Hi everyone, and welcome back to My Week Unwrapped, where I discuss all the games I’ve been playing over the last seven days. You may have noticed I skipped my roundup the last couple of weeks. I was busy overhauling my apartment — and still am. There also wasn’t that much to cover. But this week was a busy one for mobile games, so I’m back full force. There are numerous highlights for me this week so I’m not even going to choose a favorite. It’s just a really good week if you like adventure games, puzzles, and good stories. We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s not waste any more time with introductions.

OXENFREE II: Lost Signals

As a big fan of the original OXENFREE, I was thrilled to hear that the sequel would be coming to mobile and, thanks to Netflix now owning the studio behind it, it released the same day as other platforms. Yes, you need a Netflix subscription for it, but if you don’t want to subscribe for the streaming, you can get the basic $6.99 tier and play all their games. OXENFREE II: Lost Signals takes place in the same universe as the original and it does refer to it quite often, so it’s probably best to play that one first, though it’s not absolutely necessary. So far, I’ve spent a few hours with it and it features everything I loved about the original. The dialogue flows so well and once again continues while you walk so it feels like a real conversation. Once again, it centers on the supernatural, and features a unique art style and an eerie soundtrack. There’s also plenty of extras and Easter eggs to find, so it pays off to explore and also mess with your radio. That said, I am a little disappointed that I seem unable to complete a side quest because I found the object after the game decided I had given up looking for it. The characters told me to call the person and tell them I found it, but there was no option to do so. Hopefully I won’t encounter any other issues like that. For the most part I’m enjoying it and looking forward to playing more.

Lost in Play

I had heard of Lost in Play and was bummed it didn’t release on iOS alongside other platforms. But then, to my surprise, it got a mobile release date and it was ported by a developer I was already familiar with — Snapbreak. So they sent me an early code and I was able to complete the game ahead of release. Right off the bat, it’s one of the most whimsical and charming games I’ve had the pleasure to play. It’s like an interactive cartoon and there are just so many little details that bring it to life. You play as a brother and sister getting lost in their imaginations. They meet all sorts of strange creatures and characters and have to rescue each other several times. Aside from a few puzzles that were overly cryptic for me, I had a wonderful time with it. Any point-and-click fans should definitely grab it. And if you have any doubts, the first part of it is free so you can see if it pulls you in like it did me. I started working on a step-by-step guide but got interrupted by the myriad other games release this week. So for now, if you need help, you’ll have to try my gameplay videos.

Bugsnax

Ever since I saw the original teaser for Bugsnax, I hoped it might one day come to iOS. Well, that day is here. And it’s every bit as absurd as I was hoping. I’ve only spent an hour with it so far, but it has you visiting a world where bugs exist that are made of different snack foods. The locals are obsessed with them and will eat them even though they turn into them a little bit with each bugsnak they eat. They also teach you how to catch some basic creatures, but then you have to observe and figure out how to catch others. I stumbled a bit at first and also hit a glitch at one point where one of the Bugsnax disappeared. I reset from my last save and that fixed it. I definitely want to spend more time in this bizarre world with its quirky characters and delicious critters. If not for the crazy number of games released this week, I would have already played more. But I might have to wait a bit on this one so I can give it some proper attention. If you’re not pressed for time like I am, though, go grab it and start playing Bugsnax anywhere and everywhere! It even has iCloud sync so you can swap between your iPhone and iPad.

Ridiculous Fishing EX

This will likely come as a huge shock to people, but I never played Ridiculous Fishing before. I don’t even know why. I think by the time I considered doing so, new devices weren’t really supported, so I didn’t bother buying it. But now, a new and improved version has been released on Apple Arcade, called Ridiculous Fishing EX. I don’t really have anything to compare it to, but I’m having a lot of fun with it so far. The idea is to drop your hook in the water and try to avoid the fish on the way down, so the line extends as far as it can. Once you hit a fish or run out of line, you reel it back up, doing the opposite. This time, you want to catch as many fish as possible on the way up. And then, here’s the ridiculous part — you throw them up into the air and shoot them all with your gun. You earn money for all this, though I admit I didn’t really pay close attention to it so I don’t know how to maximize profits. But you then buy new gear with that money that helps you perform better. Once you catch a certain number of unique species you can also unlock new areas to fish in. So there’s quite a lot to do and always something to strive for. If you have an Apple Arcade subscription, definitely spend some time with this one.

