Chelsea
Oct 18, 2022
With Halloween quickly approaching, I think this is another lovely game to get into the Halloween spirit. Featuring beautiful art with a vibrant, but dim ambience, Strange Horticulture is another gorgeous game with a slightly spooky feel to it.
Run a Plant Store and Solve Puzzles
Welcome to Strange Horticulture, your very own plant store where you are the owner! You’re a horticulturist living in the peculiar town of Undermere surrounded by mountains and forests full of hags. As you meet the distinctive and varied cast of local customers, you’re quickly thrown into the weird and occult mysteries of Undermere.
Spend your days exploring the lands surrounding your mysterious little town, but be sure to take care of where you journey. Not everywhere is safe! Discover clues and determine which places are safe and which places you ought to avoid. And who knows, you may gain powers you’d never dreamed of, or lose your mind. Tread carefully.
While you search for plants to sell in Strange Horticulture, you’ll learn more and more about their uses. You’ll be able to consult your trusty encyclopedia and any clues you discover while exploring to learn about the plants you encounter. Identifying each plant opens up the possibility of using it and its special effects to influence the story. Make hallucinogens or even poisons to use to advance the story and see what mysteries you can solve.
Out Now!
Strange Horticulture is available now on Steam, Epic Games, Gog.com, and Nintendo Switch.
For another slightly spooky option, take a look at Critter Crops.
- Oct 17, 2022
Play Matchmaker as an Adorable Ghost
In this sweet little dating sim, you don’t play as someone looking for your love interest. Instead, you play as the ghost who’s acting as matchmaker for the residents of the mansion! There are over 10 residents in the mansion for you to get to know. You will read their diaries to learn about them. Also gift them items to discover what they like best.
In Love, Ghostie, every resident can be shipped with another resident. No one is off limits! And with over 45 pairing possibilities, your options are nearly endless. So far, developer Janbeh Games has revealed only a few of the 10+ possible residents. There is Gerard the emo giraffe, Calathea the…. well, the calathea plant, Noir the goth, who is the literal black sheep of the family, and Mina, a short-tempered little calico cat. Also pictured are a frog character and a dragon character. So, who belongs together? Who knows! The choice is yours!
Set up the residents on dates and give them tasks to complete that affect their happiness. As they learn about and get closer to each other, you will unlock cute relationship scenes and unique storylines. Discover the different story lines for each couple. Which of the delightful residents will you ship together in Love, Ghostie?
Release Date TBD
Sadly there is no release date confirmed for this cute little game. It will be released on Steam, however, where you can currently add it to your wishlist. Meanwhile, you can follow the developer on her Twitter and enjoy the charming trailer video for Love, Ghostie.
For more dating sims, check out this article featuring Dream Daddy, Monster Prom 2: Holiday Season, and Half Past Fate.
- Oct 16, 2022
Explore And Find Your Way Home
For all of you who loved the opportunity to create chaos in Untitled Goose Game, and those who just love cats and their antics, this game is for you. Play as a cute black kitty with a big personality and a lot of curiosity in Double Dagger Studio’s Little Kitty, Big City. You’re lost in the big city and have a choice. Do you explore this new and wonderful place, or do you try to find your way home?
Take your time to explore the city. Create havoc and leave some chaos in your wake. Dive into trash cans, knock potted plants off their ledges, and so much more. Meet stray animals on the streets and become friends with them. Find different adorable hats to wear. Little Kitty, Big City is a tiny open world sandbox game, so how you play and explore is up to you!
As if the game description isn’t cute enough, check out the official trailer below. It’s adorable on its own and makes me wish the chaos-creating kitty adventure game was available now!
Coming Soon
Unfortunately, there is no release date yet, and as their Steam page says “Cats don’t have deadlines.” However, Little Kitty, Big City will be released on Steam and Itch.io when it does come out!
If you haven’t heard of Untitled Goose Game, check it out here. It’s a fun time for all. And for more kitty fun, check out Snacko.
- Oct 16, 2022
Create Your Village, Craft Its Story
Once upon a time, the beautiful continent of Cataria was home to an ancient civilization. However, the continent disappeared one day, becoming lost to the world for centuries. After hundreds of years, Cataria has been found, and dozens of adventurers have set off to explore the continent and its ruins. People wish to find a new home and resettle Cataria, and uncover its mysteries along the way
You play as one such person. Choose between two ancestries in Ages of Cataria, humans or elves, find the perfect location for your new village, and craft its origin story. Humans are just that, human, while elves are elegant plant-like creatures. Each has their own set of attributes. Each also has their own unique building style, resource requirements, and lifestyle events. Villagers of Cataria all have their own personalities, skill proficiencies, and wellness levels. It will be up to you to manage their wellness so they stay comfortable and productive.
In Ages of Cataria, you’ll perform jobs around town in the form of mini games to boost your character’s productivity and skill level. From cooking to hunting, each job has its own unique mini game to be played. You’ll also get to experience character-driven quests with your villagers. These will be in the form of interactive visual novels that will help define your villager’s personalities and stories. Some quests are minor, while some are life-changing events. And of course you have stylistic control over your village! You’ll be able to customize your town’s buildings to fit your style.
