Miitopia is a simple RPG with a few very unmodern character-creating mechanics. Whether you are charmed by Miis or not is certainly your own prerogative, but the gameplay itself is perfect for beginner RPG players with its focus on relationships between your party members. Longtime RPG players may find a good time in its relative simplicity.

Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl is a fun fighting game with iconic characters and easy to learn but challenging to master mechanics. They nailed the feel of a good fighting game, but the game still feels like it has a ways to go before it reaches the level of an iconic franchise like Smash. The potential is absolutely there, and after we see a few DLC launches who knows where it will stand, but for now it’s hard to imagine myself inviting friends over to play All-Star Brawl when Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is still around.

Ultimately, while Atlas Fallen‘s narrative is a bit of a hit-and-miss, it still offers players, especially action RPG fans, a highly engaging gameplay experience in a well-crafted world.

While the quality of every game is ultimately subjective, Once Human is unique in how, other than its serious technical issues, all of its problems or strengths are contentious ones that it is easy to imagine every person feeling differently about. For many, however, I suspect that it will end up being such a mixed bag as not to be worth sticking with in favor of a more focused and refined competitor.

Lords of the Fallen is a massive improvement over its namesake prequel, and it provides many highs, but there are lows to match. For the masochist action RPG fan, though, there’s plenty to love, and it’s all going to hurt.

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business is most satisfying in spurts. The gunfighting is satisfying, with enough challenge to it so as not to feel like you’re just an unstoppable machine marching through waves of enemies. But there is too much dead air between fights, making the slow movement annoying after a while.

But while I enjoyed the visuals, had fun figuring out the puzzles, and had plenty of laughs, In Sound Mind doesn’t quite impress anything upon you. There’s nothing particularly wrong with the game, but it also doesn’t strike me as extremely inventive or revolutionary. On the other hand, if you’ve played any psychological horror games in the past and enjoyed them, you’ll like this one for much the same reasons.

LEGO Horizon Adventures won’t do much for anyone who doesn’t like the LEGO formula, while also being let down by bland level design and an average hub world, it’s still worth an adventure through.

Motorslice has some cool moments, but they’re largely lost in stale and dated gameplay and weirdly sexualized beats.

Onimusha 2 Samurai’s Destiny doesn’t reinvent the wheel or dramatically modernize every aspect of the original game. However, with its stylish action, welcome updates, and nostalgic charm, the remaster proves that even a 20-year-old game can still cut deep.

While featuring some great elements and features, Road 96: Mile 0 fails to flesh them out enough to make the game truly great. However, despite this, it still offers players an enjoyable experience.

Decarnation’s story is thrilling and unsettling, and every point the game gets is because of how well-crafted the winding nightmares are in relation to the overall progression of Gloria’s life.

Shadow Labyrinth is a great idea. However, poorly defined hitboxes, inconsistent mechanics, and over-inflated difficulty bog down what could have been a great experience.

Scorn is a survival horror shooter puzzle game and it uses each of those elements in its own mold.

Code Vein II is a deeply entertaining adventure that brings hope and life back to a ruined world, tears down massive beasts, and witnesses the most audacious segment in any action RPG.

Pokemon Unite is a fun, streamlined entry in the MOBA genre. It has something to offer both long-time franchise fans, as well as MOBA players who may be looking for something fun and rewarding, while not demanding their all to keep up with. And since it’s free, if what you have read sounds at all enticing why not give it a try. You don’t even need the Nintendo Switch Online service to play.

Sniper Elite: Resistance offers an experience that its series has largely cornered the market on. And it provides that experience very well. But it is disappointing to see just how little it has iterated on the foundation laid by Sniper Elite 5.

Digimon Survive feels like it was made with every kid who wanted to be a DigiDestined. It’s a darker twist on a fan favorite story. While the story is amazing, it is brought down by okay combat. 10 percent of the gameplay weighs down the other 90 percent.

Despite the mulligans I wish Mario Golf: Super Rush could take, it’s still a strongly delivered game any fan of party games and party sport simulators in particular can enjoy alone or with friends.

Soul Hackers 2 takes inspiration from both the Persona and the mainline Shin Megami Tensei series while including new things into the mix to varying degrees of success. As a result, it is best to not compare it to any other title in the franchise.

While not perfect, The Gunk is a fun game that carries a great and important message. We need to save our environment. A compelling story, relaxing yet sometimes boring gameplay, and stunning visuals.

