Welcome to the latest entry in our Bonus Round series, wherein we tell you all about the new Android games of the day that we couldn't get to during our regular news rounds. Consider this a quick update for the dedicated gamers who can't wait for our bi-weekly roundups, and don't want to wade through a whole day's worth of news just to get their pixelated fix. Today we've got a new take on Shakespeare, an updated "pirate math" game, an interestingly diverse endless runner, and long-overdue MOBA. Without further ado:

To Be Or Not To Be

This isn't your typical Tin Man text-based adventure. Aside from being a tongue-in-cheek retelling of Hamlet that lets users play as both the prince (+1 soliloquy skill) and Ophelia (-1 weakness to water), the whimsical story includes art from the creators of some of the more notable webcomics out there, like Penny Arcade, The Oatmeal, and Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. For fans of classical English literature and/or text-based RPGs, this one should be a real treat... and you won't even have to understand iambic pentameter to enjoy it.

William Shakespeare's Hamlet has finally been restored to its original second-person non-linear branching narrative format. I know. What took so long, am I right? Now it's up to YOU to decide what happens next. Play as Hamlet and revenge your father's death. Play as Ophelia and make scientific discoveries. Play as King Hamlet, Sr. and die on the first page. Discover sweet art as you play from some of the greatest and most attractive artists of Our Time, including Kate Beaton (Hark. A Vagrant), Anthony Clark (Nedroid), Mike Krahulik (Penny Arcade), Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal), Ethan Nicolle (Axe Cop), Andrew Hussie (MS Paint Adventures), Zach Weiner (Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal) and WAY more.

To Be Or Not To Be Developer: Tin Man Games
Price: 7.49
4.5
Download

16bit Trader

"Pirate math" games used to be all the rage, and I'm glad to see they're making a comeback. This one has a minimal story behind it, but the real charm in 16bit trader are its unique art style (which thankfully does NOT limit itself to blocky pixels for no reason!) and classic buy low, sell high gameplay. Patient, methodical players are the ones who enjoy these games the most - if you'd rather haul cargo in EVE than kill murlocs in WOW, give this one a try.

Take revenge on your father’s killer, and become the richest merchant in the kingdom. Immerse yourself in this old-school nostalgia-inducing trading experience. Step into the shoes of a medieval traveling merchant, whose life boils down to one simple sentence: you got to buy cheap, and you got to sell high. Travel between the cities and villages of the realm in search of cheap goods to acquire, various quests to accomplish and wealth to accumulate. Visit local taverns for latest local gossip. Gain influential friends who may help you along the way.

Space Chicks

At first glance Space Chicks looks like a standard endless runner, but an interesting combination of stages, modes, and upgrades makes it worth a second look. While most of the time you'll be running on circular platforms a la They Need To Be Fed, vehicle sections are more straightforward, and the two-player co-op splitscreen mode is unique. Interesting weapons and upgrades, combined with charming art and music, make for one of the more interesting runners we've seen in a while. Currency-based IAP is present, but easily ignored.

Space Chicks is a gorgeous endless platformer with simple one touch controls, amazing Space physics, beautiful effects, and heaps of fun. Kill bad guys, save chicks, drive spaceships, compete with your friends online or play two player on the same device, complete all of the missions to receive rewards and be the Hero the Chicks need you to be. Fun powerups, such as the Space Car, or the Chick Hammer, will help you get through even the most dangerous of planetary situations.

Space Chicks Developer: Crescent Moon Games
Price: Free
4
Download

Doodle Army 2 : Mini Militia

Doodle Army 2 is a MOBA that combines old-school 2D platforming with the quick-and-dirty structure of modern shooters. While you're more than welcome to sharpen your skills in the offline mode, the real meat of the game is the online multiplayer. While the game is a little on the pokey side (learning to control your character's rocket boots isn't easy), it's gained quite a following on iOS... where it's been available for years. Thanks, devs. In-app purchases for currency are present, but not as bad as some other games.

Experience intense multiplayer combat with up to 6 players online or using local wi-fi. Train with the Sarge and sharpen your skills in offline Training, Co-op and Survival modes. Shoot a multitude of weapon types including the sniper, shotgun and flamethrower. Features explosive online and local multiplayer warfare. Intuitive dual stick shooting controls. Open world maps utilizing rocket boots for extended vertical flight. Zoom control, melee attacks and dual wield ability with modern and futuristic heavy duty weapons and grenades.

Be sure to check out our gaming coverage from earlier this week: