Andrew Grush / Android Authority
Welcome to the 516th edition of Android Apps Weekly. Here we discuss the latest mobile news and take a closer look at some of the most interesting new apps and games. Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of last week’s biggest highlights.
Android App Weekly: New Apps and Games
Looking for a new Android app or game to immerse yourself in? We usually try to bring you at least one new app, but this week we didn’t have any notable new apps. With that in mind, here’s a list of four new games. We’ll also revisit one app in case you missed it.
phoenix 2
- price: Free with in-app purchases
Phoenix 2 was released on iOS in 2016, but it wasn’t brought to Android until now. Now, many years later, the new port plays just like the original and even allows for multiplayer cross-play with the iOS version. For those who don’t know, it’s a modern take on his 80’s game Phoenix. If you’re not familiar with this, another fair comparison would be Galaga.
The game is essentially an arcade shooter, but it has some twists on the formula, including the ability to collect over 100 different ships and deeper mission levels than you’ll find in-game. A classic title from the 80’s. I spent about 15 minutes with this and found this to be a keeper, especially after his son took the tablet from me and started playing on his own for another hour.
Sweet Farm: Cake Baking King
- price: Free with in-app purchases
Sweet Farm takes the “Grandpa’s Farm” approach from Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon, and Story of Seasons, but changes the setting to a candy factory. This time grandpa is alive and needs your help. First, while rebuilding the factory, you will learn how to make sweets such as cakes and pies. There will also be a unique Wonka-esque helper, but this time, instead of Onpa Kanojo Ronpa, there will be a Blob Kanojo monster.
While this isn’t exactly my jam, I still found this game plenty of fun. That said, if you like free-to-play builders like this and don’t mind the in-app purchase aspect, this is a good choice for a light, casual experience.
luna saga
- price: Free with in-app purchases
Andrew Grush / Android Authority
Luna Saga bills itself as a fantasy pet open-world game, so it was one of those games I was really looking forward to playing. The reality is less impressive. You can create your own heroes and collect pets, but calling this an open-world game is just a marketing ploy.
What you really get here is an endless auto-quest game that keeps you playing without any direct interaction. Sure, interaction allows you to do some things that don’t happen automatically, but overall, this is a great way to do things when you’re riding a bus or waiting in line. It’s just a waste of time. If you like this type of game, this is worth it, but I’ve personally played too many games and am a bit tired of idle games.
Sea of ​​Conquest: Pirate Wars
- price: Free with in-app purchases
Sea of ​​Conquest launched in select markets in 2023, but now the game is officially ready for worldwide release. While the trailer makes it look like an action-packed experience, the reality is a little more tame. This is very similar to a typical base management game. To upgrade something he would spend X wood, but in the real world he would have to wait 2 days or pay a fee. Of course, there is also a battle element. That said, you’ll find that without some upgrades, combat is quite difficult at first, and upgrades require payment or waiting time.
Overall, I liked this game in theory, but I don’t jump into games and play for a few minutes every few days, so it wasn’t for me. I know people who do, and this is for them. Still, my own biases aside, the game is pretty decent despite the long wait times. I think the wait time should be shorter. The graphics are pretty decent and I didn’t encounter any major bugs.
Microsoft CoPilot quietly released an Android app over the holidays. It was featured in the last newsletter, but some of you may have missed it. If you haven’t gotten it yet, I highly recommend getting it.
I often use the official ChatGPT app because of its access to GPT 4, but CoPilot offers a nearly identical experience in many ways, and it’s completely free. The new app has the same core functionality as the web experience, including the ability to ask questions and get answers, generate documentation, and more. Unlike ChatGPT, you can also easily generate high-quality images directly from the app.