Timberman for iOS

Timberman tasks you with controlling a woodsman as he works on chopping down a tree. With each chop, the tree trunk moves down the screen, and you have to keep switching sides to avoid getting hit by the branches as they get lower and lower.

Pros

Basic mechanics: To play this game, all you have to do is tap either the right- or left-hand side of the screen. The side you tap dictates which side of the tree your Timberman stands on, and switching back and forth from one side to the other is the only way to avoid getting killed by descending branches. And while there is no concrete time limit, you have to go as quickly as possible to keep the red bar at the top of the screen from getting down to zero, which will also end your turn.

Characters and Achievements: While there's not much to this game by design, there are a few nice touches that can help keep the game entertaining and engaging. For instance, there are 20 different Timberman characters to unlock. And you can challenge yourself to reach specific milestones through the built-in Achievements board.

Cons

Intrusive ads: The game includes banner ads that display at all times, as well as pop-up, fullscreen ads that appear after some, but not all, of your turns. These ads do make the interface feel a little cluttered, and the fullscreen pop-up ads are especially easy to hit by accident when you're trying to start a new game and don't realize they're there.

Bottom Line

Timberman is an easy yet satisfying way to kill some time, whether you're standing in line at the grocery store or relaxing at home. Its intuitive controls and basic mechanics make it a good choice for just about any type of player, and it offers just enough variety in terms of Characters and Achievements to keep things interesting.