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Today is an important day, because the mayor is going to bestow the city’s key to the Supa Buddies for all of their heroic deeds. Alas, the villains flea gang burst in and stole the key before the Supa Buddies could receive it. The city is in terrible danger. The evil fleas have used the key to open the city’s prison doors. The worst of the worst are loose and intent on causing chaos. The city is in total disarray, but fear not the Supa gang is here to save the day!

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is a traditional puzzle-platformer with humorous dialogues developed by the team at Floor 84 Studio. It is based on the comic book series Dog Man by Dav Pilkey. If you have children you might also know Dav Pilkey for his other popular series, Captain Underpants. The game has 50 levels divided into 5 areas, and 45 epic artworks to collect. You can view these artworks from the main menu.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3384382577
Each area is a different iconic location taken directly from the comic book, like the police station, downtown, city hall, and a giant marshmallow factory. There is a fight boss you must win for each location before proceeding to the next one.

You start the game playing as Dog Man. Eventually you acquire two other characters, Lil’ Petey and 80-HD. You have to switch characters many times depending on the environment to progress through all of the 50 levels. These three main characters each have their own individual abilities. Lil’ Petey is very small so he can enter tight fitting space. Additionally, he can walk on crumbling blocks due to his small stature, and hack gadgets. Dog Man can dig once he dons his dirt proof pants, you’ll have to use him many times since most levels have some underground parts. The last character you collect is 80-HD. He’s very big which means that he can jump higher and further. He cannot however walk on crumbling blocks without them disintegrating due to his big size. He can also push heavy objects once you earn the power gloves.

In each level there are a certain amount of bones to collect to receive a shield. The other shields are collected while playing the level. There are also gadgets you earn while playing, like retractable claws, a grappling hook, dirt proof pants, power gloves, and more. These gadgets gives specific abilities to different characters, like the retractable claws that lets Lil’ Petey climbs on wall or the power gloves that lets 80-HD push heavy objects. The gadgets adds replayability, since once collected you can revisit completed levels to discover new areas you couldn’t previously access.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3412346887
The artwork is fun and colorful. I like that the developers have decided to stay true to the comic books style, and faithfully recreated Pilkey’s original world. Playing the Dog Man’s game feels like you just stepped into the comic book’s universe. It has a unique and fun style that is well suited to the puzzle-platformer genre. The story is told through comic book strips which is very fitting, however I think there could have been more to it. The story is interesting, but since it’s based on a series, I think it could have been a little more fleshed out. I really love the fact that the developers have kept the Dog Man’s spirit by retelling their story in a comic book style.

Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is an old school puzzle-platformer. In fact the level construction is very reminiscent of the Mario’s games. The levels are long, and there are checkpoints and health-checks. Each level has one flag or more used as checkpoints.

The game is not a difficult one even though some levels can be more challenging. It’s family friendly, and easy enough for kids to complete. There are also “health check-in points” where you meet Petey, and reinstate your health fully. Similarly to Mario’s game, the enemies go from right to left endlessly until you stun them by stomping on them. Once stunned they’ll freeze momentarily, and then resume their course after a couple of seconds. When touched by an enemy you lose some health. The second time you’re touched you die, and have to restart the level at the last successful checkpoint. You start with three lives, and once you run out then you will have to restart the level entirely.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3384384221
There is no time limit to complete a level so you can take as long as you need. You can use either a keyboard & mouse combo or a controller. You can also rebind the controls to your liking. I’ve found the controller much more comfortable, but that will depend on each player’s preference. The controls are pretty good, however there were a couple occasions where the timing seems a little off. You can click to jump higher if needs be, but I didn’t see that much of a difference between the regular jump and the extended jump. It felt like I was jumping the exact same distance when I tried it, but when you acquire 80-HD it becomes redundant anyway since he can jump much longer distance due to his stature.

I had a lot of fun playing this game. The gameplay is so reminiscent of the Mario games that it felt nostalgic. The levels are well-constructed and enjoyable, and the different gadgets you acquire helps to add replayability. It was fun to experience Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man’s world in a new way, and I love that the game’s aesthetics stay true to the comic book’s original artwork. I wouldn’t put it in the category of ‘must play’, but it’s definitely worth giving it a try if you are a fan of old school puzzle-platformer or of Dog Man’s comic book. Dog Man: Mission Impawsible is a great family friendly choice.

• Fun artwork that stays true to Dav Pilkey’s book
  
• Great level construction
  
• Bonus artwork to collect
  
• Gadgets add replayability

• Perfect for beginners, but might be too easy for experienced players
  
• Timing is occasionally off
  
• Story could be more prominent

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Have you ever wanted to be part of your favorite TV show as a kid? In Bonnie Blob in Shapeville you and your children can now take part in the adventure. Bonnie Blob, Monkey Noise’s first Steam release, is an interactive and educational children book.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3390655451
When you start the game you are given two choices. You can either choose a book from the bookshelf or play the matching game. There are four books to read: Bonnie’s Day at the Beach, The Quest for the Missing Puzzle Piece, Bonnie’s Birthday!, and Bonnie’s Day Trip. All the books are centered around our protagonist, Bonnie Blob. I love how you choose a book. Initially you see a bookshelf, and a book comes out with a small animation. You can then cycle through the available books and click on your chosen book to start reading.

