Oct 10, 2021Feature
As Halloween parties are being kept small this year (and being a lot little too old to go trick-or-treating), I had decided to get my sulk on, as opposed to getting my spook on.
Horror movies scare me, I can’t watch the Gremlins, and even get the heebie-jeebies from The Grinch. I admit it. I am a bit of a scaredy-cat. But I do really LOVE Halloween and this time of year.
So when I realized that candy is still abundant and mildly scary games perfect for Halloween exist, I was over the moon! Now, I’m super excited to curl up (in the warmth!) on the 31st, eat too many snacks, and play some of those slightly spooky games. So if you’re in the same boat as me, or are looking for something fun to do with kids, look no further!
Here are some wholesome games with Halloween events and some standalone slightly spooky games you should play this Halloween.
Nintendo was very cryptic regarding the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Halloween event when it first launched. So cryptic in fact, that players had no idea what the seasonal event would entail, and many wondered if it would happen at all!
But just when all seemed lost and Halloween canceled, Nintendo decided to casually drop the game’s fall update and even added new items this year around. And what an update it was! The introduction of real pumpkins, brand new eye and skin colors, Halloween costumes, and spooky furniture were just a few fab features from the update.
*Pssst* If you haven’t already spook-ified your island, it’s not too late! Here are some spooktacular island tunes and flags, pumpkin patches, and decor ideas to inspire you before Jack is back.
Be sure to check out your island between 5pm and midnight on the 31st to witness and participate in the spooky shenanigans occurring. Island residents will gather in the splendidly spooky-looking plaza at 5pm. You’ll also receive a visit from Jack, the “czar of Halloween.” If you indulge Jack’s sweet tooth and give him lollipops and candy, you’ll get spooky rewards in return.
Ooblets is described as ‘a farming, creature collection, and town life game where you build up your farm, befriend townsfolk, grow Ooblets, and have dance-offs’.
Developers and publishers of the indie game, Glumberland have been working their socks off to make the quirky little game the best that it can be. Excitingly, they released an early access version of Ooblets back in July of this year. Glumberland have been open about the game having some unfinished bits and bobs, and that players may encounter a few bugs. This is, however, to be expected in any early access game.
How is this relevant to Halloween you might ask? Well, back in September, Ooblets posted some very exciting tweets about the next update for the game. These posts spoke of a new area (named Nullwhere) for players to explore in update 0.4. Spooktacular images of Nullwhere were shared in the below tweet, which confirmed a Ooblets Halloween update.
Fast forward to October and fans got a (pretty darn awesome!) jump scare:
To check out the new update introducing new recipes a new area and more, you can download the Ooblets early access here for $24.99. The game is currently only available on Windows, however, Glumberland hopes to release it on other platforms in the future.
Night in the Woods is an autumnal themed indie adventure game. Highly relatable to many, the game shows the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. After the protagonist, Mae Borowski drops out of college and returns to her hometown, she finds things as gloomy and hopeless as ever. But this time, it’s even worse.
As fall turns to winter, Mae notices that strange and eery occurrences are happening. And there’s definitely something in the woods. This charming game with a beautiful soundtrack and enthralling narrative is a must-play. Night in the Woods is playable on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox One, Android, Macintosh operating systems, and iOS.
Night in The Woods is currently available on Steam, you can grab it here for just $19.99.
Described as a cross between Harry Potter and Animal Crossing, Konami published Magicians Quest: Mysterious Times for Nintendo DS in Japan on the 12th of November 2008. The cute game hit the shelves in the US on the 11th of May 2009. Magician’s Quest: Mysterious Times is a fantasy life simulation game for the Nintendo DS.
After customizing the appearance, name, and gender of their character, players are able to attend classes at the game’s magic academy. During classes, players will learn spells and incantations, alongside their classmates. Some of the game’s more amusing features include dating other students, playing instruments with others, and pranking (and getting pranked by) others.
