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After getting hooked on some of the most lucrative titles Android offers, we get a strong urge to build out a diverse library full of premium games. And if you've secured a top-tier Android gaming phone, no library should come without some addictive, serotonin-inducing, quick tap-and-play rhythm games.
Hextech Mayhem hands-on: An unrefined rhythm runner set in the League of Legends universe
A stylish yet frustrating release from Riot Games
Riot Games (of League of Legends fame) has a new release on Android. It's called Hextech Mayhem, and it was recently ported to Netflix's gaming platform. It's a stylized rhythm runner that's well-reviewed on Steam, but some of you may be wondering how the transition from consoles/PC to mobile has turned out. Is it one of the best games on Android, or is it filler for Netflix's gaming catalog? Well, it's a bit of a mixed bag, which is why I've gone hands-on with the title to report my findings, and I've even recorded a 20+ minute gameplay video so everyone can see with their own eyes how the game performs. So if you were on the fence about whether or not Netflix's latest game is worth playing, this hands-on is for you.
Deemo II finally lands on Android after two years — and it wasn't worth the wait
Bad controls, horrible optimization, and even worse monetization
Back in May 2020, Rayark International announced a follow-up to its popular story-based rhythm game DEEMO, with the title entering into pre-registration at that time. Well, it's almost been two years since that pre-registration listing, and Rayark has finally launched DEEMO II. Sadly it would appear the wait wasn't quite worth it as the game suffers from performance issues, and worse yet, Rayark has absolutely stuffed the game with monetization. In contrast, the rhythm gameplay is still as solid as ever, but the lack of polish and overeager monetization bring the whole thing down.
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.
DEEMO Reborn is the latest rhythm game from Rayark International, now available on Android
A remastered version of the original DEEMO with 3D graphics
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Rayark International is a developer that's best known for its rhythm games, such as Cytus, though the DEEMO series is also pretty popular. While we've known that the sequel DEEMO II would be coming to Android since May (2020), it would appear the Rayark has also remastered the original title to create DEEMO Reborn, which has been available on Steam since September (2020). This remaster replaces the original's 2D graphics with new 3D designs in order to create a much more immersive title, and as of today, this remaster has landed on the Play Store for pre-registration.
DEEMO II and Soul of Eden are coming to Android, up for pre-reg now
Rayark International is bringing two new games to the Play Store
Rayark International is probably best known for its rhythm game series Cytus, though its action RPG Implosion - Never Lose Hope is also a very well-known title. Of course, the Cytus series isn't the developer's only rhythm game. The piano-based rhythm title DEEMO is also a major hit, and so it has amassed over 5-million installs on Android since its release in 2013. After seven years, it's now clear that a sequel is in the works, and it was recently listed on the Play Store for pre-registration, along with a secondary title called Soul of Eden, which is a card-based RTS.
Well what do you know, Cold Beam Games just release the followup to its music-powered dual-stick shooter Beat Hazard eight years after the original arrived on the Play Store. The title is currently in early access, so is still under development, which is probably why it is currently on sale for half-off, which means you can grab Beat Hazard 2 today for $3.99.
Muse Games has announced the release of its beat 'em up rhythm game Hamsterdam on PC, consoles, and mobile. This is an indie game that was partially funded on Kickstarter, and it offers a clean design where you'll take on a gang of vermin through the use of kung fu in order to restore peace to Hamsterdam one district at a time.
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 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 an early-access release for an adorable rhythm tapper, a free space-based PLAYMOBIL release, a slot car racer, a quirky falling block game, an arcade-like dungeon crawler, and an adventure-based fishing game from Daigo Studio. Without further ado:
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 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 brand-new puzzle game from the creator of You Must Build a Boat, a pixel-based roguelike all about thievery, a lighthearted casual game where you use a frog's tongue to pick up objects, a ridiculously enjoyable rhythm game about dancing fish, a minimal puzzle-platformer with its own stage creation tool, and a surfing game from the creator of True Skate. Without further ado:
Drool's action rhythm game Thumper was initially released on PC and consoles back in 2016. At the start of 2018, a mobile port was released on iOS under the new moniker Thumper: Pocket Edition. Well, it would appear that this mobile iOS port has finally made its way to Android with today's official release of Thumper: Pocket Edition on the Google Play Store.
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 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 unique rhythm game with a sonar theme, a digital adaptation of the board game Legends of Andor, a third-person tower defense game, a gorgeous gacha game similar in style to Nintendo's Fire Emblem Heroes, a pixel-based zombie survival game, and a strategic tank battler from Paradox Interactive. Without further ado:
Just last week I wrote a piece about Rayark International's rhythm-based game Cytus II coming to Android soon because it was finally listed on the Play Store for pre-registration. We had no information on the official release date at that time, but we didn't have to wait too long as Cytus II is now officially available. You can currently purchase the base game for $1.39, which is 30% off of the regular price. But make sure to grab it soon as this sale will only last for the first week.
Cytus II has been officially available since January of this year for iOS, but as always Android will get the game sometime later. It's at least reassuring to know that the sequel to the largely popular rhythm-based game Cytus is finally coming to to the Play Store. Well, that is if today's pre-registration listing is anything to go by.
RobTop Games' latest rhythm-based platformer Geometry Dash SubZero just landed on the Google Play Store. Much like a previous entry in the series (Geometry Dash Meltdown), the developers newest release of Geometry Dash SubZero is also intended as a mini stand-alone expansion. It includes 3 new winter-themed levels and an original soundtrack by MDK, Bossfight, and Boom Kitty.
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 free movie tie-in brawler for King Author, an intuitive arcade rythym game, a console quality open-world pirate RPG, a fully licensed MLB game, a minimal logic puzzler, and a deep RPG-based tapping game. Without further ado:
Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android games that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.
Runner games aren't exactly thin on the ground on the Play Store - we've essentially stopped covering them unless they offer something new and unique to players. Geometry Dash isn't exactly groundbreaking in terms of its actual structure, but the execution of its rhythm-based gameplay and the polish of the levels have earned it a small but dedicated fanbase. The latest entry in the series, Geometry Dash World, definitely deserves some attention.
Developer Rayark International seems to be in something of a groove for anime-themed rhythm games, if you'll pardon the pun. After a surprise hit with Cytus, the company is back with a similar game. VOEZ is different enough in tone and structure that it doesn't feel like a direct sequel, but it's safe to say that those who liked the original Cytus will also enjoy the new game. It's a free download on the Play Store, supported by in-app purchases for unlocking levels without getting high scores.
There have been a few releases of the modern style of music and dancing games on Android, like Guitar Hero. Of course, they're somewhat limited by the nature of the platform - use rhythm and timing all you want, but you're still basically limited to taps and swipes. Ubisoft has found a way around that for its lucrative Just Dance series: it uses your phone as a basic controller for the browser version of the game, Let's Dance Now. The basic pairing system is surprisingly effective.