Best iPhone 4S Games

There are apps for reading, for watching television, and for helping you shop. There are games, too, of course. And while we couldn't exclude the likes of the ubiquitous Angry Birds, many of our choices should help you unearth a few gems you wouldn't otherwise have found. We have a fondness for games that tax the mind as well as the fingers, and that's reflected in the inclusion of wonderful titles such as World of Goo, Strategery, and Magnetic Billiards.

The iPhone has sparked a gaming revolution, with more wonderful, innovative games being released than ever before. Here are some of the best iPhone 4S games.

Best Racing Games for iPhone 4S

Real Racing 2

If you prefer realism in your racing rather than the sheer fun of kart games, Real Racing 2 HD is for you. Detailed graphics, a terrific soundtrack and a brilliant physics engine add up to the closest thing you'll get to racing without, you know, actually getting in a car. Jump in for a Quick Race or play in Career Mode and work your way up from being a rookie. With 12 tracks, 48 cars, and online gameplay, you're unlikely to get bored. Floor it.

Price: $4.99

Asphalt 6: Adrenaline ($0.99)

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit ($4.99)

GT Racing: Motor Academy (Free)

Real Racing GTI (Free)

Asphalt 5 ($6.99)

Uber Racer 3D - Sandstorm ($0.99)

Need For Speed: Undercover ($2.99)

Death Rally ($0.99)

Best Action/Adventure Games for iPhone 4S

Infinity Blade ($5.99)

Infinity Blade is a medieval adventure, where you play the role of a knight out to avenge you father's death at the hands of the "God King ".You follow a predetermined path through the game, fighting duels with a evil swordsmen and massive ogres on your way to confront him. As you work your way into the castle, blue circles indicate possible paths for you to follow, bad guys to battle and objects, including gold and armour, that you ran pick up. Defeating Me God King's henchmen earns you points, which can be traded for better weaponry. Despite the lack of freedom to explore your surroundings, Infinity Blade is engrossing and immensely playable.

Best Strategy Games For iPhone 4s

Strategery ($1.99)

The aim of Strategery is simple; world domination. And as any megalomaniac worth his fake medals will tell you, that means turning the map the colour of your particular brand of narcissism. You'll be given territory to start with, and a handful of armies, but you'll have to think it through carefully. Don't go biting off more than you can chew. A roll of the dice when the other side has more troops than you could easily see you in retreat.

Plants Vs Zombies ($2.99)

The zombies are coming, and they're heading for your front door. All you have to defend yourself with are some plants. You're doomed, surely? Maybe not. With 49 different types of plant to, err, plant at the 26 different zombies, something might just slow them down, if not turn them entirely to mulch. A brilliantly bonkers game.

Civilization Revolution ($6.99)

Mecho Wars ($0.99)

Military Madness – Neo Nectaris ($4.99)

Robocalypse – Mobile Mayhem ($0.99)

Fieldrunners ($2.99)

Supremacy Wars ($0.99)

Tower Defense: Lost Earth ($0.99)

Land Air Sea Warfare ($5.99)

Starfront: Collision (Free)

Catan ($4.99)

Best Puzzle Games

World Of Goo HD ($4.99)

We could describe World of Goo as a physics-based puzzle game, but that would make it sound rather dull. And if there's one thing that World of Goo isn't, it's dull. Weird? Check. Surreal? Check. Beautiful? You bet. The object is straightforward: use the Goo balls to build wobbly bridges, tower blocks and other vast construction projects. The joy is in the wit, the music and the gorgeous visuals. World of Goo will make you laugh and charm the pants off you.

Drop 7 ($2.99)

Drop numbered balls onto a grid. A clever and addictive puzzle game that rewards careful strategic thought.

Osmos ($2.99)

Your mission in Osmos is to help your mote grow by absorbing smaller organisms, but to do that you must move, expelling matter behind you as you go. It's thoughtful, complex and absorbing.

Magnetic Billiards: Blueprint (Free)

Think billiards, but with no pockets. Oh, and no cues. Just balls. And your finger. Shoot the balls by using your finger like a pinball trigger and build clusters of balls to clear the table. Not too quickly, though. The more shots you take, the better you score. Sound easy? It's not.

The Heist ($2.99)

Words with Friends ($1.99)

Peggle ($2.99) 

Zen Bound 2 ($2.99) 

Cut The Rope ($0.99)

Fragger ($0.99)

Best Sports Games

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 ($2.99)

The classic PlayStation football game comes to the iPhone. Controlling your players using an onscreen 'joystick' and two buttons is surprisingly effective, the graphics are remarkably good and there are various game modes to choose from.

FIFA Soccer 12 ($4.99)

Let's Golf! 3 (Free)

3D Pool Master Pro (Free)

NBA JAM by EA Sports ($0.99)

NFL 2011 (Free)

Real Soccer 2010 (Free)

Best Arcade Games

Bit Pilot
You're piloting a bunch of LSI pixels somewhere in a galaxy far, faraway. There are asteroids bombarding you and all you can do is try to avoid them for as long as possible. We've all been there. Use your thumbs to swipe across the screen and control the ship. Two thumbs in the same direction are faster than one, in different directions they allow you terrific precision. The longer you survive, the more points you earn.

Zookeeper Dx Touch Edition
The animals have broken out of their compounds (but not in a Jurassic Park sort of way) and it's your job to stop them escaping from the zoo altogether. The storyline and music put this match-three puzzle game well ahead of the pack. It's easy to play too, just drag the animals into place. Zookeeper DX Touch Edition is terrific fun, charming, and highly addictive.

Angry Birds Rio ($0.99)

Frogger ($0.99)

Zombie Duck Hunt (Free)

Flick Champions ($0.99)

ARKANOID ($4.99)