MindfulGamer

Played the original Cat Quest a few years ago. Found it reasonably entertaining, but didn't finish it, and passed on II. Have to admit Cat Quest III may motivate me to try the franchise again. Plan to try the demo.

• If Europa plays as well as it looks, should be great. Plan to try the demo
• Played original Cat Quest a few years ago. Found it reasonably entertaining, but passed on II. Have to admit Cat Quest III may motivate me to try the franchise again.
• Stitch looks interesting. will need more information on how the puzzles actually work. A demo would be nice.
• BZZZT looks good, but depends on how 'challenging' it turns out.
• Duck Detective looks like it could be fun.
• Although I didn't finish the original Steamworld Heist, I enjoyed it enough to look into the sequel as it gets closer.

The gameplay sounds like the desert area of Ori and the
Will of the Wisps. Too bad the graphics aren't nearly as good. May give the demo a spin.

Given the state of the eShop, at least we haven't been hit by 'Hentai Peach' (yet?).

I tried the demo when it came out a few months ago, and liked it enough that I bought the game on sale for $45 at the time. Having never been a farming sim player (lost interest in Stardew quickly when tried 1-2 years ago), I ended up enjoying FF enough to finish the main campaign. May go back and upgrade my farm now that the in-game day is longer.

Being a bit underwhelmed by the initial demo, I passed on PoP until I bought it on sale a few days ago as a change of pace from Unicorn Overlord (which I like). I'm happy to report that I have been really impressed by and enjoying PoP. Definitely some challenge for this 'geezer gamer', but so far able to get through on Warrior difficulty.

Coming soon to an Apple Vision Pro near you!

Excerpts from two of the above game descriptions:

• ...multiple breathtaking locations filled with scum...
• ...only a bloodthirsty cursed knight can bring hope...

Houston, we have a problem.

@DwaynesGames Thanks for the Pedestrian rec. I did a brief search. Great reviews on Steam, and the trailer looked interesting. Wishlisted on eShop and plan to check out the demo.

On the non-puzzle game front, I've never been a farm sim guy (Stardew Valley just didn't compel me to keep going after a few hours), but something about Fae Farm piqued my interest. So when they released a demo and put it on sale a few days ago, I tried the demo, watched a few beginner videos, and then took the plunge. After a few days I'm starting to get addicted lol. So many games ...

Appreciate the article.

Was already aware of most of them, but not all.

Played and enjoyed a few, played and didn't enjoy a few of the others.

Added a couple that I wasn't familiar with to my wish list for future consideration when on sale: Bomb Chicken and Grindstone.

Recently tried some nature/hex grid games. Wanted to like Dorfromantik, but it just didn't grab me. Enjoyed Pan'orama for a few hours, but completing a run is just too time consuming IMO. Would prefer the building count be reduced from 52 to maybe 36 or so.

And for those still reading (anyone?), my current nature/hex grid addiction is 'Growth'. I have made enough runs to open everything, and figured out enough of how the algorithm works go be able to complete a run (sooth the volcano?) consistently. There are a few reviews online, so I recommend checking them out.

Lastly, check out match threes from Green Sauce games. My favorite is Storm Tale 2: a few years old so better production values and more helpful bonuses than their newer games. They can be found on sale periodically.

Did not play Portia (and don't plan to), but if they release a demo to Sandrock, I might take a look.

The only LoL game I have played is Ruined King, which I enjoyed overall, although I didn't finish it. This game obviously looks different, but I enjoyed the trailer and look forward to a review.

I've only played a few deckbuilders. I enjoyed ThroneBreaker and Faeria for a while, until I felt that they started to get annoyingly unfair and bailed. And I may be the only person who played but didn't get into Slay the Spire.

I had noticed Cobalt Core on eShop before, and may give it a try on sale at some point.

Another unheralded gem of a game IMO is Warriors of the Nile 2, a srpg/roguelite hybrid. I've played a number of srpgs over the years, but usually hit a wall at some point due to the grind. So I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed WotN2. Highly recommended.

@SpecialStreamCannon Like other commentors, I might be interested in this game if patched to fix the performance, etc. If that happens, possibly you could update this review.

Also, to all, I highly recommend a new Switch game called Growth. The hex playing field kind of looks like Dorfromantik (which didn't grab me when I tried it), but the game play is different, clever, and addictive.

Might try the Aegis twins: Sentinels and Defenders, if the prices drop by the same percentages in the US.

Some good review quotes, but a demo would help.

Played the original for a while back in the day, but bailed. Timing based combat isn't my thing. Looks good though. I would consider it on sale, but that will be a while for Nintendo.