Storyteller is full of charm, laughs, and head-scratching puzzles. All are made in a way that lets you create the story you want to tell to fit the prompt. With standouts like its hands-off instructions to subtle butterfly effect interactions, this is a can’t-miss game for anyone looking for a new puzzle game to sink their teeth into.

The Callisto Protocol is my biggest disappointment this year. While it nails the aesthetic and is one of the most beautiful games I’ve played this year, it misses the mark in almost every other department. I think it can be refined to at least be more fun, but in its current state, the story and gameplay weigh down this new entry to the survival horror genre from the potential it so obviously has.

Until Dawn for PS5 is very much for a specific audience. Despite its technical issues, it is the way to go for those looking for the newest or best-looking way to play the classic horror game. For anyone else, the original holds up just fine.

Struggling is a very creative and endearing platformer that surprised me with both how much I enjoyed its grotesque universe and how tight its physics-based gameplay is.

Immortals of Aveum at its core is a fun take on the shooter genre. Yet it quickly bogs itself down with an over-complicated story and an unnecessary gearing system. Set in a new world that’s fun to explore, Aveum has the potential to be a great universe to revisit in the future.

Enotria: The Last Song is a solid entry to the genre. Its beautiful design, deep customization, and satisfying gameplay invite players to experience its take on the soulslike formula.

Overall, The Hinokami Chronicles is an enjoyable arena fighter with a really intriguing story. There are moments where the game feels a bit too slow or uninteresting during the exploration moments, but the combat makes up for it. Fans of Demon Slayer will love plaything through The Hinokami Chronicles, and even newcomers to the series will enjoy this well-done fighting game.

The joy of Outcast – A New Beginning comes from the freedom of its nonlinear concept.

Lightfall certainly doesn’t stand up to the fantastic story of “The Witch Queen,” and Strand doesn’t quite meet expectations. But, Neomuna and its inhabitants are fascinating, and the way “Lightfall” handles some of its characters adds a lot of lore and depth to their stories.

If you had to pay for Roller Champions, I wouldn’t say “grab two friends and start a match” but it is free and man that makes the difference. While this one is going to rely on patches to fix stability post-launch, there is something there to love.

Millennia is a perfectly adequate 4X strategy game that will be easy for players to pick up and play. It does not try to reinvent the wheel, for better or for worse.

Shuten Order is a fantastic, incredibly unique game that stands out from the crowd. The narrative and world-building are captivating, the characters are endearing and entertaining, and the gameplay is engaging due to its variety. While not without flaws, the experience it provides is genuinely unforgettable.

World War Z may not do anything to really stand out in the genre, but that doesn’t mean it is not a fun time. The core of the game is very basic, and at times can feel like a simple reskin of other similar games, but that should not turn anyone away from checking it out. I would especially recommend it if you are looking for a zombie game on the Switch, as it is probably the best option out there for you.

If you’re a fan of the base game, then Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Siege of Paris is more of what you’re already excited about. But it’s a weaker DLC than “Wrath of the Druids,” to be sure, despite higher levels of marketing hype.

Bleach: Rebirth of Souls is an ok game. When it’s at its best, it’s delivering exciting battles and retelling a story many love in a streamlined and sometimes overly simplified manner. When it’s at its worst, it can be a frustrating affair that leaves you feeling a need for a more polished experience and nuanced.

WrestleQuest is such a wonderful love letter to both wrestling and classic role-playing games. It’s hard to come away from WrestleQuest with anything but a deeper respect for wrestling as a whole and a new love for slamming your enemies into the floor.

Conclusively, Zipp's Cafe is about the desire to start over. Life can be cruel, but you don't have to be, so come to terms with the past and brew the best cup of coffee in all the Wilderness.

It’s tough being a kart racer in a world where you will always be compared to the genre’s standard-bearer, but DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing is perfectly serviceable.

Rune Factory 5 is a refreshing farming RPG that should really appeal to fans of the niche genre…It may not be a perfect or highly innovative game, but Rune Factory 5 is definitely worth the time spent playing.

NBA 2K24 features revamped gameplay through ProPLAY and small game mode tweaks that make it a worthwhile upgrade. Not everything is perfect, and there is still so much room for growth in future games, but NBA 2K24 is a promising step forward in a franchise that has been complacent in recent years without any real competition.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar is a remaster that does an excellent job supporting its great features but is severely held back by its several dated elements.

