Casual Friday Update for August 21-27, 2010

This week hasn’t exactly been teeming with new casual games, but the ones available do offer a lot of variety. There are casual games from every genre, and oddly enough there isn’t an overwhelming number of hidden object games! There are just as many time management games as there are hidden object games.

There are two particular games worth calling attention to this week. First is the casual RPG Dawn’s Light 2 (Windows). It’s a sequel, but don’t let that scare you away. Most of the events from the first game are summed up within the first twenty minutes or so. It also has a wonderfully funny script! The other is My Kingdom for the Princess II (Windows, Mac). Yes, it’s another sequel, but you can also enjoy it without having played the original. It’s a fun strategy and time management game where you have to journey to save a princess while also rebuilding a kingdom.

This week’s best bets are: Dawn’s Light 2 (Windows) and My Kingdom for the Princess II (Windows, Mac)

Dawn’s Light 2
Genre: RPG
Availability: John Wizard Games
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows 98, XP and Vista
Premise: Harvey, Vera and Tyson set off on a whole new adventure (with new friends) 7 years after the original Dawn’s Light. It’s as funny as ever, and this time comes with a free strategy guide. Check back later today for a review on Gamertell!
Demo Available: Yes

Bigfoot: Chasing Shadows
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Search to try and find Bigfoot.
Demo Available: Yes

Veronica and the Book of Dreams
Genre: Puzzle (Match-3)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Veronica finds a book that transports her to a dream world that needs saving.
Demo Available: Yes

My Kingdom for the Princess II
Genre: Strategy (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow, GameHouse
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP, Vista and 7 and Mac 10.4 or better
Premise: Help Arthur save Princess Helen from a dwarf while also repairing the ravaged kingdom.
Demo Available: Yes

Vampire Brides: Love over Death
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: GameHouse, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP, Vista and 7
Premise: Help Catalina decide what to do with her life. Decide whether she marries a man her father picked for her and watch him die, or marries a vampire and become one so her father will be saved.
Demo Available: Yes

Bee Garden
Genre: Simulation (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games, Harmonic Flow
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Help the bees manage a garden, get lots of honey and maintain a successful hive.
Demo Available: Yes

GabCab
Genre: Strategy (Time Management)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $6.99
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Run your own cab service, managing a cab and hiring other employees to help people get around town.
Demo Available: Yes

Reincarnation: Uncover the Past Collector’s Edition
Genre: Puzzle (Hidden Object)
Availability: Big Fish Games
Retail Price: $19.95
Platform: Windows XP and Vista
Premise: Dr. Herzle and Jane have learned reincarnation is real and are found out lots of amazing information. But Jane is kidnapped, putting it all in jeopardy. You must help her explore her past lives to survive her current one.
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]