Last month we highlighted some of the best reference and business expansion cards on the market, cards that would help you work smarter and more effectively with your handheld computer or smartphone (see Review: Roundup - The Best Expansion Cards: Part 1).

But this month we're more interested in blowing off steam.

That's because we're going to show you the best games on expansion cards. Hey, your handheld shouldn't be all work and no fun. And if you're still playing that free solitaire game, then you're probably sick to death by now and ready for something new.

Here's where these cards come in:

For a small price, you can have arcade, action, or word games on your handheld—ready to go whenever you need to kill time or de-stress for a few minutes. Having a good game on hand can sometimes be as important as having the right business tools. Or at least, that's what we tell ourselves while we're blasting aliens.

Age of Empires
Compatible with Pocket PC

There's only one game on this card, but what a game. The expansion card version of Age of Empires and its sequel, Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome, perfectly adapts the PC favorite for the handheld. If you're a serious gamer, you'll love having this on your Pocket PC, so that you can rule the world on the train ride home.


Age of Empires comes with an introductory video.

If you're wondering how much of the original is in this version, you won't be disappointed. You can choose from 16 different civilizations, 8 campaigns, and 24 scenarios, plus you'll find all the music and sound effects that you're used to as you build up your tribe and conquer your enemies. Note that there is a downloadable user manual that unfortunately doesn't come with the store-bought card.

$26.99, www.gomdm.com

Atari Retro
Compatible with Palm OS, Pocket PC, and Symbian OS

Now this will bring you back (if you're in your mid-thirties; if you're younger, it'll seem like the stone age): you get seven classic Atari console games on this card, from the earliest days of console gaming. Included are Adventure, Asteroids, Breakout, Centipede, Missile Command, Pong, and Yar's Revenge.


Atari Retro should put members of Generation X in a nostalgic mood.

Once upon a time, you had to plug a thick cartridge into a console to play just one of these games, and now all seven fit on a card the size of a postage stamp. The playing experience is a little different, and you might miss having a joystick controller, but the games are the same as ever. Centipede and Asteroids were always the big names, but the true geek grew up playing Adventure, where you can slay dragons, rush through a maze, and find a treasure.

$29.99, www.gomdm.com

Game Essentials
Compatible with Palm OS

If you like having a variety of games at your fingertips, Game Essentials is a great choice. This collection holds ten very different games, so that you can always find something that suits you. Choose from SimCity, 9-Ball, Shanghai, Vegas VIP Casino, Billiards, Ricochet, Atum, Chess, Checkers, and Backgammon.


This SD card bundles a wide variety of games.

For us, the star of this show is Ricochet, a highly addictive souped-up version of Breakout that has killer graphics and a variety of interesting power-ups. If you like simulation games, SimCity will let you play god over your own little town, while the classic chess, checkers, backgammon, and Shanghai (which is mah-jongg) are perfect for relaxing. Atum is a puzzle game that challenges you to build atom-like shapes, while Vegas VIP Casino lets you choose to play blackjack, poker, or slots.

$29.99, www.gomdm.com or $29.95, store.palmone.com