Semi-Familiar Kind of Farming Game

The Fields of Mistria have stopped calling to me, so it's time to finally write up my thoughts.  I haven't accomplished everything in the game but I've reached a point where I just have little desire to play anymore.  Don't read too much into that about the actual quality of the game, there might be a few issues that led me to this point.

What is it?

Fields of Mistria is a farming sim that feels like it was almost directly birthed from Stardew Valley.  You start a farm, you befriend the villagers, you fall in love (or not--it's up to you), and you work to restore a town to its former glory.  Seriously, it's very similar to Stardew.

How much playtime can I expect?

Depending on your playstyle and goals, you're easily looking at upward of probably 50+ hours (that's my low estimate).  I did not complete everything and am sitting about about 82 hours.  (*As a reference point, my town level is 87--Gold and my character is not married but has 10 hearts with a romantic interest)  If you're someone who wants to do all the things, you could easily be looking at 100+.

Pros:

+ Since it is so similar to Stardew, you'll have no problems understanding the basic controls and general gameplay.  Everything is fairly point-and-click so it's easy to get the hang of.

My decorating style is called "nothing matches."

+ Tons of cosmetic options.  One area where I think Mistria outshines Stardew is with the sheer number of furniture/cosmetic items that are offered up.  Many are earned through completing museum collections but others can be purchased from vendors or found while exploring the mines.  You can totally change the hairstyle, hair color, and outfit for your character at any point.  As you expand your base home you get tons of space (a full kitchen/living room area, two ground level rooms, and an entire upstairs area).  Many of the options are seasonally themed (you can get spring wallpaper, flooring, and beds) so you can swap the look of your home every time the seasons change.  You can even add small touches to give it more of a home-y feel like jars, hanging pots and pans, and other miscellaneous household items.  If you were so dedicated, you could undoubtedly design something much better than the mish-mash of random items that populate my Mistria home.

+ Enjoyable animal breeding system.  Rather than simply increasing your herd size you can also produce unique coat colors.  Initially you can purchase animals in one of three basic coat colors (make sure you purchase a male and female).  Once they've reached adulthood and you have befriended them to the two heart level, you can purchase an animal cookie from Hayden and feed it to the animals to have them breed.  After a short time they will produce offspring in in a new, unique color.  This new animal will be a tier 2 coloration (*they definitely don't care about inbreeding in this game) and if bred with another tier 2 animal will produce a tier 3 offspring and so on, all the way to tier 5.  It's enjoyable to see all the fun new coat colors and the cute (but totally unrealistic) offspring.  You can also enter your prize critters into the annual animal judging contest to win some prizes.

+ Hotter characters than Stardew.  Stardew definitely has wholesome vibes, but Mistria leans into anime-style characters.  All the dateable characters have a degree of cuteness to hotness.  Personalities range from friendly to flirty and even slightly hostile (it's always fun to see the cranky ones warm up over time).  Personally, I enjoyed the fact that characters will change their outfits to match the season (wearing lighter clothing in summer and warmer styles in the winter).  It's fun to see what they're wearing.  There's nothing too risque about Mistria, but definite efforts were made to make characters attractive.

+ Friendly neighborhood gossip can help shed light on the loves/likes of the community.  Figuring out what each character enjoys can feel like a huge pain in the buttocks.  Each day you can talk to Elsie and she will offer up a set of three characters to choose from.  You can pick one and she will reveal one of their liked or loved items.  There are a lot of characters and each has a TON of liked/loved items, so this process is slow moving, but it is better than trying to randomly guess (of course there are tons of dropped clues when you talk to people).

+ Dating/romance system that is fun.  Once you reach eight hearts (out of twelve) with a character you can choose whether or not to date them.  If you opt to date them you can ask them on actual dates--these are special cutscenes that take place on the weekend.  Initially you have two or three options, but as you do different daily activities you can unlock more options for dates.  Each date will advance your heart meter more than normal gift giving and you get a fun picture souvenir item that you can hang in your house.  Some of the dates do seem a little strange though--I unlocked an option in the mines for a romantic date where my character is forging something at the blacksmith anvil.  Sounds hot (because of the forge, you know).

