If there was a way to subscribe to developers games on iTunes, I would subscribe to these developers without batting my pretty eyelashes. These teams really innovate and entertain on a consistent basis.
Kami Retro$1.99
Gamevil USA
We love Gamevil because: They made that stinking Baseball Superstars 2011 Pro that was amazing, even though all the "R's" were "P's" because of some bizarre translation glitch.
Still love 'em because: Kami Retro is incredibly challenging, but it's not equally frustrating. The levels are bite-size enough to try over and over, even after losing dozens of times. It's an auto-runner, which is a genre I just made up for games where the protagonist runs on their own and you just press a button to make them jump.
In Kami Retro's case, it's all about sliding your finger to the proper jump trajectory. When the character (a short man with a headband) reaches the end of the level, he starts again, four times, which allows you to collect all the stars in a given level and amass combos for the seemingly simple finger slides.
As the game progresses, you'll have to turn by swiping in the opposite direction as your character is running, jump off bouncing platforms called springboards, and all together ask, "Why won't you stop running in the face of imminent doom?"
Once you finish the level, you're awarded points based on 1) how many stars you collected 2) how many lives you have 3) how fast you did it.
Hot Springs Story$3.99
Kairosoft
We love Kairosoft because: They made Game Dev Story, and all of my friends stayed up until 2am on worknights trying to get perfect 10s on their games, which we're still pretty sure is impossible.
We still love 'em because: Hot Springs Story is basically Game Dev Story with a different location. Sure, we prefer a game catered to gamers rather than one full of wrinkly old men in bathing towels, but the fundamentals of the game are the same. In Hot Springs Story, you build and manage a hot spring, always expanding with saunas, restaurants, vending machines -- basically anything that will keep your guests satisfied. If they stay happy long enough, they'll give you more money and popularity.
That newfound money can be spent on new items, and the popularity unlocks new things. In other words, it's the perfect proverbial carrot to keep you playing. And play you will -- Hot Springs Story is both longer and more expansive than its Game Dev Story predecessor. It's also loads smoother -- all of the little glitchy issues we had with GDS have been fixed here. Sure, it's still not to an EA or Gameloft level of polish, but it feels much better.
Here's to hoping Game Dev Story 2 is next, and not Nightshift Janitor Story.
Hook Worlds$0.99
Rocketcat Games
We love Rocketcat Games because: They made my favorite iOS game of all time, Super Quick Hook.
We still love 'em because: Hook Worlds is in every way the sequel we were hoping for. There's no introduction, just a few button presses and your mid-game. If you haven't played the earlier games, this could be a bit of a problem. In Hook Worlds (and all of Rocketcat's Hook games) you swing around like Spiderman with a grappling hook, latching on to things and avoiding pitfalls, lava, avalanches, and giant squids that are chasing you.
You also have a secondary ability, which ranges from chapter to chapter. In the first chapter, it's the legendary rocket boots (also seen in Super Quick Hook) and in the second chapter it's a golden revolver, which makes short work of the ghosts that litter your path to gold.
Hook Worlds has more upgrades (including a few in-app purchases), more unlockables (unlocked via one time scores and career culminations) and four unique shorelines.
Extra love to Rocketcat because: One of their storylines is "In a world where gnomes are illegal, one gnome fights to outrace the grim future…. Cybergnome 202X"
