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  • svgDec 24, 2023Feature

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    If you received a new Nintendo Switch from Santa or simply looking to expand your library, here are some of the cutest games should play.

    Some reports show that Santa has been pretty generous this year and there is a chance that if you were hoping for a new Switch, you may have found one underneath the tree.

    No matter if you are an experienced Switch owner or if you just joining the fun, here are some super cute games that you should consider adding to your games library.

    From hidden gems like Little Dragons Cafe a game made by the original Harvest Moon creator, where you run your very own Cafe and raise dragons at the same time – to must haves like Animal Crossing New Horizons. Dive in and check out some of these adorable and wholesome games that are perfect for cuddly and cozy winter evenings.

    Little Dragons Cafe

    Little Dragons Cafe is the latest game by Yasuhiro Wada the original Harvest Moon creator. In little Dragons Cafe players choose between a boy or a girl, who are twin siblings. You will be able to gather ingredients and cook recipes in order to run your very own Cafe. Furthermore players will be able to raise a dragon. A fully grown dragon can even be used as a method of transportation to reach far away spots on the map. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles

    For those with their head in the ‘clouds’, who have not yet played or heard of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, it is an aesthetic open-world adventure game. It was initially released for PC and PS4 on July 18th 2017. It was released for Switch on 17th May 2018. 

    More info on Yonder here.

    My Time at Portia 

    My Time at Portia

    Start a new life in the enchanting town of Portia! Restore your Pa’s neglected workshop to its former glory by fulfilling commissions, growing crops, raising animals, and befriending the quirky inhabitants of this charming post-apocalyptic land! [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Palia

    Palia is a free-to-play cozy MMO all about farming, cooking, fishing, and exploring. Immerse yourself in a beautiful new world full of interesting characters and compelling storylines. Expand your homestead and build a gorgeous home for yourself. Craft a number of different furniture and decorative items to make your home suit your tastes. You can play solo or with friends, or even party up with strangers, and play at your own pace!

    Dragon Quest Builders 2

    Dragon Quest Builders 2 farm fields crops
    Dragon Quest Builders 2

    The game combines the best from an RPG game and mixes the formula with a crafting and building game. For the first time players in Dragon Quest Builders 2 will be able to go on a journey with up to 4 players in an online multiplayer coop experience. Exploring, crafting, building and more are all part of the game and can now be enjoyed with your friends. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Golf Story

    Golf Story

    Golf Story is an uber-cute and silly golfing simulator that combines the relaxation of golfing with the stress of crushing defeat looming in the shadows. Take pride in driving that little white ball all across the eight unique environments , cleverly designed to simultaneously inspire joy and rage! Enjoy going head-to-head with your friends in varied and select-able modes, difficulties and maps. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Roots of Pacha

    Roots of Pacha is an absolutely adorable farming and life simulation game by developer Soda Den and publisher Crytivo. You get to customize your very own character and be a member of a thriving stone age community. Discover ideas to improve the village, grow and harvest crops from seeds you find in the wild, befriend a variety of cute animals, get to know your fellow tribes mates, and much more.

    Stardew Valley

    Stardew Valley 1.4 Update

    You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Fae Farm

    Fae Farm is a beautiful farming sim where you cultivate crops, craft items to decorate your home with or sell, and care for adorable farm animals. Befriend a varying cast of townspeople, and even romance some of them. Plus, you even get to venture into the faerie realm, where you’ll see faeries and fantastical creatures not seen in the human realm. Even delve deep into the mines to collect resources, fight enemies, and uncover mysteries!

    The Legend of Zelda Links Awakening

    Zelda Link's awakening

    If you are like us, you just can’t wait to get your hands on the newly remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. The adorable graphics alone are enough to keep us on the edge of our seat, waiting to find out exactly what else is new with this awesome epic classic. With the recently released fact sheet from Nintendo, we now know just a little bit more about what to expect. Not that we needed more than the beautifully polished graphics, that is. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    The Stillness of the Wind

    The Stillness of the Wind is a beautiful and unique take on the traditional and very popular farming game genre. The game focuses on Talma, an elderly woman who is spending her late days on her farmstead growing food, making cheese and tending to animals. The Stillness of the Wind packs everything you come to except from amazing farming games, such as Stardew Valley, Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons to name a few.

