Houseplant Heaven

The latest stop in my cozy game tour is the plant-tastic game Leafy Corner.  If you like plants (or aspire to liking them/keep them from dying) or just want a comfy, gentle game to enjoy, it's a great option.  I enjoyed my time, but do think a few additional features could maybe slightly improve gameplay.

What is it?

A casual, management game where you run a cute plant shop.

How much playtime can I expct?

Likely ~10 hours.  This number, always, can vary widely depending on your playstyle.  If you just want to tear through the accomplishments/unlocks, you could likely finish it much more quickly.  On the flipside, you could also just run your shop indefinitely.

Pros:

+ Create your own character.  You get to create a shopkeeper character to run the store.  There are a decent amount of options for hairstyles, clothing, etc.  All the shopkeeper character does is stand behind the counter, so you're not actually going to see too much of them.

+ Simple, but satisfying gameplay.  Basically, you just sell plants.  You start off with a few, small houseplants unlocked and start selling them.  Customers enter your shop, do some browsing, and then will typically find the plant of their dreams.  Then, you pick another plant from the menu of options, pick a pot, and plant and water your new plant.  There are specific goals to achieve which will grant a currency that can be used to unlock new types/sizes of plants as well as furniture to decorate your shop.  As you progress, you can expand your shop and add even more plants.

My leafy haven.

+ Tons of adorable options for decorating your shop and potting your plants.  There are numerous little knicknacks, paintings, lights, etc. which can be used to give you shop a fun, plant-forward vibe.

+ Occasionally a customer will come by who needs help.  They will typically be seeking out a specific type of plant and you need to recommend the correct plant for them.  There's no penalty for getting it wrong and it's rewarding to help them find what they're looking for.

+ Special orders.  Once in awhile the shop phone will ring and someone will have a special request for certain plants.  Sometimes they will want a specific kind of plant (for example a plant that can thrive in low light or high humidity).  The nice part about these orders is that there is no timeline for completion and you can plant what you need and wait for the plants to mature.

A sampling of the plant guide.

+ Variegated plants help spice up your normal selection.  Variegated varieties (basically a genetic mutation/variation that produces a slightly different looking plant) can randomly occur in certain plants.  It's fun to have a plant come up as one of the variegated ones and there's a little pop-up that tells you when this happens.  Unlocking all the variegated plants is quite an achievement (one that I did not accomplish).

+ Nice, light music that matches the laid back vibe.

+ Good for shorter gameplay sessions.  You can basically save at any time.

+ Many different varieties of plants.  You start off with small houseplants, then get medium plants, and finally wind up with large plants.  Each size has a wide variety of options--you can actually learn quite a bit about different kinds of plants and maybe will recognize some of your own houseplants in the mix.

Cons:

-No explanation about how to propagate variegated plants.  I kept wondering why my goal wasn't rolling over and then noticed that I needed to propagate five variegated plants...but there was never any tutorial/explanation about how to do that (it's not hard--you click on the plant and there's a little symbol that pops up along the bottom that indicates you can propagate it.  The plants need to be mature before you can propagate them).  It's a minor gripe and easy to figure out on your own.

- Gameplay is nice and relaxing, which is great.  However, there is a part of me that sort of wishes for a little bit more.  Maybe some special events?  There's a cat convention in town and everyone wants some cat grass!  You have two days to cash in on this event--or something along those lines.  Maybe that would upset the cozy vibes too much.

-Like most games of the casual variety, it's on the shorter side.  If you just want to accomplish the main goals, it's less than 10 hours.  I stopped playing after this, but hadn't unlocked all the variegated plants (which happen randomly) or purchased everything.  You could technically play forever if you're just content to run your shop.

Recommendation:

It's cute and relaxing and there's something satisfying about the peaceful job of selling plants.  There's a tiny part of me that wishes there was a bit more to the gameplay, but I had a nice time just helping customers find their new plant pals.  If that sounds appealing to you, give it a gander.

It's Hip to be...Rhombus.

I've been on a wholesome, cozy game trip lately and I managed to finish a title that surprised me quite a bit.  I don't play many puzzle games and have found that my patience for them has greatly diminished (is it the phones?  Is it aging?  I don't know).  It's a bit of a shocker when I stumble across one that I actually finish and enjoy.  Let me tell you about Is This Seat Taken?

