What's New in Gamezebo
The Amazing Brain Train Preview
Power up your intellect and embark on an epic quest aboard The Amazing Brain Train,
a new game that will be launching very soon from Grubby Games. Fueled
by your mental energy, Professor Fizzwizzle's Brain Train will take you
on a brain-boosting adventure.
Color Up! Wedding Scrapbook Review
Fiona's budding photography career gets a big break when she's asked to photograph her best friend Gwen's wedding. But after a mystery culprit breaks into Fiona's studio and trashes her work, Fiona must put together a replacement wedding scrapbook by recreating the photographs through paint-by-numbers puzzle challenges. It's all part of Color Up! Wedding Scrapbook, a relaxing game designed to bring out your inner artist.
15 Minutes of Game: Doeo
Our featured web game of the week is Doeo, a fun little game where the goal is to click on as many "doeos" - little square pink creatures - as you can, as they pop up all over the scenery in various clever and entertaining ways. Click here to give Doeo a try.
Pastry Passion Preview
Pastry Passion - the new game from GameHouse and RealArcade - will be launching mid-May and we got our hands on some screenshots to whet your appetite (literally). In this culinary match-three featuring 60 levels and 2 game modes, the goal is to make high quality pastries by matching the required ingredients to help fun-loving baker Henri prepare for a big wedding. You'll also buy helpful tools and pass Henri's exams to become Master Pastry Chef.
Nancy Drew: The Haunted Carousel Review
Nancy Drew: The Haunted Carousel is the eighth game in the long-running Nancy Drew series by Her Interactive, and the latest one to be offered as a download through casual game portals. This first person mystery adventure game brings back the popular teenage sleuth as she attempts to unravel the odd happenings in an eerie amusement park. Her friends, the Hardy Boys, make an appearance in the game also.
Zen Fashion Review
On paper, Zen Fashion works marvels, combining two favorite passions - inner peace and haute couture - into an intriguing match-three puzzler that sends you trotting about China, Japan, Korea and the bulk of the Asian continent. Unfortunately, a snappy Far Eastern aesthetic and soothing soundtrack, not to mention somewhat novel play conceit (donning new duds to mix and match powers), can't save the title from an inconvenient truth. Specifically, that the melding of these twin concepts suffers due to inconsistent level design, too-leisurely pacing and a handful of issues that'll have even the most patient player ready to kick the creators right in their dharma.
Supermarket Mania Review
Apparently, each year the average American consumes 4 pounds of potato chips, 30 pounds of cheese, 56 gallons of soda pop, 75 pounds of sugar, and 221 pounds of meat. Yikes! Anyone getting indigestion? Around 2.4 million people are employed the grocery stores that provide this food, and supermarket cashiers earn a about $7.90 per hour on average. It might not be the best paying career on the planet, but hey, it's a living.
Friday Casual Games Weekly News Roundup
Kat Games Lead Game Designer Miguel Tartaj talks about the making of Dream Chronicles; Oberon's Sr. VP of publishing, Don Ryan discusses Oberon's rebranding of its publishing division and recent acquisition of mobile brand I-play; and funding for virtual worlds continues to flood in. These headlines and more in Friday's casual games weekly news roundup.
The Clumsy's Preview
Tim and his mischievous friends got themselves into quite a pickle when they discovered Grandpas latest invention at his birthday party: The Time Machine. In the upcoming hidden object / adventure game from Gogii Games (of Nanny Mania, Escape the Museum and The Hidden Object Show fame) entitled The Clumsy's, help Grandpa track down 20 kids who have been lost in time and clean up any traces they left behind. Who knows what kind of chain reaction a toy car could cause in the year 200BC?
Just In - Zen Fashion
Zen Fashion has launched on Big Fish Games. The match-3 puzzler lets you step into the shoes of a young Japanese fashion designer who must journey to the fashion capitals of Asia to learn the Zen Fashion secrets of her ancestors. Click here to play Zen Fashion, and stay tuned for our review. Click here to discuss Zen Fashion in our Forum.
Posh Boutique Review
Time management titles are a tricky beast. When done right, the results can be spectacular (see Miss Management). But when done wrong, they can also be bland (cough, Travel Agency, cough) or outright disastrous (take your pick of any of the 200 others released last year whose names we've already forgotten). Thankfully, Posh Boutique, latest in a long run of fashion-themed outings, delivers the goods gameplay-wise and then some, though it's clearly keyed towards female players and a mite too heavy on the chintz.