When Mystery Time events are triggered in the game, however, things get a bit weird. On the 29th of October each year, a forced Halloween-themed Mystery Time event occurs. For added spookiness, the game also has a haunted house containing unfriendly ghosts and a ‘shady’ dude chilling in the graveyard (as you do!).
Costume Quest is a Halloween-themed party-based RPG game. The game was developed by Double Fine Productions and published by THQ. The player controls a kid who is out trick-or-treating with their twin sibling. When a monster kidnaps their twin, the player must travel around the neighborhood and collect candy, items for their costume, and other children to aid them in fighting the monster and rescuing their sibling.
The game released on October 19th, 2010, and is playable on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android. The game’s sequel, Costume Quest 2 released on October 31st, 2014.
If you haven’t already played them, you can grab them both as a bargain bundle for just $4.99 until November 3rd.
Thimbleweed Park is a pixel-art-stylized puzzle-mystery game. The tiny town of Thimbleweed Park is home to 80 very strange people. Five people with nothing in common find themselves drawn to the town. They are all connected, although they don’t immediately know it.
Nor do these strangers know that somebody’s watching them. Despite the game featuring pixel graphics, with a rotting corpse, an abandoned circus, and a haunted house, the game is a far cry from Stardew Valley. The game is available to play on Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Mac.
If you don’t yet own a copy, the game is discounted by 60% to just $6.99 on Steam until November 2nd.
Luigi’s Mansion 3 released on Nintendo Switch on October 31st of last year. Considering its release date, players got a sneaky suspicion that Luigi’s Mansion 3 may be a good game to play on Halloween. They assumed correctly.
Luigi receives a dream vacation package with Mario and friends to stay in a luxurious hotel. But the friends never seem to catch a break, right? Once at the hotel, King Boo (booo!) reveals that it was all a ploy and captures everyone! The hotel contains an abundance of uniquely-themed designs, puzzles, and, you guessed it: Ghosts. But with his new ghostbusting equipment with new abilities, Luigi’s got things in the bag. He thinks.
Alternatively, you can play in co-op mode with one other player. After unlocking Luigi’s gooey doppelganger ‘Gooigi’, you can pair up in solving perplexing puzzles and ghostbusting ghouls. But the multi-player fun doesn’t stop there! For example, in the game’s ‘ScreamPark, you and seven others can play mini-games together on a single console. Additionally, you can gather a group of eight others, either online or via local wireless play in an attempt to conquer the ‘ScareScraper’.
Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is an action adventure RPG game. The game initially released in Japan for PS4 on the 30th of November 2017. It then released worldwide on the 15th of May 2018. The game was developed by A+ Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It is currently playable on PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows.
if you’re unfamiliar with Little Witch Academia, it is an anime series about a school for training witches, Luna Nova Academy. The protagonist of the series, Akko, is a Japanese girl from a non-magical background.
In the game, you must uncover the mysteries at Luna Nova Academy with Akko and her friends. Players get to explore dungeons, cast spells, and use witchcraft, in order to discover the seven wonders, and solve the peculiar shift in time.
Another addition to the list which is kinda like Stardew valley, but a bit darker is Graveyard Keeper.
Graveyard Keeper is a simulation game set in medieval times, where players take on the responsibilities of a cemetery manager. You must gather resources and create your very own environment. To do this, you need to build and manage your graveyard, find ways to cut costs, and ultimately to help the dead find peace.
Perfect for Halloween, Graveyard Keeper has some elements of dark humor. Examples of this include, taking a break from graveyard keeping, and instead, participating in witch-burning festivals, or scaring locals into attending church.
Making this game more Halloween-y, is the recent release of the Graveyard Keeper – Game of Crone DLC on October 27th.
You’ll have to help the escaped prisoners of the Inquisition survive in the wilderness by providing them with everything they need. To develop their camp into a fortified settlement while keeping in mind its benefits. To protect those who entrusted you with their lives, from the sword and fire. And also – to untangle the circumstances of the cruel game, which turned into the Great Blast and the return of the Ancient Curse.
