New Upcoming Indie Games I’m Backing on Kickstarter: Cute, Kawaii, Cozy Sims and RPGs

As a lover of all things cute, kawaii, and cozy, I often find myself exploring Kickstarter for new and exciting games to support. Here are some of the delightful projects I’m currently backing. Many are already funded, but some need a little extra push to reach their goals. If any of these games pique your interest, consider supporting them too!

1. Rebellion GodSoul: Hyper-Visually Anime RPG Card Battle VN

  • Link: Rebellion GodSoul
  • Description: Dive into a hyper-visually stunning anime world where card battles meet RPG and visual novel elements. The game promises a unique blend of strategic gameplay, captivating storylines, and beautifully crafted anime graphics.
  • Rewards: Backers can receive digital artbooks, exclusive wallpapers, early access to the game, and even custom character designs depending on the pledge level.

2. Hotel Galactic: Studio Ghibli Inspired 2.5D Inn Management

  • Link: Hotel Galactic
  • Description: Inspired by the enchanting worlds of Studio Ghibli, Hotel Galactic allows players to manage their own cozy inn in a whimsical universe. With its charming 2.5D art style and heartwarming narrative, this game is perfect for those who enjoy immersive sim experiences.
  • Rewards: Backers can enjoy perks such as their name in the credits, exclusive in-game items, digital artbooks, and physical merchandise like postcards and posters.

3. Trade Tales: A Farming, Manufacturing, and Shopkeeping Life Sim

  • Link: Trade Tales
  • Description: Trade Tales combines the joys of farming, crafting, dating, and shopkeeping in a cozy life simulation. Players can cultivate their land, manufacture goods, and run their own shop in a charming village setting.
  • Rewards: Rewards range from early access to the game, digital soundtracks, exclusive in-game items, to physical collector’s editions and plushies.

4. Peasant

  • Link: Peasant
  • Description: Peasant is an RPG that puts you in the shoes of an everyday villager striving to make a better life. The game features a rich narrative, engaging gameplay mechanics where every player decision has in-game consequences, and a charming art style that draws you into its world.
  • Rewards: Backers can receive digital copies of the game, access to beta versions, exclusive character skins, and even a chance to design a quest or NPC.

5. My DearLove: Stat Raising Simulation Visual Novel Game

  • Link: My DearLove
  • Description: My DearLove blends stat-raising simulation with visual novel elements, offering a deeply engaging experience. Players will manage their character’s daily activities, build relationships, and uncover multiple storylines and endings.
  • Rewards: Backers can look forward to rewards such as digital and physical artbooks, exclusive game content, soundtrack downloads, and custom in-game characters.

These are just a few of the adorable and engaging games I’m excited to support on Kickstarter. Each project offers something unique, and your support can make a big difference in bringing these charming games to life. If any of these projects resonate with you, consider backing them and joining the community of supporters! read more

Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life (2023 Remake) Review

What Makes Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life Remake (2023) So Wonderful Anyways?

Pros:

  • Adorable and Kawaii: The game is incredibly cute, offering charming visuals and a delightful atmosphere that is sure to captivate fans of kawaii aesthetics.
  • Diverse Activities: You can grow crops, forage, cook, eat, date, get married, raise a family, expand your home, excavate, fish, and explore. The range of activities keeps gameplay engaging and varied.
  • Dynamic Systems: Features a weather and season system, along with pets and livestock to breed and raise. These systems add depth and realism to your farming experience.
  • Exploration and Discovery: The game encourages exploration, reminiscent of retro 90s JRPGs. You’ll find recipes, notes, and secrets by clicking on everything and talking to characters repeatedly until they repeat their dialogue.
  • Multiple Endings: Each playthrough can be unique with different outcomes based on your choices, providing high replay value.
  • Time Management Challenge: The game challenges you with limited time each day, adding a strategic element as you plan your activities carefully to maximize productivity.
  • read more

    Review: Jack Jeanne Otome Game With Rhythm Minigames

    Hey there, all you fabulous Otome gamers out there! 🎮💕 It’s me, your go-to otome enthusiast, back with a fresh review of “Jack Jeanne”!

