Welcome to the weekly roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Market or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.

This post only features games - apps are coming soon in a separate post and tablet apps were posted earlier today.

Please wait for this page to load in full in order to see the AppBrain widgets, which include ratings and pricing info.

Looking for the previous roundup editions? Find them here:

Today's game roundup is sponsored by Solitaire Challenge (Online) from Lasting. The game puts a social spin on the good old Solitaire, adding live online competition against other players trying to solve the same Solitaire layout. Solitaire Challenge (Online) takes the "solitary" out of "Solitaire."

Games

Android Police review: [New Game Review] Asteroid Tower Defense Is The New Angry Birds Of Tower Games

This Tower Defense game with excellent polish and graphics is our pick of the week (see the review above).

Save the earth from the asteroid rain. Equip your space station with blaster, laser, solar panel, shield, and freeze cannons. Defense is very important, so protect your command center and let it blast away all incoming asteroid waves.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsSaPZIKxEI&feature=player_embedded

Android Police coverage: [New Game] BackStab HD, Gameloft's Bloody Take On Assassin's Creed, Now Available In The Android Market

No matter what you think about Gameloft's sources of game ideas (i.e. how about half of them come from existing games made by other studios), you can't argue that this company makes top notch Android games with some of the best graphics our favorite platform has seen. BackStab HD is no exception.

“My name is Henry Blake, once a proud officer in England’s Royal Navy. Now I stand a shattered man. Betrayed, imprisoned, my fiancée taken away, I have now found my freedom - and soon I shall find my revenge.”

Take on the role of Henry Blake, a broken man whose life was stripped away, and help in his quest for justice and revenge. Climb, jump and sneak your way through diverse settings to reach your target and strike down adversaries. Use your deadly fighting skills and the combo-based combat system to defeat your nemesis and anyone else who gets in your way. Roam freely across a huge island and gaze upon its magnificent full-3D environments and experience the feeling of an immersive, realistic world around you thanks to impressive non-player character interactions with true-to-life voice effects.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUIvpBkMNWs&feature=player_embedded

Weave your way through traffic at insane speeds in the smash arcade hit. Played by over 3 million iDevice users, and now FREE for the Android.

Ride your sport bike at insane speeds through ever changing traffic. Keep an eye out for careless drivers and avoid vehicle blind spots. Easy to learn but hard to master. Do you have what it takes to reach "TOP SPEED"?

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqTPDwdTq3k&feature=player_embedded[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fractiv.lanesplitter[/EMBED_APP]

Android Police review: [New Game] Review: Zombieville USA (From The Makers of Battleheart) - Classic Sidescrolling, Modern Bugginess

Zombieville USA - one of the biggest hits for the iPhone, now on Android devices! Experience the definitive mobile zombie experience, which has set records and won the hearts of millions of players.

When your town is overrun by the walking dead, there's only one thing left to do - go through their pockets and look for loose change! As the lone survivor of a zombie apocalypse, it's up to you to battle legions of the undead in a never ending fight for survival! How long can you hold out? Scrounge for cash and ammunition, and buy up to 18 different weapons as your inevitable doom closes in around you...

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0VoTGjzTcc&feature=player_embedded

Android Police review: [New Game Review] Inotia 3 Gives Us A Great Hack And Slash, But Is It Ruined By Micropayments?

An inevitable fate lies before the children of Carnia. The greatest epic adventure by far! The Chronicles of Inotia 3! The new legend is about to begin in the continent of Inotia.

"With the coming of age ritual ahead, Lucio and Ameli from Carnia village happen to be acquiring guntlets, and the adventure stirred up by these guntlets leads to a consequence that is a way beyond their imaginations... Lucio and Ameli realize soon that they have extraordinary destinies lain before them... Warriors' fates have been predestined for thousands of years already... Will those who are born to be warriors be happy after all?"

Far better and more enormous in scale than its predecessor, the story line of Inotia III is constructed in such detail that you won’t be able to take your eyes off the game. The narrative takes you from the present to the past and back again, with a plethora of unique minor characters, 130+ maps, and 230 remarkable quests.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bc-1Ze4TIBk&feature=player_embedded

Defend Earth against waves of Aliens. Blast giant UFOs into pieces. Endure Captain Cody's snide remarks. All in the day of a rookie space pilot who is Humanity's last hope against aliens! Come and see what kind of rookie you are!

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This game is a little hard to describe - it's best if you watch the video first.

Spirit, by Marco Mazzoli, the critically acclaimed iPhone hit now on Android. Simple and fun to play. No shooting. No on-screen controls. Just slide your finger and Spirit will mimic your movements.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMh4DIq3CZk&feature=player_embedded[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jakyl.spirithd[/EMBED_APP]

Diversion is the ultimate 3D platformer for Android with 3 unique worlds, 100 levels, and 150+ characters to unlock and collect!

