There’s nothing like a good crossword puzzle or word-search game to stimulate the brain. But a lot of themed crossword puzzles offer just a few clues and sometimes an image related to the subject. Not so with Digiluna Games’ Movie Crosswords game.
5 fun iPhone games that won’t spam, scam or screw you
So many games on the App Store are thinly veiled vessels for sucking away your money through in-app purchases, a problem that Apple is both the cause of and solution to. Today, I’m going to give you my five favorite non-spammy games for iPhone. They’re all highly addictive time-killers.
All of these games are devoid of manipulative game mechanics, pay-to-win schemes and scummy in-app purchases. They’re all free, included in a $4.99-a-month Apple Arcade subscription, or very cheap to buy. I don’t make a lot of time to play video games, so I’m certainly not going to waste time on a game that doesn’t respect me as a player.
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened game takes you back to Hogwarts
Players become students at Hogwarts and engage in magical duels against dark wizards in Harry Potter: Magic Awakened, which launched Tuesday. It’s a collectible card (CCG) and massively multiplayer (MMO) game, and is free to play — with in-app purchases.
There are versions for iPhone and iPad. (Android too.)
iPhone and iPad hop on Sid Meier’s Railroads! gaming train
Here’s your chance to build an empire of rail — and even beat notorious railroad barons of yesteryear at their own game. Take that, Cornelius Vanderbilt.
The classic strategy game Sid Meier’s Railroads! arrives April 5 on mobile devices including iPhone and iPad. And you can preorder now via the App Store thanks to Feral Interactive.
5 fun reasons you should be playing Spire Blast
Spire Blast is one of the best casual games on Apple Arcade. It’s a physics-based match puzzler that involves plenty of fun destruction.
With more than 200 titles on Apple’s gaming service, it’s not easy finding the best. Here are five reasons Spire Blast is worth trying today.
A great new game, camera controls and a better budget app [Awesome Apps of the Week]
The last time we published an Awesome Apps of the Week roundup, I asked for you (or your friends) to email me or tweet at me with new apps (or app updates) worth checking out. And, as evidenced here, some of you came through. Also, it seems like there have actually been some cool/interesting new apps coming out lately. Thanks to the combination of those two things, we’re back with a great camera app, a super-fun new game, and an app that’s helping me budget better!
Take friends on a farming adventure in new Sunrise Village game on iOS
Just in time for the weekend, you can download and play a new farming simulator and adventure game called Sunrise Village. Indie developer InnoGames released it Friday for iOS and Android devices.
New Pokémon card game hits iOS and macOS in beta next week
Pokémon Trading Card Game Live, the newest game from The Pokémon Company, enters beta testing on iOS and macOS next week before it makes its official debut. But there is a rather large catch (excuse the pun).
If you want to be one of the first to play Pokémon TCG Live, you must be Canadian.
Pascal’s Wager brings mouse and keyboard gaming to iPad
Want to take iPadOS 14’s keyboard and mouse support for a gaming spin? Pascal’s Wager has you covered.
The dark fantasy action RPG, showcased at Apple’s 2019 iPhone event, is reportedly the first iPad game to benefit from this treatment. Apple said it would bring keyboard and mouse support to iOS devices at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference.
These new apps will bring you some holiday cheer [Awesome Apps of the Week]
So far, 2020 has been a total Grinch. Find a little fun with these new and recently updated apps, which will guide you to Christmas light shows, plunge you into Marvel superhero brawls and even boost your darts game.
Plus, Canadian CBD connoisseurs can gain access to all the latest info on what’s available and where. And iPhone 12 Pro/Max owners can see in the dark.
Family-friendly games to play at your virtual Thanksgiving
2020 has been a year of change and adjustment, and Thanksgiving is no exception. With family gatherings put on hold and more people looking for ways to interact virtually, there’s still plenty of fun and games to be had with your distant friends and family.
Whether you’re into board games, card games, or just looking for ways to interact between turkey and pie, these are some of the best iOS, Apple TV, and Mac offerings you can play virtually.
Evergreen smash hit Pokémon Go rakes in $1 billion this year alone
When it comes to people’s spare dollars, Pokémon Go really is taking that “gotta catch ’em all” mantra seriously!
According to a new report by app analytics firm Sensor Tower, Niantic’s still-ultra-popular AR game, which launched in July 2016, has raked in $1 billion in the first 10 months of 2020 alone. Lifetime spending, meanwhile, hit $4.2 billion globally.
Pokémon Café Mix lets you form teams, download Snorlax costume Pikachu
Poké-hit Pokémon Café Mix just got an update that will let you join other players to form teams, as well as get your hands (virtually, that is) on a range of items, including a Snorlax costume Pikachu.
