All posts tagged in Casual
Oct 18, 2022
A Story-rich Mystery Adventure
With Halloween fast approaching, I felt it appropriate to share Beacon Pines with all of you. It’s a cute and creepy adventure game set inside a mysterious book. As Hiding Spot Games puts it, “it’s Winnie-the-Pooh meets Twin Peaks”.
You’ll play as both the reader and Luka, the main character of the story. There is something weird happening at the local warehouse, but no one except Luka and his friends seems to take notice. Sneak out of the house late at night, meet new friends, and explore town to solve the mysteries of Beacon Pines.
While you adventure and investigate the mysteries of Beacon Pines, you’ll encounter special golden charms. Each charm has a single word engraved on it, and you’ll use these words to fill in the blanks of parts of the story. You may even drastically change the events of the story, depending on which words you use.
As the reader of the book, you’ll use the Chronicle to navigate the turning points of the story where words are missing. The Chronicle is an interactive story tree that grows as you progress in the story. Experiencing one piece of the story will unlock new charms for other parts of the story. So, you’ll spend your time bouncing around from story part to story part to get the whole picture of Beacon Pines.
Out Now!
Beacon Pines is out now on Nintendo Switch, Steam, Itch.io, and Xbox.
Check out our previous article on other Halloween games you could play to get in the spooky (but cute!) mood.
- 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.
- 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.
- Jun 9, 2022
Sort, Stack, and Organize Things Into Just the Right Spot
Another wonderful indie game was showcased at Day of the Devs just now, and it will entice people who love cleanliness, organization, and having things in their home placed just right. Especially those of you that have played and enjoyed Unpacking. With A Little to the Left, you’ll be tidying up the things that you own for that sense of satisfaction.
This game has over 75 unique logical puzzles. Your tasks will consist of: sorting and stacking receipts, placing books in alphabetical and sizing order, colour-coordinating notepads, etc. There will be the occasional pesky cat getting in your way and messing things up. However, cat lovers should be used to that kind of nonsense.
Releasing in 2022 on PC
A Little to the Left is developed by Max Inferno and published by Secret Mode. It will launch sometime in 2022 on Steam and itch.io. Both sites now have a limited free demo that you can try out now!
- Jun 9, 2022
New Ghost Bears and New Environments
The first Cozy Grove is a game about camping on a haunted island with a real-time day/night cycle mechanic like Animal Crossing. As a Spirit Scout, you’ll wander the island’s forest each day, finding new hidden secrets and helping the local ghosts. Activities include: collecting spirit animals, crafting decorations, going fishing. The developers, Spry Fox, have just announced that they are currently working on Cozy Grove 2.
With the sequel underway, that means there won’t be any more major updates for Cozy Grove. Although, you can read the rather extensive post-launch updates here, if you’re interested. So far, all we know is that the sequel will have “a bunch more new ghost bears, in new environments. And Flamey. And Scoutmaster Blake.”
Cozy Grove 2 is in Early Development
Cozy Grove 2 is still a ways away with an unofficial launch estimate of late 2023. For now, you can check out its predecessor on these platforms: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and Epic Games.
- Jan 21, 2020
Mineko’s Night Market is an upcoming cat-themed crafting adventure game that celebrates Japanese culture and is essentially about friendship, choices, and of course, cats. The indie game is being developed by Meowza Games, and being published by Humble Bundle, who will also publish upcoming games Forager and Ikenfell.
The exact date for the games release is yet to be determined, though the creator mentioned that it may possibly be early this year. I thought I’d provide everyone with a detailed article on everything we know about this cute cat-filled creation!
What is the game about?
Playing as Mineko, a girl who has moved to a superstitious fishing town inundated with cats, you will uncover secrets whilst assiting Mineko in becoming a successful young entrepreneur. This can be done by completing tasks, undertaking quests and gathering resources in preparation for the weekly night market.
Players can craft a variety of odd items, toys, and trinkets, which can then be sold to townsfolk (who are now your customers) at Mineko’s night market stall. After you’ve finished selling your items, you can explore the Night Market yourself, where you can play mini-games, eat unusual foods, and purchase collectibles.
The game allows you to explore distant lands by unlocking different types of transport (which include buses, bullet trains and cat carts). Each land offers new people to meet and unique things to do, dependent on the time of day and season.
There are 16 uniquely themed markets every year which all feature a stage event that you can partake in. Examples of events include Taiko drumming, karaoke competitions, sumo suit wrestling, and more!
The better you perform at the market, the bigger and better the market will become, which may well attract new townsfolk and even celebrity guests!
What sort of stuff can I do in the game?
Some features of the game include:
- Explore the village and surrounding areas to find rare resources and make new friends
- Craft peculiar items with the resources you find around the world
- Barter with townsfolk at the weekly Night Market to sell your creations
- Explore the night Market to discover unusual culinary dlights and collectibles
- Play and compete in a variety of Night Market games like cat racing,
pachinko, and whack-a-tako - Uncover the mysteries of the Sun-Cat Abe and Mount Fugu Island!
