Tight frantic gameplay, accompanied by a thrilling score and an awesome campaign with a tonne of upgrades and collectibles. There is plenty to be positive about with this port, as having DOOM Eternal portable and with gyro controls will please many. It is hard to not notice the downgraded textures and lower performance which set it aside from the sublime PC, Xbox and PlayStation versions, but Panic Button must be commended for putting together such an ambitious project for the Switch, one that runs incredibly competently for downgraded hardware. The price is somewhat of a sticking point given that a superior version can be purchased for much less and is also available physically, whereas the Switch is digital only. These minor issues aside DOOM Eternal is well worth the investment of both time and money and should be a welcome addition to any Nintendo Switch library.

Chicken Police - Paint it Red! is a total good surprise. It hits every nail squarely on the head and leaves the player with a satisfying sense of accomplishment, while being a ruddy good time all the way through. Yes, the English written script leaves something to be desired and should totally be fixed as soon as possible, meaning it's not perfect in that sense. It is also somewhat short for the price but this is something we can more easily let slide when a game is just consistently enjoyable all the way through like it is here. Lovers of animals, film noir, adult humour, police mysteries and point n' click adventures... all of the above are likely to find a lot to be liked about this piece of software.

A strategy game taking place in prohibition-era roaring '20s, which has players role-playing as a bigtime gangster, slowly building their enterprise, and doing anything expected in such a line of work, whether that's selling alcohol, running whorehouses, striking deals with other crooks, "renting" guns for hire, looting or ransacking establishments, bribing the boys in blue, and many, many, many more. Quite an ambitious title, right? Sadly, an assortment of technical issues, an annoyingly busy UI, a total lack of balance, as well as a lack of challenge, has led to something that just isn't fun. Potential, thy name is Empire of Sin… but potential is great only when met.

A good RPG has an intriguing story, likeable characters, appealing music that can be listened to for many hours on end, and a satisfactory conclusion. Alphadia Genesis by KEMCO ticks all these boxes, and then some. Any predictability in the RPG tale is countered with other plot twists that can make many to cry at the end, something countered by the plentiful humour throughout the tale. It will get replayed in due course because leaving the characters at the end was hard: their personalities are memorable, and being with them is an enjoyable experience.

Appreciating the narrow focus on the game they sought to deliver was one of the better points of the experience. By stripping away a lot of excess systems it allowed a better core experience. The issues are bad optimization that leads to heavy lag and frequent crashes. Additionally the gameplay is too fast for the 'art' style of attacking to truly be effective resulting in a major loss of what was the initial draw of the game to begin with.

Book of Demons takes Diablo's addictive gameplay (and visual style, music, story… and many more), and embellishes it with a set of cards that act as the abilities of your heroes. Thing Trunk's gem isn't a flawless one, sure, and the transition to the Switch removes one of its key components, which is the mouse, but this remains a pretty neat… err, card 'n' slasher that needs to be in the Switch library of every ARPG fan.

The story in Cinders can and does veer off at unexpected tangents. Absolutely nothing is concrete, and what feels like the best choice can end up being the worst if a scenario is repeated a few times to see what will happen next. With a high replay value to experience different decisions, Cinders certainly provides a new take on a classic tale, with style and imagination that will impact gamers more than other versions of the tale can. A wide range of morals are presented to the gamer, making it their choice whether Cinderella is a kind girl, or one who looks out for herself, and is as selfish as her step-sisters initially seem.

Star Renegades is exceptionally fun to play and a great addition to any Switch library. With endless combinations of battles to fight and a ton of weapons and items to unlock, there is plenty of content here to deliver dozens of hours of fun. While the Switch version does suffer from some downgrades with load times and performance on occasion, the portability of this rogue-lite means it is ideal for playing on the move. Star Renegades has a lot of scope and ideas under the hood and the dynamic enemy promotions is just one that is incredibly impressive. Exceptionally tough, at times frustrating but always rewarding - this visual treat is definitely one to pick up - especially since the game is set to receive regular content updates over the months ahead.

