Author: Vasanth Simon

If you’re a fan of role-playing games, try the games listed below. One takes place in the Viking world, while another one takes place in a mountainous expanse filled with traps and devious old friends. The third game on this list features castles, archers, and catapults. Read on to find out more.

Banner Saga 2 (Android, iOS)

This is a role-playing game featuring Viking clans in a brutal world where the only goal is to survive. Players can choose to continue from the previous game (Banner Saga) or start a new adventure. In battle, you will have to make wise decisions, otherwise you will lose characters permanently. Here a list of features and a video trailer:

● Hand-drawn 2D visuals depicting combat sequences, animations, and effects
● Turn-based battles
● Upgradeable characters – Improve stats to gain higher levels and unlock new moves
● New characters and races – Horseborn race
● Build and manage a caravan
● Great music – score by Grammy-nominated composer Austin Wintory

Sorcery Part 4: The Crown of Kings (Android, iOS)

In this game, you are on a quest to find a crown that was stolen by the evil Archmage. It is located in a mountainous setting. You have a sword and a book of spells to defend yourself. Engage in turn-based battles to progress through the game. Here’s a video showing the story:

Additional Features:

● Full tutorial
● 40 magical traps
● Disguises
● Interesting supporting characters
● Old friends may be enemies now
● Hand-drawn cartography with 3D buildings that are explorable inside and out
● Several possible endings

War Storm: Clash of Heroes (Android, iOS)

This is a MMO strategy RPG in which players build up their castles, recruit brave heroes, and engage in battles. To recruit new characters, complete quests, or capture Soul Shards and summon them. Craft weapons and armor by acquiring rare materials. To access new map territories, grow your empire. Here’s a list of items to look forward to:

● Foot soldiers
● Archers
● Mages
● Catapults
● Challenging monsters

Here’s a list of new games to play. There’s a match-3 game, an adventure game with puzzles, and a game with timed mini-games. Check out the trailer and features for each game. If you like it, click the links next to the game titles to visit the app store pages for each game.

Primal Legends (Android, iOS)

This is a competitive PvP match-3 game that takes place in the enchanting lands of Theria. An army of heroes fight an invading force called the Stones of Power. Their stones transform animals into enemies. Confront them in match-3 battles. The goal is to match three groups of the same color. Here’s a video showing the gameplay:

Additional Features:

● 200 levels
● 50 detailed heroes
● Online opponents in PvP battles
● Upgradeable characters

Primordia (iOS)

This game is described as a retro-styled, cyberpunk adventure game. It has challenging puzzles and a layered, allegorical story. It is fine-tuned for touchscreen devices. Here’s the trailer for this game:

Primordia looks primordial. The graphics aren’t new. In fact, they look like Nintendo graphics. It’s bleak and unattractive. But there are bright lasers, which provide a nice contrast. The explosions are surprising pleasing and impressive. The robot animations are worth noting as well; they bring life to the scene.

Additional Features:

● 8 possible endings
● Soundtrack composed by Nathaniel Chambers

Crap! I’m Broke: Out of Pocket (Android, iOS)

In a town with job opportunities, there’s an out-of-work individual seeking employment. You play that individual as he answers help-wanted signs. Each job is a timed mini-game, which you must complete to earn cash. This game has a Cubist visual aesthetic. Here’ a trailer showing the game in action:

In-game Jobs:

● Scrub dishes at a local diner
● Flip burgers
● Organizing colored cans in bins

Additional Features:

● Countdown timer
● Hunger meter
● Special micro-games for paying bills ahead of time
● Employee of the Month Challenges
● Random events that add to the cost of monthly bills
● Option to sell achievements and items
● Karma System that rewards good performance and hinders your life for bad performances

Explore different worlds in the following games designed for smartphones. There’s a strategy role-playing game (RPG) and a couple of action RPGs. Check out the innovative game mechanics. There’s a video for each game showing highlights. Links are included as well.

