Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.
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Looking for the previous roundup editions? Find them here.
Featured App
Expense IQ - Expense Manager
This week's roundup is brought to you by Expense IQ - Expense Manager from Handy Apps. This amazingly complete expense tracking system has a solid and colorful UI, and just about every possible checkbook, alert, and tracking feature you could want. Everything you input can be saved and exported for personal backup and expense reports, and all your data is synced via Dropbox, making Expense IQ a snap to use across multiple phones or tablets. Bill alerts, a PIN lock, and even a homescreen widget are all included in this app's bag of additional goodies. The basic version is free, but to get access to advanced functions you'll need to pay for the full $9.95 version via in-app purchase.
Expense IQ is the long awaited successor to EasyMoney - the number one money manager app that combines an expense manager, a bill reminder, a checkbook register and a budget planner. Expense IQ – Expense Manager provides a rich, detailed window into your personal finances and daily money management needs. Track and manage daily expenses quickly & easily. Business expenses, personal expenses, travel expenses etc can all be managed rapidly using Expense IQ’s simple and intuitive user interface. Interactive reports & graphs let you analyze income, expenses, cash flow and balance over various date ranges and accounts.
Games
Alpha Squadron 2
Android Police coverage: Edge Of Oblivion: Alpha Squadron 2 Is Basically Rogue Squadron Without Star Wars, Yours For $5
Alpha Squadron 2 is inspired by the old Star Wars: Rogue Squadron space fighter games, and the developers don't really care who knows. It's also a textbook example of how to make a quality, feature-filled Android game. It features touchscreen and controller support, Android TV availability, and it's a free download with a single in-app purchase to unlock the full game. Take notice, game developers: this is how you hit all the right notes.
In Edge Of Oblivion: Alpha Squadron 2, you get the chance to jump into the cockpit of a powerful starfighter and join the galaxy's most daring pilots as they face off against the evil Hadian Empire. You'll engage in perilous battles against hordes of enemy fighters, lumbering mechs, gigantic tanks and huge capital ships. Aerial conflict takes place in a variety of beautifully rendered environments including snow, deserts, highlands, oceans, volcanic lava fields, alien cities, amazing deep space locations and even the interior of a massive space station.
You Must Build A Boat
Android Police coverage: 'You Must Build A Boat' (From The Developer Of 10000000) Is Another Mega-Addictive Puzzle/Runner Hybrid
You Must Build A Boat is the pseudo-sequel to 10000000. Basically you play a simple match-3 puzzle game with a bit of Pitfall animation running at the top of the screen, then use your winnings to build, you guessed it, a boat, like an 8-bit Noah. You can also recruit crew members and catch critters Pokemon-style. The game is a reasonable $3 with no in-app purchases.
Travel the world in your boat, from the top of the Mage Tower to the bottom of Hell. Recruit a crew to live on your boat and offer their services. Match as fast as you can to keep on running. Turn Monsters to your cause to get bonuses and have them aid your in battle. Use magic to aid your quests, and don’t forget to visit your onboard Arcanery to upgrade them. With procedural dungeons and random Dungeon Modifiers, It’s never the same experience twice.
Fearless Fantasy
Android Police coverage: Weird Turn-Based RPG 'Fearless Fantasy' Comes To Android Via The Amazon Appstore
Fearless Fantasy is... odd. There's no other way to explain the game, from the drug-induced 2D art to the unconventional turn-based battles to the odd character and monster designs. There are some interesting rhythm-based mechanics to the battling system and a solid story to this PC port, but you'll have to really dig the Final Fantasy-meets-Hot Topic-meets-Lewis Carroll art to enjoy it. Right now it's exclusive to Amazon hardware.
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As Leon, the world’s most dangerous bounty hunter, you embark on a mission to slay the world’s weirdest creatures, and save a girl from an awful marriage. Fearless Fantasy is probably the weirdest RPG you’ll play this year. It’s a turn-based game that deeply involves players during every turn. You use gestures (with the mouse) to score critical hits, resulting in very involved and interesting gameplay on every turn.
Amazon Appstore - Fearless Fantasy
FINAL FANTASY TACTICS : WotL
Android Police coverage: Square Enix Ports The PSP Remake Of Fan Favorite 'Final Fantasy Tactics' To Android For $13.99
Final Fantasy Tactics is a sort of spin-off game (that eventually became its own series) to Squaresoft's flagship RPGs. The story occurs in its own universe, but the main draw is the tactical combat, which uses large parties, strategic positioning, and an extensive job system. This is a port of the PSP remake, but unfortunately it suffers from the usual Square-Enix maladies: high price, low features (no cloud saves, Android TV, or controller support), and even an incorrect aspect ratio.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions has arrived for GooglePlay. Released as the Final Fantasy series' first tactical RPG in 1997, Final Fantasy Tactics on Playstation went on to sell over 2.4 million copies worldwide. The game grew in popularity upon its re-release in 2007 as Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions for the PSP with added features such as new movies, scenarios and Jobs. You can enjoy the game whose story gave life to the world of Ivalice, and whose high strategy battles bring tactical games to a whole new level.