Released on the 28th of October, also just in time for Halloween, is the Graveyard Keeper Strangers Sins DLC, which we covered here!
The Graveyard Keeper Game of Crone DLC can be purchased for just $8.99 here. Alternatively, if you do not yet own the base game, at the time of writing, you can get a hefty 63% off the Graveyard Keeper Collector’s Edition here. For only $19.75, the Collector’s Edition contains Graveyard Keeper, Graveyard Keeper OST, Graveyard Keeper Artbook, Graveyard Keeper – Stranger Sins, Graveyard Keeper – Game of Crone.
Animal Crossing Pocket Camp is the mobile version of the much beloved Animal Crossing series. While it doesn’t offer the freedom of the console games, it still does a great job at delivering a super cute gaming experience.
During the month of October there will be plenty of Halloween themed events with spooky furniture and decoration items that you can use to turn your campsite into the ultimate Halloween Haunted House. The Pocket Camp team does a great job making the entire month of October feel spooky and fun!
Oct 11, 2020Feature
Halloween is coming up and I love nothing more than to cozy up with some of my favorite video games and celebrate the holidays in my favorite virtual worlds. Decorating my environment or simply enjoying the festive time with my favorite game characters is just so much fun. Here are some of the spooky or not so spooky games I look forward to playing this Halloween season!
It has been 8 years that Animal Crossing New Leaf was released and I still pick it up frequently. Of course I am working hard to decorate my island in New Horizons, but New Leaf is still a lot of fun as well and I have yet to say goodbye to my old village on the 3DS.
The game features a really fun Halloween event where you can collect lollipops and various candy pieces from villagers in your town. You then have the choice to exchange these goodies with Jack who will be in your town on October 31st, Depending on what you hand over, you will get Spooky or Creepy furniture! Animal Crossing New Leaf is currently available on the Nintendo 3DS / 2DS.
Night in the Woods is an autumnal themed indie adventure game. Highly relatable to many, the game shows the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. After the protagonist, Mae Borowski drops out of college and returns to her hometown, she finds things as gloomy and hopeless as ever. But this time there’s something more. Strange and eery occurrences are happening. And there’s something in the woods. This charming game with beautiful music can be played on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox One, Android, Macintosh operating systems, and iOS.
Nintendo announced during their Nintendo Direct at E3 2019 that Luigi’s Mansion 3 is coming to the Nintendo Switch on October 31st, 2019. Now a year after its initial release, Luigi receives a dream vacation package with Mario and friends to a luxurious hotel. Once there however, King Boo reveals everything had been a ploy and now everyone is captured! Each floor of the hotel is its own unique level but this time, you don’t have to do it alone!
Thimbleweed Park is a puzzle-mystery game that features pixel graphics. The tiny town of Thimbleweed Park is home to 80 very strange people. Five people with nothing in common are drawn to the town. Although they might not yet know it, they are all deeply connected. They’re also all being watched. From a rotting corpse to an abandoned circus, the game is a far cry from Stardew Valley. The game is available to play on Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Mac.
Costume Quest is a Halloween-themed party-based RPG game. The game is developed by Double Fine Productions and published by THQ. The player controls a kid who is out trick-or-treating with their twin sibling. When their twin is kidnapped by a monster, the player must travel around the neighborhood and collect candy, items for their costume, and other children to aid them in fighting the monster and rescuing their sibling.
The game was released on October 19th, 2010, and can be played on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android. The game’s sequel, Costume Quest 2 was released on October 31st, 2014. You can check out Costume Quest and Costume Quest 2 on Steam for more details!
Little Nightmares is a stop-motion-esque game, with an environment uncomfortably reminiscent of one’s childhood nightmares. The game is a puzzle-platformer horror adventure game that utilizes imagery, empathy, and strange and bizarre encounters (as opposed to overused jump-scares) in order to evoke a sense of horror. With the PC version of the game garnering a score of 81/100, critics praised the game’s atmosphere, graphics, and audio.
