The best Android game this week - FireWhip
Slow week
This has not been a banner week for new Android games. Or iOS games. Or any games. With E3 distracting everyone with its noise and bombast, developers have smartly shied away from dropping new games in the past seven days.
But that doesn't mean there's nothing worth playing. Just look at FireWhip: a cracking arcade score-chasing blast from the dude behind Dawn of the Plow.
The game's all about whipping baddies with a burning rope. And it's got fumbly string physics, like Castlevania 4, where you need to work up a good spin, or unleash a powerful crack, to do damage.
But there's no room for randomly whipping in the dark, as everything takes thought. Enemies are too cowardly to walk into your whip. Excessive spinning extinguishes your flame. Special baddies can only be killed with a crack.
It's a game that keeps you on your toes, and makes you think tactically. It's engaging, at all times, like the best arcades are. And it's got a dirty rock soundtrack and the ability to make GIFs from your failures.
FireWhip is 79p / 99c and available on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.
