Best of the iPad

10 essential launch titles for Apple's slab.

Feature by Kristan Reed Contributor

Updated on 20 May 2010

Mirror's Edge for iPad

£7.49 (no iPhone equivalent)

Widely regarded as the pick of the iPad launch line-up, it's easy to see why US critics have been all a-froth about this beautiful free-running platformer. Like a more coherent Canabalt, you must guide Faith safely across endless rooftops and obstacles, leaping, sliding, wall jumping and wall running to the end of each level.

Is it better on the iPad? Like all the best touchscreen games, Mirror's Edge for iPad succeeds by not trying to replicate a joypad. Instead, via a series of taps and context-specific slide motions, you can pull off a breathless array of acrobatic manoeuvres in a way that could be frustratingly out-of-reach on the full-blown version. If anything, EA has done a better job with this version of making a free-running game than DICE managed, and this should be your first port of call when deciding which games to buy.

Tap Tap Radiation

Free (not available on iPhone)

The innumerable Tap Tap games on iPhone always showed a certain degree of promise, but always seemed slightly held back by the limitations of the screen dimensions. With more room to play with, Tap Tap Radiation sees Tapulous shake off some of those shackles with a brilliantly entertaining rhythm action title.

Despite offering up some excellent tracks (including a cracking Datarock track and a great Massive Attack remix), its free nature ensures that it is saddled with a song list that even a hardened music nerd will struggle to be familiar with. No matter, though, because the game itself operates well within its determinedly limited framework.

Is it better on the iPad? There's no denying the gameplay feels a lot more varied, with the pressure pads often shifting place mid-song, while the backdrop feel more psychedelic than ever. Going back to play the old Tap Tap titles is pretty jarring by comparison.

Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Episode 1: The Penal Zone

£3.99 (not available on iPhone)

Sam & Max: Point and click becomes point and point.

For point-and-click adventure fans, the iPad is positively a dream come true, offering up what amounts to the perfect platform for the genre. The arrival of Telltale's third season of Sam & Max for a bargain price is, obviously, wonderful news, and a sure sign that developers are eyeing the platform with interest. Indeed, the fact that the new season actually premiered on iPad in the US was a real coup for the format.

Is it better on the iPad? In comparison to the PC and PS3 versions we've played, not really. Although the controls and interface are absolutely tailor made for the iPad, it's clear that Telltale struggled to optimise the game's performance adequately. It's not a complete deal-breaker, but the appearance of regular jarring slowdown takes a little away from what would have otherwise been an absolute must-buy.

Bubbling under

With dozens of titles to wade through, forming a definitive top 10 was a real struggle, so here's a list of some of the other games you should keep in mind for your iPad shopping list.