Here Are Some of the Best iPad Games We Played at PAX East 2014

PAX East 2014 was a packed event. There were massive AAA announcements, major titles playable on the show floor, an outstanding number and variety of great indie titles, and some pretty impressive sights to see. The show also had its fair share of new and upcoming mobile games, and there were several that I think should be on your must-play. Here are just a few of the top tablet games from PAX East 2014.

Framed

Framed is an innovative puzzle game that sees you manipulating a series of comic book-like frames to aid your in-game character’s getaway. For example, you may be presented with six panels, with your character moving through each of those panels in an attempt to flee some pursuers. Panel one could have your character running down a hallway, which leads into panel two which has him going through a door, leading into panel three where he has to navigate some stairs, and so on. You have to find the right order to position the panels, or risk your character being caught (or killed). It may sound confusing, but the game is actually quite intuitive once you’re playing. There’s a little bit of trial and error with the gameplay, but there’s no doubt that Framed was one of the more interesting titles I played at PAX. Look out for an App Store release sometime in the next few months.

Wayward Souls

Wayward Souls hails from the same team that gave us all Punch Quest, a delightful endless runner-like game that had you, well, punching quite a lot. One of the main elements that made Punch Quest so fun to play was its controls, which were simple, intuitive, and a great example of how to make arcade-style controls work on a touchscreen. Developers Rocketcat Studios are hoping to bring across that same control mastery to Wayward Souls. The game is a rogue-like, top-down dungeon crawler featuring six playable characters, and was a lot of fun to play. There’s a surprising amount of depth in Wayward Souls, including character progression and unique storylines for each class, but the most impressive thing was how well it controlled. The entire left side of the tablet can be used for navigation (meaning there’s no fixed virtual pad you have to stick to), while the right side is used for the various taps and swipes needed for combat. The action, too, is kept high and mid-screen, ensuring thumbs never get in the way of seeing what your character is doing. Wayward Souls is due for release on the App Store on April 24, with Android and PC versions to follow in the next few months.

Crowman and Wolfboy

Crowman and Wolfboy was certainly one of the more visually appealing mobile titles on show at PAX East 2014, and features an art style that’s reminiscent of Limbo. The game is an endless runner mashed with some platforming, and has you playing as the eponymous characters as they flee from their colorless, depressing world into a place of light and color. Controls were fairly simple--tap to jump, hold for longer leaps, swipes for dashes, and so on--and felt just right for the game’s particular take on the endless runner genre. It’s not as fast-paced or single-minded as something like the Temple Run series, as you will have to carefully navigate past platforms, enemies, and other objects impeding your way. Crowman and Wolfboy was charming and entertaining to boot, and is already out on the App Store (with an Android release scheduled for later this month). The game is episodic, so look out for the next two chapters in the months to come.