Ursid

[h1]An emotional story narrated via the stars...[/h1] [h2]Introduction[/h2] [i]Ursid[/i] is a cozy, puzzle game developed and published by gamesnhalam and Umer Gameworks. You take on the role of Aster, a young boy stuck in his room due to a leg injury. As he's wondering what to do with his time, he receives a parcel from his dad, who's traveling around to various parts of the world to check out different constellations. He encourages Aster to find various constellations via his telescope, and he does this through both letters and gifts. As Aster discovers the various constellations, he gets random headaches and experiences what appears to be deja vu. Can Aster figure out what's going on while waiting for his dad to come home? With the gameplay, there are more than 40 levels although no difficulty selection. In each level, the objective is to complete constellations via connect-the-dots. There is a tutorial that explains this, and as you progress further in levels, the constellations become more difficult to complete. However, there is a hint feature, which works in that when you click on a star/dot, it shows the connections/lines you can make to complete the picture. You get hints on how many connections/lines you can make to create an object, so yup, it's definitely a spatial puzzle. In each level, you're told how many total objects are present in a constellation, and you can choose the order in which to complete the levels. Also, plenty of Steam achievements are present, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game". [h2]Review[/h2] [i]Ursid[/i] caught my attention early on, especially after reading the store page description. I love the idea of gazing at the stars, as they are a beautiful sight to behold, especially doing so with a loved one. As the developers were very kind to send over a review key, I wanted to check this out on the sooner side. ^^ First, I absolutely enjoyed the story. It narrates a tale between a father and a son, with the former being away while the latter is stuck at home. Through letters and gifts, Aster's dad encourages him to seek out the various constellations while waiting for the Ursid Shower. However, there is a slightly darker, more melancholy side to this story, as Aster experiences deja vu through random headaches. The ending had me quite heartbroken although I know that an epilogue is coming, so perhaps the story will have another unexpected twist. Of course, the main heart of this game is its gameplay. I liked connecting the stars to form various shapes, which, in turn, connect to make various constellations, such as Ursa Minor and Ursa Major. Perhaps it helps that I enjoy spatial puzzles a lot. ^^ As I mentioned earlier, there is a hint function, which can be helpful if you're struggling to figure out what shapes/objects to make. The constellations become more difficult and complicated as you progress, but I found the challenge to be enjoyable. It never got to a point of feeling frustrated, so the game is definitely more on the relaxing, take-it-at-your-own pace kind of feel. As for achievements, most of them are obtainable. However, at the time of this review, two are unobtainable. The developers have stated that an epilogue is coming, and these two unobtainable achievements are tied with it. Once it's available and I have a chance to play it and get these last achievements, I'll update this review. With the art, it's totally lovely. The constellations are beautiful to gaze at, and I can tell that so much love and care were taken into creating them. With the perfect blending of geometric shapes and colors, the constellations bring life to the night sky. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3446471203 Also, I love gazing at Aster's bedroom. It has a great 3-D style to it with the wonderful combination of colors, and it feels very much like home. (Ok, I also admit that I adore that teddy bear. XD) https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3446470903 In regards to the music, the tracks feel very soothing and relaxing to listen to. They're all instrumental and perfect as you're solving the various puzzles. The only downside has more to do with the volume issue, as the game doesn't seem to remember the levels that you set the music, sound, etc., to. The developers are aware of this issue, so hopefully, a fix will come in the near future. [h2]Conclusion[/h2] Would I recommend [i]Ursid[/i]? If you're looking for a cozy, relaxing puzzle game that can be a bit challenging at times (but not too much or overwhelming) and you want to experience a beautiful, emotional story, then it's definitely worth checking out. Although I'd usually hold off on a review until I get all of the achievements, I made an exception here since I highly enjoyed this game and hope that others will check it out. Especially at the asking price, it's worth it, as it took me over 12 hours to complete all of the available puzzles. Finally, I want to give a personal thank you to gamesnhalam and Umer Gameworks for the review key. I can't wait for the epilogue, and I hope that others will take the time to check out this game and experience this beautiful story as well as have fun making the constellations. ^^ [b]Update:[/b] The epilogue is now available, along with additional Steam achievements, which are all obtainable, so it's very possible to get 100% completion. [quote]For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44702020/]The Introverted Gamer[/url], prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^[/quote]

What a lovely and relaxing game. The overall story is a little sad, but I loved the puzzles! They reminded me of a cross between tangrams and connect the dots. The music is also soothing. If you know me, you know I love a good game involving the night sky, and this definitely checked all the boxes for me. All in all I really enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend to all my cozy game lovers. <3 For more reviews check out the [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45071674-Under-Starry-Skies/] Under Starry Skies [/url] curator page!