The realistic, in depth elements of rice farming combined with honing fighting skills plus surprising character revelations and development make Sakuna of Rice and Ruin a magnificent game. Sakuna's personal growth is a pleasure to watch. Her reason for living is tested to the limit, she learns to serve others rather than herself, and has to make a sacrifice that she would not have made if faced with the same decision at the start of the game. The balanced emphasis on farming and fighting provides a great variety of tasks to undertake, providing dozens of hours of fun. The delay in the game's original planned release was worth the wait.

The best description for Haven would be that of a game developed by a very talented team of people, who dreamed big, but had a budget that was simply not enough, as the concept can even scare larger, more experienced studios. Due to all that, it feels as if stuck in the second chapter of a much, much larger game. Its alien world is beautiful, the gameplay is far from bad, and the way this focuses in the protagonist duo and their romantic relationship is pulled off quite well (for the most part), but in the end, the severe lack of content, as well as challenge, soon turns this into a repetitive, and painfully boring chore.

Despite this being far from a rushed indie piece of junk, like the hundreds that are plaguing the Switch library, Wallachia: Reign of Dracula is unfortunately one more retro-inspired game that fails at what matters the most. A love letter to SNES-style Castlevania, sprinkled with a little bit of Contra's fast-paced action, this should be something great. Sadly, due to some issues, like the way the main character moves, and how unfair some parts of the whole thing can feel, it soon gets from mildly-interesting, to downright annoying.

Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate is a fantastic collection and the definitive way to experience this title, particularly on the new consoles where it runs smoother (and is far gorier) than ever. Even on older hardware it still shines. While day one players who have already accrued the majority of the included content will have less incentive to splash the cash on the Ultimate edition, it stands as an impressive catalogue to the achievements of NetherRealm over the past year and a half. If you haven't played it yet, now is the best time to dive in. If you have, here above are all your reasons to dial back into the experience.

Strobopahgia certainly has a lot of potential, with a strong aesthetic and some good core concepts, but it plays as an unfinished experience. With more polish in the later acts of the game, expansion on some of the weaker endings, and fleshing out of the music and ambient sound throughout, the game really could stand out. As it is now it would be hard pressed to impress more casual gamers, but for the more horror inclined player looking for something different it would be an interesting hour or two.

It's really sad that the learning curve is so massive that it acts like a wall that keeps most players from enjoying this. It's sad, because those who'll persevere, and manage to reach that 'Zen' level of razor-sharp precision, are the only ones who can really understand how exciting Absolute Drift can be. That being said, when a game is all about drifting, the fun factor won't last for long.

Townsmen: A Kingdom Rebuilt is a fine experience to check out for those who wish to dabble in the fun and thoughtful process of setting up supply lines. While completing and overseeing a thriving supply line is quite a fulfilling process, and resource production becomes an automatic system, this is all that this seems to have going for it. Beyond ensuring that the cogs keep turning, there is a real lack of drive or motivation to keep progressing beyond keeping bandits and avalanches at bay. Despite the deep system that underlies the kingdom-building aspects, it's still missing a few ingredients that could've elevated this experience. However, for those searching for a new resource-management city-builder set in the medieval ages, this title is worth considering.

You can draw the hero of this tale… and that's about all there is to say about this. Fun and mildly addictive as that part is, it's not enough to hide the fact that Drawn to Life: Two Realms lacks the necessary depth expected from a puzzle-platformer. Besides the lack of polish here and there, as well as the unexciting level design, the bland story one has to endure adds to the general feeling of boredom. It's also sad that aside from the character creation window, painting doesn't really feel like a big part of the whole experience.

The Kombat Pack 2 introduces Rambo, Mileena and Rain in the gory fashion typical of the Mortal Kombat brand. They all bring something unique to the table in their play style and are so passionately designed that it's impossible to ignore the thought and care that went into bringing them to life. As fun as they are to play, though, there's scope for improvement. The ever-shifting meta has been a joy to follow over the course of this title's lifespan, so they'll no doubt become further ingrained and balanced imminently. Regardless, this latest batch of fighters proves that Mortal Kombat 11 is, for all intents and purposes, alive and kicking. And punching, grabbing, throwing, decimating, devouring… You get the idea.

