Happy Merge Home: ASMR

Happy Merge Home: ASMR (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


From the pictures, you would expect more cleaning and designing like other room building games, but it's actually more of a matching game like Love & Pies that then combines with a standard design game where you are given 3 options you can buy with the coins from completing orders in the merge section to build out the rooms and progress through the games story.

Merge Topia

Merge Topia (Android)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is an odd merger game that mixes the usual merger type play with tasks similar to Merge Gardens and other similar games, but instead of a match 3 or other type of side game for levels, we have puzzles with different patterns. The puzzles are more interesting, but the merge play, waiting for energy, and needing to buy workers or special keys if you want the good levels is quickly tiring. Did not try any of these as I was not willing to spend money for the premium aspects of this freemium game. Might have played longer had it focused on the puzzles that were what the advertising was all about, but have little to no interest in the merge aspects of this style. 

Merge Cooking: Theme Restaurant

Merge Cooking: Theme Restaurant (Android)

My rating: 1 of 5 games


The gameplay has an interesting concept, but the course of events is very forced, including frequent ads for bonuses and power ups needed to create the recipes for the next order. There isn't really anything as far as creative license as it's all very linear with no choices as you play through each level and simply pay out the coins for whatever the next stage is. The game will glitch and jump around or freeze if you don't follow the correct sequence of events and fill out the game play the way they want you to.

Frozen City

Frozen City (Android)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


In some ways, this is nice as the characters keep performing their tasks and moving through their day schedule even when you aren't actively playing. In others, it's aggravating as you'll run into the "sleep" period consistently when you are forced to let everyone sleep and can't really do anything in the game play at that point in time. There are also these new "hero" cards that require special stars to level up before you can assign workers to various positions needed for your city to thrive, putting you in a bind where either you are waiting constantly for materials to build up and hoping you get enough stars from the battle quests or paying for materials in the game, turning it more into a premium game than a free game - so "freemium" would be fitting here, though it's maybe not as blatant when it comes to forced ad play or advertising as some other games are. In the end, the forced schedule is rather disruptive as opposed to some games where you can choose to turn to night or sleep or set shifts for your characters. There is a tab indicating that shifts may be something further along in the game play, though suspect the shifts would still only be during the 2 normal working shifts and not during the sleep or meal shifts.

Mergeland: Alice's Adventure

Mergeland: Alice's Adventure (Android)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


It's a cute idea, similar to other merge style games with a mini-game added in for the rings, however, the game play is very forced and repetitive, constantly trying to force you into buying energy and add-ons for the game that are highly annoying. Due to this alone, it will not be one that is continued. 

Fishdom Solitaire

Fishdom Solitaire (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a spin off of Fishdom with the same design specs, except playing Solitaire games and minigames instead of match 3 type games. The game play is okay, but it relies a lot of special moves to finish some of the decks, and those will cost. If you want something that's entirely free to play, this may not be the best fit.

Bustafellows

Bustafellows (Nintendo Switch)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


The audio is in Japanese, however, there are English subtitles, so it's not difficult to play. I often play without volume at all, so it isn't really a hinderance for me. The game itself is RPG style, but very linear. It's hard to tell on first play through, but there are various results that you can get as a result of your choices in the game, like most RPG or data sims (because there is a dating element hidden in there). It also has a bit of memory recall like puzzle games, so pay attention when you're working on a case. You never know when you might need to recall something to make a choice - complete with ticking timer to make that choice in. 

Pokemon: Violet

Pokemon: Violet (Nintendo Switch)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was an unexpected Christmas gift (it was on the kid's wish list, but not my own, though I had considered trying it after hearing about a tie in with it to Pokemon Go). Not far into it yet, but have to say I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of different challenges and the game play to collect the different pokemon. A lot of early release news listed a lot of complaints about the game play and lag issues, but other than the occasional odd rendering (most often with an odd angle for a battle to start, especially near a cliff or with the little water floaters popping out for battles in the water), there haven't been many, if any, glitches to speak of in my play so far, and what I have noticed has mostly been amusing and not a blocker in any way to continuing game play. Overall, this story so far has been more enjoyable than Let's Go, Eevee, which is the only other Switch game I've really played at this point. My daughter has commented several times that she likes the style of this game watching me play it and that it looks a lot more fun to her than the battle play she's used to in Shining Pearl.

Merge County

Merge County (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Similar to other type of merge games like Merge Elves, Evermerge, and Mergical. So far it's gone the farthest as far as games that can be played without paying for bonuses, however, they're definitely pushing the pay to play form with the number of timed special events and bonus fly-overs in the game. Not sure how long this one will stick around realistically as it often goes days to weeks without wanting to open it and deal with moving all the pieces around for that day's energy allotment. 

Sheriff of Mahjong - Tile Match

Sheriff of Mahjong - Tile Match (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The idea behind the game is classic and interesting, combining quests and storylines with mahjong puzzles. However, the game seems to be rigged a bit as to when you will win or lose a round to try and force you to buy resources. Don't expect to finish a timed event, and do expect to be frustrated with the lack of resources if you're sticking to free play only and not going for the freemium options. Another one that was fun to try out for a bit, but is not likely to stick around.

