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Believe it or not, there's life beyond PUBG Mobile and Fortnite. Here are some of the best Battle Royales that you can find on Android.
The post The best Battle Royale games available on Android in 2020 appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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Super Mecha Champions
Super Mecha Champions adds one incredibly interesting element to the formula — the possibility to pilot gigantic robots that have fallen from the sky for a limited amount of time. You can make them appear sooner by collecting objects or defeating other enemies. This feature, along with its original anime aesthetic, makes it one of the battle royales that’s best managed to stand the test of time. [Download]
Omega Legends
One of the biggest surprises of the year is none other than a Fortnite clone for Android that solves one of the main problems in the game from Epic: the need for a high-powered smartphone in order to play. Although, visually speaking, its source of inspiration is obvious, the Apex Legends-style hero shooter component with characters with different abilities makes it a fantastic alternative in the subgenre. [Download]
Royal Crown
Right off the bat, you can see this one has a bit of a different concept. All you have to do is take a look at the graphics which look like they were taken straight out of the Ragnarok Online saga. In fact, its combat system is more similar to a MOBA or an MMORPG than an action game, but this combination is exactly what makes it so awesome. [Download]
Cyber Hunter
Originally called Project Battle, and following several limited betas released throughout 2018, we finally have the chance to enjoy the final version of this game. After several regional editions, it finally made the leap to a global version that can be played internationally without any geographic limitations. It has Fortnite-style written all over it, letting you construct defensive buildings. [Download]
Bullet League
Who said battle royales have to be three-dimensional? Bullet League brings you battles between 30 participants in 2D settings full of platforms. It’s a classic concept applied to a new genre. The result? An extremely fun game! [Download]
Sausage Man
Sausage man had to be on this list, if only for the simple reason that it’s not everyday we come across a fighter sausage. Well, not every single day. It’s a strict PUBG clone that releases 100 weenies on an island full of weapons, vehicles, and buildings to paraglide off of. [Download]
Knives Out
NetEase knows how to take full advantage of the situations, and as seen in the half-dozen titles from the genre that it currently has published. Knives Out is the most similar one to PUBG Mobile, offering the exact same premise, with the added bonus of being able to customize the details of the hub. [Download]
Battlelands Royale
Not everything is going to be an exact copy. Battlelands Royale uses isometric perspective and offers a much lighter experience. Its big-headed characters and low-poly graphics almost make you forget that you’re participating in what’s essentially a massacre. After all, these games are basically a bloody survival of the fittest. [Download]
Survival Heroes
If Battle Royale is the top genre, then MOBA isn’t too far behind. The game from Snail Game was aware of this fact and had the great idea to merge both genres into a single game. It releases you on an island, but instead of controlling the action as if it were a third-person action game, it’s offers a closer experience to games like Arena of Valor. Abilities with cooldown, unit deployment, and a lot of shortcuts to come out a winner. [Download]
Ride Out Heroes
Ride Out Heroes also goes for a hybrid formula inspired by Realm Royale from Hi-Rez Studios. Instead of offering equal conditions, you have different characters with different skills available. This, along with its enticing graphics and a look that’s half-way between steampunk and epic fantasy make this game unique. [Download]
Rules of Survival
NetEase also wanted to jump on the bandwagon with Rules of Survival, which ended up being a pioneer by offering battles for 120 players, even more than the original PUBG. Plus, its constant updates have loaded it with additional game modes that make it stand out from other more conservative concepts. [Download]
Creative Destruction
Without a doubt, this is the most widespread Fortnite clone on Android. The entire formula is copied to a t, including its updates by seasons, the destruction of elements in the setting to get resources and the building of ramps and defensive walls. That said, it doesn’t have the same monstrous technical requirements as the title from Epic, which is something. [Download]
Free Fire
We’re only going to say one thing: Free Fire – Battlegrounds is currently the most downloaded Android game on Uptodown, with over 30 million downloads. If that tidbit of information isn’t enough for you, the technical requirements are miniscule and it can run well on low to mid-range devices. Plus, it’s updated regularly and it offers a worthwhile game experience. [Download]
PUBG Mobile
Obviously, it was inevitable to mention the official title developed by Bluehole in collaboration with the one and only Tencent. It’s practically the same experience as you’d get from playing its version for PC and consoles, including the maps and weapons from the original title. Plus, it doesn’t stop offering new content and collaborations as unexpected as the Zombie mode backed by Capcom and their Resident Evil saga. [Download]
The post The best Battle Royale games available on Android in 2020 appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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The post PUBG Mobile 0.16 Beta adds snow to Erangel and new game modes appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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One of the main lures of this update is the visual change made to Erangel. In each round, different parts of the map will appear covered in snow. That said, it’s not only a superficial change — among other things, you can use a snowboard to descend down snowy hills and find special loot boxes in each one of these areas.
