Release Date Announced for Metroidvania-lite Meets Cooking Game Magical Delicacy — Coming to Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC This July

Text (white): Magical Delicacy | Image: A girl with white hair, a black jacket, blue jeans and a red shirt and a girl with blond hair and a purple shirt are surrounded by kitchen utensils, vegetables, herbs and a sparrow on a blue background.

A Delicious Adventure Awaits — Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PC Release Date Announced for Metroidvania-Lite Meets Cooking Game Magical Delicacy

Befriend a Divers Cast of Characters, Explore the Cozy Harbor Town of Grat, and Cook Mouthwatering Meals This July

Erie, Pennsylvania (June 4, 2024) — Preheat your ovens to 350oF, set up your mise en place, break out your grimoire and get ready for a scrumptious and wholesome adventure! Today, Whitethorn Games — publisher of inclusive, accessible, easy-going games including APICO, Calico, Botany Manor, and Lake — and solo-developer sKaule are thrilled to share that their upcoming Metroidvania-lite-meets-cooking game Magical Delicacy is coming to Nintendo Switch, PC, and Xbox — available day one with Xbox Game Pass — on July 16, 2024. 

Check out the Magical Delicacy release date and Nintendo Switch announcement trailer below:

A wholesome adventure set in an enchanting world, Magical Delicacy invites you to play as the young witch Flora, who travels to the adventurer’s town of Grat to grow her magical skills and fulfill her dream of becoming a fully-fledged witch. Upon arriving, she takes up shop to cook meals and potions for the diverse cast of characters, from the charming townsfolk and mysterious travelers to forgotten figures of legend and masters of their craft. As she traverses the cozy harbor town, she’ll discover the stories of the townsfolk and learn that there is more to Grat than meets the eye. 

Collect an assortment of inspiring ingredients from shops, foraging through the town, and by growing them in your garden, cook up a storm in your upgradeable kitchen using a variety of tools and deliver your meals to fulfill the orders from hungry townsfolk. Explore the unfamiliar town of Grat, learn new ways to traverse, discover secrets, and experience a unique and witchy world one dish at a time.

Key Features of Magical Delicacy include:

• Collect new recipes and ingredients through trade, questing, growing vegetables in your garden, and exploring throughout the town of Grat. 

• Learn an extensive cooking system, allowing for flexible, creative choices to fulfill even the oddest orders.

• Build the kitchen of your dreams by commissioning new equipment to help you create even more delicious dishes.

• Experience a wholesome linear story filled with witchy wonder and intrigue, with many optional encounters and free play opportunities.

• Traverse a 2D platformer inspired by Metroidvanias, gain new abilities, reach new areas, and unlock shortcuts.

Magical Delicacy is coming to PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One and Series X|S on July 16, 2024. Magical Delicacy will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.

APICO Update 4.0 Available Now on PC and Switch

Text: APICO (yellow and orange with a black outline and a bee shaped in a honeycomb pattern) | Image: APICO logo overlayed on a green pixelated forest filled with trees, flowers, bees, and beehives.

An industrious new update to the bee-loved beekeeping sim APICO is now available for free to budding beekers! Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry, the final update, available now on PC and Nintendo Switch, introduces a new automation system, new seasonal events, new craftable materials, and, best of all, pets! At the same time, Update 3.0: What Lies Beeneath is also available to play on Nintendo Switch. Dive deep into the oceans of the APICO archipelago to discover new underwater bees, or return to the surface to check out new craftible items, a new fishing mini-game, and much more!

Check out what’s coming to APICO in Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry by watching the launch trailer below:

Some of the new features coming to APICO in Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry include:

• Automation Machines: Craft the Auto-sawmill, Auto-centrifuge, and Auto-squeezer, along with eight new automation machines — Hoppers, Shredders, Loggers, Pickers, Sprinklers, Condensers, Ploppers, and Shippers — on your new Crystal Workbench, which can be purchased from Bobbee, to bring your thriving industry to new heights.

• New Resource — Honeycore Crystals: Use the newly-added resonance meter and engage in its new mini-game to seek out different sounds throughout the various environments that will help you locate six different types of crystals. Melt them down in the forge and craft new crystal items, including Crystal chests, the Crystal axe, hammer, shovel, and more.

• Pets: Choose from 16 different adorable little companions to accompany you on your expeditions, including your very own tiny dinosaur! 

