The developers made it clear that the game was meant to be intentionally uncomplicated, but I expected more from a game that aimed to be a spiritual successor to the Sun Haven games. Despite all of its shortcomings, however, it is still a reasonably enjoyable experience, and there's still a lot of potential in the game. If the developers decide to address its major issues, then Sugardew Island could easily evolve into a much more enjoyable experience for a wider audience. For now, though, it remains a quaint, if relatively flawed, addition to the cozy farming game landscape, offering a taste of island life that doesn’t quite live up to its full potential.

Resident Evil 0 is a strange outlier in the long-running survival horror series, making it a tough recommendation on Switch over the first Resident Evil and 4.

I feel like I want to recommend the game to peers if only to have more people to talk about the story with and hear their interpretations of the events that transpired.

While there’s definitely fun to be had with Fuser, the not-particularly-musically-gifted people (like myself) may struggle. The budding Calvin Harris and Tiesto’s of the world, on the other hand, will surely find enjoyment in the game.

Call of the Sea is a great start for developer Out of the Blue but didn't entirely capture me on any front, despite standout moments.

Rusty Rabbit isn't a bad game at all, but it is extremely simple for the genre it slots into. It fails at having any sort of real challenge, memorable bosses, interesting puzzles, or rewarding routing. The story is surprisingly lore-filled, intriguing, and emotional by the conclusion, and the cast of cute rabbit characters do lend a nice level of charm to the game as you occasionally reach a flow state of map clearing, dungeon-crawling, mindless fun. Still, the game overstays its welcome by the end of its 20+ hour runtime, and there are better options if you're looking for a more accessible take on the Steamworld Dig-meets-Metroidvania formula. The entry cost is low, however, so it's not one to completely write-off if you're looking for a breezy side-scroller to sink some free time into.

What it comes down to is Metroid: Samus Returns feels like a game that would have killed (and in many ways belongs) in the 90’s. But in a current climate where the game has to compete with powerhouses Ori and the Blind Forest, Holloe Knight, or SteamWorld Dig 2, the title feels tepid in comparison.

A game worth playing if you’re a fan of the series solely because of the new features, however, regarding the single-player story it felt more like a one and done for me.

While it may not be extensive and bring hours upon hours of enjoyment, Aaero does highlight the best of the EDM genre during the height of its popularity.

FIFA 21 feels like a game with a ton of potential that’s being held back by its engine. Konami decided to take the year off and switch to Unreal. I can’t help but feel like EA really needs to do the same. For all the bells and whistles the team adds every year, the on-field product leaves so much to be desired.

Antigraviator is a no-holds-bar dedication to arcadey, futuristic speed. But packing in more content would elevate the experience to something better.

Omensight is a title worth admiring for its bold storytelling approach and unique take on the action RPG genre.

In The Sinking City, combat has no depth or character. You essentially just shoot something a bunch until it dies.

Forspoken is packed with flaws — be they outright missteps or simply middling executions — but there are definitely qualities to this game that can deliver an entertaining and sometimes thrilling experience. I did ultimately enjoy my time with it, all told and considered. There’s interesting lore here, and at times the story approaches compelling, but it was held back so much by odd design choices, an often bland world, and uneven pacing in both the story and moment-to-moment dialogue. On paper, it could and should be great, but nothing quite fits together to make a stronger whole. It’s crammed with so much, and beyond the combat and traversal, the whole experience just winds up feeling like something of a relatively enjoyable mess.

I had hoped for some more originality to be seen in the game’s mechanics or level design, but the lack thereof doesn’t hinder the quality of the experience. Nothing in A Hat in Time is going to change how you think about 3D platformers, but if you know that ahead of time and are still looking for an enjoyable, cute collectaton, there are definitely worse options to choose from.

Remnant: From the Ashes is an ambitious title and a fairly unique one at that, it just does not always stick the landing.

Fitness Boxing just suffers from feeling inaccurate, even more so when punches and dodges aren’t correctly registered by the Joy-Cons. It is safe to say though, Fitness Boxing is perfect for those who want to lead a healthy and active lifestyle, but if you’re looking for some casual punching fun, stick to Arms.