Underground Blossom Lite

I’m always excited to see a new Rusty Lake game is in the works, and I’m especially happy when they give us an early taste of it. Underground Blossom Lite is a demo of their next game releasing in September. You can play through two chapters and if you enjoy it, the full version is already available for pre-order. It’s short and sweet and not too difficult, but if you get stuck I have a walkthrough guide here.

Teeny Tiny Town

Merge puzzlers and town builders aren’t new, but Teeny Tiny Town puts it in such a nice and neat package that it feels fresh. You can also play completely for free — with limitations — or make it fully premium for just $2.99. I like that there are different boards and modes to play with so it won’t get stale so quickly. I’ve only played a bit but my first game was enough to get me to unlock the premium version. I’m still learning and need to strategize more, but there’s a solid game here that’s good for jumping in for small spurts or longer sessions if you have the time. Definitely give it a try.

Adventure Escape Mysteries – The Squire’s Tale

It’s been several months since Haiku Games’ last adventure game released, a Clue tie-in that disappeared after a certain amount of time and is no longer available to play. But now they’re back with a full eight-chapter release called The Squire’s Tale, in which you play as a squire named Martin who has to help a somewhat stupid knight succeed on his quest to find the Sword of Light and defeat the Monster King. I’ve only played through the first two chapters so far and while it has been on the easy side, I am enjoying the story and humor. And it doesn’t hurt that it includes dragons and griffins. I’m working on a walkthrough guide, as usual, if you need any help.

Bright Reappear

I still have no idea what the name means, but Bright Reappear has turned into one of my favorite match-threes and I’m finding it highly addictive. I continued playing after I said I was giving up. In fact, I’ve now beat the game with three different characters and am working on the fourth. I’ve also been recording a second playthrough with the Thief, but it’s been a bit rough going. I’m near the end, though, so hopefully I’ll be able to finish it for you all. I’m also hoping that after beating the game with all four characters I’ll unlock the other two characters that are shown on the App Store page. If not, I have no idea how to access them. Even this way would be kind of absurd, but at least I’d know they do indeed exist. I’ll let you know in a future roundup if I figure it out. Anyway, if you’re a match-three fan, Bright Reappear is worth your time. The more I play and understand its intricacies, the more I love it. I especially like how loot makes such a big difference. It’s been a while since I actually cared about loot in a game. Anyway, now that I’m talking about it I want to go play more. So I’ll take a break to do that before I finish up this roundup.

Genshin Impact

Ok, I’m back. And last is Genshin Impact, which I was getting very burnt out on over the last few months. But there’s a new summer event that has you exploring a whole new area that exists inside a bottle. It’s reminded me what I like so much about the game. I enjoyed the story — though it was a little simplistic — and I’m having fun exploring the area and finding all the chests. I also like the new rollercoasters they added. I believe they’re testing them out ahead of the arrival of Fontaine, as the characters talk about there being something similar there. I still have a lot to find, but hopefully the thirty days left will be enough for me to explore at a leisurely pace without feeling like I’m missing things. If you haven’t played in a while, now’s a good time to get back into it.

And that’s everything I’ve been up to these last few weeks. I also finished watching The Great, finally saw Spiderman: Homecoming, and am now in the middle of The Horror of Dolores Roach. I wasn’t sure about it at first, but it’s a dark comedy and a modern take on Sweeney Todd. I actually got sucked into it, so I guess I’ll finish it. Anyway, let me know in the comments section which games you’re enjoying and I’ll see you back here next time with more of My Week Unwrapped!