Sometimes you're simply in the mood for a fairy tale. Let's face it, the grown-up world can get complicated and drab, and there's nothing like a bit of old-fashioned fantasy to lift your spirits. So come and spend a few hours in the enchanted realm of the newest hidden-object adventure, Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir by Gogii Games. There are fairies, a dragon, magic of all sorts, not to mention a whale with a Scottish accent, what more do you need? Young Bella is a pretty golden-haired teenager, blissfully oblivious of the evil surrounding her. The witch has discovered her whereabouts and has sent her hellish minions to take away Bella's fairy godmothers, leaving her without protection. Bella is now the kingdom's only hope, and she must find a way to end the witch's reign and lift the curse which envelops the land.

As far as gameplay goes, Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir offers more than your standard hidden-object adventure. In each scene, you can mouse over different objects. If your cursor turns into a hand, that means you can pick up an item; if a question mark appears, you should use an item from your inventory to interact with it. Hidden-object scenes are indicated with sparkles. However, in addition to this, you can use a flute to call your dragon for help and a wand to break things with (hey, not all princesses have to be dainty and gentle!). Your fairy godmothers will also accompany you as you save them one by one, and you will be able to use their powers to change the world around you.

Analysis: Compared to its predecessor, the game offers some definite improvements. For one thing, the astonishingly annoying blue fairy has decided it's time to tone down, so she's now content with giving advice during cutscenes. The sound effects are unobtrusive and more appropriate, meaning that not every action you take is followed by harps and fanfares. The graphics haven't had a major overhaul, but the scenes look royally grandiose and it's always wonderful to see cursed rooms come back to life and fill with joy and merriment.

A Disney-like atmosphere can be felt all through the game, so the animations, which are more cartoonish than realistic, fit in quite nicely. The hidden-object scenes could have done with a little variety. In the olden days, we were used to the click-on-stuff-to-cross-it-off-a-list variety, but it's 2013 and we now appreciate some more puzzliness and challenge. Speaking of which, the mini-games vary from extremely simple to relatively tricky, but never venture into the difficult territory. It is obvious that the developers made an effort to give the series a more grown-up air, but it's still probably a tad too easy for most casual gamers.

What sets Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir apart from other similar games is the way fantasy is built into the gameplay. Magical creatures abound, each with their own power, so there's always enough variety to hold your attention. The creatures are characters in their own right, rather than just sidekicks, and they add colour and depth to the plot. Some suspension of disbelief is needed, of course, as the story is one prince short of Sleeping Beauty, but that's the whole point – this is first and foremost an interactive fairy tale and as such, it works beautifully.

Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir is currently only available in a Collector's Edition, which includes a bonus level, concept art, wallpapers, behind the scenes footage and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Everybody knows to stay out of the forest. It's dark and dangerous and, ever since the last Forest Rite, the forest has taken on a life of its own, trapping the citizens inside Willow Ridge. But what happens if the forest doesn't stay out of town? One night, your lighthouse keeper husband disappears into the darkness, taking with him important secrets about Rite of Passage: Child of the Forest. That leaves you to play the heroine and save the town from the encroaching trees in this thoroughly engaging and beautiful hidden object adventure from Mad Head Games.

When you begin, you're in the dark about why the forest is attacking the town as much as everyone else. You know only enough to arm yourself with a special amulet that can ward off the nefarious darkness. When it is broken, though, shattered into pieces, your first task is to search for the pieces in a fragmented hidden object search scene. Just as in Rite of Passage: The Perfect Show, you'll find animated story scenes to fix which provide chapter structure to the game and help draw you deeper into the town's story. There are several refreshing varieties of search scenes and puzzles you'll encounter in Child of the Forest yet the game is as much about the story, exploration and adventure. That means traipsing back and forth through a wide variety of locations but a well-designed smart map lets you go anywhere you want with just a click, meaning your time is always spent engaged in the moment.

Analysis: Many times you'll need to search for or piece together tokens and keys to open new areas, other times you'll have to solve a puzzle or riddle. Whether these tasks are easy or challenging is completely left to player's choice. There's eight options that can be separately modified in the difficulty customization menu at any time during the game. Want no distracting sparkles yet don't want to wait more than 15 seconds for a new hint? Prefer almost no lifelines as you struggle to find answers and solve the town's dilemma? You can have it your way. You seem to be the only capable person in an entire town, which does do fabulous things for the ego. Even so, there's a great deal of logic and sense holding the story and gameplay together. For example, there's a reason you have to click on a list of seemingly random items in a search scene: to move them aside to find the pieces to the object you truly need.

Your suspension of disbelief does need to work on overdrive much the time and those who are impatient to understand why things are awry will have to grit it out until the end, when everything is explained. As for why only you can save the town, that's explained later, too. This surreal fantasy adventure doesn't take well to being described in mere words, though. Nothing I can say about Child of the Forest quite lives up to what it is. The best way to tell if this game is for you is by trying the demo and see if you, too, are entranced by Mad Head Games' astute talent for stunning visuals and engaging storytelling.

