The story might be largely irrelevant, but the gameplay is absolutely excellent especially if you’re into other trading card games and/or board games and becomes even better in multiplayer. It finds a happy medium squarely as part of both those genres with a variety of card art and abilities that make for a wide range of deck strategies and replayability.

The Sims 4 Get Famous brings a lot of extra gameplay for the player who likes to min-max or get directly involved in their Sims' lives. Stardom is not easily won and even harder to mitigate and maintain, but the rewards and sense of accomplishment for meeting new milestones is a great incentive.

If you are looking for a ground-breaking, genre-defining game this is not it. If you are looking for an entertaining puzzle that demands swift reactions and just happens to be furiously addictive then Sparkle Unleashed is $7.99 and available on the Nintendo Game Store now.

In the end though, Bleed does what it sets out to do: it entertains and it offers fast, furious, and difficulty shooting and platforming. It’s a good game. It’s just too short for my tastes. Bring on Bleed 2, and let’s get nuts, Wryn. It’s not much to write home about visually, but in the world of Indies, it’s the gameplay that really counts and Bleed nails that part.

I wouldn’t necessarily call this an amateurs puzzle game meant for children, as there are many components that require abstract thinking to progress, but for the experienced puzzler, there is a lot to love in Candle: The Power of the Flame.

VVVVVV is a retro-styled platformer packed with difficulty, but the challenge makes you want to continue playing and get the sense of accomplishment for overcoming so many challenges. The game is deceptively simple, which will help draw you in and the closely spaced checkpoints will keep you addicted to keep trying to get to the next one.

This action-packed adventure is well suited to a younger audience and promises a 3D platforming adventure.

Heave Ho is still a raucous good time when you are playing with others in local co-op, and for the price, it’s worth a couple of nights with friends on the couch.

Rain World does an excellent job in letting you know when the cycle ends, sometimes too much so as the game makes heavy use of the rumble function to let you know the end is nigh.

Sentinels Of Freedom helps scratch that itch for a new superhero game, especially one that can run on the Nintendo Switch system. If you were hoping that this one would be the perfect "on-the-go superhero" tactics game then you might need to look elsewhere or invest in a set of magnifying eyeglasses. While the artwork is a bit cartoony the story pays homage to early comics and classic tabletop superhero games. Since this is only Chapter One in a series we'd consider this debut release a strong stepping stone to greater things in follow-up chapters!

It’s not very good as individual parts. But as a collection of send-ups to indie gaming, it’s perfectly serviceable.

Actual Sunlight is a "game" only in the loosest sense of the word. It paints a portrait of deep depression and the hopelessness that it brings. It is not a title for the faint-hearted or for anyone who may already be depressed. However, if you're looking for an experience that will yield an understanding of those who suffer from debilitating depression -- and that is a worthy goal -- then Actual Sunlight may be the right choice.

Like Old Blood, it ditches the in depth story in favor of gunplay and carnage. The core gameplay simply outweighs the story by a large margin. Good graphics and gunplay can only carry your game so far. Fans of the series like it for the story, not the gameplay alone, and thus will likely be as disappointed as I was.

All in, Neoverse is an adequate distraction to pick up and put down but if you want something truly engaging then wait for this one to roll out a few more updates first.

A nice follow up to a much loved Doctor Who episode and a fun found phone game all rolled into one. For Doctor Who fans, there's more than one reason to keep your eyes on this new adventure.

While yes…there are still some performance problems, Saints Row the Third Remastered is a helluva fun game, especially with friends. The story missions will have you rolling with laughter, and there’s no setback if you find yourself in the middle of a shootout between all three gangs and the Steelport police. It’s just all good fun. And with all the craziness going on in the world, it’s nice to have a game to lose yourself in that makes you not take yourself quite as seriously and reminds you to be thankful for the time you have and tackle life one day at a time.

The writing and fantastic 2D stills are a joy to behold, but choices here are largely tied to the narrative direction and involve clicking one of three options.

If you are someone who enjoyed the puzzles and the dad joke-like humor of Immortals: Fenyx Rising, A New God DLC is for you. The Vaults will challenge your approach to the game mechanics with the addition of new and expanded mechanics. However, if you are not a fan of trials and get easily frustrated, the DLC might be a miserable experience.

While I do fully enjoy this game, there are some things I would like to have seen a bit more of including visuals for inside the ships that show the players changes. Maybe even a semi multiplayer mode where you can compare your progress with another to drive performance and challenges.

A solid set of puzzles and a gorgeous world are largely let down by some odd narrative decisions and middling character development that are just jarring enough to prod you out of the world that Pine Studio has worked so hard to craft. If you’re looking for a Layton style experience in an extraordinary world then this could be for you. Otherwise, take this one at your own pace because school life can be tough at Arbor Academy.

A month ago you couldn't tell me that a "Bouncer RPG" would be worth playing or fun. Not Tonight: Take Back Control Edition changes that mindset. The game has some off-beat humour in its dialogue but seems to pair well with the fun, and relatively challenging, "ID check" game. If you're looking for an off-beat RPG, and you don't mind the nostalgic pixelated graphics, then look no further then Not Tonight: Take Back Control Edition!

Devolver’s new strategy title is an interesting distraction that takes a good stab at building a different type of business. It has fantastic visuals, a deep and different set of strategies that you will need to learn and doesn’t fall into a passive mediocrity. Weedcraft is unlike any strategy game I’ve had the pleasure to play.

Writhe is a challenging survival FPