What to Play on Your Smartphone: Tanks in the Air, Ninjas in the Shadows, Anime in Gacha, and More

Most Downloaded New Games of September

Seven Knights Re:BIRTH

Netmarble has been in the mobile market for a long time, and Seven Knights Re:BIRTH is their latest project in the gacha RPG genre. Unlike modern anime games, there is no large-scale world or free exploration here. The gameplay is extremely simple: you collect characters (often for your favorite waifu), level them up, and use them in automatic battles. There are clans, chats, and joint activities — all standard for the genre.

The game doesn't shine with originality but stands out with its high-quality 3D graphics. Unlike the old 2D original, the characters are detailed, the animations are smooth, and the visuals are bright and modern.

However, the reaction of players is mixed. Technically, the game works stably and is translated into Russian, but the main problem is aggressive monetization. Generous bonuses for newcomers quickly end, and further progress slows down: to collect heroes, you need to either play a lot or spend money — often both. Against the background of more balanced competitors, this is puzzling.

Is it worth downloading?

Only for a couple of days — to admire the graphics and animations. The plot, even in Russian, and especially the gameplay, are not particularly impressive. And if you decide to play, be careful with the gacha: it's easy to get drawn in and spend too much.

Sky Combat 2: Air Combat

Sky Combat 2: Air Combat brings the gameplay familiar to everyone from "Tanks" to the skies, now in a global release version. For Azur Interactive Games, this is not the first attempt to make such a project. And if the first Sky Combat collected several million installations and received a warm reception from players, the second part started no less confidently — with high ratings in app stores and active audience growth.

The gameplay remained true to the formula: fast PvP battles, an emphasis on action, not on realism. Jet aircraft converge in aerial battles at distances at which their piston predecessors fought. Not only missiles but also cannons are used in battles. By modern standards, this is terrible exotica, but it's fun. So this is not a simulator, but the main thing is that players like it.

Another change, compared to the first part, is slightly improved graphics. Aircraft models are slightly more detailed, explosions are more spectacular, and arenas are more diverse.

The social component is also in place: there is a friend system and squads. The main mode is team battles of 3 on 3, but the developers promise to develop them.

The fleet of vehicles is already quite large: both modern fighters (F-22, Su-57) and classic machines of the last century are represented. There are American, Russian, European aircraft — including rare specimens like the Swedish Saab 29 Tunnan.

If the sky beckons, and you don't have enough money or a pilot's license for a real fighter yet, Sky Combat 2: Air Combat will be a good replacement. This is not a deep simulator, but a pleasant, dynamic entertainment with beautiful graphics, a good selection of vehicles, and lively PvP. Overall, the project looks interesting.

Elpis: Fallen Star

Elpis: Fallen Star is another representative of mobile RPGs in anime style. In combat scenes, the characters look like chibi: cute figures with a disproportionately large head, and in story cutscenes and on banners — like full-fledged, proportional heroes from a high-budget anime. If you are familiar with Blue Archive or Reverse: 1999, then you roughly imagine what it all looks like. And it's not just about appearance: the game feels similar to them too.

In terms of atmosphere and visual style, Elpis is closer to Reverse: 1999 (see our review), but the gameplay is more like Blue Archive. Tactical elements are present here, but they are less pronounced than in Reverse: 1999 — in general, it all comes down to arranging the squad, choosing abilities, and watching automatic battles.

For those who are not in the know: in such mobile RPGs, gameplay is not the main thing. The main thing is to assemble a team of legendary characters, level them up to the maximum, and use them in PvP, events, and story episodes. But Russian players may have difficulties with the latter: the game is not translated into Russian. You will have to either learn English (which, however, is useful) or simply skip the dialogues. Considering that the narrative in such projects is often шаблонный, this may even be a plus.

Speaking of heroes — more precisely, heroines. Their ratio to men is approximately 1 to 10. This is a clear hint: we have another game for collecting "waifu". Bright anime girls in lush but revealing outfits, gacha mechanics, and the same familiar monetization — nothing new.

In our opinion, Elpis: Fallen Star is not worth the time spent. Even if you like the genre, there are more interesting and well-thought-out alternatives on the market. However, more than 50 thousand players have already downloaded the game and left generally positive reviews. Apparently, someone likes this format of entertainment.

Worth Paying Attention To

Ninja Arashi 2 Shadow's Return

Both the first and second parts of Ninja Arashi are almost the standard of a mobile game from an independent developer. There is no chic graphics, no girls in revealing outfits, no expensive animations here. Instead, there is cool, sometimes even hardcore gameplay that combines platformer and puzzle. You can read more about the second part in our review, and here we will just remind you of the essence.

The main character — a ninja — passes level after level, overcoming traps and carefully, as befits an invisible killer, dealing with enemies. The highest aerobatics can be considered speed runs, when each movement is honed to automatism: the enemy does not have time to react or even notice you. Either with a swift throw with a katana strike, or with an accurate throw of stars, or with the help of a hidden mechanism — you pierce the level like a shadow.

The first part of Ninja Arashi was very difficult. The second — slightly softened the difficulty, but in the new chapter, the developer promises new levels and fresh challenges. So if you missed this kind of gameplay, it's time to return. And if you haven't tried it yet, it's time to start.

