FIFA 13 kicks off this week’s must-have games roundup, delivering a much-improved version of everyone’s favorite soccer sim. In addition to new visuals and optimization for the iPhone 5, FIFA 13 finally boasts an online multiplayer mode, allowing you to play against friends and random opponents over the Internet.
We also have Rovio’s latest release, Bad Piggies; a stunning adventure RPG called Lili, a new Monsters Ate My Condo game, and more.
FIFA Soccer 13 — Universal ($6.99)
As a massive soccer fan, I love EA Sports’s FIFA Soccer series, and FIFA 13 is the best yet on iOS. Why? Because it’s the first to boast online multiplayer, allowing you to play against your friends and random opponents over the Internet.
In addition to online multiplayer, FIFA 13 boasts “groundbreaking graphics” that promise to be more realistic than ever, and the most responsive controls it has ever delivered on iOS. The new Skill Move button lets you perform your favorite tricks using simple swipe gestures.
FIFA 13 features 30 leagues, 500 licensed teams, and more than 15,000 players from the English Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, and more. There are Quick Match, Manager, and Tournament game modes, and 32 authentic stadiums — home to some of the biggest teams.
What’s more, unlike previous FIFA releases, this one’s a universal app, so you only need to buy it once to play it on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Note: The trailer above is for the console edition of FIFA 13, so the visuals aren’t quite as good as that. But they are pretty great.
Bad Piggies — iPhone ($0.99) / iPad ($2.99)
We’ve spent years with those disgruntled birds trying to wipeout the pesky little pigs that steal their eggs. But it’s time to switch sides. In Bad Piggies, you’re helping the pigs for the first time ever.
Join them on their missing to steal as many eggs as they can get their hooves on, creating the ultimate flying machines that will safely transport them through 60 action-packed levels — which get harder each time.
Achieve three starts in each one and you’ll unlock another 30 puzzles, and Rovio is promising there’s more to come in future (free!) updates. There are also four sandbox levels that require you to “stretch your creativity,” and if you collect all the skills in each one, you unlock another “ultra-special, ultra-secret, ultra-difficult sandbox level.”
Bad Piggies is unlike anything Rovio has done before; there are no catapults and it’s not all about smashing things up. But I think that’s a good thing — and it doesn’t mean Bad Piggies is anything less than awesome.
Lili — Universal ($4.99)
Lili is quite possibly the prettiest, most visually stunning game I’ve played on iOS to date. It literally is a beauty. But that’s not the only reason why this adventure RPG is so incredible; it’s also got a great storyline.
On the mysterious island of Geos, Lili will meet a number of hilarious locals, explore beautiful environments, solve some puzzles, and even challenge an oppressive regime or two along her way. Lili uses an amusing “non-combat” system for dealing with enemies, and sorts out a few personal issues along the way.
Lili is set in a free-roaming world, so you can play the game at your own pace. What’s more, there’s also a difficulty setting designed specifically for kids, so even your little ones can get involved.
Super Monsters Ate My Condo — Universal ($0.99)
If you haven’t played Monsters Ate My Condo yet, you’ve been missing out on one of the most frantic, and one of the most enjoyable puzzle games on iOS. And if you have, you’ll be pleased to hear there’s a new version in the App Store. Super Monsters Ate My Condo is more intense than ever before.
You must earn as many points as you can in just two minutes by matching the colorful condos as quickly as you can, but you’ll need to watch out for the nasty new condos that generate nukes and acid. You’ll be able to boost your score with multipliers earned from spinning the Monster Wheel.
There are more than 90 Game Center achievements to complete, better visuals (optimized for iPhone 5), and even more addictive gameplay.
God of Blades — Universal ($2.99)
God of Blades is a stunning platform sword-fighter inspired by “pulp novel covers, classic RPG modules, and 1970s rock.” Sounds awesome, doesn’t it?
The dead king rises! Become a spectral warrior who has returned to defend his planet against a rampaging doom-cult and the devouring touch of the cosmic horrors they serve. Wrenching this world from the grasp of oblivion, the Nameless King wields phantom blades forged from the legends and heritage of the dying world.
Raise your blade, and rush into the darkness!
There are 10 hand-crafted environments for you to play through — all of which look gorgeous on Retina display devices — with an extensive campaign that boasts an epic story. You’ll wield an array of unlockable weapons, each with their own unique look, feel, and power.
Once you’ve finished with the campaign, there’s an awesome Eternal Mode which is based on survival; you see how long you can go against various warriors in an effort to get the best score possible.
What’s Your Favorite?
So that concludes our list of this week’s must-have iOS games. If you’ve picked up something that you think we should have included, be sure to let us know about it in the comments.
