Keep forgetting to mention that Golf on Mars, the follow-up to an absolute classic, Desert Golf, is out on iOS.
Same concept: An endless procedurally generated string of golf holes, but now there’s water, clouds, cactus, and concave spaces. (All common things on Mars, of course.) You can also apply spin to your ball (though I find it tricky).
Only one problem so far: The system can definitely generate impossible holes every once in a blue moon. There’s an option to skip a hole that takes you more than 25 shots.
EDIT: Oh, and it also just came out on Steam. But I think it’s really an ideal mobile game.
LeeAbe
3945
Zach Gage’s newest game is Good Sudoku. $3.99, but free to try out with occasional ads.
Aimed at new players with intros and tips that are well done. Stuff I knew, but I didn’t know they had names. Also has some automation stuff if you like that kind of thing.
The input method is very good. Again aimed at new players, but I found it quick and easy to use.
Best on iPad, but works well on the phone too. Some of the notes are a bit too tiny on the phone though.
And if you play it now before the next update (already submitted to Apple), you can enjoy unsolvable puzzle bugs in the technique tutorials! 🙃
And just to be clear, the app is great for learning sudoku, but is great for experienced players too.
It’s nicely enough done that I bought the pay version, people gotta eat! Thanks for the pointer!
Agreed. I’ve done 2 expert puzzles, which took me like half an hour, vs advanced, where I’d completed one in as little as 33 seconds. Can’t even imagine how challenging the next two difficulties are.
All of Zach’s games are awesome.
I’ve been having a blast with Arcane Showdown . It’s now my favorite mobile game since C&C: Rivals.
Standard automated RTS where you summon units who then death march towards the enemy base. Capture mana wells on the map to increase your mana gain and summon more expensive units. Winner is whoever destroys their opponent’s base, OR who has more points when the timer runs out (1 point per each of the 3 opponent towers you manage to destroy).
The advancement system is almost exactly like C&C: Rivals, so not too obnoxious. Although there doesn’t seem to be any cap on unit levels based on league, so I guess you’ll hit a point where you get hard smacked by higher level whales?
Whatever. It’s a blast right now. It even has a 2v2 mode where you can team up with a friend!
LeeAbe
3951
Possibly the future of game demos on iOS: App Clips. Click play at the top.
Definitely a great game. Been playing more of this since I hate the new clan wars in Clash Royale.
The big bummer is that I realized most of the matches are against bots (you can tell when they emote EVERY time a tower is destroyed).
There’s also a very loose level range for matchmaking, putting you against people with units much higher or lower.
Huh, I haven’t had this happen (rarely see any communication, at all). Maybe my trophy level is too low.
I’m at 1239 right now. No clue where that really ranks in the grand scheme of things.
I’m 1312. Still climbing pretty fast, but slowed down by waiting for chests to open. I haven’t seen the emote thing that you’re seeing.
I noticed it now that you pointed it out. Angry goblin emote right as a tower falls. Maybe 1 out of every 4-5 matches, but that is out of a very small sample size for me.
If anyone is interested a premium iOS game that is nearly identical to the famous Dungeon Raid has been released. Pretty great so far.
$3 in App Store and no additional purchase as far as I can tell
Although I dislike referring to Dungeon Raid style games as Match-3s, I will definitely take a look, thanks.
Annnd…it only plays in portrait. Nevermind.
Did Dungeon Raid have a landscape option? Don’t remember. Anyway I think it’s a pretty spot on updated version for today Apple devices.
Don’t think so. But that’s a non-starter for me the vast majority of the time. I was probably playing on my phone back then vs iPad
LeeAbe
3962
Finally got my One account going so I have Arcade again. Hooked up my Xbox controller to the TV to explore, but I couldn’t find anything fun (outside of some of the good games from launch).
Most of the newer stuff feels like a typical iOS game. Bland gameplay with lots of flashy story telling. And why do so many games look like a Nickelodeon cartoon? (Not a compliment.) Very disappointed.
Thanks might check it out. In the description it says “strictly no ads and no IAP” btw.
