Top Skill-Based Games for iPad

There are games that you just play. And there are ones that you master. The App Store has thousands of great game apps to download and enjoy on your iPad. Here we list five of the top games that will challenge your skills while still giving you a good time when you’re catching a break.

Top Eleven - Be a football manager (Nordeus)

Step into the shoes of a football coach and take your team all the way to football glory. Top Eleven - Be a football manager seems to be a fitting game to start off our list of skill-based games with the 2014 FIFA World Cup a few months away.

In Top Eleven you create and manage your all-star football team while competing in championships against millions of other gamers worldwide for first place. You can train your team to improve their skills, buy and sell players, and develop tactics that will make your team into a winning machine.

GSN Casino (Game Show Network)

Get a taste of some hot Las Vegas gaming action with the GSN Casino app. This app features dozens of classic casino games such as blackjack, video poker, slots and bingo. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice and hone your skills.

Instead of using chips, GSN Casino uses tokens that can be exchanged in-game to get virtual accessories that spice up your gaming experiences. When you first load the app and throughout the rest of the game, bonus tokens are a welcome reward to ensure you’re off to a running start.

The latest version of GSN Casino now features even higher wagers on slots for you high-rollers out there and a nifty vertical scrolling ability to make it easier to check out your casino dashboard.

Cut the Rope 2 (ZeptoLab)

Don’t be fooled by the whimsical graphics and cartoony feel. Cut the Rope 2 is the much-awaited sequel to the popular puzzle game that has made addicts out of millions of mobile gamers everywhere. It takes a few minutes to grasp but as you progress through the levels it becomes increasingly more challenging..

Swipe your finger across the mobile screen to cut the moving rope. But make sure it’s all well timed because you want to make sure it drops into the cute alien’s mouth. Cut the Rope 2 has hundreds of levels to enjoy and will keep busy for a long time with all its hidden goodies. Collect gold stars, discover hidden prizes and unlock bonus levels in this award-winning and very addictive game.

Badland (Frogmind)

Badlands is an addictive app with slick physics and detailed visuals that earned it Apple’s Design Award for 2013. Using a single finger, you control a bunch of tiny flapping critters and try to lead them safely through the cleverly designed levels till the end. The concept is easy enough to understand but it will take a lot of practice to master this game.

The great visuals, realistic mechanics, and addictive gameplay make it very easy to get lost into your quest to save the critters. The game lets you unlock all kinds of achievements every time you complete a level and the newest update also features a fan store where you can purchase in-game new power-ups to help you conquer the trickier levels.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Rockstar Games)

A blast from the past, GTA: San Andreas gets a new lease of life on your iPad after first coming out on the Playstation 2 back in 2004. Rockstar bring the expansive world of San Andreas right into the palm of the hand with enhanced graphics and over 70 hours of gameplay.

You play the story of Carl Johnson, who is forced to take on the meanest streets of San Andreas to seek revenge and save himself and his family from the grip of gangs and other denizens of the state’s underbelly. By looting, stealing and killing your way through whoever comes into your path, you will gain control of the streets and establish yourself as the man to fear. The game comes with intuitive virtual controls and a revamped learning curve that lets newcomers to learn the ropes quicker. 

Start practicing now!

Did you know that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in anything? Well, then consider these top games as your training ground to become a master mobile player.

Practice with (or against!) your buddies and show them who’s the best player. Whether you’re a serious gamer or a casual player looking for something to kill some time, these games are both  a fun and challenging way to spend your time.