Best New Games for Android

What are the latest games worth checking out in the Google Play Store?

Update September 29, 2017: Return to battle against Sauron's evil armies in Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, and then jump into the futuristic multiplayer action in Modern Combat Versus!

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War

Travel back to Middle-Earth and fight Sauron's evil forces in Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. This is the mobile version of the upcoming RPG for consoles and features all the orc-slashing fun you'd expect from a game set in the Lord of the Rings universe.

The story goes that Celebrimbor has forged a new ring of power, along with a series of minor rings for other champions of Middle-Earth who wish to join the fight against Sauron's armies. The game features real-time battles against swarms of orcs and other baddies as you fight through a full campaign of action. More of an action game than an RPG, you'll need to command your characters in battle and strategically use their special abilities to defeat your enemies. Build your fellowship of Champions with iconic characters you know and love from the books and movies, with upgrades and new equipment available as you progress.

For LotR fans eagerly awaiting the console release, this game should more than satisfy your appetite for Orc blood.

Download: Middle-Earth: Shadows of War (Free)

Modern Combat Versus

From the developers at Gameloft comes the latest from the Modern Combat franchise — and this time they've gone all-in on multiplayer.

Modern Combat Versus is an 4 vs. 4 online multiplayer first-person shooter that's finally out of beta and ready for its worldwide release. Gameloft seems to be aiming for the competitive gaming market a bit here with higher competitive leagues available where players can earn prizes and prestigious rewards. The gameplay and style feel like a mix between popular shooters Destiny and Overwatch.

You can choose from 12 specialized agents each with unique guns and abilities. Unlike previous releases in the Modern Combat franchise, this one is much more futuristic and light-hearted in tone, with multiplayer battles centered around controlling a contested area on the map. It's a promising release for fans of mobile FPS, but as you would expect is also bogged down somewhat with the crate unlocking and in-game economy mechanics found in so many games these days.

Download: Modern Combat Versus (Free w/IAPs)