The most important thing in video games is the fun factor. Forget the visuals, forget the story, forget everything else; it's all about fun, fun, fun. The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos isn't aware of that, which makes you think whether its developer even had any people test it out. The storytelling bit that mocks D&D tropes tries too hard to be funny and fails while at it, with the playable characters being a bunch of completely unlikable "heroes." As for the actual, turn-based strategy affair, while definitely the better part, it has some severe issues of its own, with the most game-breaking one being the existence of an aggravating RNG that frequently ruins one's plans.

Codemasters truly are the experts of their craft. DIRT 5 is a step in a different direction that will be met with some fans not enjoying the rather arcade-style gameplay, but it is absolute joy for those do like this type of fast-fluid party action. There is enough variation in track diversity thanks to the dynamic weather and track terrain conditions to help keep DIRT 5 fresh.

Telling a tale as sweet as its graphics, the aptly named Strawberry Vinegar is a positivity-boosting read, with food and friendship at its core. Living with a demon is far from easy, but Rie learns to live with, and even like her, and ends up playing a special role in her life that changes it for the better.

The price of Evoland Legendary Edition is worth it for the first game alone, which is legendary in its own right. Mileage on the second one may vary depending on a player's tolerance for frustration if they are not so good at platformers. With over eight hours spent completing the first game and six hours attempting the second there, is a lot of fun to be had in this special edition, which is the only way to get both titles on the Nintendo Switch.

Yumeutsutsu Re:After is a fantastic sequel that delivers the possible futures of the characters of the previous title. With top-notch voice acting and amazing writing, this is a must-have for anyone that enjoyed the prequel. While this title would have also sufficed as a simple add-on to the first game rather than standing alone, this also allows the chance for new players to discover the interesting world of Ai and her friends.

Regardless of which ending is first discovered, Yumetsutsu Re:Master is a fascinating visual novel that throws light on life within the gaming industry and the complicated relationship of two sisters. The hours spent lost in the tale are rewarded with a gallery of scenes and a few videos to collect which necessitates further play, an act that will not become boring with the mystery of whether the sisters will reunite in the best ending to aim for.

Yes, the main character is über-sexy, and that makes it hard to pay attention to everything else. Look past the giant boobs, though, and you'll discover something great here - plus some giant boobs, obviously. This is actually an awesome action-adventure, with a fantastic survival horror atmosphere, and an intriguing setting - one that offers a fantastic balance between unrelenting difficulty, and plain, old-school fun. It's important to note that it is different than the original in some ways, and that may anger fans, but this sequel mostly feels like an improvement. All in all, a very big recommendation, especially if tired of modern gaming "trends."

Monster Sanctuary is a charming take on the monster raising formula, albeit not without its faults. The combat's ranking system betrays the gameplay's nuances - discouraging high concept strategies or support tactics in favour of brute force - and the Metroidvania level design is marred in being broken up by methodical puzzles and turn based battles. In spite of this, Monster Sanctuary is an addictive RPG that is hard to put down. Monster hatching is an incredibly simple process, every single monster has its own skill tree, and combat has been balanced enough so that just about any team can get through the main game in the hands of savvy players. Monster Sanctuary is a diamond in the rough if there ever was one.

A distinct lack of game modes, no means of playing offline, and even the inability to make a private game with friends overshadows all of Rumble's innovations. Faster paced gameplay centred around a single worm is a breath of fresh air - and implemented quite well - but it's held back by a stripping away of Worms' most identifiable qualities: turn-based gameplay that emphasised strategy, destructible environments that continually redefined stages, and a never-ending stream of charm that kept matches as entertaining as they were engaging. Worms Rumble resembles its predecessors superficially, while failing to carve out a clear identity by recycling what little content there is in-game ad nauseum. Rumble will almost certainly be updated with new modes over time, but franchise veterans are bound to be disappointed and newcomers are better off waiting until then.

Manifold Garden builds a compelling, meditative world, and easily stands on its own merit as a highly recommended first person puzzle. It is short but sweet, as they say, and paced excellently. Jumping off into the abyss, and thinking about how to solve the next puzzle will never fail to reward - it makes one feel clever and always fits within the framework of rules which were previously set.

While deserving accolades for trying something different and having two separate campaigns, ultimately they both end up feeling repetitive. Melee-focused combat is a fun idea, but there are too many problems and glitches. Though there are different classes, the combat is too repetitive and too much of the same thing to be fun for long. Something new was tried here, and that's commendable - it just did not hit the mark.