Xbox-Branded Games for Windows Phones

2012 has been an absolutely incredible year for mobile gaming. Gone are the days of snake and awful java ports of street fighter, replaced by bright and shiny first-person shooters and intricate platformers, some of them even imported from high quality consoles. Now, with the year heading to a close, I thought I’d weigh in with my six favorite Xbox-branded games for Windows Phones (in no particular order).

Wordament – Free

  It’s a fact universally acknowledged that commuters are addicted to puzzles. Take the almost inexplicable overnight popularity spike of Sudoku a few years ago, and the subsequent slew of copycats and descendants now adorning the nation’s favorite newspapers. Wordament is a deceptively complex word puzzle, which presents the player with a grid of 16 letters, from which they must make as many words as possible – the longer the better. Commuters, take note.

Chickens Can’t Fly - $0.99

  Although in possession of a, technically, untrue title, Chickens Can’t Fly is one of those wonderful gems of a game – stunningly simple yet thoroughly addictive. Play the part of a scientist experimenting on a group of chickens to see which gadgets and gizmos can make them fly the farthest, avoiding a plethora of dangerous yet hilarious obstacles along the way. The game also features a great Challenge of the Week feature, and will even provide you with some decent ringtones along the way. Bawkbawk.

Mush - $2.99

  Now, there are hundreds of brilliant platformers I could mention in this list, but never before have I come across a game where the only way to progress to the next level is by changing your character’s mood! Mush is exactly that game – a smart and challenging platform with a heart. Perhaps the coolest part of the game is the opportunity to unlock incredible new abilities based on your characters current mood! Mush is truly one of the most beautiful games I have ever played, and definitely deserves a spot on your device.

Fragger - $2.99

  No matter how hard I tried, I never quite liked Worms as much as everyone else did. The little cutesy character that, to some, were the height of childhood hilarity, were just incredibly annoying to me. Fragger takes the basic mechanics of Worms and applies it to the real world. Shoot and ‘nade your way through over 300 testing levels, unlocking a plethora of different abilities and perks along the way! You can even compare your scores to those playing on the app or on Miniclip, so you can find out how much better you are than the rest of the world! In the words of Basil Brush: Boom Boom!

Civilization Revolution - $2.99

  No list of great games is ever complete until a decent strategy entry comes along, and this year’s offering from old favorite Civilization is one of the best yet. Taking place in the all-too-familiar Sid Meier universe, Civilization Revolution lets you take hold of one of 16 civilizations from birth to victory (or death, if you mess up). Complete with PC-standard advisers and multiple difficulty levels, this is a must-have for any Civ fan on the go.

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit - $4.99

  Now, I’m not usually a racing fan. Even as a kid I was always bored by cars – all they do is go round and round, where’s the fun in that? But this year I’m learning to drive, and what better way to get practice than using a mobile game, right? Right!?

Anyway, I was incredibly surprised by Need for Speed’s 2012 offering, mixing fast and furious game play with amazingly styled design. Take the role of a traffic cop or rebellious criminal, and try to catch or escape the other all while avoiding obstacles and occasionally laying them. This is everything you could want from a driving game, and stands out for the intense graphics and sound design. I definitely feel the need… the need… for speed.

So there you have it, six great games you may have missed in 2012. Why not splash some Christmas money their way – I guarantee you’ll enjoy every one of them!

Author Bio: The article is drawn by Jason Phillips. He is a freelance blogger, a loving husband and a father of two kids. At his free time he usually enjoys playing Tom and Jerry games.