Relaxing in a Dream || Ruya [PC]

 "When you cease to dream, you cease to live." - Malcolm Forbes

Ruya is a peaceful matching game created by Miracle Tea where you have to match the same colored heads in a dictated pattern. A story told in pictures, combined with a surreal landscape and a deep relaxing soundtrack create a calm and serene game experience. I’m a little shaky on the lore, and I have to be honest—I didn’t complete the game. The music is SO relaxing and chill that it actually made me sleepy. I played in short bursts and made it through 4 of the worlds. The music alone makes this game worth it, but let’s talk about the rest of the game too.

I wonder if this game was designed to be mobile, because the style seems very mobile with simple controls that just involve drawing a line through matching colored heads in a particular pattern given to you. As you match the heads and they disappear, you then get the chance to place new heads in their place, so be mindful to place them where you can create the correct patterns. As simple as that sounds, it can become difficult since you’re only working within a small space and it’s easy to block yourself from being able to create the pattern you need.

I love the soft aesthetic of the game, from the character you play as, the sound design and lack of dialogue all add to this soft and calm atmosphere that draws you in, wraps you in a blanket and gives you a nice mug of hot cocoa. My child watched me play some of the game and they were entranced, and loved the flowers that decorate Ruya when you make a color match. The little details really add to the overall feeling of love in the game.

The downside, I feel, is also one of the things that is good about the game. For me, the game is so simple that it feels boring. Each level feels the same, just with a different back drop and sometimes with a little bit of story at the end. I recommend playing the game in short bursts to keep it from getting that way. Play just enough to unwind for the day, enjoy the experience, and then go about whatever else you needed to do.

I will probably continue to play this game until I finish, as a way to unwind after a hard day of work and to relax. The game is simple enough to not require an intense amount of thought, so you can relax and really enjoy the music, which I feel is really the highlight of this game. I believe you can even purchase the soundtrack through Itch.io, which I might actually do.

Overall Ruya is a lovely experience with beautiful music that leaves you feeling relaxed and accomplished. The simplicity of the game won’t be a strain on you, and at only 3.99 it’s not a strain on your wallet either. You can get Ruya through Itch.io HERE or you can purchase on Steam HERE. Either way I highly recommend if you’re looking for a lovely little game to play in your down time.

Thank you, as always, for spending some time with me today. I hope your day is going well, remember to hydrate, take a nap if you need it, call a friend. This year has been stressful, so find happy moments when you can. Hang in there, friends. I'll see you next week!

Bell

Norse Adventure || Finding Idun (PC)

Starry Night

Finding Idun is a cute adventure game created by Chris Macey where you play as Loki and you are on a journey to Jotunheimr to rescue Idun. When the great giant Thjazi tricked Loki into promising to bring her to him, Loki had no choice but to comply. Loki led Idun (the goddess who possessed magic apples of youth, the same apples that kept the gods young) out to the woods, Thjazi swept down in eagle form and took Idun away to his home in Jötunheimr (per the Itch.io page). You’ll be platforming, solving puzzles and meeting new people.

You have to read the Itch.io page to get the story information, as the game doesn’t tell you any of this. All I knew from starting the game was that I was going to rescue Idun. It was fine for just going to play the game, but I’m a gal that likes backstory so it might have been nice to even just have a little description at the beginning of the game.

I love this place

I like the dark, backlit graphics which is reminiscent of games like Limbo with the glowing eyes. The music is nice, and there’s enough of a variety in the different areas that I didn’t get tired of it. The controls, however, can be more difficult to deal with. I have fallen off many a ledge because the moving and jumping mechanics don’t always want to work together. 

I’m a big fan of Norse Mythology, and mythology in general, so that’s what drew me to this game in the first place. There is also a phone app that can be used to unlock more story. There are 4-digit pins in the game that you can find to do this. I think it’s interesting to tie a game you play on a PC to an app like that.

Overall, I like the game. It could use some polishing and minor mechanic fixes, but it’s still worth a play. You can download and play Finding Idun free from Itch.io *here*.

The House on Holland Hill (PC)

“I feel uneasy. It’s not often that you encounter the real person behind a good-natured mask—the darkest part of someone. It’s not comfortable when you do.” –Veronica Roth

Source: Screen Capture in Game

The House on Holland Hill is a suspenseful tale told by Hedgefield, aka Tim. I had forgotten what this game was even about by the time I got around to playing it (I download games en masse, then play them as the whimsy strikes). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was certainly surprised. You play as Luigi, a delivery driver. You frequently deliver pizza to The House on Holland Hill, and during those deliveries, you get to know the inhabitants of the house to some extent. 

