LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
Making a monochromatic minimalist puzzle game isn’t easy. It’s not something I would recommend most people try, and Papetura is a good example of why. I love so much about this game that I wanted to love it. I wanted to have fun inside this amazing world with gorgeous music and strange little puzzles, but I just can’t. If only all the puzzles were a little more intuitive. If only some switches didn’t change things in other rooms, if only you didn’t have to backtrack through the world at a snail’s pace all the time, Papetura could have been a contender for my personal GOTY. It’s fun, it’s frustrating, it’s beautiful, but it’s just a little bit off-kilter.
For the price of entry Super Kiwi 64 is a nice platformer to enjoy on a game night when you just want something casual and wholesome. It is a bit too easy with 100% completion being accessible in a single game session for most gamers. It is an experience that definitely leaves you wanting more. But what is here is pretty good. The Kiwi protagonists are adorable, the graphics are vibrant and colourful and it’s a lot of fun zipping around the level. If you’re looking for something wholesome this will undoubtedly warm your gamer’s heart even if it’s only for a short spell.
I have memories of playing this type of game in the 90s and early 2000s on a PC. So, I was a bit interested to try this type of game now that I am older and have access to more kinds of games. While Lost Amulets: Mystic Land is a perfect game for people who love finding hidden objects and matching mahjong tiles, that’s just about all it has to offer. It doesn’t really innovate its genre, nor does it provide anything for a player outside of the target audience to really enjoy. The lack of meaningful storyline and challenges meant I was not really engaged through most of their levels. The music and the art didn’t really pull me in either. I honestly do not think it’s worth the price tag unless you are a mahjong enthusiast.
As a big fan of shmups, Knight Witch left a very good impression on me but it might not suit everyone. It may still follow the familiar adventure template, but this steampunk fairy tale has enough tricks to make itself stand out from the genre. If you haven’t been burned out by the genre then be sure to give this a look or add it to your wish list. Knight Witch is challenging, quirky and an example that there’s still some magic left in the 2D adventure genre.
Overall, Harmony’s Odyssey is adorable and fun. There are tons of options; players can choose their difficulty, there is an arcade mode and more. But unfortunately, it’s a little bit difficult to play. There is a lot of accessibility and playability lost to maintain the look that the developers were going for. Overall, Harmony’s Odyssey is super fun, adorable, polished, and a quality game with beautiful music, but it could use a little help in the usability department
Overall, My Downtown is a typical match-3 game with the added element of building a city. It will not blow your socks off with anything new or exciting introduced to the match- 3 genre. But it is passable as a fun game to spend some time with for enjoyment. So if match-3 is your go-to genre, you should find what you are looking for in My Downtown. One word of caution, the game on the Switch is priced at $19.99, whereas on Google Play the game is priced at $5.49, I know what format I would choose to play the game on, the cheapest one!
I would absolutely recommend Lover Pretend. It does have some small flaws but those are nothing compared to how fun and beautifully made this game is. Every route was enjoyable to play, which does not happen often for me. This would be a good Otome game to add to your collection.
Refreshing my memory after playing the first game with these new puzzles, I repeat my verdict for Madorica Real Estate 2 – The Mystery of the New Property. There isn’t any other puzzle game on Switch quite like it. The combination of challenging puzzles, the use of paper floor plans, QR codes and silly ghosts is unique. Play this escape room puzzle adventure alone and get the feeling of great achievement when you get rid of the ghost. Or play it with friends or your kids and have great fun together. The first ever interview we did on LadiesGamers was with Takashi Hamada (you can find it here) and I’m glad he brought us another great puzzler.
Donut Dodo plays a loving homage to the old arcade days whilst bringing with it some modern improvements and a few tricks of its own to make it stand out from the competition. If Donut Dodo was an actual arcade cabinet, I would be happy to sink a few coins into it. But since this is the modern day, you can pay a small fee and enjoy some good high score chasing fun on TV or handheld.
Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration, is easily the best retro compilation of games I have ever played. You’re taken on a journey through video game history. Which is not afraid to educate you on both the highs and lows of the company. It raises the bar for compilations being released in the future, it would be great to see this design repeated with other companies or game series. Allowing me to learn more about each game actually made me more interested in playing some of the games I initially wasn’t fond of. This is the museum exhibit experience brought home for you to enjoy alone or with friends at any time. Whether you love Atari or not, this is an essential purchase for anyone interested in gaming history. On a personal level, Atari 50 reminds me why I love video games and I never expected Atari of all companies to remind me of that in such a positive way.
