Welcome to our Wholesome gaming news!
This week, we have news about a Good Pizza, Great Pizza, a free update for Magical Delicacy and cosy, but not too cosy, Everholm. Dustbunny launched on mobile, arcade game Smoothcade released, a release date for Grimoire Groves and quirky point-and-click adventure Loco Motive. A major update for Ova Magica, Nintendo Pop-Up Store at Heroes Dutch Comic Con, Amber Isle is on sale, the Cozy Quest Festival on Steam has started and a release date for Mythwrecked.
Who Doesn’t Love Pizza?
It’s been a while since we reviewed Good Pizza, Great Pizza when it was released on Switch in 2020. One of our team felt it deserved an I Like it a Lot, writing in conclusion:
“If you enjoy restaurant or simulation games, go on and give Good Pizza, Great Pizza a shot! Just make sure you clear your plans for the day though… You will be finding yourself saying “I’ll stop after one more day” or “I’ll take a break after I hit $300” over and over!”
The game has had quite a history, landing first on iOS and Android in 2014 and, after that, making its way to Steam, Nintendo Switch and Amazon. Ten years is a long time for a game to be around and still be actively updated. To celebrate, an in-game event is going to take place from November 22nd – December 12th. The event will bring new decorations, returning friends and rivals and a new story in preparation for a big Pizza Town gala. There will also be rewards and new challenges to play through and new scenes around Pizza Town to visit. There is a new shop preparation feature, exterior view and decorations as well.
The celebration is accompanied by the release of an art book on December 7th, a merchandise sale, and a Steam sale for the game itself. The game will be 50% off during the Steam Cooking Fest from November 11th -18th and also 50% off for the Steam Winter Sale from December 19th -January 2nd. And if you happen to live in Alhambra, California, you could even go to the Art Exhibit on December 7th.
Free Update Magical Delicacy
Magical Delicacy, the cooking sim blended with light Metroidvania elements, just got a free update on Steam! Developer sKaule has packed in several quality-of-life improvements that make it even easier to track and collect items as you help Flora pursue her dream of becoming a full-fledged witch.
Even before the update, Kalina reviewed the game and gave it our highest rating of Two Thumbs up! So if you’ve been meaning to dive into a world of magic, cooking, and exploration, now’s a great time. Magical Delicacy is available at a 20% discount during Steam’s Cooking Fest, running through November 18th.
Cosy, But Not Too Cosy Everholm
Everholm, developed by Chonky Loaf and published in partnership with indie.io, is now officially available on Steam. This adventure follows Lilly, a young girl in search of her lost sister, who arrives on a peculiar island without any memory, where everyone oddly seems to know her. Everholm balances cosy elements with just enough eerie intrigue as Lilly must settle in and transform a rundown homestead through a diverse farming and crafting system. Players can grow crops, raise livestock, and upgrade tools to help Lilly make the forgotten property into her own.
At the heart of Everholm are its twenty residents, each with a distinct personality and hidden past. From the sarcastic yet fiercely loyal Zoe to Maple, a Halloween enthusiast, building relationships is key to unearthing the island’s mysteries. With every connection Lilly forms, she learns more about the island’s story—and her sister’s fate.
Adding an extra layer of adventure, Everholm features a dungeon underworld where players can guide Lilly through procedurally generated areas, battling creatures and uncovering secrets. The deeper players delve, the more Everholm reveals itself as a mysterious adventure with surprises at every turn.
Dustbunny Launched on Mobile
Dustbunny, a therapeutic decorating sim that is launching on November 12th on iOS and Android. This relaxing game invites you to design a peaceful sanctuary filled with vibrant plants. Created by Antientropic founder Stella Kim, Dustbunny draws inspiration from compassion-focused and cognitive-behavioural therapy, aiming to support mental well-being through mindful gameplay.
In Dustbunny, you’ll nurture a variety of plants, including monsteras, philodendrons, and unique hybrid varieties and use interactive “Care Cards” to help them flourish. Each card, like watering or observing, represents self-care practices that encourage personal reflection and growth. Dustbunny offers a comforting escape where your room transforms into a warm, evolving reflection of your emotional journey.
Arcade Game Smoothcade Released
Smoothcade, a vibrant, modern arcade game with up to four-player co-op, has been released on Steam. The game blends platforming and puzzling action as you set out to recover a missing golden blender. (as one does…) Across 100 handcrafted levels, you’ll capture fruity critters using projectiles called cloudies, popping them off the screen to clear each level. A karma-based system lets players switch between Mercy and Mayhem cloudies, unlocking special power-ups and bonuses depending on the choice.
