One-hundred and twenty eight in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows in the past seven days.
Microsoft kicked off this year's BUILD conference with a bang as it revealed new information about its upcoming operating system Windows 10, the application ecosystem and other core company products. Check out our coverage on Microsoft Edge, the Continuum feature, Windows Store changes and information about the new build that just landed.
Several high quality applications and games were released this week including Cut the Rope 2, the successor to one of the most popular Windows games to date, and Hitman Go, another excellent game.
As always, if I missed an app or game that has been released this week that you believe is particularly good, let me know in the comments below or notify me via email instead.
Discounts This WeekThe following applications and games are discounted by at least 50 percent this week.
- Sesame Street Touch & Learn TV, features interactive Sesame Street content for $3.49
- DropZone, an arcade game for $0.99
- Fantastic Farm, become a farmer for $0.99
- Stickman 2D: Evolution, draw stickman on the screen to send them into battle for $1.49
- Online Cameras, provides access to public cameras for $2.99
- Ape of Steel, a shooting game for $0.99
Best app of the week
One of the most popular Windows Store games returns with new levels and challenges.
The core game mechanics have not changed in Cut The Rope 2. You are still tasked with getting the candy into the mouth of Om Nom,
How you achieve that depends largely on you but there is lots of rope cutting involved to make sure the candy reaches its goal.
Challenges, like collecting all stars on the way or a certain amount of fruit, test your skills.
The game features new locations, and characters that help you in your journey, introducing new elements that make sure that the game is not just a level pack.
Other apps
Fighter X is a Plants vs. Zombies clone in which you place heroes on the board instead of plants to defend against onrushing zombie hordes.
The game works exactly as you would expect. You start with a certain amount of coins that you invest in placing characters on the board.
Heroes have different abilities from humans, ranging from shooting with pistols to boars that fight in melee combat instead and can take a punch before they go down.
Zombies come in different shapes and sizes, from powerful melee shamblers to fast zombies that cross the battlefield quickly.
RAWConverter ($2.99, free trial available)
The image converter supports more than 550 different digital camera RAW input files which you can process using the tools it makes available.
Apart from loading and converting these file formats, it offers basic image editing functionality that allows you to resize, rotate or correct photos before you export them in one of the supported formats.
Easy Gems is a fun match-3 type puzzle game that plays slightly different from other games of its kind.
While you still match three or more gems of the same type together, you are not limited by moves in the game but only by time.
This is not as stressful as it sounds as you have plenty of time to complete each level.
The game has nice visuals and music, and features more than 80 levels to play through.
The official Eurovision Song Contest application features a countdown timer, updates, background information and media.
It is one of those events that you either like or dislike, there seems to be no middle-ground.
If you are a fan, it may be worth checking out especially since you seem to be able to use it to cast your vote provided that you are living in Europe.
Hitman GO ($4.99, no free trial)
Hitman Go takes core elements of all Hitman games, that is stealth, infiltration and assassinations, to a whole new level.
It is a turn-based puzzle game at its core in which you move Agent 47 around to complete objectives and avoid enemies as well as you can.
Disguises and hiding spots help you move unnoticed and when that is no longer possible, you still have access to an arsenal of weapons that you can rely on including sniper rifles.
The official application of the International Motor Sport Association requires that you create a profile before it can be used.
Once that is out of the way, you can tune in to watch live TV or listen to radio commentary, check live timing and scoring information, and get information about drivers, teams and schedules.
Geo-restrictions seem to apply to some contents.