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Oye! What a night! I knew I should have gone to bed earlier last night… or should I say this morning. Classes today were torture. I couldn’t stay awake! And it’s all this addicting game’s fault! I can’t believe I stayed up that long just to play a game with no blood or bombs. But I couldn’t help myself. It was a cool detective-style game that had me hooked from the moment I walked into that eerie hotel in Mystery Trackers: The Void.

MumboJumbo Games released their popular iPad game, Glowfish, for the PC. The uniqueness of the Glowfish gameplay and the look of the game bring welcomed variety to a cluttered landscape of hidden object and time management games.

Get ready! I am about to gush ridiculously about the new, upcoming game from Alawar Games… it’s called Natural Threat: Ominous Shores. It is sooooooo good… really good… obnoxiously good. I knew I needed to take a break and write the review about three hours ago, and I couldn’t help myself… I just kept playing and playing…

We've got some exciting news for you... We have just uploaded another episode of Casual Game Gab for your viewing pleasure. This month’s episode compares and reviews the two hit games Big City Adventure: London Story and Big City Adventure: London Classic!

I just played a game called Shadow Wolf Mysteries: Curse of the Full Moon. So, what's it about, Lucy? Calm down, I'm getting there. You are called to a town cursed by a werewolf, supposedly. It's your job to get to the bottom of all the crazy murders. Is it really a werewolf? Well, play the game and find out already!

Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate is now on sale, exclusively through Casual Game Guides, for just 99 cents! This promotion will last for only one week, so be sure to take advantage of this special offer before it’s too late!

The Surprising Adventures of Munchausen is a hidden object game based on the storylines of many different familiar fairy tales. A Kingdom is in trouble and to save it a fair damsel must marry a man she dislikes, until Munchausen, the faithful admirer, comes to the rescue.

How is February almost over!! Really? How did this happen?? I have so much stuff to do… I still haven’t figured out what my senior thesis is going to be and I’m supposed to have that turned in by the beginning of March… what am I going to do?! Anyone have any ideas? I don’t either… so because I needed some creative inspiration I decided to do what I do best… play a game. This time, my fancy took me to the game Stray Souls: Dollhouse Story. It looked both spooky and dramatic… both things I crave!

Right now, I’m kind of going through some things… and developing a love/hate relationship. With family. With school. With certain annoying roommates who shall not be named. And to top it off, I have a new love/hate relationship with The Agency of Anomalies - Cinderstone Orphanage Collector's Edition. This hidden object game does some things right, but it also does enough things wrong to make me want to chuck my mouse through the screen.

Hey gamers! I bet you didn't know I was a closet platform/side-scrolling gamer geek. Well, I guess I’m not a closet one anymore, since I just told you. But, when I saw the adorable, plump, yellow chick, I just had to try Toki Tori.

Hi there! I just recently finished playing a fun new game called Amulet of Time: Shadow of La Rochelle. The story begins when you are magically transported back in time to 16th century France. Throughout the game, you need to collect pieces of the Time Amulet so that you can return to your own era. You will also need to gather up bits of potion as well. There are no instructions as to why, where, or what to look for to find the Time Amulet pieces or the potions. You’ll click on one or the other, probably by accident, and figure it out from that.

In order to get my mind off the looming graduation date and Valentine's Day, I immersed myself in a strange little game called Sphera. It's about a little girl named Tess who has a rather difficult life. Her father is at war, her mother works in a factory (picture Rosie the Riveter), and her brother is just plain evil. When Tess picks up the Sphera, she is transported into a world filled with her dreams. She must make her way through her own dreams to the end where she has to confront her worst fear.

I wish everyone would stop freaking out about graduation… I really wish they would. We’re supposed to be excited… not hyperventilating like Morgan is half the time… that girl needs to chill. It’s going to be fine. We’ll all figure out what we want to do eventually, so there’s no use worrying about it… instead let’s just play a game and relax a bit… today I got to try a sneak peek for the game Dark Strokes: Sins of the Father from Alawar Games.

Snow, snow, snow! Will it ever end? Other parts of the country have nothing, but we are being buried with it! Max loves it, of course, kids being the only living beings who see the joy in a blizzard. We currently have 12 snowmen surrounding the house. Of course, he has them all facing the windows. Now, every time I look out, I see black, beady eyes looking back at me. Nothing like the feeling of being held hostage by the creepy, soulless stares of an arctic army. Oh, and if I have to shovel my car out one more time, I think I will scream... no, I really am going to scream, and it's not from my latest game Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel. It's because I see snow falling again.