Cons:

- I've already said it in multiple posts, but I feel like a lot of the basic gameplay is a direct copy/paste of Stardew.  The way farming works (copy), the mines (copy), gift giving (copy), the museum donations (copy--but slightly less cool), fishing (easier copy), crafting/smithing (copy)...etc.  I just wish that they had come up with something that didn't feel SO similar in a lot of aspects.  As I mentioned above, there are plenty of unique aspects, but to me, this feels a bit...I don't know, lazy/icky and like they could've come up with something different.  I think that's the challenge for games that want to fall within the "farm sim" category--how to make it unique and not just another version of Stardew.

- End game is draggy.  Once you've reached level 100 in the mines and unraveled the story of Mistria, there's just not much to do.  Levelling up the town becomes a lot slower and you have to rely on fulfilling villager requests (and there seems to be fewer capital requests as you progress).  You can add a new vendor who gives mine-related missions each week which reward 100 renown but if you don't complete the quest within the week you're stuck waiting until the next week.  I just got bored with it (there are other things to do like focusing on improving friendship levels, trying to complete museum collections, etc.).  I was hoping to max out the town level (I guess there are a couple other building related missions that are unlocked).

Recommendation:

I think Mistria is a great option for someone who is totally burned out on Stardew and wants something similar but just different enough.  There are aspects of the game that I like and are an improvement on the Dew, but I really wish that the gameplay itself was more unique.  If you enjoy the farming sim genre, this is yet another option and yeah, it has enough to offer in terms of enjoyment and length of play.

It's Over :(

With the beginning of the new school year my gaming time has been very minimal (*insert sad trombone noise here).  The start of the new school year is always a bit nutso so I've caught a few hours here and there and haven't really been playing anything new.  Once school starts and I just want to come home and relax I tend to seek out some soothingly familiar content or games that tend towards the "relaxing" side of the spectrum.  Lately I've noticed a new genre of game creep into the "wholesome/relaxing" game space--Steam tags them as "organizational" and they involve sorting a massive pile of random objects into a correct location.  There has absolutely been a glut of these games and I am feeling a bit curious because they definitely would seem to fall within my strange love of cleaning games.  I worry though that their simplicity means wading into a pool of AI generated slop and I don't want to venture into that.  The upside of these games is that they're generally on the cheap side.

My first tier 5 animal--a cute, golden calf!

My "new" gaming time has been spent in Fields of Mistria.  I haven't quite accomplished everything (and probably won't) but I've made to the bottom level of the mines (and revealed the shocking secret--no spoilers--about what is going on in Mistria).  My ultimate goal is to max out the town level (not quite there--I think I have maybe 2 more levels to go) and to befriend all the folks (or most of them...since some new townsfolk get introduced at various parts of the game...and they're market day only peeps).  My character hasn't managed to land a romantic interest yet (I've been focused mostly on the dang mines and have neglected my relationship building).  I'm leaning toward Hayden, a fellow famer and animal lover.  He seems like a perfect match for another farmer, he's cute, and he has a fun relationship with his prize-winning chicken Henrietta.

I'm a bit torn about Fields of Mistria because I still feel like many aspects of it are just a little too close to exactly Stardew Valley.  Why make something new when you can just copy what you already know works, amirite?  I think this specific genre of games needs something fresh and I'm not sure Mistria's really doing it.  That doesn't mean I'm not having fun--there are definitely some aspects that I am enjoying.

If you're a teacher who has recently returned to the grind--I hope all is going well and you're starting to feel a bit more settled.  It's the last gasps of summer around my neck of the woods, so I'm hoping to enjoy some outdoors time before fall sets in.  It is a bit nice to just cozy up with a nice game and relax though.

Nostalgic Repairs

My summer gaming time has come to its end with the start of the new school year (sad noise...), but I did finish up another of my "wholesome" finds.  If you're someone who likes simulation games that are focused on electronics and someone who is a millennial (or older), you'll get a kick out of ReStory: Chill Electronics Repair.  It's another of the gems I dug up during Steam's "wholesome" games sale.

What is it?

A simulation game where you run a small electronics repair shop in the Akiba district of Tokyo, Japan in the early 2000's.  Customers place orders and it's your job to diagnose the issue (or just simply clean the item), order the correct parts, and then restore it to proper working order.  There's a storyline that plays out, but the core gameplay circulates around the repair element.

How much playtime can I expect?

I finished the main storyline in ~10-12 hours, so it's on the shorter side.  You can continue playing infinitely if you want though.  I logged an additional ~4-ish hours simply earning more money to unlock better licenses and cosmetic items for my shop.  (*It seems like there will also be additional content added in future patches!)