• New Seasonal Events: Celebrate Hivemas, active during the month of December, and Hallowbeen, active during the month of October, in the world of APICO with the NPCs! Each event brings new decor, new paints, and secret easter egg items for you to enjoy. There’s no need to bee patient waiting for each event, as you’ll be able to toggle each event in the settings menu!

• …and so much more: TNgineers have added ten new quests, new decor, paints, new environmental events, and of course, new bees and pollinators! There’s also a new 100% completion surprise that the most dedicated beekeepers can uncover through the Hive Mother’s door.    

Even more bee-guiling features await you in Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry, so check out full details here: https://wiki.apico.buzz/wiki/Patch_Notes#4.0.0. 

In celebration of the final update to come to APICO, aspiring apiarists can pick up the game on Steam at a 60% discount as part of APICO’s Birthday Bundle. The bundle includes the base game with updates 2.0 through 4.0, as well as four bee-autiful OSTs — how sweet is that?!

About APICO

APICO combines resource gathering, biology, and minigames with ideas from both real-life and fantasy beekeeping and gardening, as it teaches players about the ins and outs of maintaining a healthy hive and the importance of our irreplaceable pollinating pals. The islands of APICO were once abuzz with different species of bees, and it’s up to players to rediscover lost species, cross-breed new ones, and repopulate each unique bee-ome. Progressing further into the game may also uncover some forgotten secrets. 

As well, a portion of the games’ profits goes toward bee conservation. Full details about these efforts can be found here: https://tngineers.com/charity.

Features of APICO include:

• Play together with up to four in online co-op, with cross-play available on all platforms!

• Unique crafting and beekeeping minigames that drive gameplay progression.

• Cross-breed different bees and other pollinators, including butterflies, moths, and solitary bees, to discover over 30 new species.

• Grow flowers — each with their own special effect on the environment — to keep your pollinators happy!

• Make and sell honey, Apicola, incense, candles, and other beekeeping products.

• Repopulate lost species and release them back into the wild.

• Multiple biomes to explore, each with its own unique pollinator species.

• A chill soundtrack by Mothense creates a relaxing atmosphere.

• Uncover the forgotten secrets of the APICO Islands. 

APICO is currently available on PC via Steam, Epic Game Store, Humble Games, itch.io, Utomik, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One and Series S|X for $19.99 USD. 

APICO Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry is available for free on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, Humble Games, itch.io, and Utomik. Update 3.0: What Lies Beeneath and Update 4.0: A Hive of Industry is also available for free on Nintendo Switch.

APICO Bee-parture OST is now available on Steam and your favorite music platform.

Follow APICO on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Discord for more updates. 

Keep up to date with Whitethorn Games on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch; join the official Whitethorn Games Discord and visit https://whitethorngames.com.

Lake: Season’s Greetings Available Now on Epic Games Store

Text: Lake: Season’s Greetings (red, green, and white, covered in snow and a string of holiday lights | Image: The text is overlayed on top of a frozen lake, covered in snow, surrounded by snow-covered trees on a clear, sunny day.

Christmas is coming a little early this year, as today, we’re excited to share that Lake’s holiday-themed prequel, Lake: Season’s Greetings, is now available on Epic Games! Deliver the holiday cheer as Thomas Weiss in this cozy new chapter to the popular mail carrier sim! Grab a nice cup of cocoa and your favorite blanket, and jump right into the winter wonderland of Providence Oaks today!

Lake: Season’s Greetings takes place during 1985’s holiday season, one year before the original Lake game. Players take on the role of Thomas Weiss, an amiable mail carrier and father to Lake’s protagonist, Meredith Weiss. Changing the perspective from Meredith to her father, players will gain an understanding of the Weiss family dynamics and an insight into a snow-covered Providence Oaks from a long-time resident’s point of view. 

Not only will players learn more about the familiar faces they have grown to love from the main story, but Season’s Greetings introduces five completely new characters to the town of Providence Oaks, each with their very own storylines. The DLC will also provide more background to some unanswered questions that were teased in Lake. Following the ideals of the base game, Season’s Greetings will continue to focus on slice-of-life themes and relaxing vibes, this time embedded in a comfy holiday setting. So curl up with some hot cocoa and a copy of Season’s Greetings because it isn’t Christmas until Thomas Weiss has delivered the holiday cheer.

