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How to be the best at Bejeweled Stars

Posted by Ric Cowley on May 19th, 2016

Believe it or not, there are people out there who've never played Candy Crush Saga. That may sound like a bold claim, but it's true.

To these people, Bejeweled Stars may seem like a totally alien concept - especially if they've played previous Bejeweled games and are now confronted with this whole new, objective-based gameplay.

If you fall into that category and are feeling slightly overwhelmed, fear not. We have some tips and tricks to help you on your way.

Why the classic Snake is better than Slither.io

Posted by Matt Suckley on May 17th, 2016
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Competitive online munch-'em-up Slither.io may be flavour of the month on the App Store right now, but it's only the latest in a long history of snakes in mobile gaming.

The first, and still very much the best, is the monochrome beauty we all wrangled in a time before apps - the titular Snake, from Nokia's imaginatively-titled Snake.

Here's why we'd trade an iPhone running Slither.io for a Nokia 3310 with Snake any day of the week.

The 3 best Slither.io YouTube let's plays

Posted by Jessica Famularo on May 16th, 2016

Slither.io is still going strong, and with a new official update coming soon it doesn’t look like the trend will be fading any time soon.

It's an addictive adrenaline rush, and as much fun to watch as it is to play. We’ve gathered some of our favorite Slither.io Let’s Play videos to help feed your obsession.

Shadow Blade: Reload guide - How to hack and slash with the best of them

Posted by Jennifer Allen on February 12th, 2016

Shadow Blade: Reload is the kind of action-platformer that would have happily sucked up hours of your time on a console a few years back.Now, you can take it with you wherever you go, and its mobile conversion is not too shabby at all.

To help you out, we’ve got some great tips and tricks on how to get the edge in battle.

What mobile games do anime fans have to look forward to next year?

Posted by Brittany Vincent on January 7th, 2016

There have been loads of games released over the past year inspired by classic or newly-released anime series.

Properties like Yu-Gi-Oh! and Bleach also have new tie-in titles due this year, so it's easy to see why gamers who love Japanese animation are so excited about phones, tablets, and other mobile devices.

This year we'll hopefully see anime-inspired games released globally rather than just in Japan. There's a huge global audience for Anime-related games, and it's getting bigger every day. Sadly though the spread of these games outside of the East doesn't look like it's going to gain pace.

Square Enix is releasing the company's classic role-playing game Romancing SaGa 2 for smartphones as well as PS Vita, but it hasn't revealed whether it'll be available for global audiences just yet.

BattleHand guide - Tips and tricks to help you build a strong party and deck

Posted by Glen Fox on January 7th, 2016

BattleHand is a brand new mobile action RPG card battler that just launched on iOS and Android. It challenges you to build a party of typical fantasy heroes and a powerful deck of combat cards for each of them before setting out on an adventure full of turn-based battles.

ThoughBattleHanddoes a pretty good job of easing you into its unique brand of deck and character building, it can still feel a little overwhelming at first - particularly for genre newcomers. With that in mind, we've compiled a few tips and tricks to help you get started.

What does Nintendo have in store for mobile platforms in 2016?

Posted by Nadia Oxford on January 6th, 2016

2015 over, and so is the mobile games market.

Just kidding. Mobile games are stronger than ever.

Granted, some interesting trends came out of last year - like paid apps gradually finding themselves unable to compete with free-to-play games - but we can expect 2016 to begin the way 2015 ended: With tons of mobile games to choose from on the App Store and Google Play.

2016 will also usher in Nintendo's first stab at mobile game development (outside of some Pokémon apps that are more the work of the affiliated but still somewhat independent Pokémon Company).

148Apps's best games of 2015 - Glen's list

Posted by Glen Fox on January 1st, 2016

2015 has been and gone, and with it an absolute ton of awesome mobile games. We thought it couldn't possibly stand up to 2014 (which had Monument Valley, for crying out loud) but it did. It really did.

While I'd love to just gush about 50 or so awesome games I've played - on my various mobile devices alone - I've narrowed it down to just four. Yes, just four.

Without further ado, read on to discover more about, not only my favourite mobile game of 2015, but a few honourable mentions as well.

148Apps's best games of 2015 - Nadia's list

Posted by Nadia Oxford on December 30th, 2015

It's been a meaty year for the App Store and Google Play, with dozens of noteworthy games finding their way onto our devices.

But with 2015 winding down, it's time to reflect on the best of the best. Here's my list.

The best password manager on mobile

Posted by Jennifer Allen on December 9th, 2015

It’s important to keep your data secure by using different passwords for your various accounts but it’s hard to remember them all.

While your iPhone and iPad have a basic password management tool built into Safari, it’s not really enough so we've had a look at some of the best password management apps out there.

