The Sandbox: iGaming (and the 10 Indie iPhone Games You Need to Check Out Now)

How indie game developers are cashing in on Apple's unexpectedly successful platform.

No discussion of awesome handheld indies would be complete without a mention of “Rolando” and its recently released sequel, simply the finest games to hit Apple’s nascent platform. Developed by HandCircus and published by ngmoco, “Rolando” plays like a cross between a “Mario” platformer and a puzzle game, requiring you to navigate round balls with cheery faces (known as Rolandos) through side-scrolling levels. To make a Rolando roll left or right, you tilt the iPhone in your chosen direction; to make it jump, you swipe your finger up on the screen. That’s more or less the entire control scheme, though gameplay is anything but easy — trying to simultaneously guide a group of Rolandos through a series of obstacles can be quite a challenge, not to mention continually surprising and entertaining.

Intricate level construction, cartoon visuals that recall “LittleBigPlanet” and demanding objectives (which include collecting diamonds around each level and completing stages in given time limits) make “Rolando” one of the best games I’ve played this year on any console. Sure, big-time publishers are bound to start getting things right on the iPhone sooner rather than later (EA’s recent “Sims” port is a great start). But at least for now, it’s indies like “Rolando” that are making the iPhone a gaming juggernaut.

Ten Indie Games To Check Out on the iPhone

1. “Rolando” ($5) and “Rolando 2″ ($10)
HandCircus’ platformer/puzzler hybrid is an inventive blast, and the best reason to dive into iPhone gaming.

2. “Trism” ($5)
A sharp puzzle title in the mold of “Bejeweled,” Steve Demeter’s game looks and plays great, not to mention poses a considerable challenge.

3. “Flight Control” ($0.99)
Firemint Games’ title puts you in the shoes of an air traffic controller, guiding planes and helicopters to landing strips by drawing flight plans with swipes across the touchscreen. An uncomplicated premise that results in a pulse-pounding experience.

4. “Fieldrunners” ($5)
Defend your turf from foot soldiers, tanks and airships in this, the best of a crowded tower defense market.

5. “Peggle” ($5)
A port of PopCap Games’ PC hit in which you blast pegs and bricks with balls fired from a cannon, it’s a game whose simple controls fit the iPhone’s touchscreen like a glove.

6. “Zen Bound” ($5)
One moment calming, the next moment vexing, Chillingo’s meditative game involves wrapping up pieces of animal-shaped wood with a rope, all by tilting your iPhone.

7. “Crayon Physics Deluxe” ($5)
Another great port of a PC puzzle game in which you attempt to move a circle over to a star by drawing (with your finger) various gravity-changing shapes across the screen.

8. “Galcon” ($10)
Real-time strategy games have never been my thing, but this planet takeover title from Hassey Enterprises has a touch-screen interface that’s so intuitive, I was quickly hooked.

9. “Real Racing” ($10)
For car racing buffs, Firemint’s visually impressive game — now with added graphical horsepower and the ability to listen to your iTunes music library, for iPhone 3Gs users — provides the best bang for the buck.

10. “Ruben & Lullaby” ($3)
An interactive story in which, through swiping the screen, you control the emotions of — and dictate the fate of — two arguing lovers, this hand-drawn animation title isn’t wholly successful, but its creativity is inspiring.

The Sandbox, a column about the intersection between film and gaming, runs biweekly.

[Additional photo: A scene from "Fieldrunners," Subatomic Studios, 2008]

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