Avast, me hearties! You didn’t think I would write the review without at least one pirate’s pun added in, did you? Autonauts vs Piratebots is a super fun game, though be prepared for a bit of a grind in setting up everything before you start making pirate bots. Anyone who has played the original Autonauts game should enjoy some more bot action in Autonauts vs Piratebots.
Train Valley Console Edition is a challenging puzzle game with controls that make playing it on the Switch a tad frustrating. However, I’d recommend Train Valley if you like trains and enjoy a good challenge. I must admit I’d play it on PC over the Switch version. This way you might save yourself having to buy a new Switch after throwing it through the window in frustration.
Lord Winklebottom Investigates is a fantastic first solo game by the developer. So did the game live up to my expectations? Yes, it did, and I loved every minute of my investigation, even when I managed to hit a wall and get stuck for a while. The game offers everything an excellent point-and-click game should. There are many interesting characters to speak to, ingenious clues, and a good time for the player.
It took a while for Time on Frog Island to grow on me; that probably wasn’t helped by the many times I got lost when my usually good sense of direction let me down. However, I loved how the sailor is animated, the story is good, and there is no pressure in the game. I do think that if you are not a fan of fetch-type quests, the game might not be for you. But if you want a chilled game with some quirky-looking frogs, and an island to explore, give it a try.
Snug Finder is a wholesome, sweet and enjoyable hidden object game. It would be suitable for all ages to play, from young to old. I could imagine parents and grandparents playing this game with the children. The children would spot the hidden object instantly, leaving the adults in their wake. For the price of £7.99 in the eShop, I would have liked to have more puzzles, but if you are quick, you can snap the game up as it is on sale for £1.74 | $1.99 | € 1,99
Railway – Train Simulator is a brilliant pick-up and play puzzle game. It has all the right ingredients on the tracks to give you hours of enjoyment. After all, who doesn’t like to play with trains, no matter your age? So if you like your puzzle games, I recommend you try Railway – Train Simulator. Now, step aside and mind the gap, all aboard as the fun train leaves the station!
Beasties is a very casual and easy game offering little challenge that reminds me of a mobile game. While playing it for review, I kept waiting for something fantastic to happen in the game. Say, for instance, a surprise twist in the storyline or an extra area to explore as there is only one area, a forest. Sadly that never happened. I battled and caught a few beasties and visited all three stalls in the village: a beastie trainer, a blacksmith to mend your only tool and a healer. After nearly three hours of play, I finished the game and watched the credits roll. For the game’s price you don’t get much for your money, and it is over in a flash. Unfortunately, the game’s storyline also isn’t that great, and like the game itself, it ends abruptly.
Overall I enjoyed playing Ruggnar. Even the platform jumping was pleasant to play and not frustrating. I would have liked to have more of a challenge in the game, especially in a game that centres around how dark it is meant to be. But I like that the game’s main focus is exploring the enemy-free dungeons, not everything revolves around combat.
While I played through the fifty levels of Cube Decider, I did enjoy the game for a while. It is not the worse game out there, but on the other hand, it is not the best game either. However, for a couple of pounds in the eShop, I’d still be hesitant to recommend it as it left me with a feeling off…. well, that it was kind of pointless after finishing it.
Autonauts is packed with adorable animations and a deceptively simple premise. Controls could be better on the Switch, as I do think they let the game down. Apart from the controls, the game premise and execution of the tutorial are well done. The game is enjoyable, with plenty to keep you up until the wee hours of the morning, commanding your bots to craft and build the colony of your dreams.
Overall, Freshly Frosted is a delightful game and has all a puzzle fan would need in a game. Decent puzzles that aren’t frustrating, chill music, and the narrator’s soothing voice make this one of my favourite puzzle games I have played this year. Though the game should come with a warning as it does leave you with a craving for doughnuts.
Please Fix The Road is a brilliant game; it gives the player enough help to get through the levels without it becoming frustrating. It is a great game to dip in and out of for short play sessions after a stressful day. Added to that the game is beautiful to look at, puzzle fans will love this game, it is definitely worth checking out.
Dungeon Village 2 is a management game with several different subsystems that reward and encourage you to keep playing. In addition, it’s a great relaxing time sink where you can spend many hours building up your town to five stars.
While playing APICO, it’s clear that the developers have put a lot of love into their game and bees. It’s littered with bee puns and humour throughout the game, and it is educational as well. Four-player online co-op is available to play, which I didn’t get to try. However, the enjoyable and chilled gameplay will keep you buzzing for hours and coming back for more. Gotta go and check on my bees!
My Time at Sandrock is a standalone game; you don’t have to have played Portia to be able to enjoy it. The game takes new characters to a new location and updates some mechanics for the better. However, if you have played the previous game, it will feel very familiar, like returning home to see an old friend.
Playing Old World feels like you have an entire nation interacting deeply with other real civilizations covering a much smaller slice of history. It adds complexity and dimension to the 4X genre by taking the Civilization templet and adding to it to involve you in an epic story. I love it, as I enjoy the deep strategy it offers and the added relationship dynamics!
All in all, Lost Nova is a wholesome sweet chilled-out game that’s a delight to play. Of course, it won’t suit all gamers as the relaxed atmosphere, and the gameplay wouldn’t suit players that are heavily into combat since it combats free. However, it’s a fun, enjoyable trip to a distant planet with beautiful artwork and cute characters with wholesome vibes. If all of that looks good to you, I definitely recommend playing Lost Nova and helping Mia return home.
Unfortunately, As Far As The Eye felt like work playing it. For me, strategy games tread a line between letting you execute a satisfying plan and responding to surprise threats. However, with As Far As The Eye’s constant violent natural disasters and the need for upkeep on every game element, it gets quite tiresome to always be on the defensive and rush to the next Halt. A strategy game should encourage long play sessions with lots of deep planning of your next move and not having to rush because of some threat you have no control over. Apart from that, when you die, there isnt any post-game analysis, recorded stats, or even the ability to scroll the map and see where you went wrong and learn from it. All of that makes me think that hex-based strategy and roguelike genres should not be mixed together in a game!
Winkeltje: The Little Shop is fun to play. It’s an enjoyable gameplay loop, open the shop in the morning, sell items, and close the shop at the end of the day. Once the shop is closed for the day, you can rearrange the stock and take care of the crops you are growing, ready for another business day. It can get repetitive if you play for long sessions. However, Winkeltje’s specialisation system does help to keep it feeling fresh and interesting.
Bugsnax is a certainly different take on the adventure puzzle genre. Catching the Bugsnax is fun at the beginning of the game, but after 8 to 10 hours, the repetitiveness of the game’s main task drags it all down, which is a pity. Overall, Bugsnax was fun while it lasted, but it wouldn’t be a game I’d be rushing to play again.