All posts tagged in Casual
May 17, 2023
Explore a New World, Nurture Plant Life, and Rebuild
In Distant Bloom, you play as a member of a space exploration team. You and your crew are in search of a new planet to establish as your new home in order to save your species. You’ve spotted what appears to be a suitable candidate, only to land on this alien planet and find that not everything is as it seemed through the telescope. The once flourishing and lush plant life is now dead and barren.
Explore this fantastical new planet, desolate though it may be. Learn how to care for the alien flora and nurture new life. Experiment with different plant structures to create a new thriving ecosystem. Harvest plants and turn them into recipes to eat, tools for you to use in your adventures, and items that can help you build up a new home base!
While you’re exploring Distant Bloom, be sure to search for your crew members who are scattered across the new world. Reunite them to build your community and discover their individual, unique stories. As you explore the wilds of your new home, discover the planet’s different history. Discover mysterious ruins, and perhaps find out what—or who—left them behind. Perhaps even learn why!
Whatever you do, make your choices thoughtfully, as everything you do will have an impact on nature and the lives of your crew members.
Coming Soon
The beautiful and cozy Distant Bloom is planned to release sometime in 2023 on Steam.
For more restoration type games, check out No Place Like Home and Fresh Start Cleaning Simulator.
- May 11, 2023
Sushi Restaurateur by Day, Diver by Night
Dave the Diver is a casual 2D deep-sea exploration and fishing game. You control Dave, a diver who explores the depths of the ocean at night and runs a sushi restaurant during the day. He is in search of treasure and looking to solve puzzles. It is up to you (and Dave) to unravel the mysteries of the Blue Hole as you explore its depths.
The game features a variety of different environments to explore, including beautiful coral reefs, enticing shipwrecks, and even the mysterious Mariana Trench. Dave must use his diving gear to survive in the harsh conditions of the deep ocean, including low oxygen levels and high pressure. You can also use your trusty harpoon to catch fish as you explore.
Don’t forget to make your restaurant successful, though. The profits you earn from selling sushi will fund your deep-sea adventures. Collect resources and use your income to upgrade your equipment or buy new weapons to prepare for what lurks in the depths. If you run out of oxygen, you’ll leave your precious fish and finds behind!
You’ll also encounter a quirky, but fun and lovable cast of characters, plus a full story. Encounter fun jokes, goofy spoofs, and other humorous scenes as you get to know your customers and others.
Dave the Diver features a combination of pixel and 3D graphics to provide a stunning art style with breathtaking ocean scenery. The game is set in a realistic marine environment and includes over 200 different kinds of sea creatures for you to discover while you explore, complete quests, and play minigames.
Available Now!
Dave the Diver is available in Early Access on Steam now. Developer MINTROCKET plans to release the full game in June of this year.
Want more ocean exploration? Give Blue Beyond a try!
- May 10, 2023
Learn Magic, Farm, and So Much More
Welcome to Brookhaven, a curious little town on a beautiful island full of friendly villagers and dangerous creatures. However, Brookhaven only exists inside a dark storybook, and a wizard has trapped you inside. Within the pages of this book you’ll encounter a cast of unique people with magical powers. Settle down and forge friendships, fall in love and start a family, explore, farm, and so much more in Brookhaven Grimoire!
The community of Brookhaven includes those who use magic. It is the backbone of this society, after all, and you’ll be able to join in by learning how to perform magic. You’ll also get to engage in a wide variety of activities. Fish for a variety of fish species in different areas of the world. Forage for mushrooms, flowers, and herbs. Grow vegetables, herbs, flowers, nuts, and fruit trees, then cook up a storm with your ingredients. You’ll also use these items in alchemy recipes, quests, or give them as gifts to villagers of Brookhaven Grimoire. You’ll also get to tend to a wide variety of animals on your farm who’ll provide you with animal products you can use, gift, or sell. There are 21 different creatures for you to raise, so no shortage of variety.