    The Stillness of the Wind

    My Riding Stable 2

    My Riding Stables 2 – A New Adventure is an open world exploration game that focuses on the life of a stable owner, and that stable owner is you. You will get to care for a few different breeds of horses, while you try to run a fully functioning riding stable. 

    There will be many different activities to participate in while running your business. You can choose to start the game as most do and take part in the story mode, or you can choose to ride off into the world in search of treasures.

    Get it here.

    Harvest Life

    Harvest Life is taking a cute approach to the oh so adorable farming life simulation genre. In this game the player will of course do some extensive farming, taking care of livestock and exploring the gorgeous environment. But beyond it’s usual farming features, the game also delivers an intriguing story line.

    More info on Harvest Life here.

    Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town

    story of seasons friends of mineral town

    Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town is a remake of the much beloved and highly praised Harvest Moon Friends of Mineral Town that originally released on Gameboy Advance – many, many years ago! And now it is finally coming to Nintendo Switch with all new features and upgraded visuals!

    Paleo Pines

    Paleo Pines is a charming dinosaur farming game. Customize your character, and embark on a journey to a peaceful little island where pioneers live peacefully with affectionate dinosaurs. On the island, evolution went a different direction – “survival of the kindest” – and resulted in a world where humans and dinosaurs live together in harmony. Much to the delight of the residents of the island, you’re the last known descendant of the Flute Whisperer. Together with your Parasaurolophus, Lucky, you’ll build a ranch, make friends with residents, and discover the history of your lost ancestors. Tame other dinosaurs using your flute-playing skills. Build enough trust with them and they’ll help you with your farm chores!

    Many More Games!

    Of course there are just so many more games to talk about so make sure to check back for more coverage on current and upcoming wholesome video games!

    If you are an Animal Crossing fan, you might want to take a look at the latest on New Horizons right here!



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  • svgSep 1, 2021Feature

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    After receiving great feedback from one of my followers, I made a list of best cute games available for Switch.

    As I’m sure you’ve totally figured out by now, I really love playing cute games on my Nintendo Switch. Between the relaxation factor and the adorable graphics, I just can’t get enough of the Nintendo Switch. Now, I have put together a list of my favorite cute games that are currently available for purchase for the Switch. I hope you enjoy all these games as much as I do!

    Little Dragons Cafe

    Little Dragons Cafe home and farm
    Little Dragon’s Cafe

    Little Dragons Cafe is the latest game by Yasuhiro Wada the original Harvest Moon creator. In little Dragons Cafe players choose between a boy or a girl, who are twin siblings. You will be able to gather ingredients and cook recipes in order to run your very own Cafe. Furthermore players will be able to raise a dragon. A fully grown dragon can even be used as a method of transportation to reach far away spots on the map. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Story of Seasons Friends of Mineral Town

    story of seasons friends of mineral town

    Despite there now being a rather saturated farming simulation game market, Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town still manages to earn a place amongst popular games such as Stardew Valley and My Time at Portia. In my personal opinion, it even manages to surpass such games in certain ways due to it’s adorable simplicity. The game features a charming close knit town, harvest sprites with unique personalities, and is unburdened with too many anxiety-provoking features. ( MORE INFO HERE )

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch.

    Dragon Quest Builders 2

    Dragon Quest Builders 2

    The game combines the best from an RPG game and mixes the formula with a crafting and building game. For the first time players in Dragon Quest Builders 2 will be able to go on a journey with up to 4 players in an online multiplayer coop experience. Exploring, crafting, building and more are all part of the game and can now be enjoyed with your friends. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Stardew Valley

    Stardew valley Multiplayer PlayStation 4

    You’ve inherited your grandfather’s old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Doraemon Story of Season

    Doraemon Story Of Seasons

    For the ones who are not familiar with Doraemon Story of Seasons, it is a crossover game that combines the best out the beloved farming sim Story of Seasons and the more adventure driven Doraemon. The game was already released in Japan back in July and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from fans. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    My Time at Portia