Ship of Fools fits my personal definition of two thumbs up. It is a very entertaining gameplay loop with engaging ship combat. With quirky weapons and challenges which had me keen to jump back into another run even after yet another failure. There are niggles to mention. I found the controls a bit clumsy when the action really heated up and the game does suffer from some pretty nasty difficulty spikes at times. It’s the typical rogue-lite formula, where you gradually improve after a lot of repetition and spending time upgrading back at base. A formula that no doubt is starting to tire. But when I sat back to reflect more, Ship of Fools was just a fantastic co-op game to play with a friend or loved one. My shipmate and I have been going through a pretty rough patch in life in general and Ship of Fools felt like an experience which just allowed us to forget our troubles for a few hours and enjoy ourselves. Just a couple of fools having a good time. Hopefully, you will feel those delights too and if you haven’t tired of rogue-lite yet this is well worth picking up.
I love Lost Amulets: Four Guardians a lot. It has a couple of little things that bug me. But overall, they were so small that they didn’t ruin the enjoyment of this title. If you love hidden object puzzles, matching puzzles, and others, you will almost be guaranteed to love this game. For only $5, it’s hard to pass up such a wonderful, polished puzzle game to add to your Steam library.
I knew what I was going into and while RWBY: Arrowfell isn’t perfect, I had fun. Being a fan of RWBY certainly helped but anyone who enjoys platformers should have a good time if they pick this up. There were definitely some highs and lows but I had a blast playing it. That being said, the price is a bit steep for what it is but most licensed games are a bit more pricey.
If you’re looking for a simple but ultimately fun twin-stick shooter From Space will provide an entertaining experience in single-player and online if your friends are available. The local co-op would have suited this experience for me but every gamer will be mixed on this. What lets From Space down in places is its poor AI with teammates, repetitive mission structure and the horrific inability to pause. It doesn’t really add a lot new to the twin-stick formula. But I will admit it’s a familiarity I still enjoyed. The PC version does hint at community feedback which suggests patches to the game are on the way. So, if you decide not to jump on this yet, consider keeping it on the wish list. In its current state From Space is an alien invasion I don’t mind revisiting, provided my son is in a deep sleep.
Dolmenjord – Viking Islands is a cute, wholesome puzzle game. Once again, a quality title from Mens Sana Interactive. It is enjoyable to play with gorgeous artwork to look at; what’s not to like? I’d recommend Dolmenjord – Viking Islands to any puzzle-loving fans
I quite like the idea of an advent calendar in video game form. The individual puzzles offer enough content to keep you interested in short gaming stints, with the addition of multi-player and several levels. The levels also have a short tutorial and are obviously made with care. This will get you in the Holiday mood, and offer some relaxing quality time as well. Overall, this puzzle game will give you relaxing moments and get you in the holiday mood at the same time!
Bravery & Greed was a satisfying roguelike experience for me. But it is also an example of the roguelike formula starting to become a bit too familiar and in desperate need of updating. And I say that as a huge fan of the genre. Bravery & Greed manages a strong recommendation from me because its combat is very satisfying, and I very much liked the fantasy setting. Having the ability to play this co-op online or locally also makes this one to recommend to friends or family. If you’re feeling greedy for another roguelike this will still provide hours of entertainment.
No matter the issues or unpolished aspects mentioned before, Oakenfold deserves praise for its entertaining blend of mechanics. Regardless of the lack of depth in the story, or the elements that could still be improved, this game has much to offer and might be what players from this genre are looking for. Its gameplay is very well thought out and has many ways to challenge the player. For players who enjoyed games like Into the Breach, this might be for you.
Once Upon a Jester is a great little game. It is well constructed, packed with jokes, and words of wisdom and has a feel-good vibe. The music is a highlight, with great beats and catchy tunes. I wish there was more replayability, as creating your own mini-play is excellent, but the story and jokes get a bit repetitive after the first couple of run-throughs
As it says in the title, My Fantastic Ranch is fantastic. A management simulation game, with a graphical style and subject matter that would appeal to younger players, but not to the exclusion of others. Although you can only have a limited number of creatures on your ranch, there is still plenty to do and keep you entertained. The festivals and some of the achievements are particularly challenging and require more thought than you imagine. I’m looking forward to continuing my adventures in My Fantastic Ranch.