April Grove casts you as a rookie forester in a serene, enchanted forest. Your task is to chop trees, gather logs, and uncover the secrets of a woodland community. This retro-inspired game blends life sim, exploration, and light RPG elements in a Game Boy Advance-style pixel-art world. With no enemies, timers, or pressure, it’s all about setting your own pace.

In this game, you’ll trade logs for gold, which you can spend on upgrades like better axes, necklaces, or food buffs that tweak your playstyle. Each swing earns XP, leveling your woodcutting skill to tackle bigger trees and unlock new forest areas. You can also choose a male or female character, customize your gear, and interact with animals for varied outcomes.

Here’s what Steam reviews are saying:

The post April Grove Just Released on Steam, You’re Missing a Lot on This 3 € Gem first appeared on IndieGames.

You play as a sorcerer from a forbidden line of horticultural mages, returning to your family’s abandoned castle in Chandley village. Here, gardening isn’t ordinary: you’ll grow everyday plants like runner beans and turnips alongside mystical ones like thunder-calling taran. Your goal is to restore the castle’s tangled grounds by placing garden beds, decorations, and cozy spots, nurturing both mundane and magical plants from seed to harvest.

The game’s open world is alive with uncanny spirits and old powers in which you’ll also meet a cast of various villagers, each with their own stories. Evening activities include reading ancient books by candlelight, cooking new recipes, or drinking tea with the god in your chimney. However, the world follows the Covenant of the Hearth: lights go out at night, and the Mara, otherworldly beings, rule the darkness.

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In this sequel, you’ll also design your own peaceful island and create a colorful home for the Gourdlet characters. However, this is all upgraded by multiplayer, where players can visit friends’ islands, build side-by-side, and chat.

The game adds a new fishing mechanic, letting you cast lines to catch various fish. You can then spend your earnings on cute accessories, buildings, and decorations, personalizing your island until it feels like home. While Gourdlets Together is a standalone game, it builds on the success of Gourdlets, which has a “Very Positive” 93% rating on Steam from 1,579 reviews.

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In Heidi’s Legacy, you play as Adèle, a young woman leaving city life for the peaceful Swiss Alps, seeking a simpler purpose. Each day starts with morning light and your goats, ready for your care. You’ll guide them through meadows, and in return, their milk and wool become resources for crafting goods like cheese, wool clothing, herbal remedies, and wooden carvings.

These creations can be traded or shared with villagers, strengthening your bonds and helping rebuild their homes and lives. Every choice shapes your relationships and the village’s future, with branching dialogue. Additionally, you’ll forage for herbs and mushrooms and fish in calm waters. As you aid the village, new abilities unlock, making it easier to climb rugged cliffs or leap across gaps, opening up hidden areas.

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They’re essentially dating sims where, alongside collecting cards through RPG mechanics and earning money, you follow the anime’s original story and battle opponents across different worlds. It was a brilliant way to leverage everything players love while introducing them to the main characters and game rules.

Seven Great Games, But Where’s the Eighth?

After delivering seven mostly excellent games, Konami, for unknown reasons, shifted to producing lackluster titles. This decade, we got Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel, Yu-Gi-Oh! Cross Duel (which shut down quickly), Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection (bringing back some old games), and Yu-Gi-Oh! RUSH DUEL: Saikyo Battle Royale Let’s Go Go Rush for Nintendo Switch.

Despite the anime still running and introducing new ideas and worlds, we haven’t had a truly great Yu-Gi-Oh! game in nearly five years. It’s unclear why Konami stopped making quality games and focused solely on mobile titles. Beyond poor marketing and underdeveloped English versions, games weren’t always released for PC or consoles beyond Nintendo and PlayStation. Even then, priorities kept shifting, often catering exclusively to the Japanese market. It’s baffling how someone can hold a goldmine like this and fail to capitalize on it.

Maybe Yu-Gi-Oh! wasn’t as popular a decade ago, but today’s landscape is different. A quality release with a touch of nostalgia would sell well, given the franchise’s massive following. When will we see another Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Tag Force 3 or Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s: Tag Force 5? Why not bundle individual collections for sale? Why not port to all consoles and PC, or release remasters or remakes, which are common today? So many questions, yet no answers.

It’s Time for a Modern Yu-Gi-Oh! Game

The main draw of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Tag Force games lies in their “Tag Force” mechanic, where you duel as a team rather than solo. While solo battles were possible, the heart of the game was partnering with characters like Jaden Yuki or Yusei Fudo for joint battles. Even if not everyone follows the latest anime, this is a perfect chance for Konami to reintroduce these characters. The games emphasized deck synergy, smart strategy, and featured impressive graphics for their time.

What made Tag Force stand out was its ability to bring the Yu-Gi-Oh! world to life. Beyond mastering complex dueling strategies, you could live as a duelist—attending classes, following the story, competing in tournaments, and feeling the thrill of opening booster packs to perfect your deck. These games deepened your understanding of Yu-Gi-Oh! card rules.

Imagine exploring an open-world Duel Academy or New Domino City on Nintendo Switch 2 or PlayStation 5, with stunning visuals and fully voiced cutscenes. Picture online co-op tag battles and cross-generational tournaments — endless possibilities. With modern gaming embracing cozy RPGs, simulation elements, and card-based tactics, now is the ideal time to revive the Tag Force series in a fresh, modern form.

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It’s an understatement to say the demo version is a big disappointment. It’s quite limited, offering only one item per building category. Though the development likely doesn’t cost much, the demo isn’t a true reflection of the game and is playable until the end of Steam Next Fest.

Have We Ever Had a True Croatian Cozy Game?