    Start a new life in the enchanting town of Portia! Restore your Pa’s neglected workshop to its former glory by fulfilling commissions, growing crops, raising animals, and befriending the quirky inhabitants of this charming post-apocalyptic land! [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Harvest Moon

    HM: Light of Hope

    In celebration of Harvest Moon’s 20th Anniversary comes an all new Harvest Moon title for Steam! Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition! The game encompasses twenty years of the spirit that have made the franchise what it is today! [steam excerpt] MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Yonder

    Yonder The Cloud Catcher Chronicles Switch

    For those with their head in the ‘clouds’, who have not yet played or heard of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, it is an aesthetic open-world adventure game. It was initially released for PC and PS4 on July 18th 2017. It will be released for Switch on 17th May 2018. The game can be purchased as a physical copy, or alternatively can be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop for a reasonable $26.99. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    The Legend of Zelda Links Awakening

    Zelda Link's awakening

    If you are like us, you just can’t wait to get your hands on the newly remastered version of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. The adorable graphics alone are enough to keep us on the edge of our seat, waiting to find out exactly what else is new with this awesome epic classic. With the recently released fact sheet from Nintendo, we now know just a little bit more about what to expect. Not that we needed more than the beautifully polished graphics, that is. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Luigis Mansion 3

    Luigis Mansion 3

    Of course, you are probably all aware of this title that released just this past Halloween on the Nintendo Switch! I have been playing the game myself and do agree with other critics that it is the best game of the series to date in terms of graphics, gameplay including the new moves (Slam is my new fav), and Gooigi. Another significant addition that made all the difference, the game autosaves every time you walk through a door. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Pokemon Sword & Pokemon Shield

    Pokemon Sword and Shield is finally here for the Nintendo Switch as of November 15th, 2019! For those of you that will only be choosing one of those games and aren’t quite sure yet which one to go for, I’ve made a list of exclusives to help! There will be different things in either Sword or Shield which are as follows: Gym Leaders, Exclusive Pokemon, Legendary Pokemon, and Gigantamax Pokemon with a higher rate of appearance in Max Raid Battles. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Golf Story

    Golf Story

    Golf Story is an uber-cute and silly golfing simulator that combines the relaxation of golfing with the stress of crushing defeat looming in the shadows. Take pride in driving that little white ball all across the eight unique environments , cleverly designed to simultaneously inspire joy and rage! Enjoy going head-to-head with your friends in varied and select-able modes, difficulties and maps. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Cat Quest II

    Cat Quest II is a fast-paced open-world action RPG where you play as both a cat and a dog cooperatively. Explore a massive world filled with monsters, dungeons and quests, as you strive to bring peace back to your kingdoms during a time of war! See below for the newly released announcement trailer! This sequel returns to the world of Felingard to expand on the original with more explosive spells, expanded weapon options, an exciting new character switch mechanic, and local co-op! MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Disney TSUM TSUM Festival

    Disney's tsum tsum

    In case you missed it, Disney Tsum Tsum Festival is an exceedingly charming party game that features the Tsum Tsum versions of your favorite Disney characters. It was released in Japan back in October, and is finally releasing in the West on November 8th. The game is so cute, in fact, you can even purchase a themed console! MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    A Hat In Time

    A Hat in Time is a game that has maintained overwhelmingly positive feedback on Steam since its launch in late 2017. A few months after its Mac and PC release, it was also brought to PS4 and Xbox One, but there were no plans to bring it to the Nintendo Switch at the time. That has now changed! Very recently the news surfaced that it was not only confirmed to be coming to the Switch, but has a physical release date of October 18, 2019. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Super Monkey Ball Banana Blits HD

    Super monkey ball

    It’s been 5 years since we’ve had any entries into the Super Monkey Ball series, and 7 since we’ve had any on a console. Fans of the series won’t have to wait much longer to catch up with Aiai and the gang, though. SEGA has officially announced an HD remake of Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz! MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Untitled Goose Game

