The goal is pretty straightforward: you’re a hole and your job is to eat everything. While there’s a multi-player element to things, the iOS version of the game has some pretty rudimentary AI so there’s no real danger from other “players.” Mostly, you’re playing against a rather generous clock.
Lately, I’ve been really enjoying playing Battle of Polytopia. It’s got elements of Risk and Civilizaion in it, with a small tech tree that you gradually expand over time.
On top of that, the choices you make can continue well beyond your lifetime. Once you die (and believe me, this happens a lot in the game), you continue the gameplay as the next king. A decision to create a hospital now could influence generations to come.
I found out via Facebook about a hilarious and fun looking new game called Quiplash. A game by Jackbox Games (the folks who created “You Don’t Know Jack”), it allows up to eight participants to log in with their mobile devices and play simultaneously.
There is no such thing as “par” for a hole. All you see is a flag, indicating the hole number. And however many strokes you take, those strokes get added to your overall score. Screwed up and it took you 10 attempts to get the ball in the hole? Plus ten. Got a hole in one? Plus one. No fanfare, no explosions, no indication that anything special happened. Just plus one, and on to the next hole.