From a tiny studio in Saskatoon, far removed from the tech hotspots of Montreal and Vancouver, Noodlecake has built a thriving business around helping iOS developers bring their games to Android. The result has been quality ports of gaming classics like realMyst and amazing new releases for the platform like Lumino City and Sage Solitaire.

Super Stickman Golf

The first Super Stickman Golf game was a big hit, and its sequel brings new levels and special course elements to the addictive arcade golf experience without straying too far from the original formula. With 180 holes, unique obstacles, power-up options and local and online multiplayer, Super Stickman Golf 3+ has plenty to keep gamers coming back for more.

The core gameplay is simple – players can move the ball around the course using arrows on a side view screen, then tap on the golf club to set the angle and power of the shot. The physics engine then does its thing to try to get the ball in the hole – sometimes with hilarious results, as a just-slightly-off shot can send the ball ricocheting off of a conveyor belt, exploding into an enemy or even out of bounds.

But what really makes this game stand out is the variety of different obstacles, from sand traps and water hazards to teleporters and gravity wells, that chuck the ball’s journey into a whole other dimension. Luckily the controls are easy to pick up and can be adjusted to suit players of all abilities, though some may struggle with the precision needed for some shots.

The game also has plenty of replay value thanks to the various dollar bills scattered throughout each course, a hat lottery system and two different online multiplayer modes in race and turn-based form that can be played with up to eight players. Apple Arcade users can play the game for free and gain access to all of the downloadable courses, hats and more without needing to make an in-app purchase.

Pumped: BMX 2

Pumped: BMX 2 is the latest addition to the franchise, and it’s an improvement in every way. It’s still a side-scrolling stun game where you ride your bike across levels, trying to survive and perform tricks and flips. The game has a lot of content to offer, with 50 challenges and 500 levels grouped into difficulty tiers.

The graphics are quite good and the controls are also quite responsive, allowing players to make complex stunt combinations. The game has a few drawbacks though, namely that the pumping mechanic, which is essential for doing the most complex moves, is poorly designed. This means that it’s difficult to clear gaps in the road or land properly on slopes.

The game has a lot of depth to it, including a challenge mode and leaderboards that will keep you coming back for more. It also features an in-game shop where you can buy new gear for your bike and unlock achievements. The only thing missing from this game is multiplayer, which would have made it even more fun. The game is available on mobile platforms as well, but it doesn’t feel like a mobile game. This is a welcome change from the many mobile-turned-console games that retain their gimmicky feel. The game is free-to-play, but there are no IAPs to worry about here.

Punch Quest

Punch Quest is what an endless runner, a brawler, and a dungeon-crawler would look like if they were thrown into a time machine, spat out in the early 1990s, and then put on a SNES cartridge. It features a beefy protagonist who bashes hordes of monsters with fierce uppercuts and dash punches. And it offers loads of upgrades, lively little touches (such as a dinosaur that shoots lasers from its mouth), and eye-popping retro graphics.

Players can access new moves and power ups by defeating enemies or opening chests found throughout the game. But unlike many mobile games, Punch Quest doesn’t hide these things behind a paywall. Rather, they’re accessible to anyone willing to spend the time churning through enemy scum and grinding to build up enough Punchos to unlock them.

While the game hasn’t performed as well as Rocketcat Games and Madgarden had hoped financially, it has helped them reach a much wider audience than they could have achieved with a price tag. And it has also shown them that a well-made free-to-play game can be just as fun and addictive as an expensive one.

Version 2.0 adds some small tweaks and fixes, including a new egg that will transform you into the Goaticorn for a short period of time, plus adjustments to the game’s path-unlock upgrades.

Jupiter Jump

Despite its rudimentary graphics, Jupiter Jump has a lot to offer for a game of this genre. It’s another fiendishly tricky endless runner that is sure to test your reflexes. It also features leaderboard integration, so you can brag about your high scores to your friends. This is the kind of game that you need to focus on and play in short bursts if you want to do well.

In this game, your astronaut’s ship is about to crash into Jupiter due to some unlucky space anomaly. You must quickly think through your options to realize that you have no choice but to eject from the ship. This means you will have to bounce along Jupiter’s surface, avoiding mines, portals, and gates while trying to gain points and unlock multipliers.

You can play this game on any iOS device, including the Apple Watch. It has full Game Center support with leaderboards. The game is free to play, but it does include occasional ads. If you’re annoyed by these, there is an in-app purchase available to remove them. Some people have complained that Jupiter Jump is unrealistic because it doesn’t account for the fact that there are no solid surfaces on Jupiter. However, it is still a fun way to learn about the planet’s size and gravity. You can also use this app to help understand the relative sizes of the traditional planets as well as Pluto.