1. HundredsPrice: $4.99
Download for iPhone and iPad.
Hundreds feels less like a video game per se, and more like a brain teaser or art exercise. Its ambient background noise, muted colors, and refusal to adhere to normal gaming convention make it one to watch, especially if you're looking for something a little different. The name refers to the number of levels in the game, as well as the score goal for each one. The numbered bubbles float around in the ether, and you need quick reflexes to tap all of the relevant numbers quickly enough. There are traps standing in the way between you and victory, but the zen factor of Hundreds is undeniable, from the bizarre futuristic techno soundtrack to the obtuse "ending" you're met with upon completion. It's definitely a unique experience that's great for zoning out with, no matter the circumstances.
2. PivvotPrice: $2.99
Download for iPhone and iPad.Pivvot is an interesting minimalistic diversion that eschews complicated controls/convention for a game that simply flows. You follow a dot that you must navigate around joints on a thick white line by any means necessary. If that means turning your device or yourself to get the best angle, then you definitely will. Some funky beats, stylized levels, and the imminent threat of death if you touch an obstacle mean you'll quickly figure out a rhythm and a method that works best for you so you can keep yourself "alive" as long as possible. It's exciting in the same way that games like Super Hexagon perfected, and when you master its base levels, you can always turn up the heat for a more challenging game.
3. Impossible RoadPrice: $1.99
Download for iPhone and iPad.If you've ever played the music game Audiosurf, you might feel more familiar with the inventive Impossible Road, a unique combination of roller coasters and on-rails action. It's your job to guide a white ball down a twisting, endless road by simply tapping the sides of the screen in both directions to keep the ball on the track. Once you drop off of the track, it's game over, unless you can maneuver yourself back onto the track by some lucky twist of fate. It's an exciting riff on the endless runner that's hard to put down, especially if you're chasing a new high score. The counter at the top of the screen continues to tease you as you progress, but that's just one more earmark of the game being so darn addictive.
4. MosaiquePrice: $0.99
Download for iPhone and iPad.
Mosaique is a slick-looking puzzler with an interface that invites you to come in and play with as much subtlety as it can muster. What's intriguing about this game is that you can play it however you wish. You can swap different-colored blocks, clear out blocks of the same color, or string together block combos to fill your gauge and continue playing. The ten-minute soundtrack fits beautifully with the urgency of Mosaique, and before you know it you may have sunk quite a few hours into several procedurally-generated levels. It's only a buck, so give it a try!
5. har.mo.nyPrice: $0.99
Download for iPhone and iPad.
The art of the zen puzzler isn't lost on iOS developers, and that's clearly showcased in har.mo.ny, a game that asks you to rearrange blocks to build different color palettes on top of each other. It's relaxing in a way that you wouldn't expect from a puzzle game, but that's where it finds its niche. Over 1000 levels await you as you channel your inner interior decorator, matching swatch to swatch and indulging in a symphony of color and sound that should delight the senses. Just look at all those colors. Needing some inspiration for your next home project? You might just find it here, if you're not too busy playing to get up and get to work on your house.
