Latest Reviews

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. Read more»

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. Read more»

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. Read more»

Most mystery movies allow you to watch the protagonist as he or she collects evidence, interviews suspects and ties together the diverse strands of an unsolved crime. But the Nancy Drew series of adventure games from Her Interactive take you beyond passive observation to be the eyes, ears and, most notably, brains of the famous teenage detective. Read more»

We all have fond childhood memories of sugary sweet fairytales with happy endings, where pretty girls get to marry handsome princes thanks to a little magical intervention from trusty old Fairy Godmother. But this is the 21st century, and Fairy Godmother doesn't just grant wishes for fun anymore - she's in it for the cold hard cash. Read more»

Comb over your hair and practice your intimidating squint, because Real Estate Empire gives you the chance to experience the high octane life of the real estate mogul - except that where Donald Trump deals with billion dollar high-rises, you'll be dealing with regular old neighborhood houses, trying to buy them up cheap and flip them at a profit. Read more»

Temperatures are in the teens, snow blankets the ground and icicles hang from the eves. Brrrrr! It's hard not to think about heading for a warmer climate -- something tropical, balmy and bright! Well, it may not be possible to jet to Hawaii or the Bahamas, but you can at least pack your bags, figuratively, and head for a sultry retreat in Isola. That's right. The long-awaited sequel to Virtual Villagers is here! Read more»

Trains captivate. Whether invoking memories of a simple layout under the Christmas tree, a story from a beloved book or scene from a favorite film, or the joys of watching your own children indulge in some make-believe railroading, trains have the power to fascinate. Thanks to Sid Meier's Railroads, that addictive allure is yours to enjoy -- trainmaster or not. Read more»

Forget everything you know about how the west was won. In Westward, it's up to you to decide the fate of brave settlers as you set up camp, harvest resources from the ground and eventually build a thriving community that will attract other passersby. So if you're bored of the countless gem-swapping puzzlers out there in cyberspace and want to try on a tougher strategy game,Westward is for you. And dagnabbit, it's one helluva good time. Read more»

Many computer gamers - even casual ones - may recall the popularity of "adventure" games in the '90s. These story-based titles, from the likes of Sierra and LucasArts, whisked away players to interesting locations to solve puzzles and interact with characters. Read more»

With intricate subplots, playtimes of 30 hours or more, complex menu-driven interfaces and hundreds of different items and character stats to juggle, the role-playing game (RPG) is not a genre typically associated with casual gaming. Cute Knight, however, strips away a lot of that weightiness while remaining true to its RPG roots. The result is a light adventure that's easy to get into and can be played in short spurts - in other words, it's perfect for the casual gamer. Read more»

It's hard enough for Elena to juggle work, exercise, eating properly, shopping, and all her excitable Italian-Canadian relatives. But when a gorgeous new beau, Elio, and his meddling mother arrive on the scene, things become even more chaotic. It's My Big Fat Greek Wedding all over again - in Little Italy. Mama Mia! Frima Studio's Ciao Bella is a life sim that follows in the footsteps of the mega-popular The Sims franchise and downloadable games like Kudos and Virtual Villagers. Read more»

Now that The Sims has earned the rank of best-selling PC game of all time, it's no wonder we're now witnessing a handful of other "life simulations" created for players with a yen to live a different life vicariously though a digital alter-ego. Read more»

Originally released in retail stores on a CD-ROM, Last Train to Blue Mountain Canyon is now available as a download online. It takes over an hour to download and install the hefty 700MB file, but if you can muster up the patience you'll be treated to an intriguing interactive mystery with the depth and production values of a full-fledged adventure game in the tradition of Broken Sword, Sam & Max and Sierra's King's Quest series. Read more»

Rewarding the little megalomaniac that lives inside all of us, the talented folks at Last Day of Work (coolest name for a company ever?) has created Virtual Villagers, a "life simulation" if you will, that challenges gamers to manage a tribe of island castaways. Read more»

Unlike most casual games that offer a quick fix during coffee breaks, Aveyond is an incredibly deep and lengthy role-playing game (RPG) inspired by classic 2-D adventures, such as the original Zelda and Final Fantasy games. Read more»

Whodunnit? That's the question in Law & Order: Criminal Intent - The Vengeful Heart, a new star-studded digital outing based on NBC's popular murder mystery series. Read more»

Taking care of fish seems to be a popular theme in the casual gaming space, be it feeding fish in Insaniquarium! or fending for yourself in the big blue in Feeding Frenzy 2. And now we have Fish Tycoon, which is really a few games in one download. Read more»

Creating a successful sequel is a difficult thing, whether following up a hit album, making a movie (did we really need Basic Instinct 2?), or creating a casual game. Simply putting a new look on the original won't work, but straying too far from what made the original successful risks alienating your core fanbase. I'm pleased to report that while the folks at Big Fish Games moved VERY quickly in releasing their sequel to the successful Mystery Case Files: Huntsville, they got nearly everything right in this sequel, Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects. Read more»

Toybox reaps what it sows with this engaging take on the gardening game. Perhaps 2006 is the year of plowing dangerously, but in just a few short months, we've seen the release of (not one, but) two gardening themed games. At first glance, Plantasia from PlayFirst and Garden Dreams by Toybox seem very similar. Both feature gardening as an activity that you're trying to do in order to help someone out. Both have seeds, watering systems, pests and fertilizer/insecticide. But, that's where the similarities end. Read more»

Imagine buying a cute little puppy for less than $20. Better yet, you'll never have to replace a chewed-up couch, take him for a walk in the rain or pick up his poop. Sounds good, doesn't it? Read more»