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Gwent: Rogue Mage is a new The Witcher spin off, and it's a premium single-player card game
A standalone Gwent expansion focused on PvE gameplay, out now for $10
CD Projekt Red built an interesting card game known as Gwent for The Witcher 3, more or less a mini-game that could be played within the AAA title. Even though the card game's beginnings were humble, CD Projekt Red eventually fleshed the game out further to launch the online multiplayer title Gwent: The Witcher Card Game. Well, apparently, fans were itching for a single-player Gwent experience where they don't have to chase the meta constantly, and so CD Projekt Red has released Gwent: Rogue Mage, marketed as a standalone expansion for Gwent; it's a premium release built around PvE play, now available on Android, iOS, and PC for $10.
Alien Isolation hands-on: A fantastic example of how to properly port a console game to mobile
All 7 DLCs are included, along with controller support and cloud saves
Last month we learned that Feral Interactive would be bringing Alien: Isolation to mobile on December 16th. Well, that's today, and so this popular horror survival game is indeed available on the Google Play Store. Seeing that Feral's Nintendo Switch port of Creative Assembly's Alien: Isolation was exceptional, I'm sure many of you are wondering if today's mobile release stacks up, so I've gone ahead and tested the game to report my findings so that everyone can decide whether or not the $15 price tag is justified. Let's dig in.
Clever perspective puzzler Moncage is now available on Android
Indie dev Optillusion's promising debut, now pocket-size
Optillusion is a new indie developer that just released its first game today, and it's a doozy. This game is called Moncage, and it's a drop-dead gorgeous puzzler that offers a uniquely interesting mechanic. You see, the whole game takes place in a cube that you can rotate, and each side offers unique imagery. In order to solve the game's puzzles, you'll rotate this cube to line up the perspective of the cube's imagery. The goal? To collect photos of your perfectly aligned imagery, which reveals the story of the game. Moncage is an interactive optical illusion puzzle game, and not only is the presentation superb, but the gameplay is also a hoot that's perfect for play on a touchscreen.
Sparklite is a gorgeous Zelda-inspired roguelike, and it's 30% off in celebration of its mobile launch
An enjoyable adventure game that's perfect for mobile play
Sparklite is an adventure game from 2019 that's often compared to the original Zelda titles, thanks to its top-down view and puzzle-filled dungeons. A similar whimsical style permeates the game, though it's a roguelike, where you'll make incremental advancement through the game's procedurally generated world. Death (called feinting in this game) is a constant, but the penalties aren't very harsh. This is what makes Sparklite an exceptional port that suits mobile play very well, and in celebration of the game's launch on Android, you can snag a copy for 30% off the retail price.
Football Manager 2022 Mobile launches with a fresh set of mechanics to jump into matches faster
Though it looks like the Touch version is now a dedicated Nintendo Switch release
It's that time of year again. Sega has just launched its latest entry in its Football Manager simulation franchise, with Football Manager 2022 Mobile now available on the Google Play Store. Typically the Mobile version would launch with a separate streamlined Touch version on mobile, but it would appear that Football Manager 2022 Touch will only be available on the Nintendo Switch moving forward, which means the Touch version will no longer see a mobile release. Luckily Football Manager 2022 Mobile supports Chromebooks and Android tablets, alleviating any concerns that those with large screens would be left out. So if you've been eager to start your new season, as of this morning, you can grab Football Manager 2022 Mobile for $9.99 on both Android and iOS.
The best Android adventure game you never heard of receives a director's cut
A complete overhaul of the 2016 point and click detective game Kathy Rain
Raw Fury has been on a roll with the recent release of its excellent sandbox city builder Townscaper, and today marks the launch of Kathy Rain: Director's Cut. This is a reimagining of the original point and click adventure from 2016, and it offers performance improvements along with additional features. At its core, Kathy Rain is a detective story where you'll hunt down clues surrounding your grandfather's mysterious death. You'll solve puzzles to advance this story as you dig through a mysterious town's secrets. The game was a delight in 2016, and now that it's updated for play on modern devices, it's that much more enthralling, perfect for a Halloween playthrough.