Hitman: Sniper
Android Police coverage: Square Enix' Hitman: Sniper Zeroes In On The Play Store And Takes A Covert Shot At Your Free Time
Agent 47 is usually more of a sneak-up-and-garrote-you kind of hitman, but in this game he's giving his victims a little space. Take out your targets in Silent Scope fashion while using the Hitman series' trademarked creativity to engineer unlikely kills from the environment. Unfortunately the game is both paid ($5) and includes IAP for upgraded rifles, but that's hardly surprising for a new Square-Enix title.
Take on the role of Agent 47 in Hitman: Sniper - a fixed position shooting game set in beautiful Montenegro. Scope in on your marks using skill, subtlety, subterfuge and the environment to complete your contracts. Eliminate targets, collect weapon parts and complete blueprints to unlock the most powerful rifles.
• Immersive sniping game based on the Hitman universe
• Complete over 150 missions. Eliminate the top criminal elite.
• Replay and uncover more secrets as contracts evolve
• Compete against your friends & dominate the leaderboards.
• Master undetected kills using your surrounding environment
• Unlock and assemble 13 epic sniper rifles
CHAOS RINGS â…¢
Android Police coverage: Square Enix Brings Its Latest Original RPG, Chaos Rings III, To The Play Store For $20
It's a rare day that we see a truly new Square-Enix game, and an even rarer one when that game doesn't include in-app purchases. So mobile RPG fans would do well to check out Chaos Rings III, even with its enormous $20 price tag, if you want a new entry in the company's only high-end mobile series. The story in part three is only vaguely connected to the first two games, but the interesting combo attack-based combat should feel familiar to fans.
CHAOS RINGS is a full-scale RPG series for smartphone devices that was first introduced worldwide in 2010. As part of a continuing series, CHAOS RINGS OMEGA was launched in 2011, followed by CHAOS RINGS II in 2012. The rich game world, deep storyline, and high-quality soundtrack have been praised throughout the world, recording over 1.1 million downloads across the series. To this day, CHAOS RINGS firmly maintains its position as the best RPG series available for smartphones.
Kung Fury: Street Rage
Android Police coverage: True Survivors Crotch-Punch Nazis In the Official Kung Fury: Street Rage Mobile Game
If you haven't seen the 30-minute love letter to 80s action excess that is Kung Fury, go watch it now. And if you've already seen the movie, set your ringtone to play the ending song, and pre-ordered a cobra jacket, then the mobile game might be the only bit of officially licensed product you haven't tried yet. It's a basic two-button punch-fest, but the effects (and the CRT overlay) fit the movie perfectly. A $2.25 IAP removes ads.
INTRODUCING – AS SEEN IN THE MOTION PICTURE. A BRAND NEW HT-2000 CARTRIDGE GAME PACKED WITH:
- ARCADE STYLE BEAT ‘EM UP NAZI FIGHTS
- STEREO SOUND MUSIC INSPIRED BY UP ‘N’ COMING HIT ARTIST DAVID HASSELHOFF
- STATE OF THE ART TRUE COLOR GRAPHICS
- EVEN MORE NAZI ENEMIES TO BEAT
GET BLOWN INTO ANOTHER DIMENSION AS YOU EXPERIENCE THE GUTBUSTING FUN WITH KUNG FURY: STREET RAGE™. BEAT THE NAZIS TO STOP KUNG FÜHRER AND UPHOLD THE LAW. BECOME THE ACTION. BE. KUNG. FURY.!.!
Radical Rappelling
Android Police coverage: Radical Rappelling From Halfbrick Studios Is Like An Endless Runner But Vertical
Radical Rappelling is basically an endless runner with a big rope instead of, well, the ground. Jump off the cliff by tapping on the screen, and try not to run into anything. You might want to mute the audio, though - the game appears to be sponsored by an energy drink that thinks dubstep is essential to good marketing. The game is freemium, but Halfbrick usually does a good job of making its IAP optional.
The creators of Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride are back with a brand new game for adrenaline junkies around the world. Feel the rush and hold on tight as you rappel down mountains at breakneck speed. Pull off death-defying tricks by ricocheting between launch pads, riding rainbows and rocketing over obstacles in the most redonkulous adventure ever. Rack up coins and complete rockin’ missions to unlock sweet new gear for Rip and Roxy, the most fearless risk-takers on the planet.
TERMINATOR GENISYS: REVOLUTION
Android Police coverage: Pre-Registerable Movie Tie-In Game 'Terminator Genisys: Revolution' Goes Live In The Play Store
This licensed Terminator game is notable only because it's the very first to use the Play Store's new pre-registration system. Other than that, it's your typical quick-and-dirty summer blockbuster tie-in, this time using Glu's over-the-shoulder shooter format and the usual $100 in-app purchase structure. Come with me if you want to pay.
