Casual Friday: Update for January 2 – 8, 2010

This week wasn’t a terribly exciting week for casual games. True, three new games were released, but it can’t compare to the number of games released in prior weeks. Plus, it feels like the North Pole set Farm Frenzy 3: Ice Age should have been released before Christmas, rather than after.

There is a big announcement from Big Fish Games though. The site has announced its Customer Favorites Awards for 2009, and if you use the coupon code “GAMEOFTHEYEAR” at the checkout when you purchase any of the 19 winning games before January 17, 2010, you’ll get a 20% discount on it. The full list of discounted games is up at the site and includes Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove (PC), Princess Isabella: A Witch’s Curse (PC, Mac) and PuppetShow: Mystery of Joyville (PC).

This week’s best bet is: Born into Darkness (PC)

Youda Legend: The Golden Bird of Paradise
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: While on vacation, you will have to use your hidden object skills to discover the truth behind the Golden Bird of Paradise.
Demo Available: Yes

Farm Frenzy 3: Ice Age
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Alawar Entertainment
Retail Price: $9.95
Platform: Windows PC
Premise: Scarlett is now running a farm at the North Pole, and also taking care of arctic animals and creating icy treats.
Demo Available: Yes

Born into Darkness
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows 2000, XP, Vista and 7
Premise: Museum curator and vampire Amber has been approached by the assistant curator to help search for the Shroud of Lazarus, a relic that could make her human again.
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]