We’re continuing our series looking at iPhone games today, focusing on five fantastic sport games. These range from the relatively sedentary darts, through to the more action-packed Backbreaker: Tackle Alley.
We’ve taken on board your feedback and included a selection of screenshots from the games this week. If there’s anything else you would like to see in this weekly series, please feel free to voice your opinion in the comments!
Let's Golf
Let’s Golf
Golf games can be hard to get right, they can either be too easy or far too fiddly and boring. Let’s Golf gets the perfect balance between the two, with lovely cartoon graphics and enjoyable gameplay. With 4 full courses and plenty of items to unlock for your character, it could take a while to complete and even when done you can challenge your friends in the online mode.
Backbreaker: Tackle Alley
Backbreaker: Tackle Alley
Seemingly as a prelude to their Xbox 360/PS3 game coming out in the Spring, Backbreaker was voted as one of the best games in the App Store in 2009 and its easy to see why. The aim of the game is simple…you run the length of the football field, dodge the defence using the iPhone’s tilt ability and score a touchdown to earn points.
Sometimes though, you wonder if the game just wants you to fail as the beautiful ragdoll physics when you get hit just make you want to stand there and get pummelled. There are 60 levels to complete on three difficulty modes and its well worth the price.
Price: $.99
Developer: Natural Motion
Download: App Store
Tap Jockey
Tap Jockey
Not the most in depth of games, Tap Jockey won me over with the cute icon. The gameplay is simple, you just tap the screen to get your horse to run, but getting your horse across the finish line in first place takes a bit of skill. There are 6 races in all with the ability to win points to upgrade your horse. You can try Tap Jockey LITE for free before purchasing the main game.
Price: $1.99
Developer: Hiroshi Kobayashi
Download: App Store
F1 2009 Game
F1 2009 Game
Officially licensed with all the teams, drivers and circuits from the 2009 F1 season (although inexplicably released after the season is over and so almost immediately out of date) F1 2009 has time trial and endurance modes for all 17 circuits used. Choose from any driver and set your fastest time for each lap using the iPhone’s tilt to steer and optional driving aids like suggested race line and brake assist. The lack of championship mode may concern some, but for a game to play on the go its great fun.
Price: $6.99
Developer: Codemasters
Download: App Store
Darts
Darts
Good free sports games are hard to come by as they are generally just demo versions of full games, however Darts is quite a fun and addictive little app. Playing one of the two game modes (X01 and Cricket) is as simple as flicking your finger up the screen in order to throw your dart, but it does get quite addictive trying to beat the computer. The game lacks a career mode, but when it’s free you cannot really expect much more.
Share Your Favourites!
Please feel free to share your favourite sport games for the iPhone. I’d love to find a few new ones to pick up and play over the weekend.
Have fun – but don’t forget to go outside and take part in some real-life sport from time to time!
Our Sponsors
Great roundup! “Let’s Golf” was part of Apple’s Christmas giveaway; it certainly seems well polished, although I would like to find five minutes to have a proper go on it!
Nice. The screenshots in this post really help me to decide on whether or not I want to buy the apps. You guys have got a great thing going here, keep it up.
Thanks Daniel – Glad you like it!
I love Backbreaker, it’s great to kill time.
My favorite sports app though still is Crazy Snowboard by Ezone. Don’t get fooled by the – in my opinion – bad screenshots on the App Store. The graphics are really good and the boarding movements are very smooth and intuitive.
The goal is to complete levels with various tasks (score a certain number of points, jump through x-many hoops etc). By gathering points, you can unlock new jumps, boards or players (‘Dudes’).
It really is a lot of fun, especially since the devs released holiday themed versions (we had a Halloween one which was followed by the current christmas themed one).
Highly addictive
I must admit I love Crazy Snowboard as well. Much better than the graphics make it look and lots to do to complete the game
Super KO Boxing 2 has a definite old school Mike Tyson’s Punchout appeal, probably my favorite sports title on the iPhone/iPod Touch platform.
I love X2 Football, it’s probabbly the best soccer simulator on iPhone
I’m a music guy, my favorite app is probably Riff Raters
Wow exciting a multi-function of games, music and etc. is very lavish to enjoy. Thanks for a very cool features.
Take a look at our new Extreme-Sport Bike game FREE on the appstore now: http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/xtreme-sports-biker-lite/id367861669?mt=8
Hope you enjoy it
The DE Team
Much better than the graphics make it look and lots to do to complete the game