One-hundred and twenty nine in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows in the past seven days.
Microsoft announced this week that Windows 10 will launch this summer for PCs only and that Windows 10 on other devices will be released later.
This week saw the release of several high profile apps and games. App of the week is Zombie Driver HD, a well designed professional arcade racing game. If apps are more your thing, you may want to check out Verizon Messages which adds messaging functionality for Verizon customers, and DeNoise, a professional noise reduction application.
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.
- ilomilo plus, a beautiful puzzle game for $2.49
- Doodle Creatures HD, another puzzle game in the "Doodle-universe" for Free
- Nextgen Reader, a modern RSS reader for $0.99
- Paint My Cat, paint and bring to life in this artistic game for $1.49
- Stand O'Food HD (Full), serve customers in this restaurant game for $2.99
- Traps n' Gemstones, an arcade game for $2.49
Best app of the week
Zombie Driver HD ($9.99, free trial available)
Zombie Driver HD is a well-designed mature game that mixes driving with weapons, explosions and zombies.
It features several game modes including a 31 mission campaign in which you rescue people, fight bosses, collect all sorts of weaponry and extras, and drive different vehicles from a plain old cab to fire trucks and tanks.
Visuals, audio and presentation of the game are excellent and there is more to play than just the campaign.
There is blood race for one, a mode in which you participate in 30 events in arcade fashion, and a survival mode in which you fight in arenas against never ending waves of monsters.
Other apps
Doodle Tanks ($2.49, no free trial)
This is the latest Doodle game in which you combine elements to create tanks and armored vehicles. You start with four basic elements that you need to blend in unique ways to create new elements which in turn unlock new tanks and vehicles.
Apart from the puzzle aspect, it provides information on tanks and armored vehicles which history buffs may appreciate
You need a Verizon wireless number for this app. Verizon Messages allows you to send and receive messages on all devices the apps runs on, and saves conversations for up to 90 days automatically.
It features customization options, options to display specific types of contents such as photos or videos, and a basic image editor.
One thing that is missing is integration with Windows' own contacts application.
I did buy the card game Boss Monster on last year's Spiel event in Essen, Germany and liked the game a lot. In it you create a dungeon, lure heroes into it and try to collect their souls. If heroes make it through your dungeon, you are wounded and if you get too many wounds it is game over for you.
You play dungeon and spell cards during your turn which determine which heroes enter your dungeon or the dungeons of your opponents.
The basic game is free to play but limited to one on one play against the computer. To unlock online multiplayer as well as additional cards and features you need to purchase expansions from within the game.
DeNoise ($2.99, free trial)
DeNoise is a noise reduction app for RAW, JPG, PNG and other photo formats that enables you to clean up photos using global and local controls.
The app displays a before and after slider to preview changes made in real-time. DeNoise supports several options to customize the output, from Luma Noise and Color Noise Thresholds to brightness and saturation controls.
Crack Attack adds an interesting new concept to match-3 type of games. You link different colored eggs in the game to create sequences and advance to the next.
It shares game modes with match-3 type games however, as you are tasked with scoring enough points, breaking ice or dropping diamonds to the ground before your moves run out.
A Pakistani sports TV channel that is broadcasting live sports events and classic events. Sports covered include soccer, baseball, billiards, cricket and tennis, among others.
Sunshine Bay is a typical building game in which you build the perfect place on a tropical island.
You start small, as is the case in all of these games, and grow slowly but steadily by adding piers, hotels, yachts, townhouses, bars, stores and other buildings to it.
The game uses a quest system and levels to keep you entertained. As is the case with all of these games, you either have to spend time to get things done or money to speed things up.
Some items seem only available for premium currency though of which you don't have a lot.