Every week, Pocket Gamer sister site Quality Index (Qi) highlights the newest games to make a critical splash in the cool, seductive waters of the iOS pool.

Grabbing scores and opinions from all corners of the web, including from 148Apps, AppGamer, and IGN, Qi answers all your iPhone-related questions before you've even asked them.

Today, we're going to focus on two new contenders vying to be crowned king of your iPhone. Both are worthy, but do they have what it takes to win your head, your heart, and your wallet?

Teddy bear's picnic

If you go down to the App Store today, you're in for a big surprise, for sitting comfortably in the #1 spot is the un-bear-ably addictive item-matching puzzler Triple Town.

While there have been many variations on the match-three genre down the years, Triple Town's deceptively simple town-building façade disguises one of the best implementations of the formula on iPhone.

You have to cultivate your town from grass and bushes to houses and mansions by aligning three of the same element together to make another, more valuable element.

Occasionally, however, bears will wander into town and start interfering with your architectural efforts. Having to manage the encroaching critters whilst keeping one eye on your structures is the unique dynamic that's keeping iPhone gamers glued to their touchscreens.

148Apps's reviewer believes Spry Fox's Triple Town is already the game to beat in 2012, calling it "The most addictive portable game I've played so far this year."

Blast from the past

If your tastes are more Metal Slug than wooden hut, though, why not try Star Marine: Infinite Ammo, an arcade-flavoured 2D side-scroller which is bringing up the rear at #10.

One look at this trailer and you'll know where you stand. Guns, robots, aliens, lasers - all your favourite sci-fi ingredients are accounted for in this explosive homage to beloved shooters like Contra and Rapid Reload.

As you would expect, there are some oversized bosses to beat down, a varied selection of weapons to help you get your slaughter on, and even a jetpack to get to those hard-to-reach baddies.
Slide To Play offers its blessing in no uncertain terms, stating: "Star Marine: Infinite Ammo is a killer game, with tons of content, terrific level designs, epic boss battles, and loads of reasons to keep coming back."

You can get the up-to-date information about which games are reviewing best over at the Quality Index.