The team feature lets you to share an ID with a buddy to hook up for special events. The teams you form can be both public and private. The feature promises to add a new dynamic to the popular food-serving game.
How to fix ‘805’ error codes in Mario Kart Tour for iOS
Many Mario Kart Tour players continue to experience mysterious “805” error codes almost a year after the game’s release. They typically appear when attempting to download new game data.
If you’re experiencing one of these yourself, you’ll be pleased to know you’re not alone — and that there are some simple workarounds that should allow you to jump back into the action in no time at all.
Try these fixes first.
Play Fortnite at a super-smooth 120Hz on iPad Pro [Pro tip]
Did you know that Apple’s latest iPad Pro models can play Fortnite even better than dedicated game consoles? Get an edge in your Battle Royale matches by upgrading to a super-speedy 120 frames-per-second.
China crackdown could boot thousands of iOS games from App Store
Plague Inc., the popular game pulled from the Apple App Store in China last month, may soon have company – by the thousands.
A new report predicts some 21,500 App Store for-pay titles in China could get tossed because developers will be unable to meet a June 30 deadline for having a license.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is as bloody brilliant as ever on iOS [Review]
Classic video game Castlevania: Symphony of the Night landed in the App Store last week and, boy, is it great!
The 23-year-old side-scroller pits Dracula’s half-son Alucard against the evil count himself. The game, widely regarded as one of the best video games of all time, has made its way onto various games platforms over the years. Now you can finally play it on your iPhone. Frankly, that’s the best news I’ve heard in ages.
Call of Duty: Mobile loses its Zombies mode because it’s not good enough
Call of Duty: Mobile is losing its popular Zombies mode this month because it doesn’t meet the “level of quality” Activision expects.
It’s unclear whether Zombies, which was added last November, will return at a later date. The game’s developers are currently focused on more important aspects of Call of Duty: Mobile, like Multiplayer, Battle Royale, and Ranked Mode.
Forget anagrams, Sticky Terms is a word puzzle game with a twist
Want a text-based puzzle game that will stretch your brain, help you relax and, heck, maybe even teach you some new words? Sticky Terms is the game you’ve been searching for.
Created by 28-year-old iOS game developer Philipp Stollenmayer, it’s a playable head-scratching lexicon of words covering a wide array of languages. The game presents each word as a puzzle, torn into between two and five pieces. It’s up to you, the player, to arrange them into a completed word. No timers, failures or high scores apply.
And you know what? It’s kind of addictive.
Stardew Valley’s massive 1.4 update is coming soon to iOS
Stardew Valley’s gigantic version 1.4 content update is coming soon to iOS. It brings a new farm map, fish ponds, a new end-game mystery, and more than 60 brand-new items. There are also 14 music tracks and “hundreds” of fixes.
The update is already live on Android (it first rolled out on PC and console late last year), and it’s now waiting for Apple’s approval before it hits the App Store.
Award-winning strategy game Company of Heroes lands on iPad
Company of Heroes, the award-winning World War II strategy game, today makes the leap to iPad.
The mobile version is a complete port of the original, which first debuted in 2006 — but it has been completely rebuilt for tablets. And if you’re into real-time strategy games, you’re going to love it.
“Our aim is that the experience of playing Company of Heroes on mobile should be as fantastic as it was on desktop,” publisher Feral Interactive told Cult of Mac.
Tumble Wrestling wants to lay the smackdown on other iOS games
There’s a new challenger hoping to seize the title of best wrestling game on iOS — a quirky, physics-based fighting game called Tumble Wrestling.
Part retro flashback to pro wrestling games on the NES and part Super Smash Bros., the game lets players compete to knock opponents out of the ring with a barrage of grappling moves.
Apex Legends still on the way to mobile, EA confirms
Popular battle royale game Apex Legends is still on its way to mobile, EA confirmed this week.
The company has been quiet about the title’s development since it was first confirmed last May, leaving fans to wondering whether the port had been shelved. But its latest update brings good news.
EA is ditching all Tetris games for iOS in April [Updated]
EA this week confirmed it is retiring its collection of Tetris games for iOS.
Tetris Premium, Tetris 2011 and Tetris Blitz all disappear from the App Store on April 21, 2020. Fans will no longer be able to play the games after this date — even if they already have them installed.
Apple to host surprise event for apps and games on December 2
Members of the press received surprise invitations from Apple this morning to attend a first-of-its-kind event to honor 2019’s top apps and games on December 2 in New York City.
Apple routinely gives out awards for the best apps of the year, but this is the first time the company has hosted an event to hand them out. Get ready for the Oscars of apps.