Fruit Ninja

Five minutes with Fruit Ninja is all it takes to remember why this thing became the original hit fruit-slicing game in the first place. Unsheathe your blade, watch the fruit fly, and start swiping - the juicy carnage kicks in almost instantly, and there's no download standing between you and your first combo.

The three classic game modes are the heart of it, the same ones billions of players have leaned on for years. Whether you're chasing a personal best or just here to watch melons explode, it plays fast, it plays simple, and it never asks you to think too hard between slices.

Bragging rights matter here too. Show off your cutting skills in a shared-screen local multiplayer match, or just compare scores with friends to see who actually deserves the title of top ninja. If you like slicing games with a bit of edge, this is the one everyone else is measuring themselves against.

Fans of quick, skill-based rounds might also enjoy Stickman Hook or the sharper edges of Deadly Descent for a change of pace.

Slice as much fruit as possible without missing and without hitting a bomb. Swipe your mouse or finger across the screen to swing your blade through everything that pops into view.

On desktop, click and drag; on mobile, just swipe with your finger since Fruit Ninja works straight in the browser on both. Play solo to chase a leaderboard score, or share the screen with a friend for local multiplayer bragging rights.

Keep your eyes on combos - slicing multiple fruits in one swipe is where the real score climbs, but watch for bombs hiding among the fruit.