LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 is exactly what it needed to be: a polished version of an already outstanding RPG. Returning to it years later gave me a much greater appreciation for what makes this game special. The story remains compelling, the world remains fascinating to explore, and the combat finally clicked with me in a way it never quite did the first time around. If you’ve already played this adventure multiple times, the new additions alone may not be enough to justify another hundred-hour commitment. But for newcomers, or players like me who haven’t visited Shulk’s adventure in a very long time, this is easily the best way to experience it. It’s a timeless RPG that still stands tall among Nintendo’s finest adventures, and one that feels just as rewarding today as it did when players first picked up the Monado all those years ago.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time with Lucie as we investigated the counterfeit gem scams and the jeweler murders together with Cecil in Crimson Waves on the Emerald Sea: Amaranthine Moon. I look forward to going back and experiencing the story again with Elm and Rowan too!
Beastro feels like a cosy player’s dream. It successfully combines farming, restaurant management, cooking minigames and deck-building roguelite mechanics into something that feels surprisingly cohesive. Not every element is explained perfectly, and some of the systems can initially feel a little confusing. The boss encounters occasionally felt harsher than I would have liked, too. Yet despite those issues, I found myself consistently enjoying my time with it. What impressed me most is how welcoming the game feels. It never seems interested in punishing the player. Instead, it gently encourages you forward, allowing you to learn, experiment and progress at your own pace. If you’re someone who enjoys cosy games and have perhaps been intimidated by more demanding roguelites in the past, Beastro might be exactly the kind of gateway experience you’re looking for. And if you simply want to spend your evenings growing vegetables, cooking meals, petting strange farm animals and helping save the world one dinner plate at a time, there’s plenty here to love.
Trackastrophe! left me in a somewhat unusual position. I can’t point to any major flaw that completely undermines the experience. The puzzles function as intended, the presentation is clean, and the core concept is easy to understand. The problem isn’t that the game does anything particularly wrong. It’s that very little managed to leave an impression on me. Throughout most of my playthrough, I felt oddly detached from the experience. I kept solving puzzles, unlocking new levels, and moving forward, yet rarely felt motivated by anything beyond simple completion. More than frustration, what I mostly felt was apathy. That doesn’t necessarily mean Trackastrophe! is a bad game. Players looking for a straightforward series of logic puzzles may very well find exactly what they’re looking for here. I can also see it working nicely as a family-friendly puzzle game for younger players. As for me, I never found the spark that would have kept me invested.
33 Immortals could easily have been a gimmick. Instead, Thunder Lotus has created something that feels genuinely fresh within the roguelike genre. The 33-player structure isn’t just a marketing hook; it’s woven directly into the gameplay and creates memorable moments that simply wouldn’t exist in a traditional roguelike. The combat is enjoyable, the progression system is rewarding, the presentation is excellent and the cooperative focus works far better than I expected. Most importantly, it captures something that many online games struggle with: the feeling that everyone is working together without getting in each other’s way. For a concept that sounded almost impossible on paper, 33 Immortals ends up being a surprisingly successful rebellion.
Lost Castle 2 doesn’t reinvent the roguelite formula, but it does it well. It focuses on delivering satisfying combat, a mountain of loot, strong progression systems, and enough variety to make each run feel fresh. The combat is responsive, the loot is rewarding, and the steady stream of unlocks gives you plenty of reasons to keep coming back. A few balancing issues and some overly dense item descriptions stop it from being perfect, but they’re small complaints in what is otherwise a very enjoyable experience. Whether you’re a fan of the original game or completely new to the series, Lost Castle 2 is an easy recommendation for players who enjoy action-focused roguelites.
Elfie: A Sand Plan is a much more complex game than it seems to be. Definitely not the kids’ game it appears to be, although a super smart kid may be able to play as well. This is a great exercise for the brain — and I mean it in an actual brain training kind of way. It takes a super simple idea and builds intricate puzzles that keep getting more complex as you advance in the game. Maybe not a game to play for long periods of time as it can be a little bit mentally exhausting, but Elfie: A Sand Plan is definitely worth playing in smaller bits.
Overall, The Guardian of Nature is a great game that’s worth playing. The puzzles were fun, the artwork amazing, and the sound design and music were perfect. It may have been short, but those hours spent in the world of the Guardians were wonderful. If you like puzzle games, I cannot recommend this one enough!
Whether you are a new or returning fan of the Delicious games, Delicious – The First Course is a treat for fans of restaurant sims and time-management games. It’s worth watching if the developers release more remakes in the future.