Coming June 2023
Unfortunately, we’re a long way out from the release of this beautiful and unique game. However, it will be on Steam and Switch. It is currently open for pre-orders on the Cataria website, too.
For another cute sim to play, check out Hokko Life!
- Oct 15, 2022
Chop, Fry, and Bake
From Cooking Mama: Cookstar comes an exciting and cute new addition to the Cookstar lineup. Yum Yum Cookstar by Planet Entertainment is a colorful game where you play as an ambitious new chef and learn cooking basics in the kitchen while accompanied by Chef Yum Yum . Level up your skills as you learn and compete in cooking show competitions.
Players will stir, fry, chop, and bake their way through 70+ new and creative recipes. Rainbow Waffles and Unicorn Smoothies, as well as Sushi Burritos and French Toast, players will discover a fantastic new variety of recipes to cook through. Players will also complete recipes in entertaining rhythm games where you cook to the beat of a lively new soundtrack.
Enter competitions where you will encounter a cast of judges who are fully voiced with distinct personalities and comedic remarks. Players will also get to choose from several different game modes and difficulty levels. Play in Relaxed mode, Casual Mode, Pro mode, or Cookstar mode. Take on the Daily Cooking Challenge or earn kitchen and appliance customization by competing in Invitational Tournaments. After all, your kitchen should match your tastes!
Yum Yum Cookstar Release Date
Yum Yum Cookstar is now available on the Switch. It is currently listed on their shop, along with PS4 and Xbox One versions.
For a look at the previous Cookstar game, check out Cooking Mama: Cookstar, and for even more cooking fun, take a look at Epic Chef.
- Sep 12, 2022
Build Your Camp Through Teamwork
For players who enjoyed the multiplayer chaos in such games as Overcooked and Moving Out, here’s your next fun couch co-op! Camped Out plays up to 4 players and your goal is to set up camp before dark falls. Work together as a team with family or friends to set up each camp and unlock more campsites. Players will rush to set up tents, build a campfire, and gather enough food in time to get into bed before night sets in.
Each character in Camped Out has a camper’s backpack that holds a tent, lantern, and some shared tools. Each player also has a cook pot to cook their nightly meals in. You are in control of where to place things, so choose wisely or they may hinder you! Chop wood, gather stones, and go fishing in order to get the campsite ready. Just don’t leave materials lying around or they may disappear.
Coming September 22
While a demo is available now on Steam, the game will be available fully on September 22nd. Camped Out! Will be on Steam for PC and Switch consoles.
Tools Up is another fun couch co-op.
- Sep 10, 2022
Deck Building, Potion Making, Shop Managing Fun
Play as Sylvia, a witch who’s taken over her uncle’s potion shop after his untimely death. It’s now up to her to keep the shop running and carry on her uncle’s legacy. Luckily, Sylvia isn’t alone. With the help of her friends she’ll learn to negotiate, outsell her competitors, and perhaps make her shop the number one shop in Rafta.
Learn the necessary skills to negotiate with customers by befriending villagers and other merchants who can teach you better ways to run the potion shop. Use those new skills to manage Sylvia’s stress as you choose the correct cards to settle on the right price. You’ll also learn to create the potions you’ll be selling. Just be careful what ingredients you add to them, because you could end up with some awful concoctions!
While not everyone you encounter will be helpful, as some aren’t friendly, there’s also a chance for romance waiting for you. You’ll get to choose from nine incredibly unique characters for your romantic partner. Choose one to date or date them all to find which one you like best!
Coming to Steam October 17
After 6 years creating the game, developers Voracious Games are excited to announce that Potionomics will be available for PC via Steam on October 17th. You can currently add it to your wishlist.
For more potion making, check out Alchemy Garden, and for more management gaming, check out Bear and Breakfast.
- Aug 29, 2022
Run a Courier Service While Uncovering Secrets in The Courier
With the incredible popularity of cozy games such as Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, it comes as no surprise that others have tried creating their own versions of comfortable, cozy games. A large part of that has been various flavors of farming games. However, for players looking for something different, there is The Courier. Created by indie developer Crescent Moon Games, comes a mail delivery and puzzle game with a cozy, mysterious atmosphere.
Welcome to the island of Orda, a very peculiar and mysterious place. You play as a woman who is the courier of the island. She runs her very own mail delivery service on this curious island. Follow a compelling story line as you interact with the residents of the island. Uncover the many dark secrets of the island and deliver mail. The more mail you deliver, the more secrets about Orda you’ll discover.
Explore an open world full of beautifully crafted areas. Sling newspapers at the front steps of home. Also solve exciting environmental puzzles. Use different vehicles to get around the island as you deliver mail to residents. Explore on foot, by bicycle, by boat, or even by hang glider. Complete challenges, missions, and even mini games. Spend time fishing, walking dogs, mowing lawns, or even shearing sheep.
Coming Fall 2022
Although there is no specific release date for The Courier as of yet, we hope it’s soon! The game is expected to release on Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
A Little to the Left is another casual, relaxing puzzle game to check out.