Plant some vines, wash some barrels, and maybe learn a little in this popular indie winemaking sim
Hundred Days - Winemaking Simulator comes to Android, and it's a perfect fit for touchscreens
Hundred Days is a popular indie winemaking business simulator that's found success across PC and Stadia. Today it lands on mobile as a premium release absent of any annoying advertisements or in-app purchases. You can snag a copy for $5.99, and trust me when I say this is a game created with love. A love of gaming, and more importantly, a love of winemaking, which is why this release is packed with realistic mechanics and impressive winemaking knowledge. Hundred Days is a unique game that suits mobile play thanks to a fresh UI that lends itself well to touchscreens. All around, this is an interesting release that should appeal to wine enthusiasts as well as casual gamers, so don't miss out.
Square Enix brings Actraiser to the Play Store with a remastered take on the Super Nintendo classic
A surprise release from Square Enix, but a welcome one
Square Enix released Actraiser Renaissance during a recent Nintendo Direct, surprising everyone since this remaster was also revealed for the first time during the Direct release announcement. Great news for Nintendo Switch owners, but even more surprising, Square has launched the game on just about every platform, including Android, which means Actraiser Renaissance is now available on the Google Play Store.
The Final Fantasy IV pixel remaster lands on Android, but it will cost you
This 30-year-old JRPG retails for $17.99. Ouch!
Last month Square Enix released the first three pixel remasters for the Final Fantasy series on the Play Store. These remasters aren't cheap, and seeing that the first two replaced games many of us had already paid for, these pixel remasters are difficult to get excited for. In Final Fantasy IV's case, the only way to play on Android is through the 3D remake ported from the Nintendo DS, which is still available but does not offer the pixel design of the original SNES game (known as FF II in the US). This is why many are patiently waiting for IV's pixel remaster to land on the Play Store. Essentially, a pixel version has been a long time coming, and the wait is almost over now that we know Square plans to launch IV's pixel remaster on September 8th.
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered now has controller and cloud save support on Android and iOS
Square makes good on a six-month-old promise, surprising everyone
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In 2016 Square Enix released Final Fantasy VII and IX on Android, but VIII was still missing from the collection, a point of contention with fans over the last few years. Well, out of nowhere, Square has just released Final Fantasy VIII Remastered on the Play Store, and it's on sale for $16.99 until April 4th, which is when the price of the JRPG will jump up to $20.99.
Northgard update brings online multiplayer support to Android and iOS, complete with cross-play
2v2, 3v3, and 2v2v2 modes supported
Back in June, the release date for the Android port of Northgard was revealed in a YouTube trailer. This popular indie strategy game had already made its way to iOS in April but is only just now landing on Android. Despite the late arrival, the Android port is pretty good, offering acceptable performance, a reworked UI for touchscreen play, and there's even optional DLC available for those looking to extend Northgard's RTS gameplay. It's an acceptable port that should offer hours of fun, and it's currently on sale for 30% off.
My Time at Portia is basically 3D Stardew Valley, and the Android port is solid
Best of all, it's on sale for a limited time
If you haven't heard of it, My Time at Portia is an indie farming/life simulation game that offers gameplay similar to Story of Seasons and Animal Crossing, where you'll befriend villagers, plant crops, hunt for loot, and craft all kinds of objects. It's available on consoles and PC, having built up a solid fanbase, and today marks the release on mobile. Best of all, the game is currently on sale, which means you can snag your copy for $5.49 (normally $7.99). Not bad, though there are a few caveats included, which I've detailed below.
Trials of Mana lands on Android a day early, but something's missing
Where's the controller support?
It would seem Square Enix still insists on making release announcements in the West using Japanese dates, which is a day ahead of the US. This is how previously announced dates, such as the July 15th date for the mobile version of Trials of Mana, end up getting released a day ahead of the actual announced time. And so, Trials of Mana is now available on the Play Store, and since this is a premium release, you can pick it up for $23.99.
