An innovative fantasy storybook about a world without letters (Numberlys), a new weekly arcade puzzler (Run Roo Run), a buzz-heavy way to access Microsoft Office from your iPad (OnLive Desktop), and much more in this week’s hottest new apps!

Dark Parables: The Exiled Prince

for iPad
Price: FREE (unlock full game in-app)
Hidden object-slash-adventure game.

Darkness Rush: Saving Princess

for iPhone & iPad
Price: $.99
An action game where a vampire and a werewolf — both in love with the same princess — team up to rescue her from an evil dragon. Or something like that.

Freddie Fish and the Stolen Shell

for iPhone & iPad
Price: $2.99
Kids game featuring fun cartoon characters. From Atari.

Goodnight Safari

for iPad
Price: $1.99
Interactive bedtime storybook for kids.

Hatchi

for iPhone
Price: $.99
Tamagotchi-style pet simulator with ultra-retro graphics.

Hero Academy

for iPhone
Price: FREE
Enter the battlefield of heroes and engage in “friendly contests.”

Jodie Drake & the World In Peril

for iPad
Price: FREE ($4.99 in-app to unlock full game)
Solve a variety of puzzles in this Indiana Jones-esque adventure game.

Numberlys

for iPhone & iPad
Price: $5.99
From the master craftsmen behind The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore comes this terrific interactive book about a culture where everything is based on numbers — until a group of rebels create the very first alphabet. I’ve played it, and it’s awesome. A must-have, and as educational for the kids as it is entertaining for everyone.

Nylon String Guitar

for iPad
Price: FREE
Play guitar in multiple keys with this well-made simulator.

OnLive Desktop

for iPad
Price: FREE
First of its kind, heavily buzzed app that lets you run Microsoft Office programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on your iPad via a virtual server. No Office purchase required, but you will need a free OnLive account.

Only the Pearls

for iPad
Price: $3.99
An in-depth, behind-the-scenes app from Stephan Pastis, creator of syndicated comic strip Pearls Before Swine.

Political Time Machine

for iPhone & iPad
Price: $.99
A compilation of videos featuring prominent 2012 candidates at various events throughout their political careers.

Recipe Box To Go

for iPhone
Price: $1.99
The long-awaited iPhone version of a popular iPad recipe app.

Run Roo Run

for iPhone & iPad
Price: $.99 & $1.99
An adorable, jumping platformer that delivers 10 new levels to your device automatically every week — for no additional cost. From the creators of Scribblenauts.

Star Marine: Infinite Ammo

for iPhone
Price: $1.99
Retro side-scroller set on alien worlds with unlimited ammunition.

Tiki Kart 3D

for iPhone & iPad
Price: FREE (w/ in-app purchases)
Colorful, Mario Kart-style racing game with weapons.

Urban Crime

for iPhone & iPad
Price: FREE
Grand Theft Auto clone that’s free-to-play.

Vodio

for iPad
Price: FREE
Video curator that suggests videos you will like from numerous free sources, so you can create your own playlists and watch at your leisure.

Woody Woodpeckerd

for iPhone & iPad
Price: $.99
Racing game (skateboards, motorbikes, snowmobiles, etc.) featuring the cast of the old-school cartoon.

ZDAY Survival Simulator

for iPhone
Price: $1.99
Text-based simulation game that purports to “train you” for surviving a zombie apocalypse.

Zombie Wonderland 2: Outta Time!

for iPhone & iPad
Price: $.99
Slay some zombies to defend Niceville in this isometric view action game.