All posts tagged in action adventure
Nov 30, 2023
Have you ever wanted to be a wand maker? Have you wanted to open your own shop, collect necessary materials and sell the wands you craft by hand? Wonder Wandelier might be perfect for you, then! In this adorable game, you do exactly that. Of course, you’re trying to work off a massive debt within 30 days, but that’ll be easy, right?
Play as Wonder Wandelier’s leading lady, Pucelle, who’s destroyed her apprenticeship. A clumsy 16-year-old wand-making student at Grimora Magic School, Pucelle now finds herself running the old wand shop called Wonder Wandelier. Her clumsiness has not only damaged the shop owner, but the tools needed to make wands. Now, it’s up to her to fix her mistake, restore the business, pay off the debt, and prove she’s ready to graduate!
You’ll need to venture out into the wilds of Wonder Wandelier in to gather necessary materials for the shop. Take a partner with you and forage for materials, discover treasures, and even unravel mysteries! Just be careful as the world beyond The Portal slowly drains your energy. If you pass out while foraging, your partner will have to carry you home, but they can only carry so much! You may lose precious materials so your partner can bring you safely home. You may also encounter aggressive wildlife you’ll have to dispatch.
When in the shop, Pucelle will work on her wand-making skills. Some wands require rare materials and higher craftsmanship, but they sell for more money. She’ll also need to haggle with the patrons of Wonder Wandelier in order to fetch the best prices for her goods. Haggling won’t come easy, though. You’ll need to build a relationship with them, study their mood, and set the right atmosphere to achieve the right price!
Will Pucelle succeed at paying off her debt and graduate?
Release Date
You can find this adorable game on Steam! There is currently no release date listed, but you can add it to your Wishlist. There’s also a demo for you to try out.
Want to run a different magical shop? Check out Potionomics!
- Nov 23, 2023
Spells & Secrets is a magical roguelite adventure where you must free the Academy of Greifenstein from the magical creatures that have overrun it. You’re a young wizard who’s just gone off to school at the esteemed academy to learn more about your magic. However, on your first night there, something strange happens and now the school is a mess. Magical creatures run amok in the halls, your fellow students are lost in the ever-changing rooms of the school, and there’s something a little more nefarious going on.
The Story
Spells & Secrets sets up a very basic story from the beginning. Again, you’re a young wizard who has arrived at the Academy of Greifenstein to learn about magic and improve your abilities. You’re then dropped right into the problem of the school being overrun with magical creatures. After that, the story unfolds as you progress through each dungeon level and encounter fellow students and even some of the bad guys. It’s a pretty standard “good vs. evil” situation. Someone has caused chaos at the Academy, it’s just a matter of sussing out who did it.
The question I have is why am I, a literal magical novice and child, the one who’s responsible for fixing the issue. I’m traversing the dangerous hallways of the school in search of my fellow students, fighting monsters, and encountering the bad guys. Meanwhile, the Spells & Secrets adult teachers are chilling outside in the courtyard prepared to sell me spells and upgrades so I can get further in my dungeon crawling. Surely one of the experienced people should help me! Silly adults.
Overall, I enjoy how the Spells & Secrets story unfolds as you progress. You don’t have all the answers, and you don’t always get them quickly. It takes time to earn enough for new spells and upgrades. Plus, without those upgrades and new spells, it can be difficult getting through dungeon levels. Some of those creatures are unforgiving! I also appreciate the lack of hand-holding. There is a tutorial, but you’re not interrupted frequently by cutscenes or new game mechanics. You just get to blast through some rude creatures.
The Gameplay
I won’t pretend I’m incredible at fighting games, and Spell & Secrets has only proved that further. It took me several runs of the first floor before I managed to progress to the second floor. It can be frustrating, but that’s part of the draw of roguelites. It’s certainly easy to see when you’ve made upgrades to your repertoire, too. I went from struggling to blasting through creatures like they were nothing. So, it offers a very satisfying experience, despite the repetition. You feel like you’ve earned it once you progress.
I enjoy the variety of spells in Spells & Secrets, too. Each one has a different effect, while also deploying in a different way. Magic Missile is just a bullet of magic you shoot at the enemies. Freeze comes out in a spray of icy clouds, and so on. It’s easy to visually see which spell is which when scrolling through them or deploying them against enemies. Being able to build on their capabilities is satisfying too. Improving the power of Magic Missile absolutely made my runs easier to complete. And adding different spells that have different effects allows you to combine the powers of your arsenal to more efficiently defeat enemies. It lends a sense of creativity and strategy to the game.
enemies. It lends a sense of creativity and strategy to the game.
Final Thoughts
Besides the fighting, you can join what appear to be like school clubs. There are four for you to choose from, and it helps give you an objective outside the main storyline and dungeon crawling. You can even earn different clothing items to further customize your character. Spells & Secrets is overall a roguelite dungeon crawler with a sprinkling of socializing and other fun. I personally think it’s a fun combination!
