The best iPad games

Here are our favorite games to pick up, if you've got iTunes gift card money to burn.

Scott Stein Editor at Large

I started with CNET reviewing laptops in 2009. Now I explore wearable tech, VR/AR, tablets, gaming and future/emerging trends in our changing world. Other obsessions include magic, immersive theater, puzzles, board games, cooking, improv and the New York Jets. My background includes an MFA in theater which I apply to thinking about immersive experiences of the future.

Expertise VR and AR, gaming, metaverse technologies, wearable tech, tablets Credentials

Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps

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David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews

Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET's Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He's also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Nook e-books and audiobooks.

Expertise Mobile accessories and portable audio, including headphones, earbuds and speakers Credentials

Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer

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Scott Stein

David Carnoy

Dec. 23, 2015 8:40 p.m. PT

Pac-Man Championship Edition DX: such a good game. Get it while it's on sale!
Screenshot by Scott Stein/CNET

So, you've got an iPad sitting around. What games should you play on it? Well...there are a ton to choose from. And thanks to some aggressive holiday sales, some of these games are available for a steal.

And just what does make a good iPad game? We debated it for a while, and...well, for each person that decision will vary. Some of these are board games. Some are like interactive art. Others are free(ish) and ridiculously addictive. In other words, it's subjective. Most of these play on iPhones, too, but for a lot of the ones on this list you're better off playing on a larger iPad screen.

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With that in mind, here are our current favorites, displayed in alphabetical order. Feel free to sound off with your own picks (or criticize our choices). There's no way to catch all the games out there, but you probably won't regret trying these.

Click on any image to start the slideshow.