01}. the virtual villagers series
i played the HELLout of these when i was young! it's sort of akin to a "god simulator" of some kind, but the basic premise is that you are in control of a tribe of villagers on a beautiful island called isola. you can pick them up to drag and drop them on different trades to train them. they can build and repair things, do research, study medicine, farm or fish to supply food, or parent the next generation of villagers. it's really fun! there's five games in the main series, each with a different look, on different part of isola, and with a ton of new problems and puzzles to solve. i've gotten back into them lately, and i'm thrilled about it! these were some of the first video games i ever played, and it shows (they're OOOLD) but i'm still having a lot of fun reliving my childhood with these! i give virtual villagers three (the one in the screenshot) a solid 9/10 -- challenging, fun, and feels like home.
02}. cult of the lamb
recently rediscovered this game after doing a video game quiz on youtube and hearing one of the ost songs in the background! in cult of the lamb, everything is so damn cute that you actually forget what the game is about and the atrocities that you are committing. you play as a little lamb who becomes a cult leader in this delightful cross between a roguelite and a management sim. the game is so beautiful, the combat is easy enough for a beginner to understand, but the bosses are difficult enough for more experienced gamers to be challenged by. there is just so much content in this fun and disturbing little game! i did a fifteen hour run and i there was Tons that i didn't get to see or experience! because of the art style, replayability, and little lamb Himself, 9/10. praise the lamb.
03}. animal crossing pocket camp
what a game! animal crossing as a franchise is just so spectacular to me. what a fantastic little world you can live in with so many kind animal friends as neighbors! after a several month hiatus (surgery moment) i'm just getting back into it and MAN did i miss this! it's the only "immersive" game i have on my phone since i downgraded it. it is so fun, the graphics are smooth, and the ui is a little clunky, because it's animal crossing! so of course it is! i love decorating my campsite, inviting my favorite villagers to my campsite (curt, tabby, daisy, raddle, mac, bluebear, mitzi, and rowan lover for life), and participating in all of the gardening and fishing events! it's exactly what it is and it doesn't try to be anything else! 8/10 :)
