Northern Merge

If your idea of fun involves matching objects until your orchard turns into a palace, you're in for a very cozy time. In this forest-fringed merge game, you'll gently drag and drop logs, stumps, apples, and other homestead odds and ends to build up a magical countryside estate. Prince Ivan's already out gathering timber like it's his full-time job, but you won't need to lift an axe, just combine three or more of the same item to spark a satisfying transformation. Collect juicy red fruit to earn magic keys that unlock new forest sections, chests, and increasingly elaborate buildings. Keep an eye out for simple quests, treasure chests, and the ever-helpful Marya Morevna, who turns casual riddle-solving into a fairy tale side quest. The pace is calm, the piano soundtrack is relaxing, and the rewards are delightfully slow-burn. Think of it as part Harvest Moon, part Triple Town, with a sprinkle of Slavic folklore and zero time pressure. Fun fact: Marya Morevna, who pops up as your ethereal puzzle guide, is a character straight out of Russian fairytales, her name (Марья Моревна, Marya Morevna) comes from epic folk stories known as byliny, where she was a warrior princess long before Wonder Woman made it cool.