“Clumsy Ninja” hit #1 on the list of free downloaded games for the iOS the week of Nov. 25, and that deserves at least a little attention. So, what is Clumsy Ninja?

The game fits nicely in a variety of categories, but it’s the intersection of those categories that makes it interesting. At its core, “Clumsy Ninja” is a Tamogotchi-style pet game, where you have a virtual creature (in this case, a ninja) that starts out not very impressive (clumsy, as it were) and you feed them, care for them and train them. They become cooler, more impressive and more “useful,” at least within the context of the game. It’s also a free-to-play game, which defines a number of little things about it, like the constant prompts to buy things with premium currency and post advertisements on Twitter and Facebook.

But it’s also a physics sandbox with a learning AI. The graphics and physics are impressively done, and sometimes remind me (old school gamer that I am) of the ragdoll flash games. There are quests that prompt you to buy equipment with non-premium currency and play the various “training” mini-games available.

For what it is, “Clumsy Ninja” is a very good game. It is detailed, developed and interesting, but allows for a variety of little distractions that give it an appeal to casual gamers. However, if the idea of “raising” a ninja from his clumsy young self to ninja master does not appeal to you, skip this title.