It has been quite a while since I reviewed a Hidden Object Game. It seemed like they were all the same. Also, they were so dark that I couldn’t see them very well. After all, this is a review for Seniors. Of course all are welcome, but I do write from a Senior point of view. Some of our Seniors are new to computers, so I try to help them along when I can. That said, on with the review of Grim Tales: The Legacy.

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Lately, it seems like all I’ve been doing is working on my senior project, and I haven’t had any chance to play a game or even go out with the gang. This weekend, they are all planning on seeing some sappy Valentine’s Day movie that just came out… I think I’ll pass. Today’s movies are terrible, and I’d much rather go to the screening of An Affair to Remember, which if things go my way, I’ll be taking my date for Valentine’s Day to. Yes, that’s right… there’s a special someone in my Operating Systems class that I am thinking of asking out. I know, shocking, right? Anyhow, before I can work up the courage to ask her, I decided to check out the beta version of the game Film Fatale: Lights. Camera. Madness. by Fugazo Games.

OK, so I’m really starting to freak out, and I’m trying not to have a nervous breakdown. It’s about 3 months now until graduation. And, I have absolutely NO idea what I’m going to do with my life!!! Every time I start thinking about it, I have this panic attack where I can’t breathe, and I just want to throw myself on my bed and cry. I mean, I’ll have an English degree, so I can do a lot with that right? Except I don’t want to teach… so… help??? Most of the people I’m graduating with are either going on to law school (ewwwww) or graduate school… I’ve thought about that… but I’m not sure if that’s going to help… ok enough! I need a distraction… good thing I have this sneak preview of Behind the Reflection 2: Witch’s Revenge from Alawar games to occupy my mind…

So after my last post, I decided I need to play a game considerably more manly in order to redeem myself and hopefully end the teasing I’m getting for playing a game with my grandma… anyhow… when I saw the game Orczz, I immediately jumped on it and decided to give it a try. I mean… come on, it’s named Orczz… that has to be a kickass game right?

Grim Facade-Mystery of Venice is a hidden object adventure. You will have to solve puzzles and hidden object scenes (sometimes more than once), pick up items, and examine lots of objects. Be sure to check out everything in each scene. The game is not overly long to play and would make for an enjoyable way to pass the time on a weekend.

We're excited to announce our new video review show, Casual Game Gab! Episode 1 reviews two new time management games, Happy Chef vs Stone Age Cafe. The format of the show will evolve with time, but we wanted to get this out to you. Check out the video after the jump.

Holy cow… things are starting to really pick up at school, and I’m in a little over my head right now… I have three papers due in the next week that I haven’t even started on yet and a huge test in my Rhetoric class. In fact, I’m on my way now to go to a study group where we can all stare at each other and hope that someone has a clue what they are doing. So with all that going on, you’re probably wondering what I’m doing playing Dreamland…

So… I’m not sure if I mentioned this before, but my dear abuelita, the woman who swore she didn’t know how to turn the computer on, has recently discovered Facebook, and now has, what some of us in the family are choosing to call, a “healthy” obsession with it. I mean, it’s great that she can see pictures of family who live far away and, yes, she has even dabbled in chatting a bit, but she has become absolutely obsessed with everything Zynga. I’m talking Farmville, Cityville, Frontierville Castleville, and lately, a game called Hidden Chronicles.

This game is a long way from the simplicity of the first Jewel Quest game, but Jewel Quest: The Sapphire Dragon is a good game.

Hey gamers, Anne here with Lucy and Kristi. We've decided to compile a list of the top games of 2011 - in our opinion. Lucy and I have compiled hidden object/adventure games and Kristi has brought you a list of the best time management games. These are games that should not be missed under any circumstances, so if you haven't played one of these yet, get on it!

How am I back at school already??? I swear it was just Christmas a few days ago… what happened? Everything is a holiday blur and I’m back to hitting the books again for my very last semester. But I’m not going to think about that right now because I’ll wind up crying and having panic attacks when I think about what I’m going to do once graduation rolls around. Anyhow, what better way to distract myself from reality than a game! This time I decided to try Treasure Seekers: The Time Has Come. It seemed somewhat appropriate considering my frame of mind lately.

Maestro: Music of Death finds you playing a detective who needs to rid the town of some kind of musical curse. Music that when played ages everyone very rapidly and killing them all. You don't find how who or what until near the very end, although you can guess it before that, so I won't give it away.