The year is 2028 and humanity is on the brink of extinction. Help John Connor in the war to save the human race in the official game of the new movie Terminator Genisys. Escape from the Skynet prison camp and fight the machines in this action-packed sci-fi shooter.
• Choose from hundreds of missions.
• Battle your way through stunningly-rendered, post-apocalyptic locations
• Use your tactical prowess against a wide range of deadly enemies
• Easy-to-use, responsive mobile controls
Portal ® Pinball
Zen Studios continues its expansion into all kinds of pop culture, but this one should be familiar to gamers already. This collection of two tables stars the characters and environments of Portal, Valve's hugely popular first-person puzzle game. Old and new versions of Aperture Science are available, and if you look closely you'll see Chell, Wheatley, and the various mechanized inhabitants of the lab, all looked over by GladOS. These tables are also available as IAP in the main Zen Pinball game.
Zen Studios, in collaboration with Aperture Laboratories and Valve, is proud to present the “Aperture Science Heuristic Portal ® Pinball Device”, proving that persistent experimentation is not only the hallmark of good science for the benefit of mankind, but also incalculably fun. Guide Chell and Wheatley through test chambers by navigating portals, using aerial faith plates, defeating turrets and facing other obstacles.
Always Sometimes Monsters
Broadly an adventure game, Always Sometimes Monsters is a title that's really more interested in the dynamics of human relationships. The 2D game is so indie it's seen the conceptual stage play that the movie you've never heard of is based on, and so progressive that it has a second-hand Prius with a bumper sticker demanding you check your privilege. Your choice of race, gender, and sexual preference determines other characters' reaction to your presence and your possible paths through life.
Out of money and out of luck you find yourself broken-hearted and on the verge of collapse. Your landlord's taken the key back, you can't finish your manuscript, and your beloved is marrying someone else. With no choice but to handle whatever life throws at you, you set out on the open road on a mission to win back the love of your life. The story from there to redemption is up to you. Can we be salvaged, or are there always sometimes monsters?
Sproggiwood
Sproggiwood is a combination of three genres: RPGs, tactical combat, and... city builder? The concept and execution are unique, to say the least. You'll venture through grid-based dungeons fighting with guile and strategy to collect both equipment for your class-based hero and resources to upgrade your town. The environments and enemies are procedurally generated, so you'll never want for a new area to explore.
Bring civilization to Sproggiwood, a story-driven, turn-based roguelike set in a humorous world inspired by Finnish mythology. Grow your civilization and plunder procedural dungeons with six unique classes. Outsmart mischievous monsters who work together in unexpected ways. No two dungeon dives are alike. You’re a simple farmer from the peaceful island of Clog. One moment, you're tending your grove -- the next, you’re lured through a mysterious portal by a talking sheep.
Nubs' Adventure
Nubs' Adventure is a standard but stylish platformer starring the Reddit mascot. OK, it might not actually be the same little robot, but you know what I mean. A huge 2D world, a variety of enemies and bosses, and a few standard puzzles await players. There aren't any especially new ideas or twists in the game (or at least there don't appear to be), but those who enjoy the Metroid exploration-heavy format should enjoy it. A $5 in-app purchase unlocks the whole thing.
Nubs' Adventure is an exploratory platformer in which you help Nubs rebuild his house after it was destroyed by the evil Reds. But Nubs is not alone. With him on his journey are his friends: the tiny wisp Ally and a huge worm named Brute. Explore four different world, each with their own secrets, enemies and traps. Control Nubs, as well as the wisp Ally and the worm Brute. Fight the evil Reds in epic boss fights.
iO - A Physics Platformer
Even in the game roundup we can't stop yakking about I/O. This one, sans slash, is a physics-based platform/puzzle game that tasks you with navigating an oddly variable playing field with a wheel that grows or shrinks to achieve the correct momentum. You'll need a good bit of spatial awareness to get past some of the challenges, and there are plenty here - over 255, according to the description. Graphics are enhanced for SHIELD devices, but it's compatible with most newer Android hardware.
iO is a physics platformer about size, speed and momentum unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Optimized for the NVIDIA SHIELD, grow, shrink, roll, leap and climb in this unique puzzler featuring over 150 challenging mazes and one-of-a-kind gameplay that includes portals, inverted gravity, vehicles and more. Share your times with friends on the global leaderboards and become a time/space legend.
The Hit Car
The Hit Car is a strange mash-up of super-simple games like Crossy Road and, well, running over zombies with a souped-up truck. The only control you have is steering left or right, and a single collision will end your run - hit (and later shoot) as many zombies as you can before that happens. The simple setup and graphics are charming, and what IAP is in the game is easy enough to ignore.
