Receiving a Letter from Austin

Living in the city, it is easy to lose touch with nature. It is easy to get surrounded by an utter lack of authenticity and personality, seeing brick and concrete everywhere you turn. You can find pockets of green, but they are few and far between, especially when they are obscured by car exhaust and other pollution. There has to be a better way.

While certainly not an environmentalist's title, this game gives you an opportunity to find a more natural setting. In your grandfather's will, he said that you will become the sole owner of his house and the surrounding garden. You will also continue to retain the services of his butler, Austin, who sent you a letter saying that you should come out and restore the garden. And so, your journey with a green thumb begins.

Gone to Ruin from Years of Neglect

Arriving at your grandfather's house, it's clear that the estate has been neglected for years without having a proper owner. The core certainly has a lot of potential, so both you and Austin endeavor to bring the garden back to its once beautiful self.

As you accumulate funds, you will have the ability to purchase a series of differnet upgrades for the garden. These can include new fencing, comfortable benches, marble statues, and some other great landscaping. Interestingly, if you click on select items in the garden, Austin the butler will go there and interact with them. For example, clicking on a bench gets Austin to sit on it. Clicking on the pond gets him to feed the birds.

Everything Must Go!

So, where do you get this money? The core gameplay in Gardenscapes invites visitors from the neighborhood into your grandfather's house. That's because you'll be hosting a number of jumble sales, giving you the ability to clear out much of that clutter and make a lot of money along the way. You'd be amazed at the things people are willing to buy!

From the attic to the lounge, veranda to the pantry, you'll find a huge assortment of objects. Each of the customers will come with a specific item in mind. Find that particular item, like a teddy bear or umbrella, and click on it to give it to the customer. The faster you do this, the more money you'll make. Everything must go!

From a wall clock to a maple leaf, hookah to a washboard, you'll need to rummage through the huge assortment of your grandpa's belongings. While do so, be the lookout for additional items that can be very helpful. Regular hints will show you an image of the customers' desired objects, but finding a camera will "flash" their desired items. Use a thermometer and you'll see whether you're getting hot or cold too.

A Thoroughly Rewarding Endeavor

Veterans of the hidden objects genre may find that the level of difficulty of this game may be a little on the low side. That's because this richly rewarding experience allows you to move through the story in a more expedient manner, upgrading the garden faster than you'd imagine possible.

Whether you choose to take the untimed relaxed mode or you opt to race against the clock, you'll feel compelled to move at a breakneck pace. And your grandpa couldn't be prouder.