Tag: iOS

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Win a free copy of dungeon-crawling shop-management game, Moonlighter!

We love a good dungeon-crawler, hacking and slashing our way through room after room packed with horrifying monsters. But it’s nice to have a break, too, and sit back with something a little more homely. We’re talking games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley that have a warm, comforting simplicity. Well, what if we told you there’s a game that has the best of both worlds? And what if we told you we were running a giveaway for that game this week…

Moonlighter is a dungeon-crawler/shop-keeping game where you play as Will, a merchant-turned-hero trying to keep his grandfather’s shop alive. In the game, you delve the dungeon, killing monsters and bosses, and then sell the loot you find in your shop, using the money to revitalise your hometown of Rynoka. It’s a really fantastic formula – read our Moonlighter review for more details!

The game originally launched on PC to much critical acclaim, and is coming to iOS on November 19. Lucky for you, we’ve got some copies for this week’s giveaway, so sign up down below if this sounds like you.

In order to enter, simply fill out the box below, though please have a look at our terms and conditions first.

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Moonlighter iOS giveaway

If you can’t wait to play Moonlighter for yourself, you can purchase the game on the App Store from tomorrow. We’ll send the codes out to the lucky winners next Thursday, so keep an eye on your inbox!

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New update to Black Desert Mobile introduces the Grand Desert region

If you’re hankering for some more stuff to do in Black Desert Mobile, then it’s time to steel your blade, ready your bow, charge your magic, or feed your panthers. The next expansion to Black Desert Mobile is adding a new region called the Grand Desert.

Grand Desert is filled to the brim with mysterious temples and tons of treasure to discover. It’s also said that a Black Spirit lives there, but we’re not sure if Pearl Abyss means the stony goliath that’s featured quite heavily in the trailer. Still, at least the oasis towns look pretty!

Black Desert Mobile’s first anniversary event is also coming very soon. In an upcoming update, you’ll be able to participate in a special in-game event titled ‘Black Spirit Complete Guide’. This event will give players “special quests to level up quickly and unlock endgame content” according to the press release. If you’d rather do it yourself and not have everything spoon fed to you, you can check out our Black Desert Mobile guide to get started.

While these two features are the biggest, there are a few more things coming to Black Desert Mobile in the near future:

  • Crystal of Dimensions: A new attack and defence boost item. You can craft this at the alchemy workshop and is said to provide “players with a new form of character progression”.
  • Carriage Upgrade: Carriages now allow players to carry more goods.
  • Merchantry upgrade: A new SS rank for Merchantry will also be available. This makes it so that you get more resources in a single run.
  • Returning User-care System: A quest line has been created for returning players, which aims to get players who have lapsed up to the same levels as those who have played continuously, allowing them to access the new stuff sooner. These quests are apparently tied to silver rewards.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN-bfYMkjxM?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

While there is no date for when the Grand Desert expansion update will drop, but the first anniversary update will begin appearing on December 8.

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PUBG Mobile is returning to India with $100 million local investment

PUBG Mobile is set to make a triumphant return to mobile in India two months after being banned by the government. In September, the Indian government controversially banned PUBG Mobile and around 200 other mobile apps, including social media video app TikTok, due to their ties to China. The government said that the decision was made to protect its people’s privacy.

However, according to a report by TechCrunch, PUBG Corporation has severed ties with Chinese publisher Tencent, and agreed to migrate all player data to Microsoft’s Azure. This should bring PUBG Mobile in line with New Delhi’s strict rules on apps’ links to China. While this is exciting news, it could also be a glimmer of light for other apps looking to bypass India’s ban in the future.

Additionally, PUBG Corporation has announced $100 million of investment into jobs, infrastructure, and tournaments in India. It said in a statement: “thanks to overwhelming community enthusiasm for PUBG esports in India, the company also plans to make investments by hosting India-exclusive esports events, which will feature the biggest tournaments, the largest prize pools, and the best tournament productions.”

The company also said that India would receive a specially-created version of the game, however the ever-reliable Daniel Ahmad notes that this shares a lot of similarities with the Chinese version of PUBG Mobile.

