Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
HOG in the traditional sense without the trappings of adventures that detract from the pure HO levels. Gorgeous graphics and just enough playful fun added in building aquariums to provide a moment of variety. Most of all I appreciate that this is truly HOG and the best of those I've played in a long time. Note to developers: Some sort of auto-feeder for fish and perhaps an auto-cleaner would be fun options to purchase when you get to 10+ tanks; it would be extra extra fun if fish who show you their dream of adding a plant or accessory could respond when you buy that item for them. Just would be a special extra little interactive kick! Totally love this game and I play it waaaaay too much! Gotta go, tank #12 needs cleaning ...
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
Came across this by accident and love it! I've also now played the original game and while they are structurally similar it matters not because the high fun just goes on and on. I adore Ricky and will go with him and Grandpa to whatever ends of the earth they choose to visit next, and I hope that comes soon! Ricky is definitely my kind of explorer, he totally rocks! And may I say he is adorable?
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Two features that I appreciate are: the single mouse click to grab and transport a piece without having to squeeze that mouse continuously; just click to grab then click again to drop and no more cramped fingers, yay! That also reduces my incidence of accidental drops that cause errors. Second nice improvement is that all completed puzzles can be viewed at leisure by way of the magnifier icon. I've missed this in the past and it's very nice to be able to flip through completed puzzles to admire them as a gallery. I've not gone too far in this game yet but the puzzles seem easier to assemble than some earlier mosaic inlays. Not too easy, but a bit more intuitive and less hair-pulling. Nice job overall!
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
1/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
2/ 5
Level of Challenge
1/ 5
Storyline
1/ 5
Joining the ranks of other reviews that gave this low stars. Hard to say this but, while I usually do very well with tough levels of other match 3 games, I can't advance winning rounds of this marble popper version at all. That's so frustrating after long hours of repeated attempts ... truly wish I had not bought this and that I could toss it from my purchase history and never come across it again!
Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
This game from Absolutist is light years ahead of and better than renderings in the jigsaw genre from others sold here that if you only want one such, be sure it is Patchworkz. Such attention to detail, beauty, and the sensory pleasure in the handling of puzzle pieces is reflected audibly ... wood puzzles sound just like pieces of wood being laid on the base, glass sounds like glass, stone sounds so realistically of stone pieces. That detail adds such a bounty of dimension, it launches this otherwise simple game format into the stratosphere. If you enjoyed jigsaw puzzles in youth, these will transport you right back. Please create more like this, it's tops.
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Everything about this game delights--visually varied and charming yet challenging crazy-cut jigsaw pieces, not the standard 'outie' 'innie' locking design. Each of the groups of puzzles is designed in different textiles such as fabric, wood, glass, stone, paper, so the nearly 3D textures add depth and richness. Sounds and music vary and are pleasant, adding to the fun. I prefer spooky themes on the G for gentle side and this game appeals in that way. When games in all genres now seem to default to macabre, dark, dystopian patterns, this lighthearted approach to Halloween fun is just right. If you enjoyed board puzzles as a kid, you'll have fun with these, and they are not so easy to solve.
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
Stunning graphics, among the most luscious visuals in gameland. Mystika 3 has handily overcome frustrations in the first game that was hampered by some quirks, sluggish mechanics. If you've never tried Mystika, just play the intro hour of the first game and then buy the 2nd and 3rd ... you won't be disappointed. Games 2 and 3 are smooth as silk, fluid, you glide through levels. Smashing! Enjoy!
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
5/ 5
Storyline
5/ 5
There are plenty of 5* reviews that detail everything good here so rather than repeat those I just want to add that there is a level and a game style in this masterful mix that should appeal to all mahjong players, newbies, initiates, and masters alike. The format called Numbers was a bit dull for me but it would serve well as a flashcard game for kids learning subtraction (lots more fun than summer school!) The format called Slider almost brought me down, I almost gave up in tears of frustration after way too many attempts to beat one early level, but perseverance finally rewarded, I began to intuit what to do, and you will too, so stay with it and hang tough because the fun will find you! Just a teeny hint that I don't think makes a spoiler: don't burn all of your bridges, you just may need 'em ;-) This is one of the most delicious mahjong creations I've ever played, tons of fun, hours of hair tearing followed by the joy of sweet success.
Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Family, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3
Fun Factor
2/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
3/ 5
Level of Challenge
3/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
I'm normally pretty much on tap with a few key reviewers but in this game my experience just does not come up to the 5 stars. Game play feels sluggish. Example: when a board is blocked, no moves, it takes the system a full 3 seconds to figure that out (d'oh!) and announce your dilemma. Everything about this felt heavy and sluggish to me, way too slow in all three modes to keep me awake and interested. That said on the cons though, the graphics are truly lovely and frankly what tempted me to play and buy, and the storyline is certainly sweet. I regret that BFG combines rating for visual and sound qualities, because in this development I would like to give visuals a 5 and sound quality a 1 ... not so much the quality but the music created is metallic, a mind-numbingly repetitive short phrase which I hope I can neutralize before I hit the sack tonight or I'll be doomed to hear it in dreamland. Visually this is a lovely game so I'm sorry to come down hard on its functionality. Perhaps it will be just your cup of tea--it certainly merits a free trial to help you decide! If I could recommend with reservations I would but will have to show not recommended below.
Favorite Genre(s):Puzzle, Hidden Object, Match 3, Mahjong, Card & Board
Fun Factor
5/ 5
Visual/Sound Quality
5/ 5
Level of Challenge
4/ 5
Storyline
4/ 5
This was my first of the series and I love the graphic beauty and ease of game play, but I enjoy peering into the structures between rounds and being able to see again (in a mouse-over for instance) what they are, but you only get one chance, as you are playing to gain points to restore each structure; afterward you can view the scene but have to recall what the charming structures are. At the end of the game your achievements (relics in this case) similarly are not labelled. Oh well, too much to ask for a full fairy tale for grown-ups I guess. The story is simple and charming and I would not at all mind more story detail, and I'd enjoy seeing a few elves move about once in a while. Nevertheless, such a lovely game deserves to be enjoyed and I hope that you will. Maybe I'm more expert at solitaire than I know, but I found this game lenient, rather than challenging; not a negative, just perhaps something you'd like to know as a buying point. Intermittent mini-games are all jigsaw puzzles which I rather enjoy. Think I'll go have a look at the rest of this series ...