Football Manager 26 is a revolutionary change to a longstanding franchise that has more than enough great updates to overcome a few small warts. If Sports Interactive can iron those out over time, Football Manager 26 could easily go down as one of the best in the history of the franchise.

With more refinement, Ravenlok could’ve been an interesting twist on a beloved tale. In its current state, though, it’s just simply okay.

Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed is an excellent, fun, stressful multiplayer game. If you love online gaming, this game is worth a purchase.

There is no doubt that fans who just want an excuse to shoot more things in Far Cry 6 or who are really looking to dive into Pagan Min’s background will be satisfied by “Pagan Min: Control.” However, it is disappointing that the DLC did not take the opportunity to create a more diverse experience than what came directly before it.

Kukoos: Lost Pets is a fantastic 3D platformer that uses its environmental designs. Vibrant in style and fantastic in gameplay, Kukoos: Lost Pets is a joy I didn’t expect from 2022, and I wish I had played it while in Early Access.

As an anime fan who hasn’t watched Naruto in almost a decade and has never seen beyond one arc of Boruto, this game made me excited for the franchise in a way I honestly hadn’t felt in a long time. But my view of Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections as my own reentry is a subjective point that the game’s mechanics don’t necessarily do enough to overtake the nostalgia and stand on its own.

Like a good dad joke, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin may not be for everyone, but it grew on me and in the end, I loved every minute of it.

Fans hoping to return to a game they are already familiar with will likely be very satisfied with Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered. It does an admirable job of remastering the game’s visuals and adds a considerable amount of new content for fans to engage with. However, it doesn’t do quite enough to make the game accessible or interesting enough for most newcomers.

Deliver Us Mars delivers a thoughtful, poignant story with deep characters, pretty landscapes, and well-done puzzles. However, there are always two sides to every coin. The linearity didn’t do the environments justice, the puzzles felt too sparse and easy, and the character animations were much too odd.

Ad Infinitum is a little off balance when it comes to how difficult and unfair a few of its challenges are compared to the rest of the game, but with enough patience or guidance to make it through those sections, the rest of the game is set at an intense pace, while an excellently creepy atmosphere and a family whose horrors and the trauma they and the war have imparted onto the protagonist fill the game with character.

GreedFall: The Dying World leaves much to be desired. Despite offering an engaging story and a strong cast of characters, technical problems abound, making the experience far more frustrating than it’s worth.

While Waiting turns the most boring parts of a person’s life into an equally reverent and irreverent look at life itself. The 100 minigames offer plenty of variety – even if some of them add to the boredom rather than disperse it – and the overarching story will tug at your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone.

If you are a turn-based RPG fan looking for a new experience that brings fresh twists on classic elements of the genre, I cannot recommend Astria Ascending enough, just so long as you don’t need an overly engaging plot to pull you along.

Recompile is not a bad game by any means, I just would not say it is a great one. I enjoyed myself at times, but ultimately feel like it did not do remotely enough to stand apart from the rest of the genre. Recompile is an interesting concept, but one that feels more like an incomplete idea. I loved the concepts, but there are some core gameplay things that would need to be fixed in order for me to truly feel like the idea made it’s way onto my computer the way the developers intended.

Combined with its determination to not unduly punish players by keeping systems intuitive and making crafting choices easily reversible, Biomutant keeps its fun gameplay and beautiful environments open to many gamers who otherwise might struggle with the game's many systems and combat.

Warriors Abyss has its heart in the right place and some interesting ideas, but its particular blend of musou and roguelike doesn’t feel like it’s fully realized. A novel blueprint for something down the line, but as-is, it’s hard to justify for anyone but the biggest fans of the Warriors series.

Spongebob Squarepants: The Cosmic Shake does a lot of things really right and well to make this feel like a Spongebob game for the current generation. But its lackluster objectives and its sometimes repetitive platforming and combat hold it back from being great. Instead, we’re left with a decent game that’s well worthwhile for a casual Spongebob or action-platforming fan, but a bit short of expectations for anybody who hoped this would take over as their new favorite Spongebob game.

The absence of the original’s multiplayer modes limits how players can engage with the Battle Destiny Remastered. I’m glad this game exists, that it is available outside of Japan… Still, it’s hard to thoroughly recommend something flawed in its original iteration in one way, and compromised in its remastered release in an entirely different way.