Monster Super League (Android, iOS)

This is a strategy RPG. There are eight separate regions filled with 550 Astromons. They have different combat styles and elements. There’s an on-field capture system that lets you capture the Astromons. Train them until they evolve into tough fighting animals capable of challenging enemies. In addition to the on-field capture system, there’s a customizable growth system. Here’s more details:

• Single player adventure with three special regions in addition to 8 regular regions
• Become an Astromon trainer and champion of the Monster Super League
• Dynamic PvP battles
• Collect rare and special awards

Sacred Legends (Android, iOS)

This is a RPG game with real-time 3D combat and asynchronous multiplayer with friend support. The setting is a fantasy world known as the kingdom of Ancaria. Select a character class and defend the kingdom against demon lords. Here are the details:

• Flexible character development and three classes: Warrior, Archer, and Seraphim
• PvP arena
• Optimized for smartphones and tablets with touchscreen

Final Taptasy (Android, iOS)

This is an action RPG that requires the player to tap the screen repeatedly. The goal is to destroy the enemies as they appear on the screen. The enemies travel from the top of the screen to the bottom of the screen. It has a retro style consisting of pixel art. Here’s more details:

• Up to 3 heroes can be added; companions and pets can be taken into battle as well
• Over 100 dungeons, weapons, skills, and treasures
• Infinite upgrades

Here’s a set of games that let you deconstruct a tower, use cards to fight enemies, and recruit cartoonist. Checkout the features in each game and watch a video showing the game in action. There are links to the app stores as well.

Six! (Android, iOS)

This is a tower building game, but the goal is to bring a hexagonal block situated atop a tower of blocks down to ground level. Start by removing blocks one by one. Just tap the screen until the hexagon is at ground level. If you remove the wrong blocks, the tower will crumble, ending the game. Here are a few more highlights:

• Compete against yourself, friends, or a global leaderboard
• Current score and best score are conveniently displayed while playing
• Simple, yet well-designed graphics and animations

Solitairica (iOS)

This is a card game based on Solitaire. It’s turn-based, with four energies to master including attack, defense, agility, and willpower.  There are RPG elements as well. The story takes place in the land of Myriodd. All the hearts have been stolen by Emperor Stuck. Players must use spells to defeat a horde of enemies and clear their board before their hearts run out. Here’s more details:

• Procedural enemies
• Card combos
• Cards are cleared in sequence
• Attack and counter-attack enemies

Cartoon999 (Android, iOS)

The goal in this game is to recruit cartoonists. While doing this, decorate your office with furniture. The graphics in this game are poor, but there’s a positive message about teamwork. There are humorous scenarios, lots of events, and several quests. Here’s a few more features in this game:

• Cross-game references including Dunogeon999F, The Buff Knight, Welcome to Dungeon, and Big Bear
• Comic-book-like illustrations and dialogue
• The more you play the higher your level

There are several new universes to explore in the latest smartphone games. There’s a massive multiplayer online (MMO) game that takes place in a fantasy world filled with shamans, warriors, and mages. There’s also a space-based game with lots of drama and a survival game that challenges your decision-making skills. In this article, you’ll find links to the app stores, a video, and a list of features for each game.

Arcane Online (Android, iOS)

This is a MMO with warriors, shaman, and mages. There’s an innovative auto-play feature that lets you relax and watch the action unfold. Also, mounts are available; use them to cross the vast world of Eldine quickly. Here’s the rest of the features:

• Online PvP system lets you play against players from around the world
• Join guilds and take part in battles against other guilds
• Weekly Siege War allows 5 guilds and 150 players in real time
• Compete for legacy items in Arena, PvP Battlegrounds, Guild Wars, and free open world PK
• Questline for level cap and end-game content is available
• Level up characters – Mage, Shaman, or Warrior
• Craft avatar and gear
• Collect, feed, and train mounts
• Online chat available

Space Warrior: The Origin (Android, iOS)

Space is the setting for this game. There’s lots of drama, plus one-button auto-fire. You can customize your ship in a couple of ways. Go into battle with a heavily armored dreadnaught or an agile starfighter. There are models in between. You’ll need the most powerful ship available to defeat the bosses. Here’s more information about this game:

• 3 unlockable ships
• 11 upgrades
• 3 different weapon types
• 9 story missions
• 30 hours of gameplay
• 9 massive bosses
• High resolution 3D graphics

Final Fortress – Idle Survival (Android, iOS)

This is a survival game designed to enhance decision making instead of fostering skinner-box addiction mechanics. The player can choose two paths to play: stay and build a tower, or gather your things and leave with survivors. One of the first things to do is collect gas. Once you have enough, trade it to rebuild your fortress. Then, kill zombies by tapping the screen. A variety of rewards become available as a result of defeating a horde of zombies. Collect them. Next, spin the wheel for an opportunity to earn gems, gas, and upgrades. Here what else you can do in this game:

• Build your resources
• Level up rooms
• Automate your survival
• Gain a radioactive yolo boost that supercharges your character for hours
• Find survivors

There are several new games in the app store this week. Check out the features of each one. There are links to the app store and a video showing the gameplay.