Currently only the Collector's Edition of this game is also available. It contains bonus content not found in the standard edition: a bonus chapter, replayable minigames, strategy guide, wallpapers, soundtrack and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Get the full version

When a New York City book critic is murdered, dressed up to look like Frankenstein's monster, and hooked up to an electrical current, it's time to call the one detective who actually prefers the really weird cases: Kate Beckett. If she brings her "consultant," a mystery writer named Richard Castle, along with her, so much the better. Such is the premise of Castle: Never Judge A Book By Its Cover, a tie-in hidden object game that was written as a companion to the television show Castle. The case turns out to be more complicated than they had anticipated, and as the team works to keep the body count from increasing, the case begins to hit closer and closer to home for everyone.

Never Judge A Book By Its Cover is an exceptionally well made and quite polished. Gunnar Games worked with Castle's writers while creating the game, so the references to the show aren't simply pasted on after the fact. Most of the hidden object scenes contain at least one item from the show, from Castle's bulletproof "WRITER" vest to a certain red bottle of scotch.

This doesn't mean you have to be a fan of the show in order to enjoy the game, though: they've taken pains to make sure the game stands on its own merits and doesn't divulge plot or character spoilers. The game blends hidden object scenes and minigames seamlessly, allowing you to view the silhouette of any item you're searching for and skip any puzzle that's just too frustrating. One unique element of the game is the puzzle that lets you question suspects: while many games would let you choose from a list of questions, or just make the dialogue into a cutscene, here you have to match each piece of evidence to the place where it was found.

The end result is a game that plays like an actual episode of Castle and has something for just about everyone. Fans of the show — and of murder mysteries in general — will enjoy trying to figure out the Hardcover Killer's identity. Fans of hidden object games will lose themselves in the detailed, interactive scenes. Fans of puzzles will be baffled in the best of ways as they try to unlock the next door or uncover the next clue. And fans of Nathan Fillion can always just spend a while staring at Castle.

Windows:
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When your name is Van Helsing, you know you can't have a normal life. You might be an ordinary girl, going about your business, staying out of trouble, and then one night you'll have a vision of a gate to hell opening and things will take a messy turn. In the new hidden-object adventure by 8 Floor Games, Portal of Evil: Stolen Runes, Vanessa Van Helsing takes on a difficult task of restoring peace while dealing with monsters, vampires, mysteries and intrigues. After her unsettling vision, Vanessa travels to Italy where she is invited by an arcane religious order. Her grandfather, who went missing some weeks before, belongs to the order and she hopes to find him. Once there, she finds out that matters might be a tad more complicated.

The quiet and unassuming town cathedral hides a gate to another world, kept shut by seven seals. If those seals were to disappear, all manner of evil would come flooding out and everyone would, quite literally, go to hell in a handbasket. And what do you know, four of the seals are indeed missing. Vanessa's grandfather has already gone to try to retrieve them but hasn't returned, so Vanessa is asked to go after him, as she is a Van Helsing and, therefore, naturally gifted for all things supernatural. Each of the seals has a different power, and they have been sent to separate dimensions where they are used to summon forces of darkness. Vanessa must go through portals and into every dimension to find the seals and look for clues as to which member of the order is the traitor.

On the surface, Portal of Evil: Missing Runes is a standard hidden-object game. You are supposed to collect some items strewn around the rooms and landscapes, find others in hidden-object scenes and solve various puzzles. However, after a while it starts feeling more like a full-fledged adventure. Action cutscenes abound, giving a welcome shot of dynamic energy, and they are skillfully made and a pleasure to watch. Travelling to different dimensions means a wealth of diverse scenes and a meandering storyline that takes you through unknown lands and ancient history. The environments are gorgeous, from imposing, grandiose architecture to the forbidding realms of the Purgatory. The game puts some effort into keeping the gameplay interesting and engaging: the mini-games are varied and beautiful (though sometimes a little too simple), and there is that puzzly kind of hidden-object scenes in which, rather than taking objects away, you have to figure out where to insert them in the scene. There would be a lot of backtracking if it weren't for the map which allows you to travel to any room you've visited and tells you where there is something to be done. Probably the only shortcomings are the voice acting, which isn't on the same level as everything else, and the characters, who are pretty archetypal, but these are both minor flaws and are easily forgiven, given the overall quality of the game.

If you're looking for a game that isn't horror, but is also quite far from being light and fluffy, try Portal of Evil: Stolen Runes. It will intrigue you, excite you, entertain you and, best of all, you'll get to save the entire world from demons without ever getting up from your chair.

Portal of Evil: Stolen Runes is currently only available in a Collector's Edition, which includes a bonus level, concept art, wallpapers, strategy guide and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.

There's something to be said for owning a farm. You get plenty of fresh air, there's lush nature all around you and bluebirds land on your shoulder to sing for you while you happily go about your business. On the other hand, there's mud, hard work, droughts, locust swarms and not a single opera house in sight. Luckily, there is a middle ground: if you're curious to know what it's like to be a farmer, but you don't want to ruin your new shoes, here's TV Farm 2, the new time-management farming simulation from A2 Entertainment.

