Android Police

Faith Leroux-

Faith Leroux

About Faith Leroux

Faith writes guides, how-tos, and roundups on the latest Android games and apps for Android Police. You’ll find her writing about the newest free-to-play game to hit Android, or compiling explainer guides on popular social networking apps like Twitch and Discord. Her area of expertise is in action RPGs and gacha games, but will play and study the occasional competitive shooter. Before joining Android Police, Faith studied Chemistry and graduated with an honors specialization in Chemistry in 2016; leading her to spending many hours toiling around the lab during her time spent as an undergraduate, eventually developing her analytical mindset to dissect and dissemble information and data to arrive at an answer. Her favorite pastime was writing reports, presentations, tutorials, and literature reviews, which led to her pursuing a career in writing after completing a graduate certificate in technical writing. Faith’s first Android phone was Samsung Galaxy Note II in 2012, giving her a taste of how a small piece of powerful hardware can open anyone up to endless opportunities for your favorite hobbies. She’s also been a gamer for over 20 years, starting with Super Mario Bros. on the NES; she has owned over 15 devices for gaming ranging from handhelds to consoles. Now with her analytical mindset, passion for writing, and core identity as a gamer, she can finally chase her dreams as a technical writer and gaming journalist. Nowadays, you’ll find Faith studying spreadsheets and assembling data to theorycraft new teams and builds for Genshin Impact. You’ll also see her trying to dig deep to discover Android gaming’s most hidden gems.

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The pros and cons of cloud gaming in 2023

Cloud technology opens up plenty of opportunities for multi-platform gaming

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Cloud gaming technology made its first appearance in 2000 at E3 with Game Cluster; it was then packaged and ready for public release in 2003. But despite the promising early model for cloud gaming, it never latched on in the 2000s, thanks to a lack of reliable infrastructure. It wasn't until Microsoft, Sony, and even Google came into the picture that cloud streaming finally took off; as more businesses took the leap, more parties built platforms for cloud streaming.

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13 best browser games you can play on Android in 2023

The most accessible web games to play on your mobile browser or pin to your home screen

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Are you looking to shake up your gaming activities on your favorite Android gaming phone? But don't want to go through the hassle of downloading apps and finding storage space to host your library. If so, you may want to soak your feet into web-based gaming. All that's required is a handy mobile web browser and links to some classic browser games. And with how far mobile-compatible web browsers have come, now, you can bookmark these impressive titles without worrying about excess data usage and storage consumption.

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11 best farming games in 2023

Looking to relax with some peaceful farming games? You've come to the right place

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Relaxing gaming activities pair well with brand-new Android tablets and phones. As part of the desired R&R package, many games turn into simulators involving peaceful activities, such as building, gardening, farming, or harvesting. However, the problem with activity-focused simulator games is that they can become too tedious and overwhelming if not cultivated properly.

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How to enable high-contrast mode on your Android phone

Save your eyesight with high-contrast mode

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The average time a US citizen spends looking at their phone each day is over five hours. That's almost half of our waking hours spent staring at a phone screen. But with our eyes constantly glued to a screen, there might be some concern about how much blue light exposure our eyes get. The same light is the culprit for causing damage to our eyesight and tricks our brains into staying awake (at night). However, most modern-day Android tablets and Android phones have methods to limit your exposure.

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16 best roguelike games on Android in 2023

Android games that will scratch your itch for roguelike gameplay

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You may fret at the idea of roguelike games. Roguelikes are known for being too challenging and somewhat rage-inducing; potentially, losing your entire playthrough or progress might be too hard to cope with. The high stakes may seem daunting, but these games give you a great sense of progression once you figure out their systems and curtail your mistakes. As a result, it's no surprise that some of the best Android games are roguelikes.

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What is Microsoft Loop?

Everything you need to know about Microsoft's collaborative app

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The push for hybrid workspaces has remained at the forefront since the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Today, challenges still arise for fully remote and hybrid arrangements. Employers have concerns about how to integrate collaboration into team projects when working virtually. Historically, the office has been more than setting up a workspace. It has become a place to meet up, collaborate, and innovate. But as technology has transformed, more people have depended on their portable Chromebooks and in-home offices to get work done.

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How to block a TikTok user

Learn how to block and unblock TikTok users with a few simple steps

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TikTok is an explosive presence for content creation despite the TikTok alternatives. With fabulous camera phones to capture TikTok short clips, the world is your oyster. The platform's popularity brings unwanted toxicity from other TikTok users and spam. Here's how to block TikTok users using the mobile app and website to keep your TikTok activities undisturbed.

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Android 14 accessibility features: What's new and changed

More options have arrived for low-vision and hard-of-hearing users

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Google rolled out Android 14 on its flagship phones in early October. The rest of the Android family, from Samsung's leading phones to Motorola, will receive the most anticipated upgrade in the upcoming days (or months). So, to get ready for what Android 14 has in store, we go over some of the best accessibility features Android 14 has to offer.

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How to cancel your Disney Plus subscription

It's time to bid farewell to your Disney+ subscription

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It may be time to say goodbye to your Disney Plus content. The popular streaming service had another price increase on October 12, 2023, with its upcoming ad-free plans. The ad-free subscription used to cost $3 per month. It's being raised to $14 per month (previously $11 per month since the November 2022 price hike). Like Netflix's pricing scheme, Disney+ has been looking for ways to extract dollars from faithful customers.

