Happy
New Year! We're welcoming in 2015 by looking ahead to the 50 most
important iOS and Android games that are due in the next 12 months.We've
got massive games from big companies, and tiny games from microscopic
indie firms. We've got games that are coming real soon, and ones that
might even slip into 2016.As always, platforms are pretty fluid on mobile. Almost all of these games are coming to iOS, and most of those will come to Android at some point after. Come back to PG throughout the year to get more specific info on dates and devices.
Rogue Star
The space combat and trading genre is booming on PC, with massive celestial sims like Star Citizen and Elite: Dangerous. But if you're on a mobile, you might want to check out Rogue Star. You'll have to battle space pirates, loot cargo, trade wares, and generally be the Alan Sugar of space.
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build
It's Sokoban - that timeless Japanese puzzle game about shifting boxes around - but with a difference. You're trying to make the perfect snowman by rolling up snow into big balls, and then plopping them on top of each other. Adorable, and potentially quite addictive.
Gunslugs 2
Gunslugs wasn't smart or sophisticated. It was about running through pixel art worlds, shooting everything that moves with big meaty guns. It was great. Part two adds more of everything that matters, including guns, explosions, and corny movie references.
Gunbrick
In this game, you play as a brick, which rolls through levels like… well, a brick. But you also have a powerful gun that can kill enemies, destroy blocks, and - crucially - propel you forward. This inventive control scheme helps you get through cute retro-like levels.
Twilight Struggle
This Cold War card battler is deemed, by those in the know, as one of the best board games around. Now, after a wildly successful Kickstarter, you'll be able to see it for yourself on iPad and Android with a digital edition - developed by Playdek. And it works cross platform, so you can say to Apple and Google "tear down this wall!"
Out There: Omega Edition
Space survival game Out There was one of our favourites. At times it was tense, as you managed the last drops of an empty fuel tank. At times it was silly, as you accidentally lop off a finger in your spaceship machinery. This free update will add new stories and races, an extended soundtrack, and beautiful new 3D visuals.
Kingdoms
This dainty, minimalist strategy game will surely materialise in 2015. It was practically done at PGC Helsinki, when the developer completely destroyed me and what's left of my dignity by rampaging over my green squares with his orange squares. It's like Letterpress, but with fewer letters (none).
Chroma Squad
This game's all about managing a TV studio that puts out campy sentai TV programmes. So you'll have to manage your studio and staff, and then engage in turn-based tactical battles to record 'episodes'. It's a brilliant concept, and executed with aplomb.
Crashlands
We like pretty much everything Butterscotch Shenanigans puts out. How can you now, when games like Towelfight and Quadropus Rampage are so absurdly great. That's why we can't wait for this epic infinitely-big adventure with explorations ne crafting and weird animals that look like my nightmares.
Forgotten Memories
No prizes for guessing where this psychological horror game gets its ideas. This is Silent Hill for your iPhone, complete with flashlights, ammo scarcity, creepy enemies, and a foreboding atmosphere.
BOID
A simplified multiplayer RTS, from the man behind Contre Jour. As a Bio Organic Infestation Drone that just crash landed on an alien planet, you'll have to make quick fire decisions to stay alive, and defeat any enemy forces.
Tempo
Splash Damage, of Enemy Territory and Brink fame, has turned London into a hostage. If you don't pay some bloke a trillion quid, he's gonna blow up the capital. Blimey! Good job you've got a bunch of tactical dudes and dudettes who can beat the crap out of these terrorists in this slick, reflex-based action game.
Heroes and Castles 2
Next year, Foursaken Media is going back to its action-packed tower defence brawler Heroes and Castles and giving it a complete overhaul. This sequel's got spiffy new graphics and more of everything to make those massive horde-style battles come to life.
Fugl
Here's a clever idea: a bird game, where the virtual analogue sticks control the critter's individual wings. It's probably not a feathered version of QWOP, though. It's about soaring around in serene, voxel-style landscapes, thinking about bird things.
This War of Mine
In this war game, you don't play as a super soldier. You play as an average civilian, caught up in a nasty civil war and figuring out how to survive. As you loot, scavenge, steal, and suffer, you'll see a side of war that very few games portray.
Dog Sled Saga
I don't think I've ever play as a rookie musher before, so points for that. As musher master-to-be, you'll have to train up a competitive - yet happy - team of dogs. Then, you'll race them in wintery competitions. It sounds like everything I ever wanted from video games.
Severed
With Guacamelee, Drinkbox dusted off its old copy of Metroid and jazzed it up with a Mexican wrestling theme. Now those retro raiders are having their way with Punch-Out!!, morphing it into a barmy psychadelic RPG where you chop off your enemies's limbs. Next time: a post-apocalyptic Wrecking Crew MMO.
Space Noir
If Rogue Star isn't enough for you, here's another game that professes to be a love letter to "classic, narrative driven space combat games." Coming from Air Mail maker N-Fusion, this game's all about being a bounty hunter who does missions both on world and off.
The Talos Principle
It just came out on PC, and it's getting fantastic reviews. Somehow, the guys behind brainless blaster Serious Sam made a wicked smart puzzler with a thoughtful backstory. Who would'a thunk it? We can't wait for the promised Android version.
Total War Battles: Kingdom
This is almost a Clash of Clans clone. Almost, but not quite. The battles are much smarter, with proper Total War tactics. And your town is much bigger, as you rule over an entire realm. Best of all, no one is going to come into your village and steal all your treasure.
Heroes of Might & Magic III HD
I've never played Heroes of Might & Magic III. But I ascertain from my research that it is a "computer game" from "the past". Who better to give it a spiffy new mobile remaster than retro game revivalist DotEmu? Definitely better than Ubisoft itself, which just turned Anno into a free to play grind fest.
Assassin's Creed: Identity
Ubisoft has released about 18,000 different Assassin's Creed games on iOS, but they've all been cash-ins, companion apps, mini-games, and card battlers. This is the closest you'll get to a proper Creed game on mobile, with free-roaming worlds and proper action gameplay. Shame it's free to play, eh?
Spacewrights
At first glance, this looks like a cute clone of FTL. But wait! Press pause on your angry tweet. This is actually a 4X strategy game where you'll be exploring space and creating a galactic empire. You also make your own ship from bricks and bits like a big intergalactic Lego set.
Syberia 3
A threequel to steampunk adventure series Syberia has been a long time coming. But after a few negotiations, a couple contracts, and a lot of soul searching, Syberia 3 is finally underway. Series creator Benoît Sokal is back as lead writer.
Moonrise
Wondering what State of Decay developer Undead Games is up to, following the release of its much-loved zombie game? Wonder no more - it's a Pokemon-like critter-collecting RPG for mobile. It looks lovely, and might be the next best thing to having a Squirtle on your smartphone.