The country has been invaded by a little green dudes (they might be zombies .) and your job is to get rid of them. Drive around and collect the coins to buy guns and upgrades. Coming soon:
- new arenas and missions
Robbery Bob 2: Double Trouble
The original Robbery Bob was a hit thanks to its mix of tense stealth-based levels and a collection of spatial and logic puzzles, sort of a modified version of the original Metal Gear minus the guns. The sequel adds 60 new levels, new wacky tools of theft, and improved 3D graphics, though the perspective is still top-down. In-app purchases unlock various tools and clothing, though considering Chillingo is an EA subsidy, it could have been a lot worse.
The true king of thieves is back in business. Luckless burglar Bob is up to his old tricks again in Robbery Bob 2: Double Trouble. Sneak around security guards, past patrolling pensioners and evade cunning traps as you try to get your sticky mitts on as much loot as possible. The man of steal is back. – and he’s landed himself in all sorts of trouble. Help Bob plan a wedding for a mobster’s daughter, stop Dr. Thievious’ devious plans and find out if aliens really do exist?
Puzzle Blitz
Imagine Tetris as a jigsaw puzzle and you've basically got the gist of Puzzle Blitz. All you have to do is get the various pieces onto the board in the correct configuration, which sounds much easier than it is once you've filled in the more obvious slots... and then you start running out of time. It's a bit like Perfection for grown-ups. A global leaderboard and hundreds of puzzles round out the features of this ad-supported game.
Puzzle Blitz is a frantic puzzle solving race against the clock. Solve as many puzzles as you can, before time runs out. You have 3 minutes. Place the pieces in the right spots to complete a puzzle. Every time you solve a puzzle, extra time is added to the clock. Compete against your friends on the global leaderboard, and become a puzzle solving champion.
The Book of Renatus
The Book of Renatus is a strange mix of Victorian gothic horror and... rhythm game elements. No, really, you kill skeletons and demons and such in a gothic fantasy setting, but the bad guys come to you in time to the music (which you can select from your own local collection), like a 2D and incredibly creepy version of Space Channel 5. A $1 in-app purchase removes advertising.
Choose your favorite track and carry out a real massacre. Follow the rhythm and slash with style. This game tells you a story of Renatus, a man who got a second life but now has to pay the price. What happened to him? Find out in the diary that he kept during his last days.
• A mixture of cold-blooded action synchronized with music creates a unique gameplay model;
• control system based exclusively on swipes helps you feel the vibe and intuitively control the main character;
• no HUD elements will distract you from immersing into the game;
• locations are set in a dark fantasy world that resembles the Age of Renaissance;
• an intriguing story written in a form of a diary will guide you through the game;
• you can upload your own tracks and enjoy the action as you feel best;
One More Dash
The only objective in this super-simple twitch game is to get to the next circle as quickly as possible. A quick timer keeps you moving, and an interestingly varied take on the single spinning block game mechanic will keep you guessing. Lightning-fast gameplay and restarts make this an ideal game to kill time in a line, and a single $2 in-app purchase removes advertising. This one is not for the easily-frustrated.
Dash. Collect. Die. Repeat. A deceptively simple game about timing. From the makers of One More Line.
- Simple and intense gameplay
- Slick design with dozens of unlock-able colour themes and avatars
- Love the game but hate ads? Single IAP to remove ads. That’s it.
- Mission system to keep you coming back, over 200 missions to complete.
Galactus Space Shooter
Galactus is a standard space shooter that doesn't have anything to do with a giant planet-eating cosmic entity. What it does have is a solid setup, not to mention impressive graphics and sound for a mobile game. You can try it out for free with just a dollar to unlock the full game. If you've been looking for a new top-down shooter with lots of polish and old-school mechanics, give it a try.
Galactus is an adrenalin fuelled space shooter set in the year 2095. The Earth and the entire solar system has been destroyed by a ruthless race of aliens called the Cetians. A small portion of the Human Race managed to escape the destruction and settled in the planetary system known as Kepler-90, which contains 9 Planets known as the 'Nine Realms’… The Cetians have followed you here… ‘dum, dum, dum’…
Desktop Dungeons
Desktop Dungeons is pretty similar to most of the roguelike dungeon crawlers you've seen before, but since this one was originally made before the current retro craze, it goes without the pretense and just uses icons instead of faux pixelated sprites. This mobile version syncs your progress with the PC version of the game, but unfortunately it's only available for tablets at the moment. At least the high price doesn't include in-app purchases.
Desktop Dungeons makes its debut on Android Tablets. Fight your way through randomly generated dungeons, collect spells, items, and loot to defeat the dungeon boss and earn gold to upgrade your Kingdom. Unlock new classes to play as, useful items to discover, capricious gods to worship, and enemies to fight. All in service of the almighty bottom line and saving your Kingdom from peril.
Adventure Time Appisode
If you love the weird and somewhat disturbing world of Adventure Time enough to pay for new episodes, then throw $3 at the "appisode." It's basically an interactive show that replaces a bunch of the on-screen gags from one of the existing episodes with simple mini-games. Ostensibly it's for kids and includes performance results for parents, but I've never actually met an Adventure Time fan under the age of 20.