As Ahmad notes, PUBG Mobile was the #1 grossing mobile game in India and had over 50 million monthly active users in the country, so it remains to be seen whether the ban impacts its popularity going forward, or whether players will flock back to the shores of Miramar.

With some major changes at both a publisher level and a gameplay level, as well as a promise of huge funding for Indian esports, PUBG Corporation seems intent on getting back into the market. However, these resources aren’t available to all developers, so it may be difficult for other, smaller apps to follow  PUBG Mobile’s footsteps in returning to the Indian market.

There is no release date yet for the new version of the game, but in the meantime you can check out the best mobile multiplayer games, or reacquaint yourself with the latest PUBG Mobile update while you’re here.

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Spending reaches $384 million in post-apocalyptic games this year

The latest Sensor Tower report has revealed that post-apocalyptic mobile games have performed exceptionally well this year. Despite the global pandemic currently plaguing the world, games featuring a post-apocalyptic setting have seen the fastest growth in the U.S. for Q1 to Q3.

Player spending in these games has risen by 106%, reaching approximately $384 million. The standout post-apocalyptic games that saw the fastest growth across all game settings were State of Survival from FunPlus and Last Shelter: Survival from Long Tech. If people are playing these games because of our current global climate, there’s almost no doubt this trend will continue into next year.

Plague Inc. became one of the top-selling iOS games in January when news about the coronavirus outbreak started to become more widespread. The game’s sales prompted Ndemic Creations, the developers behind Plague Inc. to release a statement: “We specifically designed the game to be realistic and informative, while not sensationalising serious real-world issues. However, please remember that Plague Inc. is a game, not a scientific model and that the current coronavirus outbreak is a very real situation which is impacting a huge number of people.”

Unsurprisingly, the fastest growing art style during the same Q1 to Q3 period was Retro – Low Poly, accounting for games like Minecraft and Roblox. As two of the biggest games in the world, we aren’t surprised to see this category make large gains as these games continue to grow extensively.

If you’d like to brush up on your Plague Inc. skills, be sure to check out our Plague Inc. tips which highlights everything you’ll need on your virus spreading quest. Looking for something a little more strategic? Head on over to our best mobile strategy games list for all the tactical challenges you could ask for.

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Win a free copy of side-scrolling vehicular adventure, Far: Lone Sails!

There’s something kind of enchanting about side-scrollers, as characters travel along fixed paths towards unknown destinations, with every slide of the screen unveiling more of the world and its mysteries. It’s a formula that’s used to fantastic effect in indie games like Playdead’s Limbo and Inside, or even to some degree in Videocult’s Rainworld. But Far: Lone Sails adds its own twist to this famous formula, as you set sail on your landship and work to keep it running as you make the journey across a lonely, post-apocalyptic world.

If you look at our Far: Lone Sails review, you can see how much we enjoyed the game! So much, in fact, that we decided to partner with Mixtvision to give away some Android and iOS copies of the side-scrolling adventure.

So if hoisting up the sails, shoveling fuel into the engine, and watching the land roll by beneath you sounds like the easy life, be sure to enter the giveaway below for a chance to win yourself a copy on your platform of choice.

In order to enter the giveaway, all you have to do is choose your platform, and enter in the appropriate box. Please do have a glance at our terms and conditions first, though.

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Far: Lone Sails iOS giveaway

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Far: Lone Sails Android giveaway

Alternately, if you can’t wait to play the game, you can find Far: Lone Sails on Google Play and the App Store. The game is also on Steam.

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Explore haunted space ruins in EVE Echoes’ Halloween event

Grab your broomsticks and ready your cauldrons – Halloween may be over, but the spooky season is only just beginning for EVE Echoes. The mobile game is running a Halloween event, The Crimson Harvest, which sees players investigate themed Festive Anomalies which appear throughout the universe. Developer NetEase is also shifting module designs in this update thanks to player feedback, but most players will want to get their spook on in the limited-time mode.

While many games have finished their Halloween events, and many players are looking forward to Chr*stmas (it’s still too early to mention it in our house), Echoes is continuing the Halloween tradition for as long as possible. From October 31 to November 10, EVE Echoes players can stumble across Crimson Harvest Anomalies such as the Haunted Ruins and Carnival at Cemetery. It’s unclear exactly what these anomalies do, but finding out and exploring is part of the fun, right?

