App reviews: Lifeline, Maps.me

From the moment you boot it up, you should realize that Lifeline isn't a run-of-the-mill mobile game.

There's no animation and no real action. But by the time you get into the text-based thriller, there's no denying it's suspenseful and artfully constructed. Lifeline puts you in touch with Taylor, a student whose expedition to space has crash-landed. And you're the only one who can communicate with this survivor, which places you in the role of confidant and adviser. Think of it as sort of like "The Martian," except you get to set the major plot points. The game unfolds in real time, so if your intrepid explorer runs off to do something an hour away, the game doesn't move on until a full 60 minutes has passed.

If you really like Lifeline, there's a second game in Apple and Google's app stores. Lifeline costs 99 cents to $1.99; available for iOS and Android devices.

Maps. me

Data use is always a consideration when you're traveling with your tech gadgets. That's particularly true if you're in an unfamiliar place and want to use map apps, which are notorious for eating into your data and battery life. Maps. me offers an alternative to connected maps, without making you resort to the road atlas. These downloadable maps are detailed and easy to use, with locations around the world. And you don't have to stay connected to a network to use them.

The trade-off of not having to use data to look at maps is that you have to download some pretty big files. Maps. me and other apps that let you store maps offline are best used with a little bit of preparation - namely, making sure you have enough room for the map you want to use. If you plan your adventures, Maps. me is a handy tool to have. Free, for iOS and Android devices.