How much will it cost?
The price of the game is still TBA.
What platforms will it be released on?
- PC
- Mac
- Nintendo Switch
When will it be released?
The Nintendo website claims that the game is ‘coming early 2019’ to the Switch console. As the PC and Mac versions were in the works first. However it was delayed until 2020 with no concrete release date, however let’s hope we can all play the game this year!
Is there any game merchandise available to buy?
Yes! The following items can be purchased whilst you (im)patiently await the game’s release:
- Mineko and the cats T shirt from theyetee.com
- Abe the Sun-Cat pin from theyetee.com
- Mineko pin from theyetee.com
- Mineko’s Night Market poster from theyetee.com
- Mineko’s Night Market Cutaway Cats and Rice Art Print (limited stock)
I sat down with Brent, developer behind the game for an exclusive interview last year. For some more sneaky details on Mineko’s Night Market, make sure you check out the interview here.
- Aug 8, 2019
Mineko’s Night Market is an adorable cat themed indie game.
Mineko’s Night Market is an upcoming cat-themed crafting adventure game that celebrates Japanese culture and is essentially about friendship, choices, and of course, cats. The indie game is being developed by Meowza Games, and being published by Humble Bundle, who will also publish upcoming games Forager and Ikenfell.
The exact date for the games release is yet to be determined, though the creators recently announced that more news are coming and the game is currently in full time development again. If you are just as excited about this cat-tastic game take a look below for everything we know so far about the game!
What is the game about?
Playing as Mineko, a girl who has moved to a superstitious fishing town inundated with cats, you will uncover secrets whilst assiting Mineko in becoming a successful young entrepreneur. This can be done by completing tasks, undertaking quests and gathering resources in preparation for the weekly night market.
Players can craft a variety of odd items, toys, and trinkets, which can then be sold to townsfolk (who are now your customers) at Mineko’s night market stall. After you’ve finished selling your items, you can explore the Night Market yourself, where you can play mini-games, eat unusual foods, and purchase collectibles.
The game allows you to explore distant lands by unlocking different types of transport (which include buses, bullet trains and cat carts). Each land offers new people to meet and unique things to do, dependent on the time of day and season.
There are 16 uniquely themed markets every year which all feature a stage event that you can partake in. Examples of events include Taiko drumming, karaoke competitions, sumo suit wrestling, and more!
The better you perform at the market, the bigger and better the market will become, which may well attract new townsfolk and even celebrity guests!
What sort of stuff can I do in the game?
Some features of the game include:
- Explore the village and surrounding areas to find rare resources and make new friends
- Craft peculiar items with the resources you find around the world
- Barter with townsfolk at the weekly Night Market to sell your creations
- Explore the night Market to discover unusual culinary dlights and collectibles
- Play and compete in a variety of Night Market games like cat racing,
pachinko, and whack-a-tako - Uncover the mysteries of the Sun-Cat Abe and Mount Fugu Island!
How much will it cost?
The price of the game is still TBA.
What platforms will it be released on?
- PC
- Mac
- Nintendo Switch
When will it be released?
The Nintendo website claims that the game is ‘coming soon’ to the Switch console. As the PC and Mac versions were in the works first, based on recent news it’s likely that a release on all three platforms is happening sometime in 2020 or 2021 – this.
Is there any game merchandise available to buy?
Yes! The following items can be purchased whilst you (im)patiently await the game’s release:
- Mineko and the cats T shirt from theyetee.com
- Abe the Sun-Cat pin from theyetee.com
- Mineko pin from theyetee.com
- Mineko’s Night Market poster from theyetee.com
- Mineko’s Night Market Cutaway Cats and Rice Art Print (limited stock)
I also had a chance to wit down with Brent, developer behind the game for an exclusive interview last year. For some more sneaky details on Mineko’s Night Market, make sure you check out the interview here.
- Mar 24, 2019
Looking for some time to relax and just take it easy? Well, pick up a mug of your favorite hot chocolate and enjoy some time at the Marshmellow Day Spa!
In this mini-game brought to life by four developers, you are a marshmallow that runs a day spa and fills jacuzzies with hot chocolate for other marshmallows. You run and jump while collecting different milks, chocolates, and toppings to put into each customer’s private spa. Combining all of these ingredients makes the perfect cup of hot chocolate and leaves the customer happy and relaxed.
This game has a nice relaxing charm to it and has a very simple concept. It’s nice to play something that you can pick up for a few minutes, relax, and then go on with your day.
Pamper yourself and relax with a cup of hot chocolate. Download Marshmellow Day Spa for free here! For more relaxing games, check out our list for the Most Calming Games to Cozy Up and Help You Relax! Happy Gaming!
