Minute of Islands tells its tale confidently but its potential power is undercut by its mostly uninspired and largely irrelevant game play mechanics. It never felt like it mattered how I played the game because sooner or later the story would eventually unfold as long as I kept clicking and pushing the character through her small range of tasks. I think that playing through Minute of Islands is worth your time if you enjoy dark themed stories and distinctive art, but don’t come with high expectations for the puzzles or platforming.

If you are a Zen Pinball fanatic then you have likely already downloaded the new tables. Those new to the franchise may want to look elsewhere unless you want your first experience to be a CastleStorm experience.

From its amusing setting to its solid gameplay mechanics, Murderous Pursuits has a lot going for it. When you boil it down, it’s a fun game to play, especially with a few friends to share in the antics.

For all its playful polish, this is a Senran Kagura game at heart. The story battles take time to ramp up. The dialogue between said story battles can get a little tedious. The controls are pretty good, though at times I felt like they were rough around the edges. The fan service vibes are at full power with Peach Beach Splash.

While the story itself is pretty sub-par, the characters are really quite likable, the gameplay is a lot of fun and the need to have a 100% complete map of Celceta is a huge drawing force.

I can’t totally ignore the flaws present, and I suspect that many potential players will not be able to either. But this is a rock-solid title nonetheless. If you know the Touhou name, or even if you know the masochistic joy of bullet-hell gaming, Battle Burst is worth checking out.

All in all, Into the Nexus is an entertaining and well put together Ratchet and Clank installment with some flaws here and there that drop the experience from good to just okay.

WRC 6 is a decent racing game, assuming you understand exactly what you’re getting into.

If you’re a fan of the sim/building/cleaning genres and games like House Flipper, you’ll probably enjoy Hotel Renovator, though it doesn’t exactly break new ground. The process of demolishing and refurbishing the rooms is relaxing and chill enough, as it should be. That’s probably enough, but I wish the controls and camera were a bit more responsive and the campaign a little less skip-worthy. In the end, Hotel Renovator was engaging enough to keep me away from actual cleaning around the house, so goal accomplished.

Taken as a whole, Vesta is a pleasant enough experience but it’s an experience that has been done so many times, and so much better, in many other games.

The best thing I can say about Portal Knights is that it is an effective off-shoot of the juggernaut that is Minecraft and Microsoft’s hit title could actually learn a thing or two from Keen Games’ effort here.

If you enjoyed the original Project X Zone then picking up the sequel is a no-brainer. It’s a bigger, better experience with a better cast of characters.

Aftercharge’s unique concept makes it worth checking out. The 3-v-3 setup manages to pack a lot of fun in small doses while also keeping the scales balanced on both sides. Aftercharge forces players to use their heads over their trigger finger and it’s here where the game really begins to shine. It’s a shame then that there just isn’t enough content here to keep players coming back. Aftercharge looks, sounds, and plays the part but as of right now, it could do with a bit more meat on its bones.

Over the past decade, Pox Nora has built an amazingly deep strategy universe for tactics junkies to really sink their teeth into; we’re talking Marianas Trench levels of deep. When you take a moment to think about how complex all the interactions in Pox Nora must be, it staggers the mind. It’s unreal, it’s awesome, and it’s just a wee bit intimidating. But if deep is what you’re after, Pox Nora delivers.

The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest is a great little Metroidvania, full of wacky antics and charm. Its tight controls and strong design make the journey through perilous areas a thrill, while the catchy themes linger long after the relatively short runtime. Boss battles are varied and there are some genuinely funny moments; however, the mission structure can feel repetitive, and some of the randomness lacks clear context and doesn’t always land. Despite its creativity and polish, it risks being overlooked in an already crowded genre.

It’s unfortunate that the roguelike genre has gotten so stuffed lately. Caveblazers is a sharply put together game. If I had received it as a birthday present for my Gameboy in the late 90s, I would have played it on every long car ride. It’s tightly made and has a great gameplay loop. It leads itself to some really exciting moments. But after playing through it for several hours, I loaded up the Nintendo store and bought Dead Cells for my Switch.

