Gamertell

Happy Friday everyone! It’s been another slightly slow week, but there’ve been a few notable casual games released that will hopefully brighten your day and weekend! If you want to prepare for Valentine’s Day, which already next Sunday, then check out Winter Wolves’ latest visual novel slash dating simulation slash farming simulation hybrid, The Flower Shop. It works on Windows, Mac and Linux computers. There were also a glut of hidden object available, like usual.

If you’re strapped for cash, then check out Nekomura Games’ ButaVX, a short, stylized RPG that follows a young pig on his quest to retrieve his ball. It’s free! If it’s not your style, then visit Nekomura Games and look around, as the developer has a number of free visual novel, simulation and RPG games for PCs and Macs available.

This week’s best bets are: The Flower Shop (PC, Mac, Linux) and Alt Shift (PC).

The Clumsys 2: Butterfly Effect
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Apple, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista, Mac 10.4 or better
Premise: Grandpa Clumsy is a time traveller, and made the mistake of bringing a prehistoric butterfly back with him after a trip to the past. Now the modern times have become prehistoric, and Helen must fix things by rediscovering famous discoveries.
Demo Available: Yes

The Flower Shop
Genre: Simulation / Visual Novel
Availability: Winter Wolves
Retail Price: $19.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista, Mac 10.4 or better and Linux
Premise: Steve is sent to Fairbrook from college after a tragic first semester by his father, in the hopes learning to work a farm will help him build character. You help Steve develop a farm, and perhaps also develop a relationship with one of four different girls. Visit Gamertell on Monday for a review!
Demo Available: Yes

Nick Chase and the Deadly Diamond
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: A package has arrived on detective Nick Chase’s desk, and it is up to find out who brought it there and if the Deadly Diamond really is cursed.
Demo Available: Yes

Alt Shift
Genre: Puzzle
Availability: Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows Vista, XP and 7
Premise: You must go through 80 levels to outsmart a professor and save your loved one.
Demo Available: Yes

Sarah Maribu and the Lost World
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Sarah Maribu is exploring an island populated by dinosaurs with her husband Michael when he suddenly disappears. You have to find him again!
Demo Available:

ButaVX
Genre: RPG
Availability: Nekomura Games, Amaranth Games
Retail Price: Free
Platform: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Premise: A brief, free RPG starring a piglet named ButaVX who must journey on a quest to find his ball.
Demo Available: No

Editor’s Note: Due to so many casual games sites offering game plans or preferred member prices, which can cause a game to have multiple price-points, the games’ average retail prices is mentioned in Casual Friday.

Site [Big Fish Games] Site [GameHouse] Site [eGames] Site [Alawar Games] Site [Amazon] Site [Reflexive Arcade] Site [Harmonic Flow]