Anyone who knows me knows how bad I am at horror games. Not the gameplay, but I’m a serious sissy. The fact that I keep PLAYING them shows what a glutton for punishment I am. Some games, however, are worth it. The House on Holland Hill, was worth it. 

Hedgefield does a great job of creating an unsettling atmosphere within this strange home. The air of mystery and unease permeates the entire game. The graphics are simple 3D backgrounds with 2D characters, and while it took some getting used to, it didn’t really take away from the feeling of the game. To be honest, it may have even added to the unease. The controls are simple enough, W A S D to move, and SHIFT to run. No other controls are needed. 

The game may come off as simplistic, but the atmosphere is where I really feel that this game makes its case.  I decided against recording myself playing this game, but if I had, you would have seen me just standing outside of doors, trying to convince myself that I wasn’t going to die, or running back to my bike to try to escape. 

Source: Screen Capture from Game

When the eerie sound effects would start, I actually slid my headphones off of my ears a little bit, in fear that a jumpscare was coming. Stop laughing, I told you I was a sissy when it comes to horror games!

Near the end of the game, you get the choice to go into the basement to see the truth, or to escape with Roselinde. I never clicked a button so fast to get the heck out. You’re telling me we don’t have to go into the creepy basement? What are we waiting for?! I’m getting on my Moped, quitting my job so I never have to come back here, and going home. Thanks! 

In any case, this game is free, and worth the time it takes to play. You can download the game for free from Itch.io *here*. If you’ve played, let me know what you thought. Also, be sure to leave any comments you have for the developer on their Itch.io page.

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

I Did A Thing Today

So, today I did something that I have wanted to do for a long time. I got my first tattoo. Being the gaming nerd that I am, what else would I get a tattoo of but a piece of gaming lore? It was agonizing to choose for my first tattoo. I didn't know what it would be like, so I wanted to make sure t hat if I chose to not get another tattoo in the future, I would still be happy with what I got. So... I made my decision:

So the personable Weighted Companion Cube it is. Portal is a dear game to me, both the first and second. The use of snarky narrative and physics based puzzles makes my heart sing. Companion Cubes are the unsung heroes...  Above is simple the stencil that was transferred onto my skin. I was nervous, but more excited, and I was happy to have my 2 closest friends with me for support. After the stencil was positioned, it was time for line art:

Not too bat, except for the top hearts that are near the inside of the elbow. That hurt kind of bad. That was done with a single needle. I was more nervous about the upcoming coloring... cause you upgrade to a gun with like 4 needles instead of just one. Preparing for pain...

I won't lie, some of that really fuckin hurt.  We had to take a couple of breaks in between, plus I was really bleeding  in some spots. Thanks to my friends who kept me distracted by talking through it.Finally, we're almost done...

Those hearts are really bleeding... Finally we were all finished. An hour and a half in total, and I was hungry, and exhausted. We went out for lunch to my favorite place (Panera Bread) and then we headed home (I fell asleep in the car--sorry guys). Once I got home, I got to remove the plastic protection from my tattoo and clean it up before I passed tf out in bed. Here is the finished tattoo, cleaned up and beautiful:

I'm totally in love with it. It even looks better in person. The hearts are like this vibrant pink that looks great against the gray of Sir Companion Cube. I'm totally happy with it, and the girl that did it, Margot, is amazing. I have known her a while, but now I know that she'll be the person to do my future tattoos. 

... Can I get my next one yet? Time to start planning...

Thanks for stopping in, everyone. Happy Gaming! 

PS I started a youtube channel, and you should TOTALLY go subscribe to it. I'll be reviewing some games there. and showcasing the games I really love, or games that I backed and supported. I'm sure you'll find something you love. Check it out here: Pajama Gamer Bell

Lads in Distress for PC

“I think women should be more independent. In society, we’re portrayed as people who simply wear make-up and sit around. We need a Princess Charming—a woman who rescues her man and slays the dragon instead of the other way around.” -Adora Svitak

Source: Itch.io

Princess Charming is exactly what Catfish Crews delivers in their free to play game, Lads in Distress. It’s no secret that otome and dating simulators are a guilty pleasure of mine, so when I saw this game on Itch.io I was intrigued. The art caught my eye as it’s just beautifully styled. I can sometimes be a little shallow when I play otome and dating games. I was to see cute looking guys and gals. Not necessarily gorgeous, but well drawn at least. 

