Game apps are getting pretty sophisticated, as these strategic battle simulation game apps demonstrate. Note that all of the following apps are rated ‘guidance suggested’.
Pirates! Showdown (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99)
Pirates! Showdown is a fast-paced game combining real-time strategy(RTS) and defense tactics. Face off against the fearsome Red Hand privateers in thrilling head-to-head pirate battles on the high sea! Capture towns and other structures to strengthen your defense and increase your gold supply.
INSTANT ACTION RTS!
Fast paced gameplay with RTS and defense tactics without heavy resource management or the need to micro-manage units.
WEIGH ANCHOR!
Command your fleet of pirate ships as you send them to intercept the enemy pirates or lay siege to land targets. Send an armada of Brigantines or save your gold for a massive Ship of the Line!
CAPTURE!
Towns, guard towers, shipyards, lighthouses, and more can all be captured. Structures all have a unique purpose and will supply you with gold, attack your enemy, allow you to launch more ships, etc.
UPGRADE!
Upgrade towns to increase gold production. Upgrade guard towers to increase their firepower and strengthen your defenses.
STRATEGY!
Will you aggressively capture towns to loot their gold or invest in the towns you have to increase their gold production? Wage a purely pirate ship battle or strengthen your defenses with upgraded guard towers? Find the right RTS strategy to beat each level.
50 UNIQUE LEVELS IN THREE WORLDS!
Combat the enemy in the tropical Caribbean then follow them into Hades in the River Styx world. And the Open Sea world have the largest levels of any of them.
ADJUSTABLE AI DIFFICULTY!
Set the game to be as easy or as difficult as you want. Set the AI to adjust to your skill or set it to play a completely even/fair match every time. Pirates of all strategy skill levels should be satisfied.
Wargame Gettysburg (4/5 stars, currently priced at $1.99)
The battle of Gettysburg was fought over 3 days from July 1st-3rd 1863. It is considered the turning point of the American civil war, showing that the Confederates were not invincible, halting the invasion of the North, and providing the political popularity for Lincoln to be re-elected as president.
This wargame allows you to play either side against the computer, or hotseat against another player. There is a map of the Gettysburg battlefield divided into hexagons, each representing about 500 yards across. The combat units are brigades, with each figure representing 100 men or 10 guns.
Victory is achieved by the capture of flagged areas on the map (the flag indicates ownership) and also inflicting more losses.
The game can be played with fog of war on or off, and options can be set for when the tardy Confederate cavalry commander, General Stuart, shows up (although this will also affect his Union cavalry counterparts).
Star Traders RPG Elite (4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99)
Ever wanted to captain your own spaceship? With Star Traders RPG Elite–an engaging and entertaining role playing game for your Android device–the ship is all yours. Once your captain information is set up, you’re immediately thrown into the captain’s seat. The fate of the ship and crew is completely on your shoulders. Packed full of features, Star Traders RPG provides more than 80 unique starcraft, 40-plus planets to explore, and a plethora of enemies to battle, pillage, and enslave.
In the midst of a solar war with a constant enemy presence, your challenge in Star Traders RPG Elite is survival. In order to keep your ship flying these unfriendly skies, you need to maintain healthy supply levels. The only problem is that these are far from cheap in intergalactic space. In order to keep your ship stocked up–including food, water, and medical supplies–you must earn some cash.
The Nitty Gritty
To acquire the necessary ducats for supplies, accept and complete contracts from different factions. Upon successfully completing a contract, your reputation grows and you earn better treatment in that faction’s urban zones. This means you can fly through their controlled airspace without worry of reprisal. Not only do you become Captain Popular, you’ll also earn money that can buy delicious treats for your crew.
Sometimes you fail to complete a contract on time, can’t find a contract worth pursuing, or simply need some extra moolah between contracts. A life of crime isn’t for everybody, but out in the galactic darkness of vast space it’s often the only way to put food on the table. Hijacking other spacecraft can be pretty rewarding, but before you start picking fights in space you’d best learn a thing or two about your enemies. Full descriptions are available for the Great Houses and Syndicates you’re likely to encounter on your journey.
Reputations Rule
Reputation is the name of the game in space. Who knew? Steer clear of engaging in battle with other factions. Fighting with them destroys your chances of obtaining any future with them. With factions it is best to resolve issues peacefully, because you never know when you’ll need a contract that they administer. If pirates try to take your ship, you’ll have to flee or fight. If you surrender, the pirates will tear your ship and crew to bits.
Along the way, pay close attention to your water and food supplies. If they get too low, your crew will mutiny, and there’s no telling what they’ll do to you. Bribing is always an option during tough times, but your money will eventually run out. Mutinies often result in captain injuries and take a major toll on your health.
As the captain of a struggling spaceship, you’re tasked with maintaining a happy, healthy ship and crew as you journey into the vast unknown. Your command is under constant threat–both internally and externally. Can you manage your resources, crew, and officers well to enough to turn a profit on your contracts and trades? Do you have tons of time to find out? You’ll never run out of challenges in this game.
If you enjoy games like EVE Online, Space Trader, Master of Orion, and Pirates!, Star Traders RPG Elite is bound to challenge you with hours of engrossing gameplay.