Animal Crossing Pocket Camp is the mobile version of the much beloved Animal Crossing series. While it doesn’t offer the freedom of the console games, it still does a great job at delivering a super cute gaming experience. During the month of October there will be plenty of Halloween themed events with spooky furniture and decoration items that you can use to turn your campsite into the ultimate Halloween Haunted House.
If you are on the lookout for a new game, check out my list of 13 magnificent pixel-art games that you don’t want to miss out on!
Oct 10, 2019Feature
If you live in Japan, you might have already seen the new Detective Pikachu movie in theaters last weekend. For those of us living in the US, Canada, or UK, we have to wait until May 10th, 2019. Some countries may have to wait a couple days sooner or even several days later.
The upcoming live-action Detective Pikachu movie is based off the 3DS game of the same name. Play as Tim Goodman and team up with a talking Pikachu to solve mysteries around Ryme City. Furthermore, these strange occurrences happening around the town may or may not be related to the sudden disappearance of Tim’s father.
If you love this movie as much as I do, check out my list below of our top recommended games (in no particular order) that include plenty of detective work in order to solve crimes. Perhaps these games will scratch your itch for the mystery genre until you can see Pikachu in all his “Sherlockian” glory. All games are available to play now so happy sleuthing everyone!
Layton’s Mystery Journey, developed by Level-5, follows Professor Hershel Layton’s daughter, Katrielle. Solve puzzles alongside her talking dog Sherl and her friends Emiliana Perfetti and Ernest Greeves. When her father vanishes, Katrielle goes off in search of him, coming across various puzzles and mysteries along the way. You can play this game on the Nintendo 3DS now. However, you may want to wait as the game was confirmed to be released to the West on the Nintendo Switch this year.
The trilogy combines all three original games including: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Trials and Tribulations. Although most of the action happens inside of a courtroom as you’re a defense attorney, you’re still tasked with investigating and finding evidence at the scene of the crime. You also have to discover who is innocent and who is guilty via cross-examinations. I’ve covered the game here and it’s available now on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
Trüberbrook is set in rural Germany in the late 1960s. Play as an American physicist, Hans Tannhauser, on a vacation and discover why your notes of your dissertation on quantum physics have been stolen. As you begin to investigate this health resort and town you notice something odd is happening. Speak to villagers, travelers, and spa guests to get to the bottom of this mystery! Trüberbrook is available now for PC, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
L.A. Noire (Rockstar Games) blends the breathtaking action with true detective work for an unprecedented interactive experience. Solve brutal crimes, plots, and conspiracies inspired by real crimes from 1947 Los Angeles. This post-war boom of Hollywood’s Golden Age was one of the most corrupt and violent times in L.A. history. Search for clues as Cole Phelps, an LAPD detective, chase down suspects, and interrogate witnesses as you struggle to find the truth in a city where everyone has something to hide. If you want to watch the Nintendo Switch trailer, I’ve got that here for you.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is developed by Frogwares and published by Focus Home Interactive. It’s available for PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One since 2014. This game makes this the oldest one on our list but it is definitely still a must-play crime-solving game. Step into the role of the most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and use his amazing talent for deduction.
The setting is in London and its suburbs in 1894 and 1895. The gameplay is largely focused on finding the right culprit and making the moral choice of absolving or condemning them. Furthermore, Sherlock Holmes is split into six cases of murders, disappearances, and thefts, written in the tradition of Doyle novels. We’ve also listed this game under Most Calming Games to Cozy Up and Help You Relax.
An economy crisis has hit Thimbleweed Park as well as a murder. Two FBI agents, Ray and Reyes, have come to solve the case. Switch between five playable characters and discover the secrets hidden in this town with a creepy and dark atmosphere (but still with a sense of humor). Thimbleweed Park is a point-and-click adventure game developed by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick for PC, mobile devices, Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. Find out more about this game with us here.