Another interesting addition is the possibility to change the first-person mode to third-person during the game. Until now, you had to select one of the view modes before entering the map in question. Now you can alternate between both views at any time. Another notable change on a gameplay level is that now you can move around while being healed, although your speed will be even slower than when walking. Just enough to keep you safe from enemy fire.
More new features are on their way, although they’re not available yet, we’re assuming they’ll be unlocked throughout the following days. One of these that we’ve already seen in past tester phases is called “Death Race” mode. As its name implies, you’ll compete against other players riding in vehicles who will compete on an enormous closed track where you’ll pick up items scattered around to attack rivals.
Although we don’t yet know the exact date that the 0.16 update will reach the stable channel, we’re assuming it’ll happen sometime in the beginning of December if the past betas are any indication.
The post PUBG Mobile 0.16 Beta adds snow to Erangel and new game modes appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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The post PUBG Mobile version 0.15.0 is now available with Payload Mode appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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[Updated (10/16/2019)] The 0.15 update is now available for the stable version of the game, adding extra new features like a new “ledge grab” dynamic for holding and climbing onto ledges.
About the new Payload Mode
The new game mode is found in the Evoground section just like the other previous modes like the Infection mode in 0.14 and the Survive till Dawn mode and its collaboration with Resident Evil. In this case, as we said, it fulfills one of the players’ wishes for aerial vehicles. This adds a new strategic aspect to the formula that makes it crucial to work as a team in order to control these vehicles and the areas with special loot boxes.Changelog for version 0.15
That said, this isn’t the own change they’ve made. For now, these are the new weapons and changes to the game we know about so far:- Two new weapons: MP5K (Vikendi exclusive, replace Vector. Uses 9MM ammo). Desert Eagle (Available in all maps. Uses .45 ammo).
- UMP9 is now called UMP45. Now uses .45 ammo. Capacity from 30/40 to 25/35. Bullet speed from 400 M/S to 300 M/S.
- Vector now use 9MM ammo. Capacity from 13/25 to 19/33. Bullet speed from 300 M/S to 380 M/S. Damage Reduced from 33 to 31.
- Adjustments to other weapons, including equipping holographic sights on the pistols and they share the same accessories as SMG. Also, Bullet Loops combined and called Ammo Loops (Shotguns, Win94 and Kar98).
- Frag Grenade now support skins.
- Added graffiti.
- New animation when you open a Supply Create in store.
- Now, before you enter training mode, you can now choose whether to enter TPP mode or FPP mode.
- New Vehicle: BRDM-2. Only be obtained by air supply with Flare gun.
- Gas can now is explosive.
- New Team Deathmatch map (downloadable in game).
Along with all these features we saw in the beta already, they’ve added some more with the version’s move to the stable channel:
- Ledge grab: Now you can grab onto certain ledges and objects to access otherwise inaccessible locations. The way to do this is by touching the jump button again when you’re already in the air.
- Explosive barrels: now the gas cans explode when you shoot them.
- Partner rewards: when the connection between players reaches a certain score, they’ll get a title and exclusive pose.
- Optimized graphics and reduced resource usage of the CPU.
As always, the beta can be played independently from the official client. One app doesn’t overwrite the other, and both profiles are maintained completely separate.
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The post Now available: the new 0.14 update of PUBG Mobile with Infection Mode appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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Infection mode in PUBG Mobile
The new game mode follows in the steps of similar previous concepts like The longest night, and Survive the night in the EvoGround section. In this case, it offers a completely new map, a small harbor town where survivors and pirate-zombies battle it out. Yes, it’s exactly how it sounds.Each round starts with two groups of five members. The objective of the undead is to infect all the humans, while the survivors’ main goal is to stay alive throughout the entire round. All it takes is one human is left standing in the end to win.
Each infected human will turn into a zombie and there are two types: one’s fast, and the other is stealthy and will do more damage with each hit. Also, once you’ve reached a certain point, one of the zombies will turn into a special boss as a sort of final challenge before the time runs out.
Other improvements in the version 0.14
- New menu system with the different game modes, now showing the information much more clearly.
- New pirate setting.
