We publish three types of app articles each week. Twice a week, we recommend our free apps of the week. These happen to be paid apps and games that are currently available for free. As for the Top 5 Apps of the Week, we do not only look at free apps. Rather, we focus on whether these apps are worth having in your collection or not.
In other words, we do install and actually use these apps before recommending them. Otherwise, it would be nothing but an exercise in futility. Without much further ado, let’s check out what the best apps are this week!
Songs of Conquest Mobile (Android & iOS)
Do you miss hit titles from the 1990s like Heroes of Might & Magic? Well, fret not. Your mobile experience will deliver a renaissance in such classics with Songs of Conquest Mobile. Once a PC game, this title now lets you bring strategic magic gameplay onto your smartphone as you assume the role of powerful magicians known as Wielders who lead armies across diverse landscapes to conquer territories, gather resources, and uncover artifacts.
Of course, I was rather apprehensive of whether a mobile version of a PC game is able to deliver all the depth and intricacies, but this port did not disappoint. It managed to maintain the depth and complexity of its PC counterpart, offering both single-player campaigns and multiplayer modes. I like how the tactical battles, resource management, and richly designed maps remain, having been optimized for mobile devices.
The pixel art style for its graphics are pleasant and familiar, paying homage to its predecessors while incorporating modern design elements. It is nice to see the mobile version continues in the same vein to make its detailed environments and character sprites are visually appealing on smaller screens. In terms of performance, mid-range to flagship smartphones would not find any issues running it at a high frame rate, sporting intuitive touch controls.
- Price: $11.99 / Advertising: None / In-app purchases: None / Account required: Yes
I also love the musical interludes between missions, where there is another unspoken yet immersive layer to the storytelling. It offers a great balance between classic mechanics and fresh content. Overall, it is hard to turn down this classic turn-based strategy title that offers depth, replayability, and nostalgia.
E.T.E. Chronicle (Android & iOS)
3D action role-playing games (RPG) seem to be a dime a dozen, but there is something about E.T.E Chronicle that caught my eye. This game throws me into a futuristic world where I get to command squads of mechanized heroines known as “E.T.E” units. With dynamic real-time combat across three primary battlefields (land, sea, and air), I found it highly fun since I am forced to think on my feet.
I am able to control squads of up to four mech-girls with each of them equipped with unique abilities and weapons. It requires careful tactical maneuvering, where free movement within expansive environments help encourage strategic hit-and-run tactics. The controls would be best played out with a physical controller, although it is simplistic and responsive enough on a touchscreen.
- Price: Free / Advertising: None / In-app purchases: Yes ($0.99-$14.99) / Account required: No
My eyes clearly love the high-quality 3D graphics that ensure everything in the game comes to life. Bold character designs that are detailed and vibrant are accompanied by fluid animations that enhance the overall visual experience. So far, I would recommend having at least a mid-range smartphone to enjoy this game without any stuttering.
My ears also enjoyed the voice acting, where all the characters do come to life. In short, E.T.E Chronicle offers action-packed gameplay with strategic elements that delivers a fresh experience in the mobile RPG genre. While it might take some time to get used to the combat system, the learning curve is not that steep.
Spendee – Budget App & Tracker (Android & iOS)
Times are hard, don’t you think so? With Bitcoin being so volatile, the stock market tanking, and tariffs being slapped left, right, and center, it makes it more important to be prudent with one’s spending. I decided that I should start keeping track of how my money is being spent, and I ended up with Spendee.
This is a personal finance application that was specially designed to help users track income, expenses, and savings in an easy manner. I can manually input expenses or connect my bank accounts for automatic synchronization, so that I can have a comprehensive view of my current financial activities at the tap of a finger.
I also like how the app allows the creation of budgets for specific categories which will certainly go some way in helping me get started on saving up for that long-awaited holiday. I can also receive notifications whenever my spending pattern approaches predefined limits to help me gain better control.
- Price: Free / Advertising: None / In-app purchases: Yes ($2.99-$49.99) / Account required: Yes
Overall, I found Spendee to be a robust budgeting app that combines intuitive design with practical features. It is suitable for individuals who want to enhance their financial management. I can live with the free version as I only need a very basic expenditure tracking app, but it goes without saying that upgrading to premium unlocks more advanced tools, including bank synchronization and shared wallets, to provide a more comprehensive financial overview.
Be nice (Android)
Be nice happens to be an Android-only app that was specially designed to enhance user experience as it allows apps to launch in split-screen mode. This is when I wish I have a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 (review), where the additional viewing real estate would definitely come in handy. Overall, Be nice works best with tablets and foldables, although regular smartphone users can also benefit from it.
With this app, I can perform split-screen launching, letting me make use of any application in split-screen mode in double quick time. In other words, anyone who is a fan of multitasking would love it, as it helps me maintain my preferred screen orientation while working with the various apps.
The user interface is also friendly enough to navigate without having to go through a steep learning curve. It is accessible for those who want to streamline their multitasking processes. Personally, I think the way it addresses the inconvenience of automatic screen rotation by allowing apps to run side by side is a huge win in my book.
- Price: Free / Advertising: None / In-app purchases: None / Account required: No
Best of all, this app tips the scales at a mere 1.77 MB in size, making it a lightweight app that doesn’t consume significant storage space. Do note that not all apps support split-screen mode effectively, which might result in potential functionality issues.
Mightyday (Android & iOS)
Life can be tough, especially when it comes to adulting. Well, I guess now is as good a time as any to get started in terms of working out a schedule, and this is where Mightyday as a productivity app comes in handy. Specially designed to enhance task management and scheduling by allowing users to break down complex goals into manageable subtasks, it is certainly a boon to folk like me who are poor at time management.
I like how Mightyday offers multi-level subtasks because, you know, sometimes this is required in everyday life. After all, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and breaking down large tasks into multiple levels of subtasks helps facilitate detailed planning and execution in an easier manner.
- Price: Free / Advertising: None / In-app purchases: Yes ($5.99-$29.99) / Account required: No
It also helps for the app to provide timely notifications for each task. This helps me remain aware of upcoming deadlines and commitments, while the comprehensive calendar view helps me visualize my schedules and plan accordingly. The user interface is intuitive as it focuses on simplicity and functionality. It is all too easy to create tasks, assign subtasks, and set reminders.
Unfortunately, the free version has very limited features, where selected advanced functionalities such as certain customization options would require a premium subscription. It also has a learning curve that might require some time to get used to, especially when it comes to utilizing the multi-level subtask system effectively.
And with that, we have come to the end of this week’s recommendations for the Top 5 apps of the week! Do let us know what you think of them in the comments, and stay tuned for next week’s edition!
