Since it’s debut last year, the Kindle Fire has remained one of the most affordable and best selling tablets on the market and part of its secret is Amazon’s appstore. Instead of relying on the Google Play store, Amazon has built up its own library of apps and games custom built for its devices. The games below are some of our favorite titles currently available for the Kindle Fire.
Did we miss something? Let us know in the comments below. Also be sure to check out our picks for the Best Kindle Fire apps.
Dead Trigger (Free)
A mysterious virus has transformed most of the population into rabid zombies. This is a graphically impressive first-person shooter that’s fairly easy to pick up. The relentless waves of undead must be gunned down if you want to survive. There are plenty of weapons and gadgets to assist you, although you’ll need to earn them, which takes a long time if you resist in-app purchases. The main story mode challenges you to protect other survivors and scavenge things you need, or you can go for all-out action in the survival mode.
Hill Climb Racing (Free)
How far can you take Newton Bill? It doesn’t look like much, but this physics-based driving game gets under your skin and it’s tough to put down. The aim is to get as far as you can over an undulating landscape before you run out of gas. There’s some strategic challenge to this that is complicated by the unique properties of the vehicle line-up which includes trucks, jeeps, bikes, and even a tank. Add the ability to upgrade individual parts, from the engine to the tires, and a range of maps, and you have yourself a tough wee game to master.
Kingdom Rush ($2)
This well-respected tower defense title has been around for a few years, but it finally has a Kindle Tablet Edition and it’s well worth buying. Over 30 varieties of enemies, from goblins to mountain trolls, will try to storm your defenses, but you can stop them with upgradeable towers and barracks that spawn defenders. The game is beautifully designed, with polished art and audio that deliver a comedy fantasy tone, and a real depth of gameplay that will keep you engaged for hours and hours.
Gems Journey (Free)
Many people prefer gentle, casual gaming options on their Kindle tablet and this match-three puzzle game with a twist certainly delivers. There are 160 levels to beat with more promised as an update from the developer. The basic gameplay is familiar and addictive. Match-three gems to clear the board, but there are time challenges and move limits, as well as a choice of different modes, to spice things up a little. This is accessible fun for the whole family thanks to the gentle difficulty curve.
Real BoxingTM ($1)
There’ll be blood, sweat, but hopefully no tears in this graphically stunning boxing game. You’ll need the eye of the tiger if you want to claim the three titles that are up for grabs in the epic career mode. You can customize your boxer, train via mini-games, and face-off against 20 opponents with unique styles and strengths. One of the best-looking games around, featuring gameplay with real depth, this is a challenge that no boxing fan can refuse.
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing ($2)
Back in the day Sonic did battle with Mario for the affections of gamers everywhere, so it seems fitting that he should star, along with a bunch of forgotten Sega sidekicks, in this rip-off of Mario Kart. Nintendo doesn’t always share, so you’ll probably never see their anarchic battle racer on Android, but this is the next best thing. Race around a track, pull dirty tricks on your opponents, and laugh with glee as you hit that finish line first.
Scribblenauts Remix ($1)
If you never caught this game on the DS then make sure you don’t miss out a second time. It’s a casual side-scrolling puzzler with a real sense of humor and creative joy. You can simply type in whatever you think you need to solve the puzzle and it will appear. There are multiple ways to solve each puzzle so you can let your imagination run wild. This is a wonderful game that will amuse and delight people of all ages and tastes. Seriously, if you don’t like it, you have no soul.
Prehistoric Park (Free)
There are plenty of tycoon-style building and management games on Android, but most of them are limited, impossible to play without in-app purchases, or just plain bad. If you were disappointed by the Kindle version of Theme Park, then you should check out this free alternative. You have to create a theme park to keep cavemen happy. There are over 60 rides and attractions to build, and you’ll need to hire staff, and keep a watchful eye on your Neanderthal customers. It has the usual “free with in-app purchases” trade-off between slow grinding and spending real cash to speed things along, but you can have a lot of fun without dropping dollars.
Quell Reflect ($1)
Hypnotically captivating and beautifully crafted, Quell Reflect is a series of challenging puzzles that will charm and frustrate you by turns. There are over 80 levels to beat and the hand-painted art style is well complemented by the musical score to create a relaxing puzzler. As you progress, it begins to test your skills and you can’t afford to relax too much if you want to complete the game without resorting to hints. This is a lot of entertainment for a dollar.
Super Stickman Golf ($3)
If you can’t get out for a round, then the 300 or so holes on offer here should be enough to keep you busy. This game has a classic 8-bit art style with a soundtrack to match, but the real attraction is the gameplay. You’ll find all kinds of hazards lie between you and the hole and you’ll need to use the right strategy to sink that ball. The difficulty curve is perfect for sucking you in and ball selection is a vital part of it as you can choose balls with various powers. Be warned your partner may become a Stickman Golf widow.
Stray Souls: Dollhouse Story ($3)
Hidden object games are popular with all sorts of people and this one gains an extra edge thanks to an atmospheric background and a creepy plot. You play as a woman desperately seeking her missing husband and you’ll run into a smorgasbord of creepy characters as you explore. As is the tradition with these kinds of games, hidden object scenes are alternated with light puzzles. It’s well polished and it has an unusually engaging storyline, so it’s an obvious choice for anyone who likes hidden object games that aren’t too challenging.
Dead Space ($7)
This is a chilling sci-fi experience with high production values. EA has optimized this version for the Kindle Fire. It’s a third-person shooter set on a huge spacecraft and the crew seems to have been transformed into mutant aliens. There’s a good mixture of carnage and atmospheric chills on offer here and the controls work surprisingly well. You’re not exactly spoilt for choice on the Kindle Fire if you’re a shooter fan so this is a must-buy.