- Season Pass 8 with new rewards and customization elements.
- New character progression system that lets you get new animations to use with your character in the EvoGround modes.
- New rewards distribution for daily missions.
Complete list of changes from the version 0.14 (changelog)
Improved interface for the mode selection menu:a. Added tier information in Classic
b. Matchmaking and settings are now on the same page.
c. Improved visual effects.
Daily mission redesign:
a. The number of daily missions has been reduced and the rewards have been adjusted.
b.The daily missions are now offered randomly. If players are not happy with their reward, they can exchange it for another random mission three times a day.
New Infection game mode:
It’s an asymetrical PvP. When the game begins, players are divided randomly into Zombies and Defenders. The Defenders can use firearms but the Zombies can only use weapons in hand-to-hand combat and skills with reloading time.
Zombies can respawn after being eliminated, while the Defenders can be converted into zombies after being defeated. If all the Defenders are infected, the zombies win; if even one of the Defenders survives to the end, the Defenders win.
Character system:
a. Each player gets a character in the beginning.
b. The characters start out with one skill that’s only effective in the EvoGround modes.
c. The characters can be customized with outfits, voices, emojis, and MVP emojis.
d. Characters will level up and get progression rewards when they earn EXP in any of the game modes.
Level 5 and rewards for some achievements
Battle-Hardened V: Reach Ace.
Fun Times V: Complete 800 rounds in Arcade
Classic Lover V: Complete 1000 rounds in Classic
Evo Tactician I-V: Complete 5/20/50/100/200 rounds in EvoGround.
Perseverance V: Log in every day for 60 days.
Assault Mastery V: Kill 2000 enemies with assault rifles.
Sniper Mastery V: Kill 1000 enemies with sniper rifles.
Shotgun Mastery V: Kill 1000 enemies with shotguns.
SMG Mastery V: Kill 2000 enemies with SMG.
Melee Mastery V: Kill 200 enemies with hand-to-hand weapons.
Pistol Mastery V: Kill 200 enemies with handguns.
Deathbringer V: Kill 2000 enemies
Skull Collector V: Kill 200 enemies with headshots.
Field Medic V: Revive 500 comrades.
Predator V: Kill 20 enemies in a single Classic round
Chicken Bucket V: Win 50 games
PUBG Elite V: Win 555 ranges SSS
Epic Find V: Win 100 different permanent outfits (Legendary).
Mythic Fashion I-V: Win 1/5/10/20/50 different permanent outfits (Mythic).
Social Butterfly V: Get 120 friends.
Brothers in Arms V: Make teams with friends 1000 times.
Santa Claus V: Give gifts to friends 100 times.
Center of Attention V: Get 600 Likes.
Happy Training V: Complete 1000 clan trainings.
Shopaholic V: Spend 1000000BP.
Perfectionist V: Reach the max Royale Pass range in 6 seasons in a row.
Bounty Hunter V: Complete 1000 Royale Pass missions.
Open Sesame V: Open 100 elite Royale Pass boxes.
Unique Destiny: Earn 6000 points in achievements.
Battlefield Veteran I-III: Complete any of the following 2/4/6 achievements: Assault Mastery V, Sniper Mastery V, Shotgun Mastery V, SMG Mastery V, Melee Mastery V, Pistol Mastery V.
Improvements and bug fixes:
Adjustments to interaction with the inventory interface
a. Interface features that aren’t inventory related are disabled on said menu.
b. Expanded object area.
c. Simplified emoji editing.
d. Improved selection of weapons and vehicles.
e. Players can now choose whether or not to see helmets and backpacks in the main menu.
f. New zoom feature added to character to view weapons, hats, glasses, accessories, and backpacks.
Improved outfits:
After the update, if the outfit conflicts with the one chosen previously, the outfit will be taken off to make sure it’s displayed correctly.
The post Now available: the new 0.14 update of PUBG Mobile with Infection Mode appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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The post The new 0.13 PUBG Mobile version is now available appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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Just like we already witnessed in the beta, the new Team Elimination mode lets you form teams with other users in order to fight in 4v4 battles inside closed settings that were specifically designed for this grand occasion. Plus, each team is associated with one of the monsters in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, such as Godzilla itself, King Ghidorah, Mothra, and the Monarch Corporation.
Patch Notes
- Added Team Deathmatch mode to EvoGround. This new mode features fast-paced firefights in both FPP and TPP. Players can also create their own rooms with room cards.
- Added control settings for FPP. Players can now have separate settings for FPP and TPP.