If you decide to go for the matching game you are presented with three choices; easy, medium, or hard. The easy one has eight cards to match, twelve in the medium, and sixteen in the hard mode. All three modes are easy enough even for very young children. The game is quite simple. It’s a memory game, so you open a first card and try to match it. If you can find the second card with the same character they stay face up, otherwise you have to start again until all the cards are face up. It’s an easy game, but offers a good challenge for children especially the hard mode.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3390657748
I love the artwork. It truly feels like you stepped into a children’s TV show. Children will be attracted to its bold and vibrant colors. All the characters are shapes, besides Bonnie Blob of course. This makes the characters simple, but perfect for kids. Even the soundtrack sounds like the kind of music that you would hear in a children’s TV show. There are also sound effects to nearly everything you click which helps immerse the player in the game. The text is both spoken and written, and the voice acting sounds professional. It’s read slowly enough so that the younger audience can follow along. In each scene there are a couple of short sentences, but only one is shown on the screen at any time. What I loved about it is that as the narrator reads the text, the word they say is highlighted in a different color. It makes it easy for younger kids to follow along, learn new words, and eventually read it for themselves.

Almost everything in Bonnie Blob in Shapeville is interactive. Most of the time when you click on an object you see a short animation. Some even have more than one. In Bonnie’s Day Trip when Bonnie is in the bath, you can click on her to make her go into the water. When she comes back up she has a ‘bubble mousse’ mustache, but if you click again it’s a hat. In Bonnie’s Birthday!, there is also a small bonus game. During the birthday party while you are in the yard with Bonnie and her friends, you have to find some hidden candies.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3390656128
My only issue with Bonnie Blob in Shapeville is not with the game itself, but actually with the game’s achievements. This game is obviously geared towards a younger audience, however some of the achievements are quite difficult to achieve. There are three achievements related to the matching game. You must get the highest possible score for each mode. If you want to get these achievements, you have to get a perfect score. Because of the nature of the game and the fact that it’s randomized, you have to be very lucky to get all the matches without any mistakes. For example, to get the easy achievement you have to score 10 000 points. I played it several times to see if I could get it, and never reached more than 6 800 points even with minimal mistakes. It seems like it would be extremely difficult for a small child to reach, and I fear they might get discouraged. I like that the developers have thought to add achievements, but I don’t feel like these three specific ones are right for a kid’s game.


Bonnie Blob in Shapeville is a delightful children’s book come to life. The art will surely appeal to children with its vibrant colors and cartoonish style. The soundtrack is upbeat. The addition of different sound effects every time you click an object makes you want to click everything just to hear the sounds and see the short animations. The bonus matching game is perfect to keep children entertained between books. Bonnie Blob makes learning a fun and engaging experience for the whole family.

• Bonus matching game
  
• Educational
  
• Bold and vibrant artwork

• Some achievements are too difficult for children
  
• Achievements have been modified to better fit a younger audience

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The sea is home to so many fascinating creatures. With its myriad of unexplored areas, the deep sea is the perfect backdrop for a hidden object game. Jellies of the Deep is Catloaf Studio’s first Steam release and takes place entirely underwater. Although unique, this cozy hidden object is reminiscent of Under Leaves style.

Jellies of the Deep consists of four areas; the Red Reef, the Green Fjord, the Yellow Lake, and the Blue Arctic. Each area has 5 different levels. There are 60 unique jellies to collect. The first level is used as a way to introduce gameplay so it is simpler. In this initial level there is only one jelly to find, but subsequent levels require finding several of them. The goal is to find one or many unique jellies in each level. It will have a slight difference from others, it might be a different pattern, an extra horn, or really anything. What complicates matters is that each level has several types of jellies so you really don’t know which type is the unique one, but it makes for a fun challenge. Another aspect that adds to the difficulty is that as you progress the search area expands. At first there is only one screen to search, but as you play there’s more and more screens being added. The last level has eight screens where you must locate five unique jellies from a multitude of types.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3377389017
You start the game in a level selection screen. When you complete one level the next one unlocked. After each completed level, the collected jellies are added to a collection which you can view at any time from the main screen. It’s fun to see your collection grow and you can even name them. It’s a great idea and gives credence to the fact that each found jelly is unique.

Jellies of the Deep’s artwork is hand-drawn. The dark colors and ethereal vibe of the backgrounds truly make you feel like you are deep in the sea. They also have a blurred effect which helps create a relaxed atmosphere and makes the lighter colored jellies pop. The drawings are simple, but still very detailed. They have a fun and unique style. The soundtrack also works with the beautiful visual style to create a cozy relaxed vibe with its soothing music. I would have liked a bit more variety, but overall it’s a lovely soundtrack.

