LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
While there is a clear homage to classic games, Ova Magica has forged its own path, taking the best of creature-collecting, farming, and town renovation to create a well-balanced, immensely engaging, and highly enjoyable game
Dear Journey… is fun, unique, and really adorable. I like the idea, the look, the vibes, the music, and the cards. Everything about it is unique for a deck-building game. However, it did have a few issues, including the not-so-random RNG, the crashing, and a couple of other things. Overall, I think it is worth the $10; I enjoyed my time with it, and it is a great introduction to the idea of deckbuilders. It’s complex, it’s interesting, and I will continue to play it after this article is completed.
Planet Zoo 2 is a better version of the first game. The team managed to upgrade the gameplay to a whole new level and made the players’ lives much easier. It’s finally a much more enjoyable and easygoing experience with several new options and possibilities. The bugs are still a minor annoyance, but by now they can mostly be ignored. I feel that this was the experience I was expecting when I played the first game. When I started playing, I could barely remember why I didn’t enjoy the first one. But comparing both games, it becomes quite clear what an advancement Planet Zoo 2 has brought to the franchise. Now I can finally rest assured that this title is the ultimate zoo simulator.
Ultimately, Rip It! Card Collector is a game about enjoying a simple gameplay loop. There’s not a huge amount of challenge involved, and much of the satisfaction comes from the process of collecting rather than the goal of completion. At its relatively low price, there’s a decent amount of collecting here for anyone who enjoys incremental games or simply likes the satisfaction of completing a collection. It’s a simple, relaxing and surprisingly enjoyable little game that scratches that collecting itch. Just be warned: you might find yourself saying “one more pack” rather more often than you intended!
Dog Man: Bark in Action is a fairly uncomplicated collectathon platformer. It doesn’t push the genre forward, offer particularly challenging gameplay or introduce many ideas that haven’t been explored elsewhere. However, I don’t think every platformer needs to do those things. Sometimes a simple, colourful adventure is exactly what you’re after. Fans of the Dog Man comics will likely get an extra kick out of seeing their favourite characters brought to life, while younger players and casual platforming fans should find plenty to enjoy. Those looking for a more demanding platforming experience might want to look elsewhere, though.
I love it when a developer turns a game into something special and novel, at least from my perspective. And, being a little older myself, I always enjoy seeing a protagonist who isn’t exactly a spring chicken either. MyDear.exe ticked both of those boxes for me. This is a great mix of light game elements and excellent storytelling, which is done in a very subtle way. Best keep the tissues handy!
Cozy Game Restoration is a chill cleaning simulator game, with no timers or expectations, just cleaning and removing stickers and trying to guess the reference. It’s best taken in small doses, because the gameplay can get a little repetitive, unless, of course, you are a great fan of cleaning sims. If so, this is the perfect game for you
I admit I had no idea what to expect from Clean Start. I tried the demo, liked the game’s style and easy controls, and that was it, more or less. I certainly wasn’t expecting the way the game would move me emotionally or hook me from the beginning, not unlike a very good book. I dare say it is one of my absolute favorite releases of this year. If you like narrative-rich games and cleaning and tidying up games, Clean Start might just be the game for you.
I had a great time playing Legends of Rock, from listening to its soundtrack while playing mini-games to optimizing my time to build my band and record our music. It’s also a beautiful reminder of what real life feels like when working towards something, and how you are able to build your dreams one day at a time. It certainly gives you the satisfaction of going from performing small gigs here and there to recording your first studio album. Its simple mechanics and straightforward storyline make it easy to find the rhythm of the game for those who are not as savvy with time management games as I am. I recommend it especially to rock fans or anyone who has dreamt of having a band of their own!
Missi is a cute, fun puzzle game that a lot of thought and love went into. It looks pretty, sounds beautiful, and is worth a playthrough. I recommend this one to anyone who loves thoughtful stories with cute little animal characters. I had a fabulous time in the world of Missi, and I think you will too!
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.