Play video: Baba Is You is one of the best ways to spend $7 on Android
If you're looking for an Android-specific gameplay video, you're in the right place
Baba Is You is considered one of the best indie games from 2019, and since it recently landed on Android, I figured I'd take it for a spin while recording my findings. This is an indie puzzle game that has found tons of success on every platform it's been released on to date, and so the arrival on Android is welcome indeed. The thing is, everyone might not be familiar with this mind-bending puzzler, and even if they are, they might want to know precisely how the Android port performs and plays. This is why I've recorded the first 20 minutes of the game. So if you've been holding out to see what the mobile version of Baba Is You is all about, here's a fresh gameplay video that should answer all of your questions.
Baba is You was one of the best games of 2019, but if you have yet to play it, it's finally coming to Android and iOS. A clever puzzle game where you win by changing the rules, it's a perfect fit for smartphones, and it's out on the Play Store right now.
The Witcher Tales: Thronebreaker is a single-player spin-off of the card game Gwent, out now
After a year, this premium RPG has made its way from iOS to Android
The Witcher Tales: Thronebreaker is a card-based premium RPG from CD Projekt Red, originally released on PC in 2018. The game is well-reviewed, and it serves as a single-player experience with tweaked gameplay from Gwent. Thanks to the game's popularity, we saw Thronebreaker released on iOS last year. But with how these things go, Android is usually the last platform to join the fun. So while we may be late to the party, as of today, The Witcher Tales: Thronebreaker has landed on the Play Store for pre-registration.
Crypt of the NecroDancer is finally available on Android, five years after the iOS release
Thankfully the wait was worth it
Crypt of the NecroDancer is a popular rhythm-based roguelike, and it has finally arrived on Android. The game was initially released on PC back in 2015 and then made its way to iOS in 2016. For some reason, the developer waited five years to bring the title to Android, but now that it's here, everyone can enjoy this challenging roguelike. You can pick it up for $4.99, and this is a premium release, so you won't have to worry about any in-app purchases or advertisements ruining your fun.
Dungeon of the Endless has made its way to mobile, but it's a sloppy port
You'll definitely want to play on a tablet
Dungeon of the Endless is a positively reviewed indie roguelike tower defense game that's popular on Steam, and it just landed on Android as Dungeon of the Endless: Apogee. You can pick up this new mobile version today for $5, which is currently 30% off the future retail price. This purchase includes all of the title's DLC, so it's a complete package that offers a revamped interface for mobile. Sadly this port still feels pretty rough. Not only is the game too dark to see anything, but the text is too small, the tutorial is painful, and there's no controller support.
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night lands on Android for $10, but it's a sloppy port
Surprise, a platformer known for poor performance underperforms on Android
Back in October (2020), NetEase caught everyone by surprise by announcing that it would bring ArtPlay's indie Metroidvania title Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night to Android and iOS. In the following week, the game landed on the Play Store for pre-registration, with an iOS listing hinting at a December 4th release. Well, it would appear the game has arrived a little early, which means you can already grab Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night from the Play Store for .99. Of course, I've taken the game for a spin to offer my thoughts, which you can read in full after the break. But for now, let's just say the game performs just about as well as expected.
FAR: Lone Sails is a gorgeous atmospheric adventure game, now available on Android
A visual masterpiece with middling touch controls
If you've never heard of it, FAR: Lone Sails is a stylish adventure game that's existed on PC since 2018, and it's a well-reviewed title that offers a story-rich experience without displaying a word on the screen. Primarily I would describe the release as a relaxing game that offers gameplay similar to indies like Inside, where the goal is to always move to the right to advance the story, and there's a unique Howl's Moving Castle mechanic in this release that will see you control a massive vehicle as it sails across a dried-out seabed. Of course, roadblocks are expected as you explore this desert, and so you'll solve puzzles to continue your journey forward.