Garena Free City Pre-Registration Opens in SEA, Middle East, Africa

Garena Free City, the latest addition to the developer's extensive lineup, is now open for pre-registration on both iOS and Android platforms across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa. If you're eagerly anticipating a certain sixth installment in a renowned series, Garena Free City might just be the perfect interim fix.

Let's be straightforward: Garena Free City is essentially Garena's rendition of Grand Theft Auto, set to launch on June 30th. Whether this is a positive or negative development hinges on your personal taste. At first glance, it might seem like just another uninspired mobile clone of GTA, but a closer look reveals some promising features.

For starters, the game boasts a comprehensive character customization system, reminiscent of The Sims, allowing for detailed manipulation of individual features. Unlike the more realistic style of GTA, Garena Free City embraces a more whimsical approach, featuring elements like giant robots and summonable power-ups such as deployable cover.

Bold & BrashHowever, it's clear that the game also attempts to mimic the allure of Grand Theft Auto Online, which is somewhat disappointing given the unique and eye-catching elements it introduces.

Timing might not be on Garena's side with the release of Free City. While I believe no single app can dominate a genre on mobile, the upcoming release of Ananta, which promises a vast open world and quirky side quests similar to Free City but on a grander scale, poses a significant challenge. Ananta also distinguishes itself with a unique anime aesthetic, which might not appeal to everyone but certainly sets it apart. My primary critique of Free City so far is its reluctance to fully embrace its distinctiveness.

If you're keen on staying ahead of the curve with new game releases, be sure to check out Catherine's regular feature, "Ahead of the Game," to discover upcoming titles you can dive into right now.