Pros:

+ Enjoyable gameplay loop.  There's a bit of a timed/clock element--you arrive in the morning and open up your shop, customers can stop by the window (those are the story characters), or you can take online jobs via e-mail (I think it takes a couple days in-game for those orders to start happening).  A courier delivers the items and then you spend your day taking them apart, diagnosing problems, and ordering parts.  The same courier delivers the parts you order and takes away any completed jobs.  You can complete several jobs a day, but the courier service ends at midnight, so you generally want to close up (although...you don't technically have to) and go home.

Disassembling a ThinkerPad.

+ Point and click repairs.  To disassemble items you simply need to locate the various screws (handily highlighted) and remove them and then start pulling apart the various pieces.  You can lay out the parts on your desk  If a part is broken, it will appear cracked or burnt and needs to be disposed of and replaced.  To find replacement parts you have a couple of options--you can take a chance and buy used items off of the internet.  This is a bit of a gamble because you don't know if the item you purchase will have the correct usable parts (even if the buyer says the item works).  Alternatively, the more expensive but sure option, you can order the exact replacement parts.  After you've ordered, your friendly courier friend will deliver the parts and you can get to fixing.  You can store any usable parts that aren't needed in the current job for later.  Once you've fixed the item (and correctly reassembled it) you leave it on the counter and the courier takes it and delivers your fee.

+ There's a storyline with a set of silly characters who will bring by various items for you to repair.  You can choose your responses to these characters (and it might even have an impact on the outcome of the story).  The ultimate arc of the story is a bit confusing, but it revolves around saving the neighborhood from being demolished to make a mega-mall.  It's a nice touch for a simulation game to have some sort of story element.

A side view of the inside of my shop.

+ Upgradeable tools.  You start off with a few basic brushes and screwdrivers and can purchase better versions to help with speedier repairs.  Part of the fun is saving up enough money and getting to experience your shiny, new tools.

+ Fun, cosmetic options for your shop.  It starts off looking pretty raggedy--it's full of trash from the old owner, so the first step is throwing it all away.  You can purchase various paint colors to brighten up (and repair the holes in the wall) the shop and you can add in fun little touches of Japanese culture (the cute little waving cat--maneki neko or a daruma), gaming-related items, or even some 90's nostalgia (old VHS tapes...or a singing-fish).

All my repair licenses.  I can fix anything!

+ Tons of nostalgia.  The items you repair in your shop range from the 1970's to the early 2000's.  Atari must've agreed to some sort of licensing because multiple products will show up for repair (think the 2600 consoles, joysticks, and even a weird handheld that I've never heard of called a Lynx).  As you progress, you have to buy licenses to repair various other items (the cost for these licenses vary and you will generally find yourself doing several jobs to save up).  These items are recognizable, but go by an alternative name (for copyright purposes)--there's the Xi-Box, or the Nony PlayStation, or even the Patendo.  It's fun to see all the inner workings of these items and play at actually being able to fix them.

+ Achievements and collectible cards.  If that's your jam.

+ Challenges.  As part of the story you have to participate in several challenges where you have to disassemble and re-assemble items against a timer.  Luckily, you only have to beat a few to progress the story (and there are several items that are very easy).  If you choose to you can continue to do the timed challenges for progressively more complicated items.  It's pretty fun (at first...but I'll talk about the drawbacks).

Cons:

- Suspension of reality.  One of the core questions in any simulation game is "how realistic is it?"  True realism will likely kill the fun, but going completely whacky also is a bit of a head scratcher.  This game has some elements that stuck well to the simulation aspect--you have to put items back together in a way that makes sense and can't just have items floating in the air or doing something weird.  One area where you have to suspend reality is in the cleaning element.  Most of your cleaning is likely going to be done with brushes (or, you can spend some money to buy canned air/electronic duster that is a consumable item) but you can choose to buy an ultrasonic cleaner (one of those vibrating, water-filled devices that people use for things like glasses or dental items).  So you're (figuratively) going to be sticking sensitive electronic items into water.  This is where you suspend reality, because we all know that electronics and water are two things that do not go together. (I'd be fine with them allowing it for external/non-electronic components--like the plastic casing of a controller--but restricting electronics).  I sort of find the ultrasonic cleaners to be a bit of a waste because often it's faster to just clean the items with the brush.