Oxenfree, developed by Night School Studio, is a story-driven, supernatural adventure where choices you make affect the outcome of the game and your relationship with other characters. You play as Alex, a young teenager, who brings her new stepbrother to an overnight party on an island. That island used to house a military base but it was decommissioned. When Alex tried to tune an old radio, she inadvertently opened a dimensional rift. While you’re all being haunted by ghosts, discover the secrets of the island and close the rift. This game might give you a bit of a “Blair Witch” vibe but is a lot less terrifying. See photos and more information about Oxenfree here.
The story follows Edith Finch as she makes her way through her family’s old house that her late mother Dawn would never let her explore. This is because her mother chose to seal up all the doors in an attempt to hide her family from a curse that has taken the lives of many other family members in strange and mysterious ways.
Make your way through the house and discover the stories of her family members and how each of them died. This game will seem like you are merely just watching a movie as there aren’t that many puzzles to solve but if you pay close attention, you may be able to piece together some clues yourself. We, myPotatoGames, have a review here for you in case you’re interested in taking a look before playing!
Firewatch is a first-person simulation and adventure game developed by Campo Santo. Set in 1989, you play as a man named Henry who is a fire lookout in the Wyoming wilderness. Something strange leads you to explore the nearby forest, forcing you to make decisions that can both build and destroy relationships. Talk on a walkie-talkie with your supervisor Delilah and stumble upon a conspiracy and mystery of years past. The visually beautiful game is available now for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Interested in simpler, more relaxing Facebook games that have puzzles and investigations? We’ve got you covered with our article of Most Popular Crime Investigation Games on Facebook.
Oct 5, 2018Event
If you’re a jumpy, easily-scared person like myself, It can sometimes be hard to join in with Halloween fun. You’re too old to get away with too old for trick or treating, but don’t particularly want to watch The Exorcist with your mate. But have no fear (literally), as we’ve compiled 5 great not-too-scary games that you can enjoy this Halloween.
Night in the Woods is an autumnal themed indie adventure game. Highly relatable to many, the game shows the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. After the protagonist, Mae Borowski drops out of college and returns to her hometown, she finds things as gloomy and hopeless as ever. But this time there’s something more. Strange and eery occurrences are happening. And there’s something in the woods. This charming game with beautiful music can be played on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Xbox One, Android, Macintosh operating systems, and iOS.
Costume Quest is a Halloween-themed party-based RPG game. The game is developed by Double Fine Productions and published by THQ. The player controls a kid who is out trick-or-treating with their twin sibling. When their twin is kidnapped by a monster, the player must travel around the neighborhood and collect candy, items for their costume, and other children to aid them in fighting the monster and rescuing their sibling. The game was released on October 19th, 2010, and can be played on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, and Android. The game’s sequel, Costume Quest 2 was released on October 31st, 2014.
Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon (also known as Luigi’s Mansion 2 in Europe and Australia) is an action-adventure video game for Nintendo 3DS. The game was released in Japan on March 20, 2013, and most other regions later on that month. The game is the sequel to the 2001 Gamecube game, Luigi’s Mansion. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is set to be released for Switch at some point during 2019.
The protagonist of the game is Luigi, who is sent by Professor E. Gadd to explore spooky abandoned mansions, inside which hostile poltergeists reside. Using the Poltergust 5000 (which resembles a vacuum cleaner), Luigi is entasked with capturing the ghosts and ultimately retrieving a Dark Moon fragment.
Little Nightmares is a stop-motion-esque game, with an environment uncomfortably reminiscent of one’s childhood nightmares. The game is a puzzle-platformer horror adventure game that utilizes imagery, empathy, and strange and bizarre encounters (as opposed to overused jump-scares) in order to evoke a sense of horror. With the PC version of the game garnering a score of 81/100, critics praised the game’s atmosphere, graphics, and audio.