In Da Clurb.  Some shapes want to dance, others...not so much.

What is it?

A puzzle game where you must correctly position different shapes in their preferred seating arrangement.  The shapes themselves don't matter, but each has their own preference and your goal is to figure out how to seat them in the perfect location in a variety of different settings.

How much playtime can I expect?

You're probably looking at ~6-8ish hours max for a full playthrough (that includes the bonus levels).  I finished mine at 8.5 hours (and that included all the bonus levels).  It's on the short side, but does have some replayability.

Pros:

+ There's a story built in that involves a rhombus who is trying to break into acting.  It's kind of cute and silly and the game is built around his adventures in travelling, building up his acting skills, and trying to make it big in an industry that doesn't promote many rhombuses (rhombi?) into the spotlight.

+ Each level presents a different layout that changes as you progress.  On one level you might be trying to arrange passengers on a boat trip, on another you are in a restaurant and have to make sure all the food and seating preferences are met.  This provides an enjoyable amount of variety to keep the premise of the game rolling right along.

A bus trip.  Everyone wants the perfect seat.

+ Gameplay that is simple, but just challenging enough.  Each character has their own seating preferences--for example, you might be seating people on a bus and they want to sit next to the window or the aisle.  Some characters might want to sit somewhere quiet where they can read; others want to sit next to someone so they can chat; others (who represent the most loathsome of shapes) want to listen to loud music (AKA the non-headphone wearers).  Obviously, the readers aren't going to want to sit next to the chatters or the most annoying shapes in the world.  Figuring out the correct arrangement is satisfying without getting to the point of frustration.  I struggled a bit with one level, but was able to figure out all the levels without looking anything up.

+ Bonus levels!  Based on how well you satisfy the requirements of each level (it's scored on a star-ranking system--5 stars means that each character is positioned in their ideal seating preference) you can unlock an extra bonus level at the end of each stage.  It's a fun addition of some extra content.

+ Each stage has its own challenges.  The one I struggled with the most involved seating fans at a soccer match.  Some shapes want to stand and will block the view of others; some shapes are cheering for the home team and don't want to be seated next to the fans cheering for the away team.  There's inevitably a stinky/overly-perfumed character who offends the senses of others.  Figuring out the perfect alignment can take a ton of trial and error.  Luckily, the game is built around easily being able to re-position shapes as much as you need to.

+ Short levels/good for shorter play sessions.  If you're looking for something you can pick up for <30 minutes, this is a good choice.  The levels are short and your progress is saved automatically.

+ It's only $9.99.  I'd pay full price for it (I got it on sale in the Wholesome Games sale).

Cons:

-It's short--less than 10 hours.  Although, it's at least somewhat replayable.

Recommendation:

If you're a teacher who has tried (and inevitably failed) to create the perfect seating chart...this is your Olympics.  In fact, there's even a series of levels where you have to create seating charts in a classroom and it feels strangely familiar (as you try your best to seat the chatty students away from one another).  I greatly enjoyed this game without the frustration and lack of willpower to look things up that I usually experience.  It has a cute story and figuring out the perfect arrangement gives you a real sense of satisfaction.  

RIP BioWare

It has been a sad week for those of us who are fans of BioWare games as we received the (totally unsurprising) news that EA is closing the studio.  It's doubly disappointing because many of us were rooting for a new Mass Effect game that was supposedly in pre-production (or maybe production).  And, if you haven't seen the leaked trailer...well, it looks like it could've been kind of awesome (see below).

A totally different leak revealed a set of bullet-pointed details about the potential story/characters in the new game.  It would've taken place 600 years after Mass Effect 3 and your choices as Shepard would remain in place.  The new galaxy would have been divided between different factions that included Batarians, Krogans (maybe we would've finally gotten to see how the whole genophage decision plays out), humans, and even the Geth.  There also would have been a link with the Andromeda universe (I'm guessing some sort of initial contact because the timeline seems weird for anything more than that--if I'm remembering it correctly, it takes them like 600 years just to get to Andromeda).

