So, earlier this year I looked up the Wikipedia article for casual games, and found myself trying to find more casual games to play on my 2DS XL. I guess I have done a decent job at finding games to play, but I also found I really need to have time and energy to play, and I prefer to play in my own room, often at night before going to bed.
Someone in real life called me a casual gamer, and I guess it is true since I had been thinking about casual games on 3DS, but I do play games that are probably not strictly casual games, so I am probably a casual-core gamer of some sort...who plays an exclusively handheld device.
According to Wikipedia there are several genres of casual games, but in my experience, on 3DS there are certain types of games that are casual, and also games that can be played casually, which is only a small difference.
So for example, Etrian Odyssey games have an easier difficulty setting, called Basic, Standard, or Casual that can make the gamer easier, and I can skip the post game, to play them casually. Or, Fire Emblem games, I can play them on Casual mode... they are putting it right out there, and Fire Emblem Heroes (the mobile game) is especially casual. It's also easy, so I'm assuming FE is actually supposed to be easy. I have a Hard save file going in Fire Emblem Echoes, but I'm not sure I will follow through with that. Speaking of FE, Fates: Conquest has a discount going, and I'm thinking, maybe I want to try it, but I might need to reload my account.
Also, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker came out and I liked the demo, and I have heard good things, so it's on my "list" of games to hopefully buy at some point. I could play a level or two each day.
I played New Super Mario Bros 2 a lot when it came out, and even completed the game 100%, so I went beyond casual at that point, but now when I pick it up to play, I play casually. I wish I had it digitally so I could load it up at any point and play a few levels, but I am stuck with my cartridge. If there is another Nintendo handheld that comes out after 3DS, I would like to go more digital from the start. Super Mario Run on mobile is also a great version of a Mario sidescroller. It would be cool if they could make a game as streamlined and casual as that for 3DS.
Mario and Luigi games, I don't really consider these casual. They are more complex and lengthy. But I really like them.
I'm interested in the match 3 genre, and I am very satisfied with my gaming sessions of Jewel Match 3. The name of the game is generic, but it does what it does really well. I enjoy playing one level and try to play it daily. Each level is really like 3 or 4 levels in one, since you can tap an arrow to move to the next "board" of jewels to match.
There are a few more match 3 games that I haven't tried yet, which are Jewel Quest IV and VI, Atlantic Quest, and 4 Elements. I think that is what they are called. They didn't all get great reviews, but neither did Jewel Match 3, and I like it a lot. Also, a game called Luxor looks interesting, so I might try that one as well.
I was going to post on Gamefaqs, but I decided my blog was a better place to write anything lengthy, and I have plenty to play without asking for anymore suggestions. I feel like I have a generally good idea of what is on the eShop, although there are plenty of games I have not played.
I wrote a post on solitaire, and that also fits in with my casual games on 3DS. I like playing Arc Style casually before bed.
Something nice about some "casual games" is, it really doesn't matter if I don't beat them or make a lot of progress. The point is the journey, not the end result.
However, there are some games that I am playing that I do want to eventually finish, but I don't know when I will, or particularly have any definite plans or prioritize which ones I will review next.
To play, I've got: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga and Paper Jam, Fire Emblem: Echoes, Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold, Puzzle & Dragons Z, Ever Oasis, Persona Q (not sure about this one), Rhythm Heaven Megamix, The Alliance Alive, Etrian Mystery Dungeon. I'm curious if 7th Dragon III would be fun to replay because I enjoyed it the first time.
Anyway, some of the others besides those retail games, are Witch and Hero III, Samurai Defender, Conveni Dream, Wakedas, Box Box Boy. I never finished that one, although I enjoyed the original Box Boy a lot. Also got Splat the Difference, could download Minis on the Move with a discount via MyNintendo... Lots to play, definitely.
I tried out Runbow and Noitu Love, the current free Nindie games. Runbow is kind of hard, and it doesn't feel like it was made for 3DS. Noitu Love is actually kind of fun, and reminds me that I never bought Hey Pikmin, which controls also using a stylus and some buttons to move at the same time. I played like 2 levels.
Although I could list out all the games I have, or more casual games, I think this post has gone on long enough. Thanks for reading!