    This stealth game with a simple premise and slapstick humor created by House House, has recently become an internet sensation, memes and all. I have been following along Untitled Goose Game’s journey since 2017 and have been preparing myself to honk at, annoy, and steal from all of the townspeople. Thanks to the developers, I was able to play a copy on the Nintendo Switch and I was not disappointed. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    Songbird Symphony

    Songbird Symphony

    In case you missed it, Songbird Symphony is an endlessly adorable side scrolling platform game with loads of heart. Go on a musical adventure of discovery to find what truly makes you special. Sing and chirp your way through a wonderful world full of adversary. Explore a beautifully rendered pixel world on a heartfelt journey to find your origins. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom

    The sandbox game features a large number of charactersthat you can interact with, making the environment feel more alive, the developer promises.  WorldNeverland – Elnea Kingdom has been out on mobile devices for quite some time now, and has seen more than 50 recent updates. Each one of them brought new features, improvements and more. MORE INFO HERE

    Purchase for Nintendo Switch

    What is your favorite Nintendo Switch Game?

    If I missed any cute games that you think should be added to the list, please let me know in the comment section below! If you need any other Switch related items, I’ve got you covered

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  • svgApr 12, 2019Reviews

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    My Time At Portia and Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles are two very similar games regarding gameplay. People often wonder which game they should be playing and I’m here to help! Even though both would be a good recommendation, below you can find a small comparison of the two games to possibly help aid in your decision.

    Crafting

    In both games, you get amazing items through crafting that make the games a lot more fun. The crafting gameplay can become a little tedious in both but is still an enjoyable experience. In Portia you need to run to and from each device to craft your items whereas in Yonder, everything is done the your bag menu. If you like the simplicity of it, Yonder has a good system but Portia has more roleplay and realism with using the devices.

    Fishing

    Fishing in Portia and Yonder use very similar mechanics. The notable difference that I noticed was when comparing the two’s Fishing Tournament. Portia’s fishing tournament is great as it is one where you feel the suspense as you watch the number of fish go up from the other competitors. In Yonder, there is absolutely no competition. The quest giver calls it a “tournament” but there seems to be no other people to compete with. Even though Portia has a better fishing tourney, Yonder seems to have an easier fishing mechanic.

    My Time in Portia fishing

    Townsfolk

    The most notable difference between the two games for me was the townsfolk. Portia comes to life with the range of people you meet and their personalities. Yonder’s characters seem to be a blank slate filled with opportunity for more story but they just don’t have it. You can also have relationships with the people in Portia and even get married!

    Music / Sounds

    Music in both games are another aspect that are quite similar. They are both relaxing and add to the feeling of the game. Nothing stands out too much.

    The opening scene from Yonder is breath taking and memorable with perfect music queues.

    Sounds in Yonder seemed to win me over rather than Portia. The reason being was just the volume. Sometimes in Portia you run into trees that have birds chirping extremely loud in your ear and the mixing just seems off a lot of the time. Even though I also experienced trees with loud birds in it in Yonder, this issue was not as bad.

    Graphics

    The visuals between both Yonder and Portia are quite different. I have seen comments saying people prefer Yonder and other people prefer Portia. To each their own when it comes to the graphics between the two.

    The only takeaway that I have here is that Portia has a sort of fog filter which makes distant views look more distant. I feel like this fog takes away from the graphics. (Side Note, there is a mod you can download to get rid of this fog!) I also feel like Yonder has a similar issue where night is too realistic and dark. I wish there was an option/mod to play only in daytime!

    My Time in Portia has some stunning distant views.

    Customization

    Customizing your character in both Portia and Yonder seem to be a little limited. However, where the customization excels is through the buildings that you’re able to put in your farms. Portia has much more customization than Yonder in this field but Yonder comes in with a close second.

    Final Thoughts

    Which game would I recommend to people? Both! My Time in Portia has a lot of depth when it comes to building up your workshop and relationships which makes for a more interactive game play experience. On the other hand, Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a more laid back game about exploration and taking in the scenery. Depending on what you’re in the mood for, either of these games are fun and worth the time to play.

    By clicking the title here, you can purchase your very own copy of My Time at Portia or Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles on the Nintendo Switch.