Honestly, it looks and sounds very cool, but the entire point of trailers is to be the most stylish presentation possible.  Given the recent track record of BioWare games (which, to be totally honest, I haven't played the newest Dragon Age game) I'm not sure what we would've actually gotten.  The formula for the much touted early BioWare games just doesn't really jive with what EA wants--live service style games that can provide an ongoing source of revenue.  Many, many people have cautioned that the giant, sprawling single-player RPG is breathing its dying breaths--studios just can't (supposedly) afford to develop the massive, open-world monstrosities that they seem to think gamers really want.  We'll see how GTA VI fares.

The Mass Effect trilogy holds a special place in my heart as a series that I can endlessly replay.  The formula of building up a trusted crew of friends and companions is one that absolutely works.  The first game has some of the best sci-fi writing out there; the second has a fantastic combination of enjoyable gameplay and characters (story...not my favorite); and the third manages to do a bit of both (and provide one of the best fan service DLC's ever).  Shepard, Garrus, Liara, and the rest of the crew will always be some of my favorite characters.

There are a lot of people pulling for someone to offer to buy up BioWare and allow them to re-start as an independent studio.  I think the chances of that are slim, but people can hope.  It is a sad era when we keep seeing these older, storied studios get consumed in massive mergers only to quickly be shuttered.

Thanks for all the adventures BioWare--from Knights of the Old Republic to Dragon Age to Mass Effect, you provided countless hours of fun with some of our favorite virtual pals.  

Ridin' Dirty

I spent some time checking out the newest DLC for Two Point Museum recently.  The DLC titled "Rides and Relics" is a departure from your traditional museum setting and instead has you revitalizing a rundown amusement park.  It has definite Rollercoaster Tycoon vibes that made me feel very excited when it was initially announced.

Behold, the Lamb!

Before I get to my review, it's also worth mentioning that they've continued to add digiverse crossover content from some of my favorite games into Two Point Museum.  Now, you can tend to the spiritual needs of the clueless masses by adding in content from Cult of the Lamb.  You can unlock shrines, decorative items, and even the lamb (may he be praised) himself!

It's little kitty, in the city.

The newest digiverse content comes from a game I recently reviewed--Little Kitty, Big City.  There are new craftable perks that require shinies (a new commodity item that you can gather from a specific point of interest in the Kitty digiverse), a new wildlife exhibit (kittiy's friend, the hattted chameleon), and two new exhibits.  The kitty itself is the star of one of the exhibits!

Now, on to the "Rides and Relics" content!

What is it?

The newest DLC for Two Point Museum.  It adds an entirely new museum to the campaign map and features a wide variety of rides.  It is entirely un-museum-like...which, seems to be a tad controversial to some players.  It can be purchased for $10.99 on Steam.

How much playtime can I expect?

Like I always say...it depends on your playstyle.  If you just want to play through the three-star, story part of the museum, I would estimate ~20 hours.  If you want to unlock and upgrade every single ride, I would clock it much higher.

Pros:

+ Bang for your buck.  At $10.99 (which, sadly is a $1 increase over the typical $9.99 price for DLC's--inflation strikes again), it's a definite bargain.  You get a lot of additional playtime for a low price.

+ Rollercoaster Tycoon vibes.  (And, I'm going to chart this one as a pro and a con) One of the original Theme games from back in the day was Theme Park.  It saw you managing a silly amusement park and was the forerunner to one of my ultimate favorites Theme Hospital.  I'm fairly certain that the founders of Two Point are from the original Theme developers (Bullfrog), so in a way, it's getting back to their roots.

The amusement park theme is fun.  There are a wide variety of rides--ranging from your more traditional carousel all the way up to several different types of rollercoasters.  I was impressed by the sheer number of different rides that you can unlock.  The new map features over 20 points of interest (not all feature a new ride, but most of them do).

My wildest rollercoaster.

+ Creativity unlocked.  You can design whatever whacky rollercoaster idea pops into your head--loops, corkscrews, massive drops...as long as it's feasible, you can make it.  The controls to design coasters are very easy to use and minimally confusing.

