As you’ve probably read from my previous article, the iPad is a hell of a gaming device. Sure it didn’t jump over any of the popular consoles, but with its slick design, multi-touch and accelerometer features, it’s bound to have fun and innovative games that other consoles can’t match. Add the fact that its huge single screen is 9.7 inches boasting 1024x768 pixels, one can’t help but be excited with its gaming possibilities. Multiplayer gameplay is where the iPad shines, not least of all due to its big single screen. As such, this article doesn’t talk about multiplayer through local Wi-Fi or pass-and-play. These are multiplayer games that you and a friend (even friends) can have fun on a single screen. It’s the best way to utilize the multiplayer capabilities of an iPad.

Best iPad Single Screen Multiplayer Games: FRUIT NINJA HD

148apps: 4.0/5.0

no dpad: “BUY”

There’s no better way to describe this game other than it’s a game where you slice fruits. As simple a concept as it is, Fruit Ninja HD is actually among the most addictive games in the App Store. Best of all, the iPad version allows you to share the fruit-slicing fun with a friend in multiplayer mode. Two players sharing a single screen on an iPad provides each player with an even bigger screen space than an iPhone would. Other than merely surviving the fruit onslaught longer than your opponent, the multiplayer mode allows bombs to be tossed to each other’s screen.

Best iPad Single Screen Multiplayer Games: TOWER MADNESS HD

148apps: 3.5/5.0

Pocket Gamer: Bronze Award

Tower Defense games are a mainstay in the App Store. There are a ton of them. But Tower Madness HD stands out as having a single screen multiplayer mode. Both players defend their own maps via split screen, but each has the options of sending a robot to the other player to steal their sheep, or to strategically send a wave faster.

Best iPad Single Screen Multiplayer Games: FLIGHT CONTROL HD

no dpad: “MUST HAVE”

Pocket Gamer: Gold Award

slide to Play: 4/4

Flight Control is arguably among the best line drawing games in the App Store. You basically draw lines from planes or choppers to the airstrip while avoiding crashes at the same time. With the iPad version, Firemint, the same people who brought us Real Racing, went a step further and added multiplayer gameplay for both Co-op and Versus modes. While it does allow for local Wi-Fi connection, the real fun is playing this on a single screen on an iPad especially on the tension-building versus mode.

Best iPad Single Screen Multiplayer Games:: MULTIPONG FOR IPAD

This is a multiplayer game that provides classic multiplayer fun for up to 4 players on an iPad. The gameplay is fairly simple and needs no explanation. Just think of Pong but with 4 paddles from 4 directions. Hence, you’ll be seeing four fingers on a single screen paddling that metal ball. The best part is that it’s easy to pick up with no instructions needed, which is why it’s a great quick multiplayer game.

As more heavyweight developers and publishers realize the potential of iPad gaming, we are sure to expect more exciting single screen multiplayer games that we can share with friends or simply use as an icebreaker for parties and get-togethers. Local Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection or even pass-and-play are common ingredients to multiplayer games and are great elements to long-term gameplay. However, nothing really beats the excitement and the thrill of huddling together and playing on a single screen. Try out one of these games in a group, and one of your on-looking friends is surely to demand a spot in the next game.

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