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).

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.

Someone's Gotta Do It

I picked up a few new titles in the Steam Summer Sale and have been spending my time checking out one (actually two, but I found that I deeply disliked one of them).  A somewhat weird genre that I've found myself enjoying is cleaning games.  Do I enjoy cleaning in real life?  I mean, I have to do it, and I don't hate it or anything, but it's just more work to me.  I'm not the kind of person who is a neat freak either, but I do love to simulate cleaning up in a game.  Hence why I've found myself in the role of a down-on-his luck janitor in Crime Scene Cleaner.

What is it?

A first-person cleaning game where you clean up the aftermath of various violent criminal encounters.

What you're walking in to on a typical job.

How much playtime can I expect?  Is it replayable?

I'm not 100% done (and have fully confessed to my slowness in cleaning games) but I'm at almost 32 hours of just the main story missions.  There is also a challenge mode that I haven't checked out yet.  Basically, there's plenty of content and yes, it does have an element of replayability built-in with the challenge mode.

Pros:

+ There's a decent story.  I mostly expected to find some built-in story elements on the jobs that might explain the situations that you're cleaning up, but there's a fully fleshed out story about your character and the various crime scenes you clean up.  Your character, Mr. Kovalsky (no first name given), is a school janitor whose daughter gets sick and needs some expensive medical treatment.  His normal gig won't cover the cost, so he's open to alternatives.  He gets pulled into the shady business of cleaning up after crimes in an almost accidental way--the son of a friend gets into some trouble and calls Kovalsky to clean up.  He does such a good job that the big boss reaches out and offers to give him...more permanent employment...as long as he can keep his mouth shut.

What the heck?  Some more humor.

+ Simple, but oddly enjoyable gameplay.  Kovalsky is armed with a bevy of cleaning tools--a mop, sponge, and pressure washer--and the ultimate goal of each level is to completely clean all the blood, get rid of all the bodies, clean up any trash/destroyed items, and move any furniture back into its original position.  Basically, you want each scene to look like nothing ever happened there.  Plus, you can also add to your base pay by stealing any valuable items that might just be laying around.

+ Secrets and collectibles to find.  Each level has hidden areas that require some attention to detail/alertness to find.  These hidden areas can contain a cache of stealable items or even special items (I figured out a sort of puzzle clue and unlocked a katana that can be used to smash up certain items), so they're worth finding.  The collectibles come in the form of cassette tapes/CD's that can be found throughout the levels (and are also usually hidden in secret areas).  They add new playable music to the game.

+ Talent system/skill tree.  You earn experience points based on how thoroughly you clean up each level (and the number of items that you steal) and they can be placed into different skills.  You can improve your base items in many ways like improving the amount of blood that your mop can hold before it needs to be cleaned.  Earning talent points is very easy and you can unlock all the skills.

Small items from each job appear in Kovalsky's apartment.

+ Wall of memories in Kovalsky's apartment.  There's a cabinet (that becomes shelves later on in the game) where you can find small items from each job.  It's reminiscent of the curio wall in PowerWash Simulator 2 and a fun feature.  Kovalsky's apartment changes as the story progresses.  Oh, and he has a cute dog named Dexter that you can pet.

This Witcher 3 reference can be found on one of the levels.

+ There's a bit of humor built into the story and plenty of dad joke-esque remarks from Kovalsky.  Kovalsky definitely feels a bit divided about his participation in this criminal enterprise, but needs to cash for his daughter.

Cons:

- Gameplay is very simple.  You use your mop to clean up floors, your sponge to clean up other surfaces, and power washer for those hard to reach places.  It's a point-and-click type of affair, so there's nothing advanced about it.  There is some nuance required (trotting through a giant pool of blood will result in bloody footprints getting tracked all over), but it's pretty basic.

- Physics are also pretty simple and can feel a bit weird.  You can use your sponge to safely clean basically anything but if you smack something breakable with your mop, it will automatically break.  Feeling out the distance while mopping is weird.  When in doubt, use your sponge.  When Kovalsky is carrying bodies they are in a weird t-pose that feels odd.  It's a minor gripe and nothing gamebreaking, but just gives things a bit of a wonky feeling.

- There's an element of cheese in the writing/stories.  It's not cripplingly bad, just slightly cringeworthy at points.  Again, not a gamebreaker.

Recommendation:

I have been pleasantly surprised by Crime Scene Cleaner.  There's a story (granted, a little bit cheesy), a talent system (in a cleaning game!), and fun features like collectibles and challenges.  The gameplay itself is a bit simple, but enjoyable.  If you enjoy cleaning games and want something that doesn't push too hard and has fun features, it's worth your time.