LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
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.
Becastled surprised me. What started as “just another survival-builder” ended up being one of those games I kept thinking about even after putting it down. The tutorial could use work, and handheld players might struggle with the text, but there’s something undeniably fun about its blend of calm strategy and nighttime battles. If you enjoy games like Kingdom: Two Crowns but want something meatier and more hands-on, this is well worth your time. It’s cozy, it’s challenging, and built to last many gamer sessions.
Plus Ultra: Legado is a delightful surprise with a lot to offer. Despite being platformer-challenged as a rule, I played quite a bit longer than usual. Since it’s unlikely that I will be able to finish the game on my own, I will be eagerly awaiting someone uploading their gameplay onto YouTube, so I can see how the story unfolds. If you like platformers, do give Plus Ultra: Legado a try; you will be quite charmed.
So, did Equate 8 turn me into a math genius overnight? Absolutely not. I spent more time staring blankly at the grid than actually solving anything. But I did feel pretty proud the few times I actually cracked a puzzle. There’s definitely something satisfying about getting the right numbers in the right place. Even if you’re not 100% sure how you did it. If you like Sudoku or logical challenges that don’t baby you, Equate 8 might be your kind of fun. If, like me, the word “math” gives you flashbacks… maybe just do the daily puzzle and call it a win.
So, here’s the deal: Hot Wheels Let’s Race: Ultimate Speed is not deep, it’s not overly technical, but it’s a blast. It’s more than what you’d hope for from a Hot Wheels game based on a kids’ show: fast, colourful, silly, and full of energy. If you’re a hardcore racing fan, you might be surprised by how much fun it is to just kick back and enjoy something that doesn’t take itself too seriously. And if you’re a parent? This might just be the perfect excuse to grab a couple of controllers and spend an afternoon looping, drifting, and boosting your way to victory with your kids. At around $39.99 (or £34.99 / €39.99), it’s priced reasonably for what it offers. Think of it as a cheerful little racer that’s more about grins than wins. Hot Wheels fans, young or old, will find plenty to love here. A surprisingly solid, delightfully silly racer that puts fun first, and that’s exactly how it should be.
INC: The Beginning is a tough one to pin down. On one hand, it’s stylish, fast-paced, and brimming with that OrangePixel DNA, simple ideas executed with confidence. On the other hand, its sharp difficulty curve, uneven platforming, and grindy levelling system make it hard to fully fall in love with. Still, for players who thrive on challenge and appreciate old-school design with modern flair, there’s something potentially here worth exploring. It’s a quick little platformer that plays best in short bursts. I didn’t love it, but I respect what it’s going for, and challenge-seekers might just click with it more than I did.
Avernum 4: Greed and Glory won me over the longer I played. It’s a game that asks a lot of your time, your attention, and your patience, but it gives back in spades. Once its rhythm clicks, you start to see the beauty in the complexity: the freedom to shape your heroes, the layers of tactical combat, and the thrill of exploring a world that feels truly alive beneath the surface. It’s not beginner-friendly, but it’s not unfriendly either. It’s a game that trusts you to find your own way. And that’s fine. If you’ve got fond memories of classic RPGs or you’re curious about dipping your toes into something with real depth, grab the free demo on Steam. You’ll know pretty quickly if this is your kind of adventure. For me? It was a surprising delight, deep, challenging, and strangely comforting.
PowerWash Simulator 2 is exactly what this fan wanted from a sequel, with even a little bit more to offer. With improved tools at hand, oodles of all new levels to wash, and a continuation of the fun yet bizarre story that sucked us all in the first time, FuturLab is out from under SquareEnix and shining it up by themselves. The only minor “fault” is a somewhat unexciting-so-far home decoration system, and, for those of us who detest lawn gnomes, there are plenty more of those little dudes to drop on sight. But be careful — I’m not certain they won’t remember how many times I’ve sprayed them, as they’re secretly concocting concrete gnome revenge.
Stellar Reach is the kind of strategy game that rewards commitment. It’s deep, deliberate, and brimming with systems to master. If you’re a fan of strategy or you love micromanaging every detail of your galactic empire, you’ll probably have a great time here. Personally, I enjoyed it, but it’s not a game that fits neatly into my life right now. It demands focus, long sessions, and a bit of study. As a parent and serial multitasker, that’s a big ask! Still, I can absolutely see this being a new obsession for players who crave a complex, long-form strategy experience. If you’re even slightly curious, I highly recommend trying the free demo first. It’ll tell you everything you need to know about whether this universe is one you’ll want to rule, or one you’d rather just admire from afar.
If you like puzzles and are interested in the life of Nikola Tesla, you should try The House of Tesla. The game has a helpful demo on its page, so you don’t even need to buy it to try it. Despite some problems, the game is a great example of a traditional point-and-click adventure, and the continued support of its developers shows a lot of commitment to making the game great.
Spooky Express is a lovely little game. It’s short and sweet. Probably not something that will stick with me long-term, but the time I spent with it was enjoyable. I especially recommend it for parents looking to introduce their kids to video games. It’s gentle, engaging, and could definitely make for a fun shared experience.
Meganoid: Chronicles knows exactly what it wants to be, short, sharp, and unapologetically difficult. The clever level hints, snappy design, and responsive controls all come together for a satisfying, if occasionally infuriating, experience. I’ll admit, there were moments where I wanted to throw my Switch across the room. But then I’d take a breath, dive back in, and nail that jump that had been haunting me. That’s when you know a precision platformer has done its job. If you’ve got the patience for pain and a fondness for old-school challenge, Meganoid: Chronicles is worth your time.
Escape the Cradle won’t be for everyone. If you’re the type of player who needs to be fully hands-on, this probably won’t scratch your itch. But if you like the idea of a light roguelite that happily runs in the background while you multitask, this one has a certain addictive charm. With about 4 hours of content (stretched further depending on how you play), it’s an unusual but surprisingly enjoyable little package. I was more drawn in than I expected, and for the right price, I’d say it’s worth giving a shot. At the very least, the free demo makes it easy to test the waters