Last year, I wrote an article for the Lance about the perils of freemium iOS games. Since then, I’ve encountered some games that do the freemium model well — or at least in a manner that avoids being completely heinous — and decided to list out my favorites. So if you haven’t yet, I urge you to free yourself from Kim Kardashian: Hollywood’s manicured claws and try these instead.

Of course, there’s still no such thing as a free lunch (or a free iOS game.) With that said…

Fallout Shelter

This is a post-apocalyptic vault simulation app set in Fallout 4 canon. This is an addictive game for fans of strategy, with a refreshingly laid-back approach to in-app purchases. “Fallout Shelter” may well carry the banner for future freemium titles.

The drawback: in-app purchases are offered. However, there are no paywalls or need to buy anything with real money.

Alpaca

The premise of “Alpaca” is this: one day, an alpaca was born with a mutation that gave it ability to absorb other alpacas. Now, its goal in life is to absorb as many as possible to evolve into something new and weird. This game is for the morbidly curious.

And it’s completely free, because of course it is.

The drawback: unfortunately, after downloading the game after a long hiatus, I discovered that the developer decided to update it with irritating pop-up ads.

Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector

“Neko Atsume” is an adorable cat-collecting game that’s built to be played in moderation. I usually set out cat food before homeroom and check the cats at 3:10. I find it’s nice to play a freemium title that won’t — and, in fact, doesn’t want to — consume my life.

The drawback: In-app purchases are offered to buy “gold fish.” This sounds suspiciously like gems and K coins, but fortunately, gold fish can be earned in-game with ease. No real need to pay for them. Also, unlike “Trivia Crack” which features a $100 package, the maximum that “Neko Atsume” will allow you to spend at once is four dollars.

Jelly Jump

I’m going to end the list with something simple. This game combines aesthetically pleasing graphics with an addictiveness factor a la “Flappy Bird.” And much like “Flappy Bird,” its intentions are pure — no cash grabs to be seen.

The drawback: unobtrusive banner ads which can be removed by paying a premium fee. That’s about as player-friendly as it gets.