Let’s start from the beginning: you choose a map, only one was available, set amidst forests and mountains, where you’ll build a cozy little cabin. It’s interesting that before starting, you can select specific object categories to unlock, like painting, fishing, or other interests, with items and structures color-coded. Of course, core items like walls and decorations are always available. Afterward, you build within a clearly marked grid area.

Log Away lacks tutorials, but honestly, you don’t need them. All you need is your creativity and emotion to bring your vision to life on the fields. Some might wonder, “What’s the point of this game?” The charm lies in relaxation, soothing music, and the rustling of leaves and nature, creating a full zen experience. To make it easier, you can switch between free camera and first-person views, and decide whether to see the roof or walls. Once you have an idea and arrange everything, you’ll find you can interact with objects, like opening windows or even petting a dog.

Object categories include furniture, decor, wall elements, plant embellishments, and more. Like Tiny Glade, it features a day-night cycle. Log Away already looks impressive and beautiful, with noticeable detail on every object and a tangible natural beauty in the river. Personally, I found decorating the interior more fun due to its experimental options, while the exterior felt quite sparse. Sadly, I’m not sure why, they didn’t need to unlock the whole game, but at least two items per category would have been enough. As it stands, you’re quite limited in options and can’t do much.

For Those Who Love Relaxation After Other Games

As is typical for such titles, a photo mode is available, letting you create your own screenshots. Additionally, you can switch visual styles, like from modern to pixel art, with the full version promising even more options. Of course, this won’t appeal to everyone, but for a good photo – why not? On the other hand, the soundtrack features tracks inspired by western, country, and blues genres, composed by Chris Haugen, and it’s truly impressive.

Building in this game is very straightforward. You can quickly rotate items, and some can be stacked, like placing a lamp on a cabinet. You have plenty of freedom to choose where and how to place objects, ensuring you’ll find something to your liking. You can even change colors, so it’s not all just brown.

So, if you enjoy decorating by the fireplace or watching a dog fit into the environment you’ve created, Log Away is definitely for you. Just don’t expect something grand, as cozy games generally don’t demand much interactivity but offer plenty of relaxation and creativity.

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Developed in Unreal Engine 5, Fractured Blooms features stunning visuals crafted by artist Satchel, known for Doki Doki Literature Club. The voice acting cast is led by Nichole Goodnight, recognized from Slay the Princess. Set in an seemingly cozy rural home, the game follows Angie, a young girl trapped in a time loop of gardening, cooking, and cleaning. Beneath this calm surface lies a dark tale of trauma and abuse.

The gameplay blends a “cozy” farming simulation with psychological tension, where you manage stamina to care for crops used to cook meals. These meals unlock new recipes and boost energy for nighttime tasks, while the loop deepens, the atmosphere grows increasingly oppressive, memories resurface, and the house becomes more terrifying. Managing resources and careful planning are key to uncovering the truth behind Angie’s plight.

Fractured Blooms will be available for PC via Steam and Xbox Series X/S.

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Attendees could explore various esports zones featuring games like Fortnite, Marvel Rivals, League of Legends, and Valorant. Additionally, there was a unique opportunity to test airsoft replicas or rifles with Trinity Airsoft in their enclosed space. Beyond video games, the event included anime attractions and a rich selection of board and tabletop games. Visitors could also purchase gear, from peripherals to computers and various accessories.

The indie zone once again showcased its diversity, presenting both familiar titles and promising new ones. Games Croatia shone with The Dunkers (by the artistic organization PET RUSA) and Bura: The Way the Wind Blows (by Tiny Meow Studio). Our attention was particularly drawn to Sime is Back 18+ (available for free on Steam), as well as Buckle Up! and the local FPS game SHROT, which was also playable.

Panels covered a range of topics, from the impact of tourism on the gaming industry and web3 technology in video games to explaining the concept of “cozy” games and their rising popularity. International guests shared their experiences and work practices. Additionally, quizzes, raffles, and giveaways were held throughout the event.

While this year’s Expo Gameri was somewhat smaller compared to last year’s event in Rijeka, where too much content was packed into a limited space with a growing number of visitors, it’s safe to say that Opatija proved to be an ideal location. Now, it’s just a matter of attracting some bigger players.

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In Hozy, your task is to transform rundown rooms into inviting sanctuaries. Equipped with cleaning and decorating tools, you’ll scrub dirty floors, apply fresh coats of paint, and adjust lighting to create the perfect ambiance. Each space, from dusty attics to neglected parlors, feels like a canvas awaiting your touch.

Intuitive controls let you tweak warmth, brightness, and camera angles effortlessly, ensuring a stress-free experience. “It’s about slowing down and finding beauty in the details,” the developers shared on Steam, and the game’s immersive atmosphere delivers that in abundance. Think House Flipper meets Unpacking, but with a softer, more whimsical touch.

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Thinky Games, which started as a Discord community back in 2018 by Alan Hazelden of Draknek & Friends, is a place for fans of puzzles, logic, and strategy. Since launching their website in 2022, they’ve been on a mission to spotlight games that prioritize brainpower over quick reflexes, ranging from detective mysteries to Sokoban-style challenges.

The Thinky Direct event will bring together big names like Akupara Games, and Wholesome Games, alongside various indie titles to show off what’s coming next. Last year’s event impressed over 300,000 viewers with reveals like City of Voices, a deduction-driven puzzle mystery, and Parallel Experiment, which actually launched on June 5, 2024. This time around, expect fresh trailers for titles such as Spooky Express or Draknek’s spooky train-routing puzzler.

On the other side, The Cerebral Puzzle Showcase offers discounts on hundreds of games and demos for upcoming titles. Last year it featured games like Blue Prince and Animal Well. The 2025 lineup promises even more, with teasers for games like Kiko’s Apple Adventure, a cozy bear-led quest, and Trails, a sand-ship routing puzzle.

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