Caribbean Pirate Quest Review
Ahoy there, casual gamer! If ye enjoy the 'ol match-3 puzzlers you'll want to set sail with Caribbean Pirate Quest, a clever downloadable game that weaves in a treasure hunting component to the core gameplay. Argghhh!
Gig of the Week: Rebel Monkey (enough said)!
Rebel Monkey is the next big thing in casual games. Why? One, it's a company founded by Margaret Wallace and Nick Fortugno, whose past hit games include Qbeez and Diner Dash. Two, they have raised tons of money. Three, they have the coolest name for a new games company.
The good news for all of you who love casual games but hate your current job or are just unemployed, Rebel Monkey is hiring. Click here to see all their job openings.
15 Minutes of Game: BLockoban
Our featured web game of the week is BLockoban, a puzzle game inspired by Sokoban and Cubeoban. You have to move colored blocks to corresponding targets of the same color by sliding them with the mouse. You can also design your own levels using the game's built-in level editor - the very best will be added to the game for others to play! Click here to try BLockoban.
Dairy Dash Review
Given the success of Diner Dash, it's not surprising that PlayFirst has developed numerous spin-offs that transplant the game's classic time management gameplay into new settings. Hot on the heels of Doggie Dash and Wedding Dash (and we do mean hot since Doggie Dash was released a mere two months ago) comes Dairy Dash, a game that explores the challenges of farm life.
Mystery Cookbook Review
It's not because I just returned from visiting Pixar Animation Studios that I find similarities in the story between the animated flick, Ratatouille, and Alawar's new hidden object game, Mystery Cookbook. After all, both follow a mouse/rat who wants to be a skilled chef. Um, sound familiar? While we won't dock points for story unoriginality, we must in the gameplay department, and for other issues, which we'll soon get to.
Eye for Design Preview
Sandlot Games sent us some screenshots for Eye for Design, an upcoming puzzle game set in the fun and creative world of interior design. The game should be launching in late April/early May.
Travel Agency Review
Face it: If there's one genre of casual game competing with hidden object outings for the title of "most overdone" lately, it's the time management category. And at first blush, Travel Agency certainly seems to make the same mistakes as so many forgettable mouse-mashers which have come before. But look beyond the throwaway storyline, general lack of personality and slow opening, and you might be surprised. For a largely forgettable endeavor, it's still a well-executed take on the standard "click here, run there, rinse and repeat" formula that delivers decent thrills, once the excitement really gets up and running.
Hidden Mysteries - Civil War Review
The civil war between the Union and Confederate armies was a bloody and turbulent chapter of American history, and one that Gunnar Games and GameMill attempt to capture in the seek-and-find adventure Hidden Mysteries - Civil War. While a narrative chock full of historical details should be enough to intrigue those with an interest in the time period, the gameplay itself largely fails to hold up its end of the equation, resulting in an uneven effort that doesn't quite live up to its obvious potential.
Remedy Review
Remedy is the first game in the Carol Reed mystery series developed by MDNA Games, and although it has been out for quite some time, it's only recently been released by several of the larger game portals. While graphically Remedy isn't as good as later games in the series, such as East Side Story, it still measures up in the gameplay and story departments.
Just In - Dairy Dash
PlayFirst is "milking" the Dash series for all its worth - the latest game in the series, Dairy Dash, launched on PlayFirst's site moments ago. Click here to try your hand at managing the family farm and see if you're as good at feeding pigs and growing corn as you are waiting tables. Click here to discuss Dairy Dash in our forums.
Speaking of PlayFirst, the company recently celebrated its fourth birthday! Click here to read some birthday thoughts from CEO John Welch.
Just In - Travel Agency
First, fashion was the "new black." For a while, every game we saw was about buying clothes, making clothes, even buying and making clothes. Then, we saw a whole slew of new games about cooking. After the release of Airport Mania last week and Travel Agency this week, could travel be the next big theme in casual games?
iWin just released Travel Agency, a new time management game. Our review is coming soon, but in the meantime, you can click here to download a free trial of Travel Agency. Click here to discuss Travel Agency in our forums.
The Game of Life - Path to Success Review
Created in 1860 by Milton Bradley as The Checkered Game of Life, the modern board game has its roots in the 1960 version renamed The Game of Life. Many re-publishings have resulted in changes such as salary increases, a switch from convertibles to mini-vans and the replacement of the Travel Agent with a Computer Consultant, but gameplay remains basically unchanged. That's not true, however, with The Game of Life - Path to Success.