Overall, Secrets of Velendar Castle – Escape Room was fine. The puzzles were good; there were only two where I looked at the hint for it and thought “I never would have figured that out!” The visual style and sound were great, and the game is fun to move around in. I didn’t like the ending choice, but it was interesting to have that choice at all. If you enjoy escape room-type puzzles, and you are looking for a quick title to puzzle over for a few hours, Secrets of Velendar Castle – Escape Room is a great choice.
Unrailed 2: Back on Track is exactly the sequel I was hoping for. It preserves everything that made the original special while introducing enough new ideas to justify its existence. The deeper progression systems, boss encounters, expanded customisation, improved solo experience, and increased variety all help elevate what was already a fantastic concept. Most importantly, it never loses sight of what made the first game so enjoyable: the simple joy of working together to build a railway before disaster strikes. Whether you’re playing alone, with family, or with a group of friends shouting instructions at one another across the sofa, there’s an incredible amount of fun to be found here. If you loved the original, this is an easy recommendation. If you’ve never played Unrailed before, this is arguably the best place to start. Train building has rarely been this frantic, this funny, or this satisfying.
There’s lots to admire in Lovely Deco House: the graphics are cute, there is an incredible amount of décor to craft, and the mini-games add a different aspect. Whilst I like the concept of the game, the lack of interior space and the inability to stack items, the clunky controls and the end-of-game crash spoilt my overall enjoyment. For that reason, I cannot recommend it at this moment.
Looking for the cute cats in Secret Paws – Cozy Apartments is a delight. The additional puzzles of unlocking rooms and windows elevates this hidden objects game, and it never fails to amuse me how previously unseen cats are clearly visible when you rotate the scene.
Momento is a game that the fans of Unpacking have been eagerly awaiting. Thankfully, it doesn’t disappoint at all, and it’s exactly what I’ve been hoping for. It is the perfect mix of cozy storytelling, open to wonder and whimsy, and really, perfect for summer.
Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker is a delightful new story set within the Tavern Talk universe. It has all the winning elements from the previous game, and I can only hope that this will not be the last we see of the land of Phesoa and its quirky characters.
FrogBlock is a thoughtful little puzzle game. If you enjoy perspective-based puzzles and like sitting down with something that slowly pushes your brain harder and harder, there is plenty here to appreciate. The rotating world mechanic is clever, the level variety keeps introducing new ideas, and the option to skip puzzles helps avoid too much frustration. That said, this is definitely one of those games that depends heavily on whether its style of puzzle-solving clicks with you personally. I had moments where I felt genuinely smart solving puzzles, and other moments where I simply stared blankly at the screen, hoping inspiration would magically arrive. A hint system might have helped smooth over some of those rougher patches. Still, there is plenty to like here. The visuals are pleasant, the soundtrack is relaxing, and the puzzles themselves are thoughtfully designed. Just do yourself a favour and use a controller.
It’s clear to tell that Solarpunk has been created with passion, from every placed flower making the environment look natural, to the sounds of wood crackling in the furnace, from the carefully planned upgrade path, to the numerous building options. In my eyes, Solarpunk is something truly special, containing everything I want from a game: gathering, harvesting, exploring, crafting, building and decorating. There are a few niggles, but they don’t detract from the amazing scenery, the structured gameplay and the sheer enjoyment of creating a dream home, garden and farm.
Map Map – A Game About Maps takes the surprisingly niche subject of cartography and transforms it into a delightful exploration adventure. Its charming cast, clever navigation mechanics, and rewarding sense of discovery create an experience that feels genuinely unique. I especially appreciated how it encourages players to engage with the environment rather than simply follow objective markers. The fixed maps do mean replayability is somewhat limited once you’ve mastered each island, but the journey itself is so enjoyable that I didn’t mind. This is a game that rewards patience, curiosity, and careful observation. It’s educational without feeling like homework, relaxing without becoming boring, and challenging without being unfair. For anyone who enjoys cosy exploration games and the thrill of uncovering secrets through their own ingenuity, Map Map – A Game About Maps is well worth charting a course towards. I look forward to sharing it with my kids when they are older.
Overall, the puzzles in Swan Song are well-designed with interesting mechanics, but a built-in hint system would make this game more accessible to casual players. While a bit too dark for my personal tastes, I also enjoyed the unconventional way in which the story is presented.
Overall, Kitty Finder is very cute, and if you or your children like the idea of finding kitties hidden behind objects, this might be a good one to play together. It’s colorful, cute, and has some fun puzzles in it. I think it is a little overpriced for what it is, but not by much. I think Kitty Finder has an audience out there that it could easily find, but I’m not sure that audience includes me. It is cute, but I like a bit more in my puzzle games.