Casual Friday: Update for December 12-18, 2009

It’s the week before Christmas, and it’s a very busy week for casual games. Though, if you look at the new titles that debuted this week, you’ll likely be most excited if you’re a big fan of hidden object or match 3 games. Most of the releases this week fall into those categories.

An unexpected surprise is Dawn’s Light: A Christmas Tale. It’s a free adventure from John Wizard Games, which recently released the delightful Dawn’s Light RPG back in September. So if you want to bring some Christmas cheer into your life without having to pay for it, check it out.

This week’s best bets are: Dawn’s Light: A Christmas Tale (PC), Samantha Swift and the Mystery from Atlantis (PC) and Build It! Miami Beach Resort (PC, Mac).

PutUp
Genre: Puzzle (Match 3)
Availability: Matuda Games
Retail Price: $4.95
Platform: Windows
Premise: You help a little orange creature collect goods from 3 towns, each with 24 houses. Along the way, you may also unlock achievements.
Demo Available: Yes

The Perfect Tree
Genre: Puzzle (Match 3)
Availability: Anawiki Games
Retail Price: $14.95
Platform: Windows 98SE, ME, XP, Vista and 7 and Mac 10.3.9 and better
Premise: Play match 3 puzzles to earn stars, that you can then spend on decorations for a virtual tree.
Demo Available: Yes

Harlequin Presents: Hidden Object of Desire
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Allie is searching for news in the Kingdom of Adamas, but has fallen for the Prince of Aristo while she is there. But, he may not be what he seems, and her friend could be in trouble.
Note: It comes with a free Harlequin romance novel.
Demo Available: Yes

Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: The Dire Grove legend is true, and you must discover what has happened to a group of missing students who may have fallen victim to this unusual happening. Discover the truth behind Dire Grove by searching for hidden objects.
Demo Available: Yes

Elf Bowling 7 1/7: The Last Insult
Genre: Sports (Bowling)
Availability: GameHouse
Retail Price: $9.99
Platform: Windows 2000, XP and Vista
Premise: Bowling, only with elves as the pins. You help Santa chastize and whip elves into shape by hurling bowling balls, some with special effects, at them. There’s also a multiplayer mode.
Demo Available:

Irukandji
Genre: Shooter
Availability: Charlie’s Games
Retail Price: $1+ Donation
Platform: Windows, Mac 10.4 or better, Linux
Premise: You’re zooming through an underwater trench in one of six different ships, facing off against menacing sea monsters so you can reach and face your arch-nemesis, a giant crab.
Demo Available: es

Gotcha: Celebrity Secrets
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, PlayFirst, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows XP, Vista and 7, Mac 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6
Premise: Gaby wants to be a famous celebrity blogger and reporter and she needs your help. Help her learn the paparazzi ways so she can get an interview with Erik Von Hunk and become famous.
Demo Available: Yes

Dawn’s Light: A Christmas Tale
Genre: RPG / Puzzle
Availability: John Wizard Games
Retail Price: Free
Platform: Windows 98, XP and Vista
Premise: Christmas is in trouble! John Wizard must team up and work with the cast of Dawn’s Light to solve puzzles, take care of quests, spread the Christmas spirit and save the holiday. Best of all, it’s free!
Demo Available: No

Samantha Swift and the Mystery from Atlantis
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow, GameHouse
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Sam has to stop a madman who wants to control people’s minds. So, she must journey and search for a treasure from Atlantis. There are two difficulty levels and a hidden Unlimited Hidden Object mode.
Demo Available: Yes

Build It! Miami Beach Resort
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: PlayFirst, Big Fish Games, GameHouse
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows XP, Vista and 7 and Mac 10.5 and 10.6
Premise: Develop a resort area in Miami from 1920-1980, watching the changes in building design and recreational activities.
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]