Like every weekend, we meet at kwgeek as I pick 5 free or paid mobile apps and games that caught my eye on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Every week I try to bring you the best apps that aren’t personal data traps or microtransaction dens. For my own discoveries, I’ve also added applications that the kwgeek community unearthed and shared on our forums, which I invite you to check out.
From mobile games to productivity apps, here are 5 free and paid Android/iOS apps from kwgeek this week. We post this pick every week, and you can also check out my 5 apps from last week.
Free Games – Dinosaur Park
Create your own Jurassic Park
Carrot Weather: Alerts and Radar (iOS)
I think of the Meteoism apostles among you, and to me this is the best weather app in human history.
What makes Carrot Weather special is having an integrated wizard where you can set its tone from the most polite to the most offensive. I obviously set it to the most notorious “Overkill”. What a joy to be insulted by AI or sarcastic remarks in “Come on, drag the sausage as your finger subscribe premium” mode.
I’m a total fan of developer humor and I find it refreshing. Especially since the interface of the application is very clean. Based on the precise Foreigna engine, the application offers many features, but also elements of mission gamification (like finding the US President’s residence) and a reward system.
The premium version is too expensive for me, the 21.99€/year subscription unlocks more databases (including Dark Sky) and more. But the free version is self-sufficient, and the only ads I’ve seen are fake, like hiring killers or buying rare pins. In a nutshell, here are the top apps of the week.
- Price: Free / Ads: No / In-App Purchases: Yes (€21.99 per year) / Account: Not required / French: No
Voice assistants are really fun when you set it to the “cheeky” level / © kwgeek
- Download the Carrot Weather: Alerts & Radar app from the Apple App Store
Jam Jar (Android)
If A-books give you hives and you prefer to keep your money under a mattress or shoebox, then you know you’re practicing deafening. Yeah, remember that way of anglicizing basic concepts and making them destructive by adding the “-ing” suffix? Showering, batch cooking, so discordant.
Jarring is all about putting money in a jar. You can define projects or financial goals and assign deadlines (famous deadlines) to track your savings.
The interface is very nice, the app is free and there are no ads. But the developers say they are working on a paid version, which will limit the number of jars to 10 in the free version.
- Price: Free / Ads: No / In-App Purchases: No / Account: Not Required / French: No
There are plenty of budgeting and savings apps out there, but JamJars has a pretty cool interface. / © kwgeek
Qlate (Android)
Well, let’s calm down a bit, we had a good laugh with the first two apps, but this time, it’s serious. Qlate is a 2-in-1 calculator and note-taking app. I can’t sabotage Meteors (remember last year’s civil war between the two factions) without taking action for Notism supporters.
What I like about Qlate is that you can enter formulas for quick calculations and easier data entry. For example, you can create a budget for the current month. The interface is minimalist in terms of design, yet informative. But for most of you nerds, I’m sure it will find its audience.
In the free version, the app contains ads. The paid version, without ads, costs 2.69 euros.
- Price: Free / Ads: Yes / In-App Purchases: Yes (€2.69) / Account: Not required / French: No
Excel formula lovers will love Qlate / © kwgeek
Free Games – Zoo 2
take care of all your animals
Punchlab (iOS)
When some of you and some of you piss me off in the comments, I’ll be in the room screaming and doing a little tai chi all by myself, just to relax. Normal what, like everyone else, right?
How come my tests suck? ! *BAM* Get that! Eh? What? You just said I was contradicting myself on the performance of the SoC, right? *PAF* *BIM* *BOOM* *SCHLACK*
But oddly enough, despite my launch meeting, UFC CEO Dana White still didn’t give me a contract to beat me in the Octagon. So don’t be like me, as an autodidact, alone in your room unleashing your years of pent-up anger. Instead, install Punchlab, an app that provides exercises and training for different combat sports.
You can choose from British Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai or MMA, and try a variety of workouts depending on your level or goals. Some are free and offer video demonstrations that guide you through audio from a certified instructor.
However, as you can imagine, you’ll end up having to go to the cashier to unlock all the modules, especially the programs, which offer multiple training sessions for a fixed period, with real timetables, structures, etc. A monthly subscription costs €18.49 and an annual subscription costs €83.99.
- Price: Free / Ads: No / In-App Purchases: No / Account: Not Required / French: No
Punchlab app is only available in English / © kwgeek
Mini Skull – Pixel Adventure RPG (Android)
Mini Skull-Pixel Adventure RPG is an adventure game with very few RPG elements, but the gameplay is more like a narrative game based on a multi-choice system to advance the story.
The pixel art graphics don’t reinvent hot water, but it’s cool that the game doesn’t take itself seriously at all. It’s free, but there are some in-app purchases to unlock in-game items. Using your choices to influence the story also improves playability.
In short, it’s not the Game of the Year, but it’s a pretty good indie game to test out the weekend.
- Price: Free / Ads: No / In-App Purchases: or (€2.09 – €10.99 per item) / Account: Not required / French: No