There are several interesting mechanics. They are slowly introduced one at a time through the different levels. Each one builds on the next one to create a perfectly balanced progression. The first one introduced is the light jelly which you click on to light up the level. These levels are very dark and you won’t be able to play until you click on the light jellies to illuminate the level. The ghost jellies are translucent until you click them. Then the frozen jellies are encased in ice, once again you have to click on the ice to release them. There’s also a snowflake mechanic which is introduced a bit later in the game. You can click these to freeze the level for 20 seconds. There can be multiple snowflakes in a level and each one gives you a 20 seconds freeze. It can be really helpful especially in larger levels because the jellies are constantly moving, and with multiple screens it can be difficult to locate one single jelly. Lastly, there are geysers that release bubbles. These are on the bottom screens. The bubbles released by the geyser pushes all of the jellies at the top where they condense in a jelly mass so until you click on the geysers to stop the bubbling you won’t be able to find anything. Jellies of the Deep is a simple game and the many different mechanics add a certain albeit small complexity that is very welcome into the gameplay.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3382337617
It took me around 2 hours to complete the game, but if you’re fast and don’t spend too much time naming each and every jelly it will probably take you less than that. It’s short, but I think for this type of game it’s exactly right. There’s is one feature however that is missing. There is no hint system. I probably wouldn’t have used it, but some levels can be tricky. It’s not a complicated game in and of itself, but if you fail to find one jelly and can’t continue playing it could become frustrating. A hint system would be a helpful addition.

Jellies of the Deep is a fun hidden object game with interesting mechanics. The beautiful hand-drawn levels and the soothing soundtrack creates a relaxing atmosphere perfect for a cozy gaming session. The later levels are difficult enough to offer challenging gameplay for seasoned players. If you are looking for a fun casual game that you can finish in one sitting, Jellies of the Deep might just be the game for you.

• 20 beautifully hand-drawn levels
  
• Collected jellies can be named
  
• Nice cozy atmosphere

• Soundtrack lacks variety
  
• No hint system
  
• Some players might find it too short

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If you played NAIRI: Tower of Shirin and were excited to see some more, you’ll be happy to know that HomeBearStudio, in concert with publisher Hound Picked Games, have just released this long awaited second installment on Steam. It picks up right where the first one left off and continue Nairi’s story. This story rich point & click game has a lot of dialogue, so it might also appeal to some visual novel lover.

The main character is Nairi, but there are other noteworthy appearances from a charming character cast. During the introduction you play as Shiro who you might remember from the first game. Shiro finds his way to the Middle District and reunites with Nairi. You then start playing as Nairi. She is a young girl from the rich district. Her whole family has been kidnapped, and she’s on a quest to save them. Her quest takes her on a journey which starts at Badu’s Bakery. She needs to make her way back to the rich district where she believe her family is being held against their will. Her quest takes her on a grand adventure. This story has everything: some funny moments, a would-be revolution, corruption, a mysterious conspiracy, and even a prophecy that threatens to engulf the whole world.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3376449555
The artwork is completely hand-drawn, and it is gorgeous. I love the fun colorful style. Visually it’s one the most stunning indie point & click game I’ve played this year. The backgrounds are beautifully detailed. Everything in NAIRI is aesthetically pleasing, even the little ‘developer’s intro’ at the start is created with care.

There is a journal that you can view at any time during the game. Inside you can read past dialogue, view hints, and see your artwork. You accumulate these artworks by finding them hidden in different locations during the game. Each collected artwork is a piece of concept art that you can view in your journal. You can acquire figurines by buying them from Reza with in-game coins, and these can also be viewed from the journal.

The narrative is an interesting blend of humor, adventure and a lot mystery. NAIRI contains a lot of dialogue, but they cycle quickly enough for fast readers. You can also click once to make them instantly appear completely. In addition, you can go to the settings and change the speed of the text’s appearance. If you want to reread the narrative you can see it in your journal. In some parts of the game you can switch characters during the dialogue, and the NPCs will reflect that by reacting differently.

There are three save slots, and while it’s a sufficient number, the issue is that you can only use one at a time. When I play a point & click game I like to save often and at different point in the game. It’s lacking the ability to save in multiple save slots through the same playthrough.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3376448233
This second entry is a big step up from the first one. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the first NAIRI game, but it was simpler. In NAIRI: Rising Tide, the developers have added tons of clever details and features which makes for an excellent player experience. To give you one example of these little details when you want to exit the game you have to click on the ‘exit’ button while holding the mouse button for a couple of seconds. This ensures that you don’t misclick and lose all of your progress. It’s a simple detail that makes a big difference for the player. In this second entry you get a different map for each section of the game which makes it easier to find things because each map is simplified. Another new feature is the toolbelt. It lets you combine items in new and interesting ways.

The hint system is also interesting. Instead of clicking a ‘hint’ button, the creators have made the hint system an integral part of the game. There are coins hidden everywhere in NAIRI’s world, and you’ll be able to use these to buy hints after meeting Pipi, the cute little chick. He loves coins, and teams up with you. In exchange for coins he gives you hints. The hints will be drawn in your journal, and they can be a nudge in the right direction all the way to full solutions. It’s up to you, and how many coins you want to spend.

