BEST ANGRY BIRDS ALTERNATIVE

All right, we get it birds: you’re angry. We all know the story: pigs stole your eggs, cue pig genocide, roll credits.

But what’s missing are toe-tapping beats and amphibian companions, so turn to Simogo’s Beat Sneak Bandit ($2.99 on the App Store for iPhone and iPod Touch) when porcine slaughter and obsessive star collection loses its luster.

As a pint-size bandit with the goofy hairstyle and slick moves of Rick Astley, you and your trusty frog sidekick, Herbie, must steal back all of Lord Clockface’s ill-gotten timepieces to save fair Pulsebury. But the Duke’s treacherous mansion presents the Bandit with patrolling guards, puzzling traps, and a slew of funky songs to sneak around to.

Bandit is all about finding the groove of the level’s track; just listen to the beat and tap the screen to move accordingly. It’s easy enough to saunter through a level, but what keeps you coming back is the need to grab all the clocks scattered around the mansion.

Patience is the name of the game here as you wait for the perfect opening, or perhaps the first note of a squealing saxophone, to sneak in and claim your prize. Collect enough clocks and you unlock extremely stylish—and extremely difficult—levels played in silhouette.

A lot of Beat Sneak Bandit’s appeal is its sharp and lush art, its backgrounds bursting with lamps and chandeliers swinging to the rhythm. The charming animations of the bandit are impressive as well.

Really, no other game on the App Store is as addictive and elegant as Beat Sneak Bandit. Your screen is probably cluttered with plenty of games you hardly give a second thought, but Bandit is perfect bite-sized entertainment.