The 10 Best Free BlackBerry Games

People don't tend to associate Research in Motion's BlackBerry platform with games—for good reason, honestly. Compared to the iOS, Android, or even Windows Phone 7 platforms, BlackBerry gaming offerings are thin on the ground.

Yet few can deny that BlackBerry remains a formidable force in the mobile sphere. Despite the rise of iOS and Android, BlackBerry still accounts for about 29% of all smart phones sold in the U.S. For the past couple years, BlackBerry App World has provided developers with a centralized marketplace, and despite a bumpy start, the Playbook has promise.

Certainly then, there must be plenty of great games available for an app-based platform that serves tens of millions of customers. The answer: Absolutely—if you're into puzzles, problem solving, and wordplay. For this roundup, I submit the ten best free games to loosen your BlackBerry's necktie. While you shouldn't expect arcade-style action, BlackBerry has a lot to offer casual gamers.

Even though certain thematic elements—such as bubbles—defy category, the top games divide neatly into four basic types: matching, problem, memory, and wordplay. I also included one outlier that represents one of the best card games available for the platform.

I would love to see this roundup outdated by the time of its publication, but I'm not banking on it. BlackBerry remains more business-focused, and for enterprise it's the dominant platform—for now. Nevertheless, there's no reason that you can't have a bit of fun after that boardroom meeting; this roundup will add a little sugar to your coffee break. Check out the slideshow for my top ten selections, and comment with your own favorites.

1. Awesome - Bubble Breaker - Free 5 Levels

Nice Games
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/18187

Bubble Breaker bubble-wraps Tetris. The idea is simple: the more colors you can line up in a row, the more bubbles you pop, and the more points you rack up. While you can upgrade to the full version for a buck, Nice Games gives you gives you five levels and three difficulties—up to five bubble colors—for free.

2. Brain Cube

XIMAD INC
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/34508

If Tetris isn't your puzzle-pick, no worries, there are plenty more brain teasers to come, starting with the graphically gratifying Brain Cube. Developed by XIMAD Inc, a familiar name to Windows Phone 7 gamers, Brain Cube asks you to roll (flop?) your cube to a hole at the end of each puzzle layout. It may sound simple; however, a stack of obstacles—from crumbling to teleporting squares—and environments—Glass, Ice, Fire and Space—stand between your cube and its space.

3. Bubble Birds

XIMAD INC
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/26638

Also from XIMAD, Bubble Birds migrates Bubble Shooter to Blackberry. As opposed to Bubble Breaker, in which bubbles are the new blocks, Bubble Birds trades bubbles for birds. (What's with Blackberry developers and bubbles?). The premise is the same as the classic. You accumulate points by shooting away same-colored sets. Stray birds—unlinked to the main group—are combustive, ideal for blasting away miscellaneous birds and blowing up your score.

4. Hangman

Spice
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/8423

For office dwellers, Hangman is an essential (and morbidly appropriate) way to endure non-essential meetings. I particularly like this version because you can use either a QWERTY keyboard or touch screen to select letters. You can also pick a theme, from sports to travel. Most importantly, Hangman has the vocabulary to get you through daylong retreats: Spice, the developer, claims the game has a large enough word bank to keep you playing "all day long for weeks to come." But lets hope it doesn't come to that.

5. Jewels Cave Free

TechSoft Ventures
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/43421

Android has Jewels, Windows Phone 7 has Jewel³, and now Blackberry has Jewels Cave: Each offers its own spin on the classic gem-buster Bejeweled. By matching three or more jewels in vertical and horizontal rows you clear away colors, replenish your gem meter, and climb up an unlimited number of levels. Save this game for uninterrupted spells because, with an ever-dropping gem meter, you'll need to stay alert.

6. Look and Listen - Memory Game

XIMAD INC
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/14238

The next two games are ideal for the gamers with elephant-sized memories. In Look and Listen, XIMAD takes on Simon, asking users to tap colored pads to replicate patterns from memory. Look and Listen has two levels—four or six color combinations—five tones—classic, guitar, piano, flute, and violin—and three speeds. This Simon lookalike is as much a memory strain as it is a trip down memory lane.

7. Memory

Spice
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/11737

Just in case Simon hasn't given you a headache, there's always Memory, a riff on the classic game Concentration. Designed for kids, Memory lets you ease up the difficulty and choose from a number of different themes, from fruit to butterflies to plain old letters. Next stop Vegas: You'll have your tike counting cards in no time.

8. New York Times Crosswords

Magmic
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/40247

With the official New York Times Crosswords app you start with a week for free, and have the option to subscribe by month ($7) or year ($40). While this means it's not permanently free, Times enthusiasts will quickly find themselves penciled in. Not only do you gain access to the daily Times puzzle, New York Times Crosswords opens up the entire archive—over 4,000 puzzles. You can send messages to friends, compete via leaderboards, reveal clues, or answer in either "pen" or "pencil," depending upon your worthsmithing skills.

9. The River Test – Free

SolverLabs
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/18787

According the SolverLabs, only one-tenth of the population can solve the "river test." With their app, you can see if that claim holds water (sorry). The premise is simple: You have to move people across a river, two at a time. The catch is that some people get along and others don't. For example, the mother cannot stay with her sons without the father, and the thief can't be with anyone if the policeman isn't nearby. It's the ultimate brainteaser, and, because it doesn't require an Internet connection, it's perfect for gaming both above and below rivers of all sorts.

10. Texas Hold'em King LIVE

Magmic
http://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/
content/16088

From the folks who developed the New York Times Crossword app is Texas Hold'Em King LIVE, the latest flip in Magmic's deck of card-based games. As suggested by "LIVE" you can challenge players from all over the world. THK deals you chips, automatically places you at a table (based on your experience, speed, and bankroll), and lets you shake up opponents through an integrated chat system. Choose from 30+ avatars and earn 35+ achievements as you play.