Incoming! Our 13 most anticipated iPhone, iPad, and Android games for November and beyond
Star Wars: Tiny Death Star! Rayman! Oceanhorn! Sonic!
October is almost over. With it go memories of mysterious islands, pixel-art bears, and papercraft puzzlers.
Now, it's time to look ahead into November. Next month, the App Store and Google Play will play host to space station simulators, remastered hedgehogs, limbless platformers, and ancient RPGs.
We try to find games that are most likely coming out in the next 30 days and highlight them for your delectation here.
Given the unpredictable nature of mobile game development, though, we shouldn't be held responsible if some of these slip to December 2013 (or even into 2014).
Autumn Dynasty: Warlords
By Touch Dimensions - heading to iPhone and iPad in November
This sequel to painterly RTS Autumn Dynasty is about uniting the warlords of China so the nation can fend off foreign nasties.
Look forward to taking on quests, building cities, hiring new generals, and allying yourself with different factions.
Death Road to Canada
By Madgarden and RocketCat - Heading to iOS and Android soon
A randomised road trip simulator (with zombies) from the guys behind Punch Quest.
As you make your way from Florida to Ontario, you'll explore ruined cities, find supplies, and play diplomat among a bickering band of pint-size survivors.
Rayman Fiesta Run
By Ubisoft - heading to iOS and Android on November 7th
There's a new Rayman auto-runner on the horizon. This time around, it's set in a mad carnival world of maracas, disco balls, and punchable piñatas.
In this bouncy sequel, our limbless hero will swim and shrink. Oh, and the game will boast boss fights and rock-hard invasion stages among its 75 levels.
Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies
By Firaxis - heading to iPhone and iPad on November 7th
In this follow-up to Meier's Gold Award-winning dogfighting strategy gem, Firaxis takes us to the Pacific theatre of WWII.
As you no doubt expect, it will feature fights high above Pearl Harbor and Guadalcanal. More importantly than all that, though, Firaxis has ditched the free-to-play model here for a fixed price point.
Star Wars: Tiny Death Star
By Disney - heading to iOS and Android in November
Through this cute free-to-play timewaster, Disney posits the theory that Darth Vader paid for his space station by renting it out to guests and businesses.
In-play, Star Wars: Tiny Death Star is a re-skin of lightweight (but hazardously addictive) sim Tiny Tower, albeit with Stormtroopers, Rancor pits, and cantinas.
Oceanhorn: Monster of Uncharted Seas
By Cornfox & Bros - heading to iPhone and iPad in November
We've been following this game for what feels like centuries. Thankfully, it's almost here.
Oceanhorn is a gorgeous Zelda-style adventure with dungeons, deserts, and an arsenal of weapons. It looks outstanding, and it's got a soundtrack from a pair of well-loved Japanese composers.
Voxel Rush
By Hyperbees - heading to iPhone and iPad in November
The maker of this epic endless-runner nabbed first prize at our Big Indie Pitch event in London.
It's a high-octane racer where you aim to scrape perilously close to skyscrapers. This isn't super-difficult - well, until the skyscrapers start falling or the screen flips on its head, that is.
Sorcery! Part 2
By inkle - heading to iPhone and iPad on November 7th
In the second part of the beautifully realised Sorcery! gamebook, we are transported to the cityport of Khare (a town of thieves, traps, and monsters).
It's got new locations and quests, but it's still an engrossing choice-driven RPG where the story is rewritten on the fly on the basis of your decisions.
Touchgrind Skate 2
By Illusion Labs - heading to iPhone and iPad on November 21st
Touchgrind Skate was the grandpappy of finger-flicking skateboard sims on iOS.
For this long-awaited sequel, Illusion Labs adds new parks, new tricks, and a more sensible camera angle. But will it be better than new kickflip king True Skate?
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
By Square Enix - heading to iOS and Android in November
This Final Fantasy 4 follow-up takes place 17 years after the SNES game, and includes new baddies and gameplay systems.
Getting your mitts on the episodic Japan-only original has not been easy, but this forthcoming 3D remake will enable anyone who wants it to, err, have it.
Ittle Dew
By Ludosity - heading to iOS and Android in November
A spunky indie adventure with Zelda-inspired dungeons and a cracking sense of humour.
In this beautiful little game, you crash-land on islands and kill natives so you can steal their gold. Expect some fiendishly difficult puzzles along the way, too.
Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous
By One Man Left - heading to iPhone and iPad in November
A welcome sequel to bonkers avoid-'em-up Tilt to Live.
Here, you can expect to find new achievements, an arsenal of new weapons (including a double-ended lightsaber and the epic-sounding laser mace), and insane boss fights that will make you "pee a little". Bring it on.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2: Remastered
By Sega - heading to iOS and Android in November
Mega Drive classic Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is getting a makeover next month.
For this free update, Sega will revamp the art, spruce up the audio, introduce more reliable touch controls, and keep everything running at a smooth frame rate of 60fps.
If it's anything like the Sonic 1 remaster, it's worth getting excited.
