McPixel tops Android Games of the Week

This week is a week of oddities and unique little gems, especially evident in the top game of the week, McPixel. It's a very strange challenge-based point-and-click adventure game, and it's sure to achieve near-instant cult status. We've also got the latest from Kairosoft, a dungeon crawler from the developers behind Ski Safari, a line-tracing spell-casting battle game, and an auto runner in which you play as the toughest old granny this side of the planet. Here are this week's top Android games.

McPixel ($2.99)

I really don't know where to begin with this game. It's just so absurd and random, but fantastic at the same time. Essentially, it's a challenge-based point-and-click adventure game from developer SOS. You, as McPixel, have 20 seconds in each scenario to use whatever tools are available to you to stop a massive explosion of some sort and save the day. The actions you can take and the various scenarios are just so ridiculous, from getting a person to jump to their death to throwing yourself into a volcano, but somehow, through the music and the purposely-awful pixel art, this game will win your heart anyway. Definitely check out the lite version first, though.

Oh!Edo Towns ($4.99)

What more is there to be said about the Kairosoft games that frequent this list? They're always quality titles that try to bring something new to the fold along with that gorgeous pixel art. This time, instead of managing a business, you're managing an entire town, Sim City style. Specifically, an Edo-era town in Japan, full of samurai and that awesome Japanese architecture. To be fair, other than the Edo setting, this is one of the more mundane Kairosoft games, and you might just see it as another city builder, but at least you know it will be a quality mundane city builder! As always, there's a lite version.

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Granny Smith ($0.99)

Mediocre, the makers of the fun liquid physics puzzler Sprinkle, have just graced us all with the presence of this hilarious auto runner. In it, you play as old Granny Smith who is chasing down an awful little apple thief on some roller skates. She'll hurl herself over huge gaps and blast through walls without a scratch if it means getting her apples back. Just make sure to always land on your feet. You can also use her cane with phone lines and such as zip lines. The simplistic art style is great too. Definitely look into this one if you want a good chuckle or two.

Runic Rumble ($2.99)

This is a very interesting title, but not necessarily a very good one. There are lots of unique and clever ideas at play, but the execution could have used some work. You play as a mage exploring his world, battling other creatures as he goes. You use spells by selecting the one you want, and tracing the line symbol that the game gives you. The symbols come in fire, water, earth and dream flavors, and there are six of each. Some are faster and weaker, some can be charged by others, and so on. The battles get repetitive rather quickly, but there is a lot of depth and strategy to be found here. Look into this one if you want something different. Other than McPixel, of course.

Heroes Call (Free)

Coming from Defiant Development, the creators of the excellent Rocket Bunnies and Ski Safari, we had some high expectations from Heroes Call, a new dungeon crawler from the same studio. This easily had the potential to be game of the week, but unfortunately, some shady freemium business practices bring it down quite a few pegs. The game looks and plays great, but the pushy in-app purchases and very tumultuous porting process have knocked it down a few pegs. It's still easily worth checking out, especially since its free, but you might run into some issues quickly.