Gamertell

There’s a lot of variety in this week’s casual game lineup. We have puzzles, hidden objects, board games, simulations, time management and match-3 all lined up in a massive update that includes a huge assortment of games. History buffs may be pleased as well, as we’ve got games with ancient Egyptian, wild west and 1930’s Chicago themes.

We also have a simultaneous game release, National Geographic Adventure - Lost City of Z: Special Edition. It’s debuting on Big Fish Games, PlayFirst, GameHouse and RealArcade this week. If you’re part of one of those subscription plans, GameHouse has the best price on this hidden object game, $5.99, though Big Fish Games comes close with its standard $6.99 rate.

Personally, I’m excited about Nanny 911, the game based on that TV show that used to air on Fox. I know the show was tripe, but I absolutely adored it. There’s now a casual, time management sim where you have to help a family for seven days to make them happy and functional again. (It even has a match-3 mini-game.)

This week’s best bets are: Zuma’s Revenge (PC), Empire Builder: Ancient Egypt (PC) and Miriel’s Enchanted Mystery (PC, Mac)

Steve the Sheriff 2: The Case of the Missing Thing
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: An underwater hidden object adventure set in the underwater city of Neptuneville. You must help Steve the Sheriff search through hidden object puzzles to try and find the stolen Mona Medusa.
Demo Available: Yes

The Legend of Sanna
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: You need to create, maintain and make the Sanna colony successful.
Demo Available: Yes

Vampire Saga: Pandora’s Box
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Alawar Entertainment
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows PC
Premise: A thriller hidden object game where a man named Matthew Ward, a stowaway on a cargo ship, discovers many coffins and no crew. Could it be because of… vampires?
Demo Available: Yes

Bumble Tales
Genre: Puzzle (Match 3)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: You play through match-3 puzzles and match certain tiles to help Springleton City thrive so the little Bumbles who live there will all be happy and prosperous.
Demo Available: Yes

Once Upon a Time in Chicago
Genre: Board Game
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: This is one of the more unusual casual games. It’s a lotto game set in Chicago in the 1930’s. Your goal is to become the richest and most successful through gambling and mini-games.
Demo Available: Yes

Empire Builder - Ancient Egypt
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: You develop and create an Egyptian empire over 30 levels, recreating legendary structures like the sphinx and pyramids. There’s also a mini-game to play to earn extra bonuses. Just beware of unruly mummies and locusts. You have to be quick or they’ll take over the kingdom.
Demo Available: Yes

Legends of the Wild West: Golden Hill
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: PlayFirst, Alawar Entertainment
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Premise: Luka came to America and the wild west to try and find his dreams and build a life for himself. Now, in this hidden object game, you help him succeed and then reunite with his love Natalie.
Demo Available: Yes

Affair Bureau
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: GameHouse, RealArcade
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: The city is in danger because of an unknown villain, and a mysterious woman has come to Alex’s detective agency to seek his help in protecting and saving it.
Demo Available: Yes

Nanny 911
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games, PlayFirst, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Premise: Based on the TV show Nanny 911, you choose to be one of three nannies and go out to help families that are having trouble working together and getting along. You only have seven days to get them happy and working together.
Demo Available: Yes

Zuma’s Revenge
Genre: Puzzle
Availability: PopCap, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: You’re on an island that isn’t quite a paradise. Tiki bosses and evil spirits populate the area, and it’s up to a lone frog to traverse through 60 levels and save the day.
Demo Available: Yes

Mosaic Tomb of Mystery
Genre: Puzzle
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Mac 10.4 and 10.5
Premise: You must put shapes in their proper place in order to discover and see art and hieroglyphics.
Demo Available: Yes

Miriel’s Enchanted Mystery
Genre: Simulation (Time Management) and Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: GameHouse, RealArcade, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista and Mac 10.3.9, 10.4 and 10.5
Premise: Miriel is incredibly busy. She has to run a mercantile shop where she provides food , potions and supplies for customers and investigate a mysterious object her grandmother has given her, all at the same time. As you play, you also unlock real recipes you can use to make delicious treats.
Demo Available: Yes

National Geographic Adventure - Lost City of Z: Special Edition
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, PlayFirst, GameHouse, RealArcade
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: You must search the elusive and hidden city of Z in order to find a National Geographic researcher who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.
Demo Available: Yes

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