- Ending the day.  There is a clock and the courier will stop coming after midnight (so no deliveries of new jobs or parts), but there's no penalty for not going home/sleeping.  If you timed things right, you'd never need to close your shop.  Part of me wishes that there was a penalty--like you start your day later based on how long you stayed past closing.  There's basically no reason to close your shop.

- I know that saying the challenge mode is too challenging will get some jeers.  My main gripe with the challenge mode is that the items have to be reassembled in EXACTLY the correct order.  It will make you start completely over if you do not do it EXACTLY in the same prescribed order.  It has nothing to do with the "sensical" way--the part fits/is connected (not like floating or in a totally unbelievable way).  I wish there was at least a bit of leeway with this, but I get it...it's supposed to be "challenging."  Some of the challenges are very nuts and have a ton of parts to memorize (Polaroid camera and laptop--I'm looking at you).  Fortunately, challenge jobs are mostly optional.

- Painting/stickers.  One of the features you purchase is the ability to do custom paint jobs on devices.  Some jobs will request a specific palette of colors (purchasable for various themes).  Doing more than simply slapping on one color requires some deft coordination (it does satisfy the job requirements though).  You can also buy stickers that can be (optionally) added to jobs.  No one will request the stickers...they're just sort of a fun addition.  I wish there was more to this part of the gameplay and that customers would request (or tip) for making their items look particularly cool (maybe like using multiple colors or a specific theme of stickers).

Recommendation:

If you enjoy simulation games (and especially those that deal with electronics), ReStory is a great option.  I liked the nostalgia factor of seeing the alternate versions of classic gaming consoles and early 2000's cell phones and I would never have the real life skills to repair any of them.  There's something oddly soothing and rewarding about taking something broken and fixing it.  It's also fun to see your little shop go from a trash filled hovel into a glowing beacon of repair. Some aspects of gameplay could use a bit more development, but overall it's a relaxing and enjoyable game. The first content update is coming out on September 14th and it looks like they're adding a few new devices, so that's fun.

There's Big Witcher News Brewing!

It has been quite a week of big gaming news (or leaks...) and luckily, some of it feels relevant to my own interests.  Sadly, that's not all the hubbub around Grand Theft Auto VI, because I am on PC and know that it'll be at least a few years before I'll be happily running and gunning around a new fictional world.  (Plus, some of the "takes" get really annoying--people claiming that it's going to be disappointing because xyz isn't featured...sheesh!)  The most relevant news for me has been about the now 11 year old The Witcher 3.  I was very surprised when they announced a new DLC but it turns out that it gets even better than that.  If you haven't booted it up in awhile, the end of September is going to be the perfect time to dive back in.  Here's why/the big news:

The Witcher 3 is getting a "remastered" version!  Now, I could've sworn that it already got a bit of a graphical update (when they were adding in the new crossover content from the Netflix series), but apparently it's getting an entirely updated look.  But that's not it folks--if you're someone who never invested in the DLC (do those people exist?) the remastered version will include both "Hearts of Stone" and "Blood and Wine" for free!  On top of all that there's an entire list of improvements to the base gameplay that's being included--stuff like new finishers, new animations for signs, improved monster behavior, revamped skill trees...and a lot more!  Undoubtedly the best part--it's free to anyone who already owns TW3!  Take a gander at the official trailer if you haven't seen it yet:

I'm a huge The Witcher fan, so this is an unexpected surprise.  One thing that I'm finding funny is that people are widely singing the praises of CDPR and lauding them for offering this upgrade for free when other developers would make this a paid version.  Just a few years ago, when the release of CyberPunk 2077 was an absolute disaster, these same folks were in full on torches n' pitchforks mode and prognosticating the doom of CDPR.  My, how the turns have tabled.  I guess now it's okay to like them again.

One interesting piece that no one is talking about was an announcement that CDPR was "partnering" with Blizzard to offer TW3 through Battle.net.  I was very confused by this and a bit worried that maybe this means that CDPR might be getting gobbled up by the Activision/Blizzard monster.  I guess they've done plenty of partnerships with other games or crossover content, so maybe it's nothing to worry about.  I'm really hoping that's not the case--CDPR seems like they want to stay independent and I've appreciated their more pro-gamer stances (like no DRM).

