23 Best New Android Games From The Last 2 Weeks (9/2/2014 – 9/15/2014)

Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.

Games

CounterSpyâ„¢

Android Police coverage: Stylish Stealth Platformer CounterSpy Mixes Metroid And Metal Gear Solid In A Cold War Caricature

CounterSpy is an intriguing little console port, a game that combines the 2D platforming elements of Metroid with the sneaky-sneaky gameplay of Metal Gear, all in a shiny 60s Cold War aesthetic. Though the main game takes place on the 2D plane, your character shifts into a 3rd-person perspective while in cover for some 2D shooting. The visuals are great and the various military industrial environments are procedurally-generated. This $5 title has no ads or in-app purchases.

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Stop a crazed superpower from launching deadly nuclear missiles in this action stealth side-scrolling game set during the Cold War. As a budding Agent for C.O.U.N.T.E.R, jump into action, stealthily sabotage dastardly plans and deceptively maintain world peace. CounterSpy™ is packed with slick, stylized visuals that capture the spirit and feel of the era complementing equally smooth side‐scrolling cover‐based shooting gameplay.

DRAGON QUEST

Android Police coverage: Square Enix Brings The Original Dragon Quest To Android – Kill All The Slimes You Want For $2.99

The original Dragon Quest (or Dragon Warrior) came out way back in 1986. Maybe that’s why the Android re-release is considerably cheaper than other Square Enix games, despite being equipped with a re-done vertical interface. The original DQ game has a lot of the hallmarks of the classic Japanese RPGs (because it helped create them): turn-based combat, an overworld map, and a complex story with a ton of characters. Look out for Square’s generally poor support.

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Originally released as Dragon Warrior, you can now experience the classic retro RPG experience that swept up millions of Japanese players back in the Eighties…and never let go. Become the descendant of the legendary hero Erdrick, and embark on an epic journey through the historic realm of Alefgard, tackling fearsome foes and perplexing puzzles on your way to the dread Dragonlord’s lair.

Spider-Man Unlimited

Android Police coverage: The New Cel-Shaded ‘Spider-Man Unlimited’ Endless Runner May Be A Gameloft Game, But Boy Is It Pretty

Gameloft’s lack of creativity… uh, yet another licensed endless runner… sorry, it’s hard to keep up my Gameloft cynicism because this game is freakin’ gorgeous. The cel-shaded graphics in this Spider-Man endless runner make the characters and enemies pop off the screen, and dedicated Spidey fans will appreciate the comic book presentation and 4 different costumes from all over Marvel’s various universes. Of course, it’s still a lane-based endless runner with lots of IAP.

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Swing into a hand-drawn, action-packed arcade adventure game that feels like it came straight from the Marvel comics. Unite every hero in the Spider-Verse against the ultimate threat. Recruit an army of Spider-Men to combat the new Sinister Six, who have opened a dimensional portal in New York to summon endless versions of themselves. The Sinister Six are moving from dimension to dimension, destroying each one. Now ours is fighting to survive.

Angry Birds Stella

Android Police coverage: [New Game] Angry Birds Stella Bombards The Play Store With Another Iteration Of Rovio’s Most Successful Franchise

The latest incarnation of the ubiquitous Angry Birds franchise goes back to its roots (or perhaps its branches) in terms of gameplay. Angry Birds Stella is essentially the same as it ever was, with new stages and new birds creating interesting gameplay options. The biggest addition is that there’s now at least a semblance of a story, in so much as a bunch of animated cutscenes count as one – the titular Stella and her feathered friends face off against an Evil Queen-type in a mild fantasy setting.

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Join Stella and her super adventurous friends on a quest to protect Golden Island from the greedy Bad Princess and her clueless piggies. Meet this fierce new bunch, master their amazing superpowers, and play over 120 action-packed levels. Stella has teamed up with Dahlia, Poppy, Willow and Luca – the newest flock on the block. These fearless pals have a strong bond but even stronger personalities. You could even say they’re best friends forever… most of the time.