I’d be lying if I said it didn’t keep my thumbs busy for a few days and a smile across my face. Filled with light-hearted comedy, the game is a breath of fresh air for those looking for lighter fare in their Fall lineup. And while the game certainly feels limited due to it being so tied to the underlying movie it is based on and technical issues, the game is a solid purchase for both children and children at heart.

This game, however, just fails to really stand out in any specific area that makes it worth picking up over any of the other big-hitting fighting games on the market right now.

Despite the fact that the game looks the part and there is a lot of surface-level fun to be had with Rematch, the harsh truth is that the game feels far too rough around the edges to stand a chance of becoming an ESports stalwart, or even a middling multiplayer title for that matter. The game's performance feels akin to an alpha still in development, gameplay doesn't facilitate a high skill ceiling for players to strive for, there are a litany of glaring omissions in terms of basic UI, and there seems to be a geunine lack of understanding on the developer's part on what makes for a gripping and balanced live service framework. I thought for all the world that this game would be a championship contender, but as it turns out, it's just relegation fodder.

20XX is a game that controls nicely and surely felt needed and relevant back when it hit Early Access in 2014, but just winds up feeling underwhelming.

Artdink is on the brink of mastering this fighting system, but perhaps these hiccups with the frame rate will have to wait ’til the next release.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD has a solid single- player mode that, if not slightly lacking in content, gives players an addictive rush that makes them want to come back for more. But that same heady rush is often tempered by controls that become your biggest obstacles at times. Paired with an extremely weak multiplayer experience that is missing a huge chunk of content, Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz becomes harder to recommend.

Disintegration falls short due to a generic campaign despite having some of my favorite multiplayer gameplay in recent memory.

Fans of the original will get their kicks while turning some aliens into exploding cows.

This adventure game features amazing character designs and a fun puzzle battle system, but The World Next Door suffers from a lack of content.

Root Letter: Last Answer is a touching experience but not without faults.

All in all, Rise & Shine isn’t a bad experience. It’s just one that has a lot of wasted potential.

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is a decent 2.5D action RPG with a beautiful world. However, the game has some serious design and balance issues that prevent the experience from reaching its full potential. Heavily focused on artificial difficulties, such as boss fights mostly reliant on gimmicks, annoyingly placed enemies through its levels, and exhausting runbacks after failed boss attempts, Mandragora sometimes forgets the whole reason people come to play these types of games — to have fun. Despite these apparent issues in its design, Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree is still an enjoyable time for the most part, thanks to its great build variety and Metroidvania-style map. Still, the bad feels like it outweighs the good, so I don't think I'll play it again anytime soon.

The Knightling has a lot of charm and some fun ideas, but simply can't compete with the larger titles it wants to be compared to. The fluidity of movement is the true standout here, along with a solid, nice-looking open-world that doesn't feel like a chore. Unfortunately, the combat is fairly boring, the puzzles aren't memorable, the platforming feels off, and a handful of quests don't seem to function as intended. I like this team's heart, and I am looking forward to seeing them grow from here. For me, The Knightling sadly just wasn't all the way there yet.

A decent first outing for All Elite Wrestling, but the game lacks the game modes and customization options to really hang with the heavyweights.

Hive Jump is certainly not the next best roguelike on the market. Many of the levels blend together too much and makes everything feel way too familiar.

The fabulous SNK heroine cast will likely impress–one way or another.

Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is filled to the brim with tons of content and story details that makes it more than worth the reasonable price tag. Fans of the Sword Art Online franchise have a lot to do and tons of easter eggs to uncover with allies from across the anime, and will undoubtedly enjoy this new foray into Ainground.

The appealing character designs and settings, carried over from its predecessor, have lost stylistic flare alongside repetitive missions. However, Two Feathers’ score, pretty backgrounds, and smooth sneaking are the sequel’s saving grace.

Grisaia: Phantom Trigger Vol. 1’s premise fits in perfectly with the rest of the Grisaia titles, that includes the beautiful character designs that the series is known for. However, the introductory chapter felt rushed, which ended up hurting any chance for proper character development. As such, the climax of the story feels out of place. Phantom Trigger Vol 1. begs to be longer in order to allow the reader to care enough to want to move on to the later volumes in the series. Hopefully, now that the introductions are out of the way, the real story can start.

Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny is loaded with nostalgia, callbacks to famous scenes and lines, but ultimately isn't as good as it could be. The limited fantasy setting, monotonous combat and underwhelming world map are helped slightly by its wonderfully authentic voices and fun story. If you grew up watching these cartoons, chances are you'll be charmed by the respect paid to them like I was, but find that the quest itself is not quite as good as just watching your favorite episodes again.

She’s Leaving has a great and unique concept with a solid story, which may be enough for players looking for their next survival-horror fix. However, you shouldn’t go into it hoping for amazing gameplay, since it’s pretty barebones across the board. While engaging with real-life practices of forensics is intriguing, especially if you’re into true crime, everything else revolves around cookie-cutter mechanics to an exhausting extent. The majority of a playthrough consists of finding and using keys, unlocking safes, and running away from a stalker that becomes less scary and more of a nuisance the longer you play. While She’s Leaving isn’t the best option out there for survival-horror enthusiasts, it has enough good stuff, such as interesting forensic mechanics, story, and voice acting, that make it worthwhile for a quick playthrough over a weekend. It’s also important to consider its low price of only $16.99.

If you’re looking for a game that is not to be taken seriously, full of half-naked monster girls, has a basic battle system, and a touching mini-game then look no further because Moero Chronicle is exactly what you have been looking for.

It's a huge shame that levels tend to repeat themselves occasionally and are rather short, but this is likely just a product of the game having its roots as a mobile title. Despite that, the simplicity keeps it friendly and does feel somewhat old school in terms of handling like in PS1 games like Wipeout, and Formula 1. If you?re into the good ol’ PlayStation racing titles such as these, then Table Top Racing: World Tour – Nitro Edition might be for you.

Unfortunately, all the new things Crisis of the Planet of the Apes introduced are overlooked when you factor in its short length, repetition, and lack of exploration plague the title.

I would say that Zwei: The Arges Adventure is best played by gamers with an eye for charm and adorable characters that you’d want to spend hours with exploring dungeons and going on adventures. Sadly, the decade-old dungeon design and repetitive action don’t hold up as well as its sequel, but it’s still a game that Falcom fans will enjoy until the end, I know I did.

Fear Effect Sedna is saved by a great story and awesome puzzle design.

Override 2: Super Mech League can be a lot of fun at its best as a mech brawler, but is ultimately pretty light on content and depth as far as its characters and combat.

While this game isn’t great by modern standards at all, it’s hard to imagine that speedrunners won’t fall in love with completely breaking the game.

Life Is Strange: Before the Storm's Episode 1: Awake focus on themes of depression, loss, and the inability to fit in, which it does an excellent job at presenting throughout this first episode. Sadly, the episode's main focus on Chloe and Rachel's friendship can feel a little forced early on, but inevitably lands on plausible after learning about the mental state of each of the characters.

The Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle isn’t a sexy release by any means. Besides the nice steelbook that the physical version of the game comes with, there’s not a lot else included in this package other than the expected slight boost in graphical prowess. This collection will surely please both longtime fans and new ones who have been looking to give both of these titles a shot, but it’s hard to say that there is anything else all that alluring included here. This is just your pretty standard, run of the mill remaster of two great games – nothing more, nothing less.

Neverness to Everness delivers a stylish, lively city packed with plenty to do, and its generous gacha system makes it easy to enjoy everything it has to offer without constant frustration. But beneath all that charm, the bloated gameplay formula starts to show, especially in its story and combat, which struggle to stand out in an already crowded field of other known gacha giants. If you’re already invested in similar games, this can be a fun, low-pressure addition to your routine. Just don’t expect it to reinvent the wheel since it’s more of a comfortable, content-rich ride with a few slightly annoying bumps along the way.

