LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
Diggergun absolutely caught me off guard. It starts as a compact action-platformer and slowly transforms into a layered survival story wrapped in satire, exploration, careful resource management, and stressful-but-satisfying time pressure. It captures the feeling of just barely scraping by, and turns it into a compelling loop that kept pulling me back for just one more workday. There’s genuine variety thanks to the different endings and branching story routes, and the randomisation in the mines keeps the daily grind from ever feeling too routine. It’s a small game with a surprisingly large amount to say, and I walked away far more impressed than I expected to be. If you’re after something unusual, tense, and full of personality, Diggergun is a standout little surprise. I highly recommend giving it a go, especially if you’re ready to dig your way out of trouble, one block at a time.
I had a little bit of an issue with the tutorial in OVERLOOK, but other than that, I think it was a perfect hidden object puzzle game. The music and sound design were great, the puzzles were challenging, and there was a hint system. All the levels look hand-drawn and are charmingly rendered. It has a unique style that I am all about, and I like the interactive-ness of each of the levels. Not to mention, you can pet the cat. Overall, OVERLOOK was everything I wanted it to be and more. If you like hidden object puzzles and feel like you don’t need a tutorial to help you get a handle on the controls, it’s literally the perfect game. I love it a lot, and I think every puzzle lover will love it just as much as I did.
The Bench is a thoughtful, funny, and oddly touching little adventure about finding freedom, friendship, and a second wind in life’s later years. Whether you’re solving puzzles, naming your 27th pigeon “Kevin,” or just sitting quietly watching the world go by, it’s the kind of game that makes you smile. If you’re looking for something laid-back but full of personality, The Bench absolutely deserves a spot on your wishlist. It’s a small game with a big heart, and a lot of pigeons.
Fading Serenades is a bite-sized life sim with a compact story and an even more compact backpack to play with. It’s a game by an indie developer that figured out what he wanted to do and executed it efficiently enough to keep things fun without bogging it down. Mini-games that may be temporarily tough and a little bit of quest repetition aren’t big enough flaws to drag down what’s a novella in a world of sometimes too-grandiose epics. While not an in-depth game with a world of things to do and craft, like Stardew Valley, Fading Serenades manages to make you enjoy your time with it and leave you both satisfied and maybe wanting a little more. That’s a fine treat with life sims, these days.
Unpetrified: Echoes of Nature belongs to the narrative adventure genre, often called “walking simulators,” but it’s so much more than that. With its focus on emotional storytelling, environmental restoration, and gentle puzzle-solving, it fits beautifully into the growing niche of cozy, reflective games that prioritise atmosphere and heart over action. Exactly the kind of games we love over here at LadiesGamers Unpetrified: Echoes of Nature is not about challenge, it’s about connection, restoration, and wonder. If you’re looking for a game to slow down, this one might be for you. You’ll enjoy the surroundings, feel the emotions of the Golem and solve the world’s puzzles.
Foolish Mortals is a loving throwback to point-and-click Lucasarts games like Full Throttle, with quality voice acting and clever puzzles set in a richly designed, fictional Louisiana bayou. It’s a ton of well-designed fun, and stunningly well-polished for a game from apparent newcomer designers Inklingwood. With a cozy tone and a light supernatural style, it’s definitely a must-play for Tim Schaefer fans — or anyone who loves a good story.
Overall, A Pizza Delivery is a gentle narrative ride with light puzzles and an emphasis on interpretation. It’s for players who enjoy reflective games, don’t mind a slow pace, and like stories that whisper rather than shout. It didn’t sweep me off my feet, but I still liked it, and I think plenty of people will connect more deeply with its themes than I did. If you’re in the mood for something cozy, thoughtful, and low-pressure, this is easily worth a look.
On paper, Dinkum sounded like my ideal kind of game. I had anticipated that it would be a bit rough around the edges and that the blocky visuals wouldn’t appeal to me, but with the right kind of simulation gameplay, that would be fine. After playing it, it’s clear this is an impressive game, especially considering it’s made by a solo developer. However, Dinkum didn’t grip me like I had hoped it would. I felt the controls were annoying and the quality of life seriously lacking. And though it may sound silly, it didn’t help that I would regularly see dingos or a crocodile hunt down and kill a kangaroo. I’m a fan of cozy games, hence my verdict. But if you are okay with a less polished sim-survival game, I think you can sink many, many hours into building your town in the wilds.