A first look: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv6eLKblxNo What a lovely, relaxing puzzle that holds a little bit of a challenge is this. Like hello? Where have you been, and why weren’t you here sooner? And yes, while there are still a few minor flaws here and there—of which I’ve notified the developer—like not always a smooth transition in the form of the previous text not coming through for a split second when the new dialogue pops up, or the English translation not being on point yet, but still good enough to follow along, it’s still a very worthy title and game to grab and play, in my opinion. After doing the first look, I had to do some RL stuff, but I found myself returning soon, thinking I would play just a little before bed. That little accidentally turned into hours. It was very addictive, to say the least —just one more puzzle. Needless to say, the just one more was not just one more, lol. And I think the secret lies in two things. One is the simple yet somewhat challenging gameplay, which becomes more difficult with a few twists over time. You see a number and ensure the correct number of lines surrounds it, as you can see in my screenshot below. And that’s it! The other one is that when you finish the whole image, it ‘comes to life’ by having what felt like a little bit of a bust of fireworks to celebrate when you finish the image. It's satisfying yet not too overwhelming. So, when I draw my last line, I’m always looking forward to that little ‘fireworks-like’ burst. And although it wasn’t necessary for me per se, it is nice that there occasionally is a new twist. But if it were all plain puzzles, I would’ve been just as happy to go on a solving spree. But in the end, that is certainly not a deal breaker but more of a personal flavour in what you like. Spread over four seasons, seasoned—pun intended—a lovely story; I think I’m about halfway or maybe over halfway through all the puzzles and already getting a little sad that at some point, this fun puzzle will be coming to an end. But until then, I’ll make sure to treasure and appreciate every bit of it! The right amount of lines for the right amount of numbers VS a new twist in the puzzling. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3442130311 https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3442130519 [hr] I would be super grateful if you could consider giving a follow over at the following places for more first looks, reviews, recommendations, etc: [list] [*]|[url= https://www.youtube.com/@Tchii] My first looks [/url]| ~My YouTube channel. [*]|[url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/TchiiMadeYaLook/curation] Tchii made ya look [/url]| ~My curator [*]|[url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/Indie_Gems/curation] IndieGems [/url]| ~Wonderful Indie curator [*]|[url=https://www.youtube.com/@IndieGems2] IndieGems Gameplay [/url]| ~IndieGem's YouTube channel. [*]|[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/26279617/] Calm [/url]| ~Curator for the Dutch-speaking folks out here. [*]|[url=https://www.youtube.com/@yoshiruless] Calm's first looks [/url]| ~Calm's YouTube channel. [/list] Thank you! [hr]

Very chill game, with a great atmosphere and engaging mechanics. Puzzles get harder as you progress and it seems to be something for both casual and more HC players. Great artwork, story and music makes me totally recommend the game! *TO DEV: please fix the bug of settings changes (audio) not being applied after selection

I spent 2 hours on this game. Ursid is such a healing and thrilling game. It brings back the memory of stargazing with my father on our rooftop when I was a little girl. The quizes are typical, but not a piece of cake as they may seem. There are also different types of clues in each stage, so I think you won't be bored. Ursid still has a few image and plot flaws. Although they are not too serious, I hope the developer can fix it soon so that our experience can be smoother. At this time last year, I was studying game design when I found the website of Gamesnhalam. It's a regret that I didn't dare to pursue this career path. After 1 year, I turned back to visit Gamesnhalam right on the day they released Ursid, such a healing and meaningful game. With just a cost of 2 dollars during promotion period, Ursid is a valuable choice for your pastime at weekend.

