O2 mobile game download charts and new releases: December 14th

One of the things we love most about mobile games is the sheer variety in comparison to home console games. The Xbox 360 and PS3 seem to be flooded with titles that involve either killing hundreds of faceless henchmen in the past, killing hundreds of faceless henchmen in the present, or killing hundreds of faceless henchmen in the future.

Don't get us wrong, killing faceless henchmen is one of the strong traditions that gaming is built upon (that sounds pretty awful in 'print') but since when did a home console have a game about running a pub?

Indeed, one of the most interesting new mobile releases this week is Pub Mania and very good it is, too.

From pubs to cafes, though, and another concept that has yet to materialize on home consoles is Cafe Blackjack which, based on its consistently strong lineage, is bound to be pretty decent. Then, nestling in amongst a couple of other fresh games (Harry Potter Mastering Magic and Slingo Bingo) is the seasonal and very robust Christmas Toyland, a game that admittedly bears a somewhat uncanny resemblance to one of the best mobile games ever conceived: Pyramid Bloxx.

In the charts, meanwhile, Pac-Man has finally been knocked off the top spot by, would you believe it, another little yellow man. The game in question is Catchphrase and no, Roy Walker has not been struck down with jaundice; the little yellow man we're referring to is his sidekick, Mr Chips, of course.

The shake up at the top was felt like a ripple right through the chart, though, with almost every game switching places with another. And all this musical chairs business left room for only one new entry, with World Snooker Championship slipping into ninth place.

So it looks like the key players are now set and the big question remains: which game is going to win the festive thumbs of gamers up and down the UK to claim the coveted Christmas number one spot? (We're aware that we're dangerously close to sounding like we're on Radio 1 talking about the pop charts, but we like to live dangerously.)

We'll be back in seven days to let you know. In the meantime, the games below are available to buy via the O2 games portal or by texting the short code from a compatible O2 handset. Enjoy!
New Releases December 14th

Slingo Bingo (I-Play) Slingo Bingo brings the game to the puzzle genre you love and the quest titles you're addicted to. Are you ready for the next challenge: the quest? Slingo Bingo promises to take the fun factor to the next level and introduces ingenious ways to play the experience while you try to discover the pirate's treasure! Arr! Read the review Text GAME SLINGOBINGO to 80202
Harry Potter Mastering Magic (EA) Play as Harry, Ron or Hermione and strive to win the coveted Studious Success Cup, awarded to the student who achieves the highest marks in the various Hogwarts classes and O.W.L.s. Practise wizard classes and complete exams, track your performance and perfect your magical skills. Success depends on this! Text GAME HPMAGIC to 80202
Pub Mania (GAmeloft) During happy hour, you alone will seat the customers, take their orders, and serve them. Pay attention to their preferences and react to their moods, because in Pub Mania, the customer is king! You can improve the place (buy new tables, change the decorations, and so on) or improve the service (hire bands or a new server, add items to the menu, etc). It's up to you to turn it into the hottest spot in the city and make your dream a reality! Read the review Text GAME PUBMANIA to 80202
Cafe Blackjack (Telco Games) Play blackjack in a comfortable cafe setting. Never played? No problem; there are tutorial and 'advisors' for beginners! Once you're set, expect to face 27 challenges, six table difficulty settings, and game stats to track your progress! Create a character, form cafes with friends and win prizes! Text GAME CAFEBLACK to 80202
Christmas Toyland (Digital Chocolate) The award-winning Pyramid Bloxx and the ever-popular Santa team up to save Christmas! Help the elves transport the presents to the sleigh from the secret workshop located deep below the North Pole and test your timing and strategy skills in this addictive puzzle game. Read the review Text GAME TOYLAND to 80202

The O2 Java game download chart (w/e Dec 13th)

1. Catchphrase (Gameloft) Say what you see in the official mobile game of the widely popular TV gameshow. Join Roy Walker and try to guess what Mr Chips is telling you on the screen. Relive the show's best moments as you go through the 300 different catchphrases available. Read the review Text GAME PHRASE to 80202
2. Pac-Man (Namco) Navigate the maze, avoiding the ghosts while gobbling up all the yellow pac-dots. Remember: munching on the large power-pellets enables you to turn the table on the pesky spectres! Classic gaming never dies. Read the review Text GAME PACMAN to 80202
3. Need for Speed ProStreet (EA Mobile) Steel yourself to withstand the pressures of street racing, build the ultimate race machine and pit your skills and reputation against the world's best street racers. It's no longer enough to rule your neighbourhood, it's time to dominate on a global stage. Read the review Text GAME NFSPROSTREET to 80202
4. Deal or No Deal (Gameloft) A quarter of a million pounds, 22 identical sealed boxes, and no questions, except one: Deal or no deal? Now at only £2.50, you should know the answer to that one. Read the review Text GAME DEAL to 80202 to download now
5. Monopoly Here & Now (Glu) Play the world's most popular board game as if it were invented today. This is a polished update of the classic money-making challenge. Read the review Text GAME HERENOW to 80202
6. The Sims 2 (EA Mobile) Play the top-selling PC game on your phone! Create your Sim, then explore and customize their world! Now available for just £2.50. Read the review Text GAME EASIMS2 to 80202
7. Brain Challenge (Gameloft) Using various, amusing exercises, train your brain whenever and wherever you want! Your coach will follow you everywhere on your mobile phone! Now at only £2.50, you shouldn't have to think too hard to decide on a copy. Read the review Text GAME BRAIN to 80202
8. High School Musical (Disney Interactive) Attend East High as main players Troy, Chad, Sharpay or Gabriella and show off your dancing, singing, athletic and scholastic skills in four different mini-games. Upload high-scores to the High School Musical community site and access more fun like the Trivia Challenge, Bulletin Board and additional content. Read the review Text GAME MUSICAL to 80202
9. World Snooker Championship (I-Play) Endorsed by the World Snooker Association, get to play at the Crucible to become the world's greatest for 2007! Featuring up to 20 licensed players from the World Championship, complete with motion captured animations, this claims to be as close to playing in the tournament as you will get on the move; the most realistic and advanced snooker simulation on mobile. Read the review Text GAME WSNOOKER to 80202
10. Tetris (EA) What started as a simple Russian computer puzzle game became the addiction of millions of players worldwide. Still as dangerously time-consuming as ever. Text GAME TETRIS to 80202