Godbreakers takes what works, fast, fluid combat and satisfying progression and adds enough of its own personality to keep things exciting. The absorb-and-attack mechanic is a clever twist, the boss fights are intense, and the co-op potential is huge. If you’ve been burned out on roguelites, this might not shake that feeling entirely. But if you’re looking for something with punchy combat, strong replay value, and a good excuse to yell at your friends over voice chat, Godbreakers is worth diving into. A free demo is still available on Steam.
My Cozy Aquarium is a nice idea. It has the right ingredients, relaxing ocean sounds, cute fish species, and simple mini-games, but despite all that, I found myself checking the clock multiple times while playing. And for me, that’s never a good sign. I can see why some people might enjoy it; it could be a gentle, entry-level experience in the simulation genre. But as someone who plays a lot of Sims, there just isn’t enough to do here to keep me engaged.
Spacenap is a cute addition to the desktop idler genre. It’s a bit different from the usual fare with farms and gardens, but no less engaging. If you like chill little games, stars, and a dreamy atmosphere, give Spacenap a try.
Dream Garden is a lovely sandbox for those who enjoy quiet, creative experiences. It’s not a game that demands constant attention, it offers a peaceful space to build and unwind. Whether you’re crafting a temple scene filled with capybaras or designing a serene koi pond, Dream Garden lets you create your own little world and simply enjoy it
Lumo 2 is exactly the kind of game I love discovering, creative, cozy, and full of surprises. It celebrates an era of gaming that thrived on curiosity and imagination, while adding enough modern polish to make it feel fresh and accessible. Sure, the isometric jumps might test your patience now and then, but with its instant respawns, charming presentation, and delightful nods to gaming’s past, those frustrations fade quickly. If you’re looking for something that scratches that retro itch while offering a genuinely rewarding puzzle-platforming experience, Lumo 2 is a gem worth diving into, whether you’re a nostalgic veteran or a newcomer just looking for something a bit different.
Overall, Undusted: Letters from the Past was cute, heartwarming, sad, beautiful, and well worth a playthrough. It might be short, but the length is balanced by a very reasonable price tag. I enjoyed my time with Undusted, and I will be recommending it to friends who like the same types of games. If you are a fan of emotional visual novels with a little bit of relaxing, meditative cleaning thrown in, you’ll not regret your time with Adora and her family.
The First Mine is a smartly designed little puzzle-strategy game that feels both thoughtful and relaxing. It’s not about high-stakes drama or fast reflexes, it’s about taking your time, thinking about your choices, and enjoying the small satisfaction of building up your mine turn by turn. If you like board games, tile-placement puzzles, or just want something a bit different to relax with, I can happily recommend this one. It’s clever, chilled and has far more depth than it first appears.
Orbyss is a calm, clever puzzler. If you want a low-pressure puzzler with tactile controls, smart mechanics, and a mellow atmosphere, it’s well worth your time. Play it in short sessions as a brain refresher, or binge a few chapters when you need a soothing mental workout. For something made by a solo developer, it’s an impressive achievement. A free demo is available on Steam to try the game out first.
Voxelgram 2 is a great nonogram-like game with a lot of content and a big challenge. I liked everything about it, from the informative tutorial to the simple but charming graphics. My only issue with it was the dizziness, which is probably mostly a me problem. If you like puzzle games, especially nonograms, you will probably love this one too!
While Kokoro Kitchen is by no means reinventing the genre, with its colorful and cozy visuals and no stress gameplay, it is a pleasant enough game to pass the time if you like farm-to-table restaurant managing games. I don’t usually play a lot of restaurant management games, but I really liked how cozy and stress-free Kokoro Kitchen was, and I spent a lot more time there than in other games.
As Long As You’re Here does an excellent job of letting us see and feel what a person who has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is feeling. This one really struck home for me, as we are currently experiencing the same with my husband’s mother. When I wasn’t playing the game, it still stayed in my mind. I think it’s outstanding how creator Marlène Delrive managed this in what was initially an 8-week student project. She started working on this as a way of processing the grief and trying to understand her grandmother’s perspective in her final years, and you can experience it now, too. Often, we talk about the sons and daughters and their struggle to raise their own kids, and meanwhile, take care of their elderly parents. As Long As You’re Here goes into that angle as well, and I can sympathise with Annie’s daughter. But the main focus is Annie, not explaining her condition directly in the game, but letting you feel it yourself.
I’m sure many Simon the Sorcerer fans will appreciate the trial and error approach to the problems, be thrilled to hear Chris Barrie bring Simon back to life, and laugh at the humour which fills the dialogue. And whilst I appreciate the passion, dedication and effort put into Simon the Sorcerer Origins to rekindle those 1990s classics, the lack of a hint system ruined my experience and highlighted the other shortcomings of the game, which in other situations would have been overlooked.