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20 best Android apps and games this week 20 best Android apps and games this week
(1 day later)
It's time for our weekly roundup of the best new Android apps and games to have emerged on the Google Play store.It's time for our weekly roundup of the best new Android apps and games to have emerged on the Google Play store.
As ever, prices are correct at the time of writing, but may have changed by the time you read this. (Free + IAP) means in-app purchases are used within the app.As ever, prices are correct at the time of writing, but may have changed by the time you read this. (Free + IAP) means in-app purchases are used within the app.
Want more apps? Browse previous Best Android Apps roundups on The Guardian. And if you're looking for iOS apps, browse the archives of Best iPhone and iPad apps roundups instead.Want more apps? Browse previous Best Android Apps roundups on The Guardian. And if you're looking for iOS apps, browse the archives of Best iPhone and iPad apps roundups instead.
APPSAPPS
Android Wear (Free)Okay, let's be honest: unless you're a supremely-early adopter, you don't have an Android Wear-powered smartwatch yet. But if and when you do get one, this official companion app should be your first download. It's Google's official client for the smartwatches, controlling and configuring them from your smartphone.Android Wear (Free)Okay, let's be honest: unless you're a supremely-early adopter, you don't have an Android Wear-powered smartwatch yet. But if and when you do get one, this official companion app should be your first download. It's Google's official client for the smartwatches, controlling and configuring them from your smartphone.
City Air (Free)City Air is the work of King's College London: an app for Londoners (plus incoming commuters) to let them know about likely air quality across the capital. When air pollution is forecast to be high, it'll offer tips on how to reduce your exposiure – and if you're a driver, your emissions too.City Air (Free)City Air is the work of King's College London: an app for Londoners (plus incoming commuters) to let them know about likely air quality across the capital. When air pollution is forecast to be high, it'll offer tips on how to reduce your exposiure – and if you're a driver, your emissions too.
Boots (Free)British retailer Boots' Android app is a polished affair, with a mixture of news, offers and mobile shopping – including a barcode-scanning feature to find more out about products when you're actually in a store. It's neat and tidy, although obviously of most use to regular customers racking up loyalty points.Boots (Free)British retailer Boots' Android app is a polished affair, with a mixture of news, offers and mobile shopping – including a barcode-scanning feature to find more out about products when you're actually in a store. It's neat and tidy, although obviously of most use to regular customers racking up loyalty points.
FuseMe by Acision (Free)Another messaging app hoping for a tilt at WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and even some other apps not owned by Facebook. This aims to be a jack-of-all-trades, blending Skype-style voice and video calls, text chatting, photo messaging and other features into a single app.FuseMe by Acision (Free)Another messaging app hoping for a tilt at WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and even some other apps not owned by Facebook. This aims to be a jack-of-all-trades, blending Skype-style voice and video calls, text chatting, photo messaging and other features into a single app.
Commandr for Google Now (Free)Something for more experienced Android users, this: an app for adding new voice commands to your device – everything from turning Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS on and off through to adding notes and navigating through music. I'm not sure if it's quicker than a well set-up widget, but there's potential here.Commandr for Google Now (Free)Something for more experienced Android users, this: an app for adding new voice commands to your device – everything from turning Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS on and off through to adding notes and navigating through music. I'm not sure if it's quicker than a well set-up widget, but there's potential here.
Radical.fm (Free)One for US Android owners, here: a streaming "personal radio" service (think Pandora) drawing on a catalogue of 25m tracks, and a "pay-what-you-can" model of payment rather than a fixed monthly subscription. You can play themed stations, mark songs as liked, and tune your listening.Radical.fm (Free)One for US Android owners, here: a streaming "personal radio" service (think Pandora) drawing on a catalogue of 25m tracks, and a "pay-what-you-can" model of payment rather than a fixed monthly subscription. You can play themed stations, mark songs as liked, and tune your listening.
