On February 18 2023, Whitethorn Games presented their Winter Showcase. Whitethorn considers themselves defenders of easy games, and indeed, they focus on pleasant, cozy games that can be played in pieces. Games that require no special skills or knowledge, and that anyone can pick up and play. Which of course fits very nicely with LadiesGamers, which is why we attended their press Q&A. Below you see the games that stood out to us.
Cooking adventure meets Metroidvana-lite
Whitethorn revealed Magical Delicacy, where you’ll take on the role of Flora, a young woman who arrives in a bustling, cliffside harbour town to open up shop and fulfil her dreams of becoming a proper witch. Cook meals and potions in your customized kitchen, carefully selecting the right ingredients to meet your customers’ requests. Explore the town in casual platforming mode to meet the residents and deliver tasty treats, all the while discovering new secrets, finding new ways to traverse, and learning about the world of magic!
Magical Delicacy will be available with Xbox Gamepass on PC, Xbox Series S|X, and Xbox One, and for PC via Steam.
Learning Japanese Through a Game
Have you ever wanted to learn Japanese but didn’t know where to start? I know I did, I even tried to play Japanese games on my 3DS back then by translating the most important parts. Anyway, developer Not Dead Design had the same idea and made Kana Quest! This game is already available on Steam, and is now coming to Nintendo Switch at the end of March 2023. You can hone your knowledge of Japanese kana through an ever-evolving puzzle game! Slide kana tiles around to make matches based on each character’s sounds in over 300 hand-crafted levels. Each world introduces new puzzle mechanics, deepening the gameplay and making even fluent speakers think about their next moves.
You can find more information here: Kana Quest
Botany Manor
Developer Balloon Studios presented a behind-the-scenes look at the development of the stunning puzzle adventure, showcasing the majestic environments, fantastical plants, and a peek into the puzzles players can find in this first person game.
Set in a stately home in 19th-century England, you’ll see the manor through the eyes of its sole inhabitant, retired botanist Arabella Greene. Her collection of rare, forgotten flora needs a proper home, which means it’s time to do some research. Explore Arabella’s house and gardens, filled with botanical notes, books, and posters, to find the right habitat for the precious plants. Use interactable items scattered around the manor and grounds in order to solve plant-based puzzles. Once Arabella starts growing each plant, she may discover some mysterious qualities within them…
Botany Manor is coming to the Switch and Steam in 2023.
New gameplay shown for Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island
Polygon Treehouse (developers of Röki) presented an overview of their upcoming “friend-em-up” adventure, showing off the idyllic island of Ambrosia and some of the characters you’ll build friendships with, along with the ways you will earn their camaraderie and help to restore their memories.
In Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island, you’ll play as Alex, a rookie backpacker taking a much-needed break from her exhausting modern life. When her trip is interrupted by a terrible storm, Alex washes up onto the sunny shores of Ambrosia Island, the long-lost home of the Greek pantheon of Gods. But something is wrong. The Gods are cursed and have forgotten who they are! In order to piece together what happened, Alex must journey across the island, finding and befriending the Gods, and helping them restore their memories.
Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island will be available for Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in 2023.
A Deeper Look at Whalefall
Whitethorn Games provided a deeper look at the various gameplay mechanics and the first look at some of the voice acting in their first major in-house-developed game Whalefall with a new trailer.
Inspired by beloved franchises like Suikoden, Fire Emblem, and Bravely Default, Whalefall invites you to immerse yourself into the mystical fantasy world of Osfeld, steeped in rich lore. You’ll take on the role of Coty Bircann, a young recruit forced to become head of the Riverwatch Forces after the Stoneshield Legion commits an unspeakable act against one of the ancient and revered Skywhales that float peacefully above the world.
Embark on an epic three-act adventure, recruiting friends to grow your army, battling enemies, and exploring the vast world of Osfeld, all in an effort to put an end to the Stoneshield Legion’s tyranny! Outside of traditional random encounters and key story-driven levels, Whalefall also features three mission styles, all replayable, so that you can aim for the coveted S-rank. Lead your party through golden-era inspired turn-based JRPG missions, mobilize your armies against hordes of enemies in hex-based tactical battles, and talk your way through visual novel-style social interactions.
Whalefall will be available for PC via Steam, Xbox One and Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Nintendo Switch™.
More Titles Shown
More titles were shown in the Showcase, and more news was shared. Like the fact that Apico is coming to consoles as well, and a cooking mini-game is added to Calico. The Princess Farmer is making its way to iOS and Android too.
New gameplay was shown for the upcoming adventure game Tinselfly , featuring light action elements set in a science fantasy universe, is a surreal, introspective adventure about dreams, nostalgia, and the majesty of utopian space travel.
We saw a new trailer for the thrilling, psychological horror game The Forest Cathedral coming to Xbox and PC and a teaser for Kernel Hearts, being made by Whitethorn Games in partnership with Argentinian developer Ephemera Games.
Not specifically game related, but we talked about accessibility in games, which makes for a much greater inclusivity in gaming: little changes made to games that ensure everyone can enjoy an inclusive gameplay experience. A very interesting topic, and one we will surely talk about later on the site.
Want to see the full showcase? It’s here below!