LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
FLIP takes a familiar concept, adds a few clever mechanics and wraps everything around 50 bite-sized levels that are easy to dip into whenever you have some spare time. The difficulty can jump up quite quickly in places, but the short levels make it easy to have another go. Between the main campaign, Endless Mode and the more relaxed Cosy Mode, there’s enough variety to keep things interesting. At its low price point, there’s very little to complain about. FLIP might not do anything particularly revolutionary, but I had a good time playing it, and sometimes that’s all a puzzle game needs to achieve. If you’re after a straightforward little brain teaser to enjoy in short bursts, this one is worth a look.
Deep Dish Dungeon is a pleasant surprise. It takes an old-school approach to exploration, giving you the freedom to wander, experiment and figure things out without constantly pointing you towards the next objective. The puzzles and environmental interactions are the real stars here, and the satisfaction of solving something through your own efforts is what kept me interested. The survival mechanics and limited inventory can sometimes interrupt that flow, particularly when playing solo, but they don’t completely overshadow the experience. This isn’t a game for everyone. If you want clear objectives, regular guidance and a fast-paced adventure, you might find its deliberate pace frustrating. But if you enjoy exploring mysterious places, getting a little lost and slowly piecing together the answers, there’s something worthwhile waiting here. I enjoyed my time with Deep Dish Dungeon, and I’d be interested in trying it in co-op to see how much more enjoyable those discoveries become with a friend along for the ride.
On The Trail: Deep Water is a nice little addition to Cairn. Three new locations give experienced climbers fresh challenges to tackle. It’s not a massive expansion, and there’s no reason to pretend otherwise. However, it’s free, offers more of what makes the original game enjoyable and gives fans another excuse to head back onto the rock face. If you enjoyed the main game, this is an easy recommendation. Just remember to pack your patience alongside your climbing gear!
What impressed me most about Pardon My French Toast is that it manages to be more than just a joke about playing as a piece of breakfast. The premise is certainly silly, but the developers have built a genuinely enjoyable platformer around it. There are still a few frustrating platforming moments, and anyone looking for a particularly challenging or mechanically complex adventure might want something meatier. But that’s not really what this game is trying to be. It offers a pleasant, accessible platforming experience with enough collectables, abilities and optional challenges to keep things interesting. I started out unsure whether the concept would wear thin, but I ended up genuinely enjoying my time with it. The movement feels good, the levels are thoughtfully put together, and the whole thing has a positive, welcoming vibe that’s easy to appreciate. If you love collectable platformers, or you’re looking for something cheerful to play yourself or share with the family, Pardon My French Toast is well worth a look. It certainly delivers a satisfying slice of fun. There’s also a free demo to try on Steam.
Despite its shortcomings, I still had a good time with Joe & Mac Retro Collection. These are perfectly serviceable examples of their era, and there’s something appealing about their simple, pick-up-and-play approach. However, I’d struggle to recommend it to everyone. If you have fond memories of the series or simply enjoy exploring older platformers, there’s enough here to make it worthwhile. Newcomers may find the games interesting as a snapshot of gaming history, but the relatively limited extras don’t give the collection much additional appeal. Overall, this is a decent but unambitious retro package. I’m glad these games are available on modern systems, and I enjoyed revisiting this little slice of prehistoric gaming. I just wish the collection had dug up a few more fossils along the way.
Hokko Spaces is a delightfully charming mini-world builder. A little more work is needed around the categorisation of the decoration items. However, the villagers are super cute, especially when they play in the pile of leaves, water your crops, or simply sit down and enjoy the view. Watching them interact with the environment you have created is definitely a highlight.
The farming part of Village in the Shade is good, maybe not as deep as in other pure farming sims. I would strongly advise you to give both modes a try when you go for this game. I’m by no means an expert at horror games, but I feel the horror elements are generally more eerie than outright terrifying. Rather than relying purely on jump scares, the game builds tension through atmosphere, uncertainty, and the unsettling feeling that something is wrong beneath the village’s peaceful exterior. The game looks wonderful, like a hand-drawn scene of rural Japan; the villagers have a deep storyline and personal struggles, and the combination of farming sim with folk horror works wonderfully. I know Village in the Shade has made an impression on me, making it a game I will remember.
Tidy Up the Flower Shop was a very pleasant surprise for me, and I happily spent a couple of hours sorting flowers and looking at every nook and cranny in the shop. As the weather turns colder now, Tidy Up the Flower Shop might just be the spot of warmth and color you need right now.
The Last Cat in the Universe is a relatively short experience, designed to be completed in around two to three hours rather than keeping you trapped in an endless cycle of grinding. That suits it well. There’s a clear sense of progression, a story to uncover and a little cat who needs your help, all wrapped around a satisfying mining loop. It won’t be for everyone. If you want complex management systems, demanding challenges or lots of different gameplay mechanics, you may find it a little too repetitive. But if you’re after something uncomplicated that lets you unwind at your own pace, there’s plenty to like here. Ultimately, The Last Cat in the Universe passes my cosy-game test. I enjoyed its simple, satisfying gameplay, the steady stream of upgrades and the relaxed pace. It might not set the universe alight, but it gave me a pleasant little place to spend a few hours. If you can make looking after a cat and blasting space debris this relaxing, I’d say that’s a job well done.
