This is a new thread so that we can continue our What Casual Games Are You Playing Right Now? This will be part two. The other thread is quite long so I have started a new one.

You can find Part One of the discussion here.

I'm playing the latest Ameranthine Voyage (Legacy of the Guardians). I have played seven other games in this series and been happy with them, some more than others. (As usual, there is no continuity of subject with previous Ameranthine episodes, so you can play the games in any order you like.)

This game is good, and if you play it on "Hard," the mini-games are suitably pesky for me. The graphics are more than decent, as usual, and the HO scenes are not unduly obscure, but I am not feeling as engaged with the game as I have been with others in this series. I find I just don't care about the characters, nor their quest.

Thank you for your thoughts on the game, Reenie. I haven't played this game. I have only played three games in this series so far. Good to read your description of it.

Thanks. Yes, I enjoyed Burning Sky, Tree of Life and Winter Neverending in this series far more than the new Legacy episode. In fact, Winter Neverending is one of my Top 20 Casuals, and it was an older game. I've already replayed it.

Yesterday, rather late in the day for this seasonable title, I started "Christmas Stories : The Christmas Tree Forest" but really didn't like it at all ....
So I uninstalled it and started "Bridge to Another World : Secrets of the Nutcracker" instead - which I found MUCH more enjoyable
And I've played another little chunk of that today

Good to hear your update, Mad. What was it about Christmas Tree Forest that put you off? I haven't played it.

I just finished the Mystery Tales: The Other Side CE. Before that, I played the Nevertales: Hearthbridge Cabinet CE. Enjoyed them both. I am easy to please these days, I guess!

Somehow I missed your post Mad. I'm also curious as to what you didn't like about Christmas Stories: The Christmas Tree Forest. I have not purchased it yet but it's on my list. Did you finish the game or dislike it so much that you uninstalled without finishing?

Since I last posted, I have only finished Dream Chronicles 2: The Eternal Maze. I resorted to a game guide to finish up the final maze. If my XP and Win 10 didn't share this monitor, I probably would have tried the maze another time (I had found most of the stuff I needed) before consulting the guide but did not feel like wasting any more time on it.

I also started Amaranthine Voyage 4: The Obsidian Book. I'm not sure about this game yet, though I've played it twice now. I guess at the moment, I'm neutral on it.

It sounds to me like Mad uninstalled Christmas Tree Forest prior to finishing the game.

Are you saying that this is your third playthrough of Obsidian Book, oldbroad?

Sounds that way to me too Marian. (About Mad not finishing the game.)

No. Sorry. This is the first time I am playing Obsidian Book. I meant I've had two play sessions with the game so far but have still not formed any opinion of it.

Oh, I see. Thanks for clarifying.

Yes. I uninstalled "Christmas Stories : The Christmas Tree Forest" without finishing it.
I didn't like the type of graphics it employed or the type of puzzles either - but, of course, both could well suit lots of other people !!

And after all, I'm not bound to like every Casual game I play, although I do like most

EDIT :

I also meant to say that the more I've played of the Nutcracker game the more I've liked it

[Not had too much time to play but made up for it today.]

Thanks Mad. And of course you're not bound to like every game you play, but tis a shame anyway.

Glad to hear you are enjoying the Nutcracker game though!

I'm playing Secret City: Mysterious Collection CE. I bought it because there was a Sale and because I had enjoyed a couple of the earlier Secret City games (London Calling was pretty decent). This one feels like they phoned it in. The artwork is minimal and jerky (sorta like those TV cartoons where they have to show the characters running but only draw them from the waist up so they don't have to spend all that time/money animating their legs). Everything is in Disney primary colors, like they think their audience is a third grader still playing with crayons. Aside from a couple of good puzzles (only if you play on Hard setting), there isn't much to maintain your interest. As for an original story line or any attempt at characterization, fuggedaboudit. It is a shame. I don't usually pan a game this seriously. Still, there are lots of good games out there, so I'll finish this one and then go looking for them.

I have the game too, Reenie, so I will get a chance to see for myself. You are right, though - there are plenty more games out there!

I was digging into a bookshelf today and found a stash of CDs of games. Wasn't sure they'd still load (from 2009), but I put in House of 1000 Doors (Family Secrets) and it booted right up. What a joy to replay this game. It is from a time when artwork was realistic. Wood looks like wood, with "grain," and isn't blue or orange. In fact, there is none of that candy-colored art and purple or green smoke that are so ubiquitous in contemporary games. Every scene is gorgeous. You can choose Easy or Hard for each puzzle, so anyone can find their level of challenge. I had forgotten how good these early games were. I found about a dozen and will happily play my way through them as the days go forward. Yay!