They also released a new trailer for the upcoming "Songs of the Past" DLC and a bit more information about the story.  It will apparently take place in a province known as Letten and will broadly feature characters related to Geralt's bard BFF Dandelion (formally know as the viscount Julian de Lettenhove).  The entire Lettenhove clan is apparently going to be part of it--granny too!  And, we finally get to use that silver chain that was featured way back in the original The Witcher trailer!  If you're interested, here's an entire interview about the upcoming features in "Songs of the Past."

I'm excited for all this new content--I don't really need a reason to start yet another TW3 playthrough, but both the remaster and the new DLC definitely give me one.  I was a bit surprised that there wasn't more The Witcher 4 information, but hopefully that will be forthcoming.  I can't wait for September 29th!

Scratching that Itch

Every once in awhile you just feel that urge to start yet another Stardew Valley farm.  Sure, it's like your 10th farm, but there's just something deeply satisfying about the entire process of rehabbing a derelict piece of land, befriending all the friendly townsfolk, and rebuilding a struggling town (I need to do the whole corporate takeover side of things...but it just feels evil).  If you're feeling a little burned out on Stardew, there's a new farm in town and it's called Fields of Mistria.  I've been playing it for awhile now (but haven't finished...and am likely far from "finishing"), but thought I would share my experiences thus far.

I stumbled across Fields of Mistria while perusing the offerings in the recent "wholseome" games sale on Steam.  It had not crossed my feed prior to the sale at all and wasn't on my radar.  If you haven't heard of it either, here's the lowdown--it's very, very much a game made in the image of Stardew.  It actually made me feel a little...weirdly icky, at first, because it felt so similar to the granddaddy of all farming games.  Basically, you play the role of a farmer who is recruited to help re-build a town that has been struggling after the effects of a powerful earthquake.  (Sorry, no sad grandpa to inherit the farm from) Yes, they want you to grow food, but you also wind up in the wider mission to rebuild and improve the town.

My Mistrian farm on an average winter day.

The game mechanics are basically identical to Stardew--there's a 24 hour clock, you have your farm with a small patch of tillable soil to grow crops, and you can choose how you spend your time each day.  That's not where the similarities end though--there's a mine to explore (with the exact same mechanics--break rocks, fight monsters, gather materials, descend), there are townspeople who you can befriend (same mechanics--gaining hearts for friendship, giving gifts), there's a museum where you can make themed donations (and get rewards for completing sets), and there are seasonal holidays/events.  Yep, it's that identical.

There are some differences though that make Fields of Mistria feel just different enough.  A new activity is collecting insects--like fish, they appear in certain locations (and can be dependent on time of day, weather, etc.).  Insects vary in rarity and can be donated to the museum as part of their collection.  There's also archaeology--this basically means digging up any bumpy areas of soil you come across or identifying items you fish (or dive--you can dive in certain special spots) up.  Artifacts are another museum collectible item.  It also feels like the cast of characters is larger in Mistria.  There are a few features that I very much wish were in Stardew--one of them is the map.  The map doesn't just show you the layout of a location, but it shows you exactly where the townsfolk are at any given moment.  This is very nice as it doesn't rely on you having to remember the schedule for every character (that also varies seasonally...).  I don't know how much time I have wasted in Stardew trying to track down a specific character.  There seems to be much more focus on cosmetics in Mistria.  There are a ton of different furniture items to either craft, buy, or earn as rewards--there are different themed sets too!  The clothing options for your character are also very diverse, so you can dress them in a multitude of styles (including hairstyles).  One fun feature that I noticed was that the outfits that the townsfolk wear change seasonally (and are very stylish).  It's kind of fun to see what they're wearing as you roll into the next season.  If you want to raise animals on your farm there are also a stunning variety of critters that you can choose from--this includes fun exotics like llamas and capybaras (I'm not sure what kind of food products you get from capybaras...).  Plus, there's a breeding element to raising animals that allows you to breed different colored critters to try to get rare color varieties.

If you're feeling that hankering for some farming action (while we wait for the someday release of The Haunted Chocolatier), you'll feel oddly at home with Fields of Mistria.  I'm enjoying my new farm, some new townsfolk (in snazzy outfits), and that heartwarming feeling of helping others.  If you're the type who just wants to decorate and design, you'll love the multitude of cosmetic options in Mistria. 

Books n' Stuff

I decided to break my pattern of aimlessly bouncing from game to game and finally settled down on a cute, indie game called Tiny Bookshop.  Steam recently had a special sale for "wholesome" games and I have to admit that I like a chill, wholesome experience from time to time (I also grabbed a couple of other titles that I am in the process of checking out).  Most of my gaming time has been dedicated to completing my Tiny Bookshop adventure.