DesignVille Merge

DesignVille Merge (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is an interesting combination similar to Love & Pies where a merge game combines with an RPG storyline and designing different rooms to progress through the story line. The timing for the power ups and items to merge with the board size seem to be a little out of proportion in this game's case however, so you'll need to clear and/or sell things regularly just to make room for what you are trying to make. As soon as you accomplish that task however, most likely you're going to need whatever you just sold off to make room for that last stage, so buckle up to redo the process all over again. 

Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee

Pokemon: Let's Go, Eevee (Nintendo Switch)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Admittedly, I ended up playing this more for the pokemon transfer storage and the mystery boxes for Pokemon Go to get Meltan to spawn. Initially, the set up was interesting, and could someday see wanting to play through more of the story as I do enjoy some of the challenges and collecting the various pokemon, especially when one of the long time favorites pops up on screen. The overall style fits well with my preferred RPG style game as well as combining with a story and characters that I'm familiar with that make it more fun to pick up once in awhile when time allows and would rather game than read.

Merge Mystery: Lost Island

Merge Mystery: Lost Island (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is similar to Love & Pies and Merge Mansion, where it combines merge play and game tasks, though there does not seem to be much in an overall storyline that is being followed in this case. They do, however, have some holiday events like Merge Mansion does, in that they have their own space and separate element designs and tasks to earn the rewards rather than just being an addition to the main play like in Love & Pies. Not the best of the graphics seen for merge games, but a good low key game that requires a touch of patience if you want to keep it at the free level in the range of freemium games out to play.

Merge Mansion

Merge Mansion (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Similar to Love & Pies, this game combines merge game play with completing tasks to move through a story line for the main game play. It looks like fairly soon into game play, there are levels where the only way to get the materials needed to build are to purchase limited time game packs when they show up and happen to have the elements available. However, these game packs look to only be available by purchase with real money and not through any coin or gem currency that can be earned in game. Due to this, it makes it very difficult even at a slower pace to be able to play through, even though it has some of the better merge/RPG graphics and the holiday challenges are interesting (haven't had both time and energy to fully complete a holiday event yet, but they've been fun). With this new roadblock though, it is unlikely this game will stay on the playing roster.

Love & Pies

Love & Pies (Android)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is an interesting take on a merge style game combined with a bit of RPG style story line as you play through the redesign of the shop along the way while finishing challenges for the merge items. The play through is rather direct as many of the story pieces are interactions with other characters, while others do allow for a choice out of 3 options for the next stage of building and designing the new store. Sometimes there are special events that run as well, though unless playing constantly, unlikely to earn many of the prizes if playing completely free as there is a limited amount of gems, coins, and energy that can be earned each day, as well as how many rewards can be claimed out of the items that are combined to provide new elements for merging to complete tasks.

Clockmaker

Clockmaker (Android)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


Despite ads showing this as a more interactive RPG style game, it's actually yet another match-3 game, which is highly disappointing. It leans very heavily on running out of required supplies to try and force you to buy items to finish levels instead of being able to play through the game normally so there's isn't much "free" in the "freemium" model.

Immortal Diaries

Immortal Diaries (Android)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Game play is more similar to Time Princess where there are certain dress up requirements for story chapters and events. There is also a dating element making it similar to Choices at the same time. As a relatively newer game, apparently the story has not been completed however. Currently you can read up to chapter 12 and then you'll end up in a cycle of argument levels that don't really progress the story, but do still earn experience to upgrade your character along with sometimes earning new clothing items along the way. The contest shop does need a refresh for new items, though. Eventually, those rose gems just keep piling up and there's nothing to use them on while still trying to earn gems, fashion statues, and other tickets for the rose mall.

Time Princess

Time Princess (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Time Princess is basically a dress up game that progresses through different fictional stories. While earning materials and coins to complete the outfits for the current story and progress through the tale, tickets can also be earned to purchase additional stories as well. Certain chapters will eventually require certain clothing pieces to pass them however, which can create a blocker if only doing free-to-play while you wait to earn the materials.

Grand Hotel Mania

Grand Hotel Mania (Android)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While the game play is somewhat accurate, it has to do more with the timing of delivery food items or cleaning rooms and general check in. There does not seem to be a difference in the rooms, at least not in the early game, as far as where someone should or should not be checked in. The only change is just when items are upgraded for service and cost that can be earned in that level for the next upgrade. Gives it some difference than the common puzzle games but also keeps it different at the same time. Not too terribly engaging though, so don't expect to stick with it long term.

Fishdom

Fishdom (Android)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


This is another game that varies from what is advertised significantly. The ads would have you believe that the mini-games make up the game play. However, these mini-games are only available at random after several standard blast levels are beaten, similar to other games like Project Makeover or Homescapes. Unlike these other blast games, though, you are earning coins not just to be able to buy power ups, but also to buy the actual fish and decorations you want in your aquarium. Not so much the earning stars to complete a task and select an option type style.