The game offers several ways to play: dive into Story Mode to experience the full 100-level journey with three difficulty options, or switch things up with a party-style Battle Mode where you race to collect the most fruit in procedurally generated arenas. For a challenging twist, Endless Mode pushes your survival skills as levels get progressively harder, while Speed Run Mode lets you race against the clock to complete a world of ten levels.
If you want to check out Smoothcade, there’s a demo available on Steam.
Release Date Grimoire Groves
Cosy rogue-lite dungeon crawler Grimoire Groves got a release date today and is officially coming to PC via Steam on March 6th! A Nintendo Switch version will follow later. We liked what we saw when we wrote about the demo, so check out the new trailer below!
Quirky Point-and-Click Adventure Loco Motive
Loco Motive, the quirky point-and-click adventure from Robust Games and Chucklefish is set to launch on PC and Nintendo Switch on November 21st, with a 10% discount during launch week, from November 21st to 27th.
In Loco Motive, you’re thrown into the aftermath of a shocking murder aboard the Reuss Express. The victim? Lady Unterwald, age 89 and the eccentric heiress of the Wald-Bahn Rail Company, met her end under mysterious circumstances. You’ll step into the roles of three unlikely suspects—a lawyer, a detective novelist, and an undercover agent—as they work to clear their names. With a cast of amusing characters, challenging puzzles, and clever dialogue, the game promises a humorous whodunit experience.
Major Update for Ova Magica
Ova Magica has recently released its first major content update on Steam, version 0.703, as of November 12th, 2024. This update introduces significant content additions and improvements based on community feedback.
The game, which entered Early Access on July 23rd, 2024, is planned to remain in this phase for approximately 8-10 months, with regular content updates leading up to the full 1.0 release which is currently the main priority. Hopefully, console players can look forward to the game as well in 2025.
Nintendo Pop-Up Store at Heroes Dutch Comic Con
Nintendo is opening an exclusive pop-up store on November 23rd and 24th at Heroes Dutch Comic Con in the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, marking the first time Nintendo has brought a pop-up store to the Netherlands. Fans can look forward to exclusive merchandise from some of Nintendo’s most popular series, including Super Mario, Pikmin, The Legend of Zelda, Splatoon, and Animal Crossing. Some of these items were previously available only in Nintendo’s flagship stores in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. It’s a special opportunity for Dutch fans to pick up unique collectables closer to home.
Amber Isle on Sale
Dino sim game Amber Isle is on sale on Steam, part of Team 17’s Fall Savings Sale. Update 3 is now live, and it has camera improvements, UI enhancements, and bug fixes. If you were waiting to pick this game up, maybe now is the time! Amber Isle has a discount of 25% until November 27th.
Additionally, the Switch version isn’t ready for release yet, and is delayed until February 2025.
Cozy Quest Festival Has Started
If your weekend is still void of other plans, you could relax with Cozy Quest, a cozy-themed Steam festival hosted by Secret Mode, which runs through November 18. This celebration offers a warm array of comfort games, special sales, developer interviews, let’s plays, and livestreams.
A selection of games that are a part of Cozy Quest: A Little to the Left (Max Inferno), Loddlenaut (Moon Lagoon), Pine Hearts (Hyper Luminal Games Ltd), Fruitbus (Krillbite Studio), Dorfromantik (Toukana Interactive), Lightyear Frontier (FRAME BREAK), Gourdlets (AuntyGames), Lil Gator Game (Megawobble), Go-Go Town! (Prideful Sloth), and Minami Lane (Doot, Blibloop).
A small selection of upcoming titles participating in Cozy Quest:
Critter Café (Sumo Newcastle), Ritual of Raven (Spellgarden Games), Grimoire Groves (Stardust), Tempopo! (Witch Beam), Spilled! (Lente), Sugardew Island – Your cozy farm shop! (rokaplay), Southfield (Radical Forge), Winter Burrow (Pine Creek Games), and Out and About (Yaldi Games).
Release Date Mythwrecked
We have a release date for Mythwrecked! It will be released on December 5th on Switch, PlayStation and Xbox. When Paula played the demo a year ago it was already a fun experience, check out the trailer below!
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