Despite the minimalist graphics, Ninja Arashi is a very atmospheric game. On some levels, you just want to stop, admire the view, and listen to the calm but catchy soundtrack. This is a rare case when simplicity becomes art.

Dunkadillo

The plot of Dunkadillo is simple: the best friend of the armadillo Dill — the hedgehog Pickles — is kidnapped by a mysterious tentacle, and now the hero goes to save his comrade, overcoming 50 levels of absurd, sometimes crazy platforming. At the same time, Dill is not just an armadillo. He can curl up into a basketball.

The whole game is built around this mechanic. Thanks to this, Dill can bounce off surfaces at any angle, accumulate momentum, fly through narrow passages, and avoid traps. There is a double jump, there are dangers, but just passing the level is not enough. The real challenge is to collect all the rare collectible cards hidden in the most inaccessible corners. Each found card brings you closer to unlocking new characters — there are 10 of them in total, each with its own characteristics.

The levels are compact, but rarely simple. To get to the secrets, you need to accurately calculate the trajectory of bounces, understand the physics of the game, and sometimes — go through the same sections several times.

The mobile version of Dunkadillo has a serious advantage over the Steam edition — it's free. However, ads will be shown between levels. It can be disabled with a one-time purchase.

Perhaps the main disadvantage of the game is immediately obvious — it's too bright graphics. Due to the saturated colors and psychedelic backgrounds, the architecture of the levels is sometimes lost, which complicates orientation. And it gives the impression that this is a children's toy. But in fact — it's not like that at all. The levels can be quite difficult, especially when collecting all the cards. It requires accuracy, patience, and a little perseverance.

The soundtrack tries to match the visual style — the music is incendiary, cheerful, but it lacks variety.

But, despite all this, it's interesting to play Dunkadillo. Yes, it does not claim to be innovative. In many ways, this is a modern version of classic platformers from the time of old consoles: pure gameplay, the desire to discover all the secrets and perfectly pass the levels.

Pine Hearts

Pine Hearts is a cozy mini-adventure that debuted on Steam back in 2024, and in September of this year, it reached smartphones and tablets. The genre combination here is unusual: a real metroidvania is hidden behind a cute shell, albeit with a soft face.

The gameplay is built around exploring the large Pine Hearts park. We wander along the alleys, communicate with residents, complete simple tasks, interact with the environment, and gradually open new zones. Each completed task brings "tears" — the local currency, which can be spent on opening memories and new skills that allow you to move on.

Platforming in the game is as easy as possible. You just need not to fall, although at first it does not always work out. Touchscreen control is not very responsive. But in general, everything is sharpened for relaxed exploration, and not for testing nerves. In fact, it's more like a walk with elements of adventure.

The free version for mobile devices is quite short — the open part of the park can be explored in 20–25 minutes. The full version is only available for purchase, which, as usual, may cause difficulties for owners of Android devices in Russia — they may have to look for workarounds. The main question is: is it worth it?

Judging by the reviews on Steam, players appreciate Pine Hearts for its cute and warm atmosphere. The perception of the game strongly depends on expectations: someone may be repelled by its excessive "childishness" and the lack of challenge typical of classic metroidvanias, while someone will just find in this an opportunity to relax their soul.

The demo version leaves a very pleasant impression: cute graphics in a pleasant style, a relaxing soundtrack, smooth animation, and light humor. There is a translation into Russian.

So it's worth trying. And already inside you will decide: is these 20 minutes of comfort enough for you, or do you want to spend about five more hours in this quiet, kind world.

Seoul Exorcist 1111

Seoul Exorcist is a roguelike with a twist. At first glance — another deck-builder with turn-based battles and cards in hand. But after a minute it becomes clear: this is not quite the genre you are used to. There is no time to think here. Each run is limited to only seven minutes, and during this time you need to go from beginning to end — quickly and without unnecessary pauses.

The game offers a choice of four characters, each with their own unique set of skills and passive abilities. And, importantly, they really feel different.

The gameplay is built on a rigid economy of moves and energy: each action — step, turn, attack, use of an item — takes place alternately, and after each of your moves, the enemies immediately react. This creates a tension close to real-time battles, but with the puzzling logic of turn-based tactics. A mistake here is expensive — one wrong step, and the loss of initiative.

Leveling up goes through kills: for each defeated enemy they give souls — a universal currency that works both inside the run and between them. The card system is conditional: you do not collect a deck, but choose attacks from a fixed pool, but combinations of properties, weapons, and effects can generate powerful synergies — if you are lucky enough to collect the right set.

There are few reviews so far — both on Steam and in mobile stores. But those that are, note the main advantage: the game perfectly combines the pressure of time and the depth of tactics. You can neither relax nor act on autopilot — you have to make decisions quickly, but deliberately.

However, they also criticize the shortcomings. First of all — the limited number of builds: there are no random artifacts, leveling is predictable, the freedom of customization is minimal. Because of this, repeated runs lose their freshness over time.

Unfortunately, there is no free version — you will not be able to try it before buying. On iOS, the game can be purchased directly, on Android — only through third-party sources.

Seoul Exorcist is a non-standard roguelike. Fans of the genre should definitely take a closer look.