This week’s Windows Store roundup highlights a familiar mix of polished ports, addictive mobile-to-PC conversions, and focused utilities — led by the Windows debut of Candy Crush Saga and rounded out with a surprising 2D fighter, a retro-styled shoot ’em up, and a clutch of small but useful productivity and network tools. The original weekly roundup that inspired this feature lists the week’s best picks and updates, including Candy Crush Saga as the Best App of the Week, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger, WiFi Monitor, Robot Rundown, the official Windows DVD Player entry, and several indie favorites — a snapshot that underlines both the strengths and recurring weaknesses of the Microsoft Store ecosystem.
The Microsoft Store continues to be a crossroads where big-name mobile franchises, indie experiments, and single-purpose utilities meet. Weekly roundups such as the BetaNews piece serve two purposes: discovery and context. They surface interesting new arrivals for power users and casual consumers alike, while also illustrating recurring themes in the Store — cross-platform ports that arrive with differing feature parity, freemium monetization that drives retention mechanics, and a large tail of smaller apps whose maintenance and privacy posture can be hard to verify from the listing alone.
This edition of the roundup is typical: one widely recognizable brand (Candy Crush), a high-quality fighting-game port (BLAZBLUE CALAMITY TRIGGER), several smaller premium and freemium titles, and some utilities aimed at productivity and network troubleshooting. The selections reveal what users most commonly want from the Store: accessible games that sync familiar mechanics to PC input models and lightweight utilities that solve precise, frequent problems.
Practical guidance:
Caveats:
Practical tip: For wireless troubleshooting on routers and access points, use WiFi Monitor to identify crowded channels and then confirm with router-side channel controls.
For readers acting on this week’s picks, the most practical approach is straightforward: pick one entertainment title to test (Candy Crush or BlazBlue), grab one utility that solves an immediate problem (WiFi Monitor or Explorer10), and always double-check the Store for the latest prices, permissions, and update history before committing. The Microsoft Store can be a great place to discover useful software, but the onus is on users to verify value and safety before installing.
Source: BetaNews Best Windows apps this week
The Microsoft Store continues to be a crossroads where big-name mobile franchises, indie experiments, and single-purpose utilities meet. Weekly roundups such as the BetaNews piece serve two purposes: discovery and context. They surface interesting new arrivals for power users and casual consumers alike, while also illustrating recurring themes in the Store — cross-platform ports that arrive with differing feature parity, freemium monetization that drives retention mechanics, and a large tail of smaller apps whose maintenance and privacy posture can be hard to verify from the listing alone.This edition of the roundup is typical: one widely recognizable brand (Candy Crush), a high-quality fighting-game port (BLAZBLUE CALAMITY TRIGGER), several smaller premium and freemium titles, and some utilities aimed at productivity and network troubleshooting. The selections reveal what users most commonly want from the Store: accessible games that sync familiar mechanics to PC input models and lightweight utilities that solve precise, frequent problems.
Overview: the week’s highlights
- Best App of the Week: Candy Crush Saga — the long-running match‑3 giant’s Windows debut and the largest-name arrival in this week’s batch.
- Notable game ports: BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger (2D fighter), Robot Rundown (side-scrolling shooter), and Doom & Destiny Advanced (16‑bit RPG sequel/reboot).
- Utilities and tools: WiFi Monitor, Explorer10 (file manager), Windows DVD Player (official Microsoft app), Jellyflug Micro Adventures (platformer).
- Promotions: Red Stripe Deals and short-term discounts in the Store continue to surface value purchases for users watching the deal lanes.
Best App of the Week — Candy Crush Saga
Candy Crush Saga’s presence on Windows devices is both unsurprising and significant: match‑3 remains one of the best-performing mobile genres, and King’s flagship title has proven resilient, widely recognized, and monetization-first in design.- What the app is: a classic match‑3 puzzle with level-based objectives (score thresholds, jelly clearing, item drops) and a live-service progression model that pushes players through a level map.
- Monetization and mechanics: the game is free-to-play with a lives system and in-app purchases (IAP). Lives replenish slowly, and progression past certain barriers often requires in-game currency or social assistance, a model designed to promote microtransactions and social engagement.