One aspect that I love about this game is how the different features are introduced in compelling ways. For example, the fast travel is introduced when you meet the Rising, a group of fed up citizens. The rising’s leader asks you to help their members before answering your query. One of those tasks is to fix Fadi’s whistle. Once completed, you receive the whistle, and the ability to fast travel. From there on, you can blow the whistle to call Fadi and travel quickly between locations. This is an interesting way to introduce fast travel. It helps to make it an integral part of the game as opposed to just a feature you’re introduced to in the tutorial.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3376450114
When you play NAIRI: Rising Tide, you really get the feeling that this is a work of love. The creators have put in time and effort to create a fun and engaging experience. The puzzles are no exception. They flow well with the narrative, and are purposeful. One of the first puzzle you solve involves delivering Bear Buns for Badu. It’s a hidden object puzzle that spans a whole section of the map. You receive drawings of the customers in your journal. In addition, when you read the dialogues there are hints sprinkled in. If you are in the mood for an extra challenge, there are also three optional dungeons. If you want a more relaxing experience, you can simply skip them without consequences. There is a good amount of variety with many different types of puzzles.

The story is interesting, but what makes this game shine is the gorgeous hand-drawn artwork, and all of the extra player-friendly features. NAIRI: Rising Tide was a joy to play. The atmosphere is cozy and the puzzles are fun to solve. I like that they made the bonus dungeons optional so that players can customize their experience. This second entry is more than the sum of its parts. If you love story rich point & click games, you’ll love NAIRI: Rising Tide.

• Stunning hand-drawn artwork
  
• Fun story related puzzles
  
• Optional dungeons for an extra challenge

• Can only play in one save slot per game
  
• Puzzle oriented players might find the large amount of dialogue daunting

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You’ve been dreaming of owning your own farm all of your life. You’ve been saving for years to make this dream a reality. With a little help from your parents, you can finally make this dream of yours a reality. You’ve carefully selected you future home. Orange Town is where your vision will be fulfilled. Orange Season is a farming simulator developed by Innerfire Studios. It is published by SOEDESCO, who are also known for the Adam Venture series. The game has been available in early access for a while now, but has been officially released on the 24th of October.

Orange Town is a cozy little village full of friendly people, and this is where your journey starts. You play as a young person who’s always dreamed of owning a farm, and can finally realize their vision. You initially buy a small plot of land with a modest house already built on it. You can eventually upgrade your house by visiting the carpenter and also expand your land by buying the plot of land that are beside yours. Beside farming your land, you can also mine, fish, raise several animals, and even cook.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3371529618
There is a big cast of characters, and each of these characters have different quests you can help them with. The first quest you’ll be asked to fulfill, ‘meet your neighbours’, requires you to meet 30 different characters. This quest seems fairly easy and is used in concert with a few other as a tutorial of sorts. However because of the way the map is constructed, it ended up taking me many in-game days to complete. The other introductory quests are pretty straightforward, harvesting five turnips for example. At this time, the game doesn’t offer marriage options. There is still a friendship system where you build up your friendship level with each character by talking to them and offering them gifts. Each character has likes and dislikes to take into account.

In a farming sim a good map is important, and Orange Season’s map is missing many important features which makes finding anything overly complicated. When you open the map, you’ll be presented with many different circles. Each circle is an illustration representing a different area of Orange Town. They are not a good navigation tool. The only information offered on each of these is which characters are in which area, and if they are home or not. It doesn’t show you where they are within this section. Additionally, It doesn’t show any of the main buildings, where they are, or where you are within the area. If you are looking for a specific store or character, good luck finding them. This map is a map in name only and lacks almost all functionality. I really don’t understand why this this choice was made, but it makes the game more complicated than it should be, especially when it comes to the quests.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3371540755
Visually the game is beautiful. It would be hard not to mention the similarity with Stardew Valley. The colorful look is stunning, and it is what drew me initially to the game. The backgrounds are lovely. Despite the pixelated style, the creators have managed to make detailed environments and characters. However Orange Season is not a Stardew Valley clone, and if this is what you expect you will be sorely disappointed. I had fun playing Orange Season, but it is not in the same league as Stardew Valley.

The controls are your typical WASD navigation, but the action ones can be a little finicky. When you are farming a target will appear around the area you are tilling, but not for watering, planting the seed, or harvesting. It’s the same with foraging. You have to be facing the item you want to pick just right otherwise it won’t work. Personally it didn’t bother me too much, but it might frustrate some players. The mining, fishing, and cooking are straightforward. The fishing is really easy. You simply drop your line in the water where you see the fish’s shadows. Then when you see a ‘!’ appear on top of your character’s head, you click ‘E’ to reel in your line. Most of the time you’ll get a fish, but once in awhile it’ll come up empty. It seems to be randomized.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3371529787
Despite showing great promise, Orange Season is missing some core features like a functional map, some marriageable characters, and better targeting controls. I still enjoyed my time with this game. If you don’t go in expecting a Stardew Valley 2.0, Orange Season can be a fun way to spend a couple of hours regardless of the issues I mentioned. I think that this game has the potential to become a fan favorite, and I will keep an eye out for updates.

• Beautiful pixel artwork
  
• Relaxed and cozy atmosphere

• The map is not functional
  
• The controls are finicky
  
• No marriage candidates

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If you enjoy reading this review, please consider following Vee's Cozy Corner for more.

