While Summer in Mara is a game with a lot of heart; its gameplay is a bit too monotonous to be enjoyable for even diehard fans of games like Harvest Moon.

The Edge of Fate accomplishes its unenviable task and lays down some solid foundations. In the process, it also taps into some aspects of the Guardian experience that have long been ignored, and brings back some of that retro-futuristic aesthetic that made the first game so curious—an encouraging omen as the game embarks into this new territory. Let’s just hope we all get to Bungie’s destination in one piece and see what fruit it bears.

This is the Police is simple but highly addictive if you have the time to dedicate becoming more invested in Jack Boyd and his personal chaotic life.

Tales of Symphonia Remastered is a solid, albeit dated trip down memory lane.

By remaining focused and paring down the extra content, Assassin’s Creed Chronicles: India is a stealth game through and through.

This wonderful looking Spider-Man simulator in the sky doesn't live up to its full potential.

Koei doesn’t seem very interested in appealing to new customers because DW8 Empires assumes that you’re thoroughly familiar with not just the DW franchise, but the Empires spin-off.

Penny-Punching Princess’ simplicity is its strongest factor, but its lack of polish in narrative, and the price make it hard to recommend to every Switch owner.

Despite its many flaws, starting with the ladder climbing and descending and ending with the worst jumping mechanic of any Souls title, Archangel Studios is constantly updating and improving the title so that fans can have a smoother experience when diving into the Omnistructure. However, if you have never played a Souls title before, this should not be your first. The Omnistructure is a maze of paths that feel far too similar, and this can turn players away from the genre entirely. All in all, Bleak Faith: Forsaken is a solid title and a must-try for the Souls faithful.

Panzer Dragoon: Remake is a flawed remaster of a cult classic that adds little worthwhile, but still retains what made the original enjoyable.

Fable Fortune doesn't offer much that hasn't been done better in the years before it.

ReCore feels like the first quarter of a 40-hour game. There’s a lot of fun to be had, but the abrupt end section and its forced side missions just left a bad taste in my mouth. I really, truly love ReCore, but I know I can't possibly give it a higher score than this.

SPYxANYA: Operation Memories leaned heavy into Anya’s cuteness, the minigames were pretty detailed but everything else was monotonous.

Skull and Bones is finally here, but tedious game systems and a grindy time investment to get anywhere may be too rich for some to go on this voyage.

Time will tell whether or not Space Junkies can stand the test of time, ideally maturing into a game that can live up to the games it borrows from. As of right now, Space Junkies is at the very least, is a must try for owners of the PSVR headset.

Chocobo GP does some things that Nintendon’t, offering a Story mode and a more stimulating item system than the untouchable Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. However only Final Fantasy veterans (and their kids) need apply, as it relies heavily on nostalgia—and season pass grinding.

Lost in Harmony brings some imaginative ideas to the table, but those ideas are a struggle to enjoy due to the game’s somewhat sloppy execution and even sloppier port job.

I came out of MISSING feeling quite surprised. I’m invested in and intrigued by the story enough that I’m excited for what this series has in store.

Curiously lean[ing] on the magic that made Secret of Mana a seminal classic, this remake is serviceable in a pinch, but revisiting the original is probably a better use of time.

While it's a fine little nostalgia trip, unlike the titular character, the Felix the Cat collection is a bag lacking a lot of tricks.

Gemini had so much potential that is squandered by poor execution. With tons of bugs, terrible AI, and a total lack of challenge, I can’t recommend anyone purchase this.

Through the Woods is a sad, haunting tale that manages to scare without being cheap or easy, and one of this year’s best horror games.

When you experience a sense of repetition in game that is only five to seven hours long, you know that the actual game design aspect wasn’t the priority for the project.

Alone in the Dark 2024 revitalizes a classic franchise with a compelling setting and exploration focus, despite being marred by bugs and lacklustre combat.

Whispering Willows wants you to learn its story, connect with its characters, and become engrossed in its world.

Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island has some interesting ideas, but may be a bit too slow for some players.

This title won’t win any awards for ingenuity, but it will provide any gamers who like to casually call each other “Ice Man” and “Maverick” with plenty of bonehead blowin’ up fun.

Skyhill is a decent way to kill a few hours.

Warhammer: Chaosbane borrows the elements that made past action RPGs of the same genre so addicting , perhaps sticking a bit too closely, resulting in a game that may feel a little too familiar for veterans of the genre.

Buy this game if you wanna pay $60+ for what should be a free roster update. To not be totally negative and end on a positive note, playing this game is safer than, say, going to a live NFL game this year. So at least there’s that? Oh and both the PS4 and Xbox One editions of the game will have free upgrades for the next gen so you can enjoy all the same bugs and glitches in better definition. That’s a touchdown on your own end if I ever saw one.

Call of Cthulhu tries to make the Great Old One awaken from his slumber, but fails to make an engaging game in the process.

Sword Art Online: Lost Song has plenty of great ideas, but it definitely doesn’t do enough to make them work in a 20-hour game. A better effort is needed next time.

Surprisingly, the game’s greatest strength may be its free-to-play model.