- Platform notes: Candy Crush Saga (and sibling titles like Candy Crush Soda Saga) have been formally supported on Windows platform storefronts; Microsoft’s Windows blogs and gaming press documented Windows Store distributions for Candy Crush titles when they launched on Windows 10.
Practical guidance:
- If you enjoy casual puzzles and can tolerate paywalls, Candy Crush remains an enjoyable pick.
- For those wary of monetization mechanics, try initial level runs offline to gauge pressure to spend before connecting your primary Microsoft account or adding payment methods.
Fighting fit: BLAZBLUE CALAMITY TRIGGER
Arc System Works’ BLAZBLUE: Calamity Trigger is a noteworthy Store arrival for fighting-game fans.- Core offering: a 2D fighting game with arcade, versus, and score-attack modes, and a roster of a dozen-plus fighters with unique command lists and combo mechanics.
- Platform and price: historically the title has appeared in Windows Store/Windows 8-era storefronts at a modest price point (around $7–$8 in past launches), and it’s also widely distributed on PC marketplaces like Steam. Coverage and storefront listings confirm PC availability and classic hardware/controller support.
Caveats:
- Feature parity: some storefront ports historically omitted online modes, story modes, or training features present in console versions; check the current Store description to confirm included modes before purchase.
- System requirements: older ports may still require compatibility checks with modern Windows releases; verify the Store/system page for supported OS versions.
Utilities that matter: WiFi Monitor, Explorer10, and Windows DVD Player
The week’s utility picks are small but useful apps — the kinds power users and technicians will appreciate.WiFi Monitor
A compact tool designed to scan local wireless networks, showing SSIDs, channels, and noise levels — useful when choosing channels for an access point or diagnosing interference. The Pro upgrade can add throughput testing and direct connect options. The BetaNews write-up provides the feature synopsis used here.Practical tip: For wireless troubleshooting on routers and access points, use WiFi Monitor to identify crowded channels and then confirm with router-side channel controls.
Explorer10
A tabbed file manager alternative that supports core file operations, multiple tabs, and a light/dark theme. It’s a typical example of a Store utility that targets users who want more modernized file management without resorting to heavyweight third-party desktop tools.Windows DVD Player
Microsoft’s official DVD playback app for Windows 10 is noteworthy for two reasons: licensing and cost.- Eligibility notes: Microsoft provided the Windows DVD Player app for free to users who upgraded to Windows 10 from qualifying previous editions (Windows 7 Home Premium/Professional/Ultimate or Windows 8.x Pro with Media Center) as a limited-time offer; otherwise, the app has been sold in the Store. Microsoft’s support pages document the eligibility and limitations of the free offer.
- Price and alternatives: press coverage at launch criticized the app’s limited functionality and pointed out that free alternatives (for broader codec and container support) exist, particularly VLC. Industry outlets flagged the app’s fixed price and basic feature set at the time.
Indie and retro picks: Robot Rundown, Doom & Destiny Advanced, Jellyflug Micro Adventures
This week’s indie roster shows how nostalgia and compact design still sell.- Robot Rundown: a side-scrolling shooter with retro 8‑bit aesthetics intercut with FMV sequences. The game blends nostalgia with a compact arcade structure and is pitched to players who enjoy shoot ’em ups and retro presentation.
- Doom & Destiny Advanced: a 16‑bit style role‑playing game — self-described as a sequel/prequel/reboot to the Doom & Destiny series — featuring turn‑based combat, a large world, and cross‑platform multiplayer features. The title is widely available on both the Microsoft Store and Steam, and storefront listings confirm the Advanced edition’s existence as a paid entry (pricing varies by storefront and by sale). Steam and marketplace aggregators show consistent listings for Doom & Destiny Advanced.
- Jellyflug Micro Adventures: a small, well-crafted jump-and-run platformer with 45 bite-sized levels that supports keyboard, gamepad, and touch input. It’s emblematic of the smaller polish-first indie picks that the Store frequently highlights.
Monetization and privacy — recurring issues to watch
Several red flags and practical concerns emerge across the week’s selection, and they’re worth calling out explicitly.- Freemium design and paywalls: match‑3 and many mobile-first titles are designed to maximize playtime and, by extension, in‑app spending. Limiting lives, introducing soft paywalls, and gating progression to encourage IAP are common patterns. Candy Crush is a canonical example; players should expect social invites, gifting prompts, and in‑game purchases as core loops.
