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Mobile - The Weekender: Happy Boomsday Edition - xSicKxBot - 08-10-2018
The Weekender: Happy Boomsday Edition
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<p>Welcome to the Weekender, your weekly look at the best new games, sales, and updates. It’s the week after GenCon and the week of a new release for one of the biggest games out there, <em>Hearthstone</em>. The result is a slow week overall in new-releases, and fewer than average sales to boot! Fear not, we’ll make up for it by showcasing some games coming soon to an app store near you.</p>
<p>In terms of the website this week, our review of <a href="http://https//www.pockettactics.com/reviews/pocket-city/" target="_blank">the excellent <em>Pocket City</em></a> went live, and we learned when <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/football-manager-mobile-2019-release-date/" target="_blank">the new <em>Football Manager</em> games</a> will be coming out. Not only that, Nomad have <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/nomad-games-quartermaster-general-digital/" target="_blank">a cool new boardgame license</a>, and <em>Fortnite</em>‘s <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/fortnite-android-beta/" target="_blank">android beta is live</a>.</p>
<h2>Best New Mobile Games</h2>
<h3>Hearthstone Boomsday Project Expansion (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hearthstone/id625257520?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.blizzard.wtcg.hearthstone" target="_blank">Android</a>)</h3>
<p>I suspect a lot of developers avoid <em>Hearthstone</em> release week like movie studios avoid the new Marvel films, so let’s talk about the latest and greatest from the king of collectible-card games. The <em>Boomstown Project</em> adds 135 science-gone-wrong themed cards to the game and focuses on the <strong>“mech”</strong> creature type. A new magnetic mechanic allows you to Voltron up smaller mechs by fusing them together, creating a giant and deadly robotic monstrosity. Attaching one mech to another combines stats, effectively giving the new mech charge. It’ll be interesting to see what the new set does to what is generally regarded as a pretty stable metagame (for once).</p>
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<h3>King and Assassins (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/king-and-assassins/id1207338475?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.asmodeedigital.kingandassassins" target="_blank">Android</a>) <em>– Full Review Coming Soon!</em></h3>
<p>Asmodee Digital strikes again with <em>King and Assassins</em>, the digital recreation of a two-player turn-based strategy game. One player plays the role of a Joffrey Baratheon like monarch and his guards forcing his way through an angry mob back to the safety of the castle. The other plays an assassin, looking to move their agents through the mob and find an opportunity to strike the tyrant-king down. There are twelve peasants on the game board, but only three of them are the assassins, which creates interesting opportunities for strategy and deception. The game is fairly attractive, though there’s only two game boards at present, which could get a bit old. Perhaps they’ll add more down the road.</p>
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<h3>Project Highrise (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/project-highrise/id1277095117?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kalypsomedia.projecthighrise" target="_blank">Android</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/reviews/project-highrise/" target="_blank">Review</a>)</h3>
<p><em>Project Highrise</em>, where you build your own skyscraper, has released two new bundles for those looking for more options. The <em>Highrise Deco Bundle</em> is $4.99 and includes every decoration in the game. The <em>Citywide Maps Bundle</em> gets you all three extra maps, complete with special scenarios, for $5.99.</p>
<h3>Holedown (<a href="http://https//itunes.apple.com/us/app/holedown/id1297270249?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.grapefrukt.games.bore" target="_blank">Android</a>) –<em> Full Review Coming Soon!</em></h3>
<p>An arcade-style ball shooter isn’t the traditional Pocket Tactics game but it’s a slow week and <em>Holedown</em> is very, very good. You are a space-miner and must dig deep into asteroids, moons, and even planets to find valuable gems. You mine by firing balls that ricochet and chip away at rocks allowing you to delve deeper and deeper. As you earn gems you can unlock upgrades like more balls or a larger cargo hold, allowing you to grab more gems. It’s a clever design that’s been well executed and is rather hard to put down. The developer made rymdkapsel, so they have a pedigree of great games going.</p>
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<h2>New & Noteworthy iOS Pre-orders</h2>
<p>It’s a slow week so there’s no better time to look to the near-future of mobile game releases. Here are some games currently available for preorder on the App Store that look good. You can expect more on these from us upon release!</p>
<p>Release dates were accurate at the time of writing, but are subject to change – the app store will keep you up to date.</p>
<h3>Barbearian (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/barbearian/id1351822099?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">August 15th, 2018</a>)</h3>
<p>A real-time combat game that features a frenetic pace and big-time hits against hordes of enemies, <em>Barbearian</em> is almost upon us, releasing next week. I got a review copy of this one and have already written my review. I won’t spoil anything, but, if you’re into pre-ordering and enjoy real-time combat, this is a safe bet.</p>
<h3>Mars Power Industries (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mars-power-industries/id1380742537?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">August 15th, 2018</a>)</h3>
<p><em>Mars Power Industries</em> looks to be a puzzle game wrapped in a sci-fi story with a hidden mystery told through the game’s graphics alone. It’s an intriguing combination if it works.</p>
<h3>Powerless (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/powerless/id1175937159?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">August 23rd, 2018</a>)</h3>
<p>Another game about electricity, this time interactive fiction meets simulation as you play through an “interactive doomsday simulator.” There are a bunch of levels/adventures including landing a helicopter during a solar storm, fighting a wounded gorilla, and escaping from a prison.</p>
<h3>Chaos Reborn: Adventures (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chaos-reborn-adventures/id1361132034?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">September 12th, 2018</a>)</h3>
<blockquote>
<p>“Chaos Reborn: Adventures combines RPG-style turn-based combat with the tactical positioning of chess and the bluff of poker to create an entirely unique strategy game.”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Well OK, I’m intrigued. There’s also apparently tons of loot and both single-player and multiplayer modes. Oh, and it is a premium game that hopefully won’t have in-app purchases tacked on. <a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/articles/chaos-reborn-adventures-ios/" target="_blank">We wrote more about it during the week</a>, if you’re interested.</p>
<h2>Sales & Updates</h2>
<h3>A Dark Room (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/a-dark-room/id736683061?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">iOS Universal</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yourcompany.adarkroom" target="_blank">Android</a>): $.99</h3>
<p>Minimalist, text-based RPG <em>A Dark Room</em> was a viral hit in 2014 and is on sale for just a buck. It’s entertaining and well worth the price if you enjoy text adventures.</p>
<h3>Tabletopia (<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tabletopia/id1274379679?mt=8&at=11l7vY" target="_blank">iPad</a>) (<a href="https://www.pockettactics.com/guides/tabletopia-boardgames-app-guide/" target="_blank">Overview</a>)</h3>
<p>We heard form Tabletopia this week that they’ve updated their iOS app to include online multiplayer. Huzzah! Players can now create games on their device, and then invite other players to participate over the internet to play or be a spectator. The platform currently has 31 boardgames in its library, including <span><em>My Little Scythe</em>, <em>Clans of Caledonia</em>, <em>Roll Player </em>and <em>Hansa Teutonica. </em></span>The next step is to create an Android version and enable cross-platform multiplayer.</p>
<p><em>Seen anything else you liked? Played any of the above? Let us know in the comments!</em></p>
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