Lory Gil

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

Game Stew launches another RPG mash-up with Devil Shard

Lory Gil ∙ May 16, 2014

The team at Game Stew Studios is best known for their charming retro role-playing game (RPG) Tower of Fortune. In that mix between adventure and chance, players would battle against the forces of evil to try to reach the top of the terrifying tower. The sequel proved to be just as adorable and twice as hard.

Devil Shard is the most recent release from the mash-up loving team. This time, instead of mixing RPG with slot machines, players fight enemies using a match-three mechanic. Talk about identity crisis…

Enter Leo’s Fortune Hardcore Challenge for a chance to win an iPad mini

Lory Gil ∙ Updated April 17, 2018

By now, some of you will have already completed the fantastic new platform game Leo’s Fortune, which also means that some of you are probably on the path to beating the game in Hardcore mode. So far, no one has managed to beat the game this way yet. If you manage to make it all the way to the end of the game without dying, you might win an iPad mini.

The game’s creators are offering fans of Leo’s Fortune the chance to win big by beating the game in Hardcore mode. So, you’d better take a week off of work, get your MFi game controller charged up and get going. Someone is going to win this contest, and it might as well be you…

Boximize review: turn your notes into personal databases

Lory Gil ∙ May 14, 2014

When I think of note taking apps, I assume that their main function is to allow you to jot down important information so you can easily access it later. Good note taking apps let you organize entries by date or category. Everything else is just gravy.

Boximize turns the whole note-taking production and turns it on its head. Now, you can organize notes into collections with customizable fields so your thoughts and ideas become a complex database. We have a detailed Boximize review for you below…

Last Inua review: iOS platform games just keep getting better and better

Lory Gil ∙ Updated October 13, 2018

A few weeks ago, we reviewed Leo’s Fortune and found it to be one of the best platform games to ever come out on iOS. It is proof that mobile gaming really can be impressive

Last Inua – An Arctic Adventure is another impressive platform game that looks great and offers an interesting level of challenging puzzles. We spent some time with the platformer and have a Last Inua review for you below…

Carrot Fit update adds 7 Minutes in Hell workout

Lory Gil ∙ May 14, 2014

CARROT is a pretentious, mouthy artificial intelligence being that loves to berate humans in order to motivate them to get things done. A few months ago, we reviewed CARROT Fit, the verbally abusive weight loss app. In it, CARROT calls you a meatbag and tells you she will punish you if you don’t drop a few pounds.

Today CARROT Fit received a major update that basically turns it into an entirely new app. Now, instead of only tracking your weight, you can participate in a seven-minute workout filled with all manner of insults from the charmingly funny AI assistant…

dEXTRIS is a fast-paced game you don’t want to put down

Lory Gil ∙ May 11, 2014

In recent months, “snack sized” casual games have become a big hit in the App Store, especially the ones that are incredibly difficult. The harder, the better. That is one reason why the Flappy Bird phenomenon took off. Games that are too hard will often play on your psyche, making you want to play it “one more time” to try to beat your previous, paltry high score.

dEXTRIS does just that. The game is very simple in mechanic, but nearly impossible in execution. Dodge spikes, split cubes and maneuver through narrow pathways to get to the highest score possible…

The best apps for movie lovers

Lory Gil ∙ Updated March 17, 2019

I like to think of myself as a movie lover. I worked at an independent theater in my town during my entire college years. I used to go to the movies a lot more often than I do now, but I still make time to go whenever I can. These days, it's so easy to watch blockbuster hits at home that I almost prefer the comforts of my living room more than a dark theater.

Whether you prefer to make a bowl of popcorn at home, or like to sneak a bag of candies into your favorite theater, we have a list of what we think are the best apps for movie lovers…

Kiwanuka review: stack all the people in this unique puzzle game

Lory Gil ∙ May 10, 2014

Because I’ve been in the app review business for a few years now, I tend to have a cynical mind when I hear certain words like “endless runner” and “physics-based puzzler.” It's true that some games will surprise me and rekindle my love of those genres, but I’ve gotten to the point where I start to feel like, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.

Kiwanuka both adheres to traditional physics-based puzzler games, and breaks from the mold at the same time. Each level offers a new challenge to overcome (traditional), but the game doesn’t feel like the same old thing in a new skin. Its simplicity is actually its positive selling point. Read along for our Kiwanuka review to help you decide if it is something you’d like to try…

Noisli review: sleep well to the sounds of nature

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 27, 2018

I’ve been getting wonderful, full nights of sleep lately thanks to this new app I’ve been testing. I’m one of those people who love being lulled to sleep by the comforting sounds of ocean waves, waterfalls, and chirping birds. I never leave home without some kind of audio aid for sleeping.

Noisli is an audio app that features realistic sounds of nature. What makes this app stand out from the rest is its iOS 7 theme. Get a good night’s sleep while being soothed with the visually comforting, colorful glow of your iPhone screen. Check out our Noisli review after the break…

Apps of the week: Adobe Voice, GoodReader 4, Adventure to Fate, and more

Lory Gil ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

For me, there is never enough time in the week to get through all the great apps and games that come out. Even some of my favorite titles get lost in a folder somewhere as I make room for the next batch of cool stuff.

If you need inspiration for a Mother’s Day gift, want a good app for storing and organzing PDFs, or are just looking for some fun games to play this weekend, we’ve got a list of apps and games to help you out…

Sumotori Dreams adds humor to ragdoll graphic sumo wrestling

Lory Gil ∙ May 9, 2014

Sumo wrestling dates back hundreds of years and is a revered tradition in Japanese culture. The goal is to push your rival out of the ring, or force him to touch the ground with something other than his feet. It shows off a wrestler’s strength and dexterity against his opponent.

Sumotori Dreams takes all the tradition and reverence out of Sumo wrestling. What is left is a pretty hilarious ragdoll simulation that will give you the giggles for the rest of the day…

Warhammer 40,000: Carnage brutalizes the App Store

Lory Gil ∙ Updated January 27, 2019

In the mid 1980s, a science fiction-fantasy tabletop miniature game won the hearts of role-play game fans that were tired of the same old stuff. The Warhammer world was born. To this day, you can walk into practically any board game store and a group of gamers will be sitting at a table with their boxes of tanks and armies of tiny fighters.

Warhammer 40,000: Carnage is a side-scrolling run-and-gun arcade style game set in the Warhammer 40K universe. Pick your side and hit the ground running because the enemy is waiting for you…