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The best Halloween updates for iOS and Android games (2017)

Wouldn't say boo to these

The best Halloween updates for iOS and Android games (2017)
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Today is Halloween. These days, regardless of its ancient pagan roots and subsequent Christianisation, that basically equates to people dressing up in tacky outfits, eating and drinking too much, and terrorising their neighbours.

This means that it can be hard to distinguish from your average Friday night in most western towns.

One other way you know it's Halloween is by the sheer number of batty mobile game updates that we get around this time of year. Brave is the developer who doesn't at least attempt to cram a skeleton into their otherwise bright and chirpy time waster.

Here, then, is a brief round-up of some of the Halloween updates to look out for.

Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go fever died down some time ago, but there are still plenty of people playing it. Which is good, because this year's Halloween event is a substantial one.

Most excitingly, you get a bunch of new Generation 3 Ghost Type Pokemon: Duskull, Dusclops, Shuppet, Sableye and Banette. There's also a new kind of Pikachu, among other stuff.

Fire Emblem Heroes

You'd expect Nintendo to handle seasonal events with considerable attention to detail, and that seems to be the case with Fire Emblem Heroes. Trick or Defeat is the name of that event, and it runs for a month from October 30.

This introduces new special characters to battle - two male characters and two female characters, as is Nintendo's wont - each dressed in Halloween costumes. There's also a new Paralogue story to play through.

Titanfall: Assault

We really liked Titanfall: Assault. It's two rare things - a really accomplished mobile spinoff of a console franchise and a successful riff on the Clash Royale template.

Not having the most playful tone, it's not exactly the most natural fit for a Halloween update. But here we are, with "destructible pumpkins, spooktacular-spider webs and other Halloween decorations" littering the futuristic battlefields. Oh, and pilot Jack Cooper brings his Jack-o'-lantern - whatever that means.

Mordheim: Warband Skirmish

Tactical fighty Games Workshop game Mordheim is getting into the Halloween spirit, and it's not just adding a bunch of pumpkins to the world - the mobile gaming equivalent of putting a sheet over your head and calling it a ghost costume.

Rather, the new content includes the ability to magic-users to your warband, as well as a new mission type called Wyrdstone Hunt.

Heroes of Incredible Tales

Heroes of Incredible Tales - or HIT to its mother - is a Korean mobile MMO by the designer of Lineage II. That means impressive graphics, bashy combat and lots of big floating numbers.

It's received the Halloween treatment, with a new Jack-o'-lantern themed boss guarding the Halloween Haunted House. Right up until November 2 HIT players can apparently pick up ghoulish rare costumes, weapons, armour and more.

Angry Birds Evolution

'Rovio has partnered with Iron Maiden' is the kind of line that makes you think you should ease of the pumpkin vodka. Is there such a thing as pumpkin vodka? There should be.

But yes, the heavy metal band's mascot Eddie is appearing as a playable character in a Halloween-themed Angry Birds Evolution event. It started on October 18, and is only set to last for two weeks, so you'd better get cracking.

DomiNations

One of the better games that emerged in the wake of the all-conquering Clash of Clans, DomiNations stirs in a little extra Civilization tactical magic for good measure.

During the game's Halloween special event, pumpkins can be found ripening on players' bases, which can then be destroyed and harvested for food, gold, and other treats. Resource production has also been doubled alongside some other discounts for a limited time.

The Sandbox Evolution

The Sandbox Evolution - formerly known as The Sandbox 2 - is the sequel to The Sandbox, a highly entertaining God game. It's quite literally a sandbox game, as you mould your own physics-powered 2D world.

There's a Halloween update too, which adds 16 or so scary Elements, Halloween-themed decorations, spooky backgrounds and other related stuff.

The Simpsons: Tapped Out

Here's a game that will not die, like the antagonist of a schlocky horror film. Partly because it's The Simpsons, and partly because EA keep pumping in the fresh content.

The annual Treehouse of Horror update adds assorted spooky elements, including an evil sorcerer and his horde of magical beasts to fight against. You can also create a Magic Academy using your "wand finger". Right.

Jon Mundy
Jon Mundy
Jon is a consummate expert in adventure, action, and sports games. Which is just as well, as in real life he's timid, lazy, and unfit. It's amazing how these things even themselves out.