Afterlight – Taking pictures on your phone is convenient, but editing them with this app is where things really get interesting. With 8 adjustment tools, 57 filters and nearly 70 textures, you can make the most of your snapshots and turn any picture into something special. $.99 in the Windows Phone Store.
Age of Empires: Castle Siege – The sweep of history – from the Dark Ages to the Renaissance – unfolds before you as you build your fortress, train your army and prepare for legendary encounters. Free in the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store.
Candy Crush Saga – Switch and match your way through hundreds of levels in this delicious puzzle adventure. Free in the Windows Phone Store.
Duolingo – If you want to learn a new language, this smart, fun “game” helps you learn as you play. Learn to read, write, listen and speak Spanish, English, French, Irish, German, Italian, Swedish and Portugese – all without ads, in-app purchases or subscription fees. Free in the Windows Phone Store.
FarmVille 2: Country Escape – Raise animals, grow your farm, collect rare goods, craft recipes, join a farm Co-Op to trade and share, or just play on your own. Either way, it’s wholesome fun, and seasonal updates keep it fresh. Free in the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store.
Flipboard – Build your own magazine filled with stories about topics you love with Flipboard, an app that serves as your personal newsstand. Just pick a few subjects – from Fitness to Ballet to the NFL to Spain – and your magazine starts growing with articles from a range of sources. Free in the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store.
Life360 Family Locator – Quickly locate and reach those who mean the most to you. Just set up your “Circle” of nearest and dearest, then view people in your Circle on a map, communicate with them, or receive alerts when they arrive at school, home or work. Free in the Windows Phone Store.
Minecraft Pocket Edition – Crafting, creating, exploring – all the block-by-block building adventures of the original now on-the-go. $6.99 in the Windows Phone Store.
Modern Combat 5: Blackout – This first-person shooter gives you a taste of the modern battlefield and offers synchronous multiplayer so you can band your best soldiers together and go head-to-head with other squads. $6.99 in the Windows Store and $2.99 in the Windows Phone Store.
Uber – Skip hailing taxies, lines and reservations – try a private driver from Uber instead. The Uber app lets you request a ride, get fare quotes, and securely pay from the convenience of your phone. Free in the Windows Phone Store.
Find these top titles and more in our Best of 2014 Collection:
- For Windows Phone, click here.
- On Windows 8.1, copy and paste the following into your web browser’s address bar: ms-windows-store:Topic?id=11936564
Also, be sure not to miss our:
Getting Started Collection:
- Windows Phone
- Windows: ms-windows-store:Topic?id=11236807
Essential Games Collection:
- Windows Phone
- Windows: ms-windows-store:Topic?id=11237146