Recap #218: What's new this week in mobile gaming?

In recap #218, 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 bring you the week's mobile games news! On the programme: news of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, saving wildlife in Preserve and much more!

Thanks to PUBG Mobile for sponsoring this recap! Go to the last section of the recap to discover their new collaboration.

Mobile games releases of the week

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

• Morikomori Life is out worldwide on the App Store, featuring farming simulator, fishing, cooking, open-world exploration and absolute relaxation in stylish Japanese landscapes.
• Preserve is available on Play Store and App Store. Create your own biome mosaic in puzzle, classic or creative mode, and work to restore the balance of the food chain by placing your tiles wisely.
• Buried Stars is available on the App Store for $15. A collapsed reality show has you trapped with other contestants... and one of you is murdered. Investigate to find out the truth and follow the public's reactions on the social networks integrated into the game!
• UNO Wonder has been released on Play Store and App Store, a new mobile version of Uno on the theme of a cruise around the world.

We continue with The Palace on the Hill, an adventure game set in India in the 1990s, available on Play Store and App Store. Block Fortress 2, a tower defence FPS and TPS, is also out on Play Store and App Store. Brick Breaker RPG, a mix of brick-breaking and combat, is available on Play Store and App Store.

Then there's Set a Watch Digital Edition, the adaptation of the board game that has just been released on Play Store and App Store for $9. MU Pocket Knights, a 2D RPG featuring the great classics of idle and equipment farming, is available on Play Store and App Store.

Last but not least, Samorost 2 is the free game of the week on Epic Games Store.

Pre-registrations, announcements, updates and testing phases

Here's a selection of the pre-registrations and beta releases that made their mark this week on Android and iOS.

• Chess Rumble opens its pre-registrations on Play Store and App Store and is aiming for a release date of 30 November. Build a deck of heroes and take on your opponents in turn-based chess!
• JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Ora Overdrive, the licence's next gacha RPG, will be released on 25 September on Play Store and App Store. Collect stylish character cards and alternate between manual and automatic mode for tactical battles!
• Pine Hearts is now open for pre-registration on Play Store and App Store. In this life-like narrative game, join Tyke on his journey of initiation into the heart of a mountain.
• Torerowa will be available on Play Store and App Store on 25 September. Form teams of three to explore dungeons called "Restos", where up to five teams can compete for treasures in ever-smaller game zones.

Katana Dragon, meanwhile, is scheduled for release on Play Store on 26 September, where you can avoid traps, solve puzzles and progress through the world in the style of Zelda. Shadowborn, the arcade-style RPG set in a fantasy world, enters early access on Play Store and App Store.

We continue with Square Enix announcing the Dragon Quest Smash/Grow roguelite for 2026. Mongil Star Dive, the direct sequel to Monster Taming in cross-platform, is ready for a closed beta from 30 September to 10 October. And finally, Elpis: Fallen Star, the next gacha RPG, will be released on Play Store and App Store on 26 September.

Other news and events from the mobile games industry

There's more from the mobile JV industry this week:

• PUBG Mobile teams up with G-Dragon! We love stylish musical partnerships, and this is a delightful mix, both in the trailer and directly in the game. Go and play PUBG mobile and try out the exclusive outfits from this partnership with G-Dragon, and get your groove on with some brand new dance emotes.

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