Off the AppStore: Surge forth and blast away in Dark Surge!

• Fight the dark with a smooth rotating turret-tank
• Brace for the endless ways of evil machines from the dark
• You will be overwhelmed, scan for power to make your last stand last

Welcome to Off The AppStore, a weekly feature with a twist. Namely, that while these - as with all the games we cover here - are games that you can play on your phone, they're ones that operate outside of the realms of the big two ways to play: The Google Play Store and the Apple AppStore.

That means that there might be a bit of work required in downloading alternative AppStores or APKs, or that the games can simply be played in your phone browser. We'll make sure to detail that for each game though. Anyway, read on to find a new game or experience to play Off The AppStore.

Something inside you surfaces when you see or feel certain things. This something comes forth, surges if you will, to drive you to do actions you didn't think you were ready to do until the moment has passed. Messing around with your phone isn't likely to make that happen, but specific games will make you play and act harder than you were prepared to do. Hellborn will try to pull it out of you with Dark Surge, where you don't know where you're going, what you're doing, or if it'll ever end.

Okay, that might sound a little dramatic, but the title is Dark Surge, so it comes with the territory. The story can be whatever you want, but the fact is that you're driving a tank-like vehicle and have somehow wound up in the totally-not-Shadow-Realm. Whether there's a way out is your primary concern, but not as much as what lies in the dark. As you explore this bleak world, unknown entities will emerge from the darkness with disdain for your tankiness. Regular artillery seems effective against these targets, so aim and start blasting. Your vehicle is pretty nimble and mobile, so you can always get around the targets and continue blasting. You'd better go all in since there's infinite ammo and no end to the continuous waves.

However, the darkness is not without generosity, containing nuggets of power. As you explore, you can encounter glowing objects that will empower your take with power unlike you've ever seen. Maybe it'll turn your tank into a bomb, split your shots into multiple shots, or restore your hull health, but you won't know until you try. The longer you last, the more the waves will intensify to the point where you're facing entire squadrons of dark machines that are all gunning for you. Still, if you will be stuck in this realm for the foreseeable future, try to make it as safe as possible before you're taken down.

Dark Surge has that classic arcade feel and reminds me of Asteroids, where you're just moving around and blasting at anything that moves back. It's simple, fast, fun, and ramps up fast, so you're not stuck in the shallow end for too long. Surge forth and conquer the dark surge!

You can try Dark Surge for yourself on its itch.io page!