6-Sided Stories is a relaxing puzzle game by DarZal Games. It is the newest self-published by the Canadian duo. The game has a light narrative entirely told through the puzzles’ images.

The cast showcases a mischievous dog, a cute cat, and an adorable mouse. The story is extremely simple. You’ll follow the characters and watch as they get into all sort of situations: a birthday party, a picnic, and a lot more. Each puzzle picks up where the last one left off and spans a whole year. There are five distinct areas that feature a different season. The last one covers the credits so it contains less puzzles, but there is still a fair amount of content. It’s a fun way to add value to the game, and encourages the player to see the credit as an integral part of the game. Each member of the creative team has their own puzzle. The narrative is light, but it gives the game a common thread. I like the idea of solving puzzles that have a continuing narrative.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3370141899
6-Sided Stories is a bit different than a traditional puzzle game in several ways. You don’t place the pieces, since they are already in the right place. Initially you see the full image, and then it gets jumbled up. You need to flip them in the right way to recreate the image. Another difference is that the piece are hexagonal which means there are three way to move them; horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. Some of the puzzle pieces will also switch to a different color scheme.

I love the idea of having hexagonal pieces so that there are more ways to turn them, however I feel like the developers underutilized this mechanic. It’s introduced in the tutorial and we barely ever use it afterward. Most of the pieces have to be turn vertically or horizontally. It would have been nice to have this extra level of difficulty. Another option could have been to keep the game as is for a more relaxed experience while adding the third flipping mechanic for those who like a more challenging gameplay.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3370142074
The game has a hint feature if you get stuck. You can click on the little light bulb, and it lets you look at the image you have to recreate one more time. Some of the pieces consist of a part of the image that is basically blank, and this can make it challenging to know if they are in the right orientation or not. If you are only missing a couple of pieces, and don’t want spoilers there’s a feature for that too. You can simply wait and once in awhile the pieces that still need to be moved or change color will wobble slightly. I think it’s a clever way to create a spoiler-free system.

The artwork is nice and simple. The images are pixelated to create a fun style. I feel like it fit the genre of game well. The story is simple, and it’s perfectly suited to be told through a puzzle game. The puzzles are all interconnected, and are easy to understand even though there are no words written or spoken. The soundtrack is definitely the star of the show. It’s a relaxing low-fi beat, and helps to create the relaxed atmosphere. One of the game best feature I’ve found is the in-game music player. One thing that irks me in this type of game is having to go out of the game while in the middle of a puzzle to change the music. It breaks the immersion, and is an extra step that is not necessary. 6-Sided Stories has solved that by creating a music player directly on the puzzle page. It’s feature complete. You can do everything while solving the puzzle. It has a volume slider, a next and back button. It also shows you the title of the song, the name of the artist, and there’s even a small thumbnail of the album cover. In addition, there are plenty of tracks to create a personalized experience.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3370142533
There is one feature that I found was missing. There is no level selection at the start, it only appears once you’ve completed all of a section’s puzzles. While you are in a puzzle, you do see how many puzzles are left in the section and how many you’ve completed, but you can’t use it to select a different level. I believe this choice was made because there’s a short narrative, but it also means you can’t skip a level. The next button doesn’t show up until the puzzle is solved. The game is fairly easy, so you shouldn’t be stuck, but I think it’s always nice to have the option.

I had a fun time playing 6-Sided Stories. There is a good amount of content, and I love all the extra little details like the in-game music player, and the hint system. The puzzles are not very difficult, so this makes it a perfect choice for beginners. I think the game would have benefited from using the diagonal turn mechanic to a greater extent, or in a challenging mode. Regardless of that, 6-Sided Stories is a solid choice even if it’s a little too easy for experienced players. The cute story, chill music, and interesting mechanics kept me playing until the end.


Positives

• An interesting twist on the traditional puzzle
• Fun story that build up with each puzzle
• Great in-game music player

Negatives

• No level selection menu
• Some of the mechanics introduced are underutilized
• Might be too easy for seasoned players

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You are taking a walk in nature looking for your sister. Suddenly a terrifying creature pulls you through a giant portal. It seems real enough, but it couldn’t be. This must be a dream, right? You get out of bed as you always do and start the day with an unsettling feeling. Everyone you meet seems to recognize you. Some of them even appear to be your friends, but you can't remember them. The only thing you know is that you must find your sister. You decide to go along with it and see where it goes, what choice do you have anyways?

Everholm is a difficult game to categorize in just one genre. The developers describe it as an open-ended RPG. It also features heavy farming sim elements including farming, fishing, raising animals, and a lot more. It’s unique and differs from others of the same genre. The focus is on the narrative and more importantly on the relationships you create with the Everholm’s citizens.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3367617118
You play as a young girl named Lilly. She is intent on finding her sister, Melanie. This town is full of secrets and it’s up to you to discover them. Everholm even has a resident sorceress that can help you use magic. The goal of the game, beside finding your sister, is to uncover why you are stuck on this mysterious island. You do this in many different ways, but the main one is by talking to the residents and through their dialogue you’ll start to find answers. Each scrap of information you learn is a piece of the puzzle. You do all this while taking care of your homestead and making it the coziest place to live. There are even dungeons with monsters and rewards, but you’ll have to find them first.