I found the storyline in Mystery Trackers - Raincliff to be engaging and interesting. As a mom, I am always extremely appreciative of a game that has no dead bodies, no gore, and no gruesome scenes. While this is definitely a game set in a spooky environment, it is not scary. There is a logic to everything that is happening. A bunch of students go missing and it's your job to find them.

I have to say I picked a great game to start out the New Year. I gave Death at Fairing Point: A Dana Knightstone novel 5 stars. The game follows the usual hidden object agenda. Lots of puzzles, and moving back and forth between scenes to locate items, complete tasks and add to your inventory. The journal is important in this game. I have gone through other games and only looked at a notebook once or twice and done fine, but this one is key in helping you get through puzzles.

Back to school. Never since "pandas are playable" have three words visited my heart with such terror. And on the topic of terror, I land back at the house and am immediately roped into reviewing another adventure game, Brink of Consciousness: Dorian Gray Syndrome Collector's Edition. As you can imagine, I screamed an "Anakin just turned into Darth Vader" NOOOOOOOO. At least let me buy my books for next semester first. Anyway, as for Brink, yes, it's a stupidly long title. But it's also stupidly good. And it actually brings plenty of horror goodness to the table.

Bluebeard's Castle is your basic hidden object/adventure game. You are called, not literally as they didn't have telephone's back then, to your sisters aid who is trapped in Bluebeard's Castle because she did the one thing her new husband told her not to do. She opened the door to the seven deadly sins. Clearly the chick was a little flaky, but I guess temptation might get the better of me too. What you discover when you arrive is that Bluebeard is on a hunting trip, thankfully, and all his previous six wives have disappeared or died in mysterious manners. As a matter of fact, they are all trapped behind the creepy door. It's your job to find the seven keys, unlock the door, thus freeing your sister and the souls of Bluebeard's previous wives.

I'm fresh from the holiday festivities and waiting to ring in the New Year, so it's time to kick back and play some games before school starts up again. Haunted Past: Realm of Ghosts Collector's Edition is a solid way to spend a few hours. It doesn't do anything revolutionary, and the story is pretty clunky, but the puzzles are engaging and the visuals and atmosphere will draw you in.

Mysteries abound in the new game, The Island - Castaway 2. You return to the original island sometime in the past; this game is a prequel. While playing as Yati, a native boy who is about to undergo the rituals to manhood, you start to have strange dreams. Are they predicting a future to come? I guess you just have to play and see. Discover exactly what happened to this idyllic island.

I just finished the game Dark Parables: Rise of the Snow Queen. Snow White has turned... well, slightly evil. In an attempt to release the curse on her son, she believes the lies of the False Mirror and is taken in by his evil ways, this turning into the Snow Queen. She is stealing all the children in the village in order to find the Golden Child, whose tears can help her in her quest. Her father is too weak to stop her and the False Mirror's evil plans, but you're not!

Someone please help… I think I might pop and it’s not even Christmas yet… as you can imagine… I’m home for the holidays now and my mother has done nothing but feed me since I’ve walked in the door. There are more pies and cookies than I can possible count. Every counter is brimming with Christmas treats as far as I can see! And she keeps coming in my room and bringing me more! Not that I’m complaining, but being in a constant food coma is a bit much even for me and I just got home a few days ago! It doesn’t help that I have been playing a new game Agency of Anomalies: Mystic Hospital and I can’t help but snack when I’m playing a good game! I have to keep my energy up somehow after all!

What? You don’t think I like Christmas? So I tried Christmas Wonderland 2… so what? After the last few days I needed something cheery. Plus all of my family is crammed into our house so I needed a game that would be acceptable for my younger cousins since they insist on crowding around me everywhere I go… apparently Modern Warfare 3 is not an acceptable game… and it would probably make them cry and get me in deep trouble with my abuela…

Just wrapped up finals, and it's definitely time to unwind here at home and recharge the batteries. And nothing's better than a quality hidden object adventure game to spend a few entertaining hours. Enter 9: The Dark Side Collector's Edition. This game is fresh from a relatively new developer in the casual games market, Play Favorite Games (and yes, that sounds like a hyperlink, not a company). And I have to give them props for releasing an extremely playable and engaging game that will exercise more than a few of your brain cells.

