Hey everyone! Today we're excited to make a change to Bytesized to reintroduce it as Bytesized Reviews. We loved doing 3MR back at The Escapist, and wanted to continue highlighting a wide range of underappreciated titles with quick and to the point reviews. Our essays will also continue from a variety of writers too, but we're taking those back to the drawing board for a bit to figure out how and where they will live on the channel. Thanks for your support and hope you enjoy!

3 MINUTE REVIEWS RETURN. LETS GOOO

Not enough people talk about Strange Horticulture o.o if you thought "eh, this premise is interesting but I could do with a bit more meat on those gameplay bones" pleeeease play Strange Horticulture it's the best.

The art style reminds me of The Witness

Happy to see the short reviews return. I do love the video essays that were previously done as Bytesized and hope to see them return in some form, but I was missing getting to learn about various smaller titles through 3MR, so it's nice to see that come back. Regarding Botany Manor, lovely little game. Only real complaint is the same one Jess mentioned of having to find the clue again.

This game had me way more emotional at the end than i ever expected

Great to see the short form content back, it always made it easy to check out a game even I hadn’t heard of it cause of how short and to the point the reviews were!

I loved everything about this game. It's an easy 10/10. The puzzles were fair and accessible. The tone was peaceable.

Thank you for mentioning the "getting lost" part, because that's something that happoens to me often in games and is important to me when making a decision if a game might be for me or not.

I love this format for short reviews! Great work Jess on leading the way, thank you SW for bringing attention to titles I would otherwise miss

Absolutely love this game. Seeing each flower bloom through its symbiosis with different parts of nature is so beautiful and gratifying, and the gorgeous artstyle and ambient soundtrack create such a peaceful and serene atmosphere. 💚

I am so happy to have 3MR make a return this way. And with the wonderful Jess Hoops leading the charge! This series highlighted so many wonderful games. I can’t wait to see how the essay series continues though! You could bring back one of my old favorite series…*Hint hint QuestLog!*

The world needs more cozy puzzle games.

It's a wonderful concept, Bytesized Reviews, and Jess has done a wonderful job, as always! "COLORFUL respite"? Sounds like a game for a certain Jesse and a certain KC ;)

Oh nice! Reviews for games that I'd never have found out about otherwise. Love it! Keep it up.

NEW (old but reformatted) SERIES HYPE.

Definitely a game I'll pick up for a Cozy Game night.

This seems so cozy and wholesome! Will give it a shot. Thank you, for bringing this to my attention!

Funny, I was discussing spring and plants with my friend and I was thinking - surely, there are some games doing that. And they are!

Great to see something different, and it looks beautiful.

Ooh! Immediately going to play this! Botany Manor, here I come!

Ah the perfect mini preview style is back, thanks! This also looks like a game I'll be checking out soon

I like the return to 3MR format. While I prefer this one, I also hope for quick return of essays and that both formats will coexist on the channel

I've heard that taking pictures with smartphone makes a lot of the puzzles that require memorizing clues trivial

I played Botany Manor on Game Pass, and for some reason it's stuck with me for a few weeks. No idea why, but it was just a pleasant game to play for 2 or 3 hours. I played Viewfinder right after I finished Botany Manor. While the puzzles in Viewfinder were much more impressive, the narrative and the way it was delivered was MUCH better in Botany Manor. No spoken dialogue did wonders for it.

Sounds like the kind of game I'd have IRL notes on. Sounds lovely

Man, this looks really soothing…

This looks really nice! Also I love this Bytesized format!

Btw I loved some introspective takes you had on Bytesized, but if you want to refocus on reviews fine by me. Love you guys doing indie spotlights.

My top pick from the Next Fest. I am super excited to get through my backlog so I can finish it.

Great game and highly recommend. Great example of show rather then tell. Game does a great job of giving you enough clue and not just give you the final answer. The review was great, but I recommend not showing the solution in the video. Anyone interested should just listen to the videos.

Just played on gamepass a few weeks ago. I absolutely loved it

Oh nice! I needed a puzzle game! Thanks

Can't wait for the Botany Manor Lords crossover.

Ooh strange horticulture was very good, glad for the recommendation of something in a similar vein

One of my favorite games this decade!

Wow my brain is on so much autopilot this morning that it 100% told me that this was a Manor Lords review. It wasnt until Jess said "Botany Manor" that I did a double take.

Reminds me alot of The Witness visually

My girlfriend will adore this, added to my wish list!

Had a lot of fun with this one. Relaxing and with accessible puzzles. Not too long and no real replayability, but I don't care too much about that.

Yay for cozy games!

Happy to see the 3MR format is back. great review :)

I'm playing this on Xbox for the achievements with a guide. Haven't noticed the story at all cause I'm just doing the puzzle stuff...

Nice relaxing plant games are always good, the backtracking does seem a bit tiresome though. I bet if it was a longer game that encouraged you to take your own notes outside the game it could be a really novel experience.

How long is the game? Can I finish it in a night? Two?

Thanks Jess 😊

I was enjoying the game for a while when it came out. I thought the story was rather flat, but the puzzles were enjoyable and the visuals were delightful. Eventually I got to a part where one puzzle sort of broke my immersion with it's solution. It wasn't hard, but it felt so video gamey. I lost so much motivation to continue. I keep saying I'll go back to finish it, but I just can't get myself excited for it.

I wonder if this will be coming to PlayStation... hmm....🤔

Jess still gives me major 'Abby Sciuto' vibes

Seems like the botany version of APICO

So glad to see this format back ❤

3MR was my favorite series to watch. Really excited to see these back!

Thank you for the return on 3m format!

I was very excited for this game release after having played the demo. When I saw it was on Game Pass, I gave it a try and was disappointed in the length of the game. I finished the game in 3 hours and found myself wanting more. It's a really great puzzle game but wasn't nearly as long as it should have been. I really hope they add more to the game, because as it is right now, I'm not going to spend $25 on it.

Yes! Exactly what I was hoping to have return. Thanks 🙏

Ugh, I hate it when a game basically incentivises you to take pictures of information in the game with your phone because the game itself won't volunteer that information when you need it. And yeah yeah yeah, I've drawn maps of some labyrinthine forests in JRPGs on paper when I was little. If you mourn those days and want them back, more power to you. I really don't.

I do love the reviews. I understand they are a lot of work for a low monetisable product, but it is thoroughly the kind of real informing content I love.

Great review, glad to see the return of 3MR ❤

Far from my cup of tea. But it just shows that the gaming space really has something for all tastes. I dont mind short games but i have heard it is a bit too short, feeling more like a demo. Good on the devs if they get success from it.

"..they surely encourage the Player to root for her - no pun intendend." I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! I also forgive you , that pun was Darren level perfect.

If I had a nickel for every game with Manor in the title I've heard about around the gaming Internet over the past week, I'd have two nickels. Though I'll admit Manor Lords is far more my jam than is this game.

Engagement comment

Nice

Nice.

Fun game. Just too short and easy.

As much as I liked this game, it’s definitely not worth the almost $40 (AUD) they’re charging for it. The game was just a little over 2 hours. I’m just glad it was on Gamepass cause it’s way overpriced

A woman trying to make it in an industry dominated by men is unfortunately still relatable today. I love the depth, cleverness, and meta aspects of that comment. Amazing as always Jess! ❤

$25? I'll just stick to the Harry Potter Room of Requirement

First

Nice review, but 25 bucks? I'll pass. Sounds like a two dollar game to me.