Latest Reviews

According to Wikipedia.com, a furball is an alternative name for a hairball, that accumulation of follicles found in an animal's digestive tract that usually ends up on your carpeted floor or furniture. In the case of Furball Frenzy, however, the "hairballs" are much more colorful, decidedly less disgusting and a lot more fun to play with. Read more»

You won't find '80s gaming classics more aged or hoary than Lode Runner or BurgerTime. It's 100% fitting then that Super Granny 4 - the latest globetrotting adventure starring everyone's favorite octogenarian - once again draws inspiration from these elderly gems. Adding a few nice nips and tucks, not to mention some intriguing new features, it's mostly more of the same great action puzzler you know and love. And, as 160+ new levels prove, that's not a bad thing by any stretch of the imagination. Read more»

Originally a console video game, Lumines enjoyed massive amounts of acclaim - and we do mean massive - when it launched on Sony's PlayStation Portable (PSP) back in 2005. A later version for the Xbox Live Arcade was also well-received. If you aren't a console gamer, though, now's your chance to finally download and play Lumines on a PC courtesy of WildTangent. And it's well worth your while to do so, seeing as Lumines one of the best puzzle games to come along since Tetris. Read more»

Remember the good old days of casual gaming, when every other title wasn't a hidden object challenge, but rather Zuma-style marble-popper? The gang at developer Enkord obviously does, as the company has channeled its creativity into making Svetlograd - which clearly falls into the latter category - the most gloriously bonus- and destructible environment-laden title of its kind. Nonetheless, as hands-on play reveals, the approach tends to favor quantity over quality, ultimately leaving the outing a solid, if not truly eye-opening genre entry. Read more»

Mr. Stink goes where the Grinch and Scrooge have gone before him, attempting to ruin our holiday spirits. Stinky steals Santa's toys right before Christmas, but we're not going to let the children down. So with a little help from our super friends, we're going to make more toys even if the conveyor belt in Santa's Super Friends makes us as insane as Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory. Read more»

If you're a fan of popular television shows like Project Runway or just can't seem to walk the mall without stopping to browse every last boutique, chances are Jojo's Fashion Show will be just the game for you. Jointly produced by iWin and Gamelab, the title is an interesting take on the typical time management formula that challenges would-be runway divas to put their eye for style, color and coordination to the test. Read more»

What's in a name? Pretty much everything when you're talking about arcade-syle outing Elf Bowling 7 1/7: The Last Insult. Against all odds though, despite the ludicrous premise and oh-so-annoyingly addictive presentation, the title actually delivers several hours' worth of quality holiday-themed entertainment enjoyable by all. Read more»

The Tuttles Madcap Misadventures is a classic "platformer" game - where your characters move from the left side of the screen to the right, jumping over obstacles, battling baddies and picking up important items - but it stars a futuristic family as they try to find their way to the Alamo in a flying car. Read more»

Nobody puts Baby in a corner! Dirty Dancing is here, and who can forget the incredible dancing, hunky Patrick Swayze, Baby's coming of age, Jennifer Grey with her original nose... The game takes place in the steamy summer of 1963. The minimalist plot is loosely connected to the movie, and revolves around you staying at the Kellerman Mountain House while training to compete in a dance contest. Read more»

Babysitting is a common way for teens to earn a little cash on the side, and Stacy Wilson is no different. The high school student is saving up for a telescope (she's a bit of a science geek), and figures that looking after other peoples' kids is her ticket to the stars. That's the premise behind Babysitting Mania, a new time management game from the makers of Nanny Mania. Read more»

PC owners who dream of a life spent sailing the seven seas in search of fabulous treasure are in for a treat, as all-new arcade game Finders Keepers lets you do just that. A cleverly click-happy outing, we're delighted to say it's both innovative and slickly produced... we just wish the action was a little faster-paced and flush with more mid-mission excitement, so the title would prove an even greater splash. Read more»

Kate is a talented young fashion designer with big dreams, and with a few clicks of the mouse you can help take her gorgeous clothing creations from the fitting room to the catwalk. It's all part of Fab Fashion, the latest time management game from Fuzzy Games and RealArcade. Read more»