I’ve played lots of different puzzle games over the years; however, I’ve never played a game like Order of the Sinking Star, which combines so many different puzzle genres into one cohesive experience. It’s not a casual puzzle game, and often I felt mentally exhausted, frustrated and amazed at the genius behind each puzzle. However, the satisfaction of completing these mind-bending conundrums makes Order of the Sinking Star worthy of the LadiesGamers top rating.
Hungry Horrors was one of my favourite Early Access games, and the full release has done nothing to change that opinion. It takes a familiar genre and gives it a distinctive identity through British and Irish folklore, traditional food and a wonderfully daft central idea. There’s real depth beneath the humour, with satisfying card combinations, monsters to discover and plenty of reasons to try another run. The additional content and Banquet mode give players more to enjoy, while the ability to save anywhere makes it easy to fit into a busy day. Considering how many deckbuilding roguelites are available, it’s refreshing to find one that does something genuinely different. Hungry Horrors is clever, funny, strategic and consistently enjoyable. I’m delighted to see it reach full release, and I can happily recommend giving it a try. A free demo is also available.
Spy Drops Gaiden is a short but enjoyable stealth adventure that captures much of what makes retro gaming appealing. Learning enemy patterns, discovering the best routes and improving your mission rankings kept me engaged, while the Game Boy-inspired presentation gives it plenty of personality. It won’t suit everyone, particularly if you prefer modern stealth games with smoother controls and more elaborate mechanics. But for the price, there’s a lot to like here. I came away genuinely impressed and even found myself interested in checking out the original Spy Drops. If you have a soft spot for retro games and enjoy a bit of sneaking around, this little mission is well worth accepting.
I had no expectations for Fofumia, so I was pleasantly surprised. It’s a perfect cozy game for some light gaming. Each level is self-contained, and the game can be played in short bursts of time or in a longer session. While the tidy-up genre is starting to get populated, Fofumia easily stands out as one of the more pleasant and creative additions.
Over the years, starting with The Lost Valley on the 3DS, Harvest Moon has made a series of games that have seen progress over the years. They try not to trod the path well taken, adding new inventions to help you with farming life in One World, opening up Anthos in a big way in The Winds of Anthos and now adding the adventure element in Harvest Moon: Echoes of Teradea. Farming remains at the core of this new entry too, but the world has gotten bigger. It invites you to explore, solve some little puzzles to progress and form a bond with your own farm animals and animals living in the wild. There are plenty of other things to do, like romancing and taking part in events. If you’re more into laid-back farming without too many other things to distract you from the soil, then maybe the added exploration and puzzles feel like extra work. But if you like farming simulation games and the promise of exploration of a really big world, then this is one for you.
The Witch’s Bakery is exactly what I wanted it to be: a narrative game about magic and emotions, with plenty to see, without getting bogged down in the shop-simulation part of the game. I can’t give it our highest rating because of that bug in the bakery gameplay, but barring that, it would’ve deserved it without a doubt.
Over the Hill can offer both a relaxing, casual experience and some real challenges on the road. But no matter the case, it is all about the journey, as it should be for a 4×4 game. It offers a variety of resources and mechanics for all kinds of players, along with incredible scenery. The game was definitely built to let players enjoy the places and the driving rather than be an ability test. The roads are unique and fun to drive; the world is nice to explore, and you can still see some wild animals as you travel. Of course, most roads are optional, as you can always choose to cut through the woods in a straight line toward your next goal, but the game allows you to do as you wish. Over the Hill lets players roam freely in a way few car games can provide, and it does so in an interesting way.
As much as I love puzzles and solving riddles, Sokoban-style gameplay isn’t really my thing. Though We Are Gum is definitely fun to play, I had a great time racking my brain to solve it and getting these cute bubble gums home. I’d love for it to have more different types of hints for people who are not so puzzle savvy as myself. With that, I’d definitely give it another go! If you’re curious about your problem-solving skills or simply a Sokoban-style puzzle enthusiast, I’d recommend checking We Are Gum on the Steam store
Beyond These Stars is not for beginners. It has lots of complex mechanics that interconnect products, buildings, goals and peeps. But it is also a lot of fun to explore, solve problems and predict future dilemmas that might threaten the colony’s well-being and survival. This title requires careful thinking for every build you make, every decision you take; otherwise, you may reach a dead end and have to start over. A few things could be better: the learning curve could be improved, a few more notifications could be added, and more options could ensure players always have full information available. But overall, it’s a fun experience for anyone who is more used to the genre and wants a challenging experience. Beyond These Stars has everything to keep your brain working and alert.
Otterly Lost is a delightful little adventure with a big heart. It is otterly charming, and if you are in the mood for something cozy, I urge you to try Otterly Lost
Nivalis Nights is a long-awaited life sim of growing a restaurant empire in a cyberpunk world. It isn’t without its problems, but it’s still an enjoyable experience, even if only for wandering around and talking to people.