+ Mascot fun.  A new feature is the ability to train assistants to don mascot uniforms to entertain your parkgoers.  You can unlock mascot uniforms at special points of interest and each has its own benefit.  The roachburglar (a mascot for the silly fast food chain Roachburger) uniform helps to reduce nausea.  Mascots also help ease the impatience of guests waiting in queues.

+ New decorative items to spruce up the outdoors.

Cons:

- Many people have pointed out that the museum and theme park theme don't really go together.  Some of the key gameplay aspects from the museum-based part of the game aren't in play--for example, you can assign experts to give tours, but your experts are also responsible for maintaining your rides (that's basically all my experts did).  There aren't donations either--guests pay for tickets and then pay for each ride.  Money is definitely not an issue in this DLC, but a key part of the museum gameplay is hiring security guards to patrol for thieves (also, not an issue).  If you're some kind of museum gameplay purist, there's a good chance you won't enjoy this DLC.

- Vomit everywhere.  The park is huge and I found that my janitors struggled to keep it clean.  You have to hire an absolute army of janitors to keep your paths nice and vomit-free...and even then they still won't get to many spots.

- It's a bit buggy.  I had an issue where one of my assistants got stuck in mascot mode (but wasn't wearing the suit...was just assigned the mascot task) and wouldn't shift out.  I ended up firing the employee and it fixed the issue.  I also had a story-related side task that wouldn't complete (there's a task to do "full maintenance" on a ride--this requires a ride to reach a low-medium maintenance level and then to fully shut down the ride so it can be fixed).  I had several rides enter this mode and the task wouldn't complete--it finally did after 3-4 different completions (and, it turned out that the side task did absolutely nothing...I guess the purpose was just to show you the option to perform full maintenance).  They seem to be working the bugs out, but don't be surprised if you encounter some weirdness.

- The variety of rides is great, but I wish there were more shops.  There's a new popcorn cart and a hot cocoa (weird choice...) vendor, but that's it.  Part of me wishes there were more carnival-like aspects--tickets to earn prizes, differing food and drink vendors (your typical fair foods--corndogs, whatever they have at British fairs--fish and chips?--maybe even some fried Twinkies), and giant plushies.

- Personally, I lack the patience and creativity to design cool coasters.  The controls are very easy, but I kind of wish there were some pre-built designs that you could just slap down.  I don't want to spend a bunch of time finagling my design to get it to a certain level of thrilling--just give me pre-builts at different levels.  Leave the design to the patient, creative folks.

Recommendation:

If you're in the mood for gameplay that is decidedly more in the vibe of Rollercoaster Tycoon, you'll enjoy this DLC.  If you're hoping for more museum-like content, you will likely be disappointed.  I played through the three-star story level of the DLC and then was ready to stop (I didn't even unlock all the rides--there are a ton!).  

Cat in Hat

Have you ever thought to yourself, "there aren't enough games that have cats wearing cute hats?"  Me neither, but then I played Little Kitty, Big City and realized that the genre is really lacking.  Please, give us more games that feature cute felines wearing a wide selection of silly, but adorable, hats.

What is it?

An action game where you play as a a poor kitty who has accidentally fallen from its favorite perch and has to figure out a way to get back home.  It's tags on Steam include, "cute," "wholesome," "cats," "exploration," and "sandbox."  All of those feel right with maybe the exception of "sandbox."

How much playtime can I expect?

I would estimate ~5-10 hours depending on playstyle.  If you're achievement hunting it'll be on the higher end.  The lower end estimate is also probably a bit high--you could just do the main story and be done in 2-3 hours.

Pros:

Prancing through the streets.

+ Cute kitty.  You play as an adorable, little black kitty.  Your character can do many, cute cat things, like jump, climb, meow, squeeze into tight spaces, and zoom around.  You can also unlock several emotes that include behaviors like laying down, grooming, walking in a fancy way, and some others.  All add to the overall cute vibes.

+ Enjoyable, exploration based gameplay.  As the little kitty, you run into several helpful animal friends--a crow with a predilection for "shinies"--AKA any slightly sparkly item laying in the street.  These shinies are sprinkled around the city (often hidden in high areas) and are basically the main resource for purchasing items.  There's an inventor tanuki who has created a system of portals to help you get around the city.  There are several other felines who mostly just want to catch birds...or naps.  The map is scattered with lots of hidden areas that require mostly upward traversal.  It's quite enjoyable to jump from ledge to ledge to reach the top of a building.