- Upgraded 3rd party app detection system and enhanced detection of cheating behavior via Virtual App, emulators, and modifiers.
- Added MVP showcase system at the end of each match. All players will receive a default MVP pose. The top 3 players in Classic mode or the MVP of the winning squad in TDM will be featured.
- In Vikendi, players will now leave footprints, trails and tire tracks on the snow.
- Added a dedicated button for climbing that can be enabled in the settings.
- When killed by friendly fire, players can now decide if the teammate should lose merit or not.
- Added a Godzilla theme. Godzilla themed lobby background will be available together with many themed events and rewards after the update.
- Added new popularity gift and ranking reward. Every Week, the top 100 players in the list may collect the title All-time Popularity or Recent Popularity.
- Added Charisma Ranking. The permanent outfits and firearm/vehicle finishes collected by a player will increase their Charisma.
New Achievements
- Victory Legion: Complete 1/5/10/20 matches with Dominating in Team Deathmatch
- Alpha & Omega: Get the first kill and final blow in a Team Deathmatch
- T-800: Achieve Terminator 1 time in Team Deathmatch
- Envoy of War: Complete a series of missions in Team Deathmatch.
Other Improvements
- Survive Till Dawn and Darkest Night changes:
- The old zombies have been replaced by 4 types of new zombies.
- Liquid Nitrogen Grenades now leave behind a cloud of freezing smoke on the ground for a long period after the explosion, reducing the movement speed of any unit in the area.
- Added new mode combat modifiers.
- Certain zombies now have new abilities: Tanks will empower nearby allies; Skinners can slow nearby players.
- A new factory has replaced the police station.
Inventory Improvements
- Players can Now Combine items in batches.E
- quipped items will be displayed on topDuplicated new items will no longer be indicated by a red dot and the “new” tag.
- The Backpack and Helmet tabs have been moved to the Customization tab
- Protective items are now 25% more durable. Their effectiveness remains unchanged.
- Players can now bolt/reload a bolt action rifle while moving instead of completing the process while aiming down sights.
- Improved the animation in FPP when running while holding an SMG.
- Vehicles now have improved feedback on explosions. • Event Center now has improved interactions and better tutorials for the event missions.
- Crew Challenge Qualifying Round has been expanded. Now 6 qualifying matches will be held every day, up from 5. Each squad can participate up to 3 matches per day, up from 2. Each squad is allowed to participate a total of 18 qualifying matches, up from 12. And new items have been added to the Crew Shop.
- Players who have registered for Crew Challenge will now receive a notice 10 minutes before a match starts.
- Players can now collect all rewards from daily missions, progress missions and achievements all at once.
- Added 3 new Clan Insignias for Lv. 7, Lv. 9, and Lv. 10.
- Added a latency indicator to the main screen. Green, yellow, and red represents a good, average, or bad connection.
The post The new 0.13 PUBG Mobile version is now available appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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The post The 0.12.0 PUBG Mobile latest upgrade arrives today appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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We were able to witness some of the latest features thanks to the previous upgrade on the PUBG Mobile Beta. But, it’s now available in the game’s actual channel. These are the most significant changes:
- The EvoZone replaces the Event Mode and includes all the special gaming modes. New modes, such as Survive the Night, are now included. New modes will also be included in the future.
- The Darkest Night, which is a new game mode, changes the game’s premise. This time, you won’t jump off a plane. Instead, you’ll appear at a random location of the map and you’ll have to survive entire mobs of zombies for three nights while you form alliances with the rest of the players. Your main objective is simply to make sure that your team prevails.
- There are several changes to the Survive the Night mode: Upgrades to the existing weapons, new zombies (jumping zombies, zombie dogs, etc.) and some of them can even climb walls.
- There’s an unending list of small changes that you can check out in the official webpage’s changelog.
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The post This year’s nominees for best mobile game at the IMGA appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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What are the IMGA?
The International Mobile Gaming Awards were created in 2004 to celebrate the best mobile games of the year. They were began back when not many people had much confidence in the future of mobile games. Obviously, anyone who thought this way was clearly mistaken, considering the current success of the industry, where games for Android and iOS are becoming more and more relevant.The IMGA aren’t only famous for celebrating games for mobile devices, but for awarding and discovering some of the most relevant titles: Angry Birds, Monument Valley and Badland are some of the names that the IMGA recognized before they became massively successful. And the best thing about about these awards is that they’ve expanded their frontiers: not only do they have their international awards, but they also have special editions for China, Middle Eastern and North African countries, and Southeast Asian countries. These markets are becoming more and more relevant, especially with the growing presence of high quality studios.
