Smartphones are the perfect travel companion. They keep us connected with work and family, help us create, share, and discover on the go. But come on, we’re not all work and no play. Every day, millions of us are battling zombies, exploring new planets, solving murders, and flinging birds at pigs.
Don’t get caught up thinking that there’s nothing new in the world of app gaming, there’s a whole lot of awesomeness to explore out there. Here are the hottest new games that will scratch your gaming itch and take up a little – or a lot – of your time.
1. If you love Angry Birds, try Monument Valley
Monument Valley (iOS, Android) is a visually striking puzzle game filled with color and mind-bending 3D graphics. You play by guiding the silent princess Ida through a series of increasingly mind-bending environments. Each puzzle presents you with a seemingly simple locational goal. But begin rotating columns, shifting tower spires, and sliding ledges with finger swipes and half-circles, and you’ll discover that traversing the elaborate architecture is harder than it seems.
2. If you love Candy Crush Saga, try Threes
In Threes (iOS, Android), you move tiles across the board to group them into larger numbers. You can easily combine ones and twos to make threes, but as the numbers get higher and higher, so does the difficulty. The goal of the game is to get your tiles to get the largest number for the best score, while trying to keep the board from filling up. It might make you rage, but it’ll be oh so worth it.
3. If you love Words With Friends, try LetterPress:
Letterpress (iOS, Android) is a gaming addiction that might actually help expand your vocabulary. It involves making words from a grid of letters and taking turns with friends or strangers over the network to score as many points as possible. Be prepared to get hit with some words you’ve never seen before, and expect to be checking the dictionary every now and then, too.
4. If you love Clumsy Ninja, try Kinectimals
I know, I know; You want a puppy with all your heart but your apartment manager says no pets allowed. Kinectimals (Windows Phone) is the next best thing, with a whole bunch of virtual animals ready to play with you right on your smartphone. From tiger cubs to puppies, it’s like having a virtual zoo with you wherever you go. Play games, teach your pet tricks or just goof around and toss a ball for it to fetch, all while keeping your home’s carpeting spotless.
5. If you love Cut the Rope, try Blek
All you have to do in Blek (iOS) is draw a line to win, but it’s definitely not as easy as it sounds. Once you draw a line, that line endlessly repeats in the direction you drew it. That line must eventually poke through the various colored circles in the playing field. You only have one line to complete each puzzle, and the super hard later levels will take you forever to beat, but you’ll love every second.
6. If you love Clash of Clans, try Kingdoms of Zenia: Dragon Wars
Kingdoms of Zenia: Dragon Wars (iOS, Android) mixes strategy and city building, as you create a powerful stronghold to reclaim your kingdom one battle at a time. With plenty of freedom in how you take your small rebel camp to a thriving settlement, the game is definitely one of the better options out there in this space. Just don’t let this one near your wallet, because the in-app purchases can quickly pile up!
Of course all of these are super addictive, so you have been warned: Play at your own risk!
What gaming apps are you totally addicted to right now? Be sure to let us know.
Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer tech contributor and host of USA TODAY’s digital video show TECH NOW. E-mail her at
Game of Phones: Hot new smartphone games
No comments:
Post a Comment