Lory Gil

Writer of all things app related, traveler of the space-time continuum, baker of really great cookies. Follow me @appaholik

Dustoff Vietnam puts you in the pilot seat of a rescue chopper

Flying simulation games can be loads of fun because you are tasked at figuring out how to lift off, adjust altitude, and land without crashing. As much fun as it can be learning to fly, it is just as much fun watching your aircraft explode in a fiery ball.

Dustoff Vietnam puts you in the cockpit of a Minecraft-style rescue helicopter as you head into the battlefield to save stolen cargo, hostages, and wounded soldiers in mission after mission. No one ever said war was easy.

One List is a simple list maker

Around this time of the year, I’m all over the place with my many lists. I’ve got parties to plan, cookies to make, presents to buy, and all of that has to revolve around my normal busy schedule.

One List is a simple to-do list maker with very little extras so you don’t get distracted by too many options. Make a list, complete a task, and mark it off. Plus, you can see your top three to-do tasks right on your Lock screen with the Notification Center extension.

Apps of the week: Tomb Raider II, Game of Thrones, Dragon Quest III, and more

This sure was a big week for games. We got our hands on some classic ports and were able to check out new titles that scratched our puzzle-loving itch. We got to play around with cool new keyboards, and even downloaded some premium games at a freebie price.

This weekend, if you are still looking for that perfect title to occupy your time while you stand in long lines for holiday shopping, we’ve got a list of apps and games to keep you busy.

Nintype keyboard takes typing and swiping to the next level

 

Now that third-party keyboards are allowed as defaults in iOS 8, developers are flooding the App Store with amazing typing features we iPhone owners never thought possible. If you thought swiping to type was awesome, just wait till you hear about this keyboard.

Nintype takes the swipe-type function to a whole new level by making it possible for you to use both hands, add taps, and adjust the keys on the screen to give you the most comfortable typing experience around.

Bounce On Back review: roll along with this tilting platformer

I’ll be the first to admit that I am not the biggest fan of tilt-based games. I am of the opinion that video games started out as stationary cabinets and we are messing with the formula when we add different control mechanisms.

Bounce On Back is a tilt-based platformer game, but it is way more fun than I thought it would be. Plus, if you really hate the controls, you can opt for a D-pad instead. We’ve got a complete game review of Bounce on Back for you today.

Dwelp review: try wrapping your head around this puzzle game

Puzzle games are a big hit around here. We love to put our brains through daily workouts to keep our minds fresh and strong. That’s why, whenever there is a new submission to the genre, we jump at the chance to check it out.

Dwelp is a puzzle game that requires you to pay attention to future steps. Not unlike chess, what you do next will have an affect on what can be done in the future. We’ve got a full game review of Dwelp for you below.

Zengrams is a mind-bending puzzle game for minimalists

The art of the tangram puzzle dates back thousands of years. It comes from China and the goal is to form a particular shape out of a variety of pieces. It may sound simple, but the complexity of the pieces and their flexibility make tangrams a challenge for even the most seasoned players.

Zengrams combines the puzzle gaming of the ancient Chinese tangram with a paper crafting style of cutting shapes and rearranging them into new ones. You don’t have to force puzzle pieces into a particular shape, but you do have to know how to cut new ones.

Apps of the week: Screeny, Raby, KORG Module, and more

Well, if you are reading this, you’ve made it through the chaos that was Thanksgiving and subsequently, the savings account-draining day after, known as Black Friday. Congratulations. You deserve a break! Why not sit down with your well-worn iPhone and immerse yourself in the type of entertainment that can’t be ruined by Uncle Jim’s drunken political ranting.

If you are looking for new apps and games to help you recover from the family get-together, we’ve got a list that we think will help ease you back into normalcy.

Weather Or Not provides weather forecast for your upcoming calendar events

When the weather gets colder, I get grouchier. Even though the crisp autumn air clears the city of pollen and reminds me that the holidays are just around the corner, I still find myself wanting to hide out under a warm blanket for the next four months.

Weather Or Not is a weather app that connects to your calendar to tell you just how cold (or warm) it will be right during events, so you can plan your winter garb accordingly. No more showing up at picnics without an umbrella. Plus, the iOS 8 extension gives you the forecast at a glance.

FRAMED review: rewrite the plot to this espionage story

I love when new games come out that completely defy their genres. It's not that I don’t enjoy traditional games, but titles that break from the norm are bold, brave, and refreshing.

FRAMED is one of those games that is unique enough to feel like a whole new genre, but work within the context of familiarity so as not to scare you away. We’ve got a full game review of FRAMED for you today.

Crimson Keyboard offers predictive typing without that annoying suggestion bar

When I first switched over to iOS 8, I found that the predictive typing function, while helpful, was a bit distracting, almost to the point of being annoying. I eventually turned it off.

Crimson Keyboard offers a personalized predictive typing function, but instead of the suggestion bar, words are displayed just above keys. Plus, instead of autocorrecting your misspelled words (and sometimes leading to hilarious miss-typed text messages), you will see suggested corrections in red.

Space Expedition: Classic Adventure is a dig into the past

For me, there really is nothing better than a good, old-fashion side-scrolling platformer. As a kid, those were the types of games that first got me into spending all of my quarters at the local arcade. Although gaming technology has improved and the mechanics have gotten more advanced, I still love the 2-D world of my past.

Space Expedition: Classic Adventure is just that, a classic adventure. As a lone astronaut on a research space station, players must uncover the events that led to its abandonment. We’ve got a full game review of Space Expedition for you right now.