The long-awaited arrival of beloved Nintendo franchise Animal Crossing on iOS is just of one of the picks for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week.”
In addition, we’ve got a great writing app for Mac (perfect if you’re writing a book!), a popular ARPG, and a brilliant point-and-click adventure game. Check out our picks below.
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
With over 30 million games sold worldwide, Animal Crossing has become one of Nintendo’s most successful franchises. This week it made the leap to mobile with the arrival of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp.
The game puts players in control of their very own campsite. You’ll need to craft furniture and materials by completing tasks to obtain the items you require. You can then dress up your campsite to attract new animals, which in turn gives you more crafting options.
Pocket Camp feels more goal-oriented, and less free-roaming, than the Animal Crossing experience you may be used to. While that’s not going to appeal to everyone as a positive change, I think it carries over of the original game’s charm to make this a worthwhile download.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free (with in-app purchases)
Get it from: App Store
Scrivener 3
Photo: Scrivener
One of the best Mac writing apps just got a big update with the arrival of Scrivener 3. For those unfamiliar with it, Scrivener essentially works as a combination of notes app and word processor to keep all of your research in one place. Perfect if you’re writing a book!
Scrivener 3 adds a number of new features, including overhauled interface, Touch Bar support for new MacBooks, improved Kindle exporting, broadened support for technical formats via Markdown output and custom post-processing, and a whole lot more. You can find a list of all the details here.
If you’re an existing user, the update will only cost $25, while new users can download it for $45. If you’re still making up your mind, however, you can also get a free 30 day trial, which only takes into account days where you actually use the app.
Available for: Mac
Cost: $45 (for new customers)
Get it from: Scrivener
The Inner World: The Last Wind Monk
A sequel to the brilliant 2013 The Inner World, follow-up The Last Wind Monk picks up the thread of this characterful hand-drawn point-and-click adventure for a whole new game.
While it first launched on PlayStation 4 and Windows PC back in September, this iOS port doesn’t feel like a lesser product. The game itself is developed by a German indie house, and the story does a good job of balancing fantastic whimsy and some close-to-home political allegories.
We won’t spoil the plot line for you (which, to be fair, won’t mean too much until you play the game.) Just be aware that, should the above trailer appeal to you in style, you’ll totally enjoy the full experience.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free (with in-app purchases)
Get it from: App Store
Dragon Raja
Dragon Raja is a free-to-play mobile ARPG that comes to the U.S. with an impressive lineage. Not only is it based on an enormously popular fantasy novel series, but it also previously reached no. 1 on South Korea and Taiwan’s free games chart, when it was launched in those markets.
The game boasts a good story, plenty of the dragon action hinted at in the title, and some attractive graphics. It may not not be the most original ARPG out there, but it’s a whole lot of fun.
Available for: iPhone, iPad
Cost: Free (with in-app purchases)
Get it from: App Store