I have one more final to go, and then it’s home for the holidays. I can’t wait. I’m normally a pretty calm person, but if I have to watch another Christmas movie or even walk by the TV when one’s on… I just might scream. The girls have been on an endless Christmas movie marathon since we got back from Thanksgiving break. It’s been a little ridiculous. I mean, how many times can we watch A Christmas Story till I want to shoot my own eye out??? That’s why I wanted to play something that was distinctly not Christmas, so I went with Fear for Sale: Sunnyvale Story. That sounded nice and scary and not Christmas related at all.

Haunted Legends: The Queen of Spades is a classic Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game with a good combination of both puzzles and hidden object scenes. People are disappearing around the long-dead Countess' dilapidated mansion. Rumors of an enchanted deck of cards and a malevolent dwarf are scaring the police off from doing a thorough investigation. Being of a scientific mind, you are going to find out exactly what is going wrong and prove that there is no such thing as a curse. Unfortunately it looks like the rumors were true and reality is perhaps even worse than imagined.

Alawar is releasing a new game, The Golden Years: Way Out West this week and I was given the opportunity to preview the game. Now you all know that I’m not exactly unbiased when it comes to resource management games in that I love them so much. What you don't know is that there are games of this genre that I do not like and will not play beyond a demo. I am not just a junkie but a connoisseur. So where does The Golden Years lay on this continuum? Well, duh, at the top! Yep, I think I have just previewed one of the best resource management games out there. It's up there with the best of the best, and I am absolutely ecstatic to let you in on some of the details.

I ordered a pizza, I got my mountain dew ready and I thought before I jumped into some hard core gaming, I would see about this sneak preview of the game Mountain Crime: Requital from Alawar. I admit it, I love things that blow up and fast cars, but I also have a special place in my heart for a good mystery…

I need to take a break now and then. Too much studying can hurt your brain, or so I’ve been told, and I’m inclined to believe it. And when I’m offered the chance to do a sneak preview… really, come on… you know my will power when it comes to sneak previews… it’s practically non-existent! So when CGG offered me the chance to preview the new Alawar game House of 1,000 Doors: Family Secrets, how could I say no!

If it's the Christmas spirit you're looking to find, you won't find it in the game I just played. Mystery Case Files: Escape from Ravenhearst, which is the third - and hopefully final - in a running series by Big Fish Games. Anne usually does these walkthrough, but when the games site said in bold, red letters "psychological thriller", she quickly tossed this game my way and I was ecstatic. Until I played it.

In Time Mysteries: Inheritance, join Vivien Ambrose as she discovers that her father has been kidnapped by a mysterious stranger who can travel through time and that her father has been hiding a secret that they, too, are time travelers. Through the help of Ball (as Vivien calls her father's crystal ball), Vivien must travel through different periods of time to collect seven magic rings that will repair Ball and allow them to discover what happened to her father.

A few of you may remember this summer when I was asked to interview the developers of the game Pahelika: Revelations before it came out, and I got to ask a bunch of amazing questions about the new upcoming game. Well, the game’s out now so I thought that it was my solemn duty to play that game instead of doing the bibliography for my paper tonight. See the sacrifices I make for you! You’re welcome!

I just posted the Royal Envoy 2 Walkthrough. I just had a ton of fun writing this one. I still absolutely love this game.  Check out the Royal Envoy 2 review to get all the details of this great new game. You're going to like it!

I decided to try a sneak preview of the game Vampires vs. Zombies from Alawar games. Now, you might imagine with a name like Vampires vs. Zombies that it would be a game like Plants vs. Zombies… at least this is what I was thinking and since I love the strategy games, I thought this would be right up my alley.

Well, it sure was quiet around here on Thanksgiving break… it’s just too short a holiday for me to fly back home for a few days, so I stayed here at the dorms all by myself… which wasn’t too bad since I decided to continue with my latest obsession and write the guide and hints for the game Weird Park: Broken Tune! If you didn’t catch my review… you need to. This game is really awesome and spectacularly creepy… even for me!

In Hallowed Legends - Samhain, a long estranged fiance calls out of the blue, the phone goes dead on the other end. So off you rush to the Cornwall Celtic Festival. What kind of mystery have you gotten yourself involved in. Dead guys, frozen tourists, and traveling to other worldly realms. Can you find your ex-fiance and solve the mystery in time?

While off on Thanksgiving vacation with my family, I decided to a little sneak peek of an upcoming game from Alawar and Dream Dale. What is it called? Elementary, My Dear Majesty. Even the title is fun! This isn't your ordinary casual game. In fact, it's anything but ordinary!