New Apps & Games

New Facebook Groups app goes live in App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Facebook on Tuesday announced a brand new iPhone application, now available at no cost in the App Store. Dubbed Facebook Groups, the 54-megabyte download promises to give you a dedicated space for you and your groups and make it easy to discover and join new groups, post photos and links, or create your own.

For those wondering, Facebok Groups are like forums on the Internet. Anyone can create a group covering specific topics.

For example, families can create closed groups to share family photos, organize vacations and more. Or, your team could use Facebook Groups to post updates and schedules, your school or neighborhood may have set up a Facebook Group and so forth.

Facebook Groups is available free in the App Store.

Ubisoft releases ‘Arcade Poker’ tie-in game for Far Cry 4

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

Ubisoft has launched a new tie-in title for the highly anticipated Far Cry 4, set to launch on consoles and PCs today, called Far Cry 4 Arcade Poker. It's a standalone app, but players can sync it up with the new Far Cry to earn currency that can be used in the game.

Arcade Poker is an interesting game that plays like a mix of tetris, poker and something else. Cards fall from the top of the screen, and can be randomly shuffled until they hit the bottom to build a 5-card poker hand. The better the hand, the more coins you'll be given.

Tales from the Borderlands premier trailer and first details surface

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 14, 2014

Entertainment Weekly on Friday shared first details concerning The Walking Dead creator Telltale's upcoming game series, Tales from the Borderlands. Based on Gearbox and 2K’s Borderlands 2, Tales from the Borderlands takes place on the unforgiving world of Pandora after the events seen in Borderlands 2.

The five-part episodic game series puts you in the shoes of Rhys, a Hyperion ‘suit’ with dreams of being the next Handsome Jack, and Fiona, a Pandoran con artist looking to score her biggest ever swindle, as you follow the adventurers “on their quest for greatness”.

Call of Duty: Heroes launches globally on iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated November 19, 2018

Following an August soft-launch in select markets, publisher Activison on Thursday released its free-to-play Call of Duty: Heroes in App Stores around the globe.

Seemingly inspired by Clash of Clans, the iPhone and iPad combat strategy game features nice 3D graphics and lets you command an army of elite soldiers, heroes, drones and more.

You begin as a commander of a small outpost and as the game progresses you must conquer new territories, customize and build up your base, lead your heroes into battle and even take direct control of weapons such as the first-person chopper gunner.

Download Call of Duty: Heroes free from the App Store.

2K releases ‘XCOM: Enemy Within’ expansion as standalone game

Cody Lee ∙ November 13, 2014

2K games this morning released XCOM: Enemy Within for iOS, an expansion for its popular turn-based military sim XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Fans of the franchise will recognize the title, as it was released to PCs and consoles around this time last year.

2K is calling Enemy Within a "standalone expansion" due to the fact that it features the core gameplay of Enemy Unknown, and builds on its storyline, but it's a completely separate app. You do not need one of the games installed in order to play the other.

Big fingers? ThickButtons enlarges keys you’ll most likely tap next

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 2, 2018

Lviv, Ukraine based custom software development company N-iX, founded by Andrew Pavliv, has created a nice keyboard for iPhones, iPads and iPods running iOS 8 through its spin-off firm.

Named ThickButtons, it helps big-fingered users type more efficiently by using patented technology which enlarges and highlights keys you'll most likely press next while shrinking the remaining ones to reduce the chance of making an error.

Such an input method arguably makes typing with one finger more accurate, especially on four-inch iPhones. The software doesn’t require additional training and doesn’t depend on dictionary.

ThickButtons is $1.99 in the App Store.

Say ‘hello’ to Overglide, a tiny game playable from the Lock screen and Notification Center

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 11, 2014

I should have suffixed the headline with “no jailbreak required” for added punch. Yes, Overglide for the iPhone and iPad indeed is a tiny game that you play within iOS 8's Notification Center and right on the Lock screen, even while your iOS device is locked.

This cave flyer has you piloting a paper plane as far as possible while dodging the obstacles, and it even comes with Game Center leaderboards and achievements.

How's that possible? Read on or grab Overglide for 99 cents in the App Store and see for yourself.

Ubisoft releases official companion app for Assassin’s Creed Unity

Cody Lee ∙ Updated October 14, 2018

Ubisoft has today posted the official companion app for its new hit console and PC video game, Assassin's Creed Unity. Set within Paris, during the French Revolution, this is the seventh major installment in the popular Assassin's Creed series.

Those who have purchased the game, or plan to, will definitely want to check out the app, which includes a 3D, interactive map and glyph puzzles that unlock new Brotherhood missions. It also offers useful content like tutorials and training tips.

Candy Crush Soda Saga releases globally, get those soda bottles popping

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 27, 2016

The official sequel to Candy Crush Saga, the hugely popular match-3 puzzler, is finally available worldwide following its soft-launch in Canada nearly a month ago!

Released by King Entertainment as a freemium download, Candy Crush Soda Saga packs in more than 140 brand new levels and features new modes of play (Soda, Frosting, Honey and more), with plenty new candies and candy combinations to keep you glued to the screen.

As the title suggests, the level-based game has you popping all the soda bottles by swapping gems. This raises your soda level and in some levels will expand the board to have more tiles in it.

For those wondering, the mouth-watering puzzler packs in updated graphics, too. Developers haven't changed game mechanics much so those who've played the previous game should feel right at home in the Soda.

Download Candy Crush Soda Saga for free.

Groupon launches new ‘Getaways’ app for travel deals

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Daily deals site Groupon launched a new app yesterday, called Groupon Getaways, specifically for hotel and travel offers. The company says that travel is its fastest growing business category, and it hopes to capitalize on that popularity by introducing this dedicated standalone app.

Groupon Getaways VP Simon Goodall is quick to say that “travel will still remain an integral part of the main Groupon app,” but the firm is trying to push users to the new Getaway app. Through November 14, users who book a trip through it are eligible for an additional 20% discount.

Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition finally hits iOS

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 10, 2014

Since announcing an enhanced edition of its classic role-playing game (RPG), Icewind Dale, on mobile and desktop in early September, Canada-based developers Beamdog and Overhaul Games spent much of the past weeks finishing up the game and trying to get it approved by Apple.

It's finally here now. Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition for the iPhone and iPad, a Dungeons & Dragons game set in Wizards of The Coast's legendary Forgotten Realms, delivers new magic armor, new weapons, unlock able spells and items, nearly three dozen new kits and character classes “allowing a new generation of players to experience this epic adventure”.

Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition is $9.99 in the App Store.

Calcbot by Tweetbot creators leaps onto the Mac

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 6, 2014

Developer Tapbots has made a name for itself with an excellent Twitter client for the Mac and iOS, Tweetbot. They have other apps in their portfolio, too, and on Thursday released a nicely done Mac edition of Calcbot, an intelligent calculator and unit converter that made its iOS debut in July of 2010.

Despite a somewhat steep asking price, keep in mind that Calcbot combines a compelling calculator and a powerful unit converter into a single, beautifully designed experience.

Calcbot is a $4.99 download from the Mac App Store.