There are so many really promising looking apps that have just launched on the App Store that it was difficult to narrow down my selections this week.
So I put an Also Worthy Of A Look section at the bottom with some additional titles that are also worth checking out.
Kick off this week’s list is a rather large number of free-to-play titles, most of which appear to have fairly unobtrusive in-game currency systems. This week’s picks run the gamut genre-wise, with a couple of RPGs, shooters, brawlers, a hidden object game , puzzle games, a word game, a kids game and the current go-to genre…and endless runner.
Universal
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Zombiewood
Free
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This free to play zombie-themed run and gun game is set in Hollywood and features big explosions and “20 wicked ‘n’ wild weapons”. Seems perfectly timed for the Halloween season.
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Universal
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Wizardlings
Free
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Not being a Final Fantasy or JRPG guy, this looks like a Square Enix title more suited to me. While it still sounds pretty robust, this cuter looking free-to-play “tap adventure” RPG appears to have a more casual, universal appeal to it.
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iPad
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Mirrors of Albion HD
Free
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This is a stunning looking, FREE hidden-object game is set in a “mystical version of Victorian England, combining the mysteries and detective work of Sherlock Holmes with the captivating fantasy of Alice in Wonderland”. Players must find objects, solve puzzles and ‘uncover the mystery of the Mirrors of Albion’. It’s hard to believe that this is FREE!
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Universal
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Punch Quest
Free
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Rocketcat Games returns to the App Store swinging with their new retro-style arcade-style fighting game. Players must fight their way through dungeons full of dangerous creepy crawlies using just their thumbs, enhancing their abilities along the way with unlockable special moves and combos. It even looks like you get to ride a laser shooting dinosaur at some point! This is one fight I wanna get in on.
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iPhone
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Bubble Galaxy with Buddies
Free
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An interesting twist on turn-based gaming, Bubble Galaxy with Buddies is (believe it or not) a turn-based marble popper, where players take turns for three rounds of play trying to best their opponent’s total score after all rounds have been completed by both players. As you play, you earn coins which can be used to purchase power ups. It’s a fun little freebie that I’ve just started playing myself, well worth a pickup.
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Universal
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Toca Tailor
99¢
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Toca Boca is back with another winner! Your kids get to design their own clothes and dress up four different characters using either the colors and patterns provided, or they can use the iDevice’s camera to capture ‘fabrics’ from their own clothes or any other object their imagination desires. It’s a toss-up as to whether I or my daughter are having more fun with this one. It is on a very limited 99¢ launch sale, so don’t hesitate. Plus a reminder that all Toca Boca apps are on sale for 99¢ each until 11:59pm PDT on Thursday October 25th.
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Universal
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Hairy Tales
99¢
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One of two titles Forest Moon Games is releasing this week, this is a rather unique 3D tile-based action puzzle game where players attempt to rearrange the action/power-up tiles on each level to clean up the Hairys’ world and destroy the evil Kikimoras. It’s a bit difficult to explain, just watch the video and you’ll understand what I mean.
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Universal
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Totem Runner
99¢
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This endless runner features silhouette style graphics and its hook is a unique aspect where the hero changes shapes along the way, transforming between a man, bird, and beast, adding regular variety to the traditional endless gameplay.
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Universal
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He-Man: The Most Powerful Game in the Universe™
99¢
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An 80’s cartoon staple from my childhood is back in this all-new fantastic looking brawler developed by GlitchSoft, the team responsible for the amazing Contra-like platformer, Star Marine: Infinite Ammo. This is an instant purchase for me.
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iPad
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Spell Rift for iPad
$2.99
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The Kieffer Bros. have consistently put out quality titles like Aqueduct and Monster Soup and this looks like it could be their most ambitious yet. Spell Rift is a word finding game for the iPad featuring level-based mission objectives (like find a certain number of words or a specific number of tiles), over 60 Game Center Achievements and per-level leaderboards, and a huge assortment of really cool ‘special’ gadgetry that add all kinds of fun to the game, making it a special experience.
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Universal
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Penny Arcade’s On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3
$2.99
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Penny Arcade’s Gabe and Tycho finally make their way to iOS in this port of third title in Penny Arcade’s On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness game series. Originally released on XBLA and Steam back in June, this episode of the supernatural RPG features retro 16-bit graphics as well as the Lair of the Seamstress DLC and Fanfiction packs (also released on XBLA and Steam) built-into the game and additional free content on the way. It is worth noting that the game comes from the same team that brought us Cthulhu Saves The World and you DO NOT need to have played the first to games in the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness series (which were never ported to iOS) to play this one.
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Also Worthy Of A Look
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Universal
The King vs. Knights, Vikings, Wizards & other Scoundrels
No Monkeys
Free |
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iPad
Lola and Lucy’s Big Adventure: A Kids Storybook with Games
Pinkerton Road LLC
Free
($4.99 to unlock entire book) |
There are so many really promising looking apps that have just launched on the App Store that it was difficult to narrow down my selections this week. 