I’d recommend this game to anyone who enjoys the idea of being a magic-slinging wizard. Overall, I’d give it:
You can find Spells & Secrets on Steam, Switch, and PlayStation now!
- Nov 22, 2023
Have you ever wanted to start your own space colony from the ground up? Cozynauts let’s you do that! Your corporation has sent you out into the galaxy to discover new materials. You land on a new, desolate planet and believe it’d make the perfect place for a new colony. The only problem is your space pod only has room for you. So, you get to build this colony from scratch!
Set out on a grand adventure as you traverse this alien planet in search of resources. At first you’ll need to carry your items by hand. As you progress, though, Cozynauts offers a variety of upgrades. Eventually you’ll be able to build a hover cart that will follow you as you gather. Then, you can build a whole production line to streamline the process. Of course you get to craft a variety of items, too. Expand your colony by building houses and other amenities like shops. Just don’t forget to supply them with oxygen! Then, pretty up the place by crafting decorations for the colony.
When you’re not gathering resources and building your colony, Cozynauts offers some other great cozy gameplay. Grow crops in the greenhouse and cross-breed them to discover new crops. Use those crops to make delicious meals to restore your stamina. Catch alien bugs and fish with your net and fishing pole, then donate them to the data center collection, sell them, or use them in recipes. Not all critters are friendly, though, so be careful! You can also adventure into the underground to gather different materials and critters. Fight enemy robots and mini bosses, while searching for the remnants of an alien civilization.
Play solo or invite a friend to join you in your colony-building endeavors!
Coming Soon
Cozynauts is currently listed on Steam where you can add it to your Wishlist. It has a planned release date of some time in the beginning of 2024!
Cuisineer is a dungeon-crawling restaurant game that I think is perfectly cozy!
- Oct 4, 2023
Yaruul’s family inn has been stolen by the evil wizard landlord, Colin. You must reclaim the family’s legacy by managing the inn solo or with your friends. Brew potions, dispel curses, catch fish, cook food, and fight negative influences. Prove you’re a better innkeeper than the evil wizard by making the inn a success! Innchanted is a heartfelt and hectic adventure set in a fantasy universe inspired by Indigenous Australian tales.
The Levels
Pick from four different, adorable playable characters and cooperate with your team or even an AI companion to run this magic inn. Innchanted’s AI can be assigned to serve customers, refill potion stations, or defend against thieves. Serving customers includes cooking meat or dispensing potions, too. They’re quite useful for filling in when you’re playing solo or even with a second person. The AI is a little slow moving, as they can’t dash like player characters can, but that only adds a little bit of challenge without overwhelming you, I think.
Plus, the layout changes every day, so you never know what obstacles you’ll face! You’ll encounter different challenges across Innchanted’s 50+ unique levels while serving patrons. One level may be wide open and easy to navigate, while the next has counters that move every so often meaning the level layout changes while you play. And don’t forget about the thieving birds waiting in the tree outside for the opportunity to take off with a slab of meat. Don’t leave your items unattended for too long!
The Inn
Use your hard-earned shells to upgrade your inn. Make grills cook faster. Increase your team’s efficiency. Even unlock decorations to beautify your inn. From fun wall flags to pretty rugs, you’ll find over 60 decorative items in Innchanted to beautify your inn to give it that personal touch. And at night, take time to unwind, speak with other characters, make important choices that will affect your next day, and practice new mechanics you’ve learned.
Final Thoughts
Innchanted is a challenging, but fun adventure akin to Overcooked. It’s perfect for playing with friends! It doesn’t present the same frenetic, frantic player experience as Overcooked, though. It feels a little more chill and laid back, while still being silly and fun. It’s a cute little game that I’d recommend to anyone for some fun, though.
I give Innchanted a:
You can find this fun co-op game on Steam now!
- Aug 17, 2023
Welcome to the fabled Grimoire Groves! The witches just couldn’t wait to move to the beautiful magical forest. According to old myths, the forest is full of magical creatures and plants. But when the witches arrived, they realized something was off about their new home. The forest spirits are absent and there are only a few plant creatures around. They should be abundant! Not all hope is lost, though. With some dedication, a little investigation, and useful magic, the witches ought to be able to restore the groves!
Play as one of those witches and embark on a journey in a fantasy world to restore the forest of Grimoire Groves. Spend time unlocking magical spells to complete your very own grimoire. Mix and match the spells to find the perfect combination of magic for you. Even work on mastering the balance between all four elements.
Then, use your magic to grow a variety of plant creatures. They look cute, but they’re certainly demanding! You’ll need to master control of your magic, learn critical timing, and even use careful positioning. It’s your job to learn and understand the needs of the creatures of Grimoire Groves in order to harvest the fruit they produce. That fruit will be used in crafting new spells and items.
