Hot like Kindle Fire

Candy Crush Saga

ES File Explorer

Skype

Evernote

Netflix

Clay Jam

Battery HD

Weather Live

Flashlight HD LED

Equalizer FX

Duolingo

Roku

HBO Go

Splashtop Remote

Clean Master

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Amazon's Kindle Fire slates were hot to trot when they first debuted and they continue to set the tablet world ablaze with the better-than-ever HDX lineup. The upgrades to the new slates were a welcome improvement, but one thing that didn't change is the Amazon Appstore. The highly curated Appstore doesn't offer as great a variety as the Apple App Store or Google Play, but it's not chopped liver either.

Here are some essential Kindle Fire apps that'll work for the HDX, HD, and original models. This isn't meant to be a definitive list of the best or most essential apps, but a collection of great downloads to get you started with your new device, or new titles for your old one.

Caption by Xiomara Blanco / Photo by Screenshot by CNET

Kindle Fire owners rejoiced when Candy Crush Saga was finally added to the Amazon Appstore in October and, if you don't already have a sweet tooth for popular puzzle game, where have you been? I give you fair warning that once you're under its spell, it'll significantly increase the amount of time you spend hating chocolate (irrational, I know) and justifying the joy you'll get out of spending only 99 cents for five more lives.

Caption by Xiomara Blanco / Photo by Screenshot by Jennifer Van Grove/CNET

Amazon's simplified UI makes it difficult to find files on your Kindle Fire tablet, but ES File Explorer alleviates that easily. It completely maps your entire file system, allowing you to access any and every file on your device.

Caption by Xiomara Blanco / Photo by Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET

The Kindle Fire HDX lineup dons spiffy new front-facing cameras that deliver clear and moderately colorful video, making Skype calls more tolerable for friends and loved ones everywhere. If you don't have a Kindle Fire with a camera, you can still use the app for chatting.

Caption by Xiomara Blanco / Photo by Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET

Evernote is a must-have for mobile note-taking. Its simple interface and multiple-device syncing make it easy to have your shopping list, tweet drafts, future song lyrics, and other useful musings always at your fingertips.

Caption by Xiomara Blanco / Photo by Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET

If you have a Prime account, you have access to Amazon's wide library of streaming video. That said, if you haven't joined Prime or can't keep your eyes off of the Kindle Fire HDX 8.9's top-of-the-line screen, Netflix is the next best choice for your video-streaming entertainment needs.

Caption by Xiomara Blanco / Photo by Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET

In a classic tale of colonization, Bully Beasts have driven out the happy monsters who once inhabited the world of Clay Jam and now it is your duty to rebuild the hills of Clay Jam, bring the monsters back, and kick out the Bully Beasts -- literally. The addictive monster action game's whimsical appeal evokes a "Pee-wee's Playhouse" aesthetic and its colorful Claymation graphics have crisp details that'll have you willingly wiping the smudges off your screen in between gameplay.