LadiesGamers.com's Reviews
It took me at least the first ten levels of Piczle Cells to get my head around how the game works. Then along came the levels with walls and obstacles and I was lost again. Having the ability to rewind your moves cuts down the frustration that a wrong move may cause. It also stopped me from doing damage to my Switch. Piczle Cells offers puzzlers an enjoyable and challenging goopy experience.
Among roguelike deck builders, Griftlands is an ambitious one. But it actually pulls off those ambitions. The gameplay is unique, combining a two-deck system with a relationship system. Visuals, sound, and controls get one thumbs-up, while the writing gets two thumbs. Even run-of-the-mill conversations have a spark of wit, or at least a dash of snark. More importantly, it’s fun to play (though there’s lots of terminology to digest at first) and enough reason to replay on a higher difficulty if you love a good challenge. At $19.99, this is seriously a steal.
Mythic Ocean has some interesting things to say about the societies we can build and the ways in which we interact with each other. Unfortunately, I found the journey to those conversations to be unnecessarily drawn out at times by touchy controls and characters I couldn’t find easily. I also found myself a bit bored by some of the random sea creature interactions, even though most of them are clever and quirky. Despite the issues I had with some of the controls and settings, and the excessive wandering I had to do on occasion, Mythic Ocean has a lot going for it storywise and I really got into helping the gods through their dilemmas and influencing the creation of a new world. My first world didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, so this game has me hooked for at least one more playthrough, but there will probably be more. A demo is currently available in the Nintendo eShop, so try it out for yourself!
Bear’s Restaurant is a game about loss, regrets, redemption and death. But it’s also about the power of love that will conquer it all. This is no relaxing and laid back story, but one that will make you sad. It will stay with you for a long time, particularly because of the beautiful ending. If you like story-driven games and aren’t afraid to explore deeper feelings, then give Bear’s Restaurant a try. It’s available on mobile where you can try the first part for free, unlocking the rest and the sequel story, The Nihility, being a paywall. The Nintendo Switch version has everything included! It feels strange to measure how much you like such a sad story, but the way the developer manages to bring such a deep story in a relatively simple way is pretty amazing.
Out of Line is a beautiful hand-drawn adventure. The game may be short but I see this being very appealing to busy gamers who don’t have a lot of time on their hands and want to see a game to its conclusion. The formula here may be familiar but with a unique art style, enjoyable puzzles and well-crafted gameplay Out of Line is an experience well worth your time.
Farm for your Life is an interesting take on the farming simulation genre. It is slow to start, so don’t expect to go rushing through the roughly six-hour story mode in the game. If you like farming simulation games with added zombies, fruit ninja mini-games or just looking for a game that is different to mix things up a bit in your gaming then check out Farm for your Life.
I had my doubts when I started, but this game has played out in a satisfying manner. My time with this title has been enjoyable and well-spent. The adaption text reads very much like books I read in my youth that were set in this time period, but with very light romantic overtones. Overall, this is a pleasant way to spend a day or two on the Switch.
StarScraper in my opinion needs more work before it is worthy of the $19.99 price tag it has. I do think that some more development of the game will improve it and maybe added some scenarios would help too. The game currently feels unfinished and the camera likes to float off into the clouds. At it is now I can’t recommend StarScraper, and the price tag just isn’t justified.
Summer Paws is a lovely, chill-out kind of game. A game to play with a cup of coffee instead of the crossword in the local newspaper. Play it on a commute into work as it is an easy game to pop in and out of too. I can see the game being a big hit with younger members of the family as they hunt for the cute kitties.
Dungeons of Clay has some good ideas but in its current state, the game is let down by slow gameplay and a plethora of bugs that make it hard to recommend in its current state. Maybe better later but it’s not there yet.
Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective is a fantastic game that perfectly represents the books it is based on. An amazing and delightful game to play with young children with the family gathered around the computer screen. In saying that, it is not exclusive as a family game, I played the game on my own and had a blast with it, so it is suitable for all ages to play and enjoy. I highly recommend becoming Pierre the detective and join the hunt for Mr X.
LEGO Builder’s Journey is a well thought out puzzle game, with a wonderful art style. It is an absolute delight to play. It is aimed at all fans of LEGO but it has a really grown up puzzle feel to it too. I hope we see more of this style of game from the LEGO brand in future. Also with the LEGO in the game and not all over the floor (no, I didn’t do that as a child) you can’t step on those Lego pieces and leave a brick imprint on your foot.
If you like your challenging platformers Super Magbot comes highly recommended. A unique magnetic hook that stands out from the crowd with a memorable score to boot. Not for the players looking for a relaxing experience so in a fitting way there are aspects that will repel people away but for the most part, there are reasons to be attracted to Super Magbot.
Ynglet is an ideal game to pick up if you’re looking for a relaxing gaming experience, with a beautiful soothing soundtrack and striking art style. If you’re looking for that good Zen gaming experience after a hard day’s work or you just need to dial down those stress levels for a bit, Ynglet is a gaming meditation session worth playing.
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a heartwarming tale of being kind and looking out for others and the world around you. A game that isn’t afraid to challenge our perceptions, with its message of conservation and how we can impact the world for the better. All of that is wrapped up in a sweet and cute style with a strong and enjoyable memorable story and relaxing music that you will lose yourself in. It makes it a perfect family-oriented game that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will enjoy and discover that small actions can make a huge difference in the world around us!
Game Builder Garage is a unique title for anyone that wants to create a game with no prior programming knowledge. Whether you’re old or young this game provides lots of tools to let your creative juices flow. A wonderful experience to share with a family or loved one. Whether you’re a brand new budding game developer or you just want to have fun creating games, Game Builder Garage is a great way to express yourself.
Geometry Bricks is a good entertaining puzzle game, with some devilish hard puzzles to complete in the later levels. The challenge in the game is set just right, even with the harder puzzles you will eventually succeed in completing them.
Arcane Arts Academy is a good fit on the Nintendo Switch with the multiplayer added if you can manage the button control. Personally, I much preferred to use the touchscreen though. The price for the Nintendo Switch version is lower than the full price on mobile which is a plus! I wouldn’t advise playing Arcane Arts Academy as a relaxation game, as you need your full attention and clear mind to manage the often frantic levels. What is nice though is that you can adjust the difficulty in the settings allowing you to gain the stars you need to pass the level more easily. The story is good, and the challenge is great, as it always in these perfect mix of simulation/management games. If you like these type of games I’d say you can’t go wrong with Arcane Arts Academy at this price point.
Weaving Tides is a charming single-player adventure set in a world of magic, textile and dragons. The weaving and embroidery angle is fantastic, it feels like a fresh and smart way to create an adventure game. Repairing the world by stitching down enemies or floating woolly sheep and dashing through piles of cushions is very satisfying! And best of all, you can pet the dragons!
Tiny Lands is a fun and enjoyable puzzle game, nice to sit down with for a coffee break and a few minutes of play. This would be a great game for parents to play with their children. I can picture them sitting around the TV, playing the game and the children shouting out the differences they had found in the puzzles. It would be a good help to fine-tune a child’s observation skills too. Adults will enjoy the game too, which leaves me only one thing to say.