All posts tagged in Casual
Mar 13, 2024
We’ve had some great cozy MMOs announced over the years. Palia, which is out now, and Loftia and Utopia No. 8 are all some of the cozy multiplayer games I’ve been looking forward to. But if you’re coming from classic MMOs like WoW or RuneScape, Palia hasn’t quite met that massive multiplayer aspect as well as players had hoped. Then there’s Communite, which appears to really focus on that working together aspect people want!
Communite by developer JimJum Studios is an adorable upcoming cozy multiplayer game. Players exist in a tile-based world where they must work together to build and restore. Described as a city-builder, this cute game requires kindness and cooperation between players in order to successfully build the world! Then, tap into your creativity as you build a flourishing world full of thriving plants and happy rescued animals. Craft oceans with hidden volcanos and fun community gardens. Unlock news tiles as you play, and open up a world of possibilities with different biomes!
Release Date
Communite is coming to Steam this year! And it will be free to play!
- Mar 7, 2024
Minami Lane, developed by Doot and Blibloop, is a wholesome little street management game set on a Japanese-inspired street. Build homes to attract new villagers and ensure their needs are met by providing food and entertainment options. Green spaces like parks and hot springs beautify the street, which makes everyone happy, too! Decorate each building by picking from a set of colors, and strategically place your buildings to create an inviting environment. Complete missions or engage in sandbox mode to get creative!
Gameplay
Minami Lane is one of those short, but sweet games that lives in your brain just waiting for you to pick it back up and play again. There’s not a lot to the game overall, and it’s about a 2-4 hour playtime type of game. However, it’s so pretty, so cute, and just perfect enough to keep your attention and drag you back for more. It’s easy to pick and learn. You can use only your mouse to accomplish things by clicking. There’s no complicated controls or convoluted mechanics.
The game is perfectly laid-back in concept and actuality. You can pause the day, let it run normally, or even speed it up if you prefer. Plus, you can check the missions for the level at any time. What I found really neat was being able to save each villager’s request for a change to the street, which helped me better accommodate them. For example, some villagers prefer more egg in their ramen, and some wanted more daisies at the florist. I could save each of those comments and come back to them after the day ended so I could update the inventories of each shop. No guesswork or having to make use of my trusty notebook!
The color palette really adds to the charm of Minami Lane, too. It’s soft and pastel so it’s easy on the eyes, but nothing is muddled looking. This extends to the color choices you can make for your buildings, too. Nothing too bright or flashy is available, though I would love to see a larger color palette option for buildings. You can even pick a color for the park, which changes the colors of the trees so you can go for a cheery springtime cherry blossom look, or fun fall cozy look. Throw in the soundtrack with its peppy, but pleasant sound and it’s a perfect mix of visual and aural.
Final Thoughts
I loved every moment of this game. The simplicity, the adorable graphics, the ease of use. All of it. Plus, you get to pet the cats that show up and they make that great little “brrrt” activation noise. Everything about Minami Lane is charming and wonderful, and I can’t recommend it enough!
You can find Minami Lane on Steam now!
- Mar 7, 2024
Tracks of Thought is a charming adventure RPG where you play as an adorable ladybug. Your usual commute has taken a strange turn when your train plunges into a mysterious tunnel. Everyone has forgotten the final destination. Where is everyone going and what happened? It’s up to you to investigate and find out!
There are dozens of passengers on the train with you that you can talk to. They can help you solve the mystery, but not everyone in Tracks of Thought is interested in talking! Use a card-based battle-of-wits system to resolve any conflicts and find common ground with them. You might need to be logical, sensitive, or charismatic depending on the person. Choose your cards (and words) wisely to get their help! Each encounter will reward you with new cards or pieces of information necessary to solve the mystery of the train, so get to know everyone and help them out as you make your way to the Control Room.
Release Date
Tracks of Thought is coming to Steam sometime this year!
If you want more train-based games, take a look at Overcrowd: A Commute ‘Em Up, or Unrailed 2!
- Mar 6, 2024
Little Witch Cat Kiki by developer TinyBoxGames is a perfectly casual and adorable decorating phone game. If you’re looking for a super simple, but interactive game, this one is perfect! You play as Kiki, a cute little witch cat. Catch a variety of fish on a boat, and gather mushrooms and grass from the forest. Fulfill villager requests using what you’ve caught and gathered to earn money for decorations and house upgrades. You’ll unlock more characters, places to visit, and items to buy as you progress. Decorate each room of your house with different wallpapers, flooring, furniture sets, and placeable characters you unlock and buy through playing to create some really cute rooms!
Release Date
You can find Little Witch Cat Kiki on the Google Play store now!
And take a look at the developers other game, Tiny Boutique!
- Mar 6, 2024
Embark on an exciting journey in Brocula by developer Destroyer Doggo where you play as Brocula, a vampire who has just woken from a 500-year slumber. This world is bizarre and unrecognizable to him, plus his wealth has been stripped from him. Even his ancestral castle has been ravaged by time and is in ruins. Not everything is so simple and mundane as surviving in this new society, though. Can you figure out the times, settle in, and thrive?
