Games rule iPhones

Apple iPhone and iPod Touch users are downloading like crazy from the App Store, but now a report from ComScore shows that games are the most popular category.

The store, which offers 30,000 apps and has recorded hundreds of millions of downloads since its July 2008 release, has become a haven for game developers. Of the 25 most popular apps, a dozen are games according to ComScore.

The most popular application was “Tap Tap Revenge”, a rhythm game that has now been installed on 32% of devices that have accessed the App Store.

“Tap Tap’s success demonstrates that there is ample opportunity in the app space for any publisher to obtain significant distribution with a product that engages users,” ComScore vice president Brian Jurutka said in a statement.

“Since the number of app users is growing nearly 10% each month, that opportunity will only continue to grow for both existing and emerging app developers.”

The iPhone platform has become attractive for game developers due to its simple interface, and has seen a number of older games re-invented for the new platform, which is starting to rival Nintendo and Sony’s own portable gaming consoles.

Changes to the iPhone software that will allow multiplayer support over Bluetooth and voice-chat will make the platform more attractive, ComScore says.