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Apps That
Went Free on
2016-01-27

Build a real estate empire, turn your goals into achievements, and vanquish your foes by entering faster-than-light speed with today’s collection of apps and games.

Starlight® - Explore the Stars
iPhone
iPad
Starlight® - Explore the Stars

Starlight® - Explore the Stars

ION6, LLC

Point your iDevice at the sky to see what stars, planets, and constellations hover above with this fun reference app.

It’s for stargazers of every type.

FREE ($0.99) For a limited time FREE ($0.99) For a limited time
Why we picked this?

Just tap on the celestial objects you come across to learn more about them. You can also search the sky by keywords or by holding your iDevice up to the sky and shifting all around. The app includes over 100,000 stars, 88 western constellations, and planets of the solar system.

If you want to tour the cosmos, head outside and point Starlight at the sky. It’s streamlined interface makes it accessible for everyone.

If you’re looking to track celestial events, this isn’t the app for you.

Real Bokeh
iPhone
iPad
Real Bokeh

Real Bokeh

Dongwook Cho

Apply light leaks and shapes to your photos with Real Bokeh.

It adds a soft touch to any photo.

$2.99 $2.99
Why we picked this?

Any photo in your library is fair game. After importing one, you’re able to add shapes, light leaks, and filters. Shapes can be drawn on with the touch of a finger, and you can layer as many as you like. The size and color can be adjusted as well. Your new creations can be saved at full resolution or shared via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, or Flickr.

Thanks to the fact that you can draw the shapes onto your photo as opposed to simply stamping them, you’ll come up with something unique every time. Real Bokeh includes 36 shapes, 33 light leaks, and 23 filters in all.

The app is all about adding light. It’s not a full photography suite.

Hyperlight
iPhone
iPad
Hyperlight

Hyperlight

Alessandro Avigni

Pilot the Hyperlight and vanquish your foes by entering faster-than-light (FTL) speed in this colorful arcade game.

It’s for those who enjoy games like Geometry Wars.

$0.99 $0.99
Why we picked this?

You're able to activate your FTL engine by tapping and holding the button in the lower right corner of the screen, allowing you to burn up any enemy that crosses your path. But your FTL engine is powered by special fuel, which you will have to continuously collect to keep it running. The game includes two modes, 40 levels, dozens of power-ups to collect, three control options, and achievements and leaderboards via Game Center.

If you enjoy competing for high scores, Hyperlight will have you hooked. It’s similar in concept to Geometry Wars, but its custom gameplay and control elements make it perfectly suited for mobile devices.

If you have an aversion to neon graphics, stay far away from this one.

iAchievement - Gamify Your Life
iPhone
iAchievement - Gamify Your Life

iAchievement - Gamify Your Life

Jitkem Tienngam

Turn your goals into achievements with this productivity app.

It’s the type of app for anyone in need of a little inspiration to achieve their goals.

$1.99 $1.99
Why we picked this?

Why should achieving your goals be boring and lame? iAchievement turns it into a game! When creating a new goal you’re able to title it, attach notes, categorize it, and define your units. Goals can really be anything, from the amount of times you perform an action to how many pages you flip. It’s all up to you. Every time you complete one of your goals, just tally it on the main screen and iAchievement will track your progress.

If you’ve always had trouble achieving your goals, it’s worth giving iAchievement a try. Its unique gaming approach achieving your goals may just inspire you.

Setting up goals within iAchievement can be a bit of a chore since you have to determine and assign points. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to track your goals, this isn’t it.

Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe HD (Full)
iPad
Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe HD (Full)

Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe HD (Full)

G5 Entertainment AB

Pack your bags and head to Europe to build your real estate empire in this strategy game.

It’s ideal for fans of games like Sim City.

$4.99 $4.99
Why we picked this?

Travel through England, Spain, Switzerland, and more to help towns with their real estate needs. You'll need to buy up and restore rundown buildings, build new cottages, rent out properties for a little extra cash, and add new landmarks that the locals can be proud of. Bad weather and other crises will attempt to impede your progress, but you must persevere. The game includes 45 levels, 9 countries to explore, six sandbox maps, two modes, and achievements and leaderboards via Game Center.

If you enjoy casual city building games, Build-a-lot 3 should be right up your alley. There’s a casual mode for those who just want to enjoy building things up, and the campaign mode will put your skills to the test.

The campaign mode can be frustrating at times, and there isn’t a way to skip levels.

Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe (Full)
iPhone
Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe (Full)

Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe (Full)

G5 Entertainment AB

Pack your bags and head to Europe to build your real estate empire in this strategy game.

It’s ideal for fans of games like Sim City.

$2.99 $2.99
Why we picked this?

Travel through England, Spain, Switzerland, and more to help towns with their real estate needs. You'll need to buy up and restore rundown buildings, build new cottages, rent out properties for a little extra cash, and add new landmarks that the locals can be proud of. Bad weather and other crises will attempt to impede your progress, but you must persevere. The game includes 45 levels, 9 countries to explore, six sandbox maps, two modes, and achievements and leaderboards via Game Center.

If you enjoy casual city building games, Build-a-lot 3 should be right up your alley. There’s a casual mode for those who just want to enjoy building things up, and the campaign mode will put your skills to the test.

The campaign mode can be frustrating at times, and there isn’t a way to skip levels.