What is it?

A sort of management game where you play the role of the owner of a mobile bookshop in a small, European inspired (I think it's supposed to take place in a fictional British town) city.  The gameplay consists of deciding on a location where you will sell your books each day and then stocking your shelves with specific titles (I'll get into how this works--there's a bit of strategy involved).  Your ultimate goal is not only to sell books, but to befriend the locals and become a part of the community.

How much playtime can I expect?

Depending on your level of completion, I would estimate between 10-20 hours.  If you're going full completionist (going for all the achievements) it could exceed 20+ easily.  It's not exactly a long game, and it can be played in chunks.

Pros:

+ The gameplay is fairly simple but does require some attention to detail.  Ultimately, you want to sell as many books as you can, but there are different factors that can impact your sales.  These things can be outside of your control (like the weather--when it's rainy/bad weather, you just simply won't get as many customers) or are determined by your selling location or the items you use to decorate your shop.  Each day you get to pick where you want to sell your books--you start off with only a few locations, but as you progress more will open up.  There are special events that occur on certain days of the week that should be considered--for example, every Monday is a special sale at the local mega-store, so there are usually a lot of customers.  The downside...the manager requires you to also offer a discount if you want to sell in the parking lot.

Selling books at the local megastore.

Another factor to consider is the types of books that are popular at each location.  There are seven genres of books to sell, but certain types will sell better at different locations.  For example, the beach is a popular location during the summer and attracts a lot of families, so it's better to stock more children's books.  There's definitely some thinking involved to maximize your bookselling profits.

+ Tons of personalization/decoration options for your shop.  You can earn, find, or buy a variety of items to use in your shop.  These items offer up bonuses that can help with sales--for example, an outdated globe I bought from a vendor increased the chance of people buying travel books.  Plus, you can purchase different paint colors from the art vendor at the flea market and paint many items (plus the interior and exterior of your shop) to create the color palette of your choice.

Your journal helps you keep track of each character, their tasks, and likes/dislikes.

+ A cute, friendly cast of characters to meet and befriend.  These townsfolk will show up at your shop everyday and you can learn more about them.  They have their own book preferences and will present you with special tasks to complete.  There's Klaus, a budding musician who has dreams of becoming a professional with his metal band; there's Tilde, the recently retired former owner of the local bookshop who has a passion for books and for the town of Bookstonbury; there's Harper, a rambunctious young girl who likes playing on the beach and hanging out with her fellow Pipits (a sort of Boy Scout/Girl Scout group); and there are many more!  These characters all have their own line of tasks that are built around their personalities and stories.  It's a heartwarming experience to earn their friendship and eventually feel like a part of the close knit town of Bookstonbury.

+ There's a cat and a dog that can join you at your shop!  And yes, you can pet them.

+ Love of books.  An important part of gameplay is giving recommendations to customers.  If they can't find a book of their choice on their own, they will ask you to recommend a title for them.  The books in your shop are based on real books (there are a few fictional works) and each have a short blurb that describes the basics of the plot.  A customer might specify that they want a YA (young adult) book that has romance themes.  You can't choose exactly what books you stock each day (you just choose the genres and number of books), but you can search through the shelves for the closest match.  Satisfying recommendations will give you sales boost based on how happy the customer is with your choice.  Maybe you only find them a YA book, but it doesn't have romance--they'll only be partially happy, so you get less of a boost.  If you don't fulfill a request the customer will immediately depart and won't buy anymore books.  There's a bit of a timer on responding to requests, but it's almost impossible to miss them.  If you're someone who loves books, you'll enjoy fulfilling customer requests.

+ Fun achievement system.  Each character you meet has tasks that they will want you to complete and will further unlock their storyline.  Each location where you sell books also has certain goals for you to achieve.  One of my favorite tasks was trying to figure out a way to scare off a cruise ship that one of the locals disliked for its negative environmental impact.  Let's just say that it involves gathering an army of seagulls.  The tasks are lighthearted, fun, and help you lean about the cast of characters.

Cons:

- Certain locations are locked seasonally.  This means that if you're trying to accomplish a specific goal for a location and you don't do it, you're going to have to play for another full year.  The gameplay is enjoyable, so it's not a big problem, but it is a little annoying.

