Recap #165: What's new this week in mobile gaming?

In this week recap (No. 165), we take a look at the week's must-have mobile games releases, mobile news and pre-registrations/test phases not to be missed.

Sit back and relax as we round up all the week's mobile games news! On the agenda: the announcement of Project R.I.S.E, the new game from Supercell, the release of Battle Crush and CookieRun: Tower of Adventures, and a whole host of other news.

Mobile games releases and announcements this week

This week has been rich in release announcements, with many games now available on the stores:

• Devsisters is launching Cookie Run: Tower of Adventures, the first 3D game in the CookieRun licence. Players can battle bosses solo and in co-op, and test their skills through various game modes and levels in the Pancake Tower, available on Android and iOS.
• Battle Crush, announced in February 2023 and showcased at Summer Game Fest 2024, is now available in early access on Android, iOS, Steam and Nintendo Switch. The game offers intense solo or group battles with a gameplay style similar to Smash Bros.
• The Pathless is back on iOS after leaving Apple Arcade. This open-world game features puzzles, combat and exploration accompanied by an eagle, and is available for $10.
• Ash of God's Redemption, a roguelite RPG already available on PC and console, is out for $10 on Android.

Meanwhile, Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit, the cute simulation game, is now available in the Netflix catalogue. In the same genre, Harvest Moon returns in August with Home Sweet Home, a new opus with adorable, colourful graphics.

Birdman GO from Longcheer Game has been released for Android, offering a chance to collect birds represented by heroes with a variety of chara designs, and we continue with Guncho, a tactical game combining firearms and ponchos, launched for $6 on Google Play and App Store.

In terms of SEA releases, MU Monarch, the sequel to an existing MMO, is coming out in South-East Asia, while Nickelodeon Card Clash, which brings together Nickelodeon's iconic heroes, offers a collectible card game.

Finally, Beyond the Room, the eighth instalment in the Dark Dome series, is available on Android for $2.20, and Luna and the Shadowdust, a steampunk-style 2D point-and-click adventure, is available on Android and iOS for $6.

Pre-registration, updates and test phases

In addition to the recent releases, we have other test and pre-registration announcements in stock this week:

• Supercell unveils Project R.I.S.E, a revamp of Clash Heroes announced for 2021. This socially focused multiplayer action game incorporates roguelite mechanics where players explore a mysterious environment called "The Tower" with two teammates. Registration for the pre-alpha test starts at the beginning of July.
• Superliminal, an innovative puzzle game that distorts perspective depending on the camera angle, is coming to mobile on 30 July on Android and iOS. This game, already available on PC, promises to turn your brain upside down with its deceptive settings and unique puzzles.
• Tencent's Party Stars, available in China and Canada on Android, is trying to compete with other major party games such as Eggy Party. This week, the game is expanding its content with collectible fantasy creatures, inspired by the style of Palworld, marking an important step in Tencent's strategy to develop similar games.

In terms of announcements, Kaiju No8, a game inspired by the anime of the same name, will soon be available free-to-play on Android, iOS and PC, while Thirsty Suitors, a love adventure combining turn-based combat, cooking and skateboarding, will soon be arriving on Netflix.

Other news and events from the mobile games industry

The mobile JV industry has other news in store for you this week:

• Crunchyroll is adding three new games to its Game Vault: Battle Chasers: Nightwar, Dawn of the Monsters, and Evan's Remains. With a further 12 titles planned, Crunchyroll subscriptions are becoming even more attractive to fans of independent games.
• We have learned that, despite the porting of triple-A games such as Death Stranding and Assassin's Creed to mobile, sales are struggling to reach the $200,000 mark. The market remains uncertain for these games, which have yet to prove their appeal to mobile gamers.

See you next week for a round-up of mobile games news!