Phantom Rift

Android Police coverage: Foursaken Media’s ‘Phantom Rift’ Is A Mega Man Battle Network-Inspired Adventure With Hundreds Of Spells And Loot Galore

Phantom Rift wears its inspiration almost literally on its sleeve: the game is proudly inspired by Mega Man Battle Network, an older series of RPG and lane-based defense titles from Capcom. But in this new game, you collect elements to improve your fantasy character instead of a boy robot. It’s kind of like a version of Magic: The Gathering, but all your cards are one monster and the combat is in real time. There’s a bit of a story as well, but the game also includes some in-app purchases.

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The Phantom Rift: a dark, ethereal world filled with mystery and powerful magic. You don’t know how or why you are there, only that you must find a way back to the True World at any and all costs… Phantom Rift is an adventure/RPG with a unique battle system (inspired by Mega Man Battle Network), hundreds of spells to collect and use, endless equipment combinations to customize your wizard with, and much more.

Light in the Dark

Android Police coverage: Light In The Dark Is A Clever Color-Based Puzzler

Light In The Dark takes that one bit with the mirror from The Mummy and turns it into a three-star game mechanic. Using various light sources, reflectors, and blocking objects, you solve each stage by shining or combining light into the abandoned tombs. The mechanics are original thanks to the way that the light bounces and blocks. The game is $2.49 with in-app purchases, but those are only for hints… which you can probably find on YouTube anyway.

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Be enlightened by this delightful puzzle game that has never before seen the light of day. Help the Totems find their adorable lost children in this light bending, color blending puzzle game. The Totems shine brightly as you are tasked with solving each challenging and fun filled scenario. Move boxes, slide lenses and adjust mirrors so the Totem’s light can awaken the slumbering babies. Only YOU can help the Totems save their babies. But beware the monsters that lurk in the darkness…

Red Bull Air Race The Game

Android Police coverage: Red Bull Air Race The Game Hits Android To Deliver On Its Promise And Finally Give You Wings

Spoiler Alert: Red Bull’s air races aren’t anywhere near as exciting as they sound, because they’re all time trials. That said, zipping through pylons in a single-seater prop plane like the Red Barron on the day he ran out of bullets is still pretty cool. Red Bull’s promotional game for the air races offers respectable graphics and options for tilt or touch control. If you’re a fan of the real thing, you’ll be glad to know that real-world pilots, planes, and courses are available. The download is free, but extra in-game currency will cost you real money.

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Experience the jaw dropping speed and precision flying of the Red Bull Air Race, the Fastest Motorsport in the World. Red Bull Air Race The Game throws you straight into the thrilling world of high speed air racing in this one of a kind air race battle. Set in stunning international locations, race the real world tracks with the actual Air Race planes. Challenge the Air Race Pilots for a chance to fly their personal planes – the fastest racing planes on the planet.

LEGO® FUSION Resort Designer

Obviously LEGO’s Resort Designer isn’t aimed specifically at my 25-49 male target demographic. Even so, it’s pretty darn cool: Resort Designer is basically a less aggressive version of LEGO Battle Towers. Kids can build a two-dimensional blueprint design for their luxury hotel out of real LEGO blocks, then take a photo to import it into the game and play with it as a 3D building. From there, it’s more or less like an advanced version of Tiny Tower that can be built over and over again. 

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Introducing LEGO®FUSION Resort Designer featuring LEGO® Friends – a fun and creative way of combining real LEGO brick building with your smartphone or tablet. Your game. Your way. Help the LEGO Friends build a dream summer resort by using real LEGO bricks to build houses, rooms, shops and cafés. Bring your designs to life on your smartphone or tablet and play or decorate inside of your buildings. Play mini games, and help Olivia to host the best summer ever.

NFL Quarterback 15

Android Police coverage: Full Fat Releases NFL Kicker And NFL Quarterback 2015, Hopes To Drive The Ball Into Your Bank Account’s Red Zone

Everyone wants to be the quarterback. You get all the money, all the glory, and five gigantic guys whose only job is to make sure you don’t get crushed. The NFL is cashing in on this with a mobile game that lets you build a QB Sims-style and engage in a little power fantasy. You get to customize your player, team, and stadium, but be prepared to shell out some dough for the best stuff in this Quarterback Challenge-style set of minigames.