That's great, Reenie! I am planning on replaying House of 1000 Doors: Family Secrets very soon. It's been so long since I played it that I am sure that it will seem like a new game. Glad you are playing it and have more good early games to look forward to!

Reenie, I have all 4 House of 1000 Doors games and haven't yet played any of them. The first 3 I have are also on discs. Good to know they still work. I've tried quite a few of the old Casual discs in Windows 7 (not in 10 yet which I'm assuming you are using) and haven't found any yet that didn't work.

I am enjoying this old game, so far. I have the others in the series as BF downloads.

The game is excellent and I am happy playing it because it is so multi-layered and challenging, but I will say three things:
One: There is no Map. Maybe other people don't use them as much as I do, but they save a lot of running around. This game involves constant to-and-fro, when something you find at "Point A" has to be used at "Point F," and the paths of travel can be long ~ especially if there is an elevator sequence to repeat again and again. It is realistic, if you actually were the investigator on the scene; you'd have to slog it out. Still, I wouldn't mind a fast-transport option. :-)
Two: The HO scenes, while very well rendered, include many objects that are exceedingly small. For my old eyes, these objects are hard to find and I have had to get a Clue to find many of them. (Things like acorns and paper clips, drawn to scale.)
Three: The background "music" is comprised of a single, short theme that repeats endlessly. In these older games, you can't turn off the music apart from the sound. After hours of play, you may be trying to not hear it.

Edit: Well, ahem, I have to correct Item 1 above: There IS a map. I just didn't see it because I don't consult the Guide to read what to do. (Kinda spoils the game to be led by the nose.) Anyway, if you want a Map, find your way to the Guide and open it.

I’m currently playing “Mystery Case Files: Black Crown”. Not sure how I feel about it. The story is a bit odd, imo. As much as I like a game with plenty of locations to explore, this game has more than seem necessary. There’s a lot of going back and forth to use inventory items. I’ve found the map to be essential. On the other hand, there are plenty of good puzzles for those who enjoy them. And HOS are challenging enough. The game is not at all what I’d expect from the MCF series though. Maybe that’s why the story seems odd to me. All in all, the game is a nice, long diversion. That’s about it for me,

This is great information, Sparkle and Reenie. The drawbacks you mention with 1000 Doors, Reenie, I know I'd be okay with, but good to mention it.

I haven't played Black Crown, Sparkle. Thanks for the feedback about it. Much appreciated.

I just finished Chimeras: Inhuman Nature CE. It was not a very long game, nor was it anything unusual or different from what we have seen already, but it suited me just fine for the several hours that I played it. I think I was in the mood for something simple and relatively uncomplicated.

I have 4 x House of 1000 Doors games - and have played 3 of them so far.

It's a series I do really like

So - earlier this week I finally finished the Lost Lands series of seven games. I can't say enough good about them! They did everything right as far as I am concerned. The stories, the interface, the graphics, the music, and the total attention to detail. The only downside is, now I am spoiled by such superior quality that I get dissatisfied with other games that don't measure up. I'll get over it, but my admiration for the 5BN team will never go away.

This morning I played the entire main game of Mystery of the Ancients, Curse of the Black Water. Start to finish in one sitting! I don't think I have ever done that before. (A short bonus chapter yes, but never the primary game.) It's a good game to be sure, but I am guilty of thinking "5BN wouldn't have done it that way." Unfair, and as I said, will get over it. Maybe. Now it's time to log on to BBO and play Bridge.

Tally Ho, if you haven't already, try the Darkness and Flame and New York Mysteries series from 5 BN. The games in this series are all very good, too. I can post the order that the games should be played, if you would like.

Lost Lands is also very replayable, as there is so much to them that after a few months I don't remember a lot of the details.

And yes, Mystery of the Ancients is a really good series, but most games will fall short if compared to 5 BN - I agree with you there.

I played at least one of the New York Mysteries, and liked it. Wasn't familiar with the developer at the time.

And haven't heard of the Darkness and Flames. Would appreciate knowing the order they came out, thanks.

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Just looked to see; Lantern of Souls and The Outbreak (don't remember that one at all)

Here is the series in order of when the games were released. Both Collector's Editions and standard games are listed.

Darkness and Flame

There are also New York Mysteries: Secrets of the Mafia and New York Mysteries: High Voltage (mentioning it just in case you missed one of those)

Another series by 5 BN consists of the Legacy games:

The Legacy: Prisoner

The Legacy: Forgotten Gates

The Legacy: The Tree of Might