- Challenging gameplay requires timing and puzzle solving
- Boss battles!
- 100 Levels
- 3 Unique 3D Worlds
- 150+ fully-animated playable characters to unlock and collect
- Lush 3D environments
- Physics powered by PhysX
- 3rd person camera: see all the action
- Different every time you play!
- High Resolution graphics
- Play your own music

Be amazed at what you can do : run, jump, climb, hang, swim, zip, slide, and even fly! As you progress through levels you'll unlock more challenging gameplay and hazards, including: spikes, chasms, zip-lines, slides, ledges, holes, buttons, spiderbots, bouncer bombs, water, laser walls, meteors, security drones, aliens, mutant sharks, chompers, stompers, lava, steam vents, blast vents, reversers, stoppers, portals, spike rollers, and more! 100 challenging levels will require timing and puzzle solving skills to complete and unlock the 150+ playable characters including: Ninja, Alien, Rocket, Karate, Robo, 60s, Zombie, Burglar, Tiger, Egyptian and even the Freaky Chicken and Future Banana!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxuTdXgppBI&feature=player_embedded[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ezone.Diversion[/EMBED_APP]

The dark spin of this game on the classic Sokoban concept is so surreal that I don't know what to say... just watch the video.

Psychoban brings you a deeper concept in puzzle gaming, drawing from proven classics such as Sokoban to create an unique and immersive experience!

  • Brain-scrambling puzzles:
    Psychoban takes you through an entirely new dimension of puzzle-adventure experience, as you must make your way through actual 3D challenges. A non-stop concatenation of challenges, hilarious situations and gorgeous visuals will squeeze you out of any remnants of sanity.
  • Insanely seamless interface:
    No virtual key-pads! An unique character control system, absolutely natural to the Android interface, allows for an easy and hands-on playability. You tell Mental Dude what you want him to do, and he does it!
  • Deranged settings and environments:
    Make your way through five of the world´s creepiest mental asylums, and become a part of their gruesome, gore-stained history.
  • Mad quantities of levels
    Sixty levels of concentrated challenge-packed puzzles will keep you hooked-in to the last second!
  • Alienating, comedy-driven story
    Join the adventure of Mental Dude, his quest for freedom, survival… and a grip to reality.
  • Leaderboards and achievements supported via OpenFeint.
  • Awesome unlockeables!
  • Lunacy guaranteed!
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDlA6Ov4nm8&feature=player_embedded[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dedalord.psychoban[/EMBED_APP]

Lead your faithful minions in a space battles and conquer the galaxy. Use different weapons and use the forces of gravity to your advantage.

Gravity Wars brings turn based artillery gameplay into space. If you liked Worms, Scorched Eart, iShoot or any similar game then you will love Gravity Wars.

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[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.geteit.gravity.alpha[/EMBED_APP]

Defend your mana from a horde of hungry spirits in this arcade puzzle adventure!

✔ Arcade puzzle game with personality: High-quality artwork with memorable characters and a high level of polish, from game design to the sound and music.

✔ Gameplay that's fun for all ages: Defend your stores of mana from hungry spirits that each have their own special attack and are intent on eating up all your mana. It's connect-3-or-more puzzle action with a touch of tower defense!

✔ Puzzle mechanics designed specifically for touch screens: Trace a path to chain together 3 or more of the same colored totems or spirits and destroy them, collect their mana, and earn points.

✔ Intelligent, fast-performance scaling and anti-aliasing for different screens: Enjoy a great game experience regardless of screen size - looks fantastic on tablets!

✔ Two difficulty levels to challenge your skills, two spells to help you survive, and a handful of hungry spirits to keep you on your toes. If you hit the 10 wave limit, you know it's time to graduate to the full game!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFFGEEqwNE8&feature=player_embedded

The worldwide smash hit iPhone game 'A Monster Ate My Homework' has come to Android!

Monsters have stolen your homework and now it's payback time! With 85 levels of Monster-thumping carnage, it's your job to not only get your homework back but also give those sneaky pests a good hiding. Swipe, throw and knock the stuffing out of them but be warned, they won't make it easy for you!

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osfl-5wEYcA&feature=player_embedded[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.geekbeach.amonsteratemyhomework[/EMBED_APP]

Android Police coverage: EA Releases Official Scrabble App, We Are Liberated From The Buggy Shackles Of Words With Friends

A little late for the official Scrabble, now that we have Words with Friends and WordFeud, but hey, official is always good.

It’s the wordplay you’ve been waiting for! Now play America’s Favorite Word Game on your Android smartphone – and play for FREE. Featuring CROSS-PLATFORM PLAY, you can play SCRABBLE with friends across different devices, including iPhones!

