While I didn’t struggle too much with the puzzles, I can see where a hint system would be an improvement, especially to attract more casual gamers who might pick The Pedestrian up and then get frustrated quickly and miss out on this unique game. For puzzle fans, if you take The Pedestrian for a walk, you will find that the best puzzle games are the ones that make you feel really smart for figuring them out, and The Pedestrian has many puzzles that will give you that eureka moment and make you feel like a genius!
All in all, Fifteen is a decent, no-frills puzzle game based on an old classic. It’s suitable for all ages to play and will give you a few hours of entertainment. For the price of a cup of coffee, Fifteen could be the game for you.
Overall, Railway Islands 2 – Puzzle is a minimalist game; the puzzles are fun while they last and offer a challenge. However, if you are looking for new mechanics in a puzzle game, you won’t find them here, as it doesn’t offer anything we haven’t seen in many puzzle games before
Snowman Story, with its tale of kindness, regret and the warmth of friendship mixed with a few puzzles, will melt your heart and is a great game to curl up with by the fire any winter holiday season.
A Highland Song is beautiful and heartwarming; it feels like you are in the highlands of Scotland that’s immersed in the area’s culture. A’body should play this game, enjoy Moira’s thoughts, and skedaddle aff over the auld highlands. A Highland Song is a wee belter of a game and one of the best games I’ve played this year when Moira and I saw the sea.
SteamWorld Build is a delightful game where you always work towards interesting goals. The combination of city building and mining work in tandem together extremely well. It’s a brilliant pairing of opposites, from the bright sunshine on the surface to popping into the mine, which is dank and dark, with the SteamWorld aesthetic tying it all together.
Overall, if you are a keen fan of the Harry Potter universe, you will likely enjoy Hogwarts Legecy on the Nintendo Switch. What I like the most is walking around Hogwarts, watching students and seeing the talking, moving pictures and bumping into ghosts. As you pass by, some NPCs will throw a couple of phrases in your direction or play a piece of music; this makes the world feel alive. It’s a huge world with more to offer as you go. It also shows how much effort, dedication and passion Avalanche Software put into the game. Hogwarts Legacy is a labour of love in every detail.
When I started playing Cuisineer for this review, it took a while for the game to grow on me. I was going to score it lower, but after spending more time with the game, I have revised my score. Looking after the restaurant is fantastic, addictive, and enjoyable. The fighting in the dungeons is frantic, but I like that I can choose when to go dungeon crawling.
All in all, Buddy and Friends on Halloween is a wholesome experience for youngsters and adults alike. I don’t have any complaints about the game, except it’s short since there are only six puzzles. However, you can have a relaxing time puzzling for less than the price of a cup of coffee. The music, jigsaws and the final images combined set the scene for a spooktacular time.
Cities: Skylines II has much to life up to, and you. know what? This is a fantastic start to a fabulous game. I’m excited for the future of city building. The game will take off once the modders get to work and Colossal Order pushes out the usual updates. If you buy Cities: Skylines II, you can expect unfamiliarity, familiarity, surprises and the occasional frustration. But once you settle into it, plenty of new gameplay mechanics will keep you on your toes. I love it, and I can see that Colossal Order love their game, too. I predict Cities: Skylines II will be even more successful than it’s predecessor.
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’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!
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.
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.
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.
Land Above Sea Below is a great addition to the strategy/puzzle genre. The game has more than enough of a different gameplay style to make it stand out from similar games in the same genre. It is a very beautiful and relaxing game, yet it requires forward-thinking to optimize your score and outcome.
Farming, bug catching, fishing, crafting and animal care have all been implemented well in Fae Farm. There is certainly plenty to keep you busy. The game looks beautiful, and it’s pretty chill. However, I’d look elsewhere if you’re into the romance side of simulation games and looking for relationships with NPCs. The NPCs don’t offer much and feel wooden, which is a pity. The price point of Fae Farm is high, in the same league as you’d pay for the more well known IPs. A lot of you may be wondering if it’s worth it, and Yvonne and I discussed this specifically. Well, Fae Farm does promise two big updates from December 2023 to June 2024. And even at the start, it’s already a huge game. And I must say, it plays effortlessly, no bugs or anything marring the gameplay, and it’s a feast to look at. So I’d be inclined to say that for me, it’s worth the price. Fae Farm is definitely worth a look if you’re a cosy game and farm sim fan. Just make sure you have ample time, as the gameplay and especially the crafting can be very addictive
Sea of Stars constantly finds ways to keep the story and characters interesting and surprise you with creative and fun plot twists. With over thirty hours of enjoyable gameplay, Sea of Stars might be just what you are looking for if you are a fan of RPGs. It’s definitely a Two thumbs up score from me for this gem of a game!
Overall, Ralph and the Blue Ball is delightful, short and sweet. If you are looking for a challenge, I’d look elsewhere, as you won’t find it here. For under a few pounds/dollars in the eShop, Ralph and the Blue Ball will give you a few moments of enjoyment.
Pathea Games’ first steps into the simulation genre with Let’s School have turned out pretty well. It’s a deep and approachable school management game that’s enjoyable to play and includes plenty of content to keep you customising and playing while building up your school’s reputation.