Game: Battle Pirates

While it's not without its flaws, Kixeye's Battle Pirates is a shining example of just how far Facebook has evolved as a gaming platform in the last couple of years. The concept isn't terribly different from the studio's successful Backyard Monsters, but the welcome innovation of battling other players in real time marks a significant step in creating an experience similar to Command and Conquer on Starcraft II on Facebook. In short, if you're looking for a game with elements of genuine real-time strategy, resource harvesting, and base building all in one appealing package, Battle Pirates is worth a look. Just be prepared for a handful of bugs.