Everholm’s artwork is gorgeous. It’s colorful and so adorable. The game is rendered in a beautiful style. It gives a really cozy vibe even when the mood gets spooky. The atmosphere in general is relaxed and charming during the day, but as soon as dusk sets in it switches to an ominous vibe. When you’re out at night it feels like something could happen at any moment. The soundtrack is well suited to the art. Together they create the perfect ambiance for this stunning game, however it does get repetitive since there are not multiple tracks. I think there should also be at least one different track during the night with a more spooky vibe. It would have been perfect.

You navigate the world with your typical WASD controls. The farming, fishing and other actions uses the mouse. I’ve used a controller to play and personally found it more intuitive. On the other hand I found that the farming was much easier with the mouse, so I ended up using a hybrid controller and mouse combo. I saw that the creator’s last patch updated the controls so that might not be your experience when you play it. I found the fishing to be quite difficult to master. It took me a bit to get the hang of it. Once the fish has bit, you need to play a minigame to catch it. The problem is that it involves clicking over and over in just the right way to catch the fish. It was a fun challenge to learn, but was very frustrating at the start.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3367549163
Another aspect that could be improved is the map. The choice was made to identify the buildings by the name of the owner instead of by what they sell (carpenter, seed shop, etc.) It make sense since the game is character-centric, but it was difficult to know where I needed to go at the start. I feel like just adding their title could have lead to less initial annoyance.

Having a bigger inventory at the beginning would have been easier. You start the game with 18 slots, but the starting tool kit itself takes 5 plus the fishing rod that you acquire early on. One of the introductory quests is to clean up your land, so once you add the fiber from grass, the wood, the rock, in addition to the fishing rod that you acquire early on your starting inventory is quite limited in what you can add. It would be nice to add a couple more slot for convenience.

I love how well the creator wove the narrative into the game. You get bits and pieces as you play, and it’s up to you to put it all together. The dialogue is where you get the most information, but there are also a couple of cutscenes. Depending on your friendship level and which quest you decide to answer to, you’ll get more or less information from the characters. One feature that I loved is the daily newspaper. Every morning, you’ll find a rolled up newspaper waiting on your porch, once read it’ll changed into a folded newspaper. In it you’ll find one big article about something happening in Everholm or someone that is asking for help. You also find a ‘Fortune of the Day’ that you actually pick yourself, some small news, and the weather. Finally, there a ‘Tip of the Day’. The tips are helpful gameplay information about the game that you might not know. As an example, the first tip that I got was about the spirits that you can see from time to time on the ground. It said that if you hit them with a hoe it reveals hidden items. These tips are truly helpful. It’s a very creative way to help and gently guide the player to complement the tutorial.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3367618174
It’s obvious while playing this game that the creators have poured their heart into it. Everholm just oozes creativity. The world is filled with stuff to see and do. I enjoyed walking around the town and admiring my surroundings. There is so much to explore in the town of Everholm. There are so many interesting little details that take this game to the next level. I had a fantastic time playing it.

Everholm is a game with a stunning aesthetic, lovable characters, and a not so cozy atmosphere that keeps you on your toes. The narrative is light, but still engaging, and the combination of cozy and creepy is masterfully achieved with lots of creativity. Despite a couple of details I would like to see improved, I loved every minute of it. I recommend it to any farming sim enthusiasts or anyone who loves a good mystery.

• Engaging narrative and a mystery to uncover
  
• Stunning aesthetic
  
• Interesting details take the game to the next level

• The controls are finicky
  
• No achievements
  
• Not enough inventory slots at the beginning

For more cozy gaming, visit the Vee's Cozy Corner website.[veescozycorner.com]

If you enjoy reading this review, please consider following Vee's Cozy Corner for more.

A cute little apple is having a busy day in a town full of needy fruits & veggies. This is the unusual premise for Zertug latest game, Apple’s Busy Day.

In this game you can find out the answer to a very important question; what do apples do in their free time. Apple’s Busy Day is a lighthearted exploration game. The protagonist is an apple aptly named Apple. He’s a friendly and good-natured fruit always ready to help whomever he comes across. Apple wanders around his home island helping any neighbours he meets. Of course that makes him very popular in his community. As you can imagine, there’s no lack of characters requesting Apple’s assistance. Whether it be delivering a love letter or helping a young fruit get back his soccer ball, Apple is always happy to oblige.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3356522471
The game aesthetic is simple and cute. The artwork is lively and colorful. It almost looks like children’s drawing. It has an up-beat feel to it. I loved the style, and feel like it’s perfectly suited to the game’s essence. Apple’s Busy Day is exactly as advertised. It spans a single day of Apple’s life, a very busy day! It’s meant to be light and quirky. I also thoroughly enjoyed the jazzy soundtrack that has a cheerful take in keeping with the game’s atmosphere.

