It’s strange to think that children are still getting excited about Transformers in 2014, three decades after the robots in disguise first stomped their way into popular culture.

This year, a new film is coming out called Transformers: Age of Extinction. In advance of its box-office debut, there’s an official app for iOS and Android.

It’s mainly promotional, of course, but with some interesting-sounding gaming elements to keep fans (young and old alike) interested in the film.

“Discover clues about the upcoming Transformers: Age Of Extinction Movie, view exclusive content and compete in a worldwide battle for the future of Earth,” explains its app store listing.

“Watch movie trailers and interviews for the Transformers: Age Of Extinction movie while checking out character bios and meeting the newest bots.”

And the gaming? That involves “weekly missions” set in the Transformers world, where you earn “Energon points to help your side claim victory”.

Transformers: Age of Extinction is a free download for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, and a free download for Android from the Google Play store.

Read about more Transformers apps for kids on Apps Playground, and check out our 100 Best iPad Apps of 2013 e-book – £1.99 from Apple’s iBooks Store