Flower and Flipping Legend: this week’s top mobile games

Welcome to Gearburn’s Mobile Game Picks of the Week, a weekly series in which Hadlee takes a look at the latest, most entertaining, or time-consuming mobile games on portable screens.

It’s been a long time since we’ve done a mobile games roundup! That’s what happens when you go on holiday. And when you forget.

Anyway, enough with the excuses, let’s get on with the rundown!

Flower (paid – iOS)

Thatgamecompany and Apple have enjoyed a closer relationship in recent weeks, as the formerly Sony-exclusive studio revealed Sky at the iPhone 8 event.

But before we get Sky, the studio has quietly published PS3/PS4 title Flower on the App Store. Expect tilt controls and gorgeous environments in this wonderfully meditative experience.

Flower is available on iOS for R80.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (free – Android, iOS)

Mobile tie-ins to blockbuster games generally tend to be naff, but what about Shadow of War?

The mobile game takes the form of a real-time isometric RPG, as you take over regions by working your way up the Uruk hierarchy. You’ll need to select a cast of characters (each with unique abilities), then go out to battle. The actual gameplay seems simple enough, as you automatically attack enemies but are able to dish out special attacks and dodges too.

It does seem to have a hint of pay-to-win though, thanks to the presence of virtual gems (used to unlock items/characters). But we’ll need to play more to figure this out.

Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked (paid – Android, iOS)

Don’t Starve is one of my favourite indie games released in the last decade, tasking players with surviving in the wilderness for as long as possible.

The Shipwrecked expansion has been available on PC and iOS for a while now, but September has seen the add-on come to Google-toting devices as well.

Expect a desert island setting, new creatures, sailing and new seasons to contend with. Shipwrecked is available for R69 on Android and R80 on iOS.

F1 2016 (paid – Android, iOS)

It’s not a new entry by any measure, given the 2016 in the name, obviously. But the latest F1 mobile game is available at a much cheaper price this week.

F1 2016 brings all the cars and tracks of last year’s season to the small screen. Other than that, you’ve also got season/time trial/single race modes, adjustable driver aids and weekly events.

F1 2016 is available on Android for R36 and on iOS for R30. No word on F1 2017 coming to mobile, but the price drop suggests it must be near.

Flipping Legend (free – Android, iOS)

A winner in the second annual Google Play Indie Games Festival awards, Flipping Legend is a rather interesting title from veteran publisher Noodlecake.

The game has you playing as a leaping combatant, using left and right taps on the screen to leap (left and right, obviously). But the challenge comes from the diagonal leaping and the level layout, which only gives you three paths. Basically, you’ll need to choose your landing spots carefully.

Flipping Legend offers a unique approach, but it’s still simple enough for playing in queues or while waiting for loved ones.