+Fun achievements that mostly revolve around the feline theme.  There's an achievement for pawing items off of ledges (a favorite of all cats), another for catching (and releasing--there's no bird murdering) birds, one for sleeping in boxes, one for finding various, hidden napping spots--they're cute and mostly easy to get.

Feelin' crabby.

+ Collectible hats.  Scattered throughout the map are tiny capsule toys (they look sort of like a Poke-ball).  Each contains a hat that your cat can wear.  These hats are extremely cute and make you want to find more hats.  You can also purchase hats from machines (with the help of your crow friend) at the cost of a few shinies.  There are over 60 hats and they're all awesome.

+ Customizable kitties!  Once you help the tanuki get back to his lab, you unlock a special piece of technology that allows you to create custom kitties.  You can play as the default kitty or one of your own custom creations.  There are a lot of options for creating any kitty you can dream up (I mean, purple kitty...why not!)

+ Gameplay that is enjoyable but not too easy or too hard.  Perfect for any gamer.

+ Saves often, so no worries about losing content if you need to quit.

+ Photo mode with tons of options.  (*You do have to explore and find special items to unlock all of them)  There are frames, specialized settings, stickers, and everything you need to take a billion photos of your cute felines with all the hats.

A custom kitty.

Cons:

- Controller recommended.  It's probably possible to do mouse/keyboard because the gameplay isn't too demanding.

- Short.  I want more kitty, and more city.  You'll also likely find yourself feeling a bit disappointed that the adventure is over.  Hopefully they will make another kitty game.

- I wish the in-game map was a bit more helpful.  It would be nice if the hat machines were marked on the map (I mean, the overall play area isn't that big, so it's not too bad).

Recommendation:

If you're looking for a relaxing, cute and wholesome title, look no further.  I got it on sale during the autumn sale and would recommend it for the sale price (maybe a bit steep for the short playtime at regular price).  It is a perfect game for kids (not too challenging and very safe, wholesome content), so it's a good option if you're looking for something to enjoy with a younger kid. 

Little Card Shop of Horrors--Mostly Horrible Employees

Since my disappointment at my own lack of reading and/or comprehending skills earlier this week (I thought that the "Songs of the Past" DLC for The Witcher 3 came out at the same time as the remaster), I've been spending my time running my Pokemon-akin card shop in TCG Card Shop Simulator.  Cardapalooza is truckin' right along thanks to my amazing management skills (ha.).

My star employee, Zack.

My little card shop has grown into a slightly larger store with hopefully fewer stinky customers (I invested in a device that sprays deodorant at the stinkers).  I've expanded my stock and even managed to hire an employee to help out.  I've named him Zack (I don't remember what his real name is) and he works at the pace of a glacial sloth.  To keep myself from firing Zack, I made up a story that he's either the teenage child of a friend or someone I'm trying to help out.  He cannot run the checkout because he is so slow that I would only make a handful of sales a day, so he does what he's marginally okay at--stocking shelves.  Does Zack stock empty shelves first?  No.  Does Zack take a stunning number of breaks?  Yes.  The best part about Zack is that he only cost me $50 a day.  And I just can't fire him because his imaginary parent would be upset.  (To tell you the truth...Zack's days are numbered.  As soon as I start making a bit more money, I think he's going to have to go)

I've also noticed that the customers in my shop buy some odd things.  Why do you need 5 deck boxes?  Or 6 playmats?  Or 6 different copies of the same comic book?  It's not my place to pry, and in the end, I'm making money, so keep on buying your weird quantities of stuff.

Card-wise, I've managed to purchase and find a few valuable cards.  Then, the real question is, what do I do with those cards?  I've been sending the most valuable cards off to be graded (because if they are of a high quality it can quadruple the value).  But should I hang on to them and keep them as part of my own personal collection?  Or should I be cashing in for the good of my shop (and maybe even poor Zack)?  I have been hoping to get some duplicates and then sell those off, but man, it's tough to get the more valuable cards in duplicate (which totally makes sense).