Bowling Central 2 (Android)

This is a bowling game with a multi-player mode and 3D lanes. It relies on touchscreen interactions. Swipe the screen to bowl straight, curve the ball, hook the ball, or bowl with a customized motion. Play against anyone online. This game utilizes synchronous-sim multiplayer technology. Here’s a list of features:

● 10-pin bowling matches in real time
● 8-player tournaments
● Turn-by-turn play with other players in the room
● Weekly competitions with global leaderboards
● 24 decorated balls
● Themed environments
● Multi-language support

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiyOJveU-U0

The Hunt for Red Panda (Android)

The goal in this game is to restore paintings. There are several tools available to you including droppers, reagents, and erasers. After restoring a painting, visit museums around the world to stop the Red Panda before he defaces another painting. There are
several mini games along the way including:

● Preventing falling paint drops from hitting the ground
● Jigsaw puzzles
● Color mixing
● Lock picking

Here’s a list of additional features:

● 5 restoration tools
● 7 museums with facts about art
● Hidden objects game
● 8 hours of gameplay

Chaos Legends (Android)

This game is set in a mythical Chinese world where a war between two empires rages. It is persistent, so players can leave the game and return to a new, changed environment. Here are more features:

● 3 playable heroes with unique skills based on traditional Asian fantasy
● Powerful mounts and magical pets to battle with
● Multiple PvP battlefields that hosts 500 vs 500 battles

This game uses U3D graphics technology, 4K visuals for the Chosen, and full 3D dynamic environments.

Gun Glory: Anarchy (Android, iOS)

Save the world from deadly radiation in this 3D shooter. There are cool weapons including spitting lava, a freeze gun, dragons, and guided missiles. Use these weapons against zombies, exotic monsters, and giant robots. Here’s a list of additional features:

Auto movement system lets players aim, while the character moves around the screen
Multi-player real-time PvP battles

This game is compatible with Android 4.0.3 or higher and iOS 6.0 or higher. There are in-app purchases.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kH2wAcc7iTc

Check out the newest productivity apps added recently to the app stores. There’s a document scanner and a couple of task managers. There’s also an innovative text messaging app with cross-app functionality; it has convenient business-related features.

ABBYY FineScanner (Android, iOS)

This is a document scanner for mobile devices. It was previously only available on iOS, but is now available on Android. It sees text and a future document. It also converts photos to MS Word. Here are more features:

• Save scans as JPEG or PDF
• Recognize 193 languages including Latin, Cyrillic, and CJK alphabets
• 12 output modes that preserve the original formatting including lists, tables, and headers. These include docx, pdf, and txt.
• Create, edit, and enhance multi-page documents easily
• Auto-capture of page boundaries and advanced image filters
• Saves images with tags in app; searchable
• Share and export results to any cloud storage including Google Drive, Box, Evernote, Dropbox, Yandex.Disk

There are two versions of the app. One includes a subscription for premium features such as OCR (optical character recognition) and ad removal. It costs $4.99 per month or $19.99 per year. The second version is a one-time purchase app that costs $39.99.

Focus Matrix (iOS)

Focus Matrix is a task manager designed around the so-called Eisenhower Method. This method breaks up tasks in several groups based on importance and urgency. Here are some of the things you can do with the app:

• Assign due dates to tasks
• Set reminders
• Get automatic notifications when tasks become Urgent
• Delegate tasks by email or messages
• Filter tasks by tags and statuses
• Get statistics and reports for completed tasks
• Password protection

Tasmana (Android)

Here’s another task manager. This one can be used for personal task management or for group task management. It’s useful for time management as well. Here’s a list of features:

• Create groups of users
• Register with Google or Facebook accounts
• Invite new users to a group
• Task creators receive alerts for task assignment and progress
• Tasks can be assigned to any member in a group
• Ability to reject a task within a group

Use Tasmana to create lists of things-to-do, such as grocery shopping and mailing letters.

Gyst (Android)

This app combines normal texting with several other applications including calendar, contacts, and tasks. It makes texting more productive. Here’s a list of features:

• Prioritize texts
• Use labels to organize texts
• Easily move a text into a to-do list in Tasks
• Search and sort texts by labels, priority, or attachments

The pro version of the app has several more features including:

• The ability to schedule texts for a later time
• Send availability to easily schedule meetings
• Attach any document including pdf, ppt, docx
• Option to archive old texts in the cloud