Metal Gear Saga? Silent Hill & Dragons? Konami Has Set its Sights on Mobile

Posted by Rob Rich on May 14th, 2015

MCV, with the help of Neogaf and Google Translate, has figured out Konami's next move in the wake of "losing" (?) Hideo Kojima and doing all that doom and gloom stuff with their stocks: mobile!

Here Are 14 Nintendo Licenses We Think Could Actually Work on Mobile

Posted by Rob Rich on March 18th, 2015

Now that Nintendo has decided to throw their hat into the mobile ring, it's only a matter of time before we'll start seeing Mario and the gang on the App Store. And we're already well past the point where people make free-to-play jokes. But if you really think about it, there are actually a fair number of mobile games that could do well with a Nintendo coat of paint.

With that in mind, we've taken a look at DeNA's current catalog (as well as a couple games from other developers) to try and pair like with as close to like as possible. And we came up with a list of 14 combinations that could actually be pretty interesting once the Big N gets their hands on them.

Nintendo and DeNA Will Be Developing Mobile Games Together, and That's Okay

Posted by Rob Rich on March 17th, 2015

By now most of the world has probably heard about the partnership between Nintendo and DeNA. While it's reasonable to be nervous about this prospect (free-to-play is still something of a slippery slope, and Nintendo's never really done it before), there's really nothing to worry about. In fact, there might even be room for some cautious optimism.

First of all, while Nintendo made it abundantly clear that they aren't going to be porting any of their games to mobile, there's a decent chance that resolve could waver in the future. Now I'm not saying it's a definite, but Nintendo did say that they'd never be bringing their IPs to mobile. And look at them now. So while they might be insisting that there won't be any ports, that tune could change.

Secondly, Nintendo hasn't been doing so great, financially [Editor's Note: Although they're a bit more optimistic about this year]. Assuming this partnership works out, the developer could stand to make quite a bit of money (everybody loves Mario, right?). If nothing else, the potential income from their new mobile library will let them keep making console/handheld games.

Nintendo has also stated that every single one of their properties and characters could potentially see their own mobile games. That's a pretty big back catalogue to pull from. Ignoring the obvious ones like Mario and Donkey Kong, because you just know they're a given, that still leaves all sorts of nostalgic goodies like Balloon Fight, Hogan's Alley, Excite Bike, Clu Clu Land, Gyromite, F-Zero, and so on.

But the biggest reason you shouldn't let any of this worry you is that Nintendo's current and previous games aren't going anywhere. No matter what comes out of this partnership - good or bad - none of it will invalidate the Nintendo games you already know and love.

Fanatic Earth Review

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
By Brittany Vincent on July 24th, 2014
Our rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar :: BY-THE-NUMBERS
Kemco's stable of mobile RPGs grows, but in Fanatic Earth's situation it's a case of quantity over quality.
Read The Full Review »

This Week at 148Apps: June 30-July 4, 2014

Posted by Chris Kirby on July 6th, 2014

Apps Are Us


How do you know what apps are worth your time and money? Just look to the review team at 148Apps. We sort through the chaos and find the apps you're looking for. The ones we love become Editor’s Choice, standing out above the many good apps and games with something just a little bit more to offer. Take a look at what we've been up to this week, and find even more in our Reviews Archive.


Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

Trying to explain Monster Hunter Freedom Unite to someone unfamiliar with the series is always a challenge. There’s an almost unrivaled amount of satisfaction to be had the first time you best a Rathalos or when you complete an armor set . You might’ve spent hours hunting dozens of Diablos, to the point that you can do it in your sleep, but now you’ve got what you need and can finish your set and oh it looks so amazing you can’t wait to show it off to your friends! I suppose that’s actually the best way to explain Monster Hunter: you earn it. You earn everything. And it’s difficult not to be extremely proud of that. --Rob Rich


World of Tanks Blitz

It was dark all around and there was frost in the ground when the Tigers broke free. And a good time was had by all. World of Tanks Blitz is a mobile take on World of Tanks, the PC-based online tank combat game from Wargaming.net. World of Tanks has been consistently popular since its North American and European release in 2011, so it’s surprising the game has taken this much time to get an official mobile release. Many imitators have sprung to life in the meantime – some of which are quite good – but unsurprisingly, the real deal is one of the best tank games available for mobile. --Nadia Oxford


Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake

I wouldn’t be pleased if monsters actually ate my birthday cake. How dare they snarf up the sugary confection I was poised to chow down on myself?! It’s a sentiment no doubt shared with the developers at Sleeping Ninja, who have crafted a satisfying twist on The Legend of Zelda-like puzzle-solving. Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake is a sweet treat for mobile gamers that serves up an excellent mix of puzzles, bright and colorful characters, and engaging content that rivals triple-A blockbusters in terms of unadulterated fun. When you get started you’ll find yourself swapping out characters in order to complete level-specific puzzles. Each level has characters with differently-assigned abilities, and each monster has its own loadout. In order to conquer the various obstacles scattered throughout each area, you’ll have to become acquainted with the monsters’ abilities while avoiding or eliminating enemies completely. --Brittany Vincent