There are also over 100 mythical creatures for you to encounter on your adventures through Brookhaven Grimoire. Perhaps you’ll get to see some mermaids and werewolves in your search for dungeons to complete. Summon minions to help you in battle. Acquire supernatural abilities from one of five different supernatural creatures you can run into. And don’t forget your magic! Perhaps with all of these abilities, you’ll be able to uncover the mysteries of this storybook world and find a way back home.
Available Now!
This dark-style fantasy sim game is available now on Steam!
For more dark farm sim fun, checkout Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire and Critter Crops: Mystery of Mullery Mansion!
- Apr 13, 2023
Explore the Ocean and Conduct Research
Beyond Blue is a serene single-player narrative about exploring the deep blue ocean. Play as Mirai, a deep-sea explorer and scientist, as she adventures through the sea in search of creatures and to uncover mysteries. You’ll also join a newly-formed scientific research team and use groundbreaking technologies to see, hear, and interact with ocean life.
You’ll get to experience eight different dives as you play Beyond Blue. Pilot an innovative new submarine on its maiden voyage, decked out with all the tools you’ll need for your underwater adventures. Explore the magnificent ocean and use those tools to aid your research. Train the AI to recognize sea creatures like humpback whales, turtles, and stingrays. You’ll also learn how to tag them, too, allowing your team to track their behaviors. There’s even a dedicated Photo Mode. Play with dozens of filters, different types of lens settings, and other features to help you capture some breathtaking moments.
Beyond Blue features a full voice cast, as well as a beautiful original soundtrack. You’ll also hear songs from popular artists like Miles Davis and The Flaming Lips. You’ll even unlock sixteen unique mini-documentaries called Ocean Insights. Watch original footage and interviews with science’s leading ocean experts. Furthermore, Indie developer E-Line Media teamed up with BBC Studios, OceanX Media, and world-class ocean experts to craft Beyond Blue into an incredible and educational experience.
Available Now!
This beautiful aquatic adventure is available on many major platforms. You can get it for free on Epic Games April 20th to April 27th! Otherwise, you can find it on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Humble Store, and Apple Arcade.
For more low-stakes relaxation, check out Garden In!
- Mar 29, 2023
Uncover Clues in the Search For Your Missing Best Friend
in Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories, you play as Honeydew, the bunny headband-wearing protagonist and melon soda factory worker. Recently, her best friend has gone missing, so Honeydew is on a mission to find her. Is it really safe to travel in a town where melons are illegal, though? And why is a hamster that’s trying to sneak into Kitten King’s castle?
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is a short, but full little game with a fun callback to the green-tinted retro games of the past. Meet a variety of fun characters with unique personalities and some with tragic backstories. Unravel additional mysteries as you meet them, too. Collect clues about the disappearance of your friend. Sneak through the seedy underground of Hog Town. Use your quick wit and keen eye to put together the pieces of the puzzle to solve the mystery before it’s too late.
Along with the green-tinted monochrome pixel graphics, Melon Journey has more than 90 different electronic and jazz-inspired tracks for you to listen to while playing. It also includes an optional prequel game, called Melon Journey Pocket, that introduces the main characters.
Available April 6, 2023
Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories will be available April 6, 2023 on pretty much all platforms! Find it on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and PS5, and Xbox One and X|S.
For some more pixel graphics games, check out this wonderful list!
- Mar 23, 2023
The Island is Your Playground
Lil Gator Game is an absolutely adorable open-world, movement-focused adventure game. Traverse the island, where you’ll find a new friend almost everywhere you explore. Of course, making friends isn’t always easy. So, complete a quest or two for the NPCs you find to make friends with them. Then, invite them to play on the island’s playground.
As you explore Lil Gator Game, you’ll get to experience seeing the world through a child-like sense of wonder and adventure. Climb huge rocks, glide through the mountains, run through the forest, and slide down big hills. You’ll also collect arts and crafts supplies as you wander. You can use these to craft yourself all sorts of things. Craft fun goodies to liven up the playground, and craft yourself new abilities like skimming rocks or a ragdoll teddy to allow you to ragdoll down a mountain.
