As I never shut up about, I offer a slew of apps. I want to highlight three that are embracing Halloween in ways unique to them.
The latest version of Strategery, out today, fixes some bugs related to stalemates occurring in very large maps with chokepoints. But it also marks the start of the app’s Halloween mode, which — in addition to some obvious visual flourishes — includes custom maps in the shapes of witch hats, jack-o-lanterns, and ghosts. (For the uninitiated, Strategery is a Risk-inspired game that I took over a few months back, and it’s a boatload of fun.)
Also updated today is The Universe, Controlled. Its Halloween theming includes a pumpkin-shaped planet, and flying spacecraft are replaced with bats, ghosts, and a witch on broomstick. (The Universe, Controlled, if you’re unaware, is my homage to the late great Flight Control.)
And a couple days ago, Halloween mode started in my first app, Lex.Games. The puzzles are the puzzles, but the app’s main menu is adorned with zombies, witches, ghosts, bats, gravestones, and other Halloween mainstays.
I recognize not everyone wants their apps to change their look and feel for Halloween. (Or Thanksgiving, or Christmas and Hanukkah, or Valentine’s Day.) For those users, my apps each include a setting to disable themes, if you’d rather things go back to normal.
But I can’t deny I’ve been eagerly awaiting the date when it’s not too early to turn on the Halloween theming in these apps, because it brings a smile to my face!