Yvonne van Geloven Avatar Image

Yvonne van Geloven

Eindhoven
YvoCaro

Favorite Games:
  • Animal Crossing
  • LOZ Breath of the Wild
  • The Atelier series

113 games reviewed
74.3% of games recommended

Yvonne van Geloven's Reviews

LadiesGamers, the site that’s all about Indie & Wholesome Gaming. Our writers and readers are of different ages and genders, though we especially welcome older female gamers as that’s how the site started: with the views of a (now) 57 year old woman on the world of gaming. We write from a family friendly perspective, reviewing games with the European age rating of 17 and below. We promote and review indie games which may not receive mainstream coverage and specialize in Wholesome Games (e.g. simulation, puzzle games, city builders). We consider all games worth playing as long as you enjoy them!
Feb 19, 2019

This game will stay with me for a long time, even if it’s only three hours in play time. It’s a game about old age, about loneliness and losing the people around you. It’s also a game about stubbornly carrying on and about old friendships. Don’t play it if you are looking for a farming sim. Don’t play it if you are looking for a time management game. Play it if you want to experience something special, but do consider which device you will play it on.

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Liked-a-lot - bayala - the game
Oct 27, 2019

Adventure game bayala is based on the movie bayala – a magical adventure. What’s more, the movie, and the game, are based on the lovely figurines by Schleich. And who doesn’t know about these wonderful toys? Somewhere on the forum of a gaming site I found a comment on the announcement of bayala that said something along the lines that this is the kind of game that you play when you aren’t a real gamer. I must say I totally disagree. I think all games are good games as long as the audience that it was intended for enjoys playing them. Sure, this is no Breath of the Wild or Monster Hunter, but that is not the purpose of the game. This is a game made for fans of the movie and fans of the toys. And the developer did a very good job at it.

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Mind-blown - Woven
Nov 14, 2019

Let's recap here: a small development studio, an amazing looking game that has lots of depth to it. A great story line and puzzles that exercise the grey cells. An added element of narration making it even better. Main characters that instantly make you feel protective. A long enough adventure with the right price tag. And even when I have other games waiting, Woven is taking over my entire spare gaming time. I think you know what I'm going to say next: this game deserves all the attention it's surely going to get. For me, it just has to be the highest praise, this is one of the best games I have played this year!

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Dec 15, 2019

Even though there are more of these kind of puzzles out there, Travel Mosaic: A Paris Tour, for me, adds good fun, color and a great challenge. It’s colourful and bright and the gleaming dots that plop into place make a very satisfying plopping noise. The background music is nice and changes with the puzzle and the tourist attraction. The addition of info about the tourist attraction is a nice touch. Playing on several layers with several colours makes Travel Mosaics stand out even more. And these grids are no walk in the park. They get bigger and more challenging as the levels go by. If you are a puzzle enthusiast and like excersizing the grey cells, I can really recommend Travel Mosaics: A Paris Tour.

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Liked-a-lot - WAKU WAKU Sweets
Jan 9, 2020

Waku Waku Sweets: a cooking game that came to the 3DS in 2018, and followed on the Switch that same year. The most well known cooking game is Cooking Mama, one that my daughter loves to bits. But now that Waku Waku Sweets on Switch has landed in retail as well, let’s see how this “other” title holds up: is it a clone, or does it bring something new to the table?

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Jan 10, 2020

Over the years I have been known to enjoy my management games: simulation games where time is of the essence and trying to manage your own business in the best way and fastest way you can. Somehow, most often the action takes place in a restaurant of sorts, serving customers their food, prepping it as quickly as you can and make sure the customers leave happy. In 2019 three games that follow that same formula came to the Nintendo Switch: Food Truck Tycoon, Burger Chef Tycoon and Pizza Bar Tycoon. Now, the three games are bundled into one and have landed once again on the Switch. Let's see how these management simulation games hold up!

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If you are an Atelier fan, Atelier Ayesha is a good addition to your collection. In every Atelier game the synthesis and battle system is slightly different. Still, I feel Atelier Ayesha is the game that made an impact on me mainly because of the story. Plus, every Atelier game is unique because of the character, and Ayesha really is my kind of girl! So I’ll stick to my verdict from all those years ago:

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The storyline is different, and the fact that both protagonists spend their time working for a company sometimes makes it feel more like a management game. But the characters that accompany you on your assignments are likeable and each have their own story to tell. The fans of the series will see many familiar faces, like Marion, Linca and Wilbell. I like the interaction between Escha and Logy and the mystery that has to be unraveled. The visuals, gameplay, soundtrack and combination of synthesising, battling and the story made it into a great experience for me.

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Liked - OmoTomO
Feb 11, 2020

The Nintendo Switch has a large collection of logic puzzles in its library. Games for when you don’t feel like button mashing, don’t feel like tending the farm or jumping from platform to platform. OmoTomO is a new addition to the eShop, one that not only helps you exercise the grey cells. Plus, it’s also designed to feel like you are in a Zen garden: time for some peace and quiet!

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Mixed - Marooners
Feb 19, 2020

Marooners is party game that made its entrance on the Nintendo Switch. Visualy, the game looks good. The characters are cute, and the levels look well designed. The idea of the gameplay is a good one, but for me, it was just too frantic and quick paced. I can imagine this game being a hoot for younger kids, but for us it didn’t feel very satisfying. Combined with the price, I feel the game is too costly for what is offered.