On this occasion, March 19th is the date of this year’s ceremony which will be celebrated in San Francisco. There, we’ll find out which games are worthy of this prestigious award. However, the people have a say in choosing their favorite game too, so we recommend that you make a stop by the IMGA website to vote for and support your favorite game.
And the nominees for the 15th annual IMGA are…
In this 15th edition more than 800 games were presented, which were whittled down until only 153 remained. A jury made up of 365 experts from around the world are in charge of choosing the winners. Among these 153 games, 20 of them are still in development, 24 are virtual reality games, and there are tons of augmented reality titles.On this enormous list of games, which you can find here, there’s a huge mix of both paid and free games. Of course, we only really care about the free ones, so we’ve made our own long selection of all the games you can download and play for free from Uptodown. So here goes…
Alphabear 2 – Download APK | Our blog review | Gameplay
Alto’s Odyssey – Download APK | Our blog review | Gameplay
Angry Birds Dream Blast – Download APK | Gameplay
Antura – Download APK
Bacon – The Game – Download APK | Gameplay
Billion Lords – Download APK | Gameplay
Bound Strike – Download APK
Boxing Star – Download APK | Gameplay
Brawl Stars – Download APK | Our blog review | Gameplay
Cat’n’Robot: Idle Defense – Download APK
Cooking Diary – Download APK
Crazy Dino Park – Download APK
DERE EVIL EXE – Download APK | Gameplay
Destiny Child – Download APK | Análisis en el Blog | Gameplay
Dragon Project – Download APK | Gameplay
Dungeon Hunter Champions – Download APK
Fly THIS! – Download APK
Fortnite – Download APK | Our blog review | Gameplay
Gladiabots – Download APK
Grand Mountain Adventure – Download APK
Holy Ship! Pirate Action – Download APK
Hoppia Tale – Download APK
Idle Factory Tycoon – Download APK
Invictus: Lost Soul – Download APK | Gameplay
It’s Always Sunny: The Gang Goes Mobile – Download APK | Gameplay
Jurassic World Alive – Download APK | Our blog review
Kingdom of Hero: Tactics War – Download APK | Gameplay
Knights and Glory – Tactical Battle Simulator – Download APK
Legend of Solgard – Download APK | Our blog review | Gameplay
Light It Up – Download APK
Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem – Download APK | Gameplay
MARVEL Battle Lines – Download APK | Gameplay
Murder in the Alps – Download APK
My Talking Tom 2 – Download APK
Oddman – Download APK
Oddmar – Download APK | Gameplay
OPUS: Rocket of Whispers – Download APK
Paper Anne – Download APK
Pirate Code – Download APK | Gameplay
Pokemon Quest – Download APK | Our blog review | Gameplay
Popular Wars – Download APK | Gameplay
PUBG MOBILE – Download APK | Our blog | Gameplay
Rebel Inc. – Download APK | Our blog review | Gameplay
Rumble Stars Soccer – Download APK
Sailor Cats – Download APK | Gameplay
Shadowgun Legends – Download APK
SIMULACRA: Pipe Dreams – Download APK
Supremacy 1914– Download APK
The Tiny Giant Adventure – Download APK
TOKYO GHOUL [:re birth] – Download APK
Trigger Heroes – Download APK | Our blog review | Gameplay
Until Dead – Think to Survive – Download APK | Gameplay
Wild West: Idle Tycoon – Download APK
World of Tennis: Roaring ’20s – Download APK
VALZ – Download APK
ZooPool – Download APK
The post This year’s nominees for best mobile game at the IMGA appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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The post Resident Evil mode is now available in PUBG Mobile 0.11.0 appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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Changelog 0.11.0
- Added Zombie: Survive Till Dawn, a new event mode that will be available for a limited time. You’ll have to fight to survive in the Erangel map like always, but you’ll also come across zombies and bosses from Resident Evil 2! Kill them to get resources and objects.
- Moonlight weather mode added to Vikendi.
- Added player spaces where player information and connections are displayed. You can select a friend with Synergy 400 or higher to stand by your side.
- Added Resident Evil 2 main menu theme and music.
- Anniversary items are now on sale.
- Added anniversary emotes, avatars, and frames.
- The Sanhok map is now available in Arcade mode – Quick Match.
- Character image and connections are now visible in the profile.
- New titles added: “#1/100” (permanent) y “Survival” (for a limited time).
