SkyMapper

A drone game in a neon city: the art for SkyMapper puts a blue quadcopter over a skyline at dusk, with glowing grid lines marking out the ground below. It is an Android build from the ICT games programme, distributed here as an APK rather than through Google Play, and at version 0.2 it is an early release.

How to play

Expect to spend your time in the air, steering the drone across the city and reading the space around you rather than racing through it. Flying games like this reward smooth, small corrections; the usual beginner mistake is oversteering, then chasing the correction back and forth. Slow down before tight gaps instead of trying to thread them at speed.

Before you install

• Use Wi-Fi: the file is about 194 MB, and a dropped mobile connection means starting the download again.
• Keep at least twice that much free space, because Android unpacks the APK while installing it.
• If the install is blocked, allow your browser under Settings, then Apps, then Special app access, then Install unknown apps, and switch it back off afterwards.

Who it's for

SkyMapper suits players who like calm, spatial games more than twitchy ones, on a phone with room for a large download. If you would rather explore on foot, Smart Village comes from the same collection, and Explore Quest leans further into adventure.