    First off, can we talk about the music and voice acting in this game? Absolute chef’s kiss! 🎵 The voice actors really bring the characters to life, while the music just wraps everything up in an audacious symphony of emotion. I mean, who doesn’t want to live in a world that has its own soundtrack? 🎧

    And the characters, oh my stars! They’re as vibrant as a new day sunrise, each with their own sparkling personality that makes you want to get to know them better. Personally, I couldn’t choose between Suzu and Neji, they both stole my gamer girl heart! 💖 read more

    Stat Raising Otome Games With English Translations

    Welcome to the world of otome games, where love, romance, and personal growth intertwine to create immersive, interactive experiences. In this today’s post, we’ll explore 12 of the best stat-raising otome games that will captivate your heart and challenge your strategic skills.

    As you embark on these virtual journeys, you’ll develop your protagonist’s skills and attributes, unlocking new paths and romantic possibilities with every choice you make.

    From the pioneering classics to the innovative gems of today, this article delves into the intricacies of each game, comparing and contrasting their storylines, anime graphics, stat-raising gameplay, and other elements. read more

    Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side 4th Heart Nintendo Switch English Game Review

    As you may know from my blog, Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side is one of my favorite game series. I’ve played all 4 of them now – although none to 100% completion (meaning all routes). The fine folks in the fan translation community have translated all 3 of the first games and I have had the pleasure of playing each of them. I bought the 4th game as soon as it released and have been using Google Translate on my phone and aiming it at my Nintendo Switch.

    I’ve used both a lazy neck holder and a snake like clamp holder with varying degrees of success. Both of which I bought on amazon. You just need to make sure the holder you buy does not cover the back camera of your phone because you need that camera to use the Google translation app. read more

    Growing Up – Child Raising Simulation PC Game Review

    I’ve spent several hours and am on my third life in the new “child raising” sim game, Growing Up, available now via Steam. This game reminds me a great deal of Chinese Parents. Both games use a “brain map” type of setup to unlock skills. Both continue on forever as each life ends and a new life begins. Both have you balance your mental health and parent’s satisfaction. Both games involve dating and friendships and schoolwork and exams. Yes both games are incredibly similar. It’s hard to believe that they are different games or by different developers… but you know, Great minds think alike! read more

    20 Game Series That Need A Sequel

    1.) Lunar

    Still my favorite game series of all time, Lunar, deserves a sequel and has plenty of source material to derive such a sequel or rather, prequel from. What I’d like to play is the original tale that started it all, playing as Dyne, with the original reincarnation of the goddess Althena, and Ghaleon, and Mel, and the other 4 heroes (whose names I’ve forgotten at the moment). Of course, they could always just spin it off in a new direction in a future somewhere and use return appearances or references of some of the characters. But the logical next step to me, would be to let us see and play the tale of the original 4 heroes. read more

    Coral Island Kickstarter For Inclusive Farming Simulation Game

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coralisland/coral-island-reimagining-the-farm-sim-game

    One good kickstarter deserves another I guess. This is the second kickstarter I’m blogging about today, and is in some ways quite similar to the previous Ova Magica. Both kickstarters are still active at time of this posting.

    This next kickstarter is titled Coral Island, and it aims to make inclusivity a big focus of its game. Bringing in characters of different races and ethnic backgrounds.

    The gameplay itself looks fun. You date the townsfolk while tending the farm. You even have children and watch them grow into teens. And the other people of the village also grow older as well. read more

    Ova Magica – Adorable Farming Monster Taming Game With Inspiration From Azure Dreams

    I stumbled across a pretty cute farming game on kickstarter and just had to back it. Especially after I read where their inspiration was coming from with some of my favorites listed like Azure Dreams and Jade Cocoon – and of course the usual suspects, harvest moon, pokemoon, and etc.

