There’s something very special about the Disney Animated iPad app, which brings a series of never-before-seen items from its archives right into your hands. More than 750 animation clips, 150 images and early-stage character sketches fill the screen; a color map takes the frames from each Disney movie and shrinks them down into interactive images. Even non-Disney enthusiasts will be entertained for hours. But the magic will cost you $13.99.
This app ($0.99), which was created by Ellen DeGeneres, gained popularity when she started playing it with guests on her talk show. From naming celebrities and animals to singing songs and assuming different accents, players must name the card shown on the screen.
The Particles iPad app ($7.99), created by Science Photo Library, is a physic geek’s dream, but it's not intimating to a more general audience. The app is packed with information about the five types of particles in science and organizes them into a colorful pie chart that responds to touch.
This The Dungeons & Dragons board game debuted on iOS in November, bringing its strategy-intensive game to app form for $6.99. The plot centers on a city run by a society of masked lords who rule with shady political power. Each player is a lord who recruits characters to complete requests for him and gain influence over the land.
QuizUp recently launched in November and has already taken over most of our free time. The free and addictive trivia game lets you challenge friends and strangers on topics ranging from British royals, baseball and wine to Star Trek, zombies and romantic comedies.
This third installment of Infinity Blade ($6.99) was announced on stage during an Apple event in September because it takes full advantage of the device’s new A7 64-bit processor -- and now, the iPad Air’s chip, too. Either way, though, iPad users will be entranced by the quest to hunt down the missing infinity weapons.
The popular app 1Password got a reboot in 2013, so it's now easier for you to remember just one master password. (The app stores all your longer, more complicated passwords.) It also comes with a built-in browser, so you can go online, log into different sites and access your vault data without ever leaving the app. Security simplified for $17.99.
This free app, created by cable network Adult Swim, turns you into a rookie surgeon who saves lives with tools like a pizza cutter, stapler and car battery. Your patients include a mutant bear with a chainsaw, radioactive bats and inept criminals.
Ridiculous Fishing ($2.99), once a flash-based PC game, arrived for iOS this year with its unique, charming graphics and simple concept: shooting sea creatures. You'll won't want to stop playing until you beat the game.
Duolingo (free) adds gaming elements to learning new languages, which proves more challenging with age. You win rewards by passing levels, and an adorable furry creature coaches and keeps you on track. Languages include Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian and English.
The company also recently launched a language incubator platform, which is a crowdsourced teaching platform with free online classes.
Sure, Angry Birds apps are hardly new, but the Star Wars edition ($0.99) breathes new life into the franchise. You'll power up lightsabers and use Jedi powers to take on the Empire's evil Pigtroopers and, of course, Darth Vader -- the Dark Lord of the Pigs. So long, productivity!
Last-minute hotel booking app Hotel Tonight launched in 2011, but didn't gain significant traction until this year. It not only gained $45 million in funding, but also expanded its international presence, especially in Europe. The free app is simple to navigate and offers travelers a way to check hotel pricing and availability for same-night stays nearby.
Whether you're new to the iPad or looking to add to your app collection, 2013 brought in a healthy dosage of innovative, addictive options for Apple tablets.
From strategy games to educational apps, some of the most engaging iPad downloads may be ones that slipped under the radar.
See also: Top 25 Free iPhone Apps of All Time
Above, take a look at some of our top picks from the year. Which apps stole away hours of your day? Let us know in the comments below.
Image: Mashable, Christina Ascani