The action and gameplay are a bloody feast for fans in Bloodrayne Betrayal: Fresh Bites, but the difficult nature of the game can cut out a lot of its audience. Breathtaking visuals and intense gameplay packaged in a low price make this game at least a must-try for most gamers.

Despite a solid shooter experience, EvilVEvil struggles to deliver a meaningful or engaging story. Some polish on existing systems and a better narrative moving forward could help elevate this co-op shooter to new heights.

You would expect the team behind Saints Row to make something with more verve and fewer grey hallways, but here we are with Agents of Mayhem.

Super Bomberman R is a surprise winner in the Switch launch line-up, and well worth considering for old-school players, multiplayer enthusiasts and lovers of cute things.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is a sequel in name only. A flawed but fascinating action-adventure that might satisfy World of Darkness devotees, but few others.

Shuffle Tactics takes the structure of Slay the Spire and layers in interesting tactical combat in the best way imaginable.

Madden NFL 24 gets the job done in the same way it always has, even if there's nothing major to get excited for, it's still getting better.

From the moment you activate boost for the first time, Dangerous Driving roars to life with a speed and vision that I’ve sorely missed. Dangerous Driving is a good game, one that brings a smile to my face every time I slam a rival into the median. Three Fields has created something special here, and I can’t wait to see how they’ll improve upon it in the future.

It’s not quite the next big step that some may want, but Sonic Boom: Fire and Ice is nevertheless a fun, funny little platformer that’s a worthwhile romp for fans of the genre.

It took four episodes, but things finally happened and are at least mildly interesting.

None of the sport simulations are spectacular, but none of them are broken either. The fact that you get all five sports in one package and can play them all through online and local multiplayer is what makes Mario Sports Superstars worthwhile. Any one of these mini games in isolations would feel rather lacking for a full priced 3DS game—sure there are trophies and collectables to earn, but that’s not worth discussing beyond mentioning the option. Taken together in a very smoothly animated and pleasingly designed package that looks pretty in 3D, this makes for a perfectly amusing little mini-game compendium for Nintendo nuts. There’s plenty of content in Mario Sports Superstars, which all adds up to more than the sum of its mediocre parts. Should anyone rush out to buy this title? Not really, but in a slow release season this will scratch an itch for 3DS players desperate for new content.

Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV, while not an epic virtual reality experience, it is a pleasant one. This is a title I would recommend to Final Fantasy XV fans for a relaxing evening. For players wanting a thrill, I say look elsewhere to get an adrenal rush.

It’s fun and challenging, albeit a bit easy, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Concord has a few interesting ideas, but its live service trappings, lacklustre game design and mediocre level design keep it from being truly great.

The Legend of Kay Anniversary is an overlooked gem that is getting a proper HD treatment.

Cleary there was a lot of love and fine polishing put in to Sister Location, but Cawthon needs to take more risks.

The self-indulgent climax, trippy as it is, ultimately doesn’t make good on all of the build-up that had led to that point.

While Hokko Life isn’t terrible, it fails to rise above its Animal Crossing inspiration.

We Happy Few is a game that deserves some more time to improve. As it stands, it offers some truly interesting characters in a well realized and intricate story, that unfortunately have been hampered by an overall unpolished feel.

Bleeding Edge’s many interesting ideas and fantastic characters are overpowered by a frustrating combo-laden gameplay loop.

Onee Chanbara Origin exudes B Movie energy in its every element, giving players a quick, aggressive, fun, and ridiculous action game to work through.

Despite its flashy looks, Empyreal is a bog-standard ARPG that somehow lacks any of the things that make these games fun and interesting.

Here They Lie is grotesque and horrifying, but it’s also a thought-provoking, philosophical head trip that makes some of the best use of VR to date.

While the hybrid style gameplay of Kingdom Under Fire 2 is by far the game’s high point, the rest of it is so completely devoid of all personality.

Alchemic Cutie is a sweet sim-RPG that, though lacking guidance, will have you hooked the moment you dive in. After encountering a few bugs, the game can be frustrating, but overall is still on my daily “to-play” list.

Wreckreation feels like a breath of fresh air, or rather, exhaust in a world of overly serious racers, giving player agency and fun the top priority with its robust set of tools and activities that let you tailor how you play the game.

While exploring the many intricacies can be downright frustrating, and the political game can get difficult, Urban Empire is a game unlike any other in its genre. I’ve never played a sim that actually follows the rules of the democracy we have today. That alone makes it a unique enough title to at least try out. I just wish there was a little extra polish or at least a more thorough explanation on how the smaller intricacies in the game work.

A pixelated Diablo-like with a beautiful presentation and an unfortunate lack of content, Moon Hunters is hard to recommend to anyone other than people with three friends locally.

The freedom of how to play and how to progress allows you to just sit back and enjoy the game.

Beneath Battle Worlds: Kronos' archaic veneer is a strangely satisfying strategy game. Just make sure you’re the right candidate for the job before buying in.

World’s End Club is an enjoyable romp from the creators of Danganronpa and Zero Escape, even if its promises of a wild departure from previous franchise tropes comes up short.