It's better to be a big fish in a small pond than vice versa - believe us, we know after playing Evolution. An undersea arcade game that challenges you to chomp your way up the food chain, the title taps simple Darwinian principles to ensure only those with the quickest reflexes survive. Read more»

Surprise! You don't have to be a snappy dresser, or even able to match a tie with a shirt, to enjoy the sartorially-themed challenges offered by new time management game Fashion Craze. As long as you're a dab hand behind the mouse, and don't mind spastic, click-happy action that's also bound to tax your noggin, you'll find it adds a welcome splash of color to any otherwise drab day. Read more»

Working in retail is a thankless job as employees deal with fussy customers, the messes they leave behind, and many personalities. In Fashion Fits, a time management game from new studio Fugazo, players experience working in a clothing store with mouse clicks replacing hard labor. Read more»

Who knew that a British TV show would turn into a hit in North America, followed by a computer game? The Office certainly isn't the first British import, but the American version is so successful that the number of episodes has long passed its predecessor. The Office game exceeds expectations with its brilliant depiction of the quirky characters and their relationships. Read more»

Classical fantasy trappings and detailed role-playing infrastructure aside, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords proved a surprise hit on consoles like the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable for one simple reason - it's a casual game at heart. So don't be so quick to dismiss the outing, just because you're not the sort who usually appreciates the complexity of Dungeons & Dragons-style romps or balks at the thought of playing swordsman or spellcaster. To do so would in fact be a major stumble, causing you to miss one of the year's most unsung gems, especially with the tale now available in a specially-enhanced edition for PC owners to enjoy as well. Read more»

Just about every casual game developer has made a match-three offering by now, but that doesn't stop the jewel swapping in Ashley Jones: The Heart of Egypt from being fun and addictive. On the contrary, the new title from Fenomen Games is one of the more compelling match-three releases in recent memory, due in no small part to its successful blend of elements from similar games. Read more»

Ballhalla is absorbing. A unique twist on action-puzzlers, this ball-based game is all about "sucking up" surrounding energy balls to create heavier, more powerful spheres, while keeping their container balanced. The heavier the balls become, the more the "bucket" wants to tip to one side or the other. Append a time element and it adds up to one engrossing, frantically-paced, ball-loony experience. Read more»

It just goes to show you can't keep a good game down... Three episodes deep into the world's most popular hieroglyphic-themed puzzler and we're still head over heels in love with Luxor 3's action-packed, color-matching formula. But to be frank, with graphics, sound effects and gameplay this good, well... it's no wonder the multimillion-selling franchise has practically got the entire world walking like an Egyptian. Read more»

It seems like everyone's opening a burger joint these days, but that doesn't stop Burger Shop's combination of restaurant management and furious assembly-line clicking from being an enjoyable, funny and graphically impressive outing. Read more»

Blame it on the late '80s Tom Cruise flick, Cocktails, but an entire generation of dreamers imagined quitting their day job to sling drinks at a island beach bar. Well, this is precisely what you can do in Big Island Blends, in charge of a smoothie bar, after inheriting an orchard of fruit from a late relative. Read more»

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, the crops were swaying in the breeze and the farm animals were basking in the beauty of it all. Life in Sunny Valley was good, very good indeed. One day, however, everything changed: the infamous Professor Duriarti escaped from prison. Immediately, the cold-hearted villain seized the humble homestead and incarcerated its inhabitants. All seemed lost! But then, Supercow caught wind of the dastardly deeds. And, armed with determination, set off on her mission to thwart Duriarti's evil plans and rescue her barnyard buddies. Honestly, she wouldn't be too super if she didn't. Read more»

From restaurants, witch's dens and weddings to daycare centers, bakeries and hair salons, the "micromanagement" casual games are one of the hottest genres today. A new game, Dr. Daisy Pet Vet, introduces a budding veterinarian as the heroine of the story. It's good, and animal lovers will enjoy it, but it's not as good as other entries in the genre (most notably Diner Dash), nor is it a wholly unique offering. Read more»