- Trustworthiness of small publishers: smaller utilities (ambient mixers, habit trackers, single-purpose tools) often lack public changelogs, enterprise-grade privacy policies, or visible update cadence. Users should check publisher pages and reviews, and prefer apps with an established support channel.
- Extension and ad‑block trust: While ad-blockers and privacy extensions can be beneficial, they often require extensive permissions. Install only reputable vendors, and verify the extension’s publisher identity and review the permission prompts carefully.
- Regional/availability volatility: mobile ports or region-limited titles may be removed from the Store or restricted by geography. Confirm availability before committing to a purchase or relying on a title for critical tasks.
Quality analysis: strengths and risks
Strengths
- Diversity: The mix in this week’s list shows the Store still hosts everything from high‑production game ports to focused utilities, giving users choices across entertainment and productivity needs.
- Big-brand reach: Major franchises that have proven mobile success continue to come to Windows, bringing polished experiences and broad support.
- Small tools, big wins: Lightweight utilities (WiFi Monitor, Explorer10) solve real problems quickly and can be more efficient than stepping outside the Store for similar tools.
Risks
- Monetization strategy: Freemium mechanics are pervasive; newcomers should treat early play sessions as tests to determine how intrusive monetization is before investing significant time or money.
- Maintenance and privacy: Smaller apps may be abandoned or silently change permissions; check recent update dates and user reviews for red flags.
- Feature parity and omissions: Ports of console or mobile titles can omit modes (online play, story mode, training) or have differing control support; confirm the current feature list on the Store and on developer pages prior to purchase.
How to approach Store picks this week — practical steps
- Read the Store listing carefully — confirm included modes and system requirements.
- Test offline where possible — play initial levels or try core functions without signing into accounts or adding payment methods.
- Check update cadence — favor apps with recent updates and an active changelog.
- Inspect permissions for extensions — ad‑blockers and privacy tools can require broad access; select reputable publishers and review the permission set before installing.
- Use alternative players for DVDs — unless you qualify for Microsoft’s free Windows DVD Player credit, consider VLC for broad compatibility and no cost.
Notable updates and discounts
- Red Stripe Deals continue to appear in the Store, offering short-term discounts that can make otherwise niche or expensive apps attractive. These deals are a good time to pick up utility software or indie titles on the cheap.
- Always treat advertised sale prices as ephemeral: they often end quickly and may differ by region. Confirm the current store price and any return/refund policy for your store region.
Final verdict — what to try first
- Install now: Candy Crush Saga if you like casual match‑3 gameplay and are comfortable with freemium mechanics; it’s polished and well-optimized across inputs.
- Worth buying (if you like fighters): BLAZBLUE CALAMITY TRIGGER — a strong 2D fighter with clear appeal for genre fans; confirm included modes and controller support on the current storefront before purchase.
- Useful tool: WiFi Monitor — for quick local wireless troubleshooting and channel/noise visibility.
- Alternate for DVD playback: prefer VLC unless you were eligible for Microsoft’s free Windows DVD Player upgrade; Microsoft documented the free eligibility for qualifying Windows 7/8.1 with Media Center upgraders, while press coverage at launch criticized the app’s limited nature and price.
Conclusion
This week’s Store highlights are emblematic of the Microsoft Store’s current identity: a hybrid marketplace where major mobile franchises and polished ports coexist with focused utility apps and indie experiments. There’s real value to be found — Candy Crush Saga brings a familiar, high-polish match‑3 experience to Windows, BlazBlue delivers console-grade fighting on PC, and small utilities like WiFi Monitor and Explorer10 solve everyday problems efficiently. At the same time, the persistent realities of freemium monetization, variable developer commitment, and storefront volatility require users to be deliberate: verify current Store listings, test core flows offline, and prefer apps and publishers with active maintenance and clear policies.For readers acting on this week’s picks, the most practical approach is straightforward: pick one entertainment title to test (Candy Crush or BlazBlue), grab one utility that solves an immediate problem (WiFi Monitor or Explorer10), and always double-check the Store for the latest prices, permissions, and update history before committing. The Microsoft Store can be a great place to discover useful software, but the onus is on users to verify value and safety before installing.
Source: BetaNews Best Windows apps this week