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You are an NFL Quarterback. Choose your favorite team and start he official NFL QB challenge updated for the 2014/ 15 NFL season. From the makers of the award winning NFL Kicker, Flick Golf and Flick Soccer. Can you handle the pressure and responsibility of being the most important man on the field The most precise football controls on mobile are back, to give you the tools to execute mind-blowing plays. Experience Full Fat’s unique, award winning flick and after-touch controls.

NFL Kicker 15

Android Police coverage: Full Fat Releases NFL Kicker And NFL Quarterback 2015, Hopes To Drive The Ball Into Your Bank Account’s Red Zone

Nobody wants to be the kicker, but the NFL made a game where you can pretend to be one anyway. Actually, this seems to be the more interesting game between the two offerings, including strategic punting and precision field goals and extra points. It has roughly the same kind of customization as NFL Quarterback 15, and all the same in-app purchases as well.

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Become an NFL Kicker. Choose your favorite team and kick off the ultimate kicker challenge updated for the 2014/ 15 NFL season. From the makers of the award winning NFL Quarterback, Flick Golf and Flick Soccer. Amazing high resolution graphics put YOU in the action as the kicker, with detailed players in the most amazing stadiums seen in a mobile game. Kick field goals with perfect accuracy across three game modes.

The Sagas of Fire*Wolf

The latest game-book from Tin Man Games is apparently a remake of a minor classic in the genre, the Sagas of Demonspawn. If you like dungeons and/or dragons and the works of Robert E. Howard, this one’s for you. The Sagas of Fire*Wolf brings together all four of the original game-books published in the 80s, complete with new art and some music to set the mood. It’s pricey at $10, but that should get you many, many hours of role-playing.

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From Herbie Brennan, the author of the Grailquest series, comes The Complete Sagas of Fire*Wolf. Exiled from his Barbarian village, Fire*Wolf sets out into the Wilderness. On the way he will encounter many dangers and learn the truth behind his heritage. Growing from a simple barbarian to a skilled sorcerer, Fire*Wolf will not only have to survive personal danger but thwart the greatest threat Harn has ever had to face… The Demonspawn.

The Inquisitor – Book 1

And I never expected to see a game where you’d play one of the Church’s famously ruthless agents of investigation. In The Inquisitor, you take on the mantle of a Dark Ages investigator determined to do “good” at any price. The game is essentially a point-and-click adventure, but some surprisingly strong production values and full voice acting (in Latin, if you wish) give it a little extra polish. The Inquisitor is $5 for Book 1, with additional stories available as in-app purchases.

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Play a remorseless character to live an original story inspired by the famous novel of Valerio Evangelisti. A will of steel, a heart of stone, intelligence as sharp as a knife, and wisdom as deep as oblivion. A host of divine weapons to fight Evil and heresy. Eymerich is called upon to investigate an obscure case. Something that goes way beyond heresy, revealing a new face of Evil. He must tackle a great number of arduous tasks and make many painful choices.

Block Fortress

Regular Minecraft players know that the game’s day and night cycle already includes some de facto tower defense elements, but Block Fortress expands the exploding bad guy combat into a fully-fledged first person shooter and defense crossover. You build your fortress Minecraft-style, collecting resources and unlocking recipes, then arm yourself with any number of blocky boomsticks. The monsters are coming. Unfortunately, the $2 price tag doesn’t protect you from in-app purchases.

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Build your fortress, and defend it to the end. Block Fortress gives you the freedom to create a stronghold in almost any way you can imagine, and then puts you in the middle of the action trying to defend it from the relentless attacks of the menacing Goblocks. Put your skills as both a builder and a fighter to the test as you try to survive as long as you can.

• a unique mix of TD and FPS gameplay
• complete freedom to build your base any way you choose, from towering fortresses, to sprawling castles
• customize your blocks, weapons, and equipment using a massive crafting system
• team up with your friends in 2 player cooperative multiplayer
• fortify your walls with over 30 different building blocks
• defend your base with 16 advanced turret types
• gear up your avatar with tons of weapons and equipment

Skull Legends

Jason and his Argonauts had to fight seven skeletal warriors. Man, what a pushover. In Skull Legends, you’ll fight endless waves of those bony bastards, with nothing but your trusty bow. And a ton of tower defense style turrets, which I suppose evens the odds. This game combines the basics of tower defense with a shooting gallery, with more powerful weapons and towers to collect as you advance. Beware the evil forces of currency-based in-app purchases.

