... when this 8Floor game was released, I took it for a spin.
I'm not a pro at mahjong games, and even though this game allows for various tilesets, I'm still struggling to make matches quickly.
You earn keys (instead of stars) to unlock future levels. Unfortunately, there are no difficulty settings; in some levels, you have a "maximum moves" target, while in others you need to reach a "minimum points" to earn keys; because points are awarded based on your matching speed, you might not reach the target. You can replay a level, but that doesn't mean you'll do much better. You don't need to earn all 3 keys of a level to move forward, but you will need a minimum number of keys to unlock the next chapter.
NOT a game for novice mahjong players, or for those who just want to chill; you are NOT able to "take your time", so it's a "pass" for me.
This game consists of 3 types of numeric-based logic puzzles:
1) Sudoku: the traditional 1 thru 9 grids, available here in 3 difficulty modes; 2) Binary: fill out a grid using only 0 and 1, making sure no more than 2 are positioned consecutively (diagonally is OK); 3) Suguru: fill out differently colored areas with numbers, making sure there are no duplicates... not even diagonally.
The interface is clear and straightforward, but the graphics get repetitive quickly.
My favorite genre here is "suguru", possibly because I've had less exposure to that one in the past.
Lots of content, in-level saves are provided. Simple concepts, but not that simple to reach victory! Try each type to see if this game is for you.
This is the 3rd entry in a series that currently has 10 entries at the time of writing.
If you like games like "Clear It" and "Quadrium", this game will feel familiar: click on the perimeter to propel the "ball" towards the center and clear the board by making matches with adjacent balls. It has a nice variety of power-ups, some appearing for a shorter time than others (if they don't, they sure seem to!) It's an OK matching game, but as far as I can tell, doesn't seem to have anything I haven't seen before; perhaps because I only played the trial? No issues to report during that time.
For those that haven't seen this game before, GREY ALIEN (no "s") also released a more elaborate version of this solitaire game which includes RPG elements (like skilled battles with opponents that are part of the story.)
The gameplay here is a nice variant (read "simplier and easier") version, which will appeal more to the casual player. Graphics are beautiful and mechanics are smooth; the opening tutorial is helpful, whether or not you've played up/down solitaire-based games before.
I'm always weary of reviews posted from people that get the game for free on other platforms... bias is inevitable. This game is priced mid-way between a SE and a CE, but I think we're paying a premium for what is essentially an SE with nice graphics. I could name other games from another developer that has a LOT more content than this game.
Certainly enjoyable and original in its structure, I suggest you try it not only to form your own opinion, but also to experience a few of the twists included in the game.
This 3rd installment in the series is as relaxing as the first two; the tiles and backgrounds still feature aquatic designs.
Gameplay is straightforward as always, with the features you'd expect from a robust (but uncomplicated) mahjong game.
Try before you buy it; sometimes there's nothing wrong with using a proven "recipe".
I recommend this game!
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0of0voted this as helpful.
Overall rating
3/ 5
So soon after the previous one?
PostedMarch 15, 2025
EveOfLove3
fromGameland
Fun Factor
4/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
4/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
It's only been a couple of months since the previous "Happy Hour" was released here on BFG.
New pictures, same subject matter!
Download the trial so you can see all the pictures offered; the mechanics haven't changed, so you can choose if there are enough pictures that you like to warrant a purchase. As always, LOTS of content.
The folks at 8Floor have released another game in the series; it features 500 pictures that mostly revolve around food and drink... possibly my least favorite topic for jigsaws.
Having the same features as their other games, there are no real surprises here.
You can download the trial, look at the pictures offered, then decide if there's enough attraction to make your decision to buy or not.
It has been a few years since I noticed a game from T1GAMES that strayed away from the Coloring genre.
This is a jigsaw game that offers 4 modes (including swap, rotate, strips) and your choice of number of pieces, etc.
What sets it apart, in my book, is the fact that each puzzle is a moving target as the image is not still... it is a short videoclip showing different camera shots/angles of the subject matter; quite unique (and distracting!)
One caveat for me: after closing the game, my Windows 11 computer thought the game was still running in the background (the process was called (PopArt.exe) so it prevented me from opening another game/session in my Game Manager while depleting my demo time.
If you are going to try the demo, please monitor afterwards using the Windows Task Manager to end that runaway process. PS: I had to remove apostrophes from my review as the formatting went all wonky!
As prior games in this series, the graphics are crisp, the locations varied, and the content is quite large. So far, the mini-games are generally interesting. I can figure out "pigeons" vs "pigeon", "spade" vs "spades", etc. Certainly not confusing (as opposed to "torch" vs "flashlight".) It expands my knowledge of british vs american english, just like colour vs color, etc.
Despite being an Armenian company, AVI understands correctly that "America" actually refers to more than the US; Canada and Mexico are also part of America. Hence the name "United States OF America". Sort of a similar concept to "England" versus "United Kingdom".
I too could go on about the diversity of games on the website, and how many developers are now using cookie-cutter methods to replicate earlier games; AI also contributes in generating content, so large developers are publishing their games elsewhere as the market share is bigger and most players can actually interact with the devs on those platforms. BFG has decided to keep its tags for "Top Reviewer" and "Key Contributors", which need to disappear. I'm glad that more people now contribute feedback, but please remember 3 things:
1) Reviews are not intended to report tech issues. 2) Reviews are not intended to criticize BFG's choice of games and how the company operates. 3) Reviews are intended to help "visitors" get a sense of the experience of players WHO PLAYED THE GAME... not first impressions of the first 10 minutes (especially in games with progression in difficulty). Reading first impressions from others is of absolutely no value to me as I can try the game myself. I find it of TREMENDOUS value that BFG allows us to try EVERY GAME for ourselves; larger platforms (like s-team) rarely do.
Did I mention I'll probably get this game: it's relaxing, informative and tickles my brain, even if it's not particularly original.