New Apps & Games

Tony Hawk working on new skateboarding game for mobile devices

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 24, 2016

Skateboarding legend and mogul Tony Hawk revealed last night that he's working on a new skateboarding game for mobile devices. During an interview with Larry King, Mr. Hawk said that the game will have swipe-based controls and is coming this year.

Unfortunately, very few other details are known about the game—we're not even sure if it's going to launch under the familiar 'Tony Hawk Pro Skater' branding—but given Hawk's track record, we're excited. We have a clip of the Larry King interview below...

Nearly one-third of new iOS games are Flappy Bird clones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 16, 2018

It's been nearly three weeks since developer Dong Nguyen pulled Flappy Bird from the App Store, but its presence is still very much felt in the Top Charts. It seems every other day another clone of Nguyen's hit game pops up in the list of the most popular apps.

That's not too surprising though, considering that according to The Guardian, a big chunk of new iOS games are Flappy Bird clones. How big of a chunk? Well, looking at a group of 300 new games over 24 hours, the outlet says that one-third were FB knockoffs...

God of Light hits iOS: ingenious physics-based puzzlers featuring a ray of light

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 27, 2014

Playmous has unleashed a brand new iPhone and iPad game that every fan of physic-based puzzlers should download right away.

Now available in the App Store for your iPhone and iPad in exchange for $1.99, God of Light has you playing as Shiny, an extraterrestrial being that uses his unique ability to project light through the darkness. One just has to see this game in action in order to fully appreciate it.

In a nutshell, the player is tasked with directing rays of energy to reach Sources of Light to activate them and bring light back to Shiny's world. It's an insta-buy, if I ever saw one, here's why...

Warner Bros. launches new ‘Legends of Chima Online’ Lego game for iOS

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 25, 2018

Warner Bros. has released a new Lego game for iOS this morning called the 'Legends of Chima Online.' The studio has had staggering success with the Lego franchise—it even has a #1 movie out right now—so honestly, why wouldn't it continue to capitalize on it?

As the name suggests, Legends of Chima is an MMOG (massively multiplayer online game) that has you explore the vast and dangerous world of Chima ruled by animal warriors. You can play co-op or solo, and the game works across iOS, Mac and Windows PCs...

FCC releases ‘Speed Test’ app for measuring cellular and Wi-Fi data speeds

Cody Lee ∙ February 26, 2014

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has just released a new app for iOS devices called FCC Speed Test. As the name suggests, the app is designed to measure data speeds for both cellular and Wi-Fi connections.

The app is part of the FCC's Measuring Broadband America program initiative, which aims to better inform consumers about mobile broadband performance, and it measures download/upload speed, latency and packet loss...

Disney launches Movies Anywhere app with free digital download of Pixar’s ‘The Incredibles’

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Disney has launched an interesting new iOS app, Movies Anywhere, which offers access to a library of hundreds of movies and exclusive content from the studio, including original programming and never-before-seen videos. It's especially interesting that the iPhone and iPad app, available free in the App Store, allows users to connect their iTunes account to instantly access all their Disney content purchased from the iTunes Store within the app, without the need to go through Apple's stock iOS Videos app or visit the iTunes Store...

Upcoming NES-inspired game ‘Venture Kid’ looks like a blast

Cody Lee ∙ February 22, 2014

Most gamers these days are drawn to titles that push the limits of the hardware found in their mobile devices with 3D graphics and complex gaming engines, but there are still a lot of folks out there that prefer the 8-bit platformers of the 80's and 90's.

Well if you happen to fall in the latter category, you have to check out this trailer for an upcoming game called Venture Kid. Its 8-bit graphics and synthesized soundtrack make this title seem like it would have felt right at home on the original Nintendo...

Google Wi-Fi app being tested, takes the pain out of accessing public hotspots

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 20, 2014

Google is testing a new iPhone application which aims to make it easier to access public Wi-Fi hotspots on your handset, Engadget reported Thursday.

The software will make it simple to automatically authenticate and connect users to Google's free hotspots inside Starbucks stores "or wherever they are available".

The publication has learned that the Google Wi-Fi app could even tap users' Google Account to “install a dedicated security certificate on their device to automatically authenticate devices when a connection is available,” bypassing the need to go through the clunky login process when joining public Wi-Fi hotspots...

Astro Golf hits App Store, it’s mini golf with robots in outer space

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 24, 2018

Quick, what could be better than mini golf? Mini golf, with robots, in outer space - of course! Enter Astro Golf by Bolder Games, now available for the iPhone and iPad for $1.99, or half its regular price to celebrate the launch.

The game marries sci-fi concept to adventure elements and physics tricks allowing you to bounce, jump, fly through space, teleport around the course, ride a black hole and what not. Fun obstacles include killer bots, corrosive goo, steam, fire, trap doors and more.

As you can see, this isn't your Daddy's mini golf game. I've included a nice promo video, a few screenies and additional tidbits below the fold...

Square Enix’s card battle RPG ‘Deadman’s Cross’ hits the App Store

Cody Lee ∙ Updated February 7, 2018

Square Enix, the studio behind the Final Fantasy franchise and several other hit games, has released a new title in the App Store this morning. It's called 'Deadman's Cross,' and it's a zombie-themed card battle RPG for the iPhone and iPad.

The game comes from the same team that brought you the uber-successful RPG 'Guardian Cross,' and promises to deliver similar addictive gameplay. It takes place sixteen years in the future, where a virus has caused a zombie apocalypse...

Rovio teases new Angry Birds ‘adventure’ game

Cody Lee ∙ February 13, 2014

Rovio has started teasing a new Angry Birds game, tweeting the above image out from its official Twitter account yesterday. Along with the photo, the game-maker says that a "big adventure with new birds" is coming soon and added the hashtag #NewAngryBirds.

The consensus here is that Rovio is finally going to introduce new characters to its franchise, after using the same birds and pigs in many of its popular Angry Birds titles. The 'big adventure' comment also suggests that this isn't going to be its typical bird-slinger...

Documentarian Ken Burns launches iPad app

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated September 11, 2017

Documentarian and movie director Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is well-known for his style of using archival footage and photographs and giving them life by slowly zooming in on subjects of interest and panning from one subject to another.

This technique became known as 'The Ken Burns effect' and you'll find it in Apple's iPhoto, iMovie and Final Cut Pro X apps and many other software applications.

Today, Ken's out with a new namesake iPad app, now available free in the App Store, which gives you access to streaming videos containing extras, behind-the-scenes and other footage from all 25 of his films, such as The Civil War, Baseball and Prohibition...