Merlina McGovern
Staff BioWhen I’m not copy editing high-tech research (yes, that’s about as exciting as it sounds) or relaxing with my wonderful family, I love whiling away a rainy afternoon playing adventure games (the spookier, the better). Now that my daughter is a toddler and possessed with an all-consuming desire to rearrange Tupperware and pots and pans, my life has essentially become one big adventure game. Let’s see, what combination of items will best soothe a crying baby? Hm…there’s a Curious George here, but he’s missing his hat. And, the logical place for that hat would be, ah ha, right here inside the sauce pot under the counter. Click hat on monkey, click monkey with hat on baby, and voila . . . happy baby!
Articles by Merlina McGovern:
The House of Da Vinci 2 review
Though falling short of a masterpiece, the sequel to Blue Brain's 2017 historical adventure offers multiple good times for puzzle lovers.
Little Misfortune review
The cutesy packaging luckily belies a disturbingly dark undertone in this easy but engaging new adventure set in the Fran Bow universe.
Bear With Me: The Lost Robots review
The charming 2017 noir adventure comes out of hibernation with a short but charming DLC prequel episode.
Lorelai review
The side-scrolling horror series begun in Downfall and The Cat Lady comes of age in another harrowing tale of tragedy both real and surreal.
Gray Dawn review
Holy smokes, this heavily religious-themed, first-person horror adventure is equal parts gorgeous and disturbing.
Shrug Island: The Meeting review
There's no feeling indifferent about the beautiful watercolor art and music coming together in this short but relaxing, meditative experience.
The House of Da Vinci review
The many rooms of Leonardo's workshop are filled with intricate and often challenging, if sometimes finicky, inventions to manipulate and puzzles to solve.
Bear With Me review
The three-part comic-noir mystery ends up stuffed full of gags, mature themes and old-fashioned adventuring goodness.
The Mystery of Haunted Hollow review
Though its ghostly presence warns you away, casual adventure fans should discover a mildly diverting experience filled with puzzles.
The Mystery of Haunted Hollow 2 review
Its story and challenge are largely immaterial, but casual fans may want to take note of this ghostly sequel.
Little Briar Rose review
The Sleeping Beauty fairly tale is reawakened in this light but lovely stained glass adventure.
Royal Trouble: Honeymoon Havoc review
This easy, lighthearted casual sequel should leave you feeling satisfied while it lasts rather than happily ever after.
Downfall (redux) review
Reimagined in the style of The Cat Lady, Rem Michalski's first adventure is a brutally effective psychological horror with just a few reservations.
Agent A: A puzzle in disguise review
This '60s-era iOS spy puzzler is a fun little diversion but ends just when you're starting to bond with it.
Beyond Eyes review
This lovely watercolour journey demonstrates how beauty can still be in the eye of the beholder even when the beholder is blind.