I can't deny that I liked my time spent playing Wreckreation. The high-octane action, the blistering speeds, and the open-world freedom all come together to offer a format that I adore. However, I can't in good conscience attribute much of this to this game, as it's about as blatant a copy I have ever seen, lifting Burnout Paradise's mechanics, UI, race types, and progression almost note for note. Yet, in many ways, the game fails to capture that same lightning in a bottle, with shoddy recreations of many aspects of its inspiration. The only unique thing this game has to offer lies within the creation and online functionality, but due to the lackluster and uninspired single-player core this game offers, I don't think these admittedly interesting features will be enough to get many potential fans behind the wheel.

Guns of Icarus Alliance works as a competitive multiplayer game still. It offers a unique steampunk setting with ship battles that are highly intensive and a lot of fun when you get a good lobby of people together. But with an annual player count of 80 to 200 players, newcomers should be prepared to prep themselves with tutorials and PVE content.

While it is not meant to be an educational game about mental illness, I felt that its approach to the subject was exceptionally well done.

Pretty environments can't save what is ultimately a bland game. Biomutant lacks character and excitement, which is a shame given the early promise it showed.

Borderlands 2 VR is exactly what you think the original would be like in the early days of virtual reality. It never does anything to separate itself from the pack of decent VR adaptions, but, can provide a fun point and shoot experience once you get accommodated with your preferred controls and comfortability settings.

After spending over 25 hours playing myself, I was able to complete many of the character’s stories and had a pretty good time doing it. However, the issue with the game is that the dull level design, lacking story premise, minimal voice acting, and visual novel style scenes made it feel like this game could have been so much more.

If you enjoyed The Last Remnant the first time around give this re-release a shot. And if you’re looking for an old-school deeply challenging JRPG, this title will also be for you.

Splitgate: Arena Warfare has the foundation of a great shooter but its generic ideas and lack of originality get in the way of something that should feel a lot better than it is.

Night School Studio's Afterparty falls short of greatness, with an unrewarding narrative, underutilized gameplay concepts, and technical issues.

Gunboat God feels like a game caught between flashes of brilliance and moments of frustration. It absolutely nails the things that make shmups so addictive: slick gunplay, a strong sense of style, and a surprisingly charming narrative that gives the whole ride a bit more personality than you’d expect. But that enjoyment is often held back by its rough balancing, and (occasionally) overwhelming level design, especially early on. Still, there’s a solid, entertaining shoot-'em-up underneath it all, and the more you unlock and experiment, the more it starts to come together. It’s not a perfectly smooth sail, but for players willing to stick with it, there’s enough charm and chaos here to make the journey and fight back to the Citadel worthwhile.

Proves that open world games can be enjoyed in bite-sized bits on the go with Switch.

Matterfall is a mechanically sound game but has very little to keep you coming back to chase high scores. As it stands, I enjoyed the handful of hours that I spent with it, but I can't see myself going back anytime soon.

The Stretchers is an entertaining co-op game that needs to offer more fun outside of its story mode.

For Sonic purists there’s undoubtedly a great time to be had with Sonic Colors: Ultimate. For those who are more fairweather Sonic fans or are looking for a new adventure to dive into, the game might be a little more of a challenge to enjoy.

F1 2019 isn’t really all that spectacular. The gameplay is mostly what you’d expect with the potential of an exhilarating moment here and there, but it wouldn’t be the first game I’d look to for a racing simulation experience. That being said, it is enjoyable and there is plenty to do, especially for those looking for a new racing game to pick up.

For the vast majority of both Suda and Swery’s works, you don’t really show up for a high-quality gaming experience. You show up for the weird vibes, and indeed, Hotel Barcelona is rich in delightfully weird vibes that are appealing enough to get me through. However, there's a certain point where a game cannot carry itself on vibes alone. No More Heroes 3 had some visual jank, but was still a solid game. The Good Life ran terribly on my computer, but still had an engaging core loop. With Hotel Barcelona, I feel as though both Suda and Swery's typical shortcomings are multiplying against each other, resulting in a game that has good bones and a fun, wacky premise, but falls well short on actual execution. If a game with this kind of slow, sticky gameplay and graphical shortcomings came from any other directors, it probably wouldn't be on my radar.

Multiplayer is where I had the most fun. I was evenly matched with most player and the game’s mechanics made for some very fun and intense duels.

