What's New in Gamezebo
Chocolatier Review
The only thing better than eating chocolate is building an international chocolate empire.
You can taste this sweet success if you spend some time with PlayFirst's Chocolatier, a tasty little business simulation that challenges players to travel the world to acquire recipes and ingredients and produce fine chocolate for profit. Godiva, eat your heart out.
Defender of the Crown Review
Few games have enjoyed as many shots at stardom as Defender of the Crown. Back in 1986, it was a showpiece for the Commodore Amiga computer, next a PC, PlayStation 2 and Xbox game (starring legendary knave Robin Hood, no less) from Capcom circa 2003. Now, the catchy fantasy-themed title - in which you play a dashing knight who enjoys several action-packed adventures - is getting yet another lease on life, having just been released as a casual game by Cinemaware.
Darwin the Monkey Review
Stealing bananas from a monkey is like taking candy from a baby. It may be easy to do (if the monkey's not looking), but that doesn't make it right. I mean, really. What else do primates have to enjoy in life beyond their tasty yellow fruit? Not much. And, that's true of Darwin.
Private Eye: Unsolved Greatest Mysteries Review
Not content with having players search their computer screens for well-hidden objects in Paparazzi, Gogii Games is at it again with Private Eye: Unsolved Greatest Mysteries, the latest "hidden object" casual game, but with a P.I. spin.
What's New & Hot!
Every week, Gamezebo scours the web searching for the latest and greatest games across the world's leading casual sites so you don't have to.
Steals & Deals
Paparazzi is 50% off at RealArcade until May 2. Glorm is 50% off at Big Fish Games. Once again, everything is 50% off at iWin.
Know of a good deal on casual games? Contact us here.
Runes of Avalon Review
Avalon, Merlin and Morganna le Fay. Familiar references if you're up on Arthurian legend. It's a tale of magic, beauty and evil that spans the centuries. And, in Runes of Avalon, it's woven into a puzzler with a match-three mechanic as intriguing as the story itself.
Chocolatier Preview
Calling all chocolate lovers and capitalists! If you've ever fantasized about what it would be like to run your own chocolate empire, look no further than Playfirst's upcoming game Chocolatier.
15 Minutes of Game: Featured Web Game of the Week
"Jeu Chiant" stands for "Irritating Game" in French, which suggests that while some companies in France may be good in designing great games, but they may not be so good at naming them.
Your objective is to not let any of the 2 balls fall for as long as possible. Sounds simple but its extremely challenging and addictive. Hint: If you do not want to play in French ("Jouer" means "play" in French, by the way), you should first click on the Union Jack flag in the lower left hand side to switch to English.
Puzzle Detective Review
After playing the latest "3-in-a-row" puzzle game, Puzzle Detective -- which also adds a fun story, memorable characters and many famous cities from around the world - it's hard to go back to static and lifeless gem-swappers.
Intrigued? While not a perfect game, you should be. So here's the scoop.
Interview with Stanley Adrianus, Gamenauts
Most game studios start small and gradually work their way up, but California-based Gamenauts isn't one of them. After debuting with the critically-acclaimed Spacebound, the company scored a #1 hit with just their second title, Burger Rush. With only two games under their belts, the folks at Gamenauts have hit the ground running. We spoke with Gamenaut Stanley Adrianus, the company's founder, to learn more about what makes these game-makers tick.
Elven Mists Review
If you think fairies and other supernatural critters have it easy, it's obvious you haven't played Intenium's latest brain-boggling puzzler Elven MIsts, wherein the inhabitants of Elvenland lie trapped in magical slumber. The trick to freeing them: Using your noggin to create linked pathways between magical nodes that overlap with the enchanted buds in which these poor sprites are imprisoned.
Recyclorama Review
Who knew recycling could be so much fun? You know, all that sorting of bottles, cans, paper and plastic.
Well, believe it or not, but the recycling craze that's sweeping much of the country has even caught on in the computer game world - and it's a unique game that doesn't "recycle" ideas found in the other casual games you download these days.
