5 Android apps you shouldn't miss this week - Android Apps Weekly

Welcome to the 157th edition of Android Apps Weekly! Here are the headlines from the last week:

• Android Pay is reportedly coming to Google Chrome soon. The idea is to make shopping on mobile browsers much easier by implementing the service directly into it. Thus, you’ll be able to make purchases on the web without doing anything special. This is similar to how Google used to do it and we’re glad to see the feature returning under the umbrella of Android Pay. There is no word yet on when this will show up on Chrome.
• Pokemon Go popularity is still surging, although not as much as it was before. That said, the game has passed the 500 million download mark. Along with that, the company released stats that have shown that players have walked 2.85 billion miles which is just insane. Even in the unlikely event that Pokemon Go tails off by the end of the year, it’s definitely nothing to scoff at. The game is doing very well.
• About the only big app news from the Apple event this week was that Nintendo was bringing a Mario game to mobile called Super Mario Run. As exciting as that sounds, the game appears to be a side-scrolling infinite runner that doesn’t sound too exciting. However, the good news is that it will have a single price and not be a freemium game. It is definitely coming to Android, but we don’t know when just yet.
• Speaking of Nintendo, they have officially delayed the release of their Fire Emblem and Animal Crossing mobile games until early 2017. Nintendo stated that they wanted the Mario game to get fully released before it launched any of their other properties. Many have speculated that the games will be launched in the first quarter of 2017 before their March 31st earnings call, but nothing is set in stone just yet.
• The latest Humble Bundle is out now! It’s a fairly good haul this time around and you can pick up games like Tomb Raider 1 and 2, Shooting Stars, Space Grunts, Cloud Chasers, and more. You’ll get four games for paying at least $1 or six games for beating the average. Those who pay more than $5 will get every game in the bundle. These games retail for $34, so it’s a great way to get some games for cheap and donate to charity while you do it.

For even more Android apps and games news, don’t forget to check out this week’s newsletter by clicking here! There you’ll find all the headlines, new releases, deals, and updates that we didn’t have time for here. You can sign up for the newsletter using the form below and we’ll send it out every Sunday! You can get faster updates by checking out the Android Authority app!

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Particular is a platform runner where your goal is to break out of prison. Each level will have you running forward, jumping over crevasses and guards while avoiding all sorts of obstacles. There is also a decent little soundtrack and the minimal, Unity-based graphics run on most modern devices whether they’re low end or flagship. You earn three stars per level by beating the time limit and you’ll have power ups to help you along the way. It’s a freemium game which isn’t ideal, but it’s a fun little time killer.

[Price: Free]
The official Nick Jr app was released this last week to mixed reviews. It features the ability to watch a number of shows and videos, including many shows from Nick Jr’s programming lineup. You’ll find an easy-to-use interface that was designed for kids and there are even some games that you can play. To get full access, you’ll have to be a subscriber to the Nick Jr network. Unfortunately, the app has had some responsiveness problems and other release day bugs so you may want to wait for a couple of updates before trying it out.

[Price: Free with in-app purchases]
Auralux: Constellations is an atmospheric RTS where you must take over all of the planets. It features colorful graphics along with slow, relaxing game play that can get rather challenging the longer you go. You’ll also get 160 levels, Android TV support, and online multiplayer support through Google Play Games services. There are also some additional features if you happen to own an NVIDIA Shield devices, including 4k support. It’s a freemium game, but it’s actually a good one.

[Price: Free]
Taskbar is a nifty little app that gives you an actual taskbar on your Android device. It operates much like the Start menu on Windows and you’ll be able to quickly browse your apps or add apps to the taskbar for quick launching. Those running Android Nougat have the bonus option of launching the apps in actual windows like on Microsoft Windows. A lot of the functionality is lost on phones so we recommend you try this one out on a tablet. It’s a completely free download for now.

[Price: $2.99]
Lifeline: Crisis Line is the latest text-based adventure in the critically acclaimed franchise. In this one, you’ll be helping a detective figure out clues in a particularly unique murder scene. It uses a lot of the same mechanics from prior games and you’ll essentially be reading a bunch of text and making decisions for the character in the story. It’s not the most exciting game ever, but it should play on most devices and it’s a fun little game. It’s $2.99 and, for now, there are no in-app purchases.

Related best app lists:

• See if Nick Jr stacks up with the best video streaming apps for Android!
• Check out the best endless runners for Android!

If we missed any big Android apps or games news, tell us about them in the comments! To see our complete list of best app lists, click here.