In this game, we play as Princess Charming herself! She is the Princess of the Lunar Kingdom, but unfortunately, the Lunar Kingdom is also near a financial crisis. To help save Lunar Kingdom from being completely broke, it is decided that a ball will be help and Princess Charming will choose a suitor from a, hopefully, more affluent kingdom. Doing this will form an alliance and therefore remedy the financial situation. Charming is not thrilled at the idea, preferring to focus on her magic. Her closest friend Nicholl, who doesn't seem thrilled either, advises her that three of the potential suitors on the list of guests are to be avoided at all costs. So of course, those three suitors are going to be the ones we want to choose from, right? Right.

Source: Itch.io

Our three princes are Prince Mer of the Water Kingdom, Prince Snow of the Snow Kingdom and Prince Zel of the Forest Kingdom. You get the opportunity to briefly meet Prince Mer and Prince Snow at the ball, however Prince Zel has been missing for years. I have played through all of the Princes and gotten both endings for each of them, and I have to say that Prince Mer is my favorite of the 3. His story genuinely surprised me at the twists and turns. Both of the endings are so starkly different that after the second ending of Mer’s, I stared at my computer screen, mouth agape in surprise at the whole thing. 

Normally I go into otome and dating sim games expecting typical clichés and tropes… and Lads in Distress takes them and reverses the roles, throwing the clichés and tropes out the window. I was overjoyed with each Prince’s story and the surprises held within each one. Mer's story was unlike anything I had heard before, and I loved it. I won’t talk about them too much because I don’t want to spoil the surprises, but it was worth it to replay each path to get the other endings, especially Mer’s.

Source: Otome Twist

This game plays as a visual novel, with beautifully crafted characters and stunning background locations. The visuals are just lovely, and the music is a great compliment as well. The game did have a few spelling errors I happened to notice, and the game did crash on me once during my second play through of Mer’s path. There were no serious flaws or anything that I noticed otherwise.

The game is not complete. Catfish Crews is currently working on an expansion, with more princes and more wonderful fun. I’m going to keep a close eye on it so that I can play it when it does release. I’m genuinely looking forward to it!

If you want to try this wonderful creation for yourself, which I highly recommend, you can find it on Itch.io *here*.  The game is free to download and play, so you have nothing to lose, and a few hours of enjoyment to gain, so get at it! Then be sure to leave comments of encouragement for the creators, cause that’s the nice thing to do.

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

View the Gaming in Pajamas Completed Compendium *here!*

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Free Itch.io Games #2

Hello, Friends! You may be able to tell that I spend a lot of time browsing Itch.io in my free time, and I like to share because who couldn't use more free games to play? Plus, I love indie developers and games. The work is often unique, and sometimes unfinished, but it really shows what they are capable of. Enough of me talking now, here are 4 more free games that you can find on Itch.io! Links will be posted in the descriptions!

1. The Shadows That Run Alongside Our Car

Source: Itch.io

The Shadows That Run Alongside Our Car is a visual novel style game by Lox Rain. The Lox Rain team created this lovely piece of game in only 4 days, but they did an exemplary job. The two characters of the game, default names Shelby and Dustin, are in a car during the zombie apocalypse, trying to drive to safety. These two strangers become connected through these events, and during the game you get to know about each of the characters, and the troubles they suffered before and during the zombie break out.

The story is well written. The characters feel human and the emotions that they feel seem real. The art and style is charming, and the music and sound effects are spot on. I thoroughly enjoyed this game experience. I played through Shelby’s story once, and Dustin’s story once. They were moderately different, but I’m sure choosing different text options would result in somewhat different endings. At any rate, Shadows can be found for free on Itch.io *here* and I highly recommend giving it a play through! The only downside was that at the end of the game, I wanted more!

2. Animal Inspector

Source: Itch.io

How many animals would you be willing to sentence to death to ensure the safety of your own? In the game, Animal Inspector, you are working for a corporation that is trying to “cull the herd” of animals, so to speak. You are in charge of accepting and rejecting animal applications. You are the one who chooses whether Grandma gets to keep her precious cat, or whether it’s bye bye mittens. You have to follow guide lines, such as “you must reject 2 animals” or “We’re low on space, so reject all large animals.” Which animals will you choose to save? Will you follow your orders blindly? Remember that the life of your dear pet is in the balance…

I enjoyed this game a lot. Although, as a big animal lover, I found some of the decisions really difficult. The game is about half an hour long if you take your time, and the sound is decent. The art is cute, and the real photos of animals on the applications to approve or reject were a nice touch. It really made the decisions more difficult for me. You can download and try this game on Itch.io *here*.

