Welcome to the 527th edition of Android Apps Weekly, where we discuss the latest mobile news and take a closer look at some of the most interesting new apps and games. Let’s jump right in and take a look at some of last week’s biggest highlights:
- We finally got our first look at Gemini Assistant in Messenger. The upcoming feature isn’t officially available yet, but that didn’t stop the folks at TheSpAndroid from having Gemini develop a beta version of Messenger. The new assistant will be able to help by recommending places, generating codes, creating images, and more.
- Not only is the Epic Games Store coming to iOS in the near future, Epic has confirmed that it will also bring the same Epic Games Store experience to Android. While there are already third-party Epic apps for downloading games like Fortnite, this new version will be better unified with the desktop and iOS iterations. There is no confirmed release date yet.
- While we already knew the feature was in the works, Google has now finally rolled out the new app highlight. In a nutshell, this feature uses AI to generate summaries that highlight key aspects of every app on the Play Store. The idea behind this change is that it will make it easier for people to figure out what the app has to offer, eliminating unnecessary descriptions and other nonsense.
- WhatsApp has been in the news multiple times last week. First, Whatsapp is testing a new feature that will allow users to post videos longer than 60 seconds in status updates. In addition to this, a recent APK teardown also revealed that the app may soon allow Android users to transcribe voice messages, a feature that was previously limited to the iOS app.
- A new APK teardown of the Google Messages app reveals multiple references to Android Satellite Messages, suggesting the system works similarly to Apple’s Emergency SOS. Additionally, this change is expected to roll out with Android 15.
- Google is making a new change to the Contacts app, adding a new contact ringtone option that lets you quickly add, change, or delete a contact’s unique ringtone from one place. While this is a small change, it’s still a welcome one and a bit easier than the current system.
- Don’t like the new taskbar rolling out with Android 12L on later devices like the Pixel tablet and Pixel Fold? The latest Android 15 preview lets you do something about this, giving you the option to switch back to the classic persistent taskbar. While this may not be a big deal to most of you, I’m glad to see that Google is still taking customization seriously.
Android App Weekly: New Apps and Games
Looking for some new Android apps and Android games to keep you busy? There aren’t any major new apps coming out this week, but there are quite a few games worth highlighting.
Hell’s Kiss: Fantasy Otome
- price: Free with in-app purchases
If you like shows like Demon Slayer or Hotel Hazbin and happen to be a fan of dating sims, you might want to check out the latest additions to StoryTaco, Hell Kiss: Fantasy Otome . In this unique dating sim, you have four demon lords to choose from, and you have thirty days to choose. While the game is free, be aware that it has quite a few ads, but you can pay extra to eliminate them. There are plenty of other in-app purchases, such as special date episodes, which means you’ll likely end up spending at least a little money on this game if you want to get the most out of it.
oh my anne
- price: Free with in-app purchases
While most match-3 games don’t have rich storylines, Oh My Anne is an exception. This new match-3 puzzle game, developed by ROUND8 studio under Neowiz, is essentially a reinterpretation of the Canadian novel Anne of Green Gables. The game puts you in the role of Anne as she meets new friends, renovates Green Gables, and more, all while performing simple match-3 puzzles in the process. The game is free but has in-app purchases and ads.
Boomerang RPG
- price: Free with in-app purchases
Hundreds of years ago, the world of Playboy was destroyed by a group of demons who came from nowhere. Like the legendary hero, a clever baby named Dude is born with extraordinary boomerang powers. Yes, this is indeed the story. The game’s graphics and simple story are quirky and fun, but I did find the game a bit problematic as it crashed twice in just twenty minutes. It’s worth checking out if you’re looking for something fun and different, but be aware that the game isn’t the most stable yet. Hopefully this will get better with future updates.
Guardian Wars: Definitive Edition
- price: Free basic experience (with ads), premium version $0.99
Guardian Wars is one of the best games ZITGA has ever made, and now the new Ultimate Edition makes it even better. This new version includes a unique new hero class, the ability to change the game’s weather, new worlds to explore, and more. While the game is free to play, we recommend unlocking the premium experience for just $0.99.
CookieRun: Witch’s Castle
- price: Free with in-app purchases
Witch Castle is the latest entry in the CookieRun series of puzzle games, offering the same charming graphics and style as the other games in the series. Overall, the game is a lot of fun, but I felt the levels progressed a little too quickly, and the Gatcha system was far from great. As far as stability goes, luckily I didn’t encounter any bugs.