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Defend yourself with towers, shoot your powerful bow and don’t let the skeleton warriors cross your battle lines. A brilliant evolution of classic tower defense, combining first person shooter and elements of role-play. Strategy and action like you’ve never experienced before. Arm yourself with incredible bows, combat bracers with unique powers, arrows and fantastic magic potions. Stand your ground against the attack of the skeleton warriors.

Hyper Trip

Hyper Trip is what you get if you mix the quick 90-degree turns of the Tron light cycle with the shifting, turning perspective of Wave Wave. There are no real objectives, just survive as long as you can before slamming your equilateral butt into a wall. I’m terrible at this sort of simple, intense, hyper-focused game, but some people like it. Strange, strange people. Enjoy.

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Hyper Trip is a frenetic reflex game set in a futuristic 3D neon lit environment. THE CONTROLS? Tap left or right to guide a square. THE GOAL? Avoid hitting a wall. THE CATCH? The pace. Dangerous and unforgiving. THINK YOU CAN HANDLE IT? Think again. Hyper Trip features controllers support + Leaderboards & Google Play Game Services integration.

KittenTaxi

KittenTaxi is a game about a kitten who drives a taxi. That curt summation really doesn’t do the game justice, though: it combines a unique head-on interface that you won’t see with any other driving game with visual elements that create a hand-drawn look. It’s almost as if you’re playing the living doodles of a bored middle school student. All you really do is steer left or right and shoot, but the look is worth a download alone. Don’t expect to get very far without grinding or spending real money.

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KittenTaxi is a new generation of racing shooter game with a unique animated hand drawn graphics you’ve never seen before. Epic escaping story of bank robbing cats, a reverse view makes gameplay more exciting. CARS, CATS and GUNS. What more needs to be described?

• Simple & Addictive control .
• Unique animated hand drawn graphics .
• Epic escaping story of bank robbing cats .
• Simply ecstatic and new for those who got stuck at touch to play .
• Just use your finger tip left and right .
• Break through the most enjoyable stages shooting out unique enemies and bosses .
• High-score lists and achivements .
• The best way to kill time.
• Awesome BGM & Sound effect.
• Facebook Connection.

HELI HELL

Heli Hell is an old-school, top-down shooter, and it doesn’t care who knows it. The game has you flying improbably-armed attack helicopters deep into enemy territory, playing out its 2D gameplay over 3D graphics with generous amounts of explosions (and some shameless 80s action movie references). Too bad the title has an all-too-modern approach to monetization, and includes currency-based IAP for upgrades. Prepare to grind if you don’t want to pay.

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Pilot, the world is on the verge of war. The situation is critical: it’s time for you to tear the sky apart with the blades of your helicopter and shoot down every enemy coming across your radar. More powerful than ever, Dr. Evil and its squadrons have holed up on the Island of Vylleña. And now it’s up to you to track him down and destroy all hostile activity before he brings chaos to this heavenly region. Flying your heavily armed helicopter, do whatever it takes to avoid another deadly war to break out and bring back freedom and democracy to Vylleña Island.

Iconic

Iconic is basically a stylish version of those word puzzles you remember from the back of the cereal box when you were a kid. Figure out the intended word or phrase from the simple pictograms, earn points, level up, and do it all over again. Each puzzle comes with some flavor text describing the answer… which seems a little superfluous if you’ve already guessed it. Iconic is free, but a two-dollar IAP will remove the ads and give you a currency boost.

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Iconic challenges you to translate icons into words. Test your knowledge of visual language and pop culture in a ridiculously fun trivia game. We’re surrounded by icons, emoticons, smilies, and other symbols. The meaning behind them is universal: Stop, Go, Play, Shop, Smile, Like, Share. What if the names of your favorite bands, movies, and celebrities are displayed as clever icons? Crack the visual code and combine clues with your icon smarts to impress your friends and fill your day with priceless “a ha” moments.

Desert Golfing

Usually I only check the reviews for games to see if they have some major flaw or bug. But the reviews for Desert Golfing are better than anything I could put here.

