Puzzle Vacations: Australia and New Zealand > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

25 of 29 found this review helpful

Great game with tons of options!

PostedMay 22, 2023

robinlinn

fromMidwest

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This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I really enjoyed Puzzle Vacations. The best feature of this game is the many options a player can choose from to customize each game. From the picture categories, to the shapes of the puzzles pieces, to timing options and more, you have choices you can make to fit your skills. You may even set the pictures as your desktop wallpaper. I downloaded a cute picture of some dogs that I solved.

The ...Show more

I really enjoyed Puzzle Vacations. The best feature of this game is the many options a player can choose from to customize each game. From the picture categories, to the shapes of the puzzles pieces, to timing options and more, you have choices you can make to fit your skills. You may even set the pictures as your desktop wallpaper. I downloaded a cute picture of some dogs that I solved.

The many pictures are beautiful and there are fun facts about Australia and New Zealand. It's easy to learn and easy to follow, which is half the battle of a new game.

It is thoroughly enjoyable and I recommend this game for players of all skill levels, because there's something for everyone. Play the demo first to be sure you like the game. I loved it! Show less

I recommend this game!

+21points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

17 of 22 found this review helpful

On Top of It's Game Genre

PostedMay 22, 2023

baraca

fromUSA

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

This review is based on evaluating the features of the demo as played on a Windows 11 PC with a 27-inch monitor.

Good features:
- 123 (?) pix provided with game
- 26 jigsaw puzzle cuts (each with selectable number of pieces)
- 27 swap puzzle cuts (each with selectable number of pieces)
- same gameplay and production values (graphics, music, etc.) as previous games in this series
- allows ...Show more

This review is based on evaluating the features of the demo as played on a Windows 11 PC with a 27-inch monitor.

Good features:
- 123 (?) pix provided with game
- 26 jigsaw puzzle cuts (each with selectable number of pieces)
- 27 swap puzzle cuts (each with selectable number of pieces)
- same gameplay and production values (graphics, music, etc.) as previous games in this series
- allows you to upload your own pix (one at a time, but can be done repeatedly after playing the picture in a game)
- puzzle difficulty can be set by selecting number of pieces, amount of hints allowed, and allowing rotating pieces.

Areas for improvement (gamers always want more!):
- tutorial for using the storage bins for pieces
- organize custom uploaded pix into its own chapter, allowing for multiple pix to be saved and used for multiple game modes
- do not(!) increase the number of pieces in jigsaw mode until larger-sized monitors become popular, and only possibly increase the number of pieces in swap mode

I heartily recommend this game - have fun! Show less

I recommend this game!

+12points

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Overall rating

4 / 5

8 of 8 found this review helpful

It's okay

PostedMay 23, 2023

somegeek

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
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Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Card & Board, Puzzle

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

I am a big jigsaw puzzle freak so was pretty happy to see a new jigsaw game, but this one was a little underwhelming, especially after the last two of this series.

I agree with HeavenBound that the animal scenes were really disappointing. I mean, it's Australia, with all of its freaky animals: Tasmanian devils, wallabies, kangaroos, platypuses (or is it platypi) and so on! There are some pretty ...Show more

I am a big jigsaw puzzle freak so was pretty happy to see a new jigsaw game, but this one was a little underwhelming, especially after the last two of this series.

I agree with HeavenBound that the animal scenes were really disappointing. I mean, it's Australia, with all of its freaky animals: Tasmanian devils, wallabies, kangaroos, platypuses (or is it platypi) and so on! There are some pretty weird birds in New Zealand too.

The nature scenes are okay to nice, but I was also disappointed in the city scenes. There are only three castle scenes and only a few food scenes, none of which are interesting. Most of the pictures are of nature, which is not a bad thing at all! I just wish they had chosen some of the more iconic places in both countries to showcase.

I am also disappointed to see that my beefs with this game series have still not been addressed: specifcally pieces getting stuck behind the GUI buttons (a problem mainly with the trays).

The music is very nice and relaxing. Overall sound and visual quality are quite good.

Despite my quibbles, this is still a good puzzle game overall. I would rate it 3.5 stars if I could because the pictures are a little average this time around. Average pictures means an average rating. Show less

I recommend this game!

+8points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

31 of 35 found this review helpful

Ready For More Puzzles?

PostedMay 22, 2023

HeavenBound7729

fromOcala, Florida

Key Contributor
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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

3 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

As far as I'm. concerned Tiny Little Lion has kept BF from becoming stagnant these days. With so few quality games being offered they are a welcomed relief. Of course, not everyone is crazy about all the HOGs but at least they make a grand effort to bring us quality.

The countries featured in the puzzles are great choices, options and features make assembly fun and interesting, I love the huge ...Show more

As far as I'm. concerned Tiny Little Lion has kept BF from becoming stagnant these days. With so few quality games being offered they are a welcomed relief. Of course, not everyone is crazy about all the HOGs but at least they make a grand effort to bring us quality.

The countries featured in the puzzles are great choices, options and features make assembly fun and interesting, I love the huge selection of piece shapes. You can use your own custom images, so that greatly increases the enjoyment. I'm always searching for great images to turn into puzzles.

This feature is important with the images in this collection not being as great as I expected. The animals were rather disappointing, some images were just not puzzle worthy like rocks, wood, and especially in the food category. Art, culture, people, beautiful scenery, interesting animals are missing.

Australia and New Zealand are not well represented here, in my opinion. Still if you love collecting puzzles of various countries and appreciate the variety of categories featured, this will please you. Show less

I recommend this game!

+27points

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Overall rating

3 / 5

Fun Facts Do Not Match Pictures

PostedJanuary 21, 2025

cathyann78

fromTotowa NJ

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Echoing my review of Puzzle Vacations: Nordics, this developer still has not corrected the problem of the Fun Fact given at the completion of a puzzle, of not matching the picture. Puzzle Vacations: Ireland was fun and interesting because one learned a little about the country and it was great knowing exactly what you were looking at. Why have pictures of a country then if there is no point to ...Show more

Echoing my review of Puzzle Vacations: Nordics, this developer still has not corrected the problem of the Fun Fact given at the completion of a puzzle, of not matching the picture. Puzzle Vacations: Ireland was fun and interesting because one learned a little about the country and it was great knowing exactly what you were looking at. Why have pictures of a country then if there is no point to understanding the aspects of that country which are depicted? Also, the settings chosen for a picture (piece shape and preview display for example) are still not being saved when quitting the puzzle. It's a pain having to reset them every time you return to finish the puzzle. I agree with other reviewers that there could have been better choices of pictures in some categories, in fact there are very few pictures in some areas. Yes, and pictures of food need to go. These two countries have beautiful landscapes that would make beautiful puzzles. I implore this company to make an update to at least fix the Fun Facts to match the picture in ALL of their Puzzle Vacation games. You can't believe how irritating it is, hence the 3 star review. I'm sure that it's not a difficult thing to do, Big Fish should also follow up on this. Show less

I recommend this game!

0points

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