Other improvements
- Some buildings in Vikendi have been redisigned.
- The Assault Rifle and SMG war modes now start with double the ammunition.
- Previous results are maintained for one month. Older data will be deleted.
- Fixed terrain display bugs for low-range devices.
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The post The PUBG Mobile 0.10.5 update is here, with hints of a future Zombie Mode appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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The update is starting to take off today and it’s not necessary to download the complete game all over again — it’s an internal installation of less than 200Mb that will start when you open the app. That said, even if you install it, you won’t see the new changes until tomorrow, specifically at 2AM UTC on January 19.
While this is the official list of changes in the new version, it’s not out of the question that we might see evidence of the already announced collaboration between Tencent and Capcom for the upcoming Resident Evil 2 Remake. Although there’s no specific information yet, all signs point to new game modes that you have to complete with hordes of zombies. Although, we still don’t know if they’ll be controlled by AI or fallen players in combat. Various users have discovered a few clues in the beta version of the game with zombies scattered throughout secluded areas of the map.
List of changes
- Added the MK47, that can be found in the Erangel, Miramar, and Sanhok maps. It shoots 7.62mm bullets and has two fire modes.
- Added laser sight, a small rail attachment that reduces response speed. This can be found in all maps.
- Vikendi is now available as a map when you create rooms.
- The “classic” voice is back! You can find it in the settings after the update.
- The Spawn Island announcements can be enabled or disabled in the settings menu.
- The Season 5 Royale Pass is here! New premium skins and animations are available as rewards. There’s also an update of events for all servers.
- The Season 5 ranked mode is also here! Tiers are adjusted and new rewards are added.
Other improvements
- The resource refresh in Vikendi has been adjusted (type and quantity).
- The model for swimmer sandals has been updated and the “Share for Deals” system is back with some adjustments.
- The clan rewards have been adjusted. The Crew Challenge winners display has also been adjusted.
- The shop has also been updated. Supplies can be accessed from the main menu.
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The post The top Android games of 2018 appeared first on Blog Uptodown International.
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If 2016 was the year of augmented reality and 2017 was all about the MOBAs, then without a doubt, 2018 has been the year of the Battle Royales since the arrival of PUBG and Fortnite on the platform, along with the flood of clones and variants we’ve seen coming out of the woodwork. But let’s not generalize here, there are actually plenty of hidden gems that deserve their moment in the sun. We’ve chosen 12 categories to demonstrate this diversity, and selected two games in each one: the top game of the year, and one honorable mention.
Ghostbusters GO – Best Augmented Reality game
What? Where are the adorable fluffy monsters? It’s taken a couple years, but the formula created by Niantic Labs is finally expanding beyond what we’ve seen in Ingress and Pokemon Go. With the opening of the Google Maps API, and the implementation of the ARCore technology, we’re finally starting to see concepts like Ghostbusters GO.
There are plenty of things that make this game special, beyond the use of the old license. The South Korean Studio, 4:33 under the sponsorship of Sony Pictures, has developed a title that gives you the chance to explore your surroundings in search of ghosts. Beyond the fact that the ghost hunting using your proton pack is super fun, you can also put the creatures you capture up against others as if it were a turn-based RPG, as well as advance throughout a long story mode that narrates your adventures as the team rookie. [Our review]
Special Mention: The other big AR title that’s also based on a successful license is The Walking Dead: Our World. This game is based on the TV series from AMC where you have to collaborate with other survivors to clean up your city of the undead.
Man or Vampire – Best RPG
We felt ourselves obligated to separate this genre from the MMORPGs since it offers completely different mechanics. Man or Vampire is a role-playing game with turn-based confrontations on a grid setting, which doesn’t say much at all about the greatness of this game. In this title from HIDEA, you have to explore randomly generated dungeons with your team of adventurers while facing all sorts of dangers. But again, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The combats, worthy of a sizable SPRG, require a good positional strategy of your adventurers in order to come out of endless interactions unscathed. There’s a reason there are 70 different characters available in the game, each one with its own skills. Plus, you can convert any of them into a vampire, which will stop them from being able to level up, but allow you to revive them in combat. [Our review]
Special Mention: Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Legend of Cao Cao. An SPRG set in the historical Chinese novel is a hit on Android? Yup. This direct decedent of the renowned Eiketsuden saga from the studio Koei, is one of the best of its genre.