You’ll also be able to get your hands on Haunted Supply Boxes, which could hold Halloween-exclusive skins (some of which could be permanent) and new modules. Keep your eyes peeled for Haunted Supply Box III, as this will be the one that offers new storyline Modules and permanent Halloween Skins. The seven new modules will be available through regular methods from November 11, when the event ends.

There are also some Limited-Time Crimson Harvest skins available in the New Eden Store, which are available by any other means. There are also four new skin boxes, which offer discounts if you were after a few different options.

The skins themselves are pumpkin-inspired, as you can probably tell by the orange and black colours and the flame-like effect.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKXoMF3m6g8?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

If Halloween isn’t your thing and you’re more interested in the module designs, the 7 new Electronic Warfare Modules are as follows: Interdiction Sphere Launcher, Warp Disruption Field Generator, Warp Scrambler, Sensor Dampening, Target Painter, Tracking Disruptor, and Guidance Disruptor. You can find the full details of what they offer on the EVE Echoes update blog.

If you’re just getting started – or want a refresher – here’s our guide to the best EVE Echoes ships and our tips for EVE Echoes mining. Of course, if you still need convincing whether or not to pick the game up, check out our review, where we said that it “succeeds in channeling the classic Eve experience, while also streamlining for new players.”

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Nomad Sculpt

If you’ve ever dreamed of doing 3D modelling on the go, today’s product Nomad Sculpt may be perfect for you. Nomad Sculpt is a 3D sculpting application designed from the ground up to be mobile first. It brings all the functionality you would expect from a modern 3D sculpting application like ZBrush, Mudbox or Blender but it runs on your Android or iOS mobile device!

Key features of Nomad Sculpt include:

  • Clay, Crease, Trim, Smooth, Mask and many other brushes
  • Stroke customization with falloff, alpha and other options
  • Matcap rendering or Physically Based Rendering
  • Vertex painting, with roughness/metalness control
  • Multiresolution sculpting
  • Voxel Uniform Remeshing, along with subtractive boolean
  • Dynamic Topology, to refine locally your mesh
  • Robust layers that supports topology change
  • Designed from the ground up for a mobile experience
  • Support pencil pressure (Apple Pencil, Samsung S Pen, etc)
  • OBJ, STL and glTF support

Nomad Sculpt is available on the App Store and the Android Store. It is $15 for the complete version, but there is a reasonably full functioning, export disabled trial version available. You can also see Nomad Sculpt in action in the hands-on review below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xr_DyiIQ7g?feature=oembed&w=1500&h=844]
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Genshin Impact update adds more story missions and a melee-ranged hybrid character

Genshin Impact developer miHoYo today announced the first major update for the mobile and console RPG. The update, which hits phones (or console) on November 11, introduces a bunch of new features, characters, and events. We scored the game 7/10 in our Genshin Impact review, and forthcoming updates only look to bring more of the great exploration that we enjoyed so much.

First of all, we’ll get the finale to the Liyue chapter of the game through a bunch of brand-new quests and story beats. You can expect to explore the other five cities in Teyvat in future updates, too, so you won’t be short of new content for a good while.

As well as finishing the section of story set in Liyue Harbor, update v1.1 also adds Genshin Impact’s first seasonal event, which we can expect to see more of in the future. November’s seasonal offering is  called Unreconciled Stars, and sees players come together to stop a terrible catastrophe from destroying Teyvat as we  know it. The event goes on for two weeks, during which time you can  complete new quests, take on co-op challenges, and unlock  rewards – including 4-star character Fischl.

But that’s not all, as the update also introduces four new playable characters. The 5-star characters are Childe and Zhongli, who possess unique abilities and skills. ‘Childe’ is a hydro archer and can switch between two combat modes, melee and ranged. Zhongli is a  Geo polearm user with great defensive capabilities – oh and he can also petrify his foes.

