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Five Mobile Ports Worth Tracking In 2014
The Android and iOS marketplaces have more than their fair share of Clash of Clans clones, pick-three games, and endless runners, but sometimes we want something more along the lines of the games we play on console and PC. If you're a like-minded gamer who gets more excited about Final Fantasy VI, XCOM: Enemy Unkown, and Shadowrun Returns than you do about Flappy Bird, keep your eye out for these five games scheduled to make the jump to iOS and Android this year.
The Banner Saga
Developer Stoic ran into some legal hurdles earlier this year when King.com opposed its trademarking of The Banner Saga, but has since assured fans that it plans to bring its Nordic strategy/RPG game to tablets. Given the turned-based combat mechanics, the game should port nicely. Stoic has not set a timetable for the mobile versions, but recently told Pocket Gamer that they plan to launch on iOS first. You can read our glowing review of the PC version here.
Broken Age
Double Fine's love letter to its point-and-click adventure past won a lot of praise from critics (including us) upon the January 28 release of the first act of Broken Age. The simple mechanics hark back to the glory days of Day of the Tentacle and Grim Fandango, which makes it an ideal port to touchscreen devices. Later this year, iOS and Android users will get to experience the tales of Vella and Shay, two teenagers from very different backgrounds trying to find their places in the universe.
FTL: Faster Than Light
Subset Games confirmed last year that it plans to bring its popular spaceship simulation roguelike to tablets. While we still don't have a release date, Subset shared some details on new features coming to the port, including the ability to send a hacking drone out to probe enemy ships, a clone bay for replacing crew members, and backup batteries to get you through rough battles. The studio is planning an Android port after the PC expansion and iOS port are complete. Check our our review of the PC version here.
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Several GI editors can't get enough of Blizzard's digital collectible card game. The beauty of this 1v1 card game is that matches go quick, which makes it a great fit for gaming on the go. The World of Warcraft and Diablo creators teased the mobile version of the free-to-play game at E3, PAX and Blizzcon. Now that the PC version is in open beta we assume some of Blizzard's attention has turned to the promised iOS port. Look for it in the second half of the year.
Papers, Please
We loved Lucas Pope's inventive bureaucracy game about working as an immigration inspector at a border checkpoint for a totalitarian state. In fact, we loved it so much that we named it the best simulation game of 2013. Given the game's critical success, Pope announced last August that he plans to bring the game to Android and iOS platforms. Given the controversial themes, Pope told Pocket Gamer that he's worried about making it through the Apple approval process, but the company can't be that dumb to turn away such an impressive game...can it? Read our thoughts on the game here.
What ports are you excited to see come to mobile platforms in 2014? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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