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  • svgDec 22, 2018News

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    It’s that time of year again! And with it comes yet another Steam Winter Sale.

    With a huge variety of games on offer in the Steam Store (some which are extremely generously discounted), the festive season just got even better!

    The sale lasts until January 3rd, giving gamers plenty of time to use up those Steam gift cards and spend Christmas cash.

    Whilst there are so many games to choose from, here are our fifteen favourite games currently on offer:

    My Time at Portia:

    My Time at Portia is an Early-access sandbox RPG game with farming, crafting, gathering and mining elements. It is currently available on Steam for just US$15.99.

    Portal Knights:

    Portal Knights is an award-winning 3D sandbox action-RPG game developed by Keen Games and Published by 505 Games. It is currently available on Steam for just US$7.99.

    Undertale:

    Undertale is a story-rich RPG by tobyfox with ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews. It is currently available on Steam for just US$3.99.

    Stardew Valley:

    Stardew Valley is a pixel-art-stylised village-life farming simulation game for multiple platforms. It is currently available on Steam for just US$11.24.

    Celeste:

    Celeste is a narrative-driven adventure platformer featuring pixel graphics. 
    It is currently available on Steam for just US$15.99.

    RiME:

    RiME is an aesthetic adventure puzzle game featuring an enigmatic island for your washed-ashore character to explore. It is currently available on Steam for just US$9.89

    Yooka-Laylee:

    Yooka-Laylee is an open-world action-adventure game developed by Playtonic. It is currently available on Steam for just US$11.99

    Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles:

    Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is an open-world adventure game set in the Sprite-filled world of Gemea that is developed and published by Prideful Sloth. It is currently available on Steam for just US$14.99.

    Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom:

    Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom is an anime adventure RPG developed by Level-5 and published by BANDAI NAMCO. It is currently available on Steam for just US$29.99

    Cat Quest:

    Cat Quest is an open world, action adventure RPG set in a world of cats, developed by The Gentlebros. It is currently available on Steam for just US$5.19

    The Gardens Between:

    The Gardens Between is a surrealist puzzle adventure game, developed and published by The Voxel Agents. It is currently available on Steam for just US$13.99

    Cattails:

    Cattails is a feline-themed simulation RPG game available that is developed and published by Falcon Entertainment. It is currently available on Steam for just US$11.99

    Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time:

    Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is a magic-themed action adventure RPG game from the Little Witch Academia series. 
    It is currently available on Steam for just US$15.99.

    Moonlighter:

    Moonlighter is a Pixel-art-stylised action adventure game with features including fighting, exploring, shopkeeping, and crafting. 
    It is currently available on Steam for just US$13.39

    Overcooked! 1 & 2 Bundle:

    Overcooked is an arcade-style cookery game series where players can complete tasks such as chopping, cooking and washing dishes. Overcooked!, and its sequel Overcooked! 2 can be purchased as a bundle for just US$20.69 in the sale.

    Overcooked! 1 & 2 Bundle
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  • svgDec 8, 2018Feature

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    Whether you’re looking for great games to give to a gamer this Christmas, titles to spend your Christmas money on, or simply want a reminder of the Switch games 2018 brought to us, look no further. Here are ten terrific Switch games from 2018.

    Celeste

    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.

    Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

    Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the latest addition to Nintendo’s popular Super Smash Bros. series. The Super Smash Bros. series is a collection of crossover fighting games which mainly feature characters from Nintendo’s own franchises. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate has new fighters such as Isabelle from Animal Crossing and Inkling from Splatoon, as well as reoccurring favourites such as Yoshi and Pikachu. The game was released just yesterday, the 7th December 2018.

    Get Smash Bros. Ultimate here.

    Pokemon: Let’s Go! Eevee & Pokemon: Let’s Go! Pikachu

    Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! are the two variations of RPG game Pokemon: Let’s go! The game was developed by Game Freak and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch console. Using a throwing motion with the Joy-Con or Poké Ball accessory, players can catch a variety of True-to-size Pokemon. Set in the diverse region of Kanto, use skill, timing and a well-placed Poké Ball to catch your favourite Pokemon. You can also connect your game to the Pokémon GO app to receive Kanto region Pokémon. Both versions were released on November 16th, 2018, and cost $59.99 to purchase.