When a game is purposely difficult solely due to the amount of overpowered enemies it can throw at you, it makes for an unsatisfying experience. This blended with clunky gameplay only amplified my disappointment. I would not be surprised if someone stopped playing twenty minutes into Ruiner with its uninviting gameplay.

While it might be true that Akiba’s Beat presents an interesting premise with clever writing and a fun cast of characters, the game ends up failing at everything fans may want out of an action RPG.

Kejora is an absolutely charming and ambitious indie platformer adventure that has all the necessary narrative bones for a visually compelling experience. In terms of story, it largely hits the mark. However, the shortfalls in its awkward gameplay, lackluster sound design, and noticeable UI blips stagger that experience to a degree, and it probably could have used more time in the oven on those fronts. Nevertheless, if you're a fan of hand-drawn animation in games, especially of the Ghibli variety, I would say to give it the chance it deserves.

Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time feels like it's stuck in the past. As a game in 2020, it feels like a relic of a bygone era; Jack lost the battle through time ten years ago.

Warhammer: Chaosbane brings excellent class design and interesting builds, but forgets the variety in enemies, environments, and loot.

While it’s certainly not even close to being what we got with Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm, it’s still a fun and enjoyable game that surprised me quite a lot more than I expected it to.

Given its development problems, the fact that System Shock is a functional, stable game is a mini-miracle, but by sticking so rigidly to the original's ancient design it will appeal more to series fans than newcomers.

Nine Parchments, though wielding action RPG elements, works best as a party game. There are chaos and comedy to be had when you have three other friends sharing the screen, combining spells, chucking heals, and being sure not to stand in the fire. All of these mechanics combined with a lighthearted story lend themselves to a laugh-filled-couch-co-op game that should not be played alone.

I’m ultimately sad to see that I have grown out of a franchise I once loved, with underlying problems that I may have not noticed as a child building on top of one another to make LEGO DC Super-Villains much less enjoyable than I thought it would be.

The Switch version may very well be the best way to enjoy the game, especially when on the go the game can feel somewhat like a handheld Legend of Zelda, but don’t set your hopes too high.

Fans of the original Ghostbusters: The Video Game will probably enjoy this, even if it’s just for a trip down memory lane and to see the cast again and visit some iconic locations. But due to its repetitive combat, insufferable artificial intelligence, and dull gameplay, I would advise first-time players to maybe pick up something else if you’re looking for an enjoyable and fulfilling third-person shooter.

Unfortunately, Croc: The Legend of The Gobbos really never needed to come back. Even in 1997, it was a title plagued by cumbersome controls, generic worlds, and uninspired level design that were left behind by its more prolific contemporaries. While a nice sheen of extra polish and modernized movement does make this the best way to experience Croc in 2025, you still really just... don't need to. Those that loved the game back in the day and know what to expect will be happy, but this is truly just a remaster for the nostalgia-starved. It's clear that the developers have a lot of love for their green, reptilian hero, but it's simply not enough to make Croc a fun 3D platformer for anyone else.

I do have to give Ubisoft some credit in terms of atmosphere. The ambiance and sound design were incredibly creepy.

Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection for Nintendo Switch significantly undermines visuals for portability; there are better (and cheaper) options for Black Flag and Rogue.

Muse Dash is a fun game that is very simplistic in design. For having not listened to really any Japanese music outside of anime, I ran into a fair amount of tracks that I really enjoyed that I could see myself going back to playing just to give it another listen. At $29.99, I personally think that Muse Dash is a bit steep in price but there is a decent sized catalog of songs to keep you preoccupied and master. Muse Dash has a nice art style with great colors but it also likely isn’t a game for everyone. For those that are into this genre of gaming and music, Muse Dash might be one to look into.

I’m conflicted when it comes to PowerWash Simulator. On one hand, it’s an absolute bore and a chore with one-dimensional gameplay – can I even call it gameplay? – but on the other, it’s still strangely fun and moreish, and seeing the grime trickle away and the percentage done counter ticking slowly upwards was enough to keep me wasting water for hours on end.

