[blog] JK's Backlog Battle

22/01/2025 - Plantera 2: Golden Acorn Completion.
Current Backlog: 784
Currently Playing: 14

I got Plantera 2: Golden Acorn as a giveaway prize from the awesome streamer BlueandQueenie,
and it’s been such a lovely little escape. I haven’t played the first Plantera, but from what I’ve heard,
this sequel is a big improvement, and honestly, it stands strong even if you’re coming in fresh like I did.

The gameplay is super relaxing and flexible. You can plant crops, grow trees, and raise animals to create your own little garden paradise.
The interaction is simple but fun—you can actively harvest your crops and shoo away pesky animals,
or just let the game do its thing idling while you kick back and enjoy the view.

Visually, the game is delightful. The bright, colorful graphics and adorable animations make your garden feel alive,
and the gentle soundtrack adds to the chill vibe. It’s the kind of game where you lose track of time
because it’s so easy to just keep watching your little ecosystem grow.

The progression system is rewarding as you unlock new plants, animals, and upgrades,
but I’ll admit it can feel a bit grindy when you’re aiming for those final achievements.
It’s not a dealbreaker—just something to keep in mind if you’re a completionist.

Overall, Plantera 2 is a charming idle/clicker game that’s perfect for anyone looking for something low-pressure and enjoyable.
Whether you’re actively playing or letting it run in the background, it’s a feel-good experience.
Big thanks to BlueandQueenie for introducing me to this one!
- Marisa (JK)

26/01/2025 - Charterstone: Digital Edition Completion.
Current Backlog: 783
Currently Playing: 14

I won this game through SteamGifts.

I got Charterstone: Digital Edition as a giveaway win on Steamgifts through the playing appreciated group,
and I was pretty excited to try it out. It’s based on a real-life board game, which I’ve never played,
but I’m always down for a good turn-based, board game-style experience.

Going in, I’ll admit I felt a bit lost. The game does offer a tutorial, but since I had no background with the physical board game,
some of the mechanics felt confusing. There’s a lot of resource management, building, and strategizing involved,
but I struggled to understand how it all tied together. I kept wondering if I was missing some crucial context
that veterans of this board game already knew about.

I played through the campaign, but if I’m honest, I didn’t really enjoy it much. The gameplay loop didn’t click for me,
and I felt like I was just going through the motions rather than making meaningful decisions.
It’s not a bad game by any means—it seems like there’s a solid strategy game under the surface—but I just couldn’t get into it.
Visually, the game is nice enough. It has a clean, cartoony art style that fits the board game vibe. The interface does its job,
but it felt a bit cluttered at times, especially when trying to track all the different mechanics and options.

I think Charterstone is probably best suited for people who have played the physical version
or are really into board games and don’t mind a bit of a learning curve. For someone like me, who went in blind,
it felt a little overwhelming and not very engaging. Still, I’m glad I won it and was able to give it a shot,
and maybe if you’re more familiar with the genre, you’ll have a better time.
As for me, I’d say it was a meh experience.
- Marisa (JK)

30/01/2025 - A Park Full of Cats Completion.
Current Backlog: 783
Currently Playing: 14

A Park Full of Cats is another charming hidden-object game from Devcats,
and if you're familiar with their games, you know exactly what to expect—cats, cats, and more cats!
This time, you’re exploring a cozy little park, searching for well-hidden kitties in a relaxing, stress-free environment.
The art is adorable, the music is soothing, and it’s the perfect game to unwind with.

The base game is free, which is always a nice bonus, but if you're an achievement hunter (like me),
you'll need to grab the Haunted Ride DLC to hit that sweet 100% completion. Honestly,
it’s a small price to pay for more cute cats to find! If you enjoy casual hidden-object games or just really love cats,
this one’s definitely worth checking out.
- Marisa (JK)

30/01/2025 - Zenko: A Fox's Tale Completion.
Current Backlog: 782
Currently Playing: 14

Zenko: A Fox’s Tale is a charming indie 3D platformer set in a beautifully crafted, Japanese-inspired world.
You play as a whimsical fox spirit, moving between realms to chase wandering spirits and restore abandoned shrines.
The world design is lovely, with an enchanting atmosphere that makes exploration feel magical.

For a free game, it’s surprisingly well-made, with solid platforming mechanics and a good balance of puzzle-solving.
Some of the platforming can feel a little janky or tricky at times, but it’s never too much to take away from the overall experience.
If you enjoy indie platformers and love a bit of mystical adventure, this game is definitely worth checking out!
- Marisa (JK)

30/01/2025 - Nino Maze LOFI II Completion.
Current Backlog: 779
Currently Playing: 14

A chill little maze game where you guide four adorable cats to the finish line while vibing to a relaxing lo-fi soundtrack.
The art is cute, and the music sets a nice, cozy mood, but the gameplay itself is pretty basic. I was hoping for a bit more challenge,
but the levels felt a little too easy, which made things repetitive after a while. Still, if you just want something super casual to unwind with
(and you love cats), it’s a decent way to pass the time and it's not ruined with it's price, so it's worth it!
- Marisa (JK)

08/02/2025 - The Sims Legacy Collection Completion.
Current Backlog: 781
Currently Playing: 13

Not my favorite sims game. I started my sims journey with sims 2,
so when I went to play this game for the first time in 2019, it was interesting for sure.
Now that the game came to steam I had to get it, because I wanted to own it there as well.
The game hasn't really aged well, but you can definitely still enjoy your time with it.
There has also been a lot of problems with the steam launch of this version,
so I wouldn't really recommend buying it through steam,
get it for free because modders have fixed a lot of bugs.
- Marisa (JK)

16/02/2025 - Fling with a Tiefling Completion.
Current Backlog: 785
Currently Playing: 14

Fling with a Tiefling is a short but charming little visual novel that makes for a cozy, romantic escape.
You spend a single night by the campfire with Karrus, a smooth-talking Tiefling, and decide where your relationship goes from there.

The writing is sweet, the voice acting adds a lot of personality, and the music sets the mood nicely.
It’s very short—like, 20 minutes max—but since it’s free, that feels just right.
If this had a price tag, it probably wouldn’t be worth it, but as a freebie,
it’s a fun little fantasy flirtation that’s totally worth a quick playthrough.
- Marisa (JK)

16/02/2025 - Mizi NO! Completion.
Current Backlog: 784
Currently Playing: 14

Mizi NO! is an adorable little puzzle game that perfectly captures the chaos of living with a cat.
Your mischievous feline, Mizi, just can’t resist knocking things over, and it’s your job to put them back together.

The hand-drawn art is super cute, the puzzles are fun but chill, and the whole vibe is just really cozy.
It’s short, but since it’s free, that’s totally fine—it’s the perfect little game to play when you need a quick break.

Plus, you can pet the cat. What more do you need?
- Marisa (JK)