The story goes like this: you are taking part in a reality show with a bunch of other contestants. You are given five farms one after another, each in more difficult conditions, and the goal is to make them all thrive by completing various tasks. If you succeed, you get your own farm (provided you aren't sick and tired of agriculture by the end of the competition). You are given your first location and a few workers and you're left to your own devices. The gameplay is simple enough – at the beginning of every level, you have a list of available resources and requirements. Each stage is equipped with a field where you plant your fruits, veggies & other leafy stuff, as well as a number of buildings which use resources to make all sorts of products. Finishing the level within a time limit will get you more points for upgrades. To do this, you must quickly develop a course of action, which includes planting, constructing and sending out a helicopter to get you the items you can't produce yourself.

TV Farm 2 is a casual sort of time-management game, meaning that you do have a timer, but the gameplay isn't as bustling as you'd expect if you've played other farming simulations. It's fine if you decide to put your feet up, forget about the time and just try to build and upgrade all your assets before moving on to the next level. Your crops stay put until you decide to harvest them; the finished products are automatically transported to the warehouse, so you don't have to worry about them disappearing if you don't pick them up quickly enough. Some levels might feel a bit too slow, but it's still a welcome addition to the genre for those of us who prefer a more relaxed pace. The different settings for your farms ensure variety and challenge, as every farm has its own types of plants and products, so you'll be making ice cream in the oasis and teddy bears at the North Pole. What really sets TV Farm 2 apart from other similar games are the graphics, which are crisp and clean and more realistic than cartoonish. It's a joy to watch your sugar cane swaying in the breeze and your workers collecting flowers to make perfume. The buildings are a little more silly, but also quite imaginative – you can become mesmerized watching a machine put decorations on a Christmas tree.

TV Farm 2 feels entirely wholesome and organic, from birds chirping in the background to juicy tomatoes ripening in the sun. It's pretty much what we thought farms were like when we were kids, all shiny new trucks, fluffy sheep and hamburgers being churned out of magical buildings (in one word, awesome). And although playing it probably won't convince you to move out into the country, it will give you hours of healthy entertainment and it will keep your fingernails clean.

Windows:
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Mac OS X:
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Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.

It might seem a little callous to take your stepfather Rene's job as village doctor right after he mysteriously vanishes, but the people need a physician, and after all, that's what he trained you to be... ever since he found you shivering on the side of the road twenty years ago. But when an attack by a wolf leaves you stranded in the road outside one very unusual town, you may learn there's more going on to Rene's disappearance, and yourself, than you ever imagined. Artogon Games delivers a fabulously creepy, atmospheric, and engrossing hidden-object adventure with Shiver: Moonlit Grove.

Though played simply by clicking around like most other traditional games in the genre, Shiver: Moonlit Grove offers a few welcome twists that keep it feeling fresh. Early on, you'll craft a lantern that you can turn on and off with a click to light your way through dark places. Many hidden-object scenes also contain multi-step item puzzles you'll need to solve before you find what you need. One of the main annoyances is the game's tendency to load you down with piles and piles of items, which wouldn't be an issue if sifting back and forth through your inventory wasn't such a tedious pain when you have more than a handful of objects. It's the sort of game you can devote a lazy evening to, and the piles of puzzles make it a respectable length, especially since the game doesn't so much hold your hand as it does throw a bunch of items at you and give you a vaguely challenging stare while you try to figure it out.

Shiver: Moonlit Grove crafts a stunning atmosphere and an intriguing story through its design, but telegraphing its clues too loudly means you'll probably have figured everything out long before the big reveal. As creepy and moody as it can be, it's also just not very scary, nowhere near as frightening as Shiver: Vanishing Hitchhiker, or its tamer sequel, Poltergeist. It's a bit more story-heavy, with most revelations handled in flashbacks, and with better pacing between the puzzle-heavy parts would be a surefire winner. As it is, Shiver: Moonlit Grove is a gorgeous, melancholy adventure sure to give a chill or two, and fans of werewolves and drama will want to give the demo a try if they're looking for a meaty experience.

Note: Currently, only the Collector's Edition is available. It contains a bonus chapter, art gallery, strategy guide, and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.

You've had a bad dream that your boss, John, is in trouble, but somehow neither that nor the address you find mysteriously written on your bathroom mirror screams "bad news" quite as much as the glowing purple nether-portal you arrive to find swirling above his house. Turns out John was contracted by a shady client to track down a map, but ever since he's gotten it, his house has been acting weird... you know... mysterious black vapor emerging from the faucets and electronics sort of weird. Before you know it, you're caught up in a struggle against an ancient evil... and the ridiculously elaborate security measures in John's house. Seriously bro, what if you have to go to the bathroom but you can't because you're missing one half of an intricate puzzle lock? Meridian 93 delivers a cinematic and engaging hidden-object adventure with Enigma Agency: The Case of Shadows.