Minecraft – Pocket Edition ($7)
Who knew a little indie project with blocky graphics and no actual objective would blow up so much? The team behind Minecraft knew they were on to something, and boy were they right. Take the concept of LEGOS, make it so players mine for pieces and craft them together to make other things, and you’ve got this game. Now you can play this instant hit on your mobile device. Build your blocky buildings, visit the Netherworld, and avoid creepers anywhere in the world with Minecraft – Pocket Edition.
Blood & Glory: Legend (Free)
In the old days, warriors would gain honor and legend through the art of hand-to-hand combat. Scars were their ribbons of achievement, living to fight again their ultimate reward. Now it’s all about owning the top of the leader board against your friends. Regain a little of that old spirit with Blood & Glory: Legend. The game is an absolute spectacle, especially on Kindle Fire HD, that will have you too distracted trying to stay alive to enjoy the sights of the Empire you’re battling through.
Monsters Ate My Condo (Free)
Most people that move into a condo to so because they don’t want standard upkeep and maintenance responsibilities of home ownership. No such luck for the players of Monsters Ate My Condo. There’s nothing harder to clean up than intergalactic destruction. Luckily, there are few things as fun either. Prevent the destruction of earth by feeding alien invaders and satisfying their odd cravings for condominiums. It’s an odd premise from Adult Swim, a company you’d expect nothing less from. They manage to provide as much enjoyment as oddity, making this a game worth owning.
Jetpack Joyride (Free)
Most people that work in pencil pushing jobs find unique ways to entertain themselves. It might be building a paper clip house or watching until their screensaver lands exactly in the corner. Barry Steakfries stole a jet pack. You can use his adventure as your escape and avoid death by boredom. Collect coins to unlock new outfits and awesome jet packs are powered by lasers or machine guns. Then use your newfound items to terrorize the very scientists that created them. Did we mention you get a jet pack?
Temple Run (Free)
Temple Run wasn’t the first endless runner, but it does seem to be the one that made them cool. It added 3D elements to a predominately 2D genre, placed it in a temple, and captured the essence of every Indiana Jones escape scene ever. By doing so, Temple Run makes the “endless” part of “endless runner” a major positive because you’ll have an endless amount of fun with it. Outrun the Evil Demon Monkeys, beat the traps, and defy death–until you die. Then just do it all over again.
Doodle Jump ($1)
The world of mobile gaming is full of never-ending ‘runner’ titles that challenge gamers to see how far they can get, with no actual end achievable. Doodle Jump is a great example. Rather than running, you guide a cute little doodler up as high as he can get. Starting at the ground floor, you’ll jump up into the atmosphere and eventually into space, where obstacles include black holes and UFOs. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say this modern classic is out of this world.
Fruit Ninja ($1)
Martial arts have existed for thousands of years and have been practiced by many generations. Fruit Ninja allows you to master a very specific tradition: The art of slicing and dicing. Fruit will be sent flying across the screen and you’re burdened with a single task: carve up the produce like your hands are a juicer. It’s a silly concept–something Halfbrick Studios has become well known for–but it’s addictive and fun. Load up Fruit Ninja on your Kindle fire and you’ll be a black belt in no time.
Angry Birds Space HD ($3)
No mobile franchise is more well known than Rovio’s winged juggernaut Angry Birds. After massive sales of every iteration of the series, Rovio decided to shoot for the moon and bring their birds into the final frontier. Angry Birds Space takes the same basic formula that made the series famous–launching birds at greedy, green pigs that stole their eggs–and gave it a little space-based tweaking. New powers, new birds, and gravitational pulls makes this edition of the physics-based flyer arguably the best one yet. If you’re jonesing for more Angry Birds you might want to check out the sequel, Angry Bids Star Wars II. (Read our Angry Birds Space review.)
NBA JAM by EA SPORTS ($5)
For gamers that used to smash buttons and jostle joysticks back in the arcade, NBA Jam is a familiar franchise. Now rebuilt for a new generation and optimized for the Kindle Fire, the series once again shoots and scores. Players from all 30 teams in the NBA and unlockable characters will make gamers says “boomshakalaka!” Adding in local multiplayer and a campaign mode for an extra challenge makes it hard to deny that this game is on fire.
Triple Town (Free)
The key to many mobile games is a focus on simplicity. Triple Town masters this with a puzzle format that is easy to pick up, but hides an extraordinary amount of depth. The goal of the game is to grow a city as big as it can possibly get by matching and combining pieces. You’ll work up from grass to flowers to trees to castles, with steps and strategy in between. The one thing trying to keep you from accomplishing your goal? Bears. Watch out for bears.
Words With Friends (Free)
Words with Friends is the perfect game for people who love words and also have friends. If that describes you, there’s no reason for you not to have this game. Start up a turn-based match against friends or strangers where you’ll try to put together the best words possible, scoring points for every play. It’s a very familiar formula, especially for Scrabble players. Play up to 20 games at the same time so there’s never a moment between your search for the elusive triple word score.
Draw Something ($3)
Draw Something became a bit of a mobile phenomena not long ago, which led to the purchase of the title’s publisher and a television deal based off the game’s concept. While the hype may have died down, the game sure hasn’t. Hop in and play against millions of players around the world as you attempt to draw a picture that will trigger your partner to guess the right clue. Then switch roles and decipher their attempts at being Picasso-on-the-go. Draw Something is undeniable fun–and no actual drawing skills are required.
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