Anyone who’s worked with me in the past five or so years will tell you, as soon as I find an online game I like, I won’t just email you the link, I’ll chase you down and make sure you play it. Thankfully I don’t find games that are mass-email-worthy that often, but for those of you who I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting me yet, this post represents me sitting on the corner of your desk, begging you to stop what you’re doing and play, play, play!

I’m sure for some of you seems like a no-brainer, or old news, but Eric informs me this site isn’t complete without a post dedicated to the timeless, tranquil pleasure that comes from playing a game on Orisinal: Morning Sunshine.

Whether you’re blissfully bouncing a star off a bubble, or making a bunny hop from one tinkling bell to another, the combination of simple game-play, elegant visuals, and ambient sounds makes Orisinal a pleasure to visit over and over. The site has no online multiplayer features, no hidden rewards to unlock, and no leveling up, but when it comes to enjoying a pure gaming experience, Orisinal is one of the best examples out there.

What are you waiting for? Just play one round of Winterbells and you’ll be hooked!

Reviewing games for a living has been a big part of my career so far, and this leads me to the reason for writing this post. There are squillions of games being released these days, especially online, so Eric and I thought it would be a good idea to let you know about one or two choice gaming morsels each week. Our choices won’t be based on any particular brand, but they will have a family-friendly appeal… so even though I’m loving Wolfenstein on my iPhone right now, you won’t hear me mention it on here. I won’t hint at the nifty control system. Or my hopes of iPhone Quake being released. Nope, not one word. Anyway, without further ado, let’s get on with the gaming.

Let’s start with a current favorite of mine, and quite a topical game right now – Sneeze. It’s a simple game; just move the little fellow around the map, find a spot where there’s plenty of people, and….Atchoo! Sneeze on them. Get people infected and then they’ll sneeze on someone, and they’ll sneeze on someone else, and so on. Each map has a certain amount of people you’ve got to pass the sniffles on to before moving onto the next round, and some people are easier to infect than others, but the trick is, you’ve only got one sneeze to blast, so time it wisely.

Games like Sneeze offer that magical blend of instant gratification and simplicity that really makes me smile. Granted, you’re not likely to develop a long-term addiction to the game; it’s only got a handful of levels, but as an quick hit of concentrated gaming that anyone can play from beginning to end in a ten-minute break, it’s a fine example of casual gaming at its best.