LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
Wargroove 2 is extraordinary value for money. For less than a third of the price of a modern AAA, you’re getting one groovy SRPG. A campaign that is suited to newcomers and experienced players. Then you have the addictive new conquest mode, putting a fresh roguelike spin on things and even the ability to create your own levels and campaigns. All these aspects feel carefully crafted with deep and engaging gameplay that will keep you busy for a very long time. This is all wrapped up with a colourful pixel art style and epic soundtrack. I found myself hooked to the gameplay even when I failed, keen to learn and change up my strategy next time. The game may not divert much from the first in terms of its gameplay, but that’s unlikely going to be a problem for returning fans. Wargroove 2 stands as one of the titans in its genre.
For new players and those players who enjoyed the first game, you will have as much fun, if not more, with Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic. It feels like the developers have put their heart and soul into Hidden Through Time 2, and it’s a lot more challenging than the first game. For me, out of the two games, I think this one is the best.
I love Midnight Girl. I love point-and-click adventures, and this scratches the itch I’ve had for a good one since I finished up Lucy Dreaming a whole year ago. It’s fun, it’s beautiful, it’s smooth and polished, and the music is good. I cannot recommend this game enough. It’s great fun with a whole lot of personality in it!
If you want a cozy simple game, Sprout Valley may be just your vibe. Finding your routine is relaxing, and there are no punishments or surprises. Everything is cute. If you’re all about planning, engaging your brain, working out the time management… I suggest you give it a pass. There isn’t anything here for the explorers or people who like meeting a variety of characters. But maybe, like Nico, you just want to make a simple home and achieve simple goals! I could see this being a perfect treat for sick days or other low-key recovery times. For a comfy distraction, it does very well.
I’ve had a blast with My Little Universe; it is a cosy worldbuilding collect-a-thon. It urges the player to explore further and discover what is on the next hex. My Little Universe is a wholesome, relaxing game for those who want the thrill of exploring and collecting infinite resources. Suitable for all ages in the family, it also has a very addictive gameplay loop and watching Orangey go to work and swing his tools is brilliant; I wish I had his energy!
Just go out and get this game; if you love puzzles, pick up Station to Station. It’s one of the most beautiful examples of a passion project gone right I’ve seen this year. And this year has had a lot of fantastic games!
A Tiny Sticker Tale is one of the most adorable games I’ve played this year. The graphics are bold and colourful, removing and placing stickers is good fun, and the quests are satisfying. Designed to be a short adventure, A Tiny Sticker Tale packs a lot in and definitely a game to get stuck into!
Ultimately, Bilkins’ Folly might be the game for you if you’re into adventure with puzzles, pirates, and dogs. There is certainly plenty of buried treasure to be found and dug up in Bilkins’ Folly. After all, it is the main puzzle mechanic for the entire game. However, for me, Drayton is Bilkins’ Folly furry star, and yes, you can pet him as many times as you want.
I love Stick to the Plan. I love how it looks, how polished it is, and how fun the puzzles are. A hint system and this game would have a perfect, Two-Thumbs Up rating in my book!
RoboDunk is easily the best sports video game I have played in a very long time. Bringing the excitement and spectacle of basketball into a fun pick-up and play experience that becomes all the deeper for players who choose to take the time to master it. Fun alone and with friends in both long and short bursts of gameplay. If I had to nitpick anything, the game could feel a little grindy to unlock new content and upgrade your players. Otherwise, this is an utter slam dunk from the developers.
Pizza Possum is a great game to pick up. Especially if you’re looking for something short and simple, ideal for a gaming break or when you just want to switch your brain off after one of those days. Easy to pick up, pretty hard to put down, Pizza Possum ticks all the right boxes for an original arcade game that comes in at a nice low price. Alone or with a loved one, this comes highly recommended. This is also probably the best video game where you play a possum that I know of.
Silent Hope is a fun dungeon crawler. Furthermore, I really enjoyed the fights in the Abyss and trying out the different heroes. I would have liked the crafting to be more hands-on for the player than just menu-based crafting. I don’t think Silent Hope is a game for all players; you will have to enjoy fighting baddies, as that is basically what it’s all about. The fighting in the Abyss is fast and engrossing, especially trying out the heroes’ abilities, which I enjoyed.
Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit is a plucky point-and-click adventure featuring some witty dialogue. The game presents itself in a lovely art style, which really highlights the beauty of the background locations. Overall, the title should take around 3-5 hours to complete. I can recommend this title. You can pick up Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit here. Also, the title is currently on sale in the Nintendo e-Shop until 5th October 2023.
Wildmender is an engaging and thoughtful simulation about freeing the Gods and breathing new life into a barren desert environment. What begins as a game about the dry, barren land and as you delve into the mystery behind the fallen civilisation, it soon becomes a story about harmonious relationships. The story engages you and urges you to play on to discover its secrets. If survival simulation games are your go-to genre, then Wildmender is waiting for you to solve its mystery.
Dolphin Spirit – Ocean Mission navigates the right balance between being an enjoyable game and explaining real-life ecological hazards. The accompanying music is beautiful and enhances the experience. I learnt quite a bit from my ocean adventure. So dive in, splash around and see what you discover.
Ultimately, I’d say Paleo Pines is a well-made game, worthwhile if you don’t mind spending a good chunk of your time repeating routines. Many hours in, riding dinosaurs and befriending them still feels novel! Taking a trip into town to see how I could help the neighbours felt like almost all of the purpose I needed. The negatives I saw are things that maybe could be ameliorated with updates, and it seems like a good fit for future content add-ons. Once you adjust to your life in Paleo Pines, you can spend many hours making that life your own.
At first, being stuck in the first hours of The Winds of Anthos because I had trouble finding silver, I was a bit disappointed. However, the game took off after solving that, giving me so much to do that I didn’t have enough hours in the gaming day. The quality of life shortcuts, the searching mechanism and setting markers really add to the fun of gaming. All the elements of a farming simulation are there, but the game doesn’t go about it in the traditional way. Basic things like finding seeds to sow and Doc Jr.’s inventions make this a farming game that is different from the others. Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos has made a big leap since their last game, One World. And if you play past a slightly unbalanced start of the game, you will find many, many hours of enjoyable farming and exploring in an innovative way
I do not recommend Notebook Ninja Fights. Even with its enormous faults, I can see the potential of this title, with its unique art design and potentially quick-to-the-point gameplay. Sadly, it seems the game that this could be will unlikely surface. According to Steam, this was originally released in March 2022 but recently patched this year to add controller support. It feels like a lot of work is needed to make this the fun ninja game it could be. What I find more confusing is that the trailer presents this as a more polished experience. In reality, that is not the case. As it stands, you don’t need to play Notebook Ninja Fights. You’ll find more entertainment doodling in your own notebook and imagining your own game.
While Steampunk Jigsaw Puzzles is not a groundbreaking gaming experience, it still offers a few hours of relaxing puzzle solving, with beautiful pictures and enough customization options to please everyone, from a player wanting to relax to someone looking for a challenge. And all that for free!
30XX is everything a sequel should be. I actually really liked 20XX; some folk were deterred by its style and graphics. If you were one of those people, you may want to consider coming back to 30XX. It’s basically better than everything. It has better graphics, improved level design, tight controls, addictive gameplay and, most importantly, the ability to play it as a rogue-lite or a more standard action platformer. There really is something here for everyone. If you do invest the time to get better the way it’s designed, you will hopefully find a fulfilling gaming experience like I did. The developers’ hard work has truly paid off. 30XX is well worth your time, and I see this being on my gaming rotation until 40XX.