Unfortunately for our bad guy, you're destined to win because you have the power of Click. Clicking lets you gather items, solve puzzles, hidden-object scenes, and navigate around. Your map won't let you travel around by clicking on it, but it will show any objectives you have in each area when you mouse over it. If you're stuck, the hint button will lead you right to your next objective and indicate what you should do to proceed. Unlike a lot of games in the genre, The Case of Shadows benefits from what seems like a real concentrated effort to make most of its puzzles unique and standout. Clues to solving them tend to be hidden everywhere, and the return of Rube Goldberg machines are always welcome, but the sheer variety and number on display is sort of staggering.

The downside is that the game also feels like its burdened with a lot of busywork and long, drawn-out tasks, during which the story grinds to a halt so you can do important things like solve three puzzles and gather ten items just to get someone a glass of water. The result is a long game, with enough puzzles and obstacles to satisfy almost anyone, but a game that's also long primarily because it does so much back-and-forth. Fortunately, it's also lovely to look at, and the sheer heft of its gameplay combined with its otherworldly storyline means you'll be wrapped up with this one for a satisfying length of time no matter what difficulty you play on. Though its pacing is somewhat uneven and I could personally do with a bit less of the whole persistent "malicious evil shaman" theme in games in general, on the whole the game sets the bar remarkably high. Packed with puzzles both clever and challenging and a story that will send you trotting across the globe to put things right, Enigma Agency: The Case of Shadows is flashy and fun and well worth checking out.

Note: Currently, only the Collector's Edition is available. It contains a bonus chapter, art gallery, strategy guide, and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.

There's something rotten about the little town of Lumineux. When city officials start dropping like flies, you and the fan-favorite Detective Dupin are called in to hunt down the killer, a mysterious fellow known only as the Red Masque. But are things really what they seem? The Red Masque is a murderer, but is he out to destroy Lumineux, or help rebuild it? What's the real disease infecting this town? Such is the dilemma of Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe's The Masque of the Red Death, the latest installment in the hidden object adventure series by ERS Game Studio.

If you've ever played a hidden object adventure before, you probably know what to expect in terms of gameplay. Explore Lumineux with your mouse, traveling between areas with the arrows, picking up any items you might find along the way, and using those items in the right location to get a different item or unlock a new area. Occasionally you'll come across a puzzle to solve or a hidden object scene to search... and if this isn't sounding familiar, the game provides a helpful tutorial at the start. What's new and notable here is that The Masque of the Red Death allows you to make up your own mind about the story, literally putting Justice's scales in your hand. With every important piece of evidence, you receive a Sphere of Guilt. Do you add weight to Mayor Prospero's wrongdoings, or to the Red Masque's? Whose guilt is greater?

As an adaptation, Masque of the Red Death is, to put it kindly, less than faithful. If you've always loved the story and you're looking forward to playing a game about it, this might not be the game for you. (Seriously, where's the plague?) Fortunately, this Masque of the Red Death is an interesting story all on its own. There isn't always enough time with each character to know them and care about them as much as the game asks you to, and many players might find the game's central question to be a very easy choice. This is also much more of a game for the hidden object fans than for the puzzle-solvers. The hidden object scenes have variety and are full of creativity and style... and then the puzzles, half the time, feel like busywork. If you like extra content, Masque of the Red Death is full of it— there's an adorable kitten to play with, a bonus chapter, and even some photographs of the development process— but sometimes it feels like the energy spent on that extra content could have gone toward fleshing out the characters and puzzles a little more.

Still, at least for me, the proverbial scales tip in Masque of the Red Death's favor. Was it perfect? No, but it was an enjoyable few hours, and I appreciated how forming my own opinion was a central part of the game. Try the demo— perhaps a trip to Lumineux will be right up your alley.

Currently, only the Collector's Edition is available. It includes wallpapers, an extra adventure, the soundtrack, screensavers, and a built-in strategy guide. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Get the full version

After living peacefully and prosperously under the watchfulness of a magical tree, trouble hits your viking settlement. Savage tribes have become jealous of your land and use dark magic to destroy the tree. The Viking Brothers start a quest in search of a way to restore the tree in this resource management strategy game from Alawar. Follow the pair through Asgard and beyond, cleaning up the land as they go, following vague clues from a hermit, all in the hopes of saving the tree and returning to their way of life.

The control scheme is similar to other games of this type. Just a click sends your workers off to build, upgrade, or collect resources. Most level goals consist of gathering enough resources, fixing up statues or other landmarks, and scaring away the baddies, and are listed on the bottom of the screen. Your current resources are listed at the top of the screen, and the timer countdown on the left. Hover over any object to get more information about it. You can queue up tasks for your workers, but if you change your mind, right click on the check mark to cancel the order, if it isn't yet underway. Some levels include magic totems. When you send a worker to activate a totem, you'll get a run speed or production bonus. Aside from your regular workers, most levels need some muscle to destroy enemy blockades and fight off warriors. It's up to you to build a barracks and get a soldier or two on your side.