    Almost no one nowadays remembers Azure Dreams – It’s one of my favorite games of all times. The playstation version – I heard there was a gameboy version but they removed almost all basic game mechanics like dating sim aspects and so on – never played that one – and gladly not. read more

    Wannabe Challenge Otome Game Review

    Revision: 11/19/20: In this article I compared Wannabe Challenge’s story and character to those in the Korean Drama, My Love From Another Star, however, I originally was thinking of the Korean Drama, Goblin, and got my wires crossed somewhere. I thought about just coming in and editing it to change it to say Goblin instead of My Love From The Star, but I dunno, after thinking about it, it is rather similar to My Love From The Star too. The main character in Wannabe Challenge is a Model, the main character in My Love From The Star is an Actress/Model. The Male lead in My Love From The Star is a super natural being from hundreds of years ago who can live forever. He comes to rescue her and save her from various things. But obviously, Wannabe Challenge is still very similar to the Korean Drama Goblin, because both are about a love story between a Goblin and his bride who are tied together by a sad fate. That concept is true of both Wannabe Challenge and Goblin. Taehee even looks a little bit like Kim Shin. Anyways my original post is still here below in its unedited version. read more

    Chinese Parents Nintendo Switch Life Simulation Game Review

    I spent the weekend with my Chinese Parents… video game for Nintendo Switch that is. There are many aspects of this game that I really enjoyed. It is quite addicting. I probably sunk 20 hours into the game and am on my 5th generation. I’ve sprinkled some random screenshots throughout my review. At the end of the review is our score card and final verdict along with a gallery with all the screenshots I’ve taken so far. (Gallery is having some errors, too many photos, so I will try to add it in later). read more

    Lovelink Dating Simulation Mobile Game

    So all day I’ve been seeing ads for this game called Lovelink and at first I found it creepy because it’s trying so hard to look like a real dating app. Just so you know: it’s a GAME. There are no real profiles or real people. It’s not Real. You don’t even type real responses just select from one or more prompts on screen. So after seeing the ad for like the fifth time I decided to check it out.

    Lovelink tries to make itself seem real. I met my fiancé on a dating app (Bumble) and I have experience with real apps like this so I’ll say it’s an interesting concept. The user interface and overall experience feels like a dating app. read more

    DAL Date A Live Spirit Pledge Global Mobile Game Review

    Today I am reviewing DAL Date A Live Spirit Pledge, a mobile game on android and IOS. Date A Live Spirit Pledge combines visual novel choice and consequence style dating simulation aspects with real-time action-rpg combat. It includes a skill-tree to customize your characters combat abilities and offers a little something for all audiences to enjoy.

    Title: DAL Date A Live Sprit Pledge Global

    Release Date: July 2020

    Where to Get: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/date-a-live-spirit-pledge/id1501496525 or https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.en.datealive.gp&hl=en_US read more

    Princess Maker 5 Review

    Princess Maker 5
    Princess Maker 5

    Title: Princess Maker 5

    Platform: PC

    Release Date: May 2018

    Developer: Gainax

    Publisher: CFK

    Genre: Raising Sim/ Life Sim / Dating Sim

    Geeky: 3/5

    Sweetie: 5/5

    Overall: 61/80 76% C “Good Game for Girls”

    Gameplay: 8/10 This is the last Princess Maker game in the series, aside from some online and mobile spin offs that were released later. As such, you can expect that the gameplay is much more advanced than previous Princess Maker games. Princess Maker 5 brings back the adventure system, previously seen in Princess Maker 2, allowing you to fight in simplistic rpg battles and search for treasure. It does not unlock until later in the game.

    It is also the first time that you can select a female character to be the parent – Although if you play as a female, you cannot get the ending where the princess marries you (the parent).

    Perhaps more importantly, there are many new activities that your daughter can participate in, compared to previous Princess Maker games. I felt that the gameplay more closely resembled Tokimeki Memorial Girl’s Side (which I reviewed here.)

    You select a week’s worth of activities for your daughter. She will attend public school and have club activities but she will also have free time for you to schedule part time jobs or extra lessons to enhance her stats. On the weekends you will take your daughter out to try to reduce her stress or experience special seasonal events.

    Like Tokimeki Memorial, you can see which events are happening by reading a paper that lists new events. You can have cube set a reminder on the day of the events so you don’t forget important dates. But the game will not automatically prompt/navigate you to the event so you still have to pay attention and remember when and where to go for the event.

