I must confess to never expecting this next game format to be the main focus of a particular title.  To me this type of game was little more than a mini game puzzle used as a  distraction to accompany a more major game genre.  But obviously Manicware, this game's developer, thought otherwise.  The result is Word Search Vacation on which this review is based.

Published by Denda Games, Match Three Pirates 2 is a game where its “2” designation indicates it is a follow-up offering.  The original title, which I seem to have missed out on, was entitled Heir to Davy Jones and dealt with the adventures of a young boy called Bobby who needed to be rescued by his mother.  If circumstances permit then I will try to review this original offering sometime in the future.

Developed by Tiny Little Lion, Puzzle Vacation - Ireland, as its title should clearly indicate, is a puzzle game which takes Ireland as its source of inspiration.  While the puzzle aspect offers  two distinct types of puzzle, with an array of settings, the Ireland contribution is more widespread and is made up of 135 picturesque scenes. Before delving into various views of Ireland, the game allows the player to make certain adjustments to the gaming environment.

Those accepting this invitation of an Amazing Vacation will journey to San Francisco where they can check out 15 different locations as they test their Hidden Object searching skills.  With options to create profiles to record the progress of different players plus adjustments to the volume levels for music and sound effects while viewing the game in full screen mode, this game has three levels of difficulty.

The NickWatch, as its title might indicate, is a watch which doubles as a time piece, monitoring device and source of entertainment.  This product has been developed by the Israeli start-up company named, not surprisingly, Watchinu (try saying it).  Designed under a licence agreement with the popular children's brand of Nickelodeon, Watchinu feels the product should be suitable for the younger members of society aged between six and nine years.

It is time to return to the Domini Games' developed Magic City.  In this instance the case for you to solve, in your role as a detective, is that entitled Secret Desire.  For those unfamiliar with Magic City, I should explain that this particular location is a place where normal humans and those with additional mystical abilities can exist side-by-side within the same environment.

Detective Agency - Gray Tie is a Hidden Object Adventure game developed by AVI Games.  My review is based on the Collector's Edition of the game which includes a number of bonus items.  Some of the bonus items, such as Achievements, Wallpaper and a Music Player can be accessed immediately.  However for replaying mini game puzzles and tackling bonus game levels, you will need to complete them first in the main game.

Gloomy Tales - Horror Show is a Hidden Object Adventure title.  This game revolves around a travelling circus that puts on a Halloween Festival to attract customers to its display of monsters.  There could, however, be an ulterior motive behind the promised performance. I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of this Domini Games developed product.  Packaged along with the main game are a number of bonus items.

When the local hotel bears the name "Final Journey", you can hardly expect it to be the ideal place to spend a restful break.  In fact this place of residence is the chosen location for a battle between groups of monsters to see who will take over control of the human world.  This is the premise behind Haunted Hotel: Eclipse, an Hidden Object Adventure game from the development team known as Elephant Games.

The latest Match 3 offering to emerge from e-Funsoft continues the on-going saga of Helga the Viking Warrior or perhaps brings it to an end.  Let me explain this apparent contradiction.  In this third episode, entitled Asgardian War, our battle-hardened heroine is once again faced by over-whelming odds and, sad-to-say, Helga finally admits defeat.  Her forces leave the battlefield as Helga lays dead on the ground. But wait, this is not the end for Helga.

Laruaville 13 is the latest offering in the long-running saga of Match 3 game play from LGT SIA.  In this instance the game is based around an anomaly concerning the activities of Count Dracula who, we have always been led to believe, was immortal and could not be killed.  Yet despite his immovable grip on a steady supply of human blood, this central character of numerous horror movies was able to metamorphosis into a ghost and enter the domain of Laruaville.

Developed by Domini Games, Maze of Realities - Flower of Discord is a Hidden Object Adventure game that is the focus of my next review.  I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of the this title.  Along with the main game, this product comes with a number of bonus items to enhance the appeal of the title.

Connected Hearts - Fortune Play is a Hidden Object Adventure title developed by Domini Games.  I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of this product which comes with a number of bonus items to add appeal to the main game.  These bonus items are accessible from a pictorial representation of a theatre stage.  Areas of the stage are set aside for a bonus chapter, concept art, wallpaper, music, achievements, puppetry, video, mini games, puppets and Hidden Object scenes.

Gather all Sleuths, whether of the amateur or professional variety, and join forces to tackle Elephant Games latest Detective United - Deadly Debt title.  This is a Hidden Object Adventure game that is available in Collector's Edition format.  Along with the main investigative game, this version of the product comes with a number of bonus items to stretch your gaming capability.

