iOS Games Thread Catch All

The mobile gaming ecosystem is so damn chaotic that we need recommendations from trusted sources to find the hidden gems that are swirling around in the choppy seas of mediocre and downright terrible games. I’m glad that we Goodjers can provide that for each other.

Unless I've been missing things, there has been a notable lack of good games on iOS for the last six months. Even Ironhide Studios has given us an IAP-infested game. It's a bit sad.

Turns out the controls in Best Rally are really frustrating. A reverse-gear mechanic would be really nice.

Natus wrote:

Unless I've been missing things, there has been a notable lack of good games on iOS for the last six months. Even Ironhide Studios has given us an IAP-infested game. It's a bit sad.

https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/...

I'll leave some of my impressions after getting into it but "infested" might be a bit of an overstatement.

EvilDead wrote:
Natus wrote:

Unless I've been missing things, there has been a notable lack of good games on iOS for the last six months. Even Ironhide Studios has given us an IAP-infested game. It's a bit sad.

https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/...

I'll leave some of my impressions after getting into it but "infested" might be a bit of an overstatement.

In general, I would characterize the current state of IAPs in all gaming spaces as an "infestation".

EvilDead wrote:
Natus wrote:

Unless I've been missing things, there has been a notable lack of good games on iOS for the last six months. Even Ironhide Studios has given us an IAP-infested game. It's a bit sad.

https://www.gamerswithjobs.com/node/...

I'll leave some of my impressions after getting into it but "infested" might be a bit of an overstatement.

I'm gonna pull over your quote from the other thread to respond.

EvilDead wrote:

Kingdom Rush Vengeance is down to $2.99. My buddy told me that all the complaints regarding IAP were unfounded as the base game has a ton of content and is actually a little easier than prior iterations. In other words the IAP stuff just makes you overpowered. I decided to take the jump.

I don't think any of that makes the IAP complaints unfounded. I didn't see anyone here voicing complaints about the game being pay-to-win. I browsed the subreddit a bit after the game was released, and it was generally agreed that the purchasable towers were more side grades than anything.

I was happy to give the devs a little extra cash for some cool optional hero characters as a tip for making a great game, but being nickel and dimed for towers in a tower defense game just feels sh*tty. It kills my desire to play the game. I have played plenty of similar games before, and even when I'm enjoying them, I can't shake the feeling that I COULD be having just a little more fun if I was willing to cough up a few extra bucks. I hate that feeling.

Is that problem more with myself than the game? Maybe. Regardless, the end result is that I don't want to play the game.

I should have phrased that better. Unfounded in the pay to win aspect or lack of content. According to him there is way more content than previous versions, or other games, that were launched at similar prices. I didn't have a problem with their unlockable heroes in prior games either. This isn't really any different, to me, since the heroes are basically mobile super towers. For $3 I thought it would be worth a go.

Do games that offer pre-order bonus content bother you too? Games that have optional expansions? Episodic games?

EvilDead wrote:

I should have phrased that better. Unfounded in the pay to win aspect or lack of content. According to him there is way more content than previous versions, or other games, that were launched at similar prices. I didn't have a problem with their unlockable heroes in prior games either. This isn't really any different, to me, since the heroes are basically mobile super towers. For $3 I thought it would be worth a go.

Do games that offer pre-order bonus content bother you too? Games that have optional expansions? Episodic games?

No, no, and no, but I don't think any of those are really equivalent to what we're talking about. And I'm certainly not opposed to microtransactions across the board. I have easily spent $300-400 on League of Legends over the last 6-8 years. No regrets!

I have no doubt that there's more than enough content to justify $3, $5, or probably even $10-20 based on IronHide studio's previous games, but that's not really the point. I just don't want to pay for a bunch of extra towers in a TD game that has never required me to do so in the past, and I don't want to not pay for those towers and have perpetual FOMO.

I don't expect everyone else to feel the same. There's probably plenty of game there for $3-5, but there are also enough games without this kind of monetization model that I can play instead, so I'd rather do that.

I think the last un-infested mobile games I could bring myself to purchase were Monument Valley 2 and Pocket City.

If a game has IAP, I just don't look at it any more. I don't care if it's "good" IAP or "bad" IAP. To me, there's no such thing as "good" IAP. Charge what a game is worth and be done with it. There needs to be a new mechanism for adding enhancements to a game. For me, in-app purchases have been forever poisoned.

Fair enough, to each his own. To me they aren't really any different than early expansions if there is enough value in the game for what I'm paying (Prior KR games have always been cream of the crop). I feel the same every time I jump into a Civ game after launch.

If the game is built on a grind and the IAP speed that up that is a different story. These days that's not my type of game anymore anyways.

Going to DisneyWorld with the kids over Christmas. Good “play in line” games?

EvilDead wrote:

Fair enough, to each his own. To me they aren't really any different than early expansions if there is enough value in the game for what I'm paying (Prior KR games have always been cream of the crop). I feel the same every time I jump into a Civ game after launch.

If the game is built on a grind and the IAP speed that up that is a different story. These days that's not my type of game anymore anyways.

True confessions, if it hits $.99 ever, I might nab it for my kids, but the whole tower IAP thing has really soured me on the franchise. I'm surprised there's been little blowback.

jrralls wrote:

Going to DisneyWorld with the kids over Christmas. Good “play in line” games?

