GAMES OF THE WEEK - The 5 best new mobile games for iOS and Android - December 10th 2020
It's that time again! Time for another entry into our long-running GAMES OF THE WEEK series.
If you're looking for the best 5 games which have hit the iPhone, iPad or Android stores this week then you've landed yourself at the exact right place at just the right time. Lucky, lucky you.
With this article, we skirt around the droves of subscription services (Apple Arcade, Google Play Pass, GameClub, Hatch, and all of their friends) which have launched onto mobile platforms over the years. We also don't factor in things like Steam Link or Google Stadia which allow streaming to handheld devices - and would open up this list to almost every game under the sun.
What that means is that our list is a finely curated list of brilliant, fresh titles which you can download and play without subscribing to, or installing, any third-party initiative. Of course, there are some great games on those services, but, let's focus on the stuff that you can grab right now.
From an unexpected, steam-powered port through to a digital adaptation of one of the most important novels of the 20th century, we've got something for everybody this week. Oh, and let's not forget that we finally, finally, saw the release of a long-awaited mobile MOBA - phew.
Remember, if you're looking to check through some of our previous selections then you can always do that at our Games of The Week Hub, it's a great way to find games to fill out that empty storage space on your phone or tablet. Or, if you like your news in bitesize chunks, delivered straight to your palm then maybe follow us on Twitter or join our Discord.
Anyway, without any further delay, click on the big, blue button below to find out more about what we believe to be the top five of the games which released on mobile devices over the last week.
SteamWorld Quest
We've been big fans of the SteamWorld series over the years, and so its great news that the latest entry - Steamworld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech - has finally, and unexpectedly, made it over to the AppStore this week. Unlike previous digging or tactical-combat based titles, SteamWorld Quest has you assembling and leading a band of heroes across a hand-drawn world in a quest to save the world from evil. The Steampunk-adjacent world is welcome, but imagine sneaking this out in Cyberpunk 2077 week, goodness me.
Animal Farm
In the same way that video games and board games can't be political, you'll be surprised to hear that movies, tv and books - or indeed politics - also can't be political. Or, indeed, maybe everything is inherently political, from the pigpen to the big screen. Orwell's Animal Farm is an inspired adaptation of the famous book, designed to immerse players within Orwell's original vision. I've had a chat with the staff member who we have reviewing it and she's reported back that she was absolutely captivated by it - so keep your eyes peeled for the review soon if you're not diving in straight away.
Bio Inc. Redemption
Many might say that releasing a game about medical neglect and being a pretty terrible doctor during the middle of a global pandemic would be foolhardy or even preposterous, but DryGin Studios have proudly peeled back the extraneous tissue to reveal and release the latest entry in their Bio Inc. series. The series has now been played by over 17 million people over the years, and they've achieved those numbers through their sleek UI and quirky gameplay options. In this case, you can play a villain or saviour by choosing an appropriate campaign.
Rush Royale
Next on the list is Rush Royale, a fantasy tower defence game which features a clever mishmash of popular mechanics. Not only does it feature a card-based mana system, but there are also bosses, light slot-mechanics and more. It's all very familiar, yet also fresh feeling.
League of Legends: Wild Rift
It's the big one. We've been waiting for WIld Rift for ages now, but it's finally available in the vast majority of regions and it's fantastic. Somehow they've managed to emulate the pacing and variety of play that the original, 2009 title now has, and it feels much tighter and well rounded than its PC counterpart did when it first launched. Of course, the team has change, and a lot has changed in the industry since then, but we're already seeing major patching and tweaks being made to ensure that it thrives on mobile, which it definitely feels like it will.
For many, this will be a game of the year, but for now, it's one of the best games of the week.
