There are few things as exciting as a flood of new games, and while the world of console gaming has been churning out blockbusters, the App Store has seen its own fair share of excellent game releases in the past couple of weeks.
We take a look at some of our favourites after the jump.
Oh! Edo Towns
That distinctive pixel art, those adorable animations, the familiar interface … it’s a new Kairosoft game, folks! If you’ve finished with the Game Dev, Mega Mall and Grand Prix stories, then you’ll be thrilled to dive into their latest offering: Oh! Edo Towns.
Feudal Japan may seem like an odd setting for this kind of game, but the usual micro-management gameplay fits like a glove as you work your way up to become the most productive castle town in the Edo period. You’ll be building structures, training people and performing various financial manoeuvres to attract more visitors.
Go elsewhere if you’re seeking innovation, as Edo Towns is really little more than a new skin and a fresh layer of polish applied to a tested formula. But if you are a fan of city sims, the developers’ previous titles or Japanese history, then you’ll have a blast with this one.
Price: $3.99
Developer: Kairosoft Co., Ltd.
Download: App Store
Junk Jack
It was only a matter of time before someone did a proper spiritual port of the Minecraft craze to the mobile platforms, and we’re happy to say that Junk Jack seems to be the game to do it.
At this point, it’s worth mentioning that Junk Jack is not so much a “game” as a sandbox environment. While you’ll find a similar set of goals as in Minecraft (collect & craft things, build with them, avoid night monsters), there is no real structure to it beyond what you care to establish yourself. That said, there is a lot for imaginative folks to keep busy with. The ground, even in its measly two dimensions, is overflowing with objects, materials and hidden environments to uncover.
The controls are a dead simple combination of swiping to move and tapping to dig, and you’ll want to upgrade your tools early because otherwise you’ll get very sore fingers before long. Junk Jack is one of the most ambitious sandbox games on the App Store and will captivate those who love to build and explore without a set direction.
W.E.L.D.E.R.
What do you get when you cross a sliding block puzzle with Scrabble? Something like W.E.L.D.E.R., of course. This compelling word game is madly addictive and much more fun than you might expect from a crossword puzzle.
Tapping adjacent letters will get them to swap positions, allowing you to shuffle things around to make words with more than four letters in them. Each level will require a certain number of words to be created, and although there’s no limit to how long it can take you, you start off with a limited number of swaps. Making more words, or incorporating special coloured tiles (much like Scrabble’s score multipliers) earns you more points and more swaps.
As you progress, you’ll not only encounter more types of special tiles, you’ll also unlock more swap methods including an incredibly useful distance one. Since the game is universal, you’ll be happy to know that it features iCloud progress saving so you can pick up right where you left off between all your devices. As much a game of puzzling skill as of vocabulary enhancement, W.E.L.D.E.R. is the perfect game for the wordsmith in all of us.
Price: $1.99
Developer: Ayopa Games LLC
Download: App Store
Mad Rush
Sometimes all it takes is a small tweak to turn a tired formula into a fresh experience. Mad Rush accomplishes this by taking the well-worn mechanic of ascending levels (made popular by the likes of Doodle Jump) and adding in a competitive element — you’re no longer alone for the climb!
In fact, it’s not even a climb since you play as a jetpack-wearing rabbit. So instead of just calmly making your way up, collecting items, avoiding obstacles — you know, the usual — you get to do all of that while racing an opponent who’s bent on beating you to the finish! By earning stars, you can upgrade your skills and get a leg up on your opponents, who will challenge you across the game’s ten worlds.
The most obvious question is when this will go multiplayer, and while it’s not yet included, the developer has confirmed that it’s under development for an update. In the meantime, you can polish up your racing skills and master the responsive tilt controls in this enjoyable take on a popular genre.
Price: $0.99
Developer: Krivorukoff LLP
Download: App Store
Rail Maze Pro
Last up for this set is Rail Maze Pro, an incredibly rich update to a fun App Store puzzle game where you are all that stands in the way of train traffic chaos.
The biggest addition to Rail Maze Pro is that you now have to worry about multiple trains simultaneously, and the trains you’re directing can collect wagons as they go. Not only do you have to deal with long trains, but now you’ll find yourself building tracks, clearing obstacles in the way and even avoiding train pirates. It’s a lot of fun and the game features several new modes and a gigantic assortment of levels to keep you occupied.
With so much packed in, it makes for an excellent title to return to again and again, especially since the difficulty level is almost never frustrating. Go save some trains!
Price: $0.99
Developer: Spooky House Studios
Download: App Store
What Have You Been Playing?
There have been some great titles released in the past few weeks — did you catch more of them that we missed? Drop us a comment and let us know!