But for all its ambition, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 feels weighed down by its own shortcomings. This is a simulator that demands time, patience, and perhaps a little forgiveness. For those willing to embrace its imperfections, the horizon holds incredible promise. But that promise feels like it’s out of reach, lost somewhere in the clouds.

Trash Sailors is one of the rare co-op-centric titles that manages to deliver a chaotic and fun experience without annoyance. Levels never feel too punishing, enemies don’t have overbearing mechanics, and no part of the puzzle is undervalued in the grand scheme of things. This makes for an experience that borders on perfection for any group of friends looking for a new game to tackle together.

Life Eater takes an interesting premise but loses itself in monotony.

Dustborn’s narrative beats are also the most enjoyable part of the game, but there’s too much stopping it from reaching its full potential.

Spray Paint Simulator has some technical gaps that keep the game from flowing just right, but on the whole, it’s a well-conceived simulator that can easily keep you flowing for hours.

Exoprimal has a lot of heart and plenty of exciting moments, but you’ll need to go digging for them.

There is a solid idea and foundation here that needs to be massaged more in future attempts. DAMON and BABY has some cool ideas, but ultimately, is not a fun trip to heaven.

If you’re looking for a cute animal-themed game in which to decorate, you could do worse, but expect a harsh survival experience.

Outbound is a road trip that rewards patience over speed. Square Glade Games has built a world worth getting lost in, with a van customization system that keeps you tinkering and a presentation that always makes the next horizon look worth chasing.

SCHiM is worth jumping at. It's approachable for most players and unearths a deeper story about life's unexpected lows and highs.

Anyone who isn’t thrilled at the idea of having Roiland constantly chattering in their ear for a dozen hours straight will likely find the game’s incessant need to force itself on the player annoying. With the addition of uncompelling combat, frustrating exploration, and a lack of anything else to offer players, High on Life is one of the most annoying, derivative, and slogging experiences in years.

DK Island + Emerald Rush get old quickly and don’t feel like sizeable additions to the experience to carry that price tag. Only the most diehard fans looking to reexperience a handful of levels will really get much out of it.

Kirby’s Dream Buffet is a cute and fun game while it lasts. It feels like the kind of game you might play as a warmup for a short period before breaking into something more substantial. For what it is, it’s quite nice, but it’s hard to justify what it is against its price tag and the free-to-play nature of some of its competitors.

I really enjoyed my time with Frozenheim and will certainly be playing more, especially multiplayer, but it could use a bit more of a facelift to help improve the core appeal. The negatives wouldn’t be as distracting if the game hadn’t just come out of early access, but taking that step to leave early access makes it imperative that the game feels fleshed out and not missing anything or needing major improvements. Still, it is an enjoyable game and players are sure to find hours of enjoyment in it. Just maybe wait until they’ve had a chance to upgrade the existing systems.

Conclusively, Alone In The Dark properly writes its love letter while creating appeal to a wider audience through cinematic aspects. The classic horror elements and nods to its origins are seen, heard, and felt from beginning to end.

Killing Floor 3 delivers satisfying co-op carnage and smart upgrades, but leans on familiar ground while setting the stage for stronger updates ahead. Those seeking innovation or narrative complexity will find more engaging options elsewhere. But for players who enjoy wave-based co-op shooters… it delivers precisely what it promises.

What really stands out in A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is how willing it is to experiment and build entire mechanics around its central conceit of managing sound.

The biggest selling point for Destroy All Humans! on the Nintendo Switch is the ability to play the game on the go, and it is perfectly playable that way. In fact, I actually enjoyed playing it handheld more than I did docked. There wasn’t a very noticeable difference between the two outside of screen resolution. If you have not purchased the game on another system or the idea of playing it on the go is the most important thing to you, then I would say the game is worth checking out. With that said, I would not recommend anyone just looking to play the game purchase it on the Switch if they have the ability to play on another platform. Switch ports are always going to suffer from being a slight step down from their other console counterparts, and Destroy All Humans! is no different.

Aphelion is a small game that hits hard with big emotions by embracing the very best elements of science fiction. It embraces humanity and connection while still showcasing the genre’s love of alien planets and condemnation of evil corporations.

The Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign is incredibly ambitious, focusing on the personal lives of the heroes as they work to stop a grand evil plan. Not every choice lands as well as it could have, but overall, the experience is certainly worth playing, especially in co-op. [Campaign Review score = 75]

While there are some problems with pacing, mechanics, and glitches, Paradise Lost paints an interesting and immersive tale. Despite that the game’s objectives are simplistic, the short playtime is just right to produce a satisfying ending without dragging on.

Dragon Quest Smash/Grow is a simple, straightforward action game that provides some fun.

Life is Strange: Arcadia Bay Collection is a mediocre remaster and Switch port of two great games in the series. While the saga still holds up narratively, the gameplay experience is unfortunately greatly hindered by several issues.

With a desire to attract more players to a cops and robbers experience, it’s clear Payday 3 is still continuing to improve itself while aiming to add more content over time.

When it’s at its best, Detective Pikachu Returns delivers the charm and cuteness that have always been hallmarks of the Pokemon franchise. However, all too frequently it fails to reach those heights thanks to shallow gameplay, a bloated story, and repetitive missions that feel lackluster, no matter what age demographic they are targeting.

There was a lot of thought and care put into the narrative of Tin Hearts, so much so that players can probably overlook some of the gameplay flaws.

This is, unfortunately, where many of Sands of Salzaar’s mechanics fall. The meshing of genres is definitely interesting and full of potential, but so much of what is included feels half-baked or poorly implemented that it feels as though the developers would have had an easier time with a more focused product.

The game’s simple gameplay and relatively short playtime make it perfect for beginners and are sure to bring a smile to veterans. Framerate issues and tedious levels keep it from being a must-play, but if you’ve got a few hours to spare, playing Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World is a good way to spend them.

Blightbound’s problems are very disappointing because they occur on the top layer of a very solid foundation. The game’s combat is satisfying and fun, especially when playing with a group of friends. It is often quite challenging and requires intelligent play and strategic coordination, which makes encounters feel rewarding on the first completion. However, the problems with the game’s overarching systems, repetitive nature, lack of enemy variety, and lack of a fleshed-out world leave Blightbound feeling like a game that just needed some more time to become something really special.

Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis is a mixed bag of a game. While it delivers visuals I wouldn’t have thought possible on a mobile device, the repetitive combat does a lot to bring the experience down.

While there are definitely elements of Saints Row that really annoyed me, I still generally had a good time with the game. It is great to have a game that is a complete package on launch with no microtransactions or exploitative monetization. If you consider yourself a Saints Row fan you’ll probably find plenty to enjoy in the newest entry, even if some of its elements are weaker than others.

Paleo Pines is a slow burn, and the game holds itself slightly back with characters that don’t have to keep you engaged…Still, players who enjoy relaxed farming sims and dinosaurs will gradually want to discover and create a harmonious environment alongside these beings.

If you played the game on any other console, the Wii version of the game ported to the Switch isn’t the way to go when Xbox Game Pass has the game available on the Series X|S. While the story still hits, the gameplay is beyond dated and ultimately the motion elements remove any feeling of combos and replace them with constant wrist flicks and frantic waving.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet: The Teal Mask is set in a beautiful world rich with culture but suffers from some severe technical problems that hinder the experience. Interesting characters and new Pokémon make it worth checking out, but some minor technical updates would have made it significantly more enjoyable.

Thorn’s quest to save Leaf is exceptionally well-written, and the world of Dewr is one of the more enjoyable video game worlds I’ve explored in some time. Despite some minor quibbles with the combat and some of the world-building, No Place for Bravery is still an excellent game that players looking for a challenge are sure to enjoy.

Gigantic: Rampage Edition is a valiant effort, and it is always great to see fans of a series or game get to revisit it. However, there’s fear that what it offers is far too little to entice many players who aren’t fans.

Once your squad finds its rhythm, Pigeon Simulator becomes a hilarious, chaotic ride that keeps you coming back for more; hopefully with friends.

Trinity Trigger had so much promise. It had great talent associated with it. It looked like it could be a fun and grand adventure. But everything just fell flat on its face. From the story to just about every gameplay mechanic felt more tedious than enjoyable. More mechanics that felt added to try to make it more fun or be more involved instead got in the way of any enjoyment I felt like I could’ve had during my playthrough. Even if you could look past all of its faults, the dumb-as-rocks companion AI will find a way to ruin that for you. The only saving Trinity Trigger I could think of is if you play the entire game and all the extra content in co-op, what feels like its intended playstyle. And even then, I’d wait to get this game until online co-op is added sometime in the future.