Recent reviews by Meg Kaylee

Such a charming, cozy, and unique game that I’ve been finding so much comfort in recently. I love shop sims and I feel like this one is unlike any others I’ve played. The characters are interesting to get to know, and decorating your bookshop on wheels is super fun and wholesome. I think my favorite part of this game is giving book recommendations to customers - it’s like a fun puzzle trying to choose the best book option, and along the way I’ve learned about some titles that have genuinely made it into my own TBR. I greatly appreciate this game’s emphasis on diversity and inclusivity in a way that feels authentic and not performative. So cool to see books with diverse representation included in the game as well. As someone who is autistic and a lesbian, it really touched my heart to come across books in game that specifically speak to those subjects. This game is really something special because of the heart that clearly shows in its development, and I highly recommend checking it out.

I really adore this game as a long-time fan of both lotr and the cozy game genre and I’m so glad I decided to pick it up. I’ve been hooked since release. I’ve mostly been playing on Steam Deck and have found that the game’s run relatively smooth outside of a few minor visual bugs (which I imagine will be patched.) In terms of gameplay, I feel this is a really unique entry in this genre, as the biggest focus is on cooking and serving meals for the other hobbits in the village and building relationships with them. Growing crops and fishing are still a part of the experience, but the emphasis being placed on the meal experiences is such a refreshing choice for a genre in which many games feel very similar in terms of mechanics. This game strikes a great balance between being engaging but also low pressure in a way that makes it a great pick for unwinding in the evening. Imo, some cozy games quickly become stressful if you’re trying to min-max your day or not miss anything, and Tales of the Shire is super chill in that regard. I love the use of environmental visuals, like the birds leading you to your map target or butterflies leading you to nearby forageables. It makes exploring feel really immersive and seamless, but it’s also not easy to get lost in this game at the same time and I never have trouble finding my way. So far, I’ve found the story and characters charming and cute and in line with what you’d expect from this sort of game. The cast feels well-rounded in terms of personality types, and I really enjoy all of the fun and lighthearted story beats. My only wish would be to be able to jump over certain obstacles in game rather than having to run all the way around, or having some kind of sprint button - but at the same time, I sort of feel like the way the game kind of forces you into slowing down and going at a slower pace/taking the long way around is, in a way, part of what makes it an endearing experience.

Absolutely incredible game! I feel like Fall Guys is exactly the type of goofy fun that we all need in our lives right now. I've been having such a blast playing this with friends for hours and hours on end.