Data & Research

Traps n' Gemstones and Galaxy Trucker are highest reviewed iOS and Android games of Q3 2014

Critically acclaimed

Traps n' Gemstones and Galaxy Trucker are highest reviewed iOS and Android games of Q3 2014

In the same way that public game companies announce their financial sales numbers every three months, the Quality Index (Qi) publishes its own quarterly figures.

But instead of assaulting your ears and eyes with talk of operating profit, ROI, and monetisation (brrrr), this here Quality Index quarterly round-up ranks the top 20 best-reviewed iOS and Android games that were released during the period 1 July - 30 September 2014.

Simple as that.

As for the reviews themselves, the iPhone, iPad, and Android Quality Indexes boast over 650,000 (in total) of them from the world's leading online sources, including 148Apps, Slide To Play, Pocket Gamer, and AppSpy.

Qi's Top 20 iPhone games of Q3 2014

The iPhone Qigames chart for Q3 certainly has an adventurous spirit.

Topping the chart for July, August, and September combined is Traps n' Gemstones, a stunningly well realised 2D metroidvania-style platformer that puts you in the boots of an Indiana Jones wannabe in a sprawling pyramid filled with spatial puzzles.

Down at number two, we have The Journey Down: Chapter 2 - a point-and-click adventure of the most adventurous kind. It continues Bwana's journey from the first chapter, with a similar mixture of suspense, humour, and tricky puzzles.

Continuing the adventurous theme at number five, 80 Days adds a unique spin to the famous story of Phileas Fogg and his trek around the world. This clever steampunk take combines elements of boardgames and choose-your-own-adventure books to create something memorable.

Speaking of memorable adventures, Valiant Hearts: The Great War at number ten tells a moving tale of survival and companionship through the First World War. It somehow manages to mix in historical accuracy, fantasy, action and humour without coming across as disrespectful or crass.

Qi's Top 20 iPad games of Q3 2014

The iPad Qi games chart for Q3 looks similar to the iPhone one, but there's one very notable difference - there's a different game occupying the number one spot.

Galaxy Trucker is a superb virtual boardgame conversion that sees you racing to build a spaceship before sending it out into space to take on various challenges. There's also an enthralling single player campaign, which arguably makes it better than the physical version.

Down at number three, Mikey Boots brings a third slice of time trial platforming to iPad - except this time the idea is to stay airborne using your rocket-powered boots.

At number four, meanwhile, Motorsport Manager makes being the head of an F1 team seem like a thoroughly enjoyable job - even for those who have little interest in the sport. Quite an achievement, that.

Finally, at number six, Five Nights at Freddy's is that rarest of things - a mobile game that's genuinely unsettling, as you try to escape the clutches of a bunch of animatronic nightmares using a shaky CCTV feed.

Qi's Top 20 Android games of Q3 2014

Traps n' Gemstones tops the Android Q3 games chart as well, making it this month's undisputed winner, but there are a few new faces on the list too.

After wowing the iOS crowd last quarter, Wayward Souls took the Google Play Store by storm in Q3. This polished roguelike action-RPG is at number seven.

At 14, Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake is a charming adventure-puzzler with a simply gorgeous art-style. While its puzzles are fairly simple, the developer has pulled inspiration from Nintendo's Zelda series, which seems like an awfully good idea.

Down at number 17, meanwhile, ALONE managed to breath new life into the flagging auto-runner. It sees you guiding your space craft through a crumbling giant asteroid, with a perfectly judged inverted control scheme to help you achieve that.

Methodology #1

To qualify for a Quality Index rating, a game must have received three or more reviews from the 75+ sites that feed into the Quality Indexes's databases.

Methodology #2

In the event of a 'tie', titles are separated in the first instance by number of reviews - the higher the total, the better.

Should the number of reviews also be identical, the Quality Index rating comes back into play. For, while we only display the average score to one decimal place, the list is generated to further significant figures.

You can always keep up to date with the hottest-reviewed iOS and Android games at the iPhone Quality Index, iPad Quality Index, and the Android Quality Index.

Jon is a consummate expert in adventure, action, and sports games. Which is just as well, as in real life he's timid, lazy, and unfit. It's amazing how these things even themselves out.