App stores are crowded places these days, and because storage space on your phone is often at a premium, you’ll want to find and fill it with not only the best, but also the most helpful apps out there. Because they come and go quicker than the latest fashion trends, and digging through Google Play, the iTunes App Store, or any of the others is such a mission; a little nudge in the right direction is often very welcome. Here are the apps we think you need to check out this week.
Rhymeo
To a lot of people, rap seems simple. After all, all you have to do is to string some rhyming words together, right? But here’s the thing: while you might not have to play an instrument or hit the high notes to excel at rapping, it still requires an incredible amount of skill and musical ability. Rhyme schemes are more complex than Dr. Suessian-style made up words, there’s more lyrical content packed into a single rap verse than most rock songs, and there’s a definite musicality to staying on beat and developing a cadence.
Want to see just how hard it is to rap? Try out Rhymeo. The freestyle rap app designed to keep you on your toes and try to think of your next rhyme as quickly as possible. With a beat playing in the backround, Rhymeo flashes images and words designed to give you something to work off of as you make up rhymes off the top of your head. If you happen to come up with something good—or don’t mind embarrassing yourself—you can share your verse with the world or check out what others are rapping about.
Pledgeling
If you can’t give your time to a deserving charity, there’s no such thing as a donation too small to make a difference. Pledgeling makes it easier than ever to give to the causes closest to your heart. Pledgeling has thousands of verified non-profits in its system and when you give to them, you never pay a processing fee. The app keeps all of your charitable donations in your profile so you can see where your money goes and have an easy record come tax season.
DigDuck
There are so many photo sharing apps out there now that we’re starting to fall into gimmicky territory, but as far as hooks go, DigDuck’s is pretty interesting. You can take a picture from your photo roll or snap a fresh one, then apply a blurring filter that pixelates a part of the picture. It creates a teasing, tantalizing effect that will make the viewer want to see what’s being obscured, which you can reveal at any time. Is it going to be used for lewd photos? Yes, of course it is.
Joe Danger
Joe Danger is already a popular mobile game over on iOS, but it’s now made the jump over to Android so more users can get in on the phone. The game puts you in control of the world’s greatest stuntman and tasks you with completing death-defying tricks to set records and entertain the audience. There are tons of obstacles to clear—everything from buses to shark tanks—and characters to unlock, plus gorgeous graphics and tons of action to keep you coming back.
Does Not Commute
Pretty much the exact opposite of Joe Danger, Does Not Commute is a traffic simulator. Somehow, it manages to have the addictive and entertaining qualities to keep you coming back. The strategy-centric title challenges you to keep the flow of traffic moving to make sure all of the vehicles on the road can keep moving toward their destination. Sounds simple, but then things get weird. The people behind the wheels all have their own unique stories and the cars all react differently when interacted with.