You’ll need to navigate the unfamiliar capitalistic society in Brocula in order to be successful. Take on a series of part-time jobs at the coffee shop, garage, and restaurant to earn a little pocket money. Not only will you need this money to repair your castle, but you’ll need to wrestle ownership of it from the local mayor. You can also earn money by starting a farm next to the castle and selling your crops. Catch a variety of fish which you can turn into a bunch of tasty meals, too. And when you’re not busy with the mundane tasks of everyday life, you need to revive your cult. Restore the forgotten church and start giving sermons in order to attract members again. Or, go explore the everchanging forest to fight enemies and collect treasures!
Release Date
Brocula is set to Release on Steam March 27th. It is also listed on Xbox, and the developer’s website lists PlayStation, so hopefully that will come soon too!
Check out Voltaire: the Vegan Vampire for more vampire fun!
- Feb 29, 2024
I got to experience the closed beta version of this game thanks to the developer and publisher!
If you missed the last time I talked about Time & Galaxy, then let me get you up to speed! This game is a vibrant, quirky visual novel where you play as the galaxy’s first robot reporter. You’ve just begun your internship at the renowned holopaper, Times & Galaxy, and you need to prove your worth. Take on different assignments and brush up on your journalism skills as you investigate the scene of a crash, interview contestants in a contest, or gather quotes from onlookers. Then, use the Build-a-Story tool to create your piece!
Gameplay
Times & Galaxy is a visual novel, so you just need WASD keys to move, and your mouse to click. Interact with your crewmates, as well as the people you want to interview using the mouse, and that’s it! It’s simple and easy to play, which is perfect for focusing on the engaging dialogue you’ll come across.
I was immediately captivated by this game. Every single character design is unique. Personalities are different from each other. Plus, you interact with over 100 different characters across the whole game. I experienced a limited closed beta version, so did not encounter all 100+ characters, but if you like visual novels, you need to! The characters I did get to interact with were fun to get to know. Some were grumpy, some upbeat, and every other flavor of personality you can think of. And all of the dialogue was interesting. Not a single conversation made me bored, so there’s clearly been a lot of thought and care put into this game. You can even flirt with people, or robots, or aliens! You, a robot, exhibiting flirting skills was possibly the highlight of interacting with folks, too.
I really enjoyed traveling to the different locations in Times & Galaxy, too. Each assignment let me see a small peak at the different planets in the galaxy. Not to mention, each assignment was super unique. One was a shuttle crash site where I examined the shuttle and interviewed people. Another was a cat show fluff piece where I got to visit with the cats and talk to their owners. I don’t think there’s a single thing in this game that I can call boring. It’s quirky, fun, humorous, and overall just great.
Visuals and Soundtrack
If you aren’t as charmed by the beautiful visuals as I am, then we need to talk. They are vibrant without being overwhelming and just fit the story and setting so perfectly. I couldn’t imagine playing this game without these lovely graphics. They’re clever and add so much life to what is ultimately a limited view of the galaxy. You spend most of your time on the ship or at specific places for your stories, often a single room or area. So, it’s important that the visuals (and dialogue) make an impact. And they do!
Pair everything with the great soundtrack and Times & Galaxy has really nailed what it was aiming for. The music fits each scene and situation perfectly. It doesn’t overwhelm, either. You’re not listening to the same track over and over again. Nor is anything obnoxious. Each track fits well where it is and sits perfectly in the background like it should.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t have Times & Galaxy on your Wishlist already, what are you waiting for? It’s so charming and funny. The characters and situations are fun. The visuals are gorgeous. The soundtrack is great. What more could you ask for from a game?
I give it:
You can find Times & Galaxy on Steam!
- Feb 29, 2024
The Gardener Simulation places you in a vibrant world full of nature. You are a gardener in charge of your very own plot of land. Manage your garden plot by designing and customizing the space. Arrange pathways and plant beds to fit your vision. Then, plant a variety of flowers, vegetables, fruits, and other plants. Each one has their own growth requirements, so be sure to plan accordingly!
You’ll experience realistic growth cycles as you tend your garden in The Gardener Simulation. Watch as each plant grows from a seed into a flourishing adult. Identify and address pests who threaten your garden, too. Your plants need to thrive so you can sell them. Earn money through sales, then use that money to buy more seeds and tools to continue cultivating your garden!
Release Date
The Garden Simulation is available now on Switch!
- Feb 29, 2024
Your farm in Peppermint Falls by JellyFrog Games is like no other farm you’ve encountered. You’ll grow blueberry muffins, harvest gummy bears from bushes, and nurture ice cream in the winter seasons. Raise farm animals like cows that produce strawberry milk and collect chocolate eggs from your chickens. The town is small, but cozy, and offers much more to do than just farming, too. Cook delicious meals, experiment with alchemy, go mining for resources, or even fish for some fun aquatic creatures. You can even battle monsters or work in the town’s cafe! Don’t forget to forge relationships with the townspeople, too. Learn their backgrounds and earn some great friendships, or even start a family with someone.
When you tire of the small town, set out on an adventure to explore the wide world of Peppermint Falls. Your house, which is made of pancakes, can walk, and will ferry you around the different biomes of the world! It’ll accompany you to the furthest corners of the world and patiently wait for you to complete your adventures. It’ll even sprout new rooms from time to time. While exploring, perhaps you can uncover what happened to the original inhabitants. The world used to be ordinary and not covered in confectionary creatures, after all.
Release Date
Peppermint Falls is coming to Steam sometime soon. Add it to your Wishlist now!
