your afternoon and finish this in one go.

Thankfully, this doesn't feel like a burden at all. Who would have thought that such a simple and basic game could turn out so much fun!

Related Links:
8bit Killer on Locomalito
8bit Killer on 1Up
8bit Killer on TIGSource
8bit Killer on GameSpot

If you are like me and you simply cannot resist a good ninja platformer, then you'll want to include Ninja Senki on your must-play game list. The game was designed by Jonathan Lavigne and was originally based on the Super NES game Ninja Jajamaru-Kun and Mega Man.

Although it's done in simple 8-bit, the game is a refreshing platformer that will satisfy all your shuriken tossing needs. In the game, you play a cute blue ninja named, Hayate, that must avenge the death of his clan's princess, Kinuhime.

Ninja Senki is a lot like playing Mega Man especially when it comes to gameplay. However, instead of robots, you fight off monsters, deformed ghosts, monkeys and of course, fellow ninjas that fantastically burst into pixelated gore once you kill them. The game excellently incorporates both old school and modern style of gameplay achieving a great balance between the two.

You can play 16 levels of this awesome platformer. Although there are times when it does feel a little too drawn out, chances are, you'll still find yourself enjoying it. The graphics alone are one of the best I've seen, for pixel art. It is colorful and captures your attention easily. Perfect for attention deficit gamers like me. Storyline is pretty straightforward. There are no hard twists and turns instead you are simply a ninja seeking revenge, killing bad guys along the way.

The game does play like Mega Man except you wield a shuriken and that you're limited to a horizontal throw. Moreover, you can easily jump over huge distances (okay not that huge) which you'll definitely have great use of throughout all of the game.

Some things to remember though, the game doesn't have a save option so clear up a good portion of your time before starting. You might also want to check out the multiple endings that the game offers. See how many alternate endings you can get.

Related Links:
Ninja Senki Official Website
Ninja Senki on TIGSource
Ninja Senki on Play This Thing
Ninja Senki on Pixel Prospector

Described as an "co-op action roguelike" game, Shoot First, is a  mix of Roguelike elements, retro graphics and RPG systems. As weird as this combination may sound, it's actually works great.  Of course, instead of the typical sword and shield in RPG systems, you will be packing an automatic instead.

Developed by Teknopants, the game allows you to play single or cooperative missions. Go on two player mode and fight off monsters, quests, score some loot and save a couple of trapped people in the process. This game certainly knows how to fuse weird elements together and make it work.

If you play the game, expect a lot of dungeon crawling and monster killing goodness coming your way.

Armed with randomly generated dungeons, playing the game becomes always fresh and exciting. Controls for the game are simple but very responsive. Essentially, you can shoot, use, or pick up a weapon. At any one time, you can only carry one weapon though. However, you can pick up three more items as you go ahead on your quest. Controls can also be customized for your convenience. This is perfect especially if you are playing with another player.

Just like an RPG, whenever you kill off an enemy you earn points. These points are perfect for level ups. Once you do level up, your weapons upgrade as well. The only thing is the upgrade doesn't transfer whenever you change weapons.

Gameplay depends on the players. You can either go your own way and explore every nook and cranny of the dungeon while taking out the resident monsters. Or you can simply look for the nearest stairs and head for the exit, so you can advance to the next level. There will be bosses popping out from nowhere so you always need to be on your toes.

Overall, the game definitely has more good points than bad points in my book. It has a fun gameplay that's fresh and quite intriguing. The weird mash-up of different game elements work great. Plus, it features a nice and catchy soundtrack. Give it a go.

Related Links:
Shoot First Official Website
Shoot First on Indie Games
Shoot First on IGN
Shoot First on DIY Gamer

Haven't gotten over zombies yet? Here's another one you might want to take a chunk off.

Survivor - The Living Dead is nothing new in terms of concept. You play a 20 year old girl by the name of Amber Chaplin who witnesses her brother's violent death in the hands of a zombie. To save herself, she flees and comes upon a large house that seems to be infested with the walking dead. Will she survive or will she turn into the next best grub for these zombies?

Survivor definitely takes almost all the elements of a good zombie game and meshes them into one big and highly entertaining game. You get big guns, a heroine that's not immune to zombies and actually gets tired when sprinting too much and simply an awesome gameplay.

The game incorporates 16-bit retro graphics, an awesome soundtrack and a highly engaging gameplay. Sure, there's just one level (the house) but there are so many unlockables to keep you busy. By the way, did I mention that the game is quite tough to beat? Don't think that you'll simply blast your way through hordes of zombies to survive. This one actually requires plenty of wit and brains to solve some of the most intense puzzlers out there.

In fact, apart from zombie blasting, you'll need to solve a lot of puzzles in order to beat the game. Your main goal is to survive until the morning comes but this means watching out for several things which include bites, limited ammo, your health bar and looking for the right places to explore.

The cool thing is that even though you do get the traditional guns, you would need to be ingenuous and will find yourself barricading doors or throwing appliances as well as furniture just to keep the zombies away. There's simply no room for boredom with this game.

Survivor offers 4 modes of gameplay but you need to complete the first one in order to access the other three. It also offers a reward system and tons of options to make your character stronger and more capable of beating hordes of undead. Meanwhile, controls are simple. Use WASD to maneuver Amber around the house. You can define the Action button which allows your character to lock doors, pick up items etc.

