App Watch: the best new iPhone and iPad games released in June
UPDATED: These are the newly released games that'll keep your tablet or smartphone 'appy this June...
THE BEST OF JUNE
It’d be an understatement to say that the Apple App Store is a big place – there are thousands of new titles hitting its digital shelves each and every week. It’s an unprecedented situation that often results in great games being overlooked, buried under a mountain of soulless endless runners, tepid Candy Crush clones, and uninspired MMOs. With that in mind, we want to shine a spotlight on those games fighting the good fight. Here are this month’s most interesting new releases.
AXE.IO (£FREE+IAP)
Got an Axe to grind? Well then keep walking, because Axe.io isn’t the game for you. Now, if you’ve got an axe you don’t mind lobbing, then you might want to stick around, because that’s the name of the game in Crescent Moon Games’ brutal battleground. Surviving won’t be easy, but it is simple enough: just toss your axe faster than the other chump, and hope it lands true. If it doesn’t, you’re going to be in a bit of a pickle, because you aren’t the only hatchet hurling hero around these parts.
SPACE PIONEER (£FREE+IAP)
Space. The final frontier. Step into the great unknown, discover new galaxies, and explore strange new worlds. Oh, and while you’re at it, amass an arsenal of hi-tech weapons so you can crush all who oppose you. Alright, we admit that took a fairly dark turn, but you’re gonna step on some alien toes (and err… tentacles) when conquering the galaxy. Just try and make some friends along the way, because the universe is a big place, and you’ll need all the help you can get.
LAZARETTO (£3.99)
Lazaretto is an atmospheric and frighteningly immersive horror effort that packs its fair share of genuine scares. Set on an abandoned quarantined island that some foolhardy chap has decided to explore (because who doesn’t love a spine-chilling vacation?), Lazaretto quickly turns into a surreal, strange, and dangerous adventure through a realm where everything isn’t what it seems. Armed with only a flashlight and whatever bravery you can muster, you’ll need to push ahead to get back home. Just try and avoid the nightmarish monsters watching your every move, unless, of course, you fancy becoming human chow.
SPIKE CITY (£FREE+IAP)
The latest effort from mobile moguls Nitrome, Spike City is a pristine platformer that proves once again why the studio is one of the best in the biz. As its rather pointed name suggests, Spike City is all about using your super-sharp noggin to breeze through levels like a pro. Naturally, this being a platforming affair, there are power-ups to collects, new worlds to explore, and big ol’ bosses to defeat. On the surface, that might sound like some pretty standard fare, but this is a Nitrome game, which means it’s been polished more than the royal family’s fanciest cutlery. Shiny indeed.
JELLY DANCE (£FREE+IAP)
Hey Mr. DJ put a record on, I wanna dance with my jelly. Wait… say what now? That’s right folks, there’s a horde of rambunctious jellies heading your way, and they’re in the mood to boogie. If you don’t want to let your new pals down, you’d better get behind those turntables and spin some funky hip hop beats, because these wobbly customers know how to party. Just match the tumbling beats to the party started, and your gelatinous friends will handle the rest. Oh, and while you’re grooving, take a moment to remember the most important lesson of all: you’ve gotta turn it up if you wanna get down.
MISSILEDANCER (£1.99)
Hold me closer MissleDancer. That’s what you’ll be whispering to your phone after getting to grips with Junichi Terayama’s manic, vertical shooter. As the name subtly suggests, you’ll be manning the titular MissileDancer, a state-of-the-art vehicle armed to the teeth with lock-on missiles. Once airborne you’ll need to eliminate a gaggle of enemy fighters without being blown to smithereens. No pressure, then.
MY CHILD LEBENSBORN (£2.99)
My Child Lebensborn is a beautiful and utterly heartbreaking tale about the loss of innocence in a post-war world. How do you raise a child in a land shattered by conflict? You’ll need to find an answer if you want to help your recently adopted sprog find their feet. It might sound like an melancholic slog, but My Child Lebensborn is peppered with moments of levity and brilliance that make those emotional beats feel earned. It’s one of the most original, human games we’ve played in quite some time, and it deserves every bit of attention you can muster.
HEXOLOGIC (£0.99)
For relaxing times, make it Hexologic time. That’s the unofficial slogan (which means I made it up this instant) for Hexologic, a sumptuously zen puzzler thats more chilled than the freezer aisle at Asda. Solve sudoku inspired puzzles, lap up some laid back beats, and embark upon a journey to the centre of your soul. Okay, that last bit might be taking it a tad far, but if you’re searching for a sure fire way to unwind on the morning commute, then look no further.