I got into this game knowing nothing about it and with no expectations. On the surface, Apple’s Busy Day appears very simple, and that’s part of its charm. The gameplay is easy, you just walk around the town and everyone you meet has a problem for Apple to resolve. Still, it has a certain complexity that is not apparent at first glance. Not all quests are as straightforward as they seem. There are some light puzzles mixed in as well. The different characters are all fruits or vegetables. They’re cute, quirky, and the dialogues are fun to read. Eventually, you even meet a banana who introduces fishing. Of course the fishing, like the game, is on a smaller scale. There are only five type of fish to catch, but I found it to be a nice addition to the game. There is also a net to catch butterflies and crabs. In the end, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3356522543
The quests are fun. There are some tasks that are strictly fetch quests, but in this game it works since it’s all about Apple’s busy day. The fishing and bug catching are an integral part of the game, and I feel like they are a nice break in between the other quests. Additionally, there might even be a treasure for Apple to unearth.

I really liked my time in Apple’s world, I couldn’t stop until I had completed all of his tasks and left the island. It’s a lovely game to have a relaxing moment with. It’s extremely short, lasting only about an hour, but since the game is representative of one day, the length is actually perfect. However there are a couple features that I would like to see in the game. Despite the length of the game and the small size of the world, a map would have been a great inclusion. The world size is limited, but there are a lot of paths you can take to reach slightly hidden areas. It’s almost like a labyrinth, and can be confusing. The goal of this game is to fulfill all of the town’s inhabitant’s requests, and you’ll find yourself doing tasks for many of them at once. You might need something from a character who won’t give it to you until their own demands are fulfilled. Because of this, you’ll end up walking back and forth quite a bit. There are times where I couldn’t remember where the character I had to see was, and it would have been nice to have a map to refer to in those moments. There is a spyglass you can look through that lets you see the whole world a bit at a time. It’s exactly like when you look into one of those viewing binoculars that you can find in tourist areas. It appears a bit late in the game to be used as a map unfortunately. Also you would have to travel there every time you need to look in it so it would be impractical.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3356522947
The last feature I would have liked is a more detailed quests page. The existing page only tells you which quest you’ve completed and what you need to acquire, but it doesn’t specify who demanded it. Since the quests are so interdependent, you might forget who you have to see once it’s completed, and this information should be on the quests page.

Apple’s Busy Day has a cute aesthetic and a cozy atmosphere. I had a lot of fun playing it, and would recommend it to anyone who wants to play an interesting game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s fun, unique, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. You can finish it in one sitting for a relaxing afternoon. It’s short at about one hour playtime, but for the small asking price it’s easily worth picking up.

• Simple relaxing gameplay
  
• Cute fruits & veggies characters
  
• Steam deck optimized

• A more in-depth quests page is needed
  
• No map

For more cozy gaming, visit the Vee's Cozy Corner website.[veescozycorner.com]

If you enjoy reading this review, please consider following Vee's Cozy Corner for more.

Kleene Games is a Berlin based studio made up of four students. They’ve just released their first game on Steam. One S’More is an adorable puzzle game about a little marshmallow who has big dreams. His aspiration is to become the tastiest Smore the world has ever known. Will he fulfill his life-long dream? Our fluffy protagonist longs to become a yummy Smore, but that is easier said than done. He will have to solve many puzzles to get his wish.

One S’More’s world is call the Overworld. It’s divided into five areas; Sugar Hills, Candy Bay, Caramel Valley, Frosted Springs, and Tricky Treats. Each of these sections has several puzzles. The game features auto-save so you don’t have to worry about losing your progress. One aspect that I’ve found annoying is that when you open up the game you always start at the beginning of whichever section you finished in. If, like me, you like to play in smaller sessions then you end up going back and forth a lot. Thankfully, the areas are not too big. When you get to Candy Bay, the second area, you’ll unlock a train that takes you from one place to the next. The game also has a map you can consult at anytime. It makes it much easier to navigate, and you’ll most likely need to use it at one point or another since the puzzle entrance points are not in a straight line.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342018324
There are 125 different puzzles ranging from very easy to fairly challenging even for the most skilled players. The first area is a straightforward introduction to the gameplay. The puzzles consist of two types of tiles; sugar cookies and chocolate covered graham crackers. The goal is to bring the two graham cracker side by side with the marshmallow standing on either one of them. That’s when the magic happen, and our cute little protagonist gets squished between the crackers to achieve his dream of becoming a Smore. As you progress, more tiles (in the form of different sweets) get added.

These tiles each have their own distinct mechanics. For example, the sugar cookie tile can propel the tiles that are surrounding it by left clicking on the cookie. Alternatively, if you right click, they’ll simply disappear. There are a lot of different types of tiles; sugar cookies, puddings, cinnamon swirls, and many more. It makes for a lot of variety of puzzles. I enjoyed playing through the game, but the real fun comes when you start to play with the level editor. There are so many interesting combinations just waiting to be created, and the integration of steam workshop means that you can also play other people’s creations. The possibilities are endless.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342018468
As I’ve mentioned before, in One S’More you don’t choose your puzzle off the home screen. You have to actually walk from one to the next. Walking through the Overworld feel a bit like you’ve stepped directly into the old Candyland board game. Each section has its own bright color scheme. The ground is pillowy, and there are colorful trees and candies everywhere. The aesthetics are perfect, and it was interesting to walk around, and look at the beautiful decor for a time. Unfortunately I found that the map felt a bit empty when you’re walking around. It’s not because the game is missing levels; the problem is that the ‘points’ where you enter levels are grouped together. Sometimes one or two levels will be together and other times there will be more. The game ends up having a lot of extra space on the map that isn’t being utilized. It would be less of an issue if the Overworld was smaller or filled with things to do.

