Turtle Pond

Turtle Pond is a gentle garden pond seen from the side, with a waterfall tumbling over the rocks, a pebble beach, lily pads and a mossy log that leans out of the water. Your first turtle is yours to choose from six looks, from a round green pond turtle and a red-eared slider to a spotted turtle, a yellow-bellied one, a tiny musk turtle and a stripy one, and you spell its name with letter tiles. A second and a third turtle come along later as friends.

Each turtle has six needs that drift slowly: food, clean water, warmth, fun, rest and cuddles. Drop pellets, lettuce, a worm or a strawberry and watch them dive after it; skim leaves with the net, scrub the filter and tap the waterfall to freshen the water; drag the parasol off the log on sunny days or swing the heat lamp over it on grey ones. Toss the ball, start the bubble stone or send a turtle through the pebble maze, and rub its shell for a stretched neck and happy eyes. Turtles paddle, poke their heads up, climb the log a little clumsily, bask in a row and sink to the bottom to sleep at night, while frogs, dragonflies and a duck drop by.

Nothing bad ever happens here: a turtle that needs you just looks a bit wistful, and time away only earns a missed-you welcome when they all pop up at once. The in-game clock turns the seasons from spring blossom through summer lilies and autumn leaves to a quiet winter. Four quick games of half a minute each, Skim, Toss, Shine and Hop, have no way to lose and each remembers your best score. Care earns hearts that grow reeds, a bridge, lanterns, water lilies and a bigger pond, a daily visit brings a sticker for the shells, and everything is saved in your browser, so it is a lovely place to relax.