Recap #172: What's new this week in mobile gaming?

In this week's recap #172, 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 release of Smashero, the announcement of the Balatro mobile release date and rumours from Bungie.

Mobile games releases of the week

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

• Smashero, a colourful hack'n slash on the Play Store and App Store is now available. The game promises dynamic combat with skills to unlock and a host of items to loot.
• Ozymandias, a 4X strategy game with game times limited to 1.5 hours, is now available on Play Store and App Store for under $3. Offering a fast-paced gaming experience, this title is ideal for Civilisation fans looking for shorter games.
• Just Delicious! a cookie and sweets match game, is out this week on the Play Store and App Store. Designed to be ad-light, it is particularly aimed at casual gamers looking for quick entertainment.
• Real Gangster City of Crime, an open-world game inspired by GTA, is now available on the Play Store. Immerse yourself in a world of crime and chaos, completing various missions to dominate the city.

Pre-registrations, announcements, updates and testing phases

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

• Balatro Mobile, which has already won over 2 million players on PC, is coming to iOS and Android on 26 September. This roguelite-style poker game lets you use various jokers to defeat bosses in a captivating and addictive universe.
• Pre-registration for Pokémon TCG Pocket is now open on the Play Store and App Store. This new game lets you collect Pokémon cards in 3D style and engage in fast-paced battles against other players, both single-player and multiplayer.
• Miraibo GO, a multiplayer survival game inspired by Palworld, is launching pre-registrations on the Play Store. Explore a colourful open world, capture monsters, build your base and battle bosses in multiplayer. The release date has not yet been announced.
• Total War: Empire, the popular strategy game, is coming to mobile this autumn with a turn-based real-time strategy map. Feral Interactive is promising an optimised and refreshed version for mobile devices.

Meanwhile, NetEase's Once Human will be available on mobile from 20 September. Meanwhile, Game of Sky, the new game from IGG, will be released on Play Store and App Store on 11 October. Finally, Unforeseen Incidents, an interactive investigation game, will be out on Play Store and App Store on 12 September.

As for other announcements, Death Travelers is in early access on the Play Store and App Store, with a marketing campaign featuring celebrities such as Snoop Dogg and RZA. Disney Step, an augmented reality game inspired by Pokémon GO, has been teased in Japan, with a beta scheduled for 27 September to 7 October.

Grimguard Tactics, a free RPG, is delaying its release until 23 October on the Play Store and App Store. Finally, Coromon: A Rogue Planet, the next title in the Coromon licence, is in development for release in 2025 on mobile, Steam and Switch.

Other news and events from the mobile games industry

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

• Despite recent rumours and redundancies at Bungie, Destiny's mobile spin-off, Destiny Rising, is reportedly still in development. If the project goes ahead, it will be published by NetEase.
• Neverness to Everness, a cross-platform open-world RPG, will be available to play at Tokyo Game Show 2024 from 26 to 29 September. The game features a post-apocalyptic world with unique skills and a striking visual style.
• To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Cooking Fever is attempting to break the world record for preparing burgers in Vilnius on 5 September. This restaurant management game is popular for its accessible and fun gameplay.
• Starseed Asnia Trigger from Com2uS has already reached 1 million pre-registrations, which are still ongoing.

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