It’s also up to you to find the hidden mystical spirits of Grimoire Groves. They need a new home, and your cottage is awfully cozy! Decorate your home to help boost their powers, and yours, so they can bring balance back to the forest. Perhaps even unravel the mystery of the fabled rainbow sock!
Coming Soon
Grimoire Groves is coming soon to Steam and Switch!
Craving more witchy games? Wylde Flowers, Witchy Life Story, and Witchbrook are all great options!
- Apr 6, 2023
Collect Creatures, Battle Beasts, and Solve Puzzles
Join two young runaways as they unearth the mysteries of a lost realm in The Wild at Heart. Explore a world reminiscent of old storybooks, rich with history and full of beautiful scenery. Discover dark caves, beautiful woods, fascinating coastlines, and ancient shrines that hold untold secrets. The Deep Woods is full of mystery and secrets for you to uncover.
As you explore the stunning landscapes, collect a herd of Spritelings to help you in your adventures. Spritelings are quirky little magical creatures who can help you break things, collect loot, connect paths, and fight beasts. The Spritelings’ unique abilities will be especially helpful for fighting. You’ll also be able to fight the supernatural creatures of The Wild at Heart with your trusty vacuum, the Gustbuster!
The Wild at Heart has a useful crafting mechanic, too. Gather needed resources like magic crystals, scrap, electrical components, and more. Build new structures, create useful items, or upgrade what you have. Don’t forget to make yourself a light source! The shadows at night hide malevolent beings. You may want to stick around a campfire until the morning!
Available now!
The Wild at Heart is available now on pretty much every platform. You can find it on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox, and the Humble Games Store. There are physical copies available for Nintendo Switch and PS4!
For a similar experience, check out Lost in Play, a cute game that delves into the imaginative world of a child’s mind.
- Feb 8, 2023
Use Your Honey Magic to Fight Robot Invaders, and Grow Your Farm
Honeymancer is an adorable pixel graphics RPG and farm sim game, but with a slight twist. You play as the isolated Bear Witch. She uses a special Honeymagic, and wields it against evil robot invaders to defend the forest and protect nature. As long as you have honey to fight with, you’ll be successful!
On the little plot of land you call home, help make your bee buddies happy, and they’ll produce the honey you need for your magic. Of course, that means you need flowers! Plant a thriving garden of them so the bees can collect nectar from them. The more flowers you have planted, the more honey the bees can produce, and more honey means more magic use!
Use your Honeymagic against the invasion of evil robots. They come in waves, and each wave is tougher than the last one. The robots are trying to destroy the forest by cutting the trees down, and it’s up to you to stop them. Protect the forest and the trees by defeating each wave of robots. And don’t forget to befriend the other creatures in the forest. They’ll help you unlock new spells, decorations, flowers, and more!
Now, I know that many of us who look toward the cozy video game genre aren’t looking for combat in their games. Stardew Valley is an obvious exception, since the combat is minimal and not a necessity, and Honeymancer’s combat is integral to the game. However, between the cute pixel graphics, adorable art, and the fun magic, players should give it a try. Plus, the developer has added a button to the demo (and will be in the full game) to turn off the smooth camera feature to help those of use who get motion sickness from it!
Coming Soon!
Honeymancer currently has no release date available. However, you can find it on Steam to add to your Wishlist for notification when it does become available! There’s also a demo on Steam you can download and try out.
Don’t forget to check out Everdream Valley or Witchbrook for more cute games.
- Feb 1, 2023
Catch Critters and Discover Mysteries
For those players who really enjoy running around games like Animal Crossing and catching bugs, then perhaps Paradise Marsh would be a good fit. Developer LazyEti admits the game is short, but it’s been made with a lot of love by a solo dev, and that’s easy to see!
You wake up in a peaceful little wetland, but realize the stars are gone. They used to fill the beautiful night sky, but have now fallen. Wander through Paradise Marsh and its varying picturesque, but mysterious landscapes. Catch critters like frogs, fireflies, and many others, each with their own unique behaviors and quirks. Talk to the birds to hear some charming little poems, too. You’ll also be able to pick flowers, eat strange mushrooms you forage, build snowmen, and much more!
Paradise Marsh features a colorful cast of characters for you to meet. They even have quests for you to complete, but don’t worry about a time crunch. There are no time limits, no mini map, or quest markers. You’re meant to relax and enjoy nature while discovering things at your own pace and in whatever order you choose. You’ll also collect notes that will reveal the mysteries of the marsh, and maybe explain what happened to the stars! Plus, each time you play, you’ll get to explore a new procedurally generated world, so there’s plenty to discover!
Available Now!
This charming little collection game was released October 2022. You can find Paradise Marsh on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox!
Also check out cute games like Dinkum and Palia!
