Arcade Game Central

Indie developer Lobstersoft has released a Windows version of the hit Nintendo DS game Picross, called Gemsweeper.

Gemsweeper features unique gameplay, easy to learn rules, brilliant graphics and sound, two different game modes and 225 fun levels. It does not require fast reflexes and is even easy for kids to learn, but requires enough strategy to keep you hooked for hours. This makes Gemsweeper a must have for every puzzle game fan.

Gemsweeper is set in an ancient Mayan temple city, and your goal is to fully restore all of the glorious monuments of old. The puzzles in this thrilling game are made of 5×5 up to 30×30 tiles that are all faced down. Your job is to uncover gems which are hidden behind some of the tiles and to break tiles which are cursed. Numerical clues above and to the left of the board tell you where the hidden gems are. Use these clues wisely, and you will be able to solve the puzzles without having to guess.

Gemsweeper will put your mind to work, but the rules are very easy to learn. Thanks to the interactive tutorial, you’ll be digging for gems in no time. And if you should ever get stuck, Professor McGuffog will put you right back on track with various useful hints. There are many different ways to solve the game, and the difficulty level ranges from very easy to highly challenging puzzles which makes Gemsweeper interesting for both beginner and experienced players.

You can test Gemsweeper now for free by downloading the trial version, or buy the full version to enjoy this exciting puzzle adventure right now. There’s absolutely no risk - there is a 60-day unconditional money-back guarantee, so there’s absolutely no risk.

Learn more about Gemsweeper
Download Gemsweeper (13.36MB)
Purchase Gemsweeper ($19.95)

In this interesting and well-done match-three style puzzle game you set out on an adventurous quest around the ancient lands of the Mediterranean to find a way to bring the legendary continent of Atlantis back to the surface and restore it to its might and glory.

In every country you visit (including Greece, Troy, Phoenicia, Babylon, Egypt, Carthage and Rome), your job is to assemble a precious artifact, one of the seven powers of the patron god of the Atlanteans, Poseidon. The game offers 77 captivating levels of addictive gameplay with quite impressive power-ups and handy bonuses.

Once you complete the journey you do not only get to see Atlantis rise but also receive a well-deserved reward - a complimentary animated Atlantis 3D Screensaver that will remind you of your glorious achievements.

The Rise of Atlantis was developed by Terminal Studio, which also created such popular games as Atlantis Quest and Brickshooter Egypt. Terminal Studio is an independent game development company that specializes in fun PC games for all the family as well as innovative high-quality 3D screensavers.

Learn more about The Rise of Atlantis
Download The Rise of Atlantis (17.96MB)
Purchase The Rise of Atlantis ($19.95)

Little Shop of Treasures, from Gamehouse, is the latest game in the very popular “hidden objects” genre, where the player attempts to locate objects cleverly concealed in plain sight.

The game is set in a charming little town called Huntington, and you are new to town but dream of opening your own Little Shop of Treasures in a run-down building you’ve purchased. To make you dream come true, you need to earn some money. You have a knack for locating hard-to-find items, and soon go to work at various businesses in town, helping customers locate what they’re looking for. As you earn money, you’re able to fix up your dilapidated building and ultimately open your very own store.

In Little Shop of Treasures, you are shown a scene containing hundreds of different objects, and the particular objects you’re looking for are listed at the bottom of the screen. By closely examining the scene, and clicking on the objects as you find them, you complete the level and progress through the game. But hurry, you only have a limited amount of time to find everything!

Little Shop of Treasures is similar to games such as Mystery Case Files, Hide & Secret, and Travelogue 360: Paris, but with a unique charm all its own.

The game features two great ways to play (”standard” and “blitz” modes), along with an innovative hint feature, and endless re-playability. With over 1,200 unique items to find, contained in 12 intricately detailed scenes, this eye-popping challenge will bend your brain and dazzle your eyes!

More information about Little Shop of Treasures
Download Little Shop of Treasures (24.8MB)

The latest game from Reflexive Entertainment, Monarch: The Butterfly King, has just been released. In the new game, you’ll find yourself immersed in a story of magic and adventure as you attempt to stop an evil wizard intent on destroying the butterfly kingdom.

You’ll journey across majestic Celtic ruins, creating potions and harnessing magic in this enchanting match-three game. As you make matches over metal plates, you’ll release hidden ancient energies that The Butterfly King will transform into magic using his Orb of Power. The Butterfly King will use the power to free the butterflies and save the kingdom.

As you complete levels, and the Butterfly King’s power grows, 26 gorgeous and exotic butterflies will be unlocked from their prisons. As each butterfly is freed, a new piece of the story is revealed. Monarch: The Butterfly King includes 150 levels to play through as you help rescue the kidnapped butterflies and determine the fate of the butterfly kingdom.

In addition to the 150 built-in levels, you can also download additional levels from within the game. You can design your own levels using the built-in level editor, and then share your creations online with the world.

Monarch: The Butterfly King also supports the innovative Mouse Party feature. By using additional mice, up to 8 players can simultaneously play together to save the glade, as players create potions and make matches to help the Butterfly King free his kidnapped friends.

Monarch: The Butterfly King is a exciting adventure through an enchanting world of magic and mystery. If you’ve played Reflexive’s earlier Big Kahuna Reef series, this new game will feel comfortably familiar. The gameplay is very similar, but there is an all-new story, as well as completely new graphics and sound. It’s a solid and satisfying game, and due to the downloadable levels, a game with excellent long-term playability.

More information about Monarch: The Butterfly King
Download Monarch: The Butterfly King (17.2MB)

The first game (Virtual Villagers: A New Home) was quite successful, winning both a huge number of fans, as well as game industry awards such as the “Zeeby” for Best Strategy/Sim of 2006, and the “Best Sim of 2006″ award from GameTunnel.

The follow-up game in the series is now available, and we expect big things from Virtual Villagers 2: The Lost Children, too!

The Virtual Villagers games simulate a small village and allow your to manage and guide the villagers as they live, work, mate and grow. Virtual Villagers is unique among real-time games, in that the little villagers will continue to live, prosper, or die, even if the game is off. The game can only be suspended if set on pause.

The series is set on the fictitious island of Isola, where a lost tribe has landed on its shores. The second chapter continues where the first chapter left off, taking the player on a new journey to the western shores of the island, where you encounter a tribe of lost children and must care for and nurture your new tribe of little people and help them to survive. Your villagers will need to become farmers, builders, scientists, healers and parents. Virtual Villagers: The Lost Children includes all-new puzzles, collectible items, and new challenges to overcome as the player cares for this fledgling tribe and helps them to discover even more secrets of the mysterious island.

• Real-Time: new surprises every time you turn the game on!
• All new puzzles to solve.
• Dozens of unique collectibles for children to retrieve.
• Raise children who resemble their parents.
• Watch your villagers thrive, and then grow old, slow and grey.
• Care for your weak and sick in a tropical hospital.
• Villagers can make a variety of unique stews from hidden herbs, many with strange and unpredictable effects.
• Award your wisest villagers with persistent totems to customize your village.

More information about Virtual Villagers 2: The Lost Children
Download Virtual Villagers 2: The Lost Children (28MB)