    Gameplay feels slow. Especially the first year. It feels repetitive and slow building your stats, and very few random encounters or events. But as I entered my 2nd year, that began to change. Suddenly, classmates/love interests began to invite my daughter out on dates, or suddenly teachers and employers invited my daughter to special events. Now it felt more interesting and exciting.

    But still, ultimately, this game is long, and slow, and while this type of gameplay is best enjoyed in small bursts, because of the repetition and monotonous gameplay, it also is a game that doesn’t get interesting until several hours in. I spent over 6 hours in the first year… If like most princess maker games this one goes until the daughter’s 18th birthday, then this game has over 70 hours of gameplay, per playthrough, times 50 endings…. staggering… definitely a highlight of the game — but the gameplay is so monotonous that many people may never reach all 50 endings.

    How could I give an 8/10 to a monotonous boring “dull” game? Well because of the added features the game presents, this game is the most realistic child rearing sim, and gives unprecedented freedom and control to the player. Your daughter grows in new ways never present in the previous princess maker games, and she grows more independent with her own hobbies and interests and desires and things become more complicated, it brings back the adventure system, and the new dating/events system seemingly borrowed from Tokimeki Memorial. All of these are an improvement over most of the gameplay features in previous princess maker games.

    The game gives you unprecedented freedom to raise any kind of daughter you want, even if you want her to be a cosplaying anime fan who loves going to idol concerts. Seriously, she can become interested in just about anything you can imagine. lol.

    Story: 5/10 I think part of the reason the game is so slow is that it has almost no story. You just literally keep clicking and waiting/hoping something changes/happens. Which doesn’t happen for several hours until you’ve been pumping up your stats. The opening movie is not translated or subtitled for the english release on steam. It seems that maybe it may have had at least an interesting introduction. I think from what I can tell, the daughter is a demon maybe. It says it began from bloody events that happened long ago. Seems to hint at a curse, and then from there I haven’t a clue as to what is going on, but you see cube fly away with the girl. The girl also has a special hair clip that lets her communicate with you and allows you to watch the girl while she’s away. Every once in awhile the girl talks about seeing spirits or fairies and other supernatural things. But I’m now about 10 hours into the game and there’s really no overall story, or direction, or plot, it’s basically an open ended sandbox game. Plot isn’t necessary in games like this, but since I play games for their stories, I think that’s why I feel bored while playing this game since it lacks an overarching plot of any kind.

    Characters: 10/10 I really do like the characters. They are not strong from a story standpoint, but they feel very real, and their interactions and dialogues with each other are very cute. The independence of your daughter and new complex ways in which she can develop and grow make this the best daughter of all.

    Graphics: 7/10 The artwork put me off at first, for years even before this official US release, I would see pictures of this game, compare it to 4 which was my favorite Princess Maker game, and just think YUCK!… But oddly… in the 10 hours I played the game, I now find it cute and charming. I’d played 4 years ago on my nintendo DS, even though I couldn’t read any of it. I loved that art style, and at first found this new art style for 5 to be a huge turn off. But after playing the game, I’ve changed my tune. I suggest if you like me, hate the way Princess Maker 5 looks, just give it a go, it’s a great game, and the artwork is strangely cute once you get used to it!

    There’s this little fat boy, which normally would be like a blech, but I dunno there’s something sooo cute about him. He reminds me of the fat lil asian boy from Disney’s “Up” and there’s another little boy that looks like he could be straight outta card captor or some other sugary sweet shojo anime.

    The daughter was what I found most unattractive, but watching her study, work, and play, I’ve realized she is the most “real” and endearing of any of the daughters in previous games. I love my little princess.

    Music: 3/10 – I really dislike the opening song – it’s awful. blech. But the rest of the music is “OK” I guess. just kinda average to me really.

    Voice Acting: 10/10 – the voice acting is very cute 🙂 I’m glad they kept the original Japanese voices in the game.

    Replay Value: 10/10 – over 50 different endings and the variety of things to do within this game give it excellent replay value.

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