Hello everyone, and welcome to the week! It's time for our weekly roundup of the most notable updates from the past seven days. This week, Shaun couldn't resist featuring more than one free-to-play matching puzzle game, but don't worry—we've got some exciting updates to share as well. Plus, you'll get to see Shaun take on King Robert, a spectacle we all enjoy. While you can always keep up with the latest updates by joining the conversations on the TouchArcade forums, this weekly summary is here to catch you up on what you might have missed. Let's dive in!
Peglin, Free
It's not often I do this, but I'm awarding the coveted UMMSotW to the first game on our list this week. Peglin's 1.0 update introduces the ability to challenge up to level 20 in Cruciball, face off against a new Slime Hive mini-boss, and enjoy a plethora of tweaks, bug fixes, balance adjustments, and other enhancements. Although Peglin didn't necessarily need an update, I'm thrilled to see these improvements.
Brawl Stars, Free
It's Brawl Stars time! And what's better than that? SpongeBob joining the fray in a new event, that's what. Alongside SpongeBob, we're getting two new Brawlers, Moe (Mythic) and Kenji (Legendary), and a selection of new Hypercharges for various characters. These updates will roll out over the next few months, but the SpongeBob event should be starting soon, if it hasn't already by the time you read this.
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What could you expect from an update to the serene and satisfying stitch but more Hoops to play? This time, we get a martial arts-themed addition. As with any good puzzle game, the theme matters less than the fresh challenges it brings. So, update your app and dive into the new Hoops for a soothing experience.
Genshin Impact, Free
It seems Genshin Impact has transformed into Genshin Impact: Natlan Launch. The new region, Natlan, comes with three new characters: Mualani, Kinich, and Kachina, along with new weapons, events, stories, and artifacts. Regular players know what to expect from these updates, and while this one is slightly larger than usual, it follows the established pattern.
Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure
Here's another matching puzzle game update, this time from the Apple Arcade exclusive Temple Run: Puzzle Adventure. With one hundred new levels to explore and refreshed tournaments, this update should keep players engaged for quite some time. Given how quickly enthusiasts tackle these levels, it might just tide them over until the next update!
Jetpack Joyride 2
In this special update to the Apple Arcade sequel to Halfbrick's mega-hit auto-runner, Barry Steakfries ventures into the one place untouched by capitalism—SPACE! While it's tempting to end on that note, let's not forget the legendary Tim Curry, whose performances, big and small, have left a lasting impact. Much love to Mr. Curry, who I'm sure is reading this.
Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop
Next up is another matching puzzle game, but this one is a classic in its original form. Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop brings new character episodes for Sig, Carbuncle, and Rafisol in Adventure Mode, introduces Meena as a playable character, and adds seven new music tracks to the shop. Along with some bug fixes, it's a solid update.
Hearthstone, Free
It's Hearthstone time! Let's dive into the update notes for Battlegrounds Season 8: Trinkets & Travels. The Trinket Shop replaces Buddies, allowing you to purchase Trinkets twice per game with Gold, which can impact the rest of the match. This might pose some balancing challenges, but it's in line with Hearthstone's current direction.
Toon Blast, Free
The first of our obligatory free-to-play matching puzzle game updates is Toon Blast. This update introduces a new episode with fifty levels, centered around bees and happiness. Bees are fascinating creatures, crucial to our ecosystem, and while I'm a bit wary of them, I'd give them a hug if not for their stingers. Keep buzzing, my little bug friends!
Royal Match, Free
I'm torn between wishing for King Robert's permanent demise or his continual return to suffer anew. This update brings one hundred new levels and a new jousting arena, which sounds promising. And who could forget that ad where King Robert replaces the freezing pregnant lady? Perhaps he should burn his velvet robes to keep warm, the lavish old monarch.
That wraps up our summary of last week's significant updates. I'm sure I've missed some, so feel free to comment below if you think something should be highlighted. As always, major updates will likely get their own news stories throughout this week, and I'll be back next Monday to fill in the gaps. Have a great week!
