Lynne Newey

“Cozy Caravan is very cosy. Chatting with Bubba made me laugh, and it was just adorable when he patted the log next to the fire in the evening routine, so we could sit and eat together. There are some idiosyncrasies in the gameplay which need a little more work, and this is disappointing after being in early release for so long. However, I enjoyed playing Cozy Caravan too much to give it anything less than our top rating”

“Super Chipflake Ü: Quest for the Uncooked Schnitzel is a great open-world fetch quest and collectathon bonanza, with lots of varied tasks and humorous conversations to keep you occupied and amused. However, there are a few frustrations in the gameplay, which take away some of the enjoyment.”

“Oppidum has taken me on a roller-coaster of an adventure; from the initial “Wow, this looks great!”, through the “I’ve got no storage” frustration, and the “I’m dead again” disappointment, right down to the “That’s a ridiculous amount, I quit!” But I didn’t quit, despite the ups and downs, Oppidum intrigues me. I want to know how the story pans out. Will I be able to save the Bennies? So by re-focusing on the main story, and getting into a routine using the teleport scrolls to keep my backpack free of clutter, I am really enjoying my time in Oppidum.”

“A Game About Digging A Hole™ doesn’t disappoint in terms of gameplay. It is literally a game about digging a hole. There is something quite enjoyable about digging, gathering ores, selling and then upgrading the tools. The ending is somewhat different to what I imagined, but has its own humour. It can be a little frustrating when the shovel refuses to dig, or you get stuck on a few pixels of soil, but overall, A Game About Digging A Hole™ provides good entertainment.”

“ILA: A Frosty Glide has some excellent gameplay – I thoroughly enjoyed exploring and collecting. There is a lot to savour and take pleasure in when roaming around, uncovering the secrets and customising Ila’s appearance. If rating the game solely on that aspect, it would score highly. However, I found some of the platforming too frustrating and too difficult to look fondly on my time with ILA: A Frosty Glide. The extreme highs and lows of emotion in trying and just not succeeding left me disheartened. If you like challenging platforming and lots of exploring, then this game might be for you, but for me…”

“Whilst Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club is not going to tax the little grey cells too much, there is enough in the game to be challenging and enjoyable for the casual sleuth. Snoopy’s comments are as witty and amusing as the comic strip, and watching his little ears flap as he runs just made me smile.”

“The voice acting and artwork in Asfalia: The Cranky Volcano are wonderful, and although short, there are some clever touches. Unfortunately, I found the cursor movement a bit too distracting to fully immerse myself in the whimsical world.”

“Meow Moments: Celebrating Beats & Books is a delight to play. The colouring in of found objects makes it more interesting, and with the soft tunes and great hint system, it’s less stressful than other hidden object games. If you enjoy finding objects, then Meow Moments: Celebrating Beats & Books is a worthwhile investment.”

“With bright cartoon style graphics, Kimono Cats is a joy to play. The gameplay isn’t complicated, and with the limit on the darts, it’s ideal for short gaming sessions.”

“Morgan: Metal Detective has an interesting mystery to solve via finding buried objects. It’s a short adventure, but I didn’t dig it as much as I hoped.”

“Ritual of Raven is a quest fest and a collecting paradise. The story bobs along like the cheeky raven, moving from one place to another, all guided, but with no time pressure. Creating enchantments to control the adorable pot-like Arcana Constructs is definitely a highlight, and although I have a couple of niggles with the game, overall, it’s cast its spell and I’m totally bewitched by it.”

“I adore the art style of Hungry Meem, it’s vibrant, and whimsical. The concept of the game is great, and there is clearly a lot of passion in how the game has been developed. The bombardment of instructions gets less as you progress through the game, making Hungry Meem flow better and more pleasant to play.”

“The graphics in Upin & Ipin Universe are beautiful and give a real flavour of a Southeast Asian tropical village. Riding the tandem round the village was a definite highlight. Unfortunately, the uncontrollable camera and timed mini-games made playing Upin & Ipin Universe a frustrating and stressful experience. For a game based on a children’s animated TV series, it didn’t portray the childhood fun I was hoping for.”

“Secret Paws – Cozy Offices is a delightful addition to the hidden cats genre. Cuboid cats and dioramas that rotate add a different twist!”

“There is no doubt that Cottonville is exceptionally cute and wholesome. Creating clothes and trying to meet customer requirements was a delight, but the tedious nature of the gardening aspect took away some of that shine.”

“Boxville 2 is a delight from start to finish. The hand-drawn graphics are beautiful, and although a couple of the puzzles are frustrating, most give that satisfactory ‘yes’ when solved. Curious, but not sure? Check out the demo for Boxville 2 in the eShop.”

“There are lots of positives to Anvil Saga, and with the different fractions and choices within the game, there is plenty of replay value. There has obviously been a lot of thought and dedication put into the game, but with some confusing references and dark graphics, it didn’t quite craft a cast iron impression on me.”

“There’s a lot of fun to be had in Wobbly Life! Some of the jobs are more challenging and trickier than others, but with no pressure to complete them all, there’s something for everyone, at all ages. It’s silly, it’s funny, and although at times really frustrating, there is something addictive about Wobbly Life.”

“There are some nice touches in Ashwood Valley: unlimited pockets are always welcome, and your little character happily runs around the valley, making exploring quick. However, the controls are unresponsive and slow to trigger, making the farming and animal management a tedious process. The main objective is too easy to complete, and then there is little to keep you truly engaged.”

“Cattle Country is a rootin’-tootin’ addition to the farming/life sim genre. There are a few issues which need taming, especially around the loading times on the Nintendo Switch. However, there is so much to do in Cattle Country! Engaging festivals and mini-games, intriguing character stories and one of the best mining experiences I’ve encountered. Cattle Country will be riding into my top games for this year!”