There are 16 games in this week's gaming app round up. Nine of them represent nifty titles we played but didn't have time to showcase this week. Seven received a full reckoning, thanks to our new app reviews. I've played each and every one of them. How about you?
If you had told me ten years ago I would play 16 games in one week, I would likely have been confused and disoriented. Who are you, and why are you telling me this? The butterfly effect would then kick in, and this entire article would never have happened. You negated everything. Time travel is a responsibility, dammit.
But yes, I would have been skeptical. Happy, but skeptical.
Of course these 16 aren't the only mobile games I've played this week. And then there's Ni No Kuni, which I've been slowly getting into. When I took the Kotaku mobile editor position I figured it would be a nice relaxing position. If only you hadn't ruined time travel for everyone I'd go warm myself. Thanks.
Android
Stars Vs. Paparazzi — Free
Think Plants Vs. Zombies, only with an actress in a bikini transforming her fans into thugs that beat up innocent photographers. Oh the humanity!
Royal Revolt! — Free (also on iOS)
A gorgeous reverse defense game that casts you as a prince trying to reclaim his kingdom. Quite fun.
Little Things Forever — Free (also on iOS for $2.99)
Your eyes will kill you after an hour with this devious color-coded hidden object puzzle game. I love it, but it hurts.
iOS
Cracking Sands — $4.99 (also on Windows Phone and Android)
Polarbits' top-selling combat racer for Windows Phone makes the move to iOS.
Tiny Sheep — Free
It's like FarmVille, only a laser-focused FarmVille. Shear entertainment. Shear. Hahahaha.
Banzai Blade — Free
It's like a running Fruit Ninja, only without the fruit.
Ride 'Em Rigby — $.99
The raccoon from The Regular Show in an endless / stage-based running, jumping, ducking extravaganza. It's okay, though a little light on content.
Blade Lords — Free
An Unreal Engine 3-powered fighting game with a mission-based story and some smooth moves. Loading times are horrible though, and there's no multiplayer...yet. (it's coming)
Dingle Dangle — $.99
A game about fishing for small fuzzy balls in dark holes using the winch on a pirate airship. Challenging, fun, and a bit odd.
App Reviews for the Week of January 19-25
Let's See How Konami's Beat Gather Handles Space Unicorns and Dinosaur Lasers
Released late last year on iTunes, Beat Gather is a rhythm game that lets players use their own music library to create finger-tapping levels and share them with the world, so I am sharing a couple with you folks. More »
Wave Trip is a Marvelously Melodic Mission of Musical Salvation and Creation
Sharp geometric shapes, gorgeous alien landscapes and mellow beats define the latest musical adventure from the makers of Bad Hotel. That the melodies you generate while weaving waves through space free your friends from the clutches of evil is merely a bonus. More »
Subway Surfers Should Be Super Dorky, But I Kinda Like It
Yeah, it's a "runner" game. You control a character that's perpetually moving forward, and all you have to do is move them left to right and sometimes roll or jump as well. More »
A Tiny Flying Squirrel Trapped in a Pinball Universe Is Your New Recipe for Fun
To paraphrase A League of Their Own, there's no molerats in pinball. But this game-filled with rolling, bouncing mammals-this is a pinball adventure. More »
I Can't Believe This Awesome Action RPG is the Work of One Man
This entire game is the work of developer Dong-kyu Kim. He developed the story, revolving around a lone warrior in Ancient China battling hordes of demonic undead. More »
You Cannot Be Serious—You Can Not Be Serious—Playing Tennis in the Face
My old man has been a tennis official for more than 25 years. He's seen and penalized plenty of bad behavior, both professional and college. But I doubt he's ever seen anything like Pete Pagassi, the protagonist of Tennis in the Face.More »
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is Now on iOS. It Could Use Some Work.
Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is one of my favorite puzzle role-playing games. I loved it on the DS. I loved it on Xbox Live Arcade. I've got it for my PC. More »