Skyrise Runner Free

From its premise of a blue dreadlocked warrior defending his ancient tribe's home against human invaders to its sumptuous forest setting, Skyrise Runner Free could potentially put a new wing on James Cameron's house if the lawyers get involved.

But we can forgive a little light plagiarism, as Skyrise Runner Free is a pretty solid attempt at the endless-runner formula. It's only marred by irksome crashes (unfixed at the time of writing) and a bizarre lack of leaderboards.

As the last of an ancient tribe that bears more than a passing resemblance to Avatar's agile Na'vi, you're on a one-man mission to defend the tree tops from wood-crazed lumberjacks.

Your main tactic involves running at full pelt at the axe-wielding enemies until you're close enough to blast them away with magical powers.

It's a rather effective strategy, only complicated by the fact that the trees grow on floating platforms that you have to jump, or double-jump, between.

Your pace is perpetually quickening, too, making the leaps harder and harder to judge, until your inevitable tumbling death occurs.

Diamond hunter

While you're felling lumberjacks you're also supposed to be collecting diamonds and using them to buy power-ups, for quick speed boosts or brief spells of invulnerability (you can also buy these with in-app purchases, along with permanent buffs to equip).

Collecting a floating feather, meanwhile, launches a brief, mini-game in which your avatar Ciellu is transformed into an eagle that can shoot down lumberjacks hanging from ropes, but tumbles lifeless to earth when it hits a branch.

While this is nothing special, it does add some variety to a slender, yet gorgeously presented, game package.

There are some in-game challenges to complete, too, but the lack of online leaderboards and irregular crashes sap Skyrise Runner Free's long distance appeal.