3. Cat Poke

Source: MadMonkeyStudios on Youtube

It can get pretty boring on rainy days as a kid. Your mom won’t let you go outside to play, reruns are on the TV… what’s a kid to do? I know! We have 9 cats, so lets play a game of Cat Poke! Cat Poke is a cute little game created by Squiddershins for the “A Game By Its Cover (AGBIC)” competition. The goal was to create a game based on a previously existing game. Apparently Squiddershins based Cat Poke on the game Neko Touch by Olulu Up. I have never played Neko Touch, so I can’t make any comparison, but I can tell you that Cat Poke is delightful.

You play as Molly, a little girl stuck inside on a rainy day. Molly decides to play a game of Cat Poke with her 9 cats. Molly will have to utilize many items in order to lure some of the cats out and make them poke-able. It’s a simple puzzler, but an enjoyable one. Molly’s sprite is so gosh darn adorable with her little bouncing hairdo, and the cats are just as cute.  The music is decent, very bouncy and upbeat, but not quite my cup of tea. This game can be found free for download on Itch.io *here*. The game took me about 15 minutes to get through so it isn’t long, but fun none the less.

4. Yum Yum Dating Show

Source: Itch.io

Yum Yum Dating Show is a hilarious mock-dating sim/otome game created by qualifiedbadger where you get to choose from 6 dating sim clichés: Bad Boy, Shy Guy, Mysterious Guy, Sexy Nerd, Mr. Attitude, and Heartbreaker. The host forces these personas onto the boys in an absurd and hilarious fashion. As the girl, you ask the bachelors questions, and then eliminate the guy who gave the worst answer. Something that did bother me was that you were given a choice often between just two of the guys’ answers, so it wasn’t quite like picking what you thought was the worst, but rather the worse of the two.

The game plays, like most otome, in a visual novel style with static pictures and text underneath. The sprites are nice, and the background is just a drop curtain, which works for a dating show, although some variety would have been nice. The music is also nice to listen to, and it changes at certain points to give a variety. Despite some of the shortfalls, Yum Yum Dating Show is still worth the 20 minutes of entertainment it offers. You can find Yum Yum Dating Show on Itch.io *here*.

As always, please give these free games a try, and be sure to leave words of encouragement or constructive criticism. The developers often really appreciate hearing how you enjoyed their game, or what they could improve!

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

View the Gaming in Pajamas Completed Compendium *here!*

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Free Itch.io Games #1

During the Holidays a lot of people don't have the extra money to spend on games, as much as we all would really like to. It's a good thing that Itch.io has a wide array of free games to help cure that boredom, without hurting your holiday budget. So here are some free games on Itch.io that you can try out. If you play any of them, let me know what you thought!

1. Put a Sock in It

Source: Far Off Daydream

Put a Sock in It is a quirky game written by Leonid Pilchin and released by Far-off Daydream Games. Put a Sock in It is about a girl named Serena who is trapped in a stairwell, awaiting help. But as the time drags on, Serena is quickly running out of things to do to keep herself from spiraling into madness. Luckily, Serena has two colored socks and a big imagination. Using the socks as our characters, we create a “choose your own adventure” style game that’s full of laughs and life lessons. Each of the socks has 2 different characters. The red sock can be a princess or a ghost, and the blue sock can be a wizard or a stable boy. Each combination of the 2 makes for 90 different short stories, and 30 life lessons to learn through them. The life lessons range from the soul crushing effects of debt, to lessons of loving someone for who they are. I haven’t gotten all the life lessons yet, but I have enjoyed this game for the time I have played and plan to play more. You can find the download for this charming game on Itch.io: *here*.

2. Stuck@Home

Source: Itch.io

 Stuck at home is a short visual novel style game by Lynnaira, that explores the isolation and disconnected feelings of depression. In Stuck@Home you play as yourself. You’ve just graduated from high school, and you’re been sort of depressed thinking about your fears and college. You haven’t left the house in quite some time, despite your friends trying to lure you. The game has a good ending and a bad ending (obviously, you either leave the house with your friends or you don’t). Despite it being short, the game emphasizes the importance of reaching out and finding someone to talk to when you feel those feelings. The artwork is cute, and the piano music is pleasing to listen to as well. You can find the game to download on Itch.io *here*.

