Best new iOS and Android games this week: Pavilion, Oxenfree, Ticket to Earth, Virexian and more
Puzzles, ports, and 'proper retro' graphics
Hello, and welcome to our regular look at the best mobile games of the past seven days.
Every week we run through the best and most interesting games to have hit the App Store and Google Play Store.
Thanks to holidays, we're a few days later than normal with this latest effort. It's really more of a 'Best new iOS and Android games LAST week'. But who cares when the games are as strong as this lot?
On a side-note, the unfortunate resurgence of the iOS-only (or at least first) game release continues in force this week. Which is a real shame for Android gamers who, lest we forget, are in the majority here.
Hopefully some more of these beauties will be making their way to the Google Play Store soon.
OxenfreeBy Night School Studio - buy on iOS
This mystery adventure has a super cool arty aesthetic, a strong narrative, and a considerable creep factor. Play it with the lights off.
Pavilion
By Visiontrick Media - buy on iOS / buy on Android (Nvidia Shield)
This beautifully strange platforming puzzler places you in control of the highly detailed environments rather than the protagonist, making it feel like the most intimate god game ever.
Ticket to EarthBy Robot Circus Party - buy on iOS
Writing Ticket to Earth off as just another puzzle RPG would be a huge mistake - it's an exceptionally fresh, smart and attractive take on one of the more prevalent genre mash-ups.
Euclidean LandsBy Kunabi Brother - buy on iOS
Part Monument Valley, part Hitman GO, Euclidean Lands is a wonderful Rubik's Cube of a puzzler with a delightful abstract art style.
TypeShiftBy Zach gage - download on iOS
TypeShift is a word game that applies a cool, minimalist twist to the humble jumbled-up-letter puzzle.
The Big JourneyBy Armor Games - buy on iOS
Here we have one of those adorable physics-based platformers that smartphones seem to do so well. Tilt and roll you little kitty around a range of colourful levels.
Guns of MercyBy Storybird - download on iOS
Proper retro (as in pre-16-bit) graphics. Stompy mechs. Space Invaders-style blasting. Branching, varied power up choices. These are all things we love, and Guns of Mercy has the lot.
VirexianBy First Mutant - download on Android / download on iOS
It's all been very iOS-heavy so far, but here's a great roguelike twin-stick shooter that's available on both iOS and Android. More of this please, developers.