Mad Rocket: Fog of War

In the tradition of popular apps like Clash Royale and Lords Mobile, this action strategy app lets you test your base-building and loadout-making skills against other players and AI. Mad Rocket: Fog of War features the same cartoon art appeal and fun bloodless combat as its blockbuster brethren; sadly though, it also contains those apps' time- and money-consuming drawbacks. The story's pretty thin, but that's OK since for most players of these games, it's beside the point. Kooky characters introduce you to the game's how-tos, and a list of missions helps you earn gold and resources, as well as your stripes as a military commander. Over time, new units and structures unlock, which can be used to customize your base. A handy base editor lets you rearrange your base any time you want, which is good since your novice setups will likely be decimated by more skilled players. (Note: Multiplayer here isn't multiplayer in the strictest sense; it's you against another player's base, not against his/her army.)

Base customization is definitely satisfying, but combat is just as good. Thanks to nice graphics and sound effects, it's fun to watch, and the fog of war makes every map layout a surprise. Better still, the tension stays high thanks to the 90-second battle timer. Beyond these things, the nonconfrontational approach to multiplayer makes earning Season rewards fun (Seasons are one-month time frames in which players are ranked according to wins/losses), and clan wars are a fun way to bond online with friends. If the app suffers from any flaws, it's sloppy presentation (game text typos abound) and what might be called "timer-itis." As with many similar base-building games, the biggest challenge is waiting for your upgrades to complete. Timers may be the way free-to-play games make money, but that doesn't make them any less irritating. Even with these bothersome issues, Mad Rocket: Fog of War is a fun, rewarding strategy game that the competitive mobile gamers in your family should enjoy.