NBC Sports Tour de France Live (£8.74)Sorry, this is a busier-than-usual week for US-only apps: if you want to watch the Tour de France live using NBC's app, you'll need to be in its home territory (as in NBC's, not the Tour de France's...) Live video, replays of stages once they're done, standings and rider profiles make it a comprehensive Tour companion.NBC Sports Tour de France Live (£8.74)Sorry, this is a busier-than-usual week for US-only apps: if you want to watch the Tour de France live using NBC's app, you'll need to be in its home territory (as in NBC's, not the Tour de France's...) Live video, replays of stages once they're done, standings and rider profiles make it a comprehensive Tour companion.
Bandsintown Manager (Free)An app for a very specific audience: musicians and managers of musicians, who have accounts with the Bandsintown website for managing and promoting their gigs. This app is a way for those people to keep tabs on their tourdates from their smartphones and tablets, plugging gigs on Facebook and posting status updates from the road.Bandsintown Manager (Free)An app for a very specific audience: musicians and managers of musicians, who have accounts with the Bandsintown website for managing and promoting their gigs. This app is a way for those people to keep tabs on their tourdates from their smartphones and tablets, plugging gigs on Facebook and posting status updates from the road.
Wear Aware - Phone Lost (Free)A final Android Wear app – yes, the devices aren't in (well, on) people's hands yet, but it's good to be prepared – this does one simple thing: buzzes at you if you walk a certain distance away. Oh, and another simple thing: makes your phone sound an alarm if you've lost it down the back of the sofa (for example).Wear Aware - Phone Lost (Free)A final Android Wear app – yes, the devices aren't in (well, on) people's hands yet, but it's good to be prepared – this does one simple thing: buzzes at you if you walk a certain distance away. Oh, and another simple thing: makes your phone sound an alarm if you've lost it down the back of the sofa (for example).
GAMESGAMES
99 Bricks Wizard Academy (Free)First, because it's a marvellous name. But second, because this physics-building game – essentially a cross between Tetris and mobile classic Tower Bloxx – is brilliant fun. You build towers by dropping colourful blocks into shape, while fending off other wizards and learning spells to ease your path upwards.99 Bricks Wizard Academy (Free)First, because it's a marvellous name. But second, because this physics-building game – essentially a cross between Tetris and mobile classic Tower Bloxx – is brilliant fun. You build towers by dropping colourful blocks into shape, while fending off other wizards and learning spells to ease your path upwards.
Bounden (£1.99)Something truly original, here: a two-player game that aims to teach you how to dance proper ballet moves. You both hold the smartphone, and then follow the instructions to twirl (or, more likely, to fall in a heap). The Dutch National Ballet provides the moves.Bounden (£1.99)Something truly original, here: a two-player game that aims to teach you how to dance proper ballet moves. You both hold the smartphone, and then follow the instructions to twirl (or, more likely, to fall in a heap). The Dutch National Ballet provides the moves.
Blek (£1.75)There's a class of games on Android that you play to relax, rather than to hit high scores or defeat opponents. Blek is the latest addition to this ambient canon, and it's rather wonderful. You have to trace a line through coloured circles, while avoiding black holes. It's simple, but beautiful in both concept and design.Blek (£1.75)There's a class of games on Android that you play to relax, rather than to hit high scores or defeat opponents. Blek is the latest addition to this ambient canon, and it's rather wonderful. You have to trace a line through coloured circles, while avoiding black holes. It's simple, but beautiful in both concept and design.
Bezircle (Free + IAP)More circles, here, but in a game that's at its best when you have up to four players competing on a single device – so it's much more frenetic than Blek. You have to capture orbs by, ahem, "bezircling" them before your opponents do. There are 50 solo levels to hone your skills, but really this is all about the local multiplayer.Bezircle (Free + IAP)More circles, here, but in a game that's at its best when you have up to four players competing on a single device – so it's much more frenetic than Blek. You have to capture orbs by, ahem, "bezircling" them before your opponents do. There are 50 solo levels to hone your skills, but really this is all about the local multiplayer.
