Creative iPhone, iPod and iPad apps
I decided to write a post about iPhone apps to explore how art is influencing the world around us. I set out to find apps that are creative and imagery to interact with the user in a unique way. Games immediately come to mind when I begin my search, but I started to see amazing utility apps like clocks and music generators that have been completely re-imagined.
I realize that in a sea of 100,000+ apps that this is just a microscopic sampling. Of the hundreds I read about and the 60+ that I decided to download and explored, these are the apps that stood out the most.
Please share any creative apps that you love in the comments. I am always looking for more to download 🙂
Spoke Groove Machine
Spoke Groove Machine for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Spoke is a drum beat generator and features a simple interface and clean design. Spoke can be used to create and save your drum loops.
Spoke Groove Machine – $1.99
Spoke Lite – FREE
Gliss
Gliss for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Gliss is a fun iPhone app that allows you to turn your drawings into musical master pieces. The player loops through the drawing and will translate the marks into sounds. I am really fascinated with the idea of representing sound graphically, so I am finding I am a sucker for these kinds of apps.
Gliss – $2.99
Fourish
Flourish for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Of the three music apps that I featured, Flourish is the deepest and most complex. Explore endless possibilities as you create and modify deep and complex musical compositions. The imagery in this is clean and while there is a slight learning curve, it is easy to use. A must have for music lovers.
Fourish – $2.99
DropBlocs
DropBlocs for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
In this frustrating little game you will tilt your iphone or ipod in all directions to move the little search light. This light will reveal shapes that you must match and drop in while you are aligned with you target. Super clean and simple game play, but a bit on the frustrating side.
When you find a bloc tap the screen and select matching bloc to drop, tap again to rotate falling bloc.
You need to be quick and have a steady hand to beat your best score.
DropBlocs – FREE
Nanodrops
Nanodrops for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
I love the look of Nanodrop, but I feel the design of this game out does the gameplay and the sound design is poor. I decided to include this one anyway because they have an update coming soon with new features and I think this one might be worth watching. So wait for the update before buying this, in my opinion.
Nanaodrops – $0.99
Infinity Gene
Infinity Gene for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
This game is probably my favorite out of all of the games I tested, mainly because it reminds me of playing my Atari when I was a kid. Infinity Gene begins as classic Space Invaders and evolves into a Space Invaders look with Gallaga-like game play. The game is feverishly fast and the imagery is mesmerizing and beautiful.
Infinity Gene – $4.99
Implode
Implode for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Implode is a beautifully drawn and addicting little iPhone game which gives you the task of destroying structures with various types of bombs. Not only do you have to make the structure topple, but you also have to make collapse to a point below the dashed line and without hitting obstacles and/or animals that might be around.
Implode – $1.99
Implode Lite – FREE
Implode Nature – FREE
Rafter
Rafter for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
A super cool physics game using a drawing style similar to what you might find in Leonardo’s sketchbook. The goal is to draw and drop shapes to destroy your target.
Rafter – $0.99
Polyhedra
Polyhedra for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
One of the more relaxing games that I played, Polyhedra is a physics based game where you are trying to fill more than 66% of the screen with your shapes. As you progress your enemies will multiply to prevent you from reaching your goal in the allowed number of moves. The game includes some relaxing music and has an ambient pulsing glow. You can also listen to your own music if you choose.
Polyhedra – $0.99
…™
... ™ for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
This game is gorgeous to look at, but you won’t have time to checkout the graphics since you will be slamming your iPhone from right to left trying to keep up with the rising textured levels.
…™ – $1.99
Hanged
Hanged for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Hanged is a wonderful version of the classic hang man, featuring stop-motion animations by artist Patrick Dorian.
…this re-imagined hangman game draws the user into the tumultuous relationship of two mysterious lovers. Uncover the secret of their sordid history and help decide their fate by piecing together their story letter by letter.
The game is fun to play and beautiful to see. I am only about 1/3 through the letter so far (i think), but hope to finish it soon.
Hanged – $1.99
Stay
Stay for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Stay is a balance game with an extremely simple concept and fun game play. The game is also amazing to look at with elements that look as is they were painted on the screen with watercolors. Certainly worth a buck.
Stay – $0.99
Lab Maze – The Beginning
Lab Maze - The Beginning for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
I absolutely love that this game looks like you are playing with moving elements on some graph paper. The game play is easy to grasp but can certainly become difficult. The controls do take a little getting used to. Lab Maze is free and worth checking out.
Lab Maze – The Beginning – FREE
Depict
Depict for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Similar to Pictionary, you will take turns drawing and guessing with others online. The gameplay is dead simple and the online aspect keeps it interesting. Guessing is done by multiple choice so you don’t have to worry about your typing skills.
Depict – FREE
Unify
Unify for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Unify is fun for both thumbs as you stack colored blocks from the sides and match colors. The game begins easy enough in black and white and adds colors for complexity as gameplay continues.
Unify – $1.99
Colorbind
Color Bind for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Awesome concept here as you stretch your color to cover all of the dots. The progression is nice as it starts simple to get the player up to speed before adding multiple colors. Gameplay is fun and this creative app is beautiful to look at.
Colorbind – $0.99
Mr. Bounce
Mr. Bounce for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
The design of Mr. Bounce is clean and simple while game play can get pretty crazy and complex. You can control both the height and trajectory of your square as you try to eliminate the different shapes. Overall a really fun game.
Mr.Bounce – $1.99
Mr. Bounce Lite – FREE
Eliss
Eliss for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Another super clean game with some of the most creative game play I have experienced. The sounds of the game are pleasant and the multitouch aspect is fabulous.
Eliss – $2.99
Eliss Lite – FREE
Blimp
Blimp for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
Blimp is a 2-D game where you control your blimp using tilt controls and a “hot air” button to complete various missions. The environments are lush and the attention to detail is amazing.
Blimp – $0.99
Blimp Lite – FREE
Exquisite Clock
Exquisite Clock for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
This is a clock iPhone app that uses everyday photos of numbers, words and images to create a clock. These photos are added by people around the world and uploaded to a central database.
Exquisite Clock – FREE
multiClock
multiClock for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
A beautiful clock with some great features and color settings. This iPhone clock can display 4 locations, in 4 clock formats, in 20 color schemes and looks great while your iPhone or iPod is docked.
multiClock – $0.99
KulerClock
KulerClock for the iPhone, iPod and iPad
This clock uses moving color theme swatches to keep you inspired throughout your day. Double finger tap to load another color scheme. Looks great in the dock at my work station.
KulerClock – FREE