To a very limited extent Bridge Constructor reveals the reality of building and maintaining bridges in today’s world. Sometimes, to some people, creating something with fewer resources is considered more valuable than something that’s safe. And in this game, that can be a fun, devious, and humbling experience. Headup Games gets that right. However, little can save the game from simply underperforming in every other regard. Frequent crashes, game-altering performance slowdown, and tutorials that leave only the most resolved standing truly hurts the final product.

Spirit of the North 2 has its moments in its beautiful landscapes, relaxing music, and overall cozy vibes. Unfortunately, everything else is pretty underwhelming. The open world has nothing special to discover and mostly feels like a chore to navigate through, which is a shame considering the game forces the player to search the map for necessary items to progress. Even worse, the game has a ton of bugs that are downright frustrating, such as a boss refusing to attack, audio cutting out, lighting issues in some areas that make it nearly impossible to see, and environments refusing to spawn. Spirit of the North 2 isn't a bad game, and some dungeons are a ton of fun, but it's clear the game needed more time in the oven and would have benefited in a linear format.

First impressions can often leave you feeling like it’s a slow, groggy mess with too much to manage and too many tough survivors working against you. But once you get deep enough into the game, only then does it start to feel more enjoyable, which sadly isn’t how it should be.

The Lonesome Guild isn’t a game I would really recommend to anyone, but it’s also one I can see a very specific type of player enjoying. Every aspect of the game is undercooked, such as barebones combat, a childish story that never reaches its potential, and a relationship system that feels shoved into the game just for the sake of it. In other words, there’s no standout reason to play through its 12-hour journey. However, it does have a cozy vibe to it that may appeal to players just looking for an easy game to pick up and play, and while they may find some fleeting joy in their adventure with these characters, I wouldn’t imagine them ever coming back to it. The Lonesome Guild isn't necessarily a bad game, it's just one that doesn't do anything particularly special or great to stand out from the crowd.

Sword Art Online Alicization Lycoris attempts to revamp the franchise and breathe new life into it, with very polarizing results.

There are tons of minor issues with almost every part of the game that combine to make Shiness a more frustrating experience than it should be.

C-Smash VRS takes a swing that doesn't quite connect. There's fun to be had for those who persevere, but mostly in the online modes which, sadly, are already looking barren.

There was a lot of potential afforded by the world jumping mechanic as well as its emulation of recognizable classics, but Old School Musical doesn’t do much with them. While the story, and especially the Chicken Republic post-game mode, can offer some challenging rhythm tapping, Rob and Tib’s tale stumbles to offer more than a textbook case of saving the world.

If you are someone who lives and breathes the Kingdom Hearts series, Kingdom Hearts 3: ReMIND will be the perfect package for you — giving you an annual injection of the heart and spirit we love from the series. But for everyone else, I’m not sure that the confusing offerings will be worth the $30 entry fee.

Though it packs plenty of charm and heart, New Super Lucky’s Tale isn't quite ready to be in the leagues of the platforming greats just yet.

The attempt to make everyone happy resulted in a a battle system hindered by its duality.

Just like the series, Far Cry New Dawn is a game of exploration and self-discovery. Despite flaws and bumps along the way, New Dawn captures new magic and shows a glimmer of what the future of the Far Cry series looks like. Now if only Ubisoft could match the game design with equal level and story quality, we may be able to see the series capstone game in Far Cry 6.

2MD VR Football was slightly underwhelming from what I initially was anticipating; however, this game is fun in bits and pieces. If you are looking for a cheap sports game and you just happen to love American football this is the game for you.

Pathologic 2 is a narrative-driven thriller that doesn't really care if you have a good time or not. Prepare to be eternally hungry.

Maneater is an enjoyable open-world romp that is just a bit too straightforward and contains more than a handful of bugs and performance issues.

Circuit Breakers is a decent arcade shooter with a nice retro style aesthetic. I wish there was more variety and more extras, considering there are a good amount of titles similar to this already available on consoles and PC, and because of this it becomes hard to fully recommend as a purchase.

Even with an engaging combat system to some fun side characters, [The Caligula Effect: Overdose] just doesn’t have enough to carry all the dullness it brings with it in its story and environments.