After her cruise ship adventure in Diner Dash: Flo on the Go, entrepreneur extraordinaire Flo comes back to find her hometown looking like a run-down dump. And so, she vows to rejuvenate the town one hotdog or hamburger at a time. There you have the premise for Diner Dash: Hometown Hero, the latest sequel to PlayFirst's smash hit Diner Dash franchise. Read more»

Consider it Diner Dash with animals. Forest Resort is a micromanagement game -- where you need to seat, serve and satisfy hungry customers who come to your restaurant - except it's a forest instead of a diner, and it's animals instead of people. Read more»

Ever get the chance to play seminal 1981 arcade shooter Galaga? If not, rest assured you aren't missing much at this point - one of the first interactive titles to pit a single spaceship against hordes of incoming alien fighters, it's looking slightly dated 26 years on. Thankfully, that's where dozens of catchy tributes like Star Defender 4 come in. Read more»

Snowy, the white bear and former waiter, has reached celebrity status as the star of almost 10 games. He does a little of everything from restaurant management to solving brain-busting puzzles. (We bet he even does his own stunts.) In Snowy Treasure Hunter 3, he continues his platform-style game adventures and travels to a castle full of hidden treasures, ghosts, fools, executioners, Draculas, and other monsters. Read more»

There's nothing that devoted pet lovers won't do for their furry friends, including pampering them with a day at the spa - something many humans can't even afford to do for themselves. It's all in a day's work in Paradise Pet Salon. Read more»

A Luxor-style game with a dash of Breakout isn't likely to win awards for originality, but Neopets: Codestone Quest - based on the Neopets online virtual pet craze - goes to show that sometimes it's just as much about fun, challenge and presentation. Read more»

We first met Carrie as she bustled around nurseries looking after babies in Carrie the Caregiver. The former nurse is back for more in Carrie the Caregiver 2, but now she's set her sights on running a classroom of toddlers as she trains to become a teacher. The good news is that Carrie 2 isn't just a sequel that maintains the status quo; instead, it breaks new ground and expands the franchise in a positive new direction. Read more»

When it comes to casual games, a good sequel should retain much of what made its predecessor a success yet introduce enough new features to justify to purchase. Cake Mania 2, the follow-up to one of the most popular casual game downloads of last year, attempts to achieve this tricky balance, but this sequel isn't as deliciously different as you might have hoped. Read more»

Abracadabra! Magic Shop enters the world of magic with spells and artifacts rather than the sleight of hand of David Copperfield and Harry Houdini. Though not spellbinding or original in the world of color-matching games, Magic Shop entertains like a skillful magician. Read more»

Anyone who's seen hit British comedy series Fawlty Towers will know that running a hotel is anything but easy. Of course, having an accident-prone manager at the helm, supported by a cast of clueless misfits is hardly the recipe for success. So you'll no doubt be pleased to know that in the management game Jane's Hotel - in which you must transform a bedsit into the plushest hotel in town - the only person responsible for success and failure is your good self. Phew! Read more»

What happens when bingo and lottery scratch tickets collide? The answer is Lottso! Deluxe, a new downloadable version of one of the most popular games on the online gaming portal, Pogo.com. Read more»

Seven-year-old Seth sits at the controls of a miniature sub, his sights set on a banded octopus. He zeroes in on the giant sea creature and presses a button. Startled, the octopus begins waving its legs in a slow-motion gesture of surprise. Seth, of course, lets out a scream of delight. "I killed it!" he proclaims in victory. "No you didn't," I explain. "You took its picture." Read more»

If you fell asleep playing Tetris in a music store and had a dream, it might look something like Retro Records. In this fast-paced puzzle game, you find out your uncle left you a record store full of thousands of albums but everything is completely unorganized. So, in order to reopen to the public, you must put all the correct records in its proper album jacket. Read more»

When someone tells you about a monster of a child, it usually means the kid is a screamer, hitter or doesn't listen. But not in the case of the children in Daycare Nightmare. They're seriously monsters and this isn't an insult. Vampires, blobs, ghosts, Cyclops, and fire-breathing dragons. Oh, my! Read more»