    Get Pokemon Let’s Go here

    Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles

    Yonder is an open-world adventure game by Prideful Sloth that was initially released on July 18th 2017 for PS4 and Windows. Owing to its success, it was also released on the Switch eShop on May 17th 2018. With ‘Very Positive’ reviews on Steam, the game has been praised for its beautiful graphics and music, and the relaxing nature of the game-play. Whilst players can fish, farm, craft, and explore, the main aim of the game is to befriend and collect magical creatures (known as sprites), in order to banish the ‘Murk’ from the world of Gemea.

    Get Yonder: The Cloud Catcher here

    Undertale

    Undertale is a story-rich RPG by tobyfox with ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ reviews. Described as ‘The RPG where you don’t have to destroy anyone’, Undertale is story-rich due to your character’s journey, and also due to player choices affecting the game. You play as a human child who has fallen underground into the realm of monsters and thus, tries to find their way home. You encounter both good monsters and bad along the way, which you can choose to spare or fight. There are a variety of puzzles to complete in order to progress, and a variety of interesting areas to explore.

    Night in the Woods

    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.

    Little Dragons Cafe

    Little Dragons Cafe is a game from Rising Star Games, who are infamous for their Harvest Moon series. The story begins with a twin brother and sister running a small café with their mother. All was peaceful and routine until one morning the twins discovered that their mother fell into a deep sleep and wouldn’t wake up. Suddenly, an old wizard appears and tells the twins that their mother is gravely ill and that they must raise a dragon in order to save her. Working together with their three quirky staff members (waiter, waitress, and chef), the two siblings must raise a dragon and manage the family business while at the same time discover what is causing their mother’s illness and find a cure.

    Get Little Dragons Cafe here. Check out the adorable limited collection here.

    Firewatch (upcoming)

    The critically acclaimed story-rich 2016 game Firewatch, is making its way to Switch later this month. Set to be released on the eShop on the 17th December 2018 in America, Europe, Australia and Japan, the game will cost $19.99 to purchase. It is unknown whether Firewatch will get a physical release. Firewatch is an award-winning atmospheric walking simulation adventure game developed by Campo Santo. Set in 1989, you play as a man 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.

    The First Tree

    The First Tree is a 3D exploration game featuring beautiful graphics and 2 parallel stories. The indie adventure game was Developed and Published on Steam by David Wehle on the 14th November 2017, and has received very positive reviews. Earlier on this year, it was announced that the game would be coming to consoles later on in 2018. St to be released on November 30th, The First Tree: Console Edition will be available to download on Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. The console price has not yet been announced, but the game is currently affordably priced at $7.99 on Steam.

    Cattails

    Cattails is a feline-themed simulation RPG game available on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Originally developed and published by Falcon Entertainment for PC, Mac and Linux on December 1st 2017, the game has garnered very ‘paws-itive’ feedback since its release, subsequently leading to the game’s recent release on Switch. Through the eyes of a cat, Cattails allows players to hunt for food, interact with other cats, gather herbs and explore an expansive world. Kotaku have said that “Cattails looks like Stardew Valley, except cats.” and IGN have said that Cattails is “an adorably silly game, but one that’s also a lot of fun.”

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  • svgMay 16, 2018News

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    For those with their head in the ‘clouds’, who have not yet played or heard of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles, it is an aesthetic open-world adventure game. It was initially released for PC and PS4 on July 18th 2017. It will be released for Switch on 17th May 2018. The game can be purchased as a physical copy, or alternatively can be downloaded from the Nintendo eShop for a reasonable $26.99.

    To any UK gamers, the game currently has a 10% discount and can be obtained for a reasonable £20.69 if pre-ordered today. You can pre-order it here. For players outside the UK, you can get the game on Amazon here.

    Upon its release for PC last year, Yonder was praised for its beautiful graphics and amalgamation of different elements from popular game series’.  It has been compared to Zelda, Harvest Moon, and Animal Crossing, as well as many other games.