Key features of Lake: Season’s Greetings include:

• Travel back to 1985 and discover what Providence Oaks was like before Meredith’s story through the eyes of her father during the winter holiday.

• Enjoy a variety of after-work activities that include hanging with friends, staying in for a night of television, and going out like it’s 1985.

• Experience a branching story that doesn’t shy away from slice-of-life themes. Like life, there are no right or wrong answers.

Lake is available now on PC via Steam, or Epic Games Store, on PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S for $19.99 USD. Lake: Season’s Greetings is available now on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series S|X for $9.99 USD.

Follow Lake on Twitter, Facebook, and visit the official website, for more updates.  

For more updates from Whitethorn Games, follow the publisher on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch, join the official Whitethorn Games Discord, and visit https://whitethorngames.com.

Metroidvania-lite Meets Cooking Game Magical Delicacy Coming to PC and Xbox This Summer

Text (white): Magical Delicacy | two girls, one with white hair and a red bow wearing a black jacket, jeans and a red shirt, one with blond hair wearing a purple shirt, are surrounded by kitchen utensils, vegetables, books and a bird, on a blue background.

Get ready for a delectable adventure as the highly anticipated Metroidvania-lite meets wholesome cooking game Magical Delicacy is coming to PC and Xbox — available day one with Xbox Game Pass — this summer!

Check out the new Magical Delicacy gameplay trailer below:

Take on the role of the young witch Flora, who travels to the adventurer’s town of Grat to grow her magical skills and cook enchanting delicacies for the townsfolk. Collect an assortment of inspiring ingredients from shops, foraging through the town, and by growing them in your garden, cook up a storm in your upgradeable kitchen using a variety of tools and deliver your meals to fulfill the orders from hungry townsfolk. Explore the unfamiliar town of Grat, learn new ways to traverse, discover secrets, and experience a unique and witchy world one dish at a time.

Key Features of Magical Delicacy include:

• Collect new recipes and ingredients through trade, questing, growing vegetables in your garden, and exploring throughout the town of Grat. 

• Learn an extensive cooking system, allowing for flexible creative choices to fulfill even the oddest orders.

• Build the kitchen of your dreams by commissioning new equipment to help you create even more delicious dishes.

• Experience a wholesome linear story filled with witchy wonder and intrigue, with many optional encounters and free play opportunities.

• Traverse a 2D platformer inspired by Metroidvanias, gain new abilities, reach new areas, and unlock shortcuts.

Magical Delicacy is coming to PC via Steam, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S in the summer of 2024. Magical Delicacy will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass.

Accessibility features for Magical Delicacy can be found here: https://whitethorngames.com/magicaldelicacy/accessibility. 

To stay spellbound, be sure to follow Magical Delicacy on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram, and visit the official website. Follow sKaule on Twitter and their official website.

Keep up to date with Whitethorn Games on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitch, join the official Whitethorn Games Discord, and visit https://whitethorngames.com.

Check Out the Accolade Trailer for Botany Manor

The reviews are in, and Botany Manor's lush estate and relaxing puzzles are a hit with players! Today, in celebration of the botanical puzzle game’s recent launch on PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, developer Balloon Studios has put together an accolade trailer showcasing what top media outlets thought about their enjoyable experiences with the game. 

Watch the Botany Manor accolade trailer:

Having earned a "Very Positive" Steam rating of 9/10 and an 84% Metacritic rating, reviewers and consumers across the board have described it as “...a first-person puzzler worth tending to.” (IGN, 8/10), “...a beautiful puzzle game with the timeless allure of a summer's day stroll.” (Eurogamer, 4/5), and “...a blissful, smart, and creatively conceived puzzle adventure." (Gameinformer, 8.75/10). 

Want to check out Botany Manor for yourself? Try out the free demo on Steam!

Botany Manor is now available on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One and Xbox Series S|X, for $24.99 USD and Xbox Game Pass.

Botany Manor is available in the following languages on all platforms: English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

To keep your botanical research up to date, be sure to follow Botany Manor on TikTok,  Twitter and Instagram, and visit the official website. Follow Balloon Studios on Twitter and the official website.
Keep up to date with Whitethorn Games onTwitter,Facebook,Instagram,YouTube, TikTok, andTwitch, join the official Whitethorn GamesDiscord, and visithttps://whitethorngames.com.