A Thing About Nothingness

Source: Adventure Games Studio

A Thing About Nothingness is a simple adventure game created by Pierrec and Sy, exploring the more philosophical side of life. You play as Eugene, who is searching for the meaning of true Cynicynism in the world. He has only his sheet and his barrel to his name. His… master(?) give him a rock and tells him to go forth and find the meaning, then return to be welcome as a true Cynicynist. There are a few different endings and maybe some lessons to learn along the way. Eugene moves by rolling in his barrel, accompanied by a surprising harmonica melody. As he rolls, he will encounter different people will need help. He can choose to help them, or not, and that will pave the way to his understanding on Cynicynism. Each path is only a few minutes long, so it’s a quick play, but I found it enjoyable none the less. You can find the download for free on Itch.io *here*.

Things You Can Put on Gunter’s Head

Source: Itch.io

This game is about putting things on a bird’s head. Yeah, you heard me right. Things You Can Put on Gunter’s Head is a stacking strategy game made by thornytree using Unity. Besides seeing how tall you can stack items on Gunter’s head, if you place an item on his head, and press the camera button, you get a cute picture of the object actually on this adorable bird’s head! I would play this game for the adorable bird pictures alone--he wears a tiny graduation cap for pete’s sake! I really like birds though. Outside of that, the game is just stacking items, which is very hard to do. I don’t think I was able to stack more than 4 items on his head, even using the flatter items. But I was never good at stacking games. It was worthwhile, however, to follow the creators tumblr *here* just to see more pictures of their adorable birds! You can also find a link to download the game on Itch.io *here*.

That’s all for today. As always I hope you will give these games a go, and give encouragement or constructive criticism to help them develop and grow. All of these games are free, so you don’t lose anything by trying them out.

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

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Browser Games #1

Sometimes you don’t have the time, or desire, to play through a whole lengthy game. Perhaps you are on your college campus and can’t download games onto the school’s computers. Something simple to take your mind off of the dull hum drum of the day. Maybe you’re just looking for a way to kill some time. Whatever your reasons, games that allow you to play in browser, and more importantly, for free, can be great gems to stumble across on the internet. To help you in your quest, I’ve complied some such games for you.

Source: Sort the Court--Gamejolt

The first game I want to tell you about is called Sort the Court, made by Graeme Borland. This game can be found on Itch.io or Gamejolt, and is free on both sites, as well as having the ability to be played in browser. You are a king, trying to expand your kingdom. The premise is simple—your subjects will come to you and ask for favors, and you simply answer yes or no. There is an entire list of quirky characters with little side quests, and hopefully there will be more coming. The music is relaxing and I really enjoy it. I played this game for nearly an hour… long after the main game had “ended.” Sort the Court also recently got an update(as on 12/15/16), so there is more fun to be had! Find Sort the Court on Itch.io *here* and on Gamejolt *here*.

Source: Rock Paper Shotgun

Next is a text adventure called The Temple of No, written by William Pugh and illustrated by Dominik Johann. It’s hard to describe The Temple of No, actually. You get a small epilogue, you choose a character (a man, a woman, or a frog) and away you go. I found it uproariously funny, I mean that I found myself actually laughing out loud. It’s well written and constructed in a clever way. It’s simple, and the ending is kind of predictable and… well, cheap. But I had fun along the adventure, and that’s what matters! You can find The Temple of No on Itch.io *here*.

Source: ncase.me

The next game I want to look at is a little more meaning full. It’s called Coming Out Simulator 2014 by Nicky Case. In this game, you are Nicky circa 2010. You’re in a secret relationship with your boyfriend Jack. Jack wants you to tell your parents about your relationship so it isn’t a secret anymore. However… Nicky’s parents are more than a little homophobic. How will he tell them? What can he do? You can make the choices, and see how it goes. This game was a little emotional for me, but enjoyable. It’s a topic that I feel needs to be talked about more. Therefore, I am passing this game on to you. Find it on Itch.io *here* or you can play on Newgrounds *here*.

Source: Quora--Gender Coding

The last in browser game I am going to share today is called It’s Just a Chromosome. This game is based on a piece written by Jerry Belich and it was recreated into a game by Sarah Sexton. The game in text-based and created in Twine. The game itself is simple enough. You’re a fetus, getting ready to be born. There is only one last bit of business to decide on: Shall you be a male or a female? This game makes a point of saying you should be male, because your life would be easier. Being a male would allow you to avoid some… unpleasantness involved with being female. I appreciated the message this game wants to impart, therefore I pass this game on to you. You can find this game on Itch.io *here*.

Thanks for stopping in, and I hope you’ll be able to spare the time to check out these quick games and to leave some encouragement for the developers and creators who worked so hard on them.

Happy Gaming, Friends!

Bell

See other games I have reviewed or plan to review *here*

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