X BEATS

Music theory is one of the trickier parts of learning to play a musical instrument. Learning how to read the musical notes and understand how they each sound different isn’t always that fun to figure out, either. This is where X BEATS hopes to buck that trend. It’s a puzzle game that relies upon musical notes to solve the challenges. Each level consists of a mostly empty grid. Players then have to fill up the grid based on the note values to reach a certain amount at the end. Predictably, early stages are pretty simple and easy enough to bluff through, although that’s not the point. They simply require matching up 4 beats and there are limited options to ensure you can’t go wrong. --Jennifer Allen


Lars and Friends

I would like to introduce readers to the new app, Lars and Friends: a charming storybook for young children that contains very special illustrations, making it really stand out among a sea of other apps within iTunes. Lars and Friends is the simple and sweet tale of a horse named Lars and his adventures with many different types of creatures, allowing children to become familiar with the unique names used to describe a group of specific animals such as a colony of ants, knot of frogs, or tower of giraffes. I have had a lot of fun with the different activities Lars engages in with different creatures large and small, creating whimsical images about some unlikely friendships that will stay with readers as well as teaching the sometimes odd name-groupings children of all ages and their adults will enjoy learning about. --Amy Solomon


yantouch Diamond+ "Music+Light" Bluetooth Speaker

When turned off in a well-lit room, the yantouch Diamond+ looks kind of like a slightly garish ball of nothing. When turned on in a dark room – especially when displaying colors based on the tempo of the being played through it – it’s more like staring into a technicolored Eye of Sauron. You know, if Sauron were actually a pretty cool guy and not bent on conquering/destroying the world. Setting up the Diamond+ is pretty easy, and there are a couple of options you can pick from. Initially I hooked it up to my computer via the included audio cable, then later via bluetooth. I’m not sure if it’s just my imagination but it actually sounded a little tinny when connected via the cable, but it sounds just fine via bluetooth. --Rob Rich


Other 148Apps Network Sites

If you are looking for the best reviews of Android apps, just head right over to AndroidRundown. Here are just some of the reviews served up this week:


AndroidRundown

Wave Wave

Life is sweeter when it’s easy. When everything moves the way it should for as long as it should, one can’t complain. There isn’t any shame in appreciating that. With video games, we like reasonable levels of difficulty, but I think that deep down, we all really want an epic battle… something seemingly impossible to conquer. Basically, we love torture by pixel. Why else would games like Wave Wave be so addictive? We’ve known about this game for a while, and finally had a chance to take it for a spin. It is a twitch/reaction games, so it makes sense to go into it with a soothed state of mind. Simplistically explained, the playing area is an insane, jazzy splash of altering colors. A lined arrow travels through this playing area, and the base idea is to use the controls to avoid the quick-appearing obstacles that appear. --Tre Lawrence


Powerpuff Girls: Defenders of Townsville

I admit to being a bit surprised back when Powerpuff Girls: Defenders of Townsville was announced – a Powerpuff Girls Metroidvania, developed by Radiangames, known for their dual-stick shooters and puzzle games? And it released on Steam? I didn’t get around to playing it until now, when it surprisingly released on mobile recently, but it makes a lot more sense that it’s a Radiangames title – and it’s a unique, if imperfect, take on the open-world adventure genre of Metroidvanias. The game starts out with Mojo Jojo, famed villain of the Powerpuff Girls, having erased all of the girls’ memories, imprisoning Bubbles and Blossom, with only a flightless Buttercup around. Flight is the first power earned back by collecting in the world, and here’s where the game shows its original qualities. Many games in the Metroidvania vein restrict progress by restraining movement, but this game relies solely on the lack of certain powers necessary to progress. I feel like it’s almost fairer, because it’s kind of nice to not have things that are just out of short jumping reach. It’s more artificial, but it feels more natural in a weird way. --Tre Lawrence


First Strike

First Strike is all about nukes. The crux of many an action movie nukes can be fun to throw around. First Strike contains all the fun of launching arrays of nuclear death without all that pesky fallout afterwards. First Strike throws diplomacy out the window. By the time of the game the world is already going to be bathed in nuclear fire. The only question is who will do most of the bathing? First Strike divides each nation up into sections and each section has a number of silos, the number of which is controlled by tech level. Each silo can have a particular kind of missile. There are cruise missiles which are used to intercept incoming nukes and ICBMs, which are used for nuking other nations. --Allan Curtis

And finally, 2014 is halfway through, so Pocket Gamer revealed its top-rated iOS, Android, Vita, and 3DS games of the year so far, and found 100 upcoming mobile games to look forward to. The guys also started documenting their adventures in bizarre art installment art MTN, took a look at Civilization Revolution 2, and produced a whopping great guide to Monsters Ate My Birthday Cake.