Southeast Asia To Go: Mobile Game Mash-Up
Lately, our wordsmith Andreas has been commuting by subway frequently and therefore has more time to play on his mobile phones.This short mobile game mash-up features three gems from Southeast Asia that entertain him every day on the way to work!
Takoway (iOS, Android)
The waiting time between two trains can best be bridged with a small round of casual puzzling. Takoway from Singaporean Studio Hexagoon offers just that: short but tricky puzzles. Based on the optical illusion of the Necker Cubes, we steer a small octopus who caught in a lab for strange experiments. Each level is a kind of three-dimensional cube or rectangle, where the view and position angle can be moved by swiping. So, our octopus appears for example on the inside or outside of the cube depending of the different perspectives. Sounds confusing? It totally is – Try it yourself! Takoway is wonderfully mind-bending, super cute and comes as a premium (2.99$) game without advertising or annoying free-to-play nonsense.
Sunset Road (iOS, Android)
It’s dark in the subway, so it’s time to let the sunshine in! The perfect game for the dark season is no doubt Sunset Road by Indonesian developer Klappanome. We are sitting in convertible, next to us our girlfriend and we are rushing towards the sunset. Gorgeous! By choosing dialogue options, we influence which places we visit next. It’s a trip down memory lane, full of emotions and witty conversations. This narrative adventure stands out for its visual style – it is as if this road trip leads us through a very carefully animated oil painting. Unlocking new dialogue, set pieces and rides makes us craving for another playthrough! Sunset Road is completely free and has recently been translated into eight languages. No excuses left not to play Sunset Road!
Boom Battlefield (iOS, Android)
However, on the way back from work, Andreas sometimes lacks the energy for sophisticated narrative games. Fortunately, there’s Boom Battlefield. This tower defense offshoot by Hiker Games from Vietnam is mainly motivating because of its game mechanics: build your own army and bust the enemy convoy. At the same time, however, your own transport must be secured, because other players can raid it too. If you have to attack, place towers and drop units on the battlefield from a deck of cards. That way, Boom Battlefield becomes an exciting back and forth with an addictive upgrades system. Unlike the other titles in this list, Boom Battlefield is free-to-play and relies on lootboxes and micro-transactions. The prices are very high and no later than one hour in the game the fun is noticeably inhibited, if you do not drop some coins. If that does not bother you, expect a gripping gap filler with competitive character.