This isn’t just any Adventure Time episode--it’s an interactive appisode. Your kids can play along with their favorite Adventure Time characters in the episode “Furniture and Meat.” Finn and Jake have too much money, honey. Join in on the fun as they spend all of their gold in the Wildberry Kingdom.
- Full-length appisode based on the Adventure Time episode “Furniture and Meat”
- More than 20 interactive experiences with Finn and Jake
- Intuitive tap, tilt, swipe, and shake controls
- Original VO from Finn, Jake, and BMO
- Track your child’s progress and success
Roll'd
Roll'd takes the traditional idea of an endless runner and flips it on its head: instead of controlling the running character, you control the stage itself. The objective is to rotate the stage and keep it steady, so that the runner stays basically motionless while the stage moves around him. It's sort of like a 2D version of Super Monkey Ball. There's a surprising amount of variety in the characters and backgrounds.
Enter the world of Roll'd where rolling comes in at a new degree. Try and best you record with each game but remember about the twist, for you do not control the hero ...you control the track. Keep it steady and beat your record with every new game. The higher your score the faster you levelup and unlock the next level. Run through the varying settings all specifically stylised with references and inspirations ranging from the CGA era, through 8-16bit NES/SNES to the golden ages of the Amiga and more.
Anodia 2
There isn't much more to the original Anodia than an upgraded and expanded version of Breakout. And why not - the classic formula works great for quick play sessions on a touchscreen. The sequel adds more interesting stages, better graphics, and new tools and power-ups. It's also free with no in-app purchases, so go hog wild.
It's time to break the bricks in style. Anodia 2 is a complete new take on the classic brick breaker genre. With every level unique and fresh you will always wonder what comes next. While staying true to the first instalment's praised gameplay quality, Anodia 2 brings all new levels with a modern design and art style. Anodia 2 introduces new user experience concept that we call 'Just Play' -- simply hit the Play button, have fun and get the best high score.
Tentacle Wars ™
Please don't be a hentai game, please don't be a hentai game... YES. OK, now that that's out of the way, Tentacle Wars is a puzzle game that has you controlling an antibody that's trying to eradicate an invading virus from an alien's body. It's a mix of puzzle and strategy mechanics: you'll have to form connections between antibodies and virus cells, managing your microscopic resources in each stage. Also, the alien looks like a tiny, adorable version of the Xenomorph from Alien.
A contaminated alien organism is about to die... Take a deep look inside, while it launches its final defense program. Enter a microscopic world of cells, neurons and DNA tentacles. Take control of the last antibody cells and save the entire species from extinction. You can cure the organism by capturing enemy cells. To do this, draw a line between green antibody and red enemy cells. This will launch DNA tentacles which drain energy from enemy cell cores and eventually overtake them.
LEGO® Ninjago Tournament
Here's the latest in LEGO's never-ending line of video games, this time a top-down beat-em-up based on the company's fantasy ninja toy line and TV series. This one's more focused on fighting waves of baddies and bosses than the usual exploration and construction-based puzzles, but it's free with no in-app purchases.
You’ve been invited to enter Master Chen’s Tournament of Elements. Utilize your Ninja Training to unlock your True Potential, and defeat the other Elemental Masters. Face-off against the all new Elemental Masters, each with their own unique abilities. Battle in Chen’s Arena against well known enemies from the Ninjago: Masters of Spinjtsu TV Series. Level up your characters; the more you use them, the stronger they become.
The Branch
The Branch owes a lot of inspiration to Crossy Road. But instead of dodging cars, you're rotating the stage underneath the single character, getting out of the way of obstacles and running as far as you can before you either slip up or fall behind. It's a simple enough concept, and you don't need to pay to unlock more skins, though you will want to spring for the $2 ad-free upgrade - the auto-playing video ads are awful.
Stay on the branch as long as you can. Tap the screen to rotate the world and keep Mike safe. Get higher scores and collect gems to unlock new characters.
Looking for Laika
Looking for Laika is basically a version of They Need To Be Fed with more physics and a different atmosphere. Fling your player character astronaut from planetoid to planetoid, using various bouncy obstacles and rotating tools to get even further. The game has a unique look to it, sort of like a pastel version of the Spaceman Spiff panels from Calvin and Hobbes, and it's free with no in-app purchases.
The aliens abducted your puppy Laika in this epic side-scrolling puzzle adventure. As Astronaut it is your duty to go and save your best friend. Bounce and Jump from planet to planet through different worlds and dimensions. The one tap mechanism makes this platformer fun to play on any device. Both an arcade mode and story mode make this game complete. Beat the worldwide Hi-scores, or dive into the compelling story.
Monsieur Moustache
Monsieur Moustache is your basic jumping game, plus an Angry Birds-style "flinging" mechanic. Pull back and release to send your Frenchman into a parabolic arc. The open-source game is free with no in-app purchases.