If you're looking for a great quality, brain numbing puzzle adventure zombie game, then Survivor- The Living Dead is perfect. It nicely incorporates everything you would come to expect from the genre; even adding more to it. A highly addictive game worth checking out.

Related Links:
Survivor - The Living Dead Official Website
Survivor - The Living Dead on GeekyClown
Survivor - The Living Dead on 1Up.com
Survivor - The Living Dead on Indie Games

Mash Man is actually a remake of a classic NES Action 52 cartridge game. Redone by Curtis Kling, the developer creates his own take on this classic game that features a grape masher that uses his feet to mash grapes and create wine.

Of course, all should be well and dandy for our masher until the townsfolk decided to buy themselves fancy machines to mash the grapes. The machines prove to be more efficient, hence, our protagonist is banished into the nearby forest to live in exile.

For those of you that are unfamiliar, Action 52 was actually an NES cartridge touted as having 52 games in one. Despite the hype, the games contained plenty of errors and bugs subsequently, it was discontinued. Fast forward today and a group of game developers have taken up the task to remake these not-so-great classics and at least turn them into something slightly more tasteful. Mash Man is among the results. Check it out for yourself. Mash Man is a bit of a short game though. There are only 2 levels in the game but there is an option to finish with an alternate ending, provided you are a bit more cautions on what you are mashing in the game.

In the original game, your goal was simply to squash enemies with your gigantic feet. This  gameplay was pretty much retained. Basically, Mashman could only walk to the right, jump over tacks and spikes as well as jump on enemies. According to its new makers, they "tried to take the mood of the original game and expand on it, since it doesn’t really have any kind of unique gameplay elements to use."

As a result, this Mash Man version is more of an improvement in game design and storyline rather an actual improvement or change in game controls etc. Pretty much, the game is much improved from before. The graphics are obviously much better and the storyline contains more depth. Game wise, there's actually a lot to enjoy here. Try it out.

Related Links:
Mash Man on Indie Games
Mash Man on Facebook
Mash Man on DIY Gamer
Mash Man on Shark Arm Studios

Super Crate Box is one piece of arcade marvel that you'll either absolutely love or absolutely hate. If you hate 8-bit pixel art or retro, shallow gaming; then you might want to steer clear. However, if you have always fantasized reliving the wonderful times when players played video games just to have their names emblazoned onto that shiny and shimmery 'Top Score" list; then this game will be your best friend for a good while.

You have two goals in this game. First, to not get killed and second, collect as many weapons by getting crate boxes, before you eventually get killed.

Developers for the game relied on the premise that those 80s and 90s video games, where your objective was simply to hit the top score, were actually really fun. And judging from how addictive this game is, they seem to have hit paydirt. The game was created by Dutch game outfit, Vlambeer, and was an entry to IGF 2010. The game has gone a long way since then. Currently, it's held by many gamers (and even game developers) to be one of the most entertaining and addictive indie game around. It has even earned a spot in Gamasutra's Best of 2010: Top 10 Indie Games list.

Super Crate Box is a retro arcade platformer where your main goal is to collect crates  and not get killed. Basically, when you get to a crate, you get weapons and other goodies. You can even unlock other playable characters. With your weapons, you're going to have to blast your way through enemies until you can't stand it any longer.  Of course, you can't choose what type of weapon the crate will give you and it gets quite sticky when you do end up with one of the least powerful ones.

To make it worse, your enemy keeps falling from the sky. You constantly have to balance yourself from getting to the crate and shooting off the enemies before they fall into a fiery pit at the bottom. Once you fail to kill them and they do fall into the pit, they re-spawn; more stronger and faster than they were.

The good thing though is when you do hit the jackpot; you can get weapons that can easily wipe out the enemy. Sure, you get the typical magnum and flame throwers, but you also get  cool energy disk blade thingy that can kill everything in its path. You can even pretend to be a samurai with your katana or even go the war freak route with the grenade launcher. An insanely cool game with fun graphics, awesome sound and fantastic gameplay. Definitely worth checking out.

Related Links:
Super Crate Box Official Website
Super Crate Box on Game Maker Blog
Super Crate Box on Play This Thing
Super Crate Box on DIY Gamer
Super Crate Box on Crude Pixel

If you think that a game with a bunch of colorful lines doesn't deserve to be called a "game" at all, then Cygnus just might change all that. Now, in a world where competing for realism is what sells most video games, Cygnus attempts to stand apart. This deceptively simple game will actually give you quite a good challenge.

In the game, you are left to maneuver a ship that has no means of offense. You are basically in pursuit of what I presume to be another ship that's colored in red. You cannot fight or shoot down anything since you don't have any weapons. The one thing that you can do, though is simply maneuver, rotate or thrust your way down the goal. Think you can breeze through this game? Give it a go.

Cygnus has been likened a lot to a shoot'em up game released back in 1982, Gravitar. Unlike the latter, Cygnus isn't a shoot 'em up game. As mentioned, all you can do is move forward or slow down as you go through each room. Even though each room might just look like a bunch of lines drawn together, it's actually more challenging than it seems. The moment you overcome one room and every single obstacle in it, the next succeeding room immediately becomes even more tougher. The game takes a long time to complete and master, so expect to die about a million times before you actually get everything right.

If you are looking for something challenging or if you simply want to fry your brain a bit, then this is the perfect game to download. Even though you might not be completely impressed with the graphics, it does have a very cool gameplay and an awesome soundtrack to go along with it.

Related Links:
Cygnus on Freeware Website
Cygnus on Indie Games
Cygnus on Game Jolt