SoulCraft 2 (Free + IAP)This is the sequel to the first SoulCraft game from developer MobileBits – you may have guessed the sequel part – charging you to "defend Earth from the legions of Hell" through a mixture of solo and multiplayer gameplay. A polished-looking action-RPG with plenty of potential.SoulCraft 2 (Free + IAP)This is the sequel to the first SoulCraft game from developer MobileBits – you may have guessed the sequel part – charging you to "defend Earth from the legions of Hell" through a mixture of solo and multiplayer gameplay. A polished-looking action-RPG with plenty of potential.
Disney Bola Soccer (Free + IAP)Disney's mobile football game is getting a mixed reception on the Google Play store so far: lots of five and one-star reviews. It's certainly got something: a decent story mode, plenty of upgrading flexibility for your squad, and neat graphics. The touchscreen controls may need some work though.Disney Bola Soccer (Free + IAP)Disney's mobile football game is getting a mixed reception on the Google Play store so far: lots of five and one-star reviews. It's certainly got something: a decent story mode, plenty of upgrading flexibility for your squad, and neat graphics. The touchscreen controls may need some work though.
Disney Tsum Tsum (Free + IAP)Another game from Disney, this time going global after its debut on social messaging app Line – which you'll need to have installed and registered for before you can play. It's a puzzle-matching game with cute characters, big combos and (no surprises here) in-app purchases to help you along.Disney Tsum Tsum (Free + IAP)Another game from Disney, this time going global after its debut on social messaging app Line – which you'll need to have installed and registered for before you can play. It's a puzzle-matching game with cute characters, big combos and (no surprises here) in-app purchases to help you along.
Indy 500 Arcade Racing (£1.09)From Japan to the US, for this official game for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy 500 race, which is designed to tug at the retro heartstrings of gamers of a certain age. 32-car races, online leaderboards and a choice of race modes should provide plenty of action.Indy 500 Arcade Racing (£1.09)From Japan to the US, for this official game for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Indy 500 race, which is designed to tug at the retro heartstrings of gamers of a certain age. 32-car races, online leaderboards and a choice of race modes should provide plenty of action.
Super Battle Tactics (Free + IAP)This is the latest freemium game from Mobage, a bit like Advance Wars with more tanks. You build your team first from parts, then battle opponents, form virtual clubs with friends, and find sponsors to keep building your rolling army. It looks good at this stage, but as with any game like this, it's how it develops in the coming months that's important. Super Battle Tactics (Free + IAP)This is the latest freemium game from DeNA, a bit like Advance Wars with more tanks. You build your team first from parts, then battle opponents, form virtual clubs with friends, and find sponsors to keep building your rolling army. It looks good at this stage, but as with any game like this, it's how it develops in the coming months that's important.
RPG Soul Historica (£3.99 + IAP)Japanese publisher Kemco Games is familiar to some Android owners as the purveyor of a rapidly-growing selection of roleplaying games (RPGs). Expect mysterious masked men, a lost then strangely-found girlfriend, and multiple endings encouraging replays.RPG Soul Historica (£3.99 + IAP)Japanese publisher Kemco Games is familiar to some Android owners as the purveyor of a rapidly-growing selection of roleplaying games (RPGs). Expect mysterious masked men, a lost then strangely-found girlfriend, and multiple endings encouraging replays.
Nexionode (£2.75)Finally, this week, another puzzle game: this time set in space, on a spaceship that's about to fall to bits. Your job – in the guise of a "RepairDrone" – is to fix it by fiddling around with more than 150 levels of circuits that need rearranging. It looks a great time-killer.Nexionode (£2.75)Finally, this week, another puzzle game: this time set in space, on a spaceship that's about to fall to bits. Your job – in the guise of a "RepairDrone" – is to fix it by fiddling around with more than 150 levels of circuits that need rearranging. It looks a great time-killer.
Those are our picks, but what have you been enjoying on Android this week? Post your recommendations (or feedback on these) in the comments section.Those are our picks, but what have you been enjoying on Android this week? Post your recommendations (or feedback on these) in the comments section.