Bug Heroes is easily one of my favorite iOS games of this year so far (click here for my previous review). The game is a clever, inventive, and just plain fun blend of dual-stick shooters, tower-defense games, and action-RPG character enhancement, in which you play as a group of bugs trying to defend its stash of food from the endlessly intensifying attacks of wave after wave of enemy creepy-crawlies. And it just got even better, with a massive version 2.0 update, which adds a new map in coliseum mode for free, as well as new abilities for the game’s original three heroes. Additionally, the game now features three new content packs, available as $0.99 in-app purchases. Each new content pack unlocks two new heroes, a new map for adventure mode, and six new types of enemies that go along with the map.

Also, the game is currently free in celebration of the 2.0 update. If you’ve been on the fence about the game, missed out on hearing about it when it came out, or just plain want a free game (and a very high quality one at that) — there really is no good excuse not to download it.

As far as the in-app purchase content packs, I found them to be well worth my own personal hard-earned $2.97. The new characters are all a blast. They are, in no particular order, a fly bandito, a ladybug fencer, a grasshopper fighting monk, a stick-bug wizard, an inchworm with a long-range rifle, and a termite who has a variety of turret skills. The new maps are also a blast, providing unique spins on the gameplay by offering creative enemy designs. All of the new characters have a lot of creativity which is evident in their overall design and especially their unique attacks.

Also, Foursaken Media, the game’s developers, have promised to unlock an exclusive preying mantis hero for free, once they receive 500,000 votes for the game. There are several ways to vote, all of them free, such as liking Foursaken Media’s profile on Facebook, liking their Facebook posts, following them on Twitter, and Tweeting about them… whatever that means 😉

You really, really should download this game and give it a try. And if you already own the game and enjoy it, I would recommend purchasing some or all of the unlockable content packs. I’ve been having a lot of fun with them for the past few days, for less than the price of a latte.