Recap #199: Mobile games news of the week

In recap #199, we take a look at the week's must-have mobile games releases, mobile news and pre-registrations/test phases that you won't want to miss.

Sit back and relax as we round up all the week's mobile games news! On the agenda: the release of Prince of Persia the Lost Crown, something new for Azur Promilia, the Japanese addiction to gachas and much more!

Mobile games releases of the week

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

• Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is available on Play Store and App Store for $20. Play as Sargon in this edgy side-scrolling metroidvania with 60 FPS, controller support and top-notch accessibility options.
• The Star Named EOS is brought to us by Crunchyroll, a spellbinding narrative game with visuals worthy of Ghibli. The gameplay combines photography, storytelling and puzzles, but be warned: the English version is a must on Play Store and App Store.
• Disney Solitaire is available on Play Store and App Store. Simple, colourful and addictive in a Coin Master kind of way, it replaces dice with cards, and adds a good dose of Disney nostalgia to attract players.
• SD Gundam G Generation Eternal, the strategy game with over 500 meca, available on Play Store and App Store. This is a strategy game with over 500 customisable mechas. Fans of the saga will be delighted!

Meanwhile, The Bird Game lets you live your dream of being a bird in a relaxing casual game on Play Store and App Store. TMNT Shredder's Revenge, the cult beat'em up, is now available as a premium version with all its DLC on Play Store and App Store.

As for Eclipsoul, a free dark tactical RPG, it is visually reminiscent of Hades but opts for tactical gameplay in isometric view on Play Store. And finally, Grunt Rush is a game that looks like it's straight out of an intrusive advert. The gameplay is almost non-existent, the bugs are numerous, and the reviews are unanimous: avoid at all costs on Play Store and App Store.

Pre-registration, announcements, updates and test phases

• 9th Dawn is getting a makeover with a complete remake that revisits the story, the dungeons (over 40!) and the combat mechanics. The game will be available on mobile from 1 May, following a console release on 24 April.
• FFXIV: Crystal World, developed by Lightspeed Studios under official Square Enix licence, is launching pre-registration on the App Store in China. It looks set for release at the end of August, with a possible confirmation at Tencent Spark.
• Jetpack Joyride Racing enters closed beta. The cult licence is back with a multiplayer racing game currently in closed beta. Pre-registration is open on Play Store and App Store, and a full release could come as early as this summer.
• The Last Mage, a Vampire Survivors-style game, promises intense combat based on customisable spells. Scheduled for release before the end of 2025, the game will plunge you into a dark world populated by mobs to be blown up relentlessly.

Crystal of Atlan, meanwhile, is in the testing phase on iOS in Oceania, the Philippines and Singapore. Then there's Azur Promilia, the spiritual successor to Azur Lane, which unveils a new trailer combining Genshin-style exploration and Palworld-style creature collecting.

The Gumi studio, known for its variable quality, has announced a gacha based on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure scheduled for the end of 2025. Still on the anime front, Saint Seiya Galaxy Soldiers is scheduled for release this summer in Japan. It will be a real-time 3D RPG under official Toei licence.

Wittle Defender is the new baby from Habby, the studio behind Archero, mixing tower defence and automated gameplay. It is available for pre-registration on Play Store and App Store. And finally, Anchor Panic is coming to Korea with its turn-based battles and agents with supernatural powers. You can access it with a small VPN on Play Store.

Other news and events from the mobile games industry

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

• Tencent's annual Spark conference takes place on 22 April. It's the perfect opportunity to find out more about Valorant Mobile, Roco Kingdom, Rust and other big releases from the Chinese giant.
• A study reveals that 19% of Japanese people in their twenties spend so much on gachas that they struggle to pay the rent or put food on the table. An alarming figure that reminds us of the importance of keeping mobile gaming a pleasure and not a trap.
• Supercell is pulling out all the stops with a tabletop adaptation of Clash of Clans. In partnership with Maestro Media, this Kickstarter project promises a physical version of the cult mobile universe.

See you next week for a recap of mobile games news!