Bring the mobile game ranking charts back to Kotaku this week has taught me a lot about the various mobile platforms. The iPhone and Android players have similar tastes. Windows Phone players can't get many of the games from those other platforms, so they go insane. Oh, and everybody loves Flow Free exactly the same amount.
The Windows Phone charts are going to be a highlight of my week from here on out. At this point I can pretty much predict what's going to show up on the Android and iPhone charts. The Windows Phone chart is like stumbling into a cross-dimensional time machine. It's the Big Lots of mobile marketplaces.
That might all change with the coming of Windows Phone 8, but until then I'm going to cling to it so tight.
Top Paid Windows Phone Games - 10/18/2012
1. Extraction
A top-down shooter released awhile back for iOS, the whole older iPhone game thing is a bit of a trend on the Windows Phone. Hey, it's new to them!
2. Angry Birds
How is Angry Birds still charting so high on Windows Phone? Because Angry Birds Space and Bad Piggies don't exist on the platform.
3. Fruit Ninja
Because slicing fruit with your finger never gets old no matter which phone you use.
4. Babel Rising 3D
The mobile version of the downloadable game is incredibly hard to play on a phone, not sure how it made it this high on the list.
5. Real Soccer
So much better than fake soccer.
6. Rocket Riot
Such an amazing little game. This blocky side-view shooter deserves a higher spot.
7. Frogger
Well now we know which mobile platform the old-school gamers prefer. Frogger on a current top game list; so lovely.
8. Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
So this is where that mobile version of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit got off to. The Windows Phone gamers do love their older racing games.
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit on Windows Phone
9. Asphalt 5
I'm sure that if Asphalt 7 was available on Windows Phone it would be right up here.
10. Contre Jour
Possibly the best game available on the platform.
Not too many surprises in the paid category this week, but then the paid category isn't where the Windows Phone flavor is. Freedom is where it's at, and it's a little bit kooky.
Top Free Windows Phone Games - 10/18/2012
1. Lucky Coin Dozer
It's the old pushing coins off a ledge arcade game, only instead of winning things you can spend real money to up your score. I am so confused.
Lucky Coin Dozer on Windows Phone
2. Air Assault
A side-scrolling shooter featuring a helicopter, and helicopters always win.
3. Xbox Live Extras
Customizing your Xbox Live avatar totally counts as a game. I play it all the time. My score is awesome.
Xbox Live Extras on Windows Phone
4. AE 3D Motor
Get your motor running. Head out on the highway. Looking for adventure, and tilt-control.
5. Flow Free
Okay, now it's a conspiracy. Flow Free is also number five on this week's Android and iPhone charts. There is something fishy going on with this colorful puzzler, and I'm going to get to the bottom of it!
6. Contract Killer
Contract Killer. Qu'est-ce que c'est? Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa far better.
Contract Killer on Windows Phone
7. Dalton — The Awesome
It's not the running and gunning that makes Dalton so appealing. It's the awesome.
Dalton — The Awesome on Windows Phone
8. Premium Pool
Why settle for crappy regular pool? You deserve better. We all deserve better.
9. Pandas Vs. Ninjas 2
How could I have possibly missed Pandas Vs. Ninjas the first? I don't even know who I am anymore.
Pandas Vs. Ninjas 2 on Windows Phone
10. Bubble Star
When you're a bubble-popper it doesn't matter if your name is overwhelmingly generic.
Will these charts move at all? What happens when Windows Phone 8 games start coming out? Will there be a Pandas Vs. Ninjas 3? Tune in next week, true believers!