My latest causal phone game is "Golf Peaks," which is sort of turn based golf. It's a fun puzzle, easy to pick up and play a level, and can be played one handed.

It's older now, but I recently reinstalled and still utterly love Imbroglio. Still well-supported. It's not the most attractive game, but it's a deep and totally engaging. I got into it years ago when Chris Remo from Idle Thumbs raved about it. It's still terrific, especially as a quick pick up and put down (or wait in line) game. Only a few bucks on the iOS store with 2 expansions now, if you like like it.

Hangdog wrote:

It's older now, but I recently reinstalled and still utterly love Imbroglio. Still well-supported. It's not the most attractive game, but it's a deep and totally engaging. I got into it years ago when Chris Remo from Idle Thumbs raved about it. It's still terrific, especially as a quick pick up and put down (or wait in line) game. Only a few bucks on the iOS store with 2 expansions now, if you like like it.

What’s the appeal of this game?

It’s a score chase where you design the board with tile weapons within the constraints of your chosen hero. I actually don’t have much interest in the board building but you can copy boards made by anyone on the leaderboard. You use these weapons to kill a variety of monsters while collecting stars that reset the maze on the board and heal you. Weapons level up and add abilities.

Like pieces in chess the weapons and their capabilities combine into a complex puzzle of moves timing and mechanics that gets deeper as the weapons develop and the monsters come faster.

It has a bit of the quick swiping satisfaction of an iOS game but rewards careful play. A game can last a few minutes or 20.

I personally love the rotating challenges— every 4 days 1 hero and a subset of weapons are selected for players to compete on. But someone new might do better to explore heroes and weapons that are easier to grok up front.

I also come back to imbroglio a lot. I just got the DLc!

I know that I played Imbroglio but I can’t remember a thing about it. Guess it’s time to dip back in.

-

Last time we were at Disneyland, Wordscapes was our go to ride queue game. It’s one of those mass market word scramble games with a gajillion clones. One of my family members would occasionally peek over my shoulder and give suggestions. Something that would usually annoy the crap out of me, but turned out to be a good excuse to invade each other’s personal space. It felt nice.

Toon Blast is another mass market puzzle game which played well in the lines. Just enough complexity to hold my interest, but not so heady that I couldn’t also participate in our group’s conversations.

Hope that helps.

Alto's Adventure and Alto's Odyssey both on sale for 99 cents. I haven't played either. Which one is the better purchase? I know they are pretty similar, so I don't think I want both.

Hangdog wrote:

It’s a score chase where you design the board with tile weapons within the constraints of your chosen hero. I actually don’t have much interest in the board building but you can copy boards made by anyone on the leaderboard. You use these weapons to kill a variety of monsters while collecting stars that reset the maze on the board and heal you. Weapons level up and add abilities.

Like pieces in chess the weapons and their capabilities combine into a complex puzzle of moves timing and mechanics that gets deeper as the weapons develop and the monsters come faster.

It has a bit of the quick swiping satisfaction of an iOS game but rewards careful play. A game can last a few minutes or 20.

I personally love the rotating challenges— every 4 days 1 hero and a subset of weapons are selected for players to compete on. But someone new might do better to explore heroes and weapons that are easier to grok up front.

Thank you. This sounds like a game I need to try.

Chad

DonD wrote:

Alto's Adventure and Alto's Odyssey both on sale for 99 cents. I haven't played either. Which one is the better purchase? I know they are pretty similar, so I don't think I want both.

The second game is the first game but way more polished with a bunch of new mechanics. For 99 cents apiece, I'd honestly get both, but if you only want to get one, the second game is really, really good.

I know this isn’t a game, but I found some badass fonts and I need a good photo editor for iPad. Is there one? Is it free? Cheap? What say you?

Rangers of Oblivion - basically a full-fledged, mobile version of Monster Hunter - dropped this morning. I've only had about an hour with it so far, but my preliminary feelings are that it seems to be well done. I'm not a fan of freemium games (or mobile games, in general, for that matter), but so far I'm actually looking forward to having the chance to dig into it some more.

--Edit, not quote dummy!--

vypre wrote:

--Edit, not quote you big dummy!--
-Redd Foxx

FTFY

On Topic... Thanks for the head's up. I doubt it's my bag, but I'll take a look at it.

-BEP

Is anyone still playing C.A.T.S.? That’s Crash Arena Turbo Stars. I was late to the party on it, but over the last few weeks I’ve played tons of it.

I was just given control of the gang [clan] that I’m on. I’d like to pull a few Goodjers in if possible. We need people who actively play. You can get some good loot if the team participates in the gang wars.

The game is super fun. You build a bot then put it against another player’s bot. It’s very casual while still retaining a competitive feel. The steady drip feed of loot is pretty satisfying.

My gang [clan] is called Legionnaire2019. I’m going to lock it and kick a few people to make room for Goodjers to join. If possible put the name Stan or GWJ when you request to join.

Never heard of it, is it free to play?

Yeah. It’s free. With timers and currencies, etc. But You get a steady flow of stuff throughout the day. They offer you a great bundle for 2 bucks when you first start playing. I haven’t felt compelled to spend any more money after that.

Sounds interesting, I'll check it out during lunch.

When's Dungeon Warfare 2 come out on iOs though?