Overall, the tables in the Zen Classics DLC for Pinball FX 2 are a nice addition for players looking for something new to play in the game; however, I have to be honest and say that these tables are not the cream of the crop and fans may even see some of them falling short in an area or two.

The lovable-yet-flawed characters, the interesting, detailed environments, and the snappy story are definitely back again this time around. If you are new to Deponia, however, be prepared for some tedium and confusion to go along with the colorful fun.

Even with the two questionable mechanics, one can’t deny Super Cane Magic ZERO certainly has charm. Its art direction compliments the overall quirky nature, and the meta-style humour is, at the very least, wholly memorable. For those with a big couch and with three other friends to play with, it will no doubt provide plenty of silly fun. Until we get a sequel to Castle Crashers (if ever), this just might be the next best thing.

Journey For Elysium is a competently designed VR title with the right ideas, if just slightly underbaked. Considering the entire experience clocks in at a brisk hour and a half, I can only wonder how much better it could’ve been if it slowed down and took the time to flesh things out. For a first-time effort from developers Mantis Games, though, Journey For Elysium is a great start.

This is a pack for pinball enthusiasts who also love Bethesda games. That might not seem like a hug leap but it creates a dilemma: it isn’t good enough to convert fans of either camp to the other. The tables are fun, but so are many others.

This version is a lot more than the original ever was on the PSN, but it is a modified version. I’m just happy to have this game on the Switch, but I recognize that it’s far from a perfect port. If you can see past the minor flaws, Final Fantasy IX is an excellent investment on the Nintendo Switch.

Reignbreaker is a solid action roguelite that will feel familiar to fans of Hades. Its fast-paced combat is enjoyable, and the variety of power-ups encourages experimentation with different builds. While the art direction is creative, other aspects of the game adhere closely to genre conventions, rarely breaking away from its inspirations. Though undeniably well-crafted, it may struggle to distinguish itself in an increasingly crowded genre.

Fashion Dreamer is a game I’ll be picking up here and there for a quick look. While its features are fun, the novelty will wear off after a while. It’s not more than a dress up game and will not be for everyone. If you’re looking for a more in depth game, you might have to look elsewhere.

There is a ton of content that definitely makes up the cost. However, at this price point, I would have liked seeing a physical release as well instead of it solely being a digital release. With the cute anime visuals, intricate character designs, vibrant and pastel color schemes topped with fun and catchy music, you’ll be in for an absolutely charming adventure with three very adorable girls.

Crossfire: Sierra Squad is a fun arcade shooter with a ton of content. Although there are modes for squads of different sizes, this is most suitable for those looking for a 2-player experience. Unfortunately, the mission variety and maps are uninspiring and due to this, it can get a little repetitive. However, the game does enough to differentiate itself from the competition and will fill a void that many have been craving.

Rebel Galaxy Outlaw takes the space flight simulator genre and grinds a fantastic Wild West narrative into it the likes we have only ever seen with the beloved Firefly TV series. Sporting a brilliant soundtrack to reinforce the narrative, amazing explosions, and some pretty fun dog-fighting, the game starts to stumble when it comes to its total lack of tutorial despite having multiple systems to learn both in flight and in its mini-games. As a title that would work best with a controller in hand, Double Damages partnership with the Epic Store severely hinders accessible input controls. It does offer custom soundtracks, multiple ways to play the game and guilds to join, and the freedom of trying to achieve your goals out in the black as you see fit. For fans of space flight sims, this game is a beauty to play if only it could be handled with a controller.

If you’ve got the season pass, it’s worth it to pop into the multiplayer for a bit, even if you just want to try out The Harvester. I really don’t like giving guns or equipment to specific users over others, but neither the EMG nor the kinetic mine feel overpowered among the current arsenal. Rather, they fit right in and can kill with the rest.