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They go by all kinds of different names — nonogram, picross, hanjie, griddlers, paint by numbers, and more — but there’s something magical about picross games. Like a cross between minesweeper and sudoku, it’s a pure test of logic. You find the hidden image by filling squares on a grid, given clues for how many — both altogether and in succession — are in each row and column.
It takes only seconds to learn, but you could spend your whole life mastering the formula, and it’s incredibly addictive — not only have I wiled away many an hour, but I got my sister-in-law, brother, and girlfriend hooked at one time or another. And I’ve scoured the Play Store for the best in picross action on Android. Here are my 10 favorites.
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Games. We’ve already covered and rounded up a lot of them for Android, but today we’re taking a bit of a different look at gaming on our beloved mobile operating system. In this roundup, we’ll take a look at apps for keeping up-to-date with the gaming industry, apps to help you out during gameplay and other apps to stay engaged with your favourite gaming franchises when you’re not actually playing. (more…)
Compared to iOS in the distant past, Android wasn’t really that much of a gaming platform, as it lacked the diversity of apps and the more powerful hardware to play them on. Now however, Android has a massive 25 billion downloads to date, a figure Apple hit only half a year ago, showing how much Google’s ecosystem has developed as more and more people begin to use the software.
But what I’m mostly interested in are racing games. Being both an iOS and Android user, I found my fair share of quality racers present on the iOS App Store, so I was curious to see if the Play Store could match up. I was pleasantly surprised to find that most if not all of my favorite iOS racers were here on Android, as well as some games I hadn’t seen before. Below, I will take a look at the 10 Android racing games that were a cut above the rest.
Mario is almost an institution these days, such is his fame, popularity, and brand recognition. But you need a Nintendo game console or handheld in order to get in on the fun. So what are you to do when you have a hankering for some Super Mario action on your Android phone or tablet? Why, you try one of these games!
I’ve rounded up five of the best Android titles that replicate the run-and-jump style and substance of Super Mario games from the NES and Super Nintendo eras. Go ahead and take these Mario-wannabes for a spin.
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Board games remain some of the time-tested classics of the gaming world today, despite the advances in technology. What’s even better about them is that you can get a whole bunch of them right there on your Android device.
The digitization of board games is an incredible feat, but not all were ported successfully; this roundup contains only what we think are the best digital alternatives while on the fly or away from the real thing.
I think it’s safe to say that most Android users have a favourite game. Whether you prefer puzzle games, titles from the arcade and action genre or perhaps sports simulations, there must be one that has, in some way, engrossed you.
I’ve had the privilege of writing Android reviews now for around eighteen months and have probably scribbled somewhere around 500 or more pieces on Android Appstorm and elsewhere. Of these, very many have been games and certain titles have stood out as being particularly addictive. Namely, the ones I carry on playing long after the review has been published.
So here, for your perusal, debate and discussion, are my top 50 addictive Android games. You should be warned that these can swallow your spare time without mercy, often leaving you groggy and disorientated, sometime after midnight and hours of hardcore playing. With that as a small warning, say goodbye to productivity and read on…
Abstract line-drawing game Qix stormed the arcades in the early 1980s, winning players over to its frenetic action and unpredictable enemies. It was ported, cloned, and adapted dozens of times for nearly every platform during the years that followed, most famously in 1992 Windows game JezzBall, which had you trapping balls by building horizontal or vertical walls with the mouse.
I’ve played just about every Qix or JezzBall-style game that’s graced the Android platform, and put together this list of the best. With these 12 ports and adaptations you’ll be Qix-ing back for days.
Although I do like indulging in the odd mobile game now and again, there are times where playing against the computer gets a bit repetitive and boring. It’s far more realistic (and competitive) to play multiplayer games against real people than against computer algorithms. And multiplayer games don’t have to be restricted to one device either: there are loads of games that can be enjoyed no matter what platform you are running.
So, without further ado (and in no particular order), here are my top 10 cross-platform multiplayer games that you can enjoy whether you’re on Android or iOS.
Retro games are big in the Google Play Store. While lush 3D visuals are able to seduce many gamers, solid, fun and addictive gameplay can be found even in titles devoid of buttery visuals and the need for a Tegra 3 chip. Games like Tiny Tower, Game Dev Story and R:Type have racked up both huge downloads figures and positive reviews. Generation-defining classics such as PAC-MAN, Tetris and Sonic CD have also made their way onto the Android platform, and these have literally been around for decades.
It’s obvious that nostalgia gaming is massively popular. Furthermore, people are willing to pay for the pleasure. Developers like Kairosoft charge almost top dollar for their full titles, despite the fact they are made of the blocky retro graphics of the 80′s and 90′s. It was thought high time therefore to group some of these together into a comprehensive round up. From Asteroid clones and RPGs to vertical scrolling shooters and addictive platformers… they’re all here. So, put down that Rubix cube and cast your mind back to dusty arcade cabinets, pockets full of loose change and blistered thumbs – here’s a bumper roundup of retro games available on Android.
Who doesn’t love trivia games? They are available in all shapes and sizes, from board games to apps, and cover a huge range of different subjects. Whether you have an interest in Classic TV, the Elizabethan Period, or just general knowledge, you’ll find something to suit you.
