Another week, another million new games to dig through on the App Store, Netflix and Apple Arcade. If only there was someone at iMore who could boil all of these new game releases down to just three new titles worth checking out.
Yes, we’ve scoured the New Releases lists and picked the top three iPhone games and top iPad games of the week here. So, without further ado – here’s what’s up for play this weekend – a mix of casual puzzles, retro shooting, and action RPG fun.
Subway Surfer Match
After a decade at the top of the App Store charts, Subway Surfers claims to be the most downloaded game of all time – even ahead of games like Candy Crush Saga and Pokémon Go.
Of course, there are more than enough gamers out there curious to play this spin-off: a match-3 puzzler with a fast-paced, snappy feel and bold primary colors on every screen.
Complete the slightly challenging puzzles to gradually build a pretty little mural on the side of the subway, then move on to the next canvas. It’s casual stuff and hit the spot if you’re looking for something pretty low key.
sky of chaos
This new Netflix game is a throwback to the old days when Xevious and 1942 pioneered the top-down shooter. Skies of Chaos refines and reimagines this touchscreen winning formula, and it’s great.
At first, the gameplay isn’t quite as chaotic as the title suggests. As you swipe your finger across the screen to move and fire, you’ll easily get through the first five minutes or so before things get more hectic and challenging.
The shooter stuff is pretty basic, with power-ups thrown into the mix to vary things up. But the presentation is what really pops. Gameplay is rendered in big, bold, colorful pixels, and between stages there are interludes that feel like they’re straight out of kids’ Saturday morning cartoons.
Gunnar, an eye-patch rabbit, jokes while munching on a carrot like it’s a cigar, and Amelia, the mechanic, happily hones her craft while wielding an oversized wrench. The music and sound effects are also excellent.
Battleheart Legacy+
New to Apple Arcade is this remastered version of an old 2014 classic; Of course, the people who commission and curate arcade content have long memories.
Battleheart Legacy+ looks and feels like a PSOne-era action RPG on your iPhone with easy-to-understand, intuitive touch controls. So it’s not a tech showcase, but you can see it’s made with love by indie creators Noah and Kelli Bmapper. It has a cozy, home-made feel that can charm you.
In short, it’s an RPG without the boring turn-based combat. You move around and trigger a growing selection of special moves with cooldowns to crush goblins and other fantasy staples while rattling through a fun story with hilarious characters. A meatier prospect for those looking for a deeper game to dive into.
New games for iOS
So there you have it folks, a whistle-stop tour of the top three new releases of the week. Still looking for something to play with? If you have an active Netflix or Apple Arcade subscription, why not browse our list of The best Netflix games and The best Apple Arcade gamesor check out the latest gaming headlines on our site iOS gaming news Section.
We’re back next week to bring you the latest and greatest new iPhone and iPad games for the App Store, Netflix and Apple Arcade. If we can drag ourselves away from lap to lap Marvel snapThis is.
– Neil Alexander Lange