There's Lots of Love in This Week in Gaming Apps

During this most romantic/depressing week of the year, let us not forget the gaming apps, whose portability and charm keep us playing whether we be curled up on the corner sobbing or curled up naked on a bed of roses, waiting for your significant other to get home.(new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c&cid=872d12ce-453b-4870-845f-955919887e1b'; cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "995c4c7d-194f-4077-b0a0-7ad466eb737c" }).render("79703296e5134c75a2db6e1b64762017"); }); Now that I have children in the mix, Valentine’s Day has been moved to the weekend, a place where babysitters flow like things you shouldn’t imagine flowing at all. I curbed my anticipation for this weekend’s festivities (new tattoo, how romantic!) by playing through a bevy of the finest games iOS and Android had to offer. Mainly iOS, mind you. I’ve been having trouble finding new games in Google Play for the past couple of months. Something about it being impossible. Hey Android developers, drop me a line when your games go live. Together we can spread the Droid gaming love. Let’s see what we played this week! Android Fruit Pop! — Free (also on iOS) This one’s been around for a while, but you can never have too many line-based match games. The Android version has some really obnoxious ads, but once those are done, yay. Vector — Free (also on iOS) I mentioned this one earlier in the week, but only because it’s so good. A stylish level-based parkour action movie. Can’t get enough. iOS Burt Destruction — $.99 (also on Android) A 3D platforming game with okay HUC gameplay and spectacular animated cutscenes. Seriously, I’d buy it for the animation over the gameplay. Early Bird and Friends — Free The popular physics puzzle game expands into Angry Birds territory, now with a collection of feathered friends, each with a different type of power. An impressive effort with a lot of character. Fionna Fights: Adventure Time — $.99 The female version of Adventure Time’s Finn takes to the skies in this… well, I guess it’s an endless stabbing game. Addictive as all get out. Redneck Revenge: A Zombie Roadtrip — $.99 I’ve only played a little bit of this strange little shooter, and already I have a beer keg laser. You cannot go wrong if your game has a beer keg laser. Epic Mech Wars — Free Build your mech, fight your mech, buy new parts to fight tougher mechs. Not really an action game, more a tap-adventure with a strong graphical element. Interesting. Rotolla — $1.99 People love hexagons. They think they are super. People also love drop puzzles. What if we combined the two? Sela the Space Pirate — $1.99 (also on Android) I love this game. It’s a level-based shooter starring a manic space pirate and her embarrassed robot first mate. They start an interstellar war. Then the space bunny police show up. So much love. Word of the Rings Free — Free, duh A fresh spin on the word game? A word game with a twist? I could go on, but I’ll spare you. Special note: the app icon looks vaguely familiar. App Reviews for the Week of February 9 – 15 https://kotaku.com/in-hungry-oni-your-meals-are-color-coded-5983318 In Hungry Oni, Your Meals Are Color-Coded As far as sharp looking iOS games go, Hungry Oni must be one of the most dazzling I’ve seen all year. And yes, I know it’s only February. (It is only February.) HUC99 The game is the work of Andrzej Zamoyski, a former Lionhead Studios developer who moved to Japan to make video games. More » https://kotaku.com/the-painful-beautiful-parting-of-two-brothers-bound-by-5853868 https://kotaku.com/the-mother-and-alien-child-reunion-is-a-couple-of-motio-5983684 The Mother-and-Alien-Child Reunion is a Couple of Motions w88 Away in Stick To It Whenever I feel like the physics puzzle format is completely played out, Fahey slides me another download code, and the thing turns out to be pretty good. More » https://kotaku.com/this-robot-racer-will-make-you-love-to-race-and-hate-5983864 This Robot Racer Will Make You Love To Race (And Hate) Your Friends These days, it feels like the phrase “iPhone racing games are a dime a dozen” is an understatement-heck, more than a dozen of these games are free. More » https://kotaku.com/i-knew-from-the-start-that-i-would-love-rock-runners-5984271 I Knew From the Start That I Would Love Rock Runners Have you ever played a game that just feels right-a game where the controls and challenge immediately click, making playing it an almost instinctual thing? More » https://kotaku.com/i-have-no-idea-whats-happening-in-this-ios-game-but-i-5984530 I Have No Idea What’s Happening In This iOS Game, But I Like It A lot of mobile games don’t make sense. Why are pigs and birds enemies? How many times do you need to keep running through that temple? What’s a science lab doing with so many electrical zappers? Jool, a new iOS game by a German developer named ROSTLAUB, makes the least sense of any mobile game… More » https://kotaku.com/you-have-to-kick-these-cats-it-keeps-them-from-explodi-5984638 You Have to Kick These Cats. It Keeps Them From Exploding. If you’re going to make a game about juggling cats in the air using your head and feet, you better have a damn good reason for the simulated animal cruelty. More »