The Game That Changed The World
There are these magic moments in life when a work of art seems as if it's sent to you by the gods. It hits you in just the right way at just the right time, and usually when you need it the most - Walt Whitman's Song of Myself, Bob Dylan's Blood on the Tracks, Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye - and it's cathartic, it's life-altering. After you see them or hear them or read them, you look at things differently. You change. It happens most often to me with music or books, but in games it's rare. Yet it did happen. Twice.
Clayside Review
When Bejeweled appeared, players were content with swapping gems and trying to beat their personal best. Since then, developers hoping to repeat the success of Popcap's classic have thrown in more twists and turns than a bag of pretzels. Developer Enkord is no stranger to this drill, having released their third match-three game, Clayside. Although similar to their previous efforts, Zodiac Tower and Jurassic Realm, Enkord's latest does have a few variations all its own.
What's New & Hot!
Every week, Gamezebo scours the web searching for the latest and greatest games across the world's leading casual sites so you don't have to.
Snapshot Adventures: Secret of Bird Island Review
Let me get this out of the way: I consider myself at times a pretty "hard-core" video gamer. I mean, I'm not adverse to hacking and slashing Orcs in fantasy role-playing games, such as World of Warcraft. I can shoot down enemy aliens in Halo 2 and drop nukes on unsuspecting enemies in Supreme Commander. I'm tough, and I'm proud of it. So when my trusty Gamezebo editor asked me to review a "bird watching" game, you can imagine my initial reaction...
OK, so call me what you will, but after playing Snapshot Adventures: Secret of Bird Island, I'm not only sold on the concept, but completely hooked.
Fairy Ex Machina: How Pogo got a godmother on their side
It's a common theme in literature for characters to be saved when all hope seems lost by a mysterious, magical force ... and that was exactly the sort of divine intervention that Todd Kerpelman's team at Pogo were seeking as they tried to come up with the nigh impossible ... a tycoon game no one had thought of.
15 Minutes of Game - Featured Web Game of the Week
The rabbits of Eastwarren are in trouble, and their survival is in your hands! So sayeth Shockwave in their popular free Web game Dodge that Anvil, where you'll be collecting carrots. . . and dodging anvils (they were going to call it "Collect the Carrots" but it did not have the same zing to it).
This is a really fun web game but just to warn you, the loading time is longggg and you'll have to view a commercial (a Wii commercial so it was pretty cool actually). Click here to play Dodge that Anvil.
Agatha Christie Death on the Nile Review
Agatha Christie's classic murder-mystery novel Death on the Nile adapts itself to the hidden object game format perfectly, which is good news for all of the amateur sleuths out there.
Interview with SomaTone Interactive Audio
You might not have heard of SomaTone's Kane Minkus or Nick Thomas, but chances are you've listened to their work. From Mystery Case Files to Diner Dash, the California-based duo, SomaTone has crafted music, audio effects and voiceovers for dozens of casual games. Join us as we sit down with Minkus to dig into what makes the company tick and find out what they have in store for you, in the future.
Big City Adventure: San Francisco Review
Renowned for its foggy summers, steep hills, eclectic architecture and famous landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island and cable cars, San Francisco is now the site of thousands of cleverly hidden objects in Big City Adventure: San Francisco. That's right. If you're a fan of the hard-to-find, you're in for a delightful time in the city on the bay.
Koi Solitaire Review
If you're bored to tears with Windows Solitaire, but still want to click through virtual decks of cards, consider downloading Koi Solitaire, the latest casual game download from Puzzle Labs.
Instead of playing another flat and lifeless game of Klondike, this new digital diversion offers a new spin on solitaire games - including the added pressure of time - along with a fun story and cute characters.
What's New & Hot!
Every week, Gamezebo scours the web searching for the latest and greatest games across the world's leading casual sites so you don't have to.
Under the Radar
Some of the juiciest stories in casual games are the very ones that are remain under the radar. . . until now.
Join me, my fellow Gamezebos, as we expose the biggest stories in casual games that are not being reported on.
