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 in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa. If you've been eagerly awaiting the next installment in a certain renowned series, this game might just be the perfect interim fix.

Let's get straight to the point: Garena Free City is Garena's interpretation 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 may appear to be just another uninspired mobile clone of GTA, but a closer examination 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 GTA's more realistic style, Garena Free City embraces a more whimsical approach, complete with giant robots and summonable power-ups like 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 as the more unique elements are what truly capture attention.

Unfortunately, Garena may have chosen an inopportune moment to release Free City. While I believe no single app can dominate a genre on mobile, the upcoming release of Ananta, which also promises a vast open world and wild sidequests, might overshadow Free City. Ananta sets itself apart with a distinct anime aesthetic, which might not appeal to everyone but certainly feels innovative. My main critique of Free City so far is its reluctance to fully embrace its unique aspects.

If you want to stay ahead of the curve with new game releases, consider checking out Catherine's regular feature, "Ahead of the Game," to discover upcoming titles you can play right now.