M O N U M E N T V A L L E Y 2

16/16 (100%), 2.8 hours

I honestly went into Monument Valley 2 thinking there was no way it could top the first game — but wow, I was wrong. It’s absolutely stunning. The art is even more colorful, bright, and full of life this time around, and the music? Just beautiful. It somehow manages to be calming and emotional at the same time, perfectly matching the gentle pace of the game.

The story follows Ro and her journey through motherhood, and while it’s simple, it’s also really touching. The way it tells a story without many words feels so natural — you just get it through the visuals and movement. I love how the game captures that feeling of connection and independence in such a subtle way.

Gameplay-wise, it’s the same relaxing, meditative puzzle experience I loved from the first game, but with new mechanics and environment types to keep things fresh. None of the puzzles were super challenging, but that’s kind of the charm — it’s not meant to frustrate you. It gives you just enough of a brain tease to keep you engaged while still feeling peaceful.

It’s the perfect game to unwind with — something you can sink into for an hour or two and just breathe. I finished it with a big smile and immediately added the third game to my wishlist. If you enjoyed the first Monument Valley, you’re going to love this one even more.

H I D D E N C A P Y B A R A S W I T H O R A N G E I N T H E W H I M S I C A L L I B R A R Y

18/18 (100%), 0.8 hours

This was such a lovely little hidden object game! The art is adorable and detailed, and I really liked both the day and night versions of the maps — though the night ones easily won me over. The way the capybaras light up against the darker background looks so cozy and magical.

The music is super chill and relaxing too, and even when it loops, it never feels annoying or repetitive. It’s the perfect kind of background track for a calm hidden object session. I really hope the developers keep leaning into those nighttime maps where the capys light up — it’s becoming such a cute signature style for the series, and I’d love to see more of it in future games.

H I D D E N C A T S 4 : A E T H E R P U N K

27/27 (100%), 0.1 hours

💜This game was gifted to Catizens Curations for review.

This one was a bit of a mixed bag for me and I wish there was a way to give a neutral review. It’s a very pretty hidden object game where you’re tasked with finding 100 hidden cats in a beautifully drawn aetherpunk-themed artwork. Visually, it’s lovely as always — the devs really nailed the atmosphere and aesthetic.

However, compared to the previous games from the studio I’ve played, this one felt like a bit of a disappointment. The cats were way too easy to find, and I managed to 100% it in about 7 minutes, which is a huge drop in playtime compared to the others. Most of the earlier games took me over an hour to finish, and they felt much fuller and more rewarding.

It’s still cute and relaxing, but definitely on the bare-bones side. If you’re used to the usual amount of content from this studio, this one might feel like a letdown. That said, if you’re looking for a short, cheap, and cozy hidden object experience, it’s still worth checking out for a quick dose of cat-spotting fun.

H I D D E N C A T S I N R I O D E J A N E I R O

61/61 (100%), 2.0 hours

💜This game was gifted to Catizens Curations for review.

This was another absolutely delightful entry from Nukearts! Hidden Cats in Rio de Janeiro is such a charming hidden object game — vibrant, relaxing, and full of that signature cozy energy their games always have. You explore eight beautifully illustrated maps filled with hundreds of hidden cats, humans, plus collectible photo cards of special cats and landmarks.

If you’ve played any of their other titles, you’ll feel right at home — there’s the main level, smaller bonus maps, and a big final challenge map that ties it all together. The structure is familiar, but the art and attention to detail make it feel fresh every time. The way the cats are hidden around Rio’s famous landmarks is so clever, and the music perfectly matches the relaxing, sunny vibe.

Honestly, apart from Devcats (who are also fantastic), Nukearts are S-tier in the hidden cat genre. Every new game they release just feels like a warm hug in puzzle form. I’m always impressed, and I really hope they keep making more of these adorable cat-finding adventures!

S O C I A L M O T H

no achievements, 0.7 hours

This game was such a lovely little experience with a lot of heart. In Social Moth, you play as Aletris, a socially anxious moth trying to find their place in a big, overwhelming world. The hand-drawn art is absolutely beautiful, and the soft colors and lighting give everything this calm, dreamlike feel. The voice acting and dialogue are great too; they really make Aletris feel alive and relatable.

It’s a short game — it took me about 45 minutes to finish — but it’s a really meaningful experience. The story gently reminds you how important mental health is, and how the words we tell ourselves truly matter. I especially liked how the music reacted to Aletris’ level of anxiety — it added so much emotional depth to the gameplay without being heavy-handed.

The platforming feels smooth, and the controls are fully configurable, which is a nice touch. It’s not a super challenging game, but it’s one that leaves you thinking afterward.

Overall, Social Moth is a simple but heartfelt experience. For the price, it’s absolutely worth picking up — it’s a cozy, short play that doubles as a nice little reminder to be kind to yourself.

M I R T H M E L O D Y

5/5 (100%), 0.2 hours

This was such a cute little rhythm game! You play as Dodo the duck, wandering through a cozy forest clearing and playing your guitar while all the animals around you happily vibe to the music — it’s just such a wholesome mood. I went in expecting all the songs to be calm and chill, so when the last one suddenly cranked up in intensity, it totally caught me off guard, in a good way.

All the tracks are great, and the whole thing only takes about 10 minutes to finish. It’s short, sweet, and completely free — plus, it works perfectly as a fun little prologue for Mirth Island. Definitely worth checking out if you want something relaxing and cheerful to brighten your day.

C A R I B B E A N C R A S H E R S

no achievements, 0.2 hours

Honestly, Caribbean Crashers was a pretty big disappointment. It feels like one of those old flash games you’d find on a free game site back in 2005 — except this one isn’t free. The concept sounds fun on paper — pirate ships, cannon battles, some strategy — but in practice, it’s way too basic.

There’s zero challenge here. You basically have infinite cannonballs, can’t lose, and can beat the whole game in about 10 minutes. The gameplay never evolves or gets harder, so it starts feeling repetitive almost immediately.

If this were a free browser game, I’d probably shrug and say “yeah, it’s fine for a few minutes.” But as a paid game on Steam, it just doesn’t hold up. There’s really not enough here to justify spending money on it.

P U L M O

20/20 (100%), 0.7 hours

💗This game was gifted to Indie Therapy for review.

Pulmo had an interesting idea, but sadly, it didn’t really work for me. It’s a short puzzle game — under an hour long — where you control a single character moving through crowds of faceless figures. The concept sounds cool and artsy, but the execution just didn’t land.

Visually, it was pretty straining on the eyes. I get what they were going for with the mix of 3D elements and a minimal hand-drawn style, but it ended up feeling messy and hard to look at after a while. It actually reminded me a bit of KIDS by Michael Frei and Mario von Rickenbach, but without the same charm or polish.

It’s not the worst thing I’ve played, but it definitely wasn’t a great experience either. A good idea on paper, just not very fun in practice.