    Straight away I was able to see Zelda’s influence upon the game, with the beginning being suspiciously reminiscent of both Wind Waker and Breath of the Wild. (My boyfriend’s exact words upon watching my gameplay were “Oh look it’s Breath of The Wild!”). ????

    A̶f̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶n̶d̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶a̶n̶ ̶h̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶r̶a̶c̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶c̶u̶s̶t̶o̶m̶i̶s̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶  you begin the game on a ship set sail for Gemea, a mysterious island full of Sprites, animals and Murk (that darn Murk!). Unfortunately, due to a disastrous combination of stormy weather and incompetent crew members, you arrive at Gemea via shipwreck (you had one job guys!????). Armed with a handy compass to (literally) light the way, you set off to explore the first part of Gemea. The Grasslands.

    Similar to the game RiME, death in Yonder is apparently impossible. Jumping into deep water or off of cliff edges results in your character either re-spawning or whipping out an umbrella to float to safety?! So in this sense, in combination with no time constraints, no combat, and free reign to explore Gemea (aside from a few essential quests for story progression), the game is very relaxing and family-friendly.

    Likes and Dislikes

    Things I liked about the game ???? 

    • The satisfaction one gets when mining rocks and chopping down trees (Side note: I enjoy spending days aggressively smashing rocks and branches on my farm on Stardew Valley). The slight vibration of the joy-cons when doing manual labour in Yonder enhances this satisfaction (yes, I’m a weirdo).
    • The cute creatures, luscious landscapes, captivating compositions, and quirky quests were four of the most appealing aspects of the game for me.

    • Additionally, I liked that there wasn’t any time constraints and that the game-play was very self-directed. This means that players can forge their own path through the game, at their own pace.
    • As a cat-lover ????, I was very happy to discover that the game had a cat quest! Whilst finding all of the (55) cats in the game requires dedication, the side quest is definitely a cute addition.

    Things I disliked about the game ????

    • Maybe I’m just incompetent, but I spent about an hour looking for my missing crew members. After giving up the search ????????‍♀️, I decided to instead clear up my farm and return to the village. It was only then that I realised that this mission could not be completed until later on. Therefore an uncertainty/ambiguity of how and when to complete some missions was an aspect I wasn’t keen on.
    • Additionally, each area of the game is very vast. Whilst this does offer players more adventure and opportunity to explore, it is easy to become overwhelmed and lost at first.

    (Side note: Is it just me who thinks the cats look kinda creepy? With their vacant eyes and ability to stand like a human..)

    • The faintness of the collectable cats meows, as well as them being small in size, makes them difficult to find in my opinion. It took me a whole (in-game) day to locate and rescue one from some rocks in Radiant Sands. I was tempted to leave it there, but the cat’s meows sounded so sad and pitiful. Anyone would think you’d committed the heinous crime of feeding it 5 mins late!

    Additionally, some cats can only be discovered during certain seasons. Therefore after collecting all 55, I reckon players should be rewarded with more than just a stinkin’ trophy. Maybe a cat (or six) of our own, because who needs 55 cats anyway..?! ????

    Image result for yonder yarn ball cats

    • To be fair, it is pretty cute to be able to see 55 kitties playing in a giant ball of yarn after completing the quest. 100000% worth it. Maybe.
    • A final dislike was having to clean up creature poop. Definitely one of the less enchanting elements in the game.. ????
    Main Features

    Music and Cinematics ????

    The game’s music and cinematics play a big part in making the game appealing. Beautiful mini cut scenes (such as when a player discovers a new area) as well as enchanting music, creates a soothing gaming experience and contributes to the game’s ‘Breath of The Wild’ feel. Even the little things have been thought of by developers. For example, the presence of pauses between music in order to lessen the likelihood of the player getting bored of the Soundtrack.

    Relaxing, not taxing ????

    Despite the murk casting a shadow over their homeland, the people of Gemea (mostly) remain welcoming, humble and charismatic.

    This guy being an exception… With combat absent, the gameplay is calm, relaxing, and gentle, and focuses more on the player’s journey, as opposed to fixating on the destination.