Agatha Christie Death on the Nile Preview
One of Agatha Christie's most beloved mysteries will soon be an interactive adventure thanks to Oberon's Agatha Christie Death on the Nile, a new casual game that combines the thrill of a murder mystery with the challenge of a "hidden object" game.
Super Jigsaw Beach Holiday Review
Putting together a jigsaw puzzle is a pleasant, relaxing way to pass a lazy afternoon. Until you're kicked off of the dining room table because it's time for dinner, the pieces you been painstakingly put together over the past three hours fall apart as you try to move them, and the dog hoovers up the pieces that have fallen on the floor, meaning that no matter how far you get in the puzzle you'll be left with nagging holes. If this scene sound familiar, then you owe it to yourself to give Super Jigsaw Beach Holiday a try.
15 Minutes of Games: Featured Web Game of the Week
Anyone who is a frequent visitor to Gamezebo knows, add a monkey to your Web game and I'll feature it. This week's featured Web game is Bloons: Try to pop as many balloon as possible in Ninja Kiwi's latest Web game (with over 50 levels!).
The Pirates Tale Review
If you don't know the difference between Deckhand Dewey and Planky the Parrot, or Captain Caninbahl and Ruby Barnacle, then you most definitely haven't played through The Pirate Tales, the latest "3-in-a-row" game with a swashbuckling twist.
Out of Your Mind Review
Feel like your medulla oblongata's in need of an overhaul? Is your grey matter about to splatter? If that's true, you may need a good mental flossing to clear your brain of its accumulated gunk. Yes, you read that right -- a mental flossing!
That's the premise of gamelab's Out of Your Mind, a frenetic action puzzler that takes a "dental approach" to restoring mental harmony. It's a wacky and addictive lampoon at spa culture, and a game that's sure to engage your mind.
Grimm's Hatchery Review
If there's one thing you can say about Grimm's Hatchery - it's by no means another "me too" clone, such as a 3-in-a-row puzzle knock-off or waitressing micromanagement game.
Instead, Amaranth Games' Grimm's Hatchery is a magical pet simulation set in the same role-playing game (RPG) universe as its popular Aveyond.
The Rise of Atlantis Review
Few tales are as legendary as those surrounding the fabled sunken city of Atlantis and very real seven wonders of the ancient world. Interestingly, in addictive tile-swapping puzzler The Rise of Atlantis, you'll get to explore all, as you attempt to raise the undersea metropolis from its watery tomb.
Steals & Deals
Diamond Detective is 50% off over at at Real Arcade until April 4 (which is . . . tomorrow).
Atlantis Quest is 50% off at Big Fish Games. And, everything remains 50% off at iWin.
Mariposa Review
Lepidopterists, rejoice - thanks to pattern-matching puzzler Mariposa the pleasures of capturing, collecting and studying butterflies can be enjoyed by everyone, not just those categorized under goofy scientific names.
The only problem we have after playing the game? Opinions are going to be split between folks who find the title pleasingly innocuous, and those who personally view the outing to be as bland and off-putting as the real-world activity on which it's based.
Magic Academy Review
What's the difference between Mysteryville and Magic Academy? Honestly, not a lot. Both hidden-object games were developed by NevoSoft (though, Positive Games assisted with the latter). And, both bear a striking resemblance to each other in design and play. In many ways, Magic Academy is the same game dressed in a new set of clothes.
But, that's okay. While similarities exist, a fresh story and entertaining mix of puzzles make Magic Academy a worthy investment. In fact, it's a smidge better than its precursor.
Secret of the Sea Review
A sunken shipwreck, a mysterious diary, an ancient artifact seemingly lost beneath the ocean's swirling waves... All this and more you'll discover in Secrets of the Sea, an innovative puzzler which delivers a knockout one-two punch combination with its killer presentation and engaging play. Starting off with a bang - note the high-quality voice-overs, storybook intro, colorful animated backgrounds across which water ripples and fish swirl - and building to a catchy climax, it's a surprisingly great fit for any gamer.