The best of Asian mobile gaming: July 11 to July 18
Another week of Asia’s best mobile games. Which one do you think you’ll be playing this weekend? Thanks to all who sent their games to us, and to the rest lurking: be sure to drop us a line at news[at]gamesinasia[dot]com if you’re an indie game developer in Asia!
Arcade
Sonic Jump Fever
by Sega of America
The freemium edition of vertical jumper Sonic Jump, Sonic Jump Fever follows the series’ formula to success: collect rings, beat up badniks, and save cute animals. The game’s movement is controlled solely by the accelerometer, and you only have to tap the screen when you want to double jump. There are different stages, but since it’s a free game, the zones cycle through only once ever few days. The in-app purchases are less in-your-face compared to Sonic Dash, and make Sonic Jump Fever more palatable. Fun and well made, though I hate that you start out with Tails and must pay to unlock (or grind out very slowly) the rest of the characters.
Sonic Jump Fever is available on Android and iOS.
Puzzle
Word Shift
by Blacklight Studio Works (India)
Word Shift is a game that plays off the common typo. Players have to decipher as many garbled words as they can within a two-minute time frame by simply shifting one alphabet per word. If you get it right, great! If not, hints appear as the time allotted for each word ticks by. Word Shift sounds simple, but most of the words aren’t commonly used in your everyday conversations, and identifying the simple typos in those can be tough. It’s a nice little mind-bender that is available for Android and iOS.
Magic Temple 2: Mage Wars
by Tiny Mogul Games (India)
At first glance, Magic Temple 2: Mage Wars seems nothing more than your run-of-the-mill puzzle game complete with a scant 60 seconds to showcase your skills. Delve deeper, however, and you’ll find a rather interesting take on the genre. Aside from merely making gems of the same color and shape disappear from a board, you can unlock new mages with cool powers, level them up to modify how each round of gem matching plays out, and lay claim to bragging rights amongst your friends. It’s backed up by adorable art direction and a pacey soundtrack that quickly turns this into a frantic experience.
Recommended for those looking for a bigger challenge than what most puzzlers throw up. Magic Temple 2: Mage Wars is on Android.
Spell Words
by Ixora Studios (Singapore)
First showcased at Casual Connect Asia 2014, Spell Words is a no-frills take on your classic mobile word game. Players are given a 5×5 grid with alphabets, and must drag-and-select words to rack up points. The game gets its name from the spells you can choose before each game; these spells can increase your time limit, give you hints, or even reshuffle the board. There are also special tiles that give more points or destroy surrounding alphabets when used.
Spell Words is available on Android and iOS.
Action RPG
Kritika: Chaos Unleashed
by Gamevil (Korea)
At first, Kritika: Chaos Unleashed seems like a test of patience. You’ll spend an inordinate amount of time downloading more assets following the initial 40MB download. But once you’re done, you’re in for a treat. There’s a surprising amount of narrative and lore to keep you engrossed in Kritika, and the game world is highly detailed. And if worrying about kingdoms, golems, and magic isn’t your thing, then the combat might be.
Fast-paced and fun, with a hack-and-slash vibe similar to Diablo III’s, combat in the game is also absolutely gorgeous. There are only two classes available at the moment, but future updates will bring more. Kritika: Chaos Unleashed is available on Android and iOS.
Iron Knights
by Actoz Soft (Korea)
There is so much going on in Iron Knights that even a phone with a five-inch display isn’t enough. This slick hack-and-slash RPG is one that you’d be foolish to miss out on. From the console-like graphics to a unit system that adds NPCs to your party, there’s a lot going for it. Furthermore, gameplay is extremely quick, yet manages to incorporate an element of strategy that can make or break an encounter. If you like your RPGs on the go, this is one game you cannot afford to miss. Grab Iron Knights on Android along with a bigger phone or tablet.
Time-waster
Kuro Jump
by Blue Boat (Thailand)
Kuro Jump is a time-wasting arcade game with several modes of varying time limits and speeds. As Kuro the white whale, you have to bounce on bubbles of fish to release them, while avoiding inky octopi that reset your score when hit. The game employs the same concept as Vietnam’s Jump & Jump, but offers better sound effects, polish, and more modes. Good for passing time, though the ad placement is a little annoying. Kuro Jump is available on Android and iOS.
That’s it from us this week. Enjoy your gaming weekend!
The post The best of Asian mobile gaming: July 11 to July 18 appeared first on Games in Asia.
