TPG’s iPhone Picks of 2009

PRESTIGIOUS

2009 saw the App Store break out in mammoth fashion with thousands upon thousands of new releases hitting the iPhone and iPod touch. As such, awarding just one game a game of the year award seems unfair when there were so many great games on the platform. Our editors and writers consulted, and have deemed the following games to be worthy of our TPG Picks of 2009:

geoSpark | Imangi Studios and Critical Thought Games
We’ve waxed poetic about the game, gotten insights from both Imangi and Critical Thought about the insights and design philosophies of the game, and have played it incessantly since its release. geoSpark is intense, addictive, and just fun to play. One of the finest handheld games to come out in the past year, definitely.

Textropolis | NimbleBit
Word games are a dime a dozen on the iPhone – word games that are as original and stylish as Textropolis are not. The gameplay that has you making words from various city names was original, and the stress-free gameplay was refreshing, making this a game solely about the manipulation of words, and an incredible casual experience that NimbleBit has continued to perfect with each subsequent release.

BitFlip | Metamoorephosis
BitFlip has got a unique take on the gem matching casual game that has been so popular for the last several years. By giving each piece two sides, there are multiple ways to create your combos. Add to that the variety of power-ups that are available, and you have a game that is always different. Whether you have a few minutes, or all the in the world, the multiple game modes have an option to fit into your schedule. Honestly though, one of the best things BitFlip has going for it is the music by Robert Clouth, it’s energetic and fun which sets the tone for gameplay well. – Frank Delaney

Monkeys in Space | Streaming Colour Studios
Streaming Colour’s space-based take on path management (with monkeys!) was addictive, charming, and original even for the genre. The fantastic OpenFeint usage and update to the game adding a new character are only the whipped cream on this hot fudge sundae of fun.

Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor | Tiger Style Games
Haunting and entirely original, Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor is an example of a developer putting their strongest foot forward towards making a unique, and truly special game, one well worth checking out for its originality.

Pocket God | Bolt Creative
It could be argued that Pocket God has done more to change the App Store than any other game – what started out as a little app that let you use and abuse inhabitants of a remote island was gradually transformed through regular updates into one of the most feature-packed iPhone apps out there, exponentially increasing the game’s content, keeping it in user’s minds, and becoming a huge success in nearly every aspect, while keeping the original concept of messing with little island dudes intact, just finding so many new ways in which to do it.

geoDefense | Critical Thought Games
THE game that changed tower defense on the iPhone, by making it about challenge, speed, and reflexes along with the traditional strategy elements that tower defense games have. This is tower defense at 200 miles per hour, and it is insanely enjoyable, when you don’t want to fling your iPhone like a frisbee. And I don’t recommend trying – it’s just not as aerodynamic as the average frisbee.

These were our picks for our favorite iPhone games of 2009. Have any other games you felt deserved to be honored? Tell us in the comments!