A perfect blend of straightforward dot-connecting gameplay and thoughtful quality-of-life features that ensure everyone can enjoy and complete the puzzles. You step into the shoes of Aster, a young boy confined to his room after a leg injury that left him relying on crutches. His days are dull and frustrating, until a package arrives from his father—an astronomer captivated by a once-in-33-years meteor shower. Inside the box lies a telescope, a window to the cosmos and the beginnings of this game. The game’s progression is divided across a year, segmented into four seasons, capped off by the grand finale of the meteor shower. The night sky starts as a blank canvas, slowly coming to life as you unlock new stars, each one holding a puzzle with its own gentle charm. Clicking on a star reveals an outline—an everyday object from the world, like a book, a lamp, or even an animal. Your job is to connect the dots and recreate these objects by following logical patterns. Each puzzle presents you with stars and numbers, and your objective is to form shapes around the numbers. A ‘3’ requires a triangle, a ‘4’ demands some sort of rectangle, and so on. The trick lies in figuring out how to incorporate all the stars and create valid shapes—without crossing lines or excluding a number. Mistakes aren’t punished. If a shape doesn’t fit, it simply won’t form, providing clear feedback without frustration. Correct shapes lock into place with a satisfying glow, and stars that are no longer part of any valid shape become inactive, allowing you to focus on the remaining parts of the puzzle. As seasons change, the puzzles evolve. New mechanics slowly creep in, such as fragments that must be included in your shapes or lines that form somewhere else. Yet, the game’s challenge remains comfortably casual. Hints are available if you ever find yourself stuck, though they come with a short cooldown. When clicked on a star, a hint shows temporary connections. As you solve puzzles, you follow a light story about the boy who discovers constellations by connecting stars and receives presents from his father. It doesn’t reveal anything and you won’t learn about stars, but it’s something connecting the puzzles together.

A very cute and cozy game, with a good story and beautiful puzzles. It's definitely worth it

There was a time when the world felt unbearably heavy—when each morning was a battle, and each night was a retreat into restless silence. I found myself sinking, adrift in an ocean of thoughts I couldn't quiet, burdens I couldn't share. Then, almost by accident, I discovered Ursid. A simple game, or so it seemed. But as I played, something in me shifted. The quiet solitude of the game mirrored my own, yet it didn’t feel empty—it felt safe. The slow, deliberate movements, the vast landscapes stretching into infinity, the way the game whispered rather than shouted—it was all so gentle, so forgiving. Each challenge was not a punishment but an invitation to keep going, to keep moving forward, no matter how small the steps. The music, the colors, the way the world unfolded before me—it wrapped around me like a quiet reassurance that I wasn't as alone as I felt. And then, there was the bear. The silent, wandering presence at the heart of Ursid. It wasn’t just a character—it became a reflection of myself. Lost, searching, but still moving. The game never asked anything of me that I wasn’t ready to give. It just let me be. In the stillness, I found comfort. In the motion, I found purpose. Days turned to weeks, and I kept returning to Ursid. It didn't heal me overnight, but it gave me something I had forgotten how to hold onto: a sense of peace, of patience, of quiet resilience. The game didn’t just distract me from my pain—it walked with me through it. It reminded me that even in the loneliest moments, even when the road ahead feels endless, there is still beauty. There is still warmth. There is still a way forward. Ursid didn’t save my life in the way people expect heroic stories to unfold. It didn't arrive with fanfare, didn’t pull me from the depths in a single, dramatic moment. But it was there—constant, steady, kind. And sometimes, that’s enough to keep going.

Một tựa game thư giãn, nhạc hay, bản nhạc hay nhất là trong phần chơi mùa xuân. Tuy gameplay chỉ là nối điểm nhưng phải công nhận càng chơi càng cuốn. Good chill game. A relaxing game, good music, the best music is in the spring season. Although the gameplay is just connecting points, I have to admit that the more you play, the more attractive it becomes. Good chill game.

I was looking for a puzzle game where I can finish a level every 10-15 minutes and this game is exactly what I need. It has a decent level of challenge in every puzzle and the puzzles themselves are joy to solve. On top of that the music is relaxing too, making it incredibly satisfying to play. Haven't finished it yet but I'm trying to.