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You could say that this third game of the Dusk series is the best one, with the movable camera and so many familiar faces that you already know from past games. I however would be hard pressed to choose the one I love most. It would feel like pointing out my favourite child! Maybe I should conclude that Atelier Shallie offers the most for your buck, as the storylines of the two heroines differ enough for you to play the game twice. If you like turnbased RPG with crafting included, and aren’t afraid of lots of texts, these three games are great ones to find out if you are an Atelier fan yourself.

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Liked-a-lot - Half Past Fate
Mar 12, 2020

Don’t go into the game thinking you’ll do some mindless gaming. Because of the mixed up timelines, familiar faces and tie-ins between the three couples Half Past Fate needs your attention. Like I did, you’ll no doubt have a favorite couple. Whether it’s Rinden and Mara, Bia and Milo or Ana and Jaren, all the stories are interesting. If you like story based games, solving puzzles and are in the mood little romance to go with it, you really can’t go wrong with Half Past Fate.

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To be honest, they are all pretty much the same aside from the touristic value. So if you are new to the series and want to see if it’s for you, I’d say go for the first game, A Paris Tour. Just for the sole reason of pricing: the first game is now € 4,99, the second € 6,99 and this one € 7,99. I’m having fun playing the puzzles again, but I would have liked it if they had introduced something new. It’s the same modus of porting the game as is to the Switch, with the same problem of the super responsive button. But if casual gaming is your thing, the kind of little puzzle that will accompany your morning cup of coffee, then I’d say give it a try. I feel it will be money well spent for hours and hours of logic gameplay in the Travel Mosaics series.

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Jun 7, 2020

A very refreshing puzzler, with a fun combination of story-line and RPG elements. The game works well on the Switch, so it’s a good game to play on the go or for “just one more puzzle” during your morning cup of coffee. A funny story-line, a dollop of humor in the writing, many, many puzzles, and a nice way of including the puzzle element. I have to say that Piczle Cross Adventures is a game that should be on every puzzle gamer’s Switch!

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Liked-a-lot - Summer in Mara
Jun 15, 2020

Summer in Mara is a simulation adventure of the kind that the Switch still needs more entries of in its library. When you debate whether or not Summer in Mara is for you, you have to keep this in mind: you don’t play the game to go from A to B. You don’t play it to just to do all the quests and live the adventure. No, you do the quests to make the Home Island of Koa more beautiful, more bountiful and a real home. And meanwhile, you discover new islands, learns the story of new people and live through new adventures. We have all been a little spoiled in simulation gaming by Animal Crossing: New Horizons but you must remember this game is made by a small studio. It is clearly a project of love, so well made into the little details. Yes, there are some bugs to repair and there are some parts I’d like to see added, like a fully functioning inside of Koa’s home. But that doesn’t detract from the fact that I love playing it:

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I am enjoying my time in Mineral Town. The game is charming, the characters feel real and who can resist those round cute chickens and cows? No doubt this game will bring many happy memories to gamers who started their gaming life playing this game on their GBA. If, like me, you have never played it before, you can expect a good farming sim on the Switch. It doesn’t have the building aspect of later Story of Seasons games and if you are a Stardew Valley fan, you may find it too light hearted. But Friends of Mineral Town is a good Story of Seasons entry with heaps of nostalgia to boot.

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A game that keeps me playing for just one more turn, and then one more, even when I’m tired after a long day is a great game in my book. Niche – A Genetics Survival Game isn’t a game for everyone. Of course, you can dive in and just create your family without keeping the genetics in mind. But the deeper I delved, the more the game appealed to me. Notebook at the ready, keeping track of what genes I wanted to strive for, making choices to make the gene pool stable and strong. I love it. So if you like a game that you can sink your teeth in, and you love planning, strategising and playing around to get the best results, then Niche is your game. No fighting (well, aside from defending yourself from a predator), no violence, taking your time and trying to get a thriving tribe of Nichelings while exploring the surroundings. It will make for many, many hours of gaming fun.

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Loved - A Short Hike
Sep 10, 2020

A Short Hike offers a wholesome experience for a small price. Though the game is short, it’s worth every penny. Put yourself in Claires shoes (do bluebirds wear shoes?) and explore this lovely landscape. Meet all kinds of characters and help them in their quest. Most of all: glide through the air, truly as free as a bird!

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Liked - Batu ta Batu
Sep 16, 2020

The music is Batu ta Batu is good, something of the contemplating kind, sometimes more rousing. I must admit I turned the sound down in endless mode, only made me more rushed. The game’s graphics are fairly simple and the gameplay looks easy. The game is harder to master then it looks though. If you are a fan of these puzzle games it offers a lot of fun gameplay and lots of content.

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Sep 24, 2020

Looking back at Emily’s review of Country Tales, I couldn’t help but notice how similar the games are. It’s just a new theme, but the rest of the gameplay seems the same. I can only confirm what she concludes: if you like these kinds of games, and want to have another fix of making the right choices to get it all done, this is a nice new one. It doesn’t however add anything new to the genre. For myself, I can conclude I like management games of the city builder type better. Because of that, I am going for a neutral verdict.

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