    Snow White’s 26 Sprites? ????

    Finding Sprites is essential in Yonder in order to clear areas of Murk. Sprites can be found in many different locations, and each have their own unique personalities. They can range from forgetful, to grumpy, which kind of reminded me of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

    Although it can definitely be said that Gemea’s flittering inhabitants are a little more sprite-ly (heh) and helpful than their Disney counterparts.

    Controls ????

    The controls in the game are pretty straightforward, although players are given tutorials nonetheless.

    Having Joy-Cons with joysticks makes the game more enjoyable and accessible for me personally. (Confession: I’m terrible at using WASD in PC games and will set the arrow keys as direction controls wherever possible). It is easy to use the compass (a useful tool) in the game by simply pressing the up arrow button (△) on the blue (left) Joy-Con.

    I played the majority of the game in handheld mode, although graphics can definitely be appreciated more when the game is played on a larger screen.

    Graphics ????

    The graphics are hands-down the best aspect of the game for me. From twinkling sunsets over water, to luscious green breezy meadows, the varying utopia-esque landscapes are best described as eye-candy.

    The attractive art-style is not dissimilar to My Time At Portia (MTAP). Both Yonder and MTAP are beautiful open-world RPG simulation games. They both allow players to craft items, manage a farm, and engage with a plethora of charismatic characters. They have also both earned a respectable 9/10 rating on Steam.

    Bartering ????

    Unlike many other games, Yonder utilises a bartering system. As opposed to just obtaining some of a currency and buying things, you barter with tradespeople instead. This is actually pretty useful as currency in games can sometimes be hard to accumulate.

    Crafting ????

    Some things can’t be purchased through bartering and will have to be crafted instead. An example being the Toy Cat (*whistles nonchalantly*). There are 8 different crafting classes (Guilds) in the game. Your character starts out as a Wayfarer, but can join different Guilds and become a:

    • – Chef
    • – Carpenter
    • – Constructor
    • – Tinker
    • – Brewer
    • – Tailor
    • – Master Craftsman

    Each class offers their own unique crafting recipes (not dissimilar to Level 5’s game Fantasy Life).

    Farming ????

    The game offers both crop and animal farming. Players can befriend exotic creatures such as the Groffle (by bribing them with their favourite foods). The creature will then follow the player. If lead to a farm with an animal pen, it can then be adopted.

    You can also hire many characters in the game as farmhands (again, by bribing them with food). Farmhands will undertake a variety of tasks, and essentially help to keep your farm clean, tidy and running smoothly. Thus, maintaining its rating whilst you are away.

    Exploration ????

    There are eight different regions to explore in Yonder.

    The Grasslands ???? – Grassy plains located in the center of Gemea 

    Crestfall Coast ???? – A coastal, temperate, tropical region 

    Dapplewood Forest ???? – A forest region crossed with creeks

    Hearthwind Vale ???? – A region full of plateaus, valleys and swamps 

    Numino Peak ???? – A snow-covered mountain region

    Radiant Sands ???? – A desert region

    Sunderwind Wilds ???? – A prairie region

    The Shivering Plains ❄ – A cold, snow-covered region 

    The different regions have their own unique climates, landscapes, characters, quests, guilds, wildlife and more.

    Conclusion

    Overall, I found Yonder to be an enigmatic game with lots of different features to keep players entertained. The variety of (sometimes kooky) quests, plethora of beautiful landscapes to explore, and the ability to farm, craft, mine etc, makes boredom unlikely, even for those with the shortest of attention spans.????

    Whilst the vast landscapes may be overwhelming at first, you will become well acquainted with them over time. Having a large open-world isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it helps to make the game a little more challenging, as your compass doesn’t guide your character everywhere.

    Put simply, if you are a fan of My Time At Portia, Stardew Valley or Fantasy Life, I would definitely recommend purchasing this game for Switch.

    Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles will release on Nintendo Switch eShop May 17th, a physical version is set to release on June 12th, you can-pre-order it here.

    Big thanks to Prideful Sloth for providing the review copy of Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles on Nintendo Switch. 

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