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This game looks pretty good, except it's not available for a single device we own, and judging by the download numbers, nobody at all can install it (1-5 installs). What the hell, Glu Mobile?

Step into the DJ booth and test your skillz on the ones and twos in this mobile version of the console smash hit!

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Control a rocket, traveling through the deep spaces of universe! Jump from planet to planet and use their gravity. Unlock all the features and score the best.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b-SNsLbhUw&feature=player_embedded

Reedu is an odd combination of Myst-like worlds and arcade puzzles. I'm not sure I've ever seen such a mix in one package before, but it's surely intriguing.

You are Reedu First and you’ve just awoken on the dangerous world of Veridia. How did you get here?

Explore the vivid 3D landscape to unravel the mysteries. But the surreal terrain will serve up challenges that impede your progress. Can you find and solve all the puzzles that Veridia has to offer? Can you find clues as to why Reedu finds himself here?

This first episode in the Reedu series of adventure games from Nomuda includes:

- 7 addictive puzzles (including shooters, motion tracking, logic puzzles, and more!)
- An expansive 3D environment to explore
- A multi-headed villain to defeat
- Various inventory items that will help you conquer the terrain
- A responsive map guiding your navigation
- Clues spread throughout (if you can find them)
- Autosave - pick up right where you left off the next time you play
- Updates with new mini-games and features

You are Reedu. Welcome to Veridia. It will not welcome you back.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnrucx7QPCQ&feature=player_embedded

A unique zen puzzler that is sure to test your brain and capture your heart!. Quell has been critically-acclaimed for its 80-plus levels of ingenious gameplay, gorgeous art style, and custom-written soundtrack (by renowned composer Steven Cravis).

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43v9w8JYJ2E&feature=player_embedded[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fallentreegames.quell[/EMBED_APP]

In this game you will try to solve the puzzle before the color bomb explodes. The game play is simple but entertaining. You will swap between 2 blocks of same shape to collect 4 same-color blocks. It will collapse when 4 blocks are met.

Compared with ordinary Jewel style game, players will not swap between adjacent blocks. Color Link offers a whole new way for users to master it. 5 modes will be included in the games, Bomb, Time, Bone, Collect and Endless mode.

  • Bomb mode:
    Solve the puzzle with the count down of color bomb.
  • Time mode:
    Solve the puzzle within time limit.
  • Bone mode:
    Explode bone at the bottom of the stage.
  • Collect mode:
    Collect specific amount of color blocks before the time runs out.
  • Endless mode:
    Endless puzzle challenge.
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[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sillycube.android.colorlink[/EMBED_APP]

Domino Run is an addictive and challenging puzzle game. Rearrange your dominoes on the platforms and topple them all with one push. Use special domino types to bridge gaps, destroy platforms and more. This is the Lite (demo) version, which includes 20 free levels! Once you've solved the levels, try to beat our times and match the minimum moves!

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While I appreciate the oldies, but bringing them back as exclusives for the Play and at $6+ is simply preposterous. Sony is never going to stop being Sony.

A PlayStation® classic returns, giving fans old and new a chance to experience the adrenaline rush of the world’s fastest future sport: F3600 anti-gravity racing.

Go back to the future with the PlayStation® console’s original 1995 launch title WipEout®. It’s 2052, and you’re in the cockpit of an anti-gravity racing craft. Six extreme tracks, eight opponents and an array of wild weapons lie between you and F3600 Championship glory, but there’s no time for nerves. Harness that adrenaline rush – and let’s fly!

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[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sony.playstation.NCEA00010_0[/EMBED_APP]

Can someone teach Sony how to take screenshots?

Special agents Gabe Logan and Lian Xing stand accused of conspiring to spread the fatal Syphon Filter virus around the world. However, the trail of treason leads straight to their former employers – the Agency, and only Gabe and Lian can uncover the covert conspiracy and stop the virus in its tracks.

Syphon Filter™ 3 is a classic PlayStation® adventure, not to be missed.

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[EMBED_APP]https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sony.playstation.NCEA03697_0[/EMBED_APP]

Know A Worthy New App? Let Us Know!

If you have an application in mind for the next issue of the roundup, feel free to send us an email and let us know.

Important: there are 2 requirements in order for the app to be considered, listed below.

  • the app's launch date has to be between Monday and Sunday this week
  • it has to be original, ground-breaking, well-reviewed, interesting, fun, etc - the cream of the crop

Now, if and only if the above requirements have been satisfied, fire up an email to this address: oh.no.its.the@androidpolice.com.

1 sponsored placement per week is available (your app would be featured at the top and marked as sponsored) - please contact us for details.