This game is perfect for relaxing after a long day, and great for including your little ones! Lil Gator Game has no combat system or health bars to stress you out. You’ll encounter a variety of baddies made out of cardboard cutouts that you’ll be able to hit, but they cause you no damage! This is a no-pressure game with a focus on adventure and play.
Available Now!
This sweet little adventure game is available now on Steam. For those of you who like portable gaming, it’s available on the Nintendo Switch, as well as Steam Deck verified!
For more imaginative and cute games, check out The Plucky Squire and Lost in Play.
- Mar 8, 2023
Create Castles and Transform Forgotten Meadows
Tiny Glade is a beautiful little builder game from indie developer and publisher Pounce Light. With its free-form building mechanic, the game is intended to be a purely relaxing creative outlet. So, there is no resource management, no goals, no combat, and no wrong answers! Just sit back, build some fancy castles and turn some abandoned meadows into incredible architectural scenery.
The game offers a unique building chemistry, too. Tiny Glade features a gridless building system, but also lets players watch as each brick and roof tile is assembled. You don’t need to painstakingly place each piece yourself. Simply draw a path where you want it. Click and drag to place a fence or wall. Want a path to go through a wall? An arch will appear. Want your walls higher? Just drag the top of it higher! And if you drop the wall lower, arches will turn into fences for you.
Tiny Glade looks to be a wonderfully dynamic sandbox, making it perfect for experimenting with builds. There are no wrong answers, after all. Did you build something you don’t like? Changing it is easy! Accompanied by a cozy soundtrack, lighting that changes with the time of day, and other small, cozy details, there’s a lot to love in the game. Ivy adorns buildings, fireflies light up the night, and adorable little sheep roam the meadows freely. Tiny Glade is the perfect little world to escape to.
Coming Soon!
Tiny Glade is currently in development, but will be coming to Steam eventually! There is no release date available a this time. However, you can add it to your Steam Wishlist now to keep up to date on it.
Gourdlets is another cute building game with no combat, no objectives, and no management!
- Mar 2, 2023
Explore the World, Gather Ingredients, and Make Potions
I stumbled across Alchemist: The Potion Monger from developer Art Games Studio S.A. back in February during Steam’s Next Fest. I honestly downloaded the demo based on the title and picture alone, and was not disappointed.
This beautiful first-person RPG allows you to create your character, but you’re no ordinary human. In fact, you play as an anthropomorphized animal! Choose from several different animals like cats, snakes, or goats. Pick a name that suits your new character, and don’t forget to choose a name for your trusty dog
Alchemist: The Potion Monger starts with you moving to a new town, and has you actually unpack your cart to begin setting up your house. Then it moves into teaching you the basics of potion-making.
You’ll have to explore the world to gather ingredients, then use your cauldron to make potions. You can sell those potions, use them to complete quests, or use them for yourself. Need to jump super high for some reason? There’s a potion for that!
Each ingredient you find in the wonderfully crafted world of Alchemist: The Potion Monger will have alchemical aspects. You’ll learn them as you play, and can access your found knowledge in your alchemy book. Plus, your cute little dog isn’t just there for looks. They’ll help you discover those alchemical aspects of ingredients.
Not to mention, you get to pet the dog. You’ll level up your alchemy through discovery. You’ll also learn new skills through challenges, get a chance to help NPCs, fight some slime monsters, and much more.
Coming Soon!
Unfortunately, Alchemist: The Potion Monger doesn’t have a specific date listed for release. The developer’s website lists the release as 2023, though! You can find the game on Steam, where you can add it to your Wishlist.
Want more potion fun? Give Alchemy Garden, Alchemy Story, Alchemic Cutie, Potionomics, or Potion Permit a try!