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I've waited to play Reverse: 1999 for over a year — the wait wasn't worth it

The experience is soured by sloppy translation work

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Outside of HoYoverse's offerings, most gacha games fail to meet my expectations. So many of the mobile gachas I've tried have felt underwhelming: terrible story, baiting character designs, and a general lack of passion and care for these projects (outside of finding ways to extract money). But three gacha titles have kept my eyes peeled and lit with hope: Project Moon's Limbus Company, Jun Maeda's Heaven Burns Red, and Bluepoch's Reverse: 1999. My hope lies in the willingness of these games to dive into deeper, more profound themes that you cannot reproduce in surface-level, cash-first gachas. So, since 2022, I've been waiting patiently to play Reverse: 1999 on my phone. Now that the game is out, it saddens me to say Reverse: 1999 isn't ready.

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How to fix the Google Play Store 'download pending' error

Acquire your apps and games without any more delays

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You've been waiting for an upcoming Android game to arrive on the Play Store for months, but you can't get it to install. Or you can't download an important update to one of your favorite apps. When you go to the Google Play Store to download a game or app, "download pending" appears on your screen. There are workarounds you can use to stop those download errors from popping up after using the Google Play Store. This guide teaches you how to fix the download pending error on any trusty Android tablet, phone, or gaming device.

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Warcraft Arclight Rumble guide: Navigate Blizzard's new strategy game

How to collect and command an army of Warcraft Minis

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Blizzard's upcoming mobile action strategy, Warcraft Arclight Rumble, has everyone craftily assembling an army of Warcraft Minis. After some early testing of Warcraft Arclight Rumble, we can infer that Blizzard modeled its latest mobile strategy after Clash Royale, a hugely popular real-time strategy game that's made the charts since 2016. But despite the close resemblance, there are still some outstanding differences between the two titles. So, we've created a handy guide to showcase these differences while preparing players to get started on their ultimate collection of Warcraft Minis. Grab your favorite Android gaming phone and get ready to rumble!

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8 best upcoming Android games launching in 2023

Don't forget to turn up the heat, we still have some spicy titles coming our way

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Some incredible titles dropped last year, taking your newly bought gaming phone for an explosive ride. However, with another year coming to a close, some hot prospects might squeeze their way in, leaving plenty of challengers ready to triumph at the top of our Android's best games roundup. Let's see how many of these upcoming games truly delivered on their promises as the hottest title to arrive.

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12 best dark and atmospheric Android games

Set the mood with the best hauntingly inviting Android games

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When adding more titles to your trusty Android gaming phone, you'll notice no shortage of puzzle and arcade games on the Android platform. Mainstream titles like Angry Birds and Cut The Rope attract a wider range of audiences with their (more) casual gameplay style. However, stumbling upon games with darker psychedelic themes, such as World Of Goo and Badland, brings a mesmerizing, haunting experience like no other. The powerful effects of mixing audio and artistic expression can put forth an entirely different tone to some genres. So, to inspire people to try out another style of Android games, we've created a roundup of the best atmospheric games that will hauntingly stay with you.

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How to request a refund on Steam to return your game

Returning a game on Steam is as easy as following a few simple steps

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After loading up on Steam gift cards and redeeming Steam keys, you might be disappointed with some new additions sitting in your Steam library. Unfortunately, we all live to regret some impulsive purchases, and those games become an eye sore when we spot a flash sale (with the same games) not too long after. No matter the reason, we should always consider returning those Steam games. But going through hoops to put in a request to Valve might seem like a daunting process. But to streamline the Steam games refund process, we created a handy guide that teaches users how to return games on Steam with the essential guidelines that follow it — this way, you can get back to managing your Steam library through your favorite Android tablet or phone.

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How to hide likes on Facebook

Take your Facebook reaction counts into your own hands

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Meta is known for providing social media spaces for billions of users worldwide. Even with these platforms having high usage rates, these popular platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, don't shy away from publicly displaying your interests and beliefs with reaction counts. You have to go out of your way to protect your digital privacy on Facebook. And when you click the like button and react to a Facebook post or page, you risk giving more information about yourself through these activities.

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How to erase your Kindle e-reader

Wipe your data before handing your Kindle off

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You may have retired your Amazon Kindle because you picked up a nifty Android tablet to play around with some extra apps. But it's a waste to have your Amazon Kindle sitting there and collecting dust, especially if it's in (near) perfect condition. So maybe you want to sell or give away your Amazon Kindle but have concerns over the personal data that's on it. There is a way to erase your Kindle e-reader and its associated data. In this guide, we teach you how to perform a factory reset so that you can sell or give away your Amazon Kindle without leaving any traces behind.

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Pokémon Go beginner's guide: How to get started in 2023

Start your Pokémon GO journey with a handbook that won’t go out of print

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Niantic's most popular augmented reality app, Pokémon Go, has always been a favorite of Android games. Since the app's release in 2016, Pokémon Go has sent Pokémon trainers into the wild (our version of the wild, which may be your backyard). Even after several years since the app launched, the game stays afloat with new updates and features thanks to its steady monthly earnings. As new generations of Pokémon get added, Pokémon Go sees a healthy amount of installs to attract new players into the game. Even today, you won't find another AR-based game like Pokémon Go. But other players who don't follow the Pokémon franchise too closely may just use the game as just another glorified pedometer app, one that motivates you to stretch your legs by going on peaceful walks with some banger music playing through a pair of comfortable wireless earbuds. No matter the type of player you are and what your aim is, it is never too late to get into Pokémon Go.

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Rocket League has been among the most popular multiplayer games for years, and for valid reasons. It combines the speed of racing games with the thrill of competitive sports. Simply put, it's soccer, but with cars. Your job is to get the ball into the opponent's net with your vehicle.

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15 best gacha games in 2023

A hand-picked selection of the best gacha games worth gambling your time with

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Playing free-to-play and gacha games offers highs and lows like no other genre of games. Some gachas lock a player's progression behind paywalls, while others hide mundane, repetitious gameplay loops with eye candy. However, despite these unappealing qualities, gachas can still go toe-to-toe with some of the best Android games.

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