The 8 best apps and games in April include Tumblr 4.0, Mortal Kombat X and more
Over the past month, AppAdvice has been showing you some great apps and games from the App Store. Take a look below at the best ones for each week in the month of April:
App of the week
Adobe Slate, April 3, Free, iPad only
What we said: The basic premise of Slate is simple: it turns words and images into beautiful stories that can be shared with anyone, and you don’t need anything special to make it. The app includes a wide variety of professionally designed magazine-style layouts that are aesthetically pleasing.
HBO Now, April 13, Free, Universal
What we said: HBO Now was introduced at Apple’s special event on March 9, and is available across a variety of Apple devices. To get started, just download the app for free, and then subscribe to the standalone HBO Now service through iTunes for $14.99 per month.
Tumblr 4.0, April 20, Free, Universal
What we said: The biggest new feature is the ability to create new blogs directly from the Tumblr app itself. All users have to do is go to the “Me” tab, scroll to the bottom, and then tap on “Create a new blog.” From here, just give it a username, title, description, blog avatar, header image, accent, and background, and you’re good to go. This is perfect for those moments when you’re out-and-about and suddenly have an idea for a blog.
Funny or Die News Flash, April 27, Free, iPhone only
What we said: In Funny or Die News Flash, users will see the top headlines for the day accompanied by jokes, videos, and satire for each story. The app covers all of the normal news topics, like politics, domestic, international, sports, science, religion, technology, and more. No matter what you’re into, there is always going to be a bit of everything on the front page of Funny or Die News Flash, and it will make you chuckle.
Game of the week
Final Fantasy Record Keeper, April 3, Free, Universal
What we said: The visuals in Record Keeper are a nice mix of modern and retro. While the game menus have the fresh new look to them, the painting environments and iconic characters are all done in pixelated sprites that harken back to the original Final Fantasy games.
Last Voyage, April 10, $0.99, Universal
What we said: The most unique thing about Last Voyage is the philosophy behind it all. On the surface, it’s a game about space, but it goes beyond our normal culture and technology and dives into something deeper. You don’t master a single task, but explore a wide range of different concepts.
Mortal Kombat X, April 17, Free, Universal
What we said: While the console versions of Mortal Kombat X were released this week, that doesn’t mean that mobile gamers miss out on all of the fun of Mortal Kombat. The mobile version of the game features beautifully rich and detailed visuals just like the console versions, along with the X-Rays and Fatalities that the series is known for, but things are done slightly differently.
Layer – simple is hard, April 24, $1.99, Universal
What we said: This gorgeous game features a minimalistic look and feel that you are sure to love. The white game grids stand out nicely against the black background, and the colored tiles on the board are bright and vibrant. There are smooth animations as well, so Layer is an aesthetically pleasing package. The soundtrack is tranquil and soothing, so this is the perfect little game to just sit back with after a long day. Plus, the card shuffling sound effects are a nice touch.
