Zynga releases hack-and-slash RPG Battlestone for iOS; Android version coming soon

Zynga has released a new game for iOS devices, titled Battlestone. The game is a hack-and-slash RPG in the vein of games like Diablo and Torchlight, but with a unique fighting mechanic. The game is available on the iOS App Store for free. Zynga has stated that an Android version will hit Google Play soon. The company has released a launch trailer for the game:

The most interesting thing about the game is the unique approach to combat. Instead of mashing on an attack button or some enemy till someone dies, you have to swipe attacks. This means swiping either an attack pattern, or even deciding the order of enemies you attack by swiping among the enemy ranks. The tagline of the game says it all: Swipe away evil. The characters in the game have skills that revolve around the mechanic of swiping. For example, after starting a whirlwind-styled attack, players can draw a path on the ground to make the character move along it.

Battlestone is out now on iOS

According to the Zynga blog, “With Battlestone, we set out to create a truly awesome arcade action combat experience on mobile, and we believe we’ve achieved just that. It’s the type of game that anyone can pick up and try their hand at with controls that feel intuitive and responsive.”

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

Advancing through the game gets you a character collection system. This allows you to summon and upgrade heroes, which Zynga claims have unique abilities. The ability to summon and upgrade heroes is meant to add a level of tactics to the game. Different enemies will require players to use different heroes.