Android Central: Best new games for Android

Friday, January 27, 2017

Best new games for Android

What's the latest games worth checking out in the Google Play Store?

There are thousands and thousands of games available in the Google Play Store, with more being added every month. With so much content hitting the app store, it can be damn near impossible to keep up on the latest releases and determine which games are worth your time.

Here at Android Central, we want to help. We'll be using this space to let you know about the latest gaming releases for Android that we think deserve your attention. We'll be checking in and updating this page weekly as new games are released, so refresh often!

Mismatch

Traditionally, puzzle games want you to matching like colors together. Mismatch flips that whole equation on its head, instead requiring you to ensure that no two colors are touching on the game board. You simply swipe to swap tiles around until you've got them ordered properly, then the board clears and a new puzzle is presented.

It's such a simple twist on a game mechanic that's been so hardwired into our pattern-seeking brains from years of color matching puzzle games, when you first start playing it feels like you're doing it wrong. And it actually feels way more challenging than simply matching the like colors together. There are three game board sizes to choose from — 3 by 3, 4 by 4 and 5 by 5 — with the latter two enabling scoring, which gives you points for clearing the board in as few moves as possible.

Mismatch is a brand new game to the Google Play Store, which means there's a few quirks and bugs yet to be worked out, which include a complete lack of background music. It's a free game, with ads that occasionally pop up immediately after you've solved a puzzle, but fortunately they're not the lengthy video ads which you're unable to skip. But it's just such a curious, unique, and yet simple take on the puzzle game format that we just had to share it.

Download: Mismatch (Free w/ads)

Rocket Shock 3D

Rocket Shock 3D is a first-person shooter that's currently in Alpha, which means that it's a very basic version of the game with new features and bug fixes occurring regularly.

The game puts you in control of your own Claptrap-like robot, armed with a rocket launcher, and throws you into a battle arena against other players in free-for-all or team deathmatches that are frantic and filled with explosions.

It's surprisingly playable for a game still in early development. Despite only having one map, two game modes, and six weapons available (which you need to unlock), the game looks and plays really well. The controls and core gameplay are already pretty strong, so if you're into some arcady FPS fun, you might want to get in on the ground floor so to speak with Rocket Shock 3D.

Download: Rocket Shock 3D [Alpha release] (Free)

realMyst

Aww yeah! Fans of this absolute classic PC game will be thrilled to know that it has finally come to Android in a stunning, free-roaming 3D experience. Daniel Bader wrote up this really awesome feature on porting Myst over to Android, featuring interviews with the original game developers and the fine folks from Noodlecake.

You may have vivid memories playing this point-and-click puzzle adventure game as a kid — I know I do. It was a really challenging game back then, and to be honest I could never quite wrap my head around the puzzles. But it sure was fun to explore the visually stunning island.

Now, thanks to publishers Noodlecake, you can re-explore all the mysteries (oh wow, the title just clicked for me... Myst-eries) and puzzles of the island again, but this time allowing you're allowed to freely roam around and explore, using simple touch controls to navigate and interact with objects.

Whether you have fond memories of Myst or are completely new to the series, realMyst offers a nice break for those who enjoy in-depth puzzle games like The Room.

Download: realMyst ($6.99)