The game has followed the great example of Kingdom Chronicles in its design. There's just something about restoring your homeland that leaves you satisfied. And while the story line may be a bit over used (and perhaps plays into stereotypes a bit), Viking Brothers overcomes the trite with creative map layouts and good level design. It's a challenge to get a gold star on each level! It's important to look ahead to what resources you're going to need to plan a strategy. Upgrading everything all the way is rarely the best way to go, so it pays to take a second to think. The graphics and music are nice, and while not terribly innovative, Viking Brothers nonetheless offers a solid and enjoyable gaming experience.

Windows:
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Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.

After a century of slumber deep beneath the ocean waves, you awoke to discover your destructive and evil twin, Pandora. With the help of the guardians, you pursued and imprisoned her. But now Pandora has escaped and is harnessing the Colossus' power; your people are in peril. They need you, Anna, their empress. Rescue your people by collecting the sacred relics along with other artifacts, resurrecting the Phoenix and reviving the Grandmother Tree in Empress of the Deep 3: Legacy of the Phoenix, a surreal and beautifully Myst-like hidden object adventure from Silverback Productions.

You begin your quest inside the Scroll Temple and, with the help of an old keymaster, set out to find and utilize objects to unlock the spirit codex and open new pathways. Regardless of which level of difficulty you choose, you'll be given instructions along the way as Jacob, your guide, explains the new areas and elements that you discover: a spirit amethyst charged by collecting fairies to remove barriers, coins left behind by cats to activate a teleporter, keys to unlock the ancient scroll, and more. Since you're allowed hints and skips even at the "hardcore" level, select that to lessen the interactive guidance while still maintaining a relaxed mode. Navigate a large and gorgeous environment, following your cursor that changes to indicate where you can move, where an area can be examined more closely, or an item that can be picked up. As you explore, your journal keeps track of your progress while a map helps you see where you've been and where you need to go.

Hidden object search scenes are varied between three types: an interactive list style search, find multiples of an object type, or locate and replace hidden details. These hidden object scenes are well composed with saturated colors and remarkable aesthetics; they also contain the only true challenge or difficulty in the game. Even so, if you do get stuck, the "Hint" feature will quickly unstick you. I'm not usually fond of hidden object searches in other games, but I found these to be extremely enjoyable and fresh even if some objects weren't easy to distinguish. In addition to the search scenes, there's the kind of task-centered puzzles you'd find in a classic adventure game. Because they're not as involved or hard as the minigames used in other hidden object hybrids, you might be disappointed if you're looking for more challenge. Yet, if you're enjoying the serene and relaxed exploration, these puzzles are a welcome part of that experience as they don't take away from immersion.

Perhaps the biggest complaint to be made is that the slow pace coupled with the inescapable interactive help makes the game very easy. Comparing it to the first Empress of the Deep installment will probably also bring disappointment. On its own merits, though, Legacy of the Phoenix is extremely enjoyable as a game you can relax with, let yourself be immersed in the stunningly gorgeous scenery and lured into serenity by the hypnotic music. It works very well as an exploration based story, where you can meander through a world that's still very reminiscent of Myst and enjoy discovering new tokens and enchanted pieces. Because of that experience, I can recommend this game—we all need those moments of escape, to relax in beautiful surroundings and feel like an empress.

Currently, only the Collector's Edition is available. It contains bonus content not found in the standard edition: a bonus match 3 game: ZEM 2, an extra chapter, strategy guide, and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Get the full version

The subway isn't the sanest place at the best of times, and today seems to be even worse. You're traveling home with your doggy in an empty train save for three strange figures. The only stop is at an old cemetery, where the three people get off... through closed doors. Your Spaniel doesn't seem to mind the eeriness, though, and jumps merrily out after them, so you follow it straight into the new episode of ERS Game Studio's hidden-object adventure series, Redemption Cemetery: Salvation of the Lost.

You are greeted by Hina, the beautiful keeper of the cemetery wafting on a cloud. She informs you that you have been chosen to save the souls of the ghosts from the train, who are tormented by their past transgressions. Each of them has caused the death of an innocent and wants you to go back in time and rectify their wrongdoings, making them the laziest ghosts in existence, since all they do is stand around with a mournful expression. Selfless as you are, you would have probably agreed to help anyway, but Hina still wants to make sure you don't bail out, so she's keeping your dog until your tasks are done. Each ghost opens a portal which takes you back to the past, right before the tragedies happen. Once there, you are supposed to locate the victim and make a plan to save them, all the while solving puzzles and rooting around for useful objects.

Analysis: The gameplay is standard for this sort of game: use your mouse to explore and pick up items, and your brain to figure out puzzles. You will also get a raven to bring you objects that you can't reach on your own. There are two types of hidden-object scenes: the usual rooms with a list of items to find, and a kind of hybrid, in which the wanted objects are silhouetted and you can often find only one or two; then you use them to find others and so on until you get to the item you actually need to continue the game.