By all accounts, Ricochet Infinity - despite being the follow-up to a hugely-popular series which also includes Ricochet Lost Worlds, Ricochet Lost Worlds: Recharged and Ricochet Xtreme - shouldn't work. But what truly amazes and astounds about the title the more you play into it isn't just the staggering variety of bonuses, stages and special effects offered. It's also the brilliant execution with which the entire package is delivered, helping tie together any lose ends, and win even the most jaded player over with its singular sense of atmosphere and intensity. Read more»

Moorhuhn Kart 2 is an arcade racer starring the crazy chicken Moorhuhn, who has appeared in more than 20 self-titled casual games spanning genres from Mah Jong to Soccer. Like Mario Kart and other similar offerings, the measure of any racing game's worth can be found in a few basic criteria, including track design, graphics and controls, characters and environments. Let's get to work. Read more»

If you liked Flo, you'll love Quinn. Yep, fans of the hit game series Diner Dash have been anxiously waiting to swap brooms for grooms in PlayFirst's first official Diner Dash offshoot Wedding Dash, and after a week of intense play, Gamezebo can confirm it lives up to the hype. Read more»

Once in a while a game comes around, where you have no idea how to play it - even after the tutorial - but somehow after fumbling through a few levels a light bulb goes off. Such is the case with Scepter of Ra, a new Egyptian-themed casual game with rules that didn't make much sense to me until my brain caught up with my mouse-clicking finger. The end result is a fun and frenetic puzzler that may remind veteran players of PopCap's Pixelus. Read more»

The years Sally has spent training and saving her money have paid off, and now she's ready to open her first beauty salon. Although it starts off as a small shop in a suburban mall, she'll eventually work her way up until she owns a chain of ritzy salons. Drawing upon the likes of Diner Dash and Burger Rush for inspiration, Sally's Salon brings its own unique twists to the management sim genre. Read more»

If you're "sick" of Diner Dash-like micromanagement games, where you need to simultaneously juggle multiple tasks, you might not want to download the latest "service style" game, with a medical twist: Fever Frenzy. Everyone else, keep on reading. Read more»

Peter Flat starts a new job at the Corporate Corporation and must prove himself by performing various quirky tasks as his world transforms from 2D to 3D. As game premises go, it's an intriguing one, made even sweeter by the fact that it's designed by the same studio that created the charming and stylish Ciao Bella. What could possibly go wrong with Peter Flat's Inflatable Adventures? The answer, unfortunately, is a lot. Read more»

Thanks to the rise of culinary TV programs, cookery and catering have well and truly entered the mainstream, shedding the old fashioned image of chain smoking chefs with fake French twangs and battleaxe middle aged ladies pummeling pastry to within an inch of its life with rolling pins. Unsurprisingly, the games industry has been quick to catch on and in Delicious 2 Deluxe, we have another in a long line of colorful, multitasking restaurant sims. Read more»

Turbo Pizza is like Diner Dash on steroids - it's an arcade-like restaurant simulation for "seasoned" gamers as it gets insanely crazy. Read more»

Computer games initially served as a fun way to unwind after a long day at work or school, and were largely fantasy-based since they gave us a temporary escape from reality. Ironically, some of the hottest games today put you to work in a frantic environment, such as a waitress in Diner Dash. Who knew playing a game about 9 to 5 life would be fun after our real 9 to 5 job? And Puzzle Labs' Posh Shop is no different. In this clever - but not too original - clothing store simulation, you must help shoppers complete outfits to make your daily sales quota. Read more»

It's not easy being PopCap Games. Sure, they're one of the most successful casual game makers in the business - and deservingly so as they continuously publish critically-acclaimed and commercially-successful games. Need proof? How about Bejeweled, Chuzzle, Zuma, Insaniquarium, Feeding Frenzy, Bookworm Adventures and Peggle, to name a few. But as a result, gamers grow to expect nothing but greatness from them each and every time. They've raised the bar not just for the industry but for themselves. Venice Deluxe, their latest release, falls short of this greatness. It's good - but far from spectacular. Read more»

What do you get when you cross Diner Dash with, um, birds? The answer is Birdies, a new multitasking/micromanagement game that lets you play as a babysitting stork - no kidding - who must look after birds dropped off by their parents. While unoriginal (um, except for the bird part), this casual game is mildly fun - especially for younger players and newcomers to the genre. Read more»