I note that those jigsaw fanatics at 8 Floor Games have been busy yet again.  Their latest output is entitled 1001 Black Raven Jigsaw.  As with their previous offerings, you can disregard the 1001 part of the product's title but can still look forward to plenty of jigsaw action as you will be presented with 500 images with which to practice your jigsaw solving skills.

There is an old legend which states that a mischievous fellow, known as a leprechaun, has a pot of gold which is kept hidden from human eyes.  While many attempts have been made to relieve the leprechaun of its wealth, this can only be achieved on the eve of the Summer Solstice.  But be aware that the leprechaun can call upon help from other mysterious creatures to protect what is his if you try to steal this pot of gold.

Developed by Seven Sails, Travel Along 2 is a Hidden Object game.  As the "2" part of its title should indicates, this is a follow-up to the original offering.  It follows the same pattern as presented in the original title with regards to the type of content and how the game allows you to set up options for individual players. Profiles can be set up so that different people can test their Hidden Object and other playing skills with their progress being recorded.

A Friendly Fox will take you on an excursion to the Redwood National Park.  This educational trip comes in the form of Edge of Reality - Lost Secrets of the Forest.  I have been checking out the Collector's Edition of this Hidden Object Adventure game.  As usual with titles bearing the CE designation, this game comes with a number of bonus items to add extra appeal to its participants.

Following on from the general acceptance of the Work From Home concept and its WFH logo, we now could be about to be asked to accept a concept that combines work and play within the home environment - something I have been doing for a good few years.  To this end JLab, a leading personal technology company and number one true wireless brand in the US, has announced the arrival of its Go Work Pop headset.

As I take my first look at this next title, the cars, parked in the street outside my home, bear a thin layer of frost to mark the recent drop in temperature.  It does seem appropriate that the product facing me for review is entitled Vacation Paradise - Florida.  Lets hope it will help warm me up somewhat as my ageing fingers play their tune on my computer.

Mystical Riddles - Behind Doll Eyes is a Hidden Object Adventure game developed by Domini Games.  I have been looking at the Collector's Edition of the title which features a number of bonus items to supplement the main game.

Recently I reviewed the Murena One smartphone.  This review is accessible at .  While I was reasonably happy with most aspects of the smartphone with its additional layer of privacy protection, I did encountered a particularly annoying problem regarding the delivery of email messages to the phone.

Taking on the role of a stepmother, especially in the realm of Fairy Tale Land, may not be everybody's cup of tea.  But in this case the role does come with a castle for residence, the title of Queen and a step-daughter named Snow White.  So how could you resist the opportunity when it comes offered in Elephant Games' Cursed Fables - White as Snow title. The Collector's Edition version of this Hidden Object Adventure game comes with a number of bonus items to supplement the main game.

It makes a pleasant change to come across a Match 3 puzzle game that does not come with a back story to justify its existence.  Often the back story will have little reference to the Match 3 action around which the game is based and could be regarded as an excuse to re-release previous game play technology.  Rather than opt for a back story, this next Match 3 title, developed by Itera Labs, has replaced it with several mini game puzzles.

Dipping into its seemingly inexhaustible supply of characters, e-Funsoft introduces Jake Everest to fans of Match 3 game play.  Jake has the appearance of a typical comic book character cast in the role of an archaeologist specialising in the retrieval of ancient items that some how have ended up for sale on the black market.  Jake's introduction to the gaming fraternity comes in the form of e-Funsoft's Match 3 title Wakanga the Unseen Civilization.

Thanks to the work and skill of various story tellers, we know of several fairy tale heroes and heroine in their moment of glory.  But have you considered what life had in store for them after their initial fifteen minutes of fame?  With this next title, 4 Friends Games has taken a look at what might have happened once life settled down after Goldilocks invaded the personal space of a family of bears.

Teleportation does not always deliver the service you might expect.  Sometimes, rather than transport you to the requested destination, you could end up in circumstances that were not as you expected.  For instance, a family of three were looking forward to a relaxing holiday in pleasant surroundings when they ended up on a deserted island.  This was bad enough but then matters took a turn for the worst.

Following a gap of some six months, e-Funsoft has returned to its Academy of Magic series with this next offering in a tale of Match 3 action.  As with the previous offering in this series, "The new Beginning" being a prequel in the Academy's time line, this latest episode entitled "Ring of Darkness" returns you to the early days of the Academy's history as a new school term begins. Enrolling into this new batch of students can be achieved by creating profiles for individual players.