Play as Monsieur Moustache and help him escape the flooding underground lab. Monsieur Moustache is an endless jumper game with a very simple, yet addicting mechanic. The simplicity and precision of that unforgiving mechanic makes the player rely on his skill more than anything else, and can be compared to Flappy Bird's tap to fly gameplay.
Tiki Taka Soccer
If you can't go big, go simple. Tiki Taka Soccer is the only game on this list to feature full matches controlled by the player, complete with a tap-and-swipe interface that should be notably better than EA's console-style touch controls. Unfortunately, even for this super-simple version of the sport, you can't escape the freemium model.
Welcome to Tiki Taka Soccer. True touchscreen soccer. Create your soccer team and lead them to European club soccer glory. Probably the best full soccer simulation available on mobile and tablets. Create a team, hire staff, choose your formation and buy the best players. Lead them into battle on the soccer pitch. Experience every exciting moment the beautiful game can provide.
UEFA CL PES FLiCK
Sports games on mobile are hard to make, which is why most of them are basically mini-games with simple touch controls. This soccer title isn't breaking any molds, but it does include 22 licensed teams from the UEFA Champions League. I'm going to assume that that's a major plus for soccer fans, while I sit here and stew in withdrawal of American football. This free game comes from Konami and, strangely, does not include IAP.
Ever wondered who the finest club side in Europe are? It's now time to find out in this all new "Free" Flick Shoot Game app, featuring the "UEFA Champions League", as watched by over 100 million fans across the globe. Europe's 22 chosen clubs for the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League season are all here. The final venue, Olympia Stadion, Berlin, and official match ball (Adidas FINALE 15) are also featured.
PES CLUB MANAGER
Only slightly less popular than casual sports games are sports manager games, another genre I really don't understand. This entry from Konami is free (unlike some of the competition), but includes $100 IAP (which, to be fair, some of the competition does as well). According to the description it includes 5000 real players, and the 3D matches look more engaging than the usual 2D bouts.
Create your dream team in PES CLUB MANAGER, the new football game from the popular Pro Evolution Soccer franchise featuring over 5,000 licensed players and stunning 3D matches. Select and train your players, build your own clubhouse and give tactical instructions to your team to become the best club manager in the world. PES CLUB MANAGER uses an optimised version of the game engine from the well-known console video game, Pro Evolution Soccer 2015.
Samurai Rebellion
Samurai Rebellion is a standard version of the growing linear real-time strategy genre, with a heavy dose of Edo period style. Spawn stylized warriors with action points, mixing different types of archers and infantry to conquer the map. This is adapted from a browser game, so it gets a little repetitive, but it's just $1 with no in-app purchases.
The year is 1604, and after bloody civil war, Japan is at peace… So it’s time for a Samurai Rebellion. Lead an army of warriors, including Ashigaru spearmen, bowmen and horsemen into bloody battle. Upgrade skills by vanquishing your enemies and taking over new territories in your quest to control the capital city of Kyoto.
Idle Town
Idle Town is basically Cookie Clicker with a bit of Sim City thrown in. I don't really see the appeal of these kinds of tap-mania games, but if you do and want something with a little more room for customization and expansion, here you go.
Govern the worlds cutest and most competitive town by building an empire of mighty coffee shops and ice cream vans. *cough* Tap the big mighty coin and earn Idle Coins, raise and invest them in every possible kind of business to further increase your income. Idle Town challenges you to earn achievements, gamble your money in Gambling Houses, beat milestones and impress your friends with your, so precious and so virtual, riches.
DRIFT SPIRITS
"Drifting" is quickly becoming the new "drag racing" for freemium racing games. This one comes from Bandai-Namco, and was allegedly a hit in Japan. The super-simple structure lets you control steering and nitro, and encourages you to buy and upgrade various licensed cars from the last 30-odd years. The multiplayer online races will almost certainly go to whoever's spent the most money.
Welcome to the world of Drift Spirits. Do you have what it takes to become the fastest drift racer? Compete in 1-on-1 drift races and claim the title of fastest racer. The drift racing game with over 5 million players in Japan is now available in English.!
- Free to play drift racing game.
- Simple touchscreen controls allow anyone to enjoy the thrill of drifting.
- Turn your smartphone into a street course and take part in heated races, anytime, anywhere.
- Screech through corners and blast down straightaways with the power of nitrous.
- Select from wide variety of popular car models from big name manufacturers.
- Enhance and upgrade parts, and install them to max out your car's power.
- Get additional paints and wings for your ride by combining and upgrading it. Create the coolest car on the road.
- Features BGM created by the famous Yuzo Koshiro, composer for numerous games. Pump up the volume and intensify your racing experience.
Toysburg
Toysburg can't seem to decide if it wants to be a Sims-style city-builder or a management sim. You're a modern day Geppetto, a toymaker who can create customized versions of toys... and then turn the local townsfolk into giant versions of said toys, to enslave them and make them join your demonic toy army. Also, there are toy judging competitions. Yeah, this is a weird one. $50 IAP means there's probably a huge amount of grind without paying.