The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes Preview
If you're in the mood for a mystery to really sink your teeth into, look no further than The Lost Cases of Sherlock Holmes. In fact, this upcoming puzzle adventure / hidden object game boasts not just one, but 16 original cases to solve, all of which are crafted in the style of the beloved Sherlock Holmes mysteries.
Cooking Quest Review
Foodville is holding its annual Restaurant Row Chef's Challenge and you've earned a spot in the prestigious contest. With a limited budget and a ticking clock, Cooking Quest is all about seeing whether you have what it takes to assemble the best ingredients and hustle in the kitchen to prepare five-star dishes that will impress the judges.
Just In - The Game of Life and Posh Boutique
RealArcade has launched a stylish looking fashion-themed time management game called Posh Boutique as well as The Game of Life, based on the classic board game! Click here to download Posh Boutique and click here to try your luck at The Game of Life. Stay tuned for our reviews and strategy guides.
How Westward II tamed the 3D frontier
The West wasn't conquered with one wagon train. It took group after group braving the wilderness for years before the land was tamed. In much the same way, the team behind Westward realized they had plenty of reasons to return to their first game's subject matter for a follow-up, the recently released Westward II: Heroes of the Frontier.
Enigma Review
Art theft and intrigue? Munch's "The Scream" and Picasso's "Maya with Doll" are just two paintings which have been stolen in real life, and within just the past four years! Often, the thieves seek to exchange these pilfered paintings for a hefty ransom, and since these masterpieces may be worth millions the risks and pay-offs are high.
Ice Princess Review
A lot of casual games masquerade as puzzle offerings. But let's be honest: matching gems and finding objects doesn't tease our brains. Ice Princess from SoWhat! Software Studios does, though. A puzzle game through and through, it'll have you scratching a bald spot into that beautiful mane of hare you brush each morning.
15 Minutes of Game: Floaty Light
Floaty Light is a game where you must guide a bubble to its destination by using mouse clicks to gently "blow" on it, while navigating through increasingly intricate levels with spikey walls and obstacles. Click here to play Floaty Light, our featured web game of the week.
Airport Mania: First Flight Review
I could never do an air traffic controller's job - imagine the stress of having to schedule the flight paths of hundreds of giant flying pieces of metal so that they don't crash into each other, run out of fuel, or get behind schedule. South Winds Games and Reflexive figured out the fact that all this coordinating and juggling could make a decent time management game, and as it turns out, they were right.
Alice's Magical Mahjong Review
On the surface, the concept of combining the ancient Chinese tile-matching pastime of mahjong with British author Lewis Carroll's classic fantasy story Alice's Adventures in Wonderland seems as far-fetched as... well, a white rabbit in a waistcoat carrying a pocket watch. But thanks to outstanding production values, solid mahjong gameplay, and well-executed hidden object rounds that don't manage to feel tacked on, Alice's Magical Mahjong is a thoroughly charming outing.
Steals & Deals
- Anawiki Games - 25% off all games [use coupon code GET25].
- Harmonic Flow - 20% off Westward II, Yahtzee Texas Hold 'Em, Burger Shop and Pat Sajak's Lucky Letters: TV Guide Edition [use coupon code HARMONIC20]. 25% off Dancing with the Stars with coupon code HARMONIC 25.
- PopCap - 50% off Astro Pop, Heavy Weapon, Mystery Solitaire: Secret Island, Rocket Mania!, Talismania and Venice. 75% off Iggle Pop.
Gamezebo Beta: New Hidden Object Adventure Game
We have a new game to test coming soon to our beta program, and by popular demand, it's a hidden object adventure game.
If you are already signed up for our beta test program, sit back, relax, and wait for our email. If you are not yet signed up and interested in testing the latest and greatest casual games before they are released and providing developers with valuable feedback, click here to sign up.
Just In: Mystery Cookbook and Enigma
Two new hidden object games were just released: Alawar Games just released Mystery Cookbook and iWin has released Enigma.
We're working on reviews and strategy guides for both. In the meantime, click here to download a free trial of Mystery Cookbook and here to download a free trial of Enigma.
Gamezebo nominated for 2008 Webby Award
Gamezebo is thrilled to announce that we've been chosen as one of five finalists for a Webby Award in the category of best games-related website, an accomplishment that reflects the strength of the casual game community we've built over the past year.