I loved the animation when you finish a puzzle. Our marshmallow gets to become a Smore. We see him squished between the two chocolate covered graham crackers. I found it satisfying to see this adorable animation upon successfully completing a level. At the moment, the soundtrack is okay, but nothing to special. I say at the moment because the developers have stated that it’s only a placeholder, and that they are in the process of creating a fitting soundtrack. I’m looking forward to hearing it, and hoping it will be a fittingly chilled soundtrack. A great soundtrack could truly take One S’More to the next level.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3342018735
I loved all of the small details that the developers have added since I always appreciate them. First and foremost there is an in-game bug report button. If you come across a bug, you can instantly report it while still playing. It shows that the creators are committed to improving their games and hearing what the player has to say.
Another cute little detail is the credits. Instead of just scrolling down, you have to go through a puzzle of sorts to see them. It’s an ingenious way to make it more interesting for the player, and I loved it.

One S’More is an interesting game with an adorable protagonist, a cozy Candyland inspired atmosphere, and beautiful art. There are a good amount of puzzles, and the varying mechanics are easy to learn while still remaining challenging. When you add the level editor and the Steam workshop integration, the game provides you with nearly unlimited replayability. The only aspect I did not care for is the soundtrack, but I have hope the new soundtrack the developers have promised will be more original and relaxing. Overall One S’More is a solid choice if you are looking for your next puzzle game.

• Cute and cozy atmosphere
  
• Simple yet well executed mechanics
  
• Level editor and Steamworkshop adds replayability

• The soundtrack is too generic
  
• The Overworld feels needlessly large
  
• No achievements

For more cozy gaming, visit the Vee's Cozy Corner website.[veescozycorner.com]

If you enjoy reading this review, please consider following Vee's Cozy Corner for more.

It’s a cold winter afternoon, you pick up a warm blanket, and fire up your computer. What are you going to do? Play a good puzzle game maybe?

Cozy Sudoku is a relaxing puzzle game. It was developed and published by CozyPuzzleGames. This game is their first release on Steam. There are thousand of puzzles to complete with five difficulties ranging from easy to extreme. The beginner Sudoku puzzles are simple enough to be accessible to anyone. I’ve played several extreme puzzles, which is the highest level in the game, and found them to be easier than expected. They still offer a considerable challenge, but might not be challenging enough for seasoned players.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3333314589
The game features a ton of different elements you can toggle on or off at your leisure. It feels simple, and yet it has tons of features. You can take notes directly in each square to keep track of possible solutions. There’s also a feature that highlights clashing and duplicated numbers. Another feature involves your answers getting checked automatically as you write them, or you can turn that feature off and check an answer manually only when needed. If the number is wrong when you check it will turn red so that it’s easy to see at first glance which answers are wrong. I was quite surprised at how complete the game is. It has all of the features you could want in a Sudoku game.

There is a cat who sits at the side of the screen, and yes you can play with him. He will follow with his eyes when you hover your cursor around the cat. Unfortunately, I feel like the developer didn’t exploit this feature to its full potential. It would have been cuter if he tried to actually catch the cursor instead of just looking at it. It’s a novelty that does wear off at some point, but I still enjoyed playing with it occasionally while playing. The game has a cute aesthetic. It’s clean and sets the puzzles front and centre. The atmosphere is relaxing and cozy. There are four themes to choose from, all pastel tones. Each one has a main colour; there are pink, green, blue, and grey themes. The cat even changes its appearance in each theme.

https://steamproxy.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3344772505
The game features automatic saves, so you don’t need to worry when you close the game in the middle of a puzzle. You can pick up right where you left off. The soundtrack has a nice chill cozy vibe too. It has a lot of different tracks, enough that it doesn’t become too repetitive even for longer sessions. My favourite aspect about the music player is that it’s in-game. If you don’t like a song you can skip it without having to go to the settings. It makes it really easy to customize your experience while you are playing.

Cozy Sudoku is a simple game where the puzzles are the main attraction. The look is clean, and there are lot of quality of life features that make it pleasant to play. It’s a relaxing game, but still offers plenty of challenges. With five difficulty levels, there is plenty of challenge for everyone. If you like to play puzzles in a relaxing atmosphere, then Cozy Sudoku is the perfect game for you. You can play it in smaller or longer sessions. Plus it has cats!

• Well-crafted puzzles
  
• In-game music player
  
• Cozy atmosphere
  
• Cats!

• Sudoku experts may not find the challenges hard enough
  
• The cat feature could be more fully fleshed out

A great game for newcomers and seasoned players alike, Cozy Sudoku has heaps of puzzles of varying difficulty. It’s fun, cozy, and it has all of the important features at a great price.

For more cozy gaming, visit the Vee's Cozy Corner website.[veescozycorner.com]