Life is a Game – Most innovative game
A game doesn’t have to be an absolute masterpiece in order to leave a lasting mark on our hearts. Life is a Game is a modest title. In fact, if you take away the conceptual layer that surrounds it, we’d simply be talking about a runner where you have to collect objects scattered around the setting. The key is in the fact this journey represents your existence, and the actions you take along the way are what determine your future throughout your short life.
Each round lasts no more than five minutes, going from your birth to your deathbed in a dizzying life race plagued with possibilities. Will you have a happy childhood or will sadness plague you the rest of your life? Will you make a living with small jobs or be a bohemian artist? All major decisions that are decided by jumping around the setting and that will make sure you embrace a strong message that’s worth remembering: life goes by in the blink of an eye. [Our review]
Special Mention: Hide Online. The so-called Prop Hunts have been around on PC for years now, but this game is one that’s finally successfully brought the formula to Android. A competition where one team has to find the members of the rival team, who in turn, can camouflage themselves in the form of inanimate objects in the setting. As simple as it is wacky.
Hundred Souls – Best visual design
Seldom have we seen such a great use of the Unity engine on Android. Hundred Souls is a powerhouse on a technical level thanks to its development team: the studio Hound 13 is a dream team made up of former workers of other successful MMOs. In this case, the formula is taken to the hack-and-slash terrain with a visual design that’s better than other projects from bigger names. After all, we tend to disregard mobile platforms when they’re really almost as good as traditional consoles, even on a technical level (despite the obvious hardware level disparities, of course). [Our review]
Special mention: Alto’s Odyssey. It was hard to top the beautiful Alto’s Adventure, but the developers definitely outdid themselves with the sequel. A great artistic vision is a must in order to convert an endless runner with physics into a relaxing stroll over dreamlike landscapes without becoming boring or monotonous.
Ragnarok M – Best MMORPG
It’s been 15 whole years since the iconic MMORPG Ragnarok Online came out on PC, but its impact was so great in the world of online role-playing games that the brand continues to thrive even today. Or at least that’s what the whirlwind release of Ragnarok M on Android has demonstrated. Continuing with its casual philosophy, far from the momentous and epic Asian MMOs, it’s managed to make players fall in love with it once again.
This time, this new installment in the saga has managed to find a nice balance between the old 2D sprites from the original, and the later 3D versions. The customization of your character and all the sweetness that shows in the mounts, mascots, and graphics are the weapons that have taken this game to the top of its category in 2018.
Special mention: RebirthM. On the flip side of the coin, we have this game that’s much closer to the philosophy of the Korean MMORPGs from the Lineage school. That is, spectacular graphics, experience grinding, an enormous open world, and unimaginable content in the form of dungeons, guild missions, daily challenges, and your typical PvP.
Badland Brawl – Best PvP
We’ve been witness to a constant parade of Clash Royale clones for a couple years now. A long line of games where innovation has been starkly lacking. It’s a good thing Badland Brawl has come to get us out of this rut thanks to its intelligent mix of concepts: instead of calling upon units to attack the rival base, you’ll shoot them at your enemies as if it were a sort of competitive Angry Birds.
It’s a game where you don’t only have to pay attention to the typical pros and cons of your units, but also their physics. The rounds may seem like a chaos of explosions, but soon, you’ll discover that there’s no room for luck here. It’s a fun title that has enough personality to stand out among the rest of the PVPs that have appeared this year. Plus, it has the added bonus of the fantastic design of the universe from the Badland saga. [Our review]
Special mention: Super Senso. Giant robots and Advance Wars is a mix that most players have a hard time saying no to. The title from Turbo Studios provides great turn-based rounds lasting less than 5 minutes, where each one of your movements is necessary to pave the way to victory. It’s impossible not to want to give this unique mobile game some recognition.
Super Cat Tales 2 – Best platform game
Platformers may not be the number one choice of a genre for mobile devices, due to the fact that it’s hard to really make precise movements on a screen. But this downfall has led developers to search for new ways to provide quality titles. Super Cat Tales 2 is probably the one that’s most successfully achieved this: it’s a platformer with no jump button.
Your friendly little kittens will jump when they’re running and come across any unevenness. It’s an intelligent decision considering you still have to be precise, but the touch screen won’t be an obstacle. The game doesn’t hide its love for Super Mario World, and you’re going to be wowed by its over 100 levels, different cats to unlock, and awesome retro look. [Our review]
Special mention: Slime Pizza. We’ve come to expect that anything branded with the Nitrome seal is guaranteed to be high quality. But this year, NEUTRONIZED has left us doubly amazed. In addition to the excellent cat game mentioned above, the studio has also given us this mini-metroidvania about a blob of slime who has to collect as many slices of pizza as possible. It’s a stellar platformer that will have you hooked for hours.
