Just Survive: Arena Review – Mad Dashes and Frantic Crashes

Sometimes it’s incredible to think how much mobile games let you do with a single digit. Just Survive: Arena is a prime example of that. With just a thumb you need to avoid a slew of murderous obstacles, score as …

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Sometimes it’s incredible to think how much mobile games let you do with a single digit. Just Survive: Arena is a prime example of that. With just a thumb you need to avoid a slew of murderous obstacles, score as many points as you can and stay alive for as long as possible.

You’re in control of a podgy orc barbarian. Rolling spiked logs come at you from the side of the arena and you need to stay out of their way. There are circular saws, lightning blasting cannons and much more to avoid as well.

Staying alive is the aim of the game, and it’s much more difficult than you might imagine. Every death gives you rewards though, letting you unlock new characters and arenas. There are skills too, which give you a better chance of survival. One gives you a chance to smash any obstacle that hits you, for example.

Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah Staying Alive

There are boosts to pick up while you’re playing as well. They might destroy everything on the screen, speed you up or shrink you down to a tiny size. Every time you play you’re going to find out something new and be better prepared for your next attempt.

Rare power-ups turn you into a giant stompy monster, letting you destroy anything that you come into contact with. None of these extra powers last long though, so you need to be careful you’re not backing yourself into a corner when you use them.

Just Survive: Arena is a bright, action-packed mobile game with a little more to offer than plenty of other single-finger experiences on the App Store. It won’t stick in your head for long, but it’s still a wonderful way to spend a few minutes every now and then.

The good

  • You can play with a single finger
  • Short play sessions perfect for mobile

The bad

  • Gets a bit dull over longer sessions
  • Can be pretty challenging
80 out of 100