Why trust Greenbotlcome to Five to Try, our weekly look at the five br new (or significantly updated) apps games you ought to scope out on your Android device. This week, we have an app designed to track your phone habits help keep your digital diversions under control, along with a fresh all-you-can-read magazine subscription option.
If it’s games you’re after, role-playing die-hards can find the latest port of a classic Dragon Quest campaign, while Adventure e fans can custom-build their own colorful worlds. You’ll also find a free new MOBA game for succinct, yet intense online team showdowns. Clear some space on your home screen: here’s what you should download now.
Qualitye
rried that your screen time is adding up, or just curious where the digital day goes? Qualitye tracks everything automatically.
Got an app obsession you aren’t even aware of? Sure, you might only play Clash of Clans for a few minutes at a time—but if it’s every hour, you might be losing a big portion of your day to mindless diversions. Get on top of your app usage with Qualitye, a new tracker that tallies up where your phone time is going each day.
The free app charts how long you use each individual app daily, tells you when that’s happening. And it can help you curb bad habits, reminding you to take a breather after a set amount of time on Facebook, or a few hours on the phone in general. You can even “Take a Break” block usage of the phone, aside from any pre-determined safe apps. Everything in moderation, right?
Dragon Quest V
Unlike the controller-based original, Dragon Quest V is optimized for one-thumb play, with movement comms all within range.
o knew that Android would become such a powerhouse for old-school role-playing games? Square Enix first ported over the formative early Final Fantasy games, has spent the past several months bringing over Dragon Quest as well, even optimizing each stalone entry for one-hed play. And Dragon Quest V is among the best of the classic series.
The Android version is based on the 2009 Nintendo DS remake (the first version to reach the States), with a blend of 2D sprites 3D environments. It’s hailed as a more mature tale, of a hero from his birth until he starts his own family—although it’s a fantasy quest, so there are still battles to fight monsters to recruit. The $15 price point is surely ambitious, but if you love classic Rs, it offers dozens of hours of entertainment.
Adventure e Game zard
ay the action-packed campaign, or create your own levels—you can even download others designed by the player community.
If you love Cartoon Network’s Adventure e, you’ve got Android gaming options: a competitive card game, endless skiing affair, or colorful spin on Snake, among others. But what if you’d rather make your own games? That’s where the new Adventure e Game zard comes in, delivering not only a solid side-scrolling action campaign, but also amusing creation tools in a $5 package.
You can compose your own elaborate game levels from scratch by drawing ledges on the screen placing coins, enemies, hazards. Or you can print out the specially marked grids sketch your designs on paper, using your phone or tablet’s camera to transfer the layout into the game. The recognition is a bit finicky, but mishaps are easily amended kids should love it.
Magzter
Magzter now offers an unlimited subscription plan, allowing access to a couple thous worldwide magazines for one monthly fee.
Magzter has been around for a while as an alternative digital magazine storefront, offering up both subscriptions single issues for various publications. However, this week’s launch of the 4.0 update brings a new option for voracious readers: Magzter , which features unlimited access to issues from more than 2,000 worldwide magazines.
Not every magazine Magzter offers is available via , so search the listings before committing to the $10/month fee. However, heavy hitters like ES The Magazine, Fast Company, Maxim are on the list, as well as our great sister mags Macworld. Competitor Next Issue seems to have more headline U.S. publications in its own unlimited plans, however, so be sure to compare contrast based on what you like to read.
The tcher Battle Arena
rking together to maintain control of the map is the goal in this spinoff of The tcher, the compact matches are built for portable play.
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games can be done well on touch devices, but the best mobile entries—Vainglory Fates Forever, in my estimation—still haven’t hit Android. However, anyone looking to get a ague of gends-like fix on a phone or tablet might consider The tcher Battle Arena this week, as it translates the hit role-playing epic into a free multiplayer showdown.
It’s an attractive three-on-three tweak on the genre, wherein you’ll attempt to maintain control of strategic points on the map while pummeling opponents with spells special attacks. The tcher Battle Arena is simpler in scope than genre leaders, but the 10-minutes-or-less matches are ideal for mobile, the core game isn’t burdened with freemium limitations.
The tcher Battle Arena is free with in-app purchases.