Looks good IMO, but the chaotic combat and M rating make it a pass from me.

'Planet of Lana' and 'The Gecko Gods' piqued my interest the most so far. Hopefully the frame rate of GG can hold up on Switch. Also 'Core Keeper' with it's 'Steamworld Dig' vibe.

When is the Switch U coming out?

Warriors of the Nile 2, a SRPG/roguelite hybrid.

I've played a number of SRPGs over the years, but at this point have generally lost interest since most sound like a slog, although I did make it halfway through FE: Three Houses, and enjoyed it until I hit the wall.

I didn't know much about WotN2, but took a chance after reading a few reviews on Steam (almost 1000 Very Positive reviews). Once I started getting the hang of it, I have really been enjoying it.

I bought a PS5 Digital Edition, which has worked out fine for me, so I would buy a digital only Switch 2.

Started playing it on PS5. The graphics are beautiful, and the environments imaginative. Have to admit that it is a bit slow moving so far. I have gotten through one battle that wasn't too difficult, but haven't gotten to any reflex/speed challenges yet.
Stepped away for awhile to play Warriors of the Nile 2 (fun SRPG/roguelite hybrid), but plan to pick Cocoon back up at some point.
Maybe should have waited for a sale, but it's not expensive to begin with.

Hopefully not teetering on the edge of Development Heck.

"You say cosy ... I say cozy ... let's call the whole thing off"

If this game reviews well, might actually give it a try.

I've played a number of SRPGs over the years, but have lost interest in the usual slog, although I did make it halfway through
FE: Three Houses, and enjoyed it until I hit the wall.
DIdn't know much about this game, but took a chance after reading a few reviews on Steam (9/10 with almost 1000 reviews). Once I started getting the hang of this SRPG/roguelite hybrid, I have really been enjoying it.
Hopefully the powers that be at NL deem it worthy of a review soon. Much better than a lot of the low rated, junk games that make their way into an NL review IMO. Show it some love!

I wonder if the Shadowbox in the photo is actual size compared to the game case.

I have never played a Pikmin game, but after playing part of this demo and reading the review, I plan to play 4. Glad to hear that there are no artificial, aggravating time constraints. Life is stressful enough, and I game for enjoyment, not more stress. If some gamers want time constraints, they can set a timer on their phone.

I imagine that Shovel Knight will be excited, as I am sure that the sale includes plenty of shovelware!

Everybody Wang Chung tonight!

Apparently there are two types of people in the world ... those that use duplication glitches, and those that don't.

Winds of Anthos? Is Anthos the name of the cuddly cow?

Apparently stability is a journey, not a destination.

@Specialstreamcannon On a somewhat related note, there has been a Zelda like called The Last Dragon Slayer out for a few weeks, and I can't find any reviews online. Watching the trailer, it looks to be at least worthy of a mini review.

I also appreciate the song reference in the tagline.

May try this game on PS5 on sale at some point.

Have never played Minecraft, but tried Minecraft Dungeons when it first released. Found it pretty repetitive and mind numbing also.

Would this be considered a 'cozy' game?

About all I remember from playing the original back in the day is that I bailed on it early. Started the new demo, but it still didn't hold my interest. However, I have never been much of an RTS fan anyway.

Just searched movie reviews, and they are actually good, which I admit that I wasn't expecting.

Thought I smelled a stable.

I imagine that Nintendo was so upset, they cried all the way to the bank.

Having played Zero Mission and Fusion back in the day on GameCube Game Boy Player, I would be more interested in remasters in the vein of Samus Returns on 3DS. Even though I'm old, the old graphics just ain't doing it for me anymore. Great games though.

Wonder if they will address any stability issues while at it.

Back in the day we used to call these Clodhoppers.

@olliemar28 or anyone who might know. I found that this game is rated M. Without spoilers, can you explain what warrants the M rating?

What's better: more bomberman or more cowbell?

The description of Pronty motivated me to watch a trailer on Steam, where the reviews are very positive (didn't read them though). If it's not brutally difficult, might be interested depending on how Switch version reviews.

Passed on the first one due to the apparent difficulty. Plan to try this demo, but probably still wouldn't pay more than $15-$20 for it, as it sounds like a game that I could enjoy for a while, but ultimately run out of gas on.

Having never pursued the farming genre, and apparently being one of the few who started but bailed on Stardew Valley, this game actually looks appealing to me. Will ultimately see how it reviews.

Maybe I missed it (didn't watch the video) but the article doesn't seem to explain how this thing is supposed to actually HELP get a good night sleep. In fact, I could see some people getting a worse night's sleep fretting about if they will get a rare pose or not.