There's a new maker in Toysburg; someone who possesses the arcane artistry of mystical manufacture that allows Toys to be made. That's you I'm talking about; surprised? Me too, I nearly sheared my moustache off. I'm Mr. Mustard. I have been a maker in Toysburg since I was but a wee scruffamuffin like you. The children of the city need your toys to get through the most bizarre situations. Your toys transform them semi-literally and give them somewhat-super powers.
Pirate Battles: Corsairs bay
This game brings the wretched freemium model to a multiplayer turn-based strategy game. I wish it didn't feature awesome pirate ship battles, so that I could hate it more for its $100 IAP and Facebook nagging structure. The battles themselves are hexagonal and turn-based, very much like some tabletop games, but board games won't try to get you to trade real money for fake gold.
Land ahoy, me hearties. Stand up, the new Jack Sparrow. Arr. Use all your pirate cunning and strategy to build your own fleet, scuttle your sea-faring enemies and create your own impregnable pirate empire in Booty Bay. Then sit back, uncork the rum and watch your enemies sink to a watery grave. Yo ho ho. Invite your Facebook contacts to play as friends or foes in an epic battle of the seas.
Dude Perfect 2
Want to recreate the mildly interesting stunts that won't stop playing in those 15-second YouTube ads? Well now you can, with the official Dude Perfect game. The second entry in the series comes from Miniclip and is predictably free-to-play, complete with an energy system. Maybe your time would be better spent watching the videos than waiting for an arbitrary bar to refill so you can play more 2D minigames.
600 million YouTube views later, Dude Perfect is back with their most epic game yet. Go BIGGER than ever hitting mind-blowing trick shots through tons of crazy levels. Jump on trampolines, float on parachutes, break glass, and even blow stuff up. Stunning artwork, animation, and sounds bring your trick shots to life. Experience life as a Dude. Play as Tyler, Cody, Garrett, Cory, Coby, and the greatest mascot of all time, Panda.
Thomas & Friends Watch & Play
Do kids shows really need companion apps? Apparently they do. In addition to the watch-along "train's eye view" of this Thomas the Tank Engine app, it includes several basic mini-games for kids between the age of three and five. $3 with no IAP or advertising, unless you count the PBS stuff.
Choo-Choo. The ultimate companion app for your engineer on the go. Focusing on the learning goals of the hit PBS KIDS show, Thomas & Friends Watch and Play will help foster your preschooler’s social and emotional growth, self-efficacy and problem solving skills.
•Watch full episodes & clips of Thomas & Friends through the eyes of your favorite train in a custom engine video player (wifi enabled).
•Play the Track Builder game to build your own interactive train track for your favorite engine.
•Play the Track Repair game to repair train tracks to help the engines make deliveries.
•Play Steam Team Snapshots to create and photograph your own animated scene with Thomas & Friends on the Island of Sodor.
BEAST BUSTERS featuring KOF DX
Android Police coverage: SNK Releases A Deluxe, Paid Version Of 'Beast Busters Featuring KOF' That's Stripped Of The Annoying Free-To-Play Elements
This is a paid version of Beast Busters, a sort of rail shooter with RPG elements and, for some reason, cameos from the King of Fighters cast. This time it's paid and gets rid of the free-to-play elements of the original release, which is practically unprecedented on the Play Store. Thanks, SNK!
Legendary SNK game series “BEAST BUSTERS” and “THE KING OF FIGHTERS" have celebrated respectively their 25th and 20th anniversary by returning in an ultimate cross over experience. Play in this non-stop action zombie shooting game as a member of the “Beast Busters” mercenary team or as a famous character from the “KOF” fighting game series, and shoot down the Beasts who came back to life until the last one.
Terraria World Map
This isn't a game per se, it's a second-screen app for 2D Minecraft Terraria. The app can show you your entire world map in real time... unless you play Terraria on the PC, Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3, or anything else that isn't an Xbox One or PS4. Welcome to the future.
The official World Map Companion App for tablet and smartphone devices, to accompany the Xbox ONE and PS4 versions of Terraria. Download for free to see where you are in your console game session in real-time, and to help you figure out where you’re going and what kind of interesting (or scary.) stuff is all around you ... All without having to pause your play.
SHIELD-Exclusive Games
The Talos Principle
Android Police coverage: First-Person Puzzle Game The Talos Principle Comes To The SHIELD Tablet, SHIELD TV, And Nexus 9
The Talos Principle is a first-person puzzle game (though you can set it to third-person in the settings) in the same vein as Portal. You run round various stages finding new and interesting ways to solve the puzzles at the behest of an anonymous voice, though this time it's "God" instead of a malevolent AI. The Talos Principle is probably the most technically advanced Android game at the moment, but it's Tegra-limited, so it's also available for the Nexus 9 as well. Extra chapters are $5 each.