“emotionally draining and existentially terrifying. makes me feel paranoid, inadequate, and lost. I’m so far from home and all i can do is keep golfing. this game ruined my life. five stars” –Christopher Cella

“Just you, your ball and the sand. No dress codes, no membership fees, no special shoes, no trees to get lost in, just sand. Endless sand. Is there any escape from the sand? Maybe the next hole will provide the answer. Would you like to play through, guys? I think I’m going to be stuck in this bunker for quite some time!” –Richard Munn

“Like a dating simulator… … but the object of your desire is a physics engine who dresses exclusively in warm earth tones.” –Joel Vancil

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To see a world in a bunker of sand
And a heaven in a wild cactus,
Hold infinity in the pocket of your shorts,
And eternity in Desert Golfing.

LEGO® Star Wars™ Yoda II

Is Yoda really so interesting a character that he needs a second game to chronicle his pint-sized adventures – and a second LEGO game at that? Apparently so. LEGO Star Wars Yoda II isn’t so much a game as a series of tiny mini-games, showing off the various flavors of Star Wars LEGO sets. Hey, at least this one’s set in the original trilogy, AKA the good Star Wars movies. The game is free with no in-app purchases.

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Choose your side and join the battle in LEGO® Star Wars™ The New Yoda Chronicles. Collect the Holocrons to defeat your enemy and take control of the galaxy in a series of fast-paced, action packed mini games. Is your destiny to dominate the Galaxy with Darth Vader™ or become a Jedi alongside Grand Master Yoda?

• Quest with Yoda™ or Darth Vader™ to discover your destiny
• Collect the Holocrons to save the day or crush the rebellion once and for all
• Run, shoot, jump and fly through the LEGO® Star Wars™ universe in style
• Battle with lightsabers in Kashyyyk and base jump the pits of Utapau

Super Monkey Ball Bounce

Oh SEGA, what are you doing? A couple of years ago we were thrilled to see your classic casual game come to Android, but today you’re sullying the world’s only monkey-in-a-hamster-ball franchise with another cheap, socialized, F2P cash-in. Super Monkey Ball Bounce is more or less a Pachinko game (think Peggle) with a ton of heavy-handed IAP currency thrown in. At least Super Monkey Ball is in good company: SEGA recently pulled the same move with Crazy Taxi.

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Ready, Aim, BOUNCE. Super Monkey Ball, SEGA’s mobile blockbuster, is back with an ALL-NEW way to play. Join AiAi on his epic adventure, rescuing playable monkey friends as you bounce, slide and rebound your way through jungles, volcanoes and glaciers. Play through oodles of unique puzzles, beating your friends as you rack up high scores in the boss battles.

 

Daddy Long Legs

Daddy Long Legs is essentially a more stylish take on QWOP: you control both of this hideous square creature’s legs independently, with the only goal being to make it as far as possible. If you enjoy furiously frustrating gaming experiences vaguely covered under the umbrella of “physics,” give it a try.

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Take “control” over a little, sneaky and hairy creature. Put one leg in front of the other and try not to fall. The goal of Daddy Long Legs is very simple, walk as far as you can. But, with legs five times longer than the rest of your body, walking is no easy task. Simply tap the screen to change leg and watch as Daddy Long Legs stumbles across the screen. Daddy Long Legs is for gamers that like a hard challenge and a cheap laugh.

Kitty Powers’ Matchmaker

Artem, I’m going to get you back for this some day.

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* Match an endless parade of desperate clients with candidates from Kitty’s Black Book.
* Guide them through awkward conversations and dating dilemmas.
* Unlock extra date venues, and exciting upgrades like the salon and gift shop.
* Connect with Facebook to compete with your friends and send them on dates.
* Send your avatar anonymously to other players’ agencies to generate your own personal dating data.

and No in-app purchases.

Know A Worthy New App? Let Us Know!

If you have an application in mind for the next issue of the roundup, feel free to send us an email and let us know.

Important: there are 2 requirements in order for the app to be considered, listed below.

• the app’s launch date has to be no longer than 2 weeks ago
• it has to be original, ground-breaking, well-reviewed, interesting, fun, etc – the cream of the crop

Now, if and only if the above requirements have been satisfied, fire up an email to this address: [email protected].

1 sponsored placement per week is available (your app would be featured at the top and marked as sponsored) – please contact us for details.