Jumpin' Jack Review
Jumpin' Jack has absolutely nothing to do with calisthenics. Not
that we all couldn't use the exercise. Rather, it's a story about
Timbergrotes, plump and greedy creatures that live in hollowed out tree
trunks. It's also a game of side-scrolling, platform-jumping action in
which you direct the game's namesake on his quest. And, just what is
that? Glad you asked.
Youda Camper Review
As professional critics, we thought we'd seen it all: Outings that ship half-finished in broken English, titles featuring the unlikeliest concepts, a flood of carbon-copy hidden object challenges... Then along comes Youda Camper to raise a few eyebrows. While the concept of accessible, real-time simulations unto itself no longer remains shocking, as proven by the success of offerings like Build-a-lot 2, it's the bizarre execution here that's really got us scratching our noggins. You see, this is the first game billed as a casual offering that, in many ways, well... isn't.
Friday Casual Games Weekly News Roundup
Rebel Monkey's Nick Fortugno discusses the rise of the casual MMO (multi-player online game) at the Indie MMO Developers Conference. Publisher THQ talks about its stake in casual games, and a game called The Last Canopy wins the 5th Casual Gameplay Design Competition from Jayisgames. These headlines and more in our weekly casual games news roundup.
Zen Fashion Preview
Boomzap is set to follow up Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles with Zen Fashion, a match-three adventure that lets players explore the fashion and cultures of the Orient.
Beetle Bug 3 Review
One thing we love about most casual games produced in Western Europe: The quality of their production values, which in the present case serve to only further underscore smart level design and sharp handling. One thing we also hate about these selfsame titles though, as duly exemplified in Beetle Bug 3: Their frequent naivete when it comes to more tender North American sensibilities. Assuming you don't mind a few cultural hiccups, however, there's honestly little else to keep us from recommending the title, which shines as one of the more intriguing action-puzzle hybrids in recent memory.
Flower Stand Tycoon Review
One doesn't generally think of flower stands and business tycoons in the same breath. When I think of mobile florists, I generally picture barefoot peace-loving hippies standing on the corner selling bouquets. This isn't that type of flower stand - oh, no. It's a chic urban floral business with some hefty profits to be made. That's not a surprise after all, since the game is called Flower Stand Tycoon and not Flower Stand Subsistence Farm.
Polar Pool Review
In the Paul Newman film, The Hustler, Minnesota Fats asks Fast Eddie Felson, "Do you like to gamble, Eddie? Gamble on pool games?" Thankfully, you won't have to gamble on Polar Pool, the new pool offering from Wild Games, because you can play the demo, and within a few minutes, know whether or not it's going to work for you.
Build-a-lot 2: Town of the Year Review
I admit, I was worried that a sequel to Build-a-lot could not recapture the ambience of the original game, which I truly love. However, developer HipSoft managed to keep all that was good about the first game and add some fantastic new features that only increase the overall enjoyment. Build-a-lot 2: Town of the Year really delivers the goods. (Or is that materials? Ha! A little Build-a-lot humor there...)
The Hidden Object Show Review
Never in the history of game shows have you had to work so hard to earn that blender or barbecue than in The Hidden Object Show. With 30 hidden object scenes and more than 100 rounds peppered with 10 different random mini-games, reaching the final prize is a test of endurance that is guaranteed - at the very least - to leave you feeling that you've gotten your money's worth.
15 Minutes of Game: Transmogrify
If you're a fan of word games you'll want to check out our featured web game of the week, Transmogrify. You'll get ten rounds to make words out of the tiles given. If you can resuse the same tile over again, or create a word using the special bonus tiles, you'll get a higher score. Click here to play Transmogrify.
Cooking Academy Review
When the first man dragged himself out of the primordial soup and heard his stomach growl, the age old question was born. "What's for dinner?" Well, he might have been satisfied with roots and berries, but these days most of us have slightly more refined tastes (and slightly bigger waistlines). And that, my friends, is why a good cook will never go unappreciated!
Mystery P.I. - The Vegas Heist Review
When hidden object game developers tackle a sequel, they attempt torecreate the experience of the original while adding new twists. Notmuch thought goes into creating scenes and sprinkling objects around,so with hidden object games the hard part comes in spinning anintriguing story and features that keep players hunting. Unfortunately,Mystery P.I. - The Vegas Heist does the opposite of what most would expect in a sequel to Mystery P.I.: The Lottery Winner.
Just In - The Hidden Object Show
The Hidden Object Show has just launched over at iWin. Click here to download it, and stay tuned for our review and strategy guide.