As if awakening from a deep sleep, you find yourself in a strange, contradictory world of ancient ruins and advanced technology. Tasked by your creator with solving a series of increasingly complex puzzles, you must decide whether to have faith or to ask the difficult questions: Who are you? What is your purpose? And what are you going to do about it?
• Overcome more than 120 immersive puzzles in a stunning world.
• Divert drones, manipulate laser beams and even replicate time to prove your worth - or to find a way out.
• Explore a story about humanity, technology and civilization. Uncover clues, devise theories, and make up your own mind.
• Choose your own path through the game's non-linear world, solving puzzles your way.
• But remember: choices have consequences and somebody's always watching you.
Doom 3 : BFG Edition
Android Police coverage: Doom 3: BFG Edition, Including The Original Doom And Doom 2, Now Available For SHIELD TV And SHIELD Tablet
The entire run of the official DOOM series, on your SHIELD TV or Tablet, for ten bucks? Doom 3: BFG is nothing if not a deal. This ported version of the 2012 compendium requires a controller, even for the SHIELD Tablet, but considering the twitchy nature of shooters in general and DOOM in particular, it seems like a reasonable concession. The third game is a modern 3D FPS and runs at a surprising 60 frames per second on the SHIELD TV.
A Classic Remastered: Developed by id Software, the original team responsible for the franchise legacy, DOOM 3 BFG Edition features Achievements, improved rendering and lighting, and a new checkpoint save system allowing for smoother progression through the game. id has fine-tuned the controls bringing even more intensity to the DOOM 3 experience along with the addition of the new armor-mounted flashlight, players can now illuminate dark corners and blast enemies at the same time.
Hotline Miami
There's nothing in Hotline: Miami that really requires the graphical power of the SHIELD Android TV, Tablet, or Portable, but it does insist on a controller for proper play. In this ultra-violent top-down brawler/shooter, you play a man who's being manipulated by criminals into committing massive killing sprees. The short, intense bursts of action (which encourage the player to die, die again) made this game a huge hit on the PC and consoles. Not for kids, and not for those who are easily frustrated.
Gaming Controller Required.*** Hotline Miami is a high-octane action game overflowing with raw brutality, hard-boiled gunplay and skull crushing close combat. Set in an alternative 1989 Miami, you will assume the role of a mysterious antihero on a murderous rampage against the shady underworld at the behest of voices on your answering machine. Soon you'll find yourself struggling to get a grip of what is going on and why you are prone to these acts of violence.
War Thunder
War Thunder is one of the best-known free-to-play games on the PC. It's a World War II combat simulator that pits teams of players against each other in period-accurate planes. This one is exclusive to the SHIELD Android TV at the moment, and since the main draw is a series of gigantic PVP battle scenarios, it's easy to see why. There is an unfortunate pay-to-win element thanks to the F2P setup, but if you don't have at least some skill and strategy, you'll be slaughtered in the online multiplayer. Solo and co-op missions are also available.
War Thunder is a free-to-play, cross-platform MMO combat game for SHIELD, Windows, Linux, Mac and PlayStation®4 dedicated to military vehicles used in the World War II and the Korean War periods. Fight in major air, land, and sea battles, with international players in an ever developing environment. This is an Open Beta version of the game for Android and we're doing our best to deliver the same experience as on other platforms, so everything is a subject to change.
JUJU
JUJU is a multiplayer platformer, a rare thing on mobile, and also a 2D game with fairly impressive 3D visuals. The play style is something like a more puzzle-focused Donkey Kong, and while JUJU is definitely aimed at kids, it's engaging enough for adults to follow along. It's pretty expensive at $9.99, but that's only half the price of the PC version of the same game.
Juju’s father, Jambee, heads out to perform his daily rituals, unaware that Juju and Peyo have followed. While the elder is momentarily distracted from his work, the curious duo steps in, accidentally releasing a terrible and ancient spirit. Jambee bravely dives into battle with the creature, but he is not victorious and barely manages to pass a magical mask to his son before being captured. Now, it's up to Juju and Peyo to gather the mystic keys and magic ambers needed to seal away the spirit and save the day.
Luftrausers
Here's a good example of a game that doesn't need to be an exclusive to the SHIELD - it's a "retro" shooter that could run on anything, and the genre could have been adapted to touch controls fairly easily. The original came out on Steam and consoles last year, and it actually has several clones already published on the Play Store. At least this version is discounted versus the other releases.
The skies will be set aflame and the seas will overflow with wreckage in Vlambeer’s stylish arcade shooter LUFTRAUSERS. Select from over 125 combinations of weapons, bodies, and propulsion systems and take to the skies to battle enemy fighter planes, battleships, submarines, and rival aces for glory, honor, and high scores. Bravely volunteer for one of over 100 daring missions to unlock new Rauser combinations and vibrant color variations and become the most legendary Rauser pilot of all time.
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