It is obvious that Redemption Cemetery: Salvation of the Lost was made by people who know what a good casual game should be. It is solid and consistent from start to finish and, even though it might not bring anything particularly new or ingenious to the genre, it is thoroughly enjoyable. It looks grim, but still colourful and beautifully detailed. The hidden-object scenes are somewhat monochrome, but not so much as to harm the gameplay. You might stop and scratch your head when faced with some of the puzzles; they are pleasantly varied and will exercise all sorts of your little grey cells. The storyline branches out in three directions, as you follow the fates of different ghosts, allowing for quite distinct environments and unique level design. However, if you're looking for horror, you're at the wrong place. The premise does sound frightening, and the opening sequence hints at spectral spookiness, but the ghosts are benevolent and penitent so, if anything, you'll end up feeling sorry for them. Speaking of non-scary features, throughout the game you'll find medals for your dog, and there is a whole section devoted to him/her. There are pet-related achievements, as well mini-games and puzzles which you play with the most adorable puppy ever to appear in a casual game.

Redemption Cemetery: Salvation of the Lost strikes a very nice balance – it is dark without being gloomy, it has a sense of humour but isn't comical, and it hops from cute to serious without losing any credibility. Therefore, it can appeal to a wide audience, including, but not limited to, people who like animals, people who want to get rid of a ghost phobia, ghosts themselves, time-travelers, goths (it really is a beautiful cemetery) and, of course, anyone who likes well-made hidden-object adventures. If you identify with any of the above categories, try this game, but be warned – you will get an irresistible urge to get a puppy.

Redemption Cemetery: Salvation of the Lost is currently only available in a Collector's Edition, which includes a bonus level, concept art, wallpapers, strategy guide and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
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Vera wanted nothing to do with Pilgrim's Hook, the gloomy seaside town she grew up in, but her twin brother Arthur was always drawn back... and now a frantic phone call from him has brought her back to a place she always swore she was done with for good. Why? Well, the unspeakable evil lurking beneath the waters for starters. You know. The usual tourist-y trap stuff. Gunnar Games delivers a cheesy but enjoyable hidden-object adventure with Small Town Terrors: Pilgrim's Hook. When Vera arrives at the island to find it a bit more hilariously overrun with dark forces than she remembers, it's a race against time to find Arthur and get out before a crab the size of a small pick-up truck carries him off, or he gets throttled by all of these sinister inky black tentacles, or he falls into one of these mysterious sinkholes opening up everywhere or... something. Man. And I thought my hometown was a dump.

As it turns out, Vera has bigger problems than her brother being a flake and whatever bad memories Pilgrim's Hook is giving her. It seems like there's something bigger and darker going on here, and a war between the land and sea is brewing with some truly ancient forces behind it. Vera may have set out looking to save her brother, but she'll quickly discover there's a lot more at stake than that, and something very old and very sinister has had its eye on her from the day she was born to use her as a pawn to tip the tides of war.

Click around to gather clues, solve puzzles and hidden-object scenes. You know you've found an item when you get a very Inception-y BWWUUUUNNN sound-effect. Every time. You'll also get a trusty map that will display locations you can currently do something in, and even let you hop around to places you've visited at a click. Additionally, the game has an extremely helpful hint system that will lead you right to your next objective without repeatedly clicking, and a whole score of optional achievements and bonus morphing objects to track down.

Analysis: I admit, I spent the first half hour or so good-naturedly ridiculing Pilgrim's Hook. When Vera complained about bad memories from her childhood, I wasn't expecting to be greeted with massive crabs and sinister sentient kraken, and it seemed so over-the-top as to be laughable. And yet, the more I played, the more engrossed I became. Pilgrim's Hook has a surprisingly good story at its core beyond the whole "rescue your brother" bit, and its some captivatingly unique mythology that winds folklore and magic with just the right amount of creepiness. It's still cheesy, but it feels unique and story-oriented in a way that few casual downloads really try this whole-heartedly to be. It doesn't hurt that the game is gorgeous, too, with stunning design, vibrant colours, and an atmospheric soundtrack. Just get used to BWWUUUUNNN, because you're going to be hearing it a lot. BWWUUUUNNN. BWWUUUUNNN. BWWUUUUNNN

On the other hand, the gameplay holds few surprises, and often feels like the hidden-object scenes are almost lazily tacked on. It's one thing to be rooting through a pile of junk to find a useful item. Quite another to hunt down nine of each type of random sea creature before the game will let you pick up the saw you knew you needed that was sitting in plain view the entire time. Some of the adventure-game logic will be annoying too, forcing you to, say, find a sharp item to cut through a single thing, then toss it aside, only to need yet another random sharp object a few minutes later, over and over. Fortunately, the puzzles require a bit more brainpower than usual, even if they're familiar designs, and the plot constantly sitting at the forefront of the experience will keep you intrigued even when the gameplay drags a bit in comparison. It's also on the long side, and most players will probably spend over five hours on the main campaign alone. The bonus chapter in the Collector's Edition is significantly shorter, but at least actually feels like a bonus instead of an integral chunk of the story that Standard Edition buyers would otherwise miss out on. Try the demo and give it a chance to get its hooks into you, and you may just find it a creative and captivating hidden-object adventure of a gem that deserves to be experienced.