The play area in my shop has expanded to three tables and I conveniently located them close to the windows for the light.  I make a small amount from folks playing in my shop.  Only occasionally do I have to douse an entire table down with deodorant spray.

Being a fake card shop owner is hard.  Prayers for Zack and his slowness.  Have a great weekend!

What to Play While You're Waiting

While I'm waiting for the "Songs of the Past" DLC for The Witcher 3 (supposed release date September 29th), I'm spending what little gaming time I have with some relaxing titles.  Fall weather has slowly been settling in and there's something nice about grabbing a blanket, popping on some relaxing tunes, and playing something decidedly non-stressful.  If you're also feeling those vibes, here are a couple of suggestions for cozy, gaming time.

A stunning bouncy mess to clean up.

PowerWash Simulator 2 just released the last of its free Caldera Chronicles updates.  The newest level to spray down features an absolutely amazing bouncy castle.  This object could not exist in real life (it's huge!) but there is something very satisfying about levels that feature very bright, primary type colors.  Cleaning off all the muck and revealing the colorful playground underneath brings a very odd sense of joy and accomplishment.

There's also some additional good PowerWashing news--there's new DLC coming out later this year (official release date is "late 2026," so I'm thinking maybe Black Friday/holiday time).  It's possible that not everyone will be jazzed about the content, but seriously, the goal of the game is to powerwash things, so does it really matter what you're spraying?  If you've got some 80's & 90's nostalgia or are a big Barbie stan, the next DLC is perfect for you.  The Barbie DLC offers up the ability to powerwash some of the most iconic Barbie items out there--we're talking the Dream House and the camper.  And, of course, there are some new Barbie themed cosmetics so that you can do your powerwashing in pink style.  Personally, I am not someone who is a big Barbie fan, but I enjoy fake powerwashing and nostalgia, so I will be grabbing this DLC in all its pink glory.

If powerwashing isn't your jam, maybe running a fictional card game shop is more in your lane.  I decided to grab the newly out of early access TCG Card Shop Simulator and take a stab at running my own fake business.  Your goal is to open a shop that sells a Pokemon-like (but definitely not Pokemon because copyright) card game and other tabletop gaming items.  You have to manage sales, stocking/pricing items, and making sure to pay your rent and electric bills.  As you earn more profits you are able to expand your shop and buy a wider selection of items--plushies, accessories like card sleeves and collectors albums, special decks, and a ton more!  You can add tables so that customers can play (you make money from people playing in your store).

My card shop is fairly basic.

One of the surprisingly fun aspects of TCG Shop Simulator is collecting and managing the Tetramon (the fake Pokemon game) cards.  You can open card packs that you purchase and keep your own collection.  With the cards you gather you can sell them or send them off to be graded.  Grading cards takes time and costs a small fee, but can triple or even quadruple the value if the card turns out to be in a certain condition.  I have never played Pokemon but I can definitely understand the thrill of opening a pack of cards and finding a particularly valuable one.

As your shop levels up (you earn experience from your daily sales) you can purchase licenses to unlock additional items (they get more and more expensive) and can even sponsor tournaments in your store.  You can also decorate your shop with a variety of fun posters, statues, and other items to make it look nice.  Unfortunately a lot of the big upgrades are fairly expensive, so you have to wait quite awhile to unlock new floor and wall designs.

Probably the best aspect of TCG Shop Simulator is the ability to spray down stinky customers.  I'm pretty sure that they added this in as a bit of a joke/commentary on the personal hygiene (aka non-belief in deodorant) struggles that can impact the average con.  As a person who works with teenagers everyday I would love to be able to douse the stinky ones with some deodorant spray.  At least I can live out this fantasy in a video game.

EDIT 9/29/26:  It's future me here to reply to my own dumbness.  I excitedly logged into Steam this morning thinking that "Songs of the Past" released today when, in fact, it does not release until 2027.  The free "remastered" upgrade to The Witcher 3 did come out today.  My reading and/or listening skills really failed me and I think I just was so excited about new content that I completely ignored the fact that the DLC was not a part of the remaster.  Carry on with your life now (hopefully filled with tons of The Witcher 3: Remastered).