Thimbleweed Park is a puzzle-mystery game that features pixel graphics. The tiny town of Thimbleweed Park is home to 80 very strange people. Five people with nothing in common are drawn to the town. Although they might not yet know it, they are all deeply connected. They’re also all being watched. From a rotting corpse to an abandoned circus, the game is a far cry from Stardew Valley. The game is available to play on Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, Linux, and Mac.
Aug 10, 2018Event
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]re you a struggling student strapped for cash. Or simply a thrifty gamer, who wants to play good quality games for non-extravagant prices? Then look no further, as we’ve compiled a list of 9 great games downloadable from the Switch eShop. And they are all less than £20/$25 USD
Celeste is a narrative-driven adventure platformer featuring pixel graphics. The aim of the game is to help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain. with over 700 screens of platforming challenges and secrets, and over 2 hours of original music featuring live piano and catchy synth beats, it’s no surprise that the game was given a 92% rating by Metacritic upon its release for Switch back in January. At just £17.99, the game undoubtedly offers good value for money.
Stardew Valley is a Harvest Moon-reminiscent RPG farming sim, that also features pixel graphics. Originally released for PC, the game was highly regarded for features such as complex characters, diversity in character customisation and dating, and the game’s enigmas and secrets. Its success meant that it was ported to Switch in October of last year. With an additional multi-player update, the game is well worth its eShop price of £10.99
Sonic Mania is a game that puts a modern twist on iconic Zones and Acts from games such as Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic CD, and Sonic The Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles. The game features the iconic blue hedgehog, Sonic, alongside pals such as Knuckles and tails. You can re-experience your favourite 2D classics, but with added enhancements, such as stunning HD retro-style graphics, pixel-perfect physics, and a game that runs at 60FPS. The game can be snapped up for just £15.99.
Overcooked: Special Edition is an arcade-style cookery game. Players can complete tasks such as chopping, cooking and washing dishes (boo), either by themselves or alongside other players in multiplayer mode. With a plethora of unusual and tricky kitchens, HD rumble support, and two DLC packs (The Lost Morsel, and Festive Seasoning), the £17.99 game would be great for parties.
Also a port from PC is Thimbleweed park, a puzzle-mystery game that features pixel graphics. The tiny town of Thimbleweed Park is home to 80 very strange people. Five people with nothing in common are drawn to the town. Although they might not yet know it, they are all deeply connected. They’re also all being watched. From a rotting corpse to an abandoned circus, the game is a far cry from Stardew Valley. But if you enjoy a good mystery and narrative, you can purchase the game for just £14.99
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebzsjeyjig8
Night in the Woods is an autumnal themed indie adventure game. Highly relatable to many, the game shows the crumbling former mining town of Possum Springs. After the protagonist, Mae Borowski drops out of college and returns to her hometown, she finds things as gloomy and hopeless as ever. But this time there’s something more. Strange and eery occurrences are happening. And there’s something in the woods. This charming game with beautiful music can be purchased for only £17.09 on the Switch eShop.
Rocket league is an action-packed racing sports game that combines arcade-style soccer with driving. With rewarding physics-based gameplay, a fully-featured offline season mode, multiple game types, and both casual and competitive online matches, it’s no wonder that this award-winning game is highly regarded. Amazingly, you can purchase it for just £15.
Blosson Tales: The Sleeping King is an action-adventure RPG game with charming pixel graphics. Fight monsters and save the Kingdom of Blossom from eternal darkness whilst playing as Lily, Knight of the Rose. With a dynamic story passed down through generations, your in-game choices influence the narrative and change the course of events. With HD rumble support and over 15+ hours of gameplay, fans of the Zelda franchise and pixel RPG’s alike will be pleased to learn that the game is obtainable for only £13.49
One of the first games available for Switch following its release is Snipperclips, an action-puzzle paper-themed game. Help papery pals Snip and Clip undertake a variety of tasks by cutting them into different shapes. Don’t feel sad though, as they return to their former selves at the end of each task. Magic. The game has a variety of modes, and the option to play solo, or to play with others, potentially making it another game to play at parties. This family-friendly game can be purchased for only £17.99