-Some customer requests are just bananas.  "Hey, I want a non-fiction book that is also a thriller, but it has to be under 700 pages."  (*I'm sure a book like that does exist, but what I'm getting at is that sometimes the combination in requests is a bit whacky)  Yes, it's not a big deal to fail a request, but it can feel a little bit frustrating when these very random asks come up (although, I suppose that's a small does of reality).  Some requests are relatively simple and some are highly complex.  (I will say though...sometimes you can still get credit if you only satisfy part of a request--it just depends though).

Recommendation:

If you're looking for something relaxing, that has a nice, cozy vibe, you can't go wrong with Tiny Bookshop.  I genuinely enjoyed getting to know the cast of characters and the feeling of fitting into a new town.  There's a fun storyline to follow and tons of books to sell!

Bouncy, Bouncy

I've reached the point in the summer where things start to feel a bit...unsettled.  It's August, so summer is starting to wane and going back to school/work is ominously lurking off in the distance.  You want to make the most of what is left, but you start to feel a bit of an anxious/sad combo.  Not to mention that the state where I live has been experiencing the worst wildfire season on record--there have been 3 different major fires in the vicinity of where I live (*fortunately, nothing too close, but it has made for some very smoky skies that have limited my outdoor time).  I don't know if all of this is impacting my gaming, but I haven't felt a strong urge to play one, single game and have been shuffling between a few.  So here's what I've had on deck.

Crime Scene Cleaner

I finished up the main storyline and all the epilogue missions and decided to check out the "challenge" modes.  Yes, I said "modes" and not "mode" because there are actually two.  The first option is called "Nightmare" and basically re-imagines all the levels from the main storyline in a different form as a version of Kovalsky's own lingering doubts about his participation in all the criminal activity taking place.  Like the main story missions there are collectibles in the form of weird, record-like items to find.  Some of the nightmare levels are pretty wild--one of them has negative gravity, so all the items you touch will float up to the ceiling.  Completing each of the nightmare levels rewards special skins that can change the look of Kovalsky's base cleaning gear.

If nightmare mode isn't enough for you, there's also the "True Cleaner" mode which challenges you to re-visit the original story missions but without "cleaning sense" (an ability that highlights any objects/blood that need to be cleaned/moved).  I completed all of nightmare mode, but haven't given the true cleaner levels a try.  (For some weird reason this game was starting to make me feel a bit motion sick so I have shelved it for the time being)

Balatro

I've won a total of four times, but I just keep going back for more punishment.  I think I'm just singularly bad at building a deck around my jokers and need to keep practicing at it.  I've gotten fairly close a couple of times, but still am just losing...and losing...and losing.  If you haven't checked out this rogue-like/poker smash up, it's a lot of fun, but will slightly crush your soul.

Vampire Survivors

When I get tired of crushing failure in Balatro, I like to switch to slightly less crushing failure at Vampire Survivors.  I bought a bunch of DLC for it awhile back and haven't checked out all the different adventure modes, so I thought I would start there.  I've managed to knock out some of it, but have come up against a wall on a few levels.  For a game with such simple mechanics (kill monsters, loot crystals, upgrade items, and survive for as long as you can), it's surprisingly difficult.  If you're looking for a cheap game that is playable on basically any platform, it is a great option.

Tiny Bookshop

An iteration of my tiny bookshop.

After all the crushing failures in Balatro and Vampire Survivors, I just want to feel less...failure-y.  So, I turn to a nice comfort game in the form of Tiny Bookshop.  You play as the owner of a towable, tiny bookshop who has settled in a new town.  Your ultimate goal is to make a living selling used books, but the friendly townsfolk quickly engage you in various pursuits.  Each day you can pick a new location for your little shop (the perks of it being portable) and learn more about the town and its residents.  Each location offers up specific quests and townsfolk who you can befriend.  Throughout the day your customers will ask for recommendations of varying difficulty--some people have very specific requests while others might just want a book from a certain genre.  Correctly fulfilling these requests will result in a temporary sales boost (and, it's satisfying to get it right).  You can also purchase (or earn/find) items to decorate your shop (this includes paint colors that can be changed every day).  These items provide buffs/debuffs that can impact the types of books customers might want to buy (or other factors like customer count or number of recommendations per day).

I haven't finished Tiny Bookshop yet, but it's a very cute game.  Running the shop is fun, but there's also a cast of townsfolk to befriend and a beautiful little city to learn about.  Not to mention the fun of decorating your shop.