Kaiserpunk brings the creativity and consideration for construction of a Sim Game to the deep strategy and nuance of the 4X genre.

Slitterhead’s clunky controls, forced stealth, and dull cutscenes make it a tedious, frustrating 15-hour experience that feels like watching paint dry.

Creature Keeper is an incredibly unique game that feels like a combination of Pokémon and The Legend of Zelda.

With this kind of game, it's easy enough to say that the difficulty is intended, but some of these reactions tended to stray close to interrupting experience rather than enhancing it.

While Dungeons 2 doesn’t offer anything groundbreaking in the world of RTS games, managing two different gameplay areas can be both challenging and fun.. It plays similarly to classics like Dungeon Keeper, and some of its forced humour and boring plot could definitely use a bit of work. But those looking for an old-school experience with some modern changes, look no further.

In spite of the occasional glitch or physics hiccup, nothing in Friday the 13th: The Game is enough of a knock against the package to keep me from preventing it. This is some of the most fun multiplayer I’ve touched in quite a while, and definitely the most fun I’ve ever had with an asymmetric multiplayer title.

In the end, the missions just aren't enough to really make this stand out too strongly.

To a fault, Fallout Shelter is the same game that you can play on any other platforms. The gameplay loop is simple yet engaging, though the lack of variety in the mid and end game remains disappointing. For newcomers, Fallout Shelter is an okay game that can casually occupy your time. But if you’re a veteran, I can’t see any reason why you should play this version.

Godfall is a visually stunning game that ultimately disappoints due to its fetch-quest filled gameplay loop and recycled ideas.

Tales of the Shire brings enough original content to the second breakfast table to satisfy Tolkien fans and devout cozy gamers alike.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes of Heaven is a joyless, uninspired adaptation of one of manga’s most joyful, inspired titles, and one of the flattest gaming experiences of the year.

Deiland: Pocket Planet seemed promising with all that it offered but ultimately fell flat, especially compared to all the other simulation games currently available.

.J-Stars is another case of a Japanese game that preaches convincingly to its chosen choir.

There’s the outline of a great game here—one whose aesthetic would likely attract audiences young and old—but it only ever appears in glimpses. Traverser’s creative premise is worth celebrating, it’s just unfortunate that actually playing the game makes this so hard to see.

Layers of Fear: Inheritance far too reliant on jump-scares, while somehow not even fully understanding what makes those scares effective.

Ravenlok isn't deep or lengthy, but it's a brief, dreamy foray into the wonders of voxels. It may not last long, but it's a looking glass worth going through.

An overall good game can still be brought down by bad business decisions.

Tasharen Entertainment has struck a gold mine of nostalgia within me.

Hellboy Web of Wyrd cleverly uses the roguelike genre to its benefit in creating a game true to the comics while still being fun to play for fans of the genre.

With boring combat and a limited custom campaign toolset, Sword Coast Legends fails to capture the spirit of a true pen and paper role-playing experience.

For the most part, Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden is fun and simple with creative visuals that is good in short playthroughs.

RemiLore gets the mechanics for a fun dungeon crawler down, but does little to hold a player’s attention.

The platforming elements are completely tied into its puzzle system, so to appreciate the game, you’ll have to really love this one element of the game’s mechanics.

Drag x Drive is a novel take on wheelchair basketball, one that takes full advantage of the Joy-Con 2 controllers. While limited by an overall lack of content, the game still creates a good foundation for the future.

Synduality Echo of Ada has an addictive value at first, but needs to add more content and customizability to maintain concurrent player base.

Where We are the Dwarves fails to deliver is mission balance, plain and simple.

Despite bringing all the content for its plethora of releases, Payday 2 simply needed a touch more polish to truly feel at home on the Switch. If OVERKILL continuously supports this version of Payday 2 like it supports its PC counterpart, I see a vivid future where rare random framerate issues, unresponsive AI, and blurry textures can truly be a long forgotten memory.

If you liked the original Crackdown and want basically more of that, then you’ve found your game. If you want a modern first party AAA game, look elsewhere.

I Hate This Place has some interesting ideas inspired by its comic-book origins, but its moment-to-moment gameplay is dull at the best of times and deeply frustrating at the worst.

Endless Ocean Luminous occasionally has some interesting moments, but it squanders its potential with tedious gameplay and a boring sea.

Metal Gear Survive is neither a good Metal Gear Solid game nor a good survival game. It feels more like a cynical cash grab due to being not only the most expensive survival game on the market, but also how flagrantly it peppers in the microtransactions.

If you’re not a gigantic fan of the genre, I can’t really recommend The Technomancer.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League falls significantly short of the truly fun experience I had hoped for. Despite a story with potential, the game is bogged down by monotonous gameplay and intrusive live service elements, detracting from what little fun there is to be found in the game. This game, unfortunately, represents a missed opportunity to build on the legacy of Rocksteady’s previous successes, leaving much to be desired in both execution and innovation.

Combining some fun mechanics unique to surfing the waves and a little gunplay to keep your opponents from getting too close, Kandagawa Jet Girls offers a compelling racing experience.