PARADE! – Best rhythm game
Your sense of rhythm and timing when it comes to tapping the screen are going to be put to the test in the great PARADE! This title has flown way under the radar in a genre that’s greatly lacking in original games. It’s a real shame that more people haven’t tried this one out, because it’s a low-poly knockout with a funky rhythm. Who wouldn’t love to lead a parade of animals, robots, zombies and dinosaurs? We hope this little shout out we’re giving it is enough to get it noticed by more people.
PARADE! doesn’t follow the tradition of the typical mobile rhythm games that take their gameplay inspiration from Guitar Hero. Here, you have to swipe in the directions the game tells you to in each one of its wacky screens. It may take you a while to get the hang of it, but soon you’ll find it to be a real must-have if you love this genre. [Our review]
Special mention: Superstar BTS. The popularity of the band BTS is undeniable and their official videogame has been a total success. A game that compiles all the hits from the South Korean band and that offers plenty of unlockable content to keep fans coming back for more.
PUBG Mobile – Best Battle Royale
2018 was the year of the Battle Royale. Almost any game described using these magic words has ended up becoming a success, but we still think that the mobile world has had a clear cut winner. While PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS has been losing steam on PC in favor of Fortnite, PUBG Mobile has become the family jewel. All thanks to the fact that it’s successfully managed to improve significantly with each new update, making it one of the best games of the year for mobile devices.
This game has become a total phenomenon with everything that comes with the title: clones everywhere you look, its own lite version, and even the appearance of a Beta version where you can be one of the first players to discover new features. 2018 has been the year of PUBG Mobile and it remains to be seen if 2019 is going to follow along the same path. [Our review]
Special mention: Battlelands Royale. This game from Futureplay is worth highlighting, since it’s successfully transferred the action from battle royales to rounds lasting between 3 and 5 minutes. It’s an ideal game for playing on mobile devices, and it has charming visuals that you just can’t say no to.
Bendy in Nightmare Run – Best arcade game
Arcade games have found their perfect adventure outlet in the world of Android. And within this extensive category, endless runners are one of the main focal points. Bendy in Nightmare Run isn’t only a fantastic endless platformer, it’s also managed to put a new spin on the genre: the perspective has changed and your friendly little character runs toward the screen in his frantic getaway.
The influence of Cuphead is clear as day, but this endless runner isn’t just a simple tribute to the game from Studio MDHR. That said, its difficulty could be a turn off for more casual players. [Our review]
Special mention: PAKO 2. We went crazy for the first PAKO, but this sequel has left us speechless. It has the same soul, but the experience has improved in all aspects: more vehicles, weapons, progression system, and visuals that are worth applauding until our hands can’t take anymore. Don’t miss the article we wrote about the saga created by Tree Men Games.
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle – Best puzzle game
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle is the perfect game for anyone who thought that Sokoban-style puzzle games were overdone. Its fun visuals and nods to one of the most influential slasher sagas in history make it stand out as one of the top games of the year. It’s a fantastic package that makes us forgive the fact that it’s almost a skin of Slayway Camp.
The Friday the 13th franchise may not stand out for its sense of humor, but you’re guaranteed to have a great time playing this game from Blue Wizard Digital thanks to is parody-like tone. More than 100 levels await you and your machete. [Our review]
Special mention: Alphabear 2. The sequel to the beloved Alphabear brings us more bears and linguistic challenges to overcome. It’s hard to find a better way to continue improving your vocabulary in the language of Shakespeare.
Brawl Stars – Best MOBA
It seemed impossible that Supercell could possibly generate the same expectation that it did with previous games. However, the truth is that it’s manged to overhaul this genre to give it a second life on Android. Brawl Stars is a MOBA that uses minimum expression in terms of controls and gameplay. But it still manages to provide enormous depth, that represents the cornerstone of the whole experience.
This team-based brawler managed to drum up interest even before its release thanks to word of mouth. And the fact that it’s been in soft-launch for months in certain countries is just a preview of what’s to come given the expectation it’s generated. After enjoying it at length, we can assure you that’s how its going to be. [Our review]
Special mention: Survival Heroes proves, once again, that hybrids of genres are key to reaching new horizons on a market as saturated as Android. Combining the structure of a battle royale with the controls and gameplay of a MOBA is just as fun as it sounds.
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