Note: Currently, only the Collector's Edition is available. It contains a bonus chapter, art gallery, strategy guide, and more. Remember that Big Fish Game Club Members pay only $13.99 for Collector's Editions (or 2 club credits), and collector's editions count 3 card punches of 6 total needed for a free game.

Windows:
Download the demo
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Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Horticulture enthusiasts, rejoice! Gardenscapes is back, and it actually takes place in a garden again! And for those who find this amount of mirth somewhat disconcerting, Gardenscapes 2 by Playrix Entertainment is an excellent hybrid hidden-object time-management game in which you help your long-serving butler, Austin, restore his parents' decrepit garden by selling off a bunch of junk from their house.

The first two games in the series were located in and around your own mansion, but now Austin and you take a trip to his old home, which is in a state of disrepair. You are greeted by Austin's amicable parents who instantly make you feel at home, which is just as well, as you'll spend the rest of the game rummaging through their belongings. Since you happen to have a seasoned green thumb, you will repay their hospitality by fixing up their garden, and you'll raise the money by organising a whole heap of yard sales. While you're busy with that, Austin will go down memory lane, digging up objects from his childhood and reminiscing about the past. Your doggy Rover is there, too (of course it's Rover! What do you mean, you named him something else?), giving the game a pleasant sense of continuity.

So, after getting settled in, you embark on your mission. Yard sales are hidden-object scenes set in various rooms of the house, and upgrading the garden unlocks more rooms. Townsfolk appear on the left side of the screen, five at a time, with a description of what they want to buy. They start out with three hearts, and lose them gradually, depending on how much time you take to deliver their item(s). There are four types of hints to help you find what you need, but it's best not to waste question marks, as you get a bonus for each unused one. Every scene contains a few hidden coins which add a bit of money to your funds. Between yard sales, the game goes back to the garden where you can buy upgrades. There is an impressive array of options, from fences to statues to birdhouses, and each of these comes in three models, so you can choose your favourites and make the garden more personal. Some additions will trigger little events involving Austin, who is put in the centre of the storyline.

Analysis: Gardenscapes 2 is a rare gem among casual games due to its unique atmosphere. It's dfficult to find a game that will make you more relaxed and happy. It's chock-full of sunshine, birdsong and a warm fuzzy feeling of familiarity. But what really sets it (and the whole series) apart is the fact that the characters talk to you personally. Austin will often lift his head to look at you, or wave at you when there is a letter to be read. This is not a major feature, but it truly draws you into the game and makes you a part of it. The main story is straightforward, but there are lots of little events that spice up the time between hidden-object scenes, and Austin often comes up with remarks or comments that add to the feeling of realism. The graphics are detailed and adorable. The garden, especially in the later stages, looks lush and inviting, and it's a joy to watch Rover saunter through it. You can amuse yourself by clicking on different items in the garden and watching Austin's reaction. Another delightful detail is the animation of the upgrades. Each time you buy an item for the garden, it will materialise out of thin air, and it's thrilling to watch a swirl of leaves come together to form a bush.The rooms are well done, with sharp solid objects and enough colour and variety to make them pleasant to hunt in.

Another important feature of Gardenscapes 2 is its lifetime, which goes far beyond the few hours you'll need to finish the story. After you buy all the upgrades, you can continue playing and redecorate every part of the garden; this, of course, requires more money, and therefore, more yard sales. Also, there is that sly achievement for earning all the other achievements, and you can't just let it go, can you? There might be a few more surprises to keep you in the game, but that's up to you to discover. It even brings a few innovations into the series: there are specialised sales, where only five customers ask for a number of themed objects, as well as pre-level tasks given to you by Austin or his parents, where you'll have to combine items to achieve a goal, or clean up a room before a sale. Your efforts are rewarded with achievements which pop up in the upper right corner of the screen. There is also a picture album, documenting Austin's childhood and youth, which starts out empty and gets filled up as you find photos buried around the house.

Finally, the best thing about Gardenscapes 2 is the realisation that you don't need any incentives to play it again. It is so warm and friendly that it can be the game you turn to when you need something to cheer you up on a rainy day, and it will never fail you. So try the demo, wander into Austin's little world and stop to smell the roses.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.

Continue your expedition with Don Diego in Adelantado Trilogy: Book Two. Realore Studios has brought you more resource management and building goodness in the second installment of the series. If you enjoyed Book One, what are you waiting for? Even if you haven't played Book One, you can still dive right in.

At its bones, the gameplay is nearly identical to its predecessor. Don Diego continues to explore lands new to him in search of treasure and survivors of previous expeditions. Click to place buildings, control your main character, and collect resources. Place buildings according to what resources you need, and don't forget to build enough housing for your workers! Chop bushes and look into pots in search of gold and other secrets. Watch for special magic stones that up your speed, strength or oratory skills... and try to do it all before your rival. Click on the portrait of Don Diego to focus the map on him, and click and drag to scroll around the map.

