Best Windows apps this week
One-hundred and fortieth in a series. Welcome to this week's overview of the best apps and games released for Windows in the past seven days.
Our coverage of the Windows 10 launch and its aftermath continues here on BetaNews.
This week saw the release of several high quality apps and games including Candy Crush Saga or BlazBlue Calamity Trigger and updates for popular apps such as Audible and USA Today.
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 Week
Red Stripe Deals are back. Microsoft added them to the new store of Windows 10.
- ExZeus 2, a Mech-focused 3D shooting game, for $2.99
- Find the City, a geographical quiz for $0.99
- Freeboard the Game, an action game for $0.99
- Dr. Panda's Airport, an airport game for children for $0.99
- Runtastic Squats PRO, a fitness application for $0.99
- Myth Defense 2 DF, a tower defense game for $1.49
Best App of the Week
I missed Candy Crush Saga last week, and while it is an old game that has been around for years, it is still a very popular game and the first release for Windows.
It is a match-3 type of game in which you need to complete tasks in a level to continue to the next. Basic tasks include matching a certain score, dropping special items to the ground or clearing jelly.
The game has been designed with monetization in mind. The five lives you start with replenish after a while, but the level barriers that the developers built-into the game can only be passed with in-game currency or by asking friends or strangers to help you out.
Apart from that, you get a well-designed game that fans of the genre will love.
Other Apps
BLAZBLUE CALAMITY TRIGGER ($7.99, free trial available)
BLAZBLUE CALAMITY TRIGGER is a 2D fighting game that plays similarly to genre classics such as Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat.
The game features three game modes, arcade, versus and score attack, and more than a dozen fighters to pick from.
All fighters have unique abilities which you can find out about in the command list which highlights how you perform specific moves using a game pad.
Artwork and graphics are stunning, especially for a Windows 10 game that you purchase in the store.
WiFi Monitor ($1.99, free trial available)
The application scans the vicinity for available wireless networks and displays all of them in its interface after the scan.
It displays channels and noise for each wireless network which is not only useful when setting up a wireless router or access point, but also when connecting to one of the available networks.
The Pro version supports upload and download speed testing, and direct connections to networks from within the application.
Robot Rundown features a crazy mix of 8-bit style graphics and full motion video with actors.
It is a side-scrolling shoot'em up game at its core in which you play SOL-BOT, a medical robot trying to escape disassembly.
The robot is equipped with thrusters, a shield to mitigate damage, and a laser.
The retro graphics may not be for all players, but if you like the style or have played similar games in the distant past, you will certainly enjoy Robot Rundown as well.
Windows DVD Player ($14.99, free trial available)
The official DVD player for Windows 10 is a free download for users who upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 provided that they had access to Media Center on the previous system.
The price is steep considering that plenty of free alternatives are available.
All the app does is play video DVDs or ISO images.
Doom and Destiny Advanced ($0.99, free trial available)
Doom and Destiny Advanced is a classic 16-bit style roleplaying game. The advanced version improves the free version in multiple ways and the developers call it the sequel, prequel and reboot of Doom and Destiny.
It features turn-based combat, a huge world to explore, lots of story, cross-platform multiplayer and lots more.
If you like classic roleplaying games, you will love Doom and Destiny Advanced.
Explorer10 ($2.99, free trial available)
Explorer10 is a file manager for Windows that supports all basic file operations such as launching, copying or renaming files.
It is tab-based, can display different paths in tabs, and features a light and dark theme.
Jellyflug Micro Adventures ($4.99, free trial available)
Jellyflug Micro Adventures is a classic jump and run game at its core. It plays in a microworld full of bacteria and while it is unclear what you play in the game, it is lots of fun.
The game is divided into 45 different levels and tasks which usually ask you to collect a certain number of "things".
Controls are easy to understand. You move the character using the keyboard, a gamepad or touch, shoot bacteria at enemies, or use the jump button to evade them to climb in the game.
Important Updates
- Audiobooks from Audible - The Audible application was completely redesigned for Windows 10. It features a new and improved player and library management, and ships with ribbon player for easier controlling of playback.
- USA Today - The interface of the official USA Today application was redesigned completely for Windows 10.