“Inside Out” Thought Bubbles
Match coloured orbs with the help of Joy, Sadness and Anger
Inside Out is the movie of the moment, and if you want to extend the fun, consider downloading the film’s tie-in app. It is a matching game in the style of classic arcade games such as “Bubble Bobble,” in which players shoot and match coloured orbs to clear them from the ceiling. In this app, the orbs you’re matching are thought bubbles. Your early game host is Joy, one of the movie’s protagonists, who cheerfully coaches you through the app.
As you progress, you can pick up Sadness and Anger, who also add their own spin on things. The game does not require in-app purchases to advance, though buying super-tools from the app will make it easier to advance quickly. The game also has a built-in rationing method. When you run out of lives, you have to put the game away to regenerate over time (or, alternatively, pay up) to keep going. Free for iOS and Android devices.
Skyward
Sharpen your timing skills in simple but challenging game
Sometimes the simplest games are the most infuriating ones. Skyward is a very simple game. You play as two dots that revolve around each other, “walking” a thin path. When you want to place the next circle to advance through the level, you just have to tap to lay it down within a certain time period. Doing so, however, is much harder than it sounds, because timing is everything. Be prepared to find yourself baffled by a low score because you missed the right moment by a hair.
The free version of the game includes ads, which seem to come up all the more frequently if you’re straying from the path. That can be disruptive, and those who really hate ads may find it ruins their zen. But despite occasional frustration, Skyward is fun to play, and its woodblock-like visuals make it easy on the eyes even if it’s hard on your sense of rhythm. Free for Android devices.
Washington Post
