So you are MUCH better than me then, Marian

Well, I am really enjoying myself with Whispered Secrets : Forgotten Sins.
[Because my playing sessions are so short these days, I am only getting through it pretty slowly. But that doesn't stop me having fun ]

No doubt you'll have played half a dozen other games by the time I get to finish this one !!

I am so glad you are enjoying Whispered Secrets: Forgotten Sins. I thought it was a most enjoyable game.

I usually play these games rather slowly, believe it or not. I have just had a lot more time on my hands the past few months - and I've been trying to make the most of it.

I am almost finished (sob!) replaying Lost Lands: Ice Spell. There are seven games in this series that I know of and I have played them all. This is one of those series that is more like an Adventure game than any of those vacuous quickie HOAs, light on the "A" part and trying to compensate by loading on the horror or grotesque. This is a beautiful, involved and challenging game, ranging over vast areas of landscape. It is intelligent, respects you as a gamer and somehow leaves you really caring about the characters (that you have come to know through other games in the series). There is so much thought and cleverness put into this story, such great voice acting and ingenious puzzles, that it puts most other casual games in the shade. I have already replayed three other chapters in this game's series. They are sheer treasures.

I agree with you, Reenie, that the Lost Lands series is excellent.

Five BN's new game, Legendary Tales: Stolen Life Collector's Edition, was released yesterday. You might want to give that one a try.

Thanks, Marian. I will take a look.

I just finished Alex Hunter: Lord of the Mind. It was a good game and very long. I clocked myself at 19 hours, HOWEVER, you can deduct 5 or 6 hours for my trying to solve a puzzle MY way instead of the right way . I knew from the puzzle description I only needed to worry about horizontal numbers but I was trying to also make vertical numbers work. Finally, I got myself on track and solved the puzzle. It still took 2 to 3 hours though. I solved every puzzle without skipping or hints and without getting totally aggravated. When I felt like caving in, I shut the game down.

There are 35 hidden symbols to find. There are 2 play modes to choose. One of them you have to find all 35 symbols to open up the "secret room". The Casual Mode only requires you to find 25 of the symbols. I am ALWAYS 1 short so I played in casual mode and sure enough, I found only 34 of the symbols. There's not a lot to the secret room but I don't like being locked out of something because I couldn't find one item.

The Bonus chapter took me almost 4 hours by itself.

I loved that game, too. Gave it my highest rating and have replayed it once already. Not too many HO scenes, good puzzles and looooong.

If you all find a game you really like it would be awesome if you could give it a little review in the stickied review thread for others to find!

Yes indeed! It would be great if your review could go into the casual game recommendations too, oldbroad.

Yes, I already have written about quite a few games. They are thin on the ground, though. I keep a spreadsheet on the casual games I play, and although there are 600 games on that list now, only 75 were games to which I gave my highest rating. That isn't a great comment on the genre. The second tier down has about the same number.

Still, the Recommendation-Worthy games are out there! Some of them are in a series, like Secrets of the Dark, Lost Lands, Royal Detective, House of 1000 Doors, New York Mysteries, MCF and Vermillion. These are games that pride themselves on their attention to detail, to the creation of believable characters, writing dialogue that goes beyond the cliché and they offer innovative puzzles that have a relationship to the actual story. They treat players like adults with reasoning skills and an education. I have replayed almost all of them. Other games I have enjoyed were one-offs, or appeared in a series that otherwise is mediocre. When I play a good one, regardless, I holler about it to this Group.

And I am always happy to read about your recommendations, Reenie. You and others have brought to my attention some good games that I might have otherwise missed.

Same here, Marian. Your posts about new games coming out always alert me to take a look, especially if it is a series I'm enjoying.

Thanks, Reenie. I am always happy to help out.

"Alex Hunter: Lord of the Mind"

This game seems to be well liked so I'm adding it to my next list of purchases from Big Fish

Just want to post a quick update on Haunted Manor: Remembrance CE. I’ve gotten further into the game and found that there are a LOT of puzzles. Don’t mean that they distract from the game. The puzzles are quite unique and most are pretty challenging. Not being a puzzle lover myself, I have to admit I’ve skipped quite a few. But for anyone who enjoys the challenge, the puzzles add another aspect to the quality of the game.

That's a good thing to know, Sparkle. I'm not all that good at a lot of these puzzles and would probably use the skip button too, but it also doesn't diminish my interest in the game. Thank you for the update.

I have started Haunted Manor: Remembrance CE - boy it's different. You switch between real and surreal worlds, and yes - there are no-nonsense puzzles!! Wish me luck

Another Remembrance player - very good!! I do wish you luck, Tally Ho. It sounds challenging.

So, I went to finally play Episode 2 of Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World and was disappointed to find out it is not another episode at all. I have the game from Shiny Loot with a Steam code also from when Shiny Loot closed down. I wondered why Steam did not have Episode 2 and bought it from Big Fish 4 years ago. The version I have is the full, complete game; Big Fish has it broken down into 2 games for some reason. It is just a short game so that makes no sense to me. I thought I was going to get another adventure and when I started playing, I kept saying "didn't I do this in the first game?". Oh well. Many more games to play.

Sorry about that, oldbroad. I do remember that Big Fish broke the game up into two parts and I am not sure why they did. I never stopped to wonder if it was sold all in one piece elsewhere.

I am now into the bonus game of Dark Parables: The Final Cinderella CE. Excellent game, which I have seen recommended here before.

Finished Dark Parables: The Final Cinderella CE and have since played Bridge to Another World: Escape From Oz CE and Haunted Legends: The Cursed Gift CE.

Marian, I see you posted about Sacra Terra 2 in the recommendations thread. Did you ever play the first game (which I liked better)?

Last night I started Amulet of Dreams but only played for half an hour so I don't have any comment or opinion about it yet.

Yes, I have played the first Sacra Terra game and I would have to say that I liked them both very much. I might put the first game into the Recommendations thread too, but I would like to replay it first as it has been years since I have played it.

I have Amulet of Dreams in my Purchase History, waiting for me to get around to it.

I haven't figured out what's next but will make a decision today.

Well, I finished the Haunted Manor game without being totally creeped out and am now playing Alex Hunter Lord of the Mind. Not the CE, which I usually do, so no guide available. And no bonus chapter I guess.

Also playing a fiendish game called Tower of Beatrice; not a hidden object game. You can't quit or save mid-chapter. If you do, you must replay that chapter from the beginning.

Yes, I announced Tower of Beatrice here in the forum; it looked interesting and different, although I don't like the save system.

There was a Collector's Edition of Alex Hunter (in this case it was called a Platinum Edition) which included a bonus chapter and the usual CE stuff. Big Fish sells this, and I see that it is still available on Steam here.

The description of the Platinum Edition reads:



Congrats on finishing Remembrance.