We’ve got less information at this stage about the two new 4-star characters, Xinyan and Diona, but rest assured that they’ll be ready to diversify your party and unlock nifty combos as you adventure through Teyvat. We’ll have to wait and see where these four characters fit in our Genshin Impact tier list, but we’re excited to find out.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7xFSSu0-V8?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

The last major addition in the update is a new ‘Reputation’ system. This allows you to build up your standing in the regions of Teyvat, and the higher your prestige among the citizens of a certain area, the more rewards you get. There are region-exclusive items, customisations, and new tools to  aid you on your adventure. You can also get your hands on a portable waypoint, stove, and treasure compass via the reputation system, so keep your rapport with each region’s citizens in top form.

We’ve also got a great Genshin Impact guide if you’re just getting started – or if you need to look up something about the map, multiplayer or primogems. If you’re after a freebie, check out our list of Genshin Impact codes to make sure you don’t miss out.

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Tactical shojo RPG, Illusion Connect, launches globally on iOS and Android

Superprism Games celebrates the global launch of its tactical shojo RPG, Illusion Connect, as it debuts on iOS and Android. Over 600,000 users pre-registered to play Illusion Connect, an impressive feat for any mobile game. Those of you that sign in over its launch period can expect to receive a number of free-to-claim rewards, including skins, resources, and even characters.

In a battle to save humanity, you must team up with Saya to fight the mysterious enemies who have invaded the space between the real world and the dream world. These enemies, also known as Nightmares, are incredibly powerful and will require you to bolster your squad. Fortunately, there are plenty of Lenses available to team up with to make fights easier.

To uncover the hidden conspiracy, you’ll need to defeat all the Nightmares who stand in your way. Your path should be different from most players thanks to the faction system, giving each team their own unique purposes and faiths. Illusion Connect isn’t all about fighting, however, as you can learn all about your partners with the social features built into the game.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inSsuW067LU?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

Here’s a list of everything you can gain during Illusion Connect’s launch window:

  • Login for eight days in total to gain massive Diamonds, Nina’s skin ‘Redhood’, and SSR partner Miyuki
  • Anna’s Gift: clear stages to gain massive resources including diamonds, coins, partner EXP, and SSR gears
  • SEED’s Recruitment: collect a certain number of SR and SSR partners to gain Summon Ticket x30 and a bikini skin for Kasumi
  • Dreamweaver (third day after character creation): collect stage stars to gain massive Diamonds
  • Newbie Bonus Gacha: ‘Summon x10’ guarantees an SSR partner (Frantiva, Hotaru or Nicola)
  • The Journey of Growth: complete all seven-day objectives to upgrade Saya from R to SSR, and gain Saya’s skin ‘Nightingale’

You can download Illusion Connect from the App Store and Google Play right now. Interested in other gacha games like this? Check out our list of the best gacha games available on mobile devices.

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The pre-registration period for Marvel Realm of Champions has begun

Kabam is opening the pre-registration for Marvel Realm of Champions, the 3v3 multiplayer action-RPG brawler, for players across the world. Realm of Champions was in a geo-locked beta for the past few months, but Kabam is now launching the game worldwide.

Realm of Champions is a reimagining of the Marvel Universe. Set on Battleworld, the forbidden planet forged from several realities, the Marvel heroes must fight against each other in a secret war to prevent an open war. Featuring Iron Legionnaire, Web Warrior, Black Panther, Hulk, Storm, and Sorcerer Supreme, you can pick from any of these playable champions and pledge their allegiance to their respective houses.

Every battlefield featured in Realm of Champions has been inspired by areas from Marvel’s deep history, from the Wakandan city of Necropolis, to Tony Stark’s Palladium Mines. You’ll also be able to customise your chosen superheroes with a variety of gear and weapons, a first for a Marvel game like this. The armour and weapons also stem from the comic books. For example, Spider-Man has access to multiple suits that you can mix and match to form something completely unique.

Pre-registering for Marvel Realm of Champions will net you with exclusive rewards such as Iron Legionaire and Hulk gear, plus 100 Units and 300 Gold to get started. You can register your interest for the game over at the Realm of Champions website and on the Google Play store.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4WpixlkHcQ?modestbranding=1&rel=0&feature=oembed]

If you love MOBAs like this, you may want to check out our best mobile MOBAs guide. We’ve painstakingly assembled this list to ensure you spend your time with only the heavy-hitters of the genre.