There are a few new elements and improvements to keep things interesting. Unlike before, the game saves your progress even if you exit in the middle of a level. Buildings can now be demolished if misplaced or no longer needed. Efficiency (or speed of production) of buildings declines over time, but you now have the choice to spend resources to restore efficiency back to 100 percent. The cost in resources can be higher than rebuilding, but you have to weigh that with the additional time it would take to demolish, rebuild, and upgrade a building. Keep an eye out for special altars that give temporary bonuses, and traders who are willing to make you a deal to get the resources you need. Other altars require resource gifts to unlock more lands to explore.

The game feels a bit slow to start out, especially if you've played the previous title. Once you get going, however, there is plenty to keep you busy, such as quests for helping the locals, and of course, treasure hunting. The maps are vast, which is great for exploring, but can get tedious when you have to run from one end to the other. With nice music and varied settings, plus the need to explore just one more region, the Adelantado series continues to please.

Windows:
Download the demo
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Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.

Isn't it wonderful to be a prince... To travel the vast expanses of your land on your mighty steed, while the gentle breeze plays with your golden locks, and your armour shines in the sunlight. To rebuild towns and aid grateful villagers, who will sing songs in your honour in the decades to come. To fight ancient evil with a steady hand, your sword glistening as it bears down upon the forces of darkness. Although, to be quite accurate, this wasn't exactly your idea, more of a desperate mission to save your fiancée. And it's not really your land as much as her father's. And your golden locks sort of make you look like a girl. In Alawar's new time-management game, Ballad of Solar, you are the royal protagonist in search of his beloved, and you have your work cut out for you.

A nefarious wizard named Grogan has invaded the neighbouring kindgom and taken princess Lumina hostage. Her father, overwhelmed with grief, has shut himself into a cave, so it is up to Solar to save the day. He roams the land trying to find and defeat the wizard, and, noble as he is, takes it upon himself to help any unfortunate souls on his way. There are villages to be renovated, townsfolk to be saved and sheep to be found. Luckily, the prince doesn't have to do all this by himself; he travels with his faithful servants and, in the course of the game, he is joined by a host of amiable creatures willing to lend a hand.

The kingdom consists of seven regions, divided into levels. Each level has two or three stages, some of which are timed. Your goal for the day comes either from character dialogues before a stage begins, or from interacting with various creatures on the map. At the start of each stage, the prince arrives and sets up his tent containing a number of workers. Their job is to collect wood, stone and gold, remove obstacles and perform other minor tasks. Unfortunately, they refuse to work on an empty stomach, so most tasks require food. The other resources are used for building bridges, repairing houses or upgrading buildings. In some levels, you can only get materials by collecting them, while in others you can claim buildings like mills or quarries, which will generate them for you. However, stage goals are often more complex than just gathering and fixing. Sometimes you will have to fight off enemies, make potions or assemble weapons, and that is where the other characters come into play. During the game, Solar comes across quirky supernatural beings, each with their own particular skill, and they join his merry band in hopes of defeating Grogan. The dwarf is good at forging, the troll breaks heavy stones, the elf is handy with a bow and so on, and you will choose among them according to your current task.

Analysis: Ballad of Solar is thoroughly enjoyable, from start to finish. The level design is clean and intuitive, without unnecessary clutter. One look at the layout is enough to figure out in what order you want to run your errands. The characters, objects and even the scenery look like they've been taken right out of a toy box. There is a troll who likes to draw pretty pictures, workers who turn berries into cupcakes, and even a tiny phoenix with a tinier helmet. If that's not everything you've ever wanted in a time-management game, you don't have a heart. The story begins like your usual fairy-tale, but then it starts making loops and twists as every level gives you a more whimsical quest. Who knew you could defeat a golem with a bucket of water? The characters have their own personalities and contribute to the game's zany humour, which makes dialogues very enjoyable.

Talking about the gameplay mechanics inevitably leads to a comparison with the My Kingdom for the Princess series, and Ballad of Solar wins. Even if you don't take into account the graphics (specifically, their lovingly detailed beauty), it still has superior features. Workers don't have to run back into their tent before you can assign them another task, building-generated resources are picked up by hovering your mouse over them, and the levels are laid out in a more efficient way. The prince actually does some work, and the other characters make the game much more colourful and interesting. Most importantly, there is an actual storyline to follow, as silly as it is at times. Together with the dialogues before and during every level, it makes you feel like you are a part of the fairy-tale, rather than just a player moving workers on a field. In short, Ballad of Solar feels like a complete casual game experience, from the sense of accomplishment when you beat the time limit, right down to the goofy little smile on your face during the closing cutscene.

Windows:
Download the demo
Get the full version

Mac OS X:
Not available.
Try Boot Camp or Parallels or CrossOver Games.