Top 10 Games Phones: December 2008

Yes folks, it's that time again. Since we last surveyed the mobile phone gaming landscape back in September much has come to pass, but one thing remains incontrovertibly certain: the iPhone is simply unassailable as a portable gaming platform.

As keen readers of this site will know, the sheer volume of support for Apple's product has been almost implausible; the App Store is updated frequently with new games and the although the quality isn't always as high as you might hope, the very best specimens are truly a joy to play.

In contrast, Nokia's revolutionary N-Gage service has struggled to maintain the same kind of rapid-fire delivery, but with five compatible handsets in this list the company is obviously doing something right. Elsewhere, we see new entries (and a few exits) from the likes of LG and Sony Ericsson, but it's obvious that when it comes to serious mobile gaming, the wise money is on either Apple or Nokia.

	1. Apple iPhone Did you seriously expect any other phone to be sitting in pole position this month? Despite a flood of below-average quality titles in recent months, the iPhone remains the best choice for the game-loving mobile phone owner. With titles such as Kroll, Theseus, Real Football 2009 and Spore Origins, the iPhone boasts a catalogue that is simply second to none in the mobile phone arena. The best thing is, it's only going to get better from here on in – with Gameloft chucking its sizable weight behind Apple's product with the likes of Brothers in Arms and Hero of Sparta, the next 12 months should be very interesting indeed for what is arguably Steve Jobs' most hyped piece of consumer electronics yet. (Read our review.)
	2. Nokia N96 Nokia's flagship phone is so packed with cutting-edge features it's a wonder the engineers managed to cram it all in, and as a gaming device it represents what is perhaps the Finnish manufacturer's finest hour; the dual-slider mechanism reveals four dedicated gaming buttons and the D-pad is one of the best we've ever witnessed on a mobile phone. The spacious screen grants a luxurious amount of detail during gameplay and the N-Gage service remains utterly brilliant - we just hope that Nokia can attract a little more support for it in the future. Games like the superlative Reset Generation are simply without equal - few games on Apple's App Store come anywhere close to rivalling it - but only the most blind of Nokia fans would argue that new releases are somewhat slim on the ground compared to what's coming on the iPhone. (Read our review.)
	3. Nokia N85 Released practically alongside the N96 and boasting a set of specifications that is almost identical, the N85 may not make much sense from a business point of view but we have no issue with Nokia providing us with two handsets that are this well-endowed when it comes to portable gaming. The unique dual-slider design appears again and the gorgeous OLED screen makes games look vibrant and sharp, but sadly the slightly less impressive D-pad prevents the N85 from completely stealing its bigger brother's thunder when it comes to pocket gaming. (Read the review.)
	4. Nokia N81 8GB Previously the vanguard of Nokia's N-Gage revolution, the N81 has now passed on the baton to the likes of the N96 and N85. Even so, this remains an exceptionally capable handset and both newcomers owe a massive debt to it in terms of design. There's actually fairly little to choose between the trio of N-series handsets featured in this list in terms of gaming, with all three connecting effortlessly with the N-Gage platform, but the N81's somewhat older set of specifications make it slightly less attractive than its siblings - but only just. (Read our review.)
	5. Sony Ericsson W760 Last month we expressed our discomfort at having to decide between this excellent handset and its stable mate the W910. Both share dedicated gaming interfaces (with two additional buttons above the screen allowing you to play in 'landscape' mode) but given the similarity between them we've ditched the W910 and gone with the W760 instead - just because we can. This remains Sony's best mobile from an interactive entertainment viewpoint; the aforementioned control system is brilliant, the D-pad is responsive and the accelerometer-control works wonderfully. Now all Sony Ericsson need is a dedicated gaming portal as good as Nokia's. (Read our review.)
	6. Nokia 5320 XpressMusic When we reviewed the 5320 we described it as 'N-Gage on a budget' and that certainly remains the case now. The 5320 is reasonably priced and offers the most accessible route into the glorious world of Nokia's gaming portal. The small screen and slightly awkward control configuration conspire to make it slightly less essential than it probably should be, but not everyone has deep enough pockets to afford an N96 or N85, so this remains a solid choice if you're itching to discover why N-Gage has been granted so many column-inches over the past year or so. (Read our review.)
	7. Nokia N95 8GB It may be getting a bit long in the tooth but the N95 is still more than able to hold its own against newer handsets when it comes to gaming. Granted, its been superseded in the Nokia portfolio by the likes of the N81, N85 and N96, but it still towers over the vast majority of mobiles out there when it comes to offering quality entertainment on the move. We still have reservations over that uncomfortable D-pad and it's undeniable that Nokia has since refined its products to give a better account of the N-Gage service, but if you're one of the many people who cherish their N95s then you won't need telling that the phone is still an excellent choice for gaming. (Read our review.)
	8. LG KS360 The KS360's slide-out keyboard may grant users a high level of texting ability but it's the way those extra buttons have been put to use from an entertainment perspective that really interests us here at Pocket Gamer. You see, when the keyboard is slid out the 'O', 'M', 'K' and 'L' keys handily form a D-pad. In fact, when it's in full-on 'gaming' mode, the KS360 ends up looking an awful lot like the recent PSP2 concept renders we've seen - surely a fairly decent indication of how well suited this particular phone is for gaming on the go. (Read our review.)
	9. Sony Ericsson C902 Cyber-shot The C902 might have been a mildly underwhelming start for the 'C' range but one aspect of the phone we didn't have a problem with was its gaming prowess. True, Sony Ericsson's phones lack the draw of a dedicated gaming service like N-Gage, but with a responsive D-pad and accelerometer control included as standard, mobile gamers are well catered for here. Points are deducted for the D-pad being a four-way rather than an eight-way affair, though. (Read our review.)
	10. LG KC550 Orsay This may be a phone that thinks it's a camera but the Orsay is also adept at providing ample entertainment for your thumbs. It showcases one of the best D-pads we've come across in a long time - although for some inexplicable reason the phone only comes pre-loaded with accelerometer-controlled games. Download your favourite Java titles, however, and you've got a phone that is extremely accomplished in the arena of portable gaming. It's also nice and cheap, too. (Read our review.) Click 'Track It!' to be notified whenever we update this list, or bookmark our regular Top 10 game phones rundowns.