Flower Stand Tycoon video
A new strategy game is coming to Yahoo! Games on April 7. Click here to watch a sneak peek video trailer for Flower Stand Tycoon.
I.Q.: Identity Quest Review
Everyone likes to fancy themselves a closet intellectual; intriguing new puzzler IQ: Identity Quest gives you the chance to prove it once and for all. A globetrotting brainteaser that dares you to "master the power of the human mind" according to its creators, the outing - offering a middling presentation, aimed at a younger audience and more idle amusement that must-play - won't set the casual gaming world on fire. However, it's a largely stress-free and more than adequate way to unwind in front of your PC after a long and tiring day, especially if you're looking for a low-maintenance way to keep the creative juices flowing.
Just In - Cooking Academy
Fugazo's new game Cooking Academy, which we previewed here, has just launched. Click here to download Cooking Academy, and stay tuned for our review.
Friday Casual Games Weekly News Roundup
Game publisher THQ expands its casual portfolio by purchasing Elephant Entertainment and signing an exclusive retail publishing agreement with Oberon Media; AOL launches an online games channel; and Paramount becomes the second movie studio (behind Warner Bros.) to move into the game publishing business. These headlines and more in this edition of our casual news roundup.
Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles Review
Let's get something straight right off the bat: Gamezebo doesn't give out high scores - such as 4 stars - just because a game offers a collection of puzzle types under one roof. In other words, more isn't necessarily better. But in Hoyle Enchanted Puzzles, while the puzzle themes will be immediately familiar to casual games, the developer added enough of a new twist to most of these digital diversions to keep us glued to the PC for hours, forever trying to unlock additional stages.
First $#&*ing Look - Hell's Kitchen
If you thought Diner Dash was stressful, try spending some time in Hell's Kitchen - the domain of world-renowned (and notoriously foul-mouthed) chef Gordon Ramsay. The upcoming game from Ludia is a recreation of Gordon's popular Hell's Kitchen reality TV cooking show, where you'll be the newest recruit in a culinary boot camp as he tries to mold a ragtag group of recruits into five-star chefs.
Steals & Deals
Westward II - get your free maps!
Sandlot Games has released the first set of free levels for its frontier-themed strategy game Westward II. If you've already bought the game, click here to download Lone Star Loop and Ponderosa Prairie. Once installed, the two new territories will be added to the game's Sandbox feature for you to play around in.
Gamezebo Breaking News - April 1 Edition
We usually wait until Friday to post our weekly news roundup, but a couple of readers have tipped us off to some juicy tidbits that we just couldn't wait to share. Click READ MORE for the special April 1 edition of Gamezebo News.
First Look - The Hidden Object Show
Ever dreamed of becoming a millionaire? From the makers of Escape the Museum comes The Hidden Object Show, a quirky game show where you'll be presented with a series of seek-and-find challenges to win your millions. The game has 30 unique scenes and 11 different modes (including 3 strikes, timer battles, picture pieces and find-and-replace) for more than 330 rounds and up to 15 hours of gameplay, according to the developer. But be warned - this is no easy money-making scheme! In fact, no one has finished it yet... will you? Find out mid-April when the game is scheduled to launch. Click READ MORE to check out some screenshots.
Runes of Avalon 2 Review
If you're a fan of high fantasy (and match-three puzzlers to boot) get ready to hold onto your helmet: Evil sorceress Morganna's back to haunt the world once again in Arthurian-themed head-scratcher Runes of Avalon 2, which challenges you to save a peaceful kingdom from her baneful magic. As we happily discovered though, a host of new backdrops, incantations and 100 keenly-crafted levels also make a featured appearance as well, allowing you to easily while away the afternoon keeping both the pesky witch, and boredom, safely at bay.
StoneLoops! of Jurassica Review
Color us impressed: Proving you can't judge a book by its cover - or casual game by its marketing ploy - the rather oddly-titled StoneLoops! of Jurassica couldn't be more overflowing with surprises. Spend a little time with the outing, and you'll soon see it isn't just an amicable and innovative take on the typical marble-popping formula... Rather unexpectedly, you'll also find it a more than worthy match for even more established industry goliaths like Zuma and Luxor.
15 Minutes of Game: Big Diamond
If you like billiards, curling or any other games that involve strategically knocking one object into another at just the right angle, then check out our featured web game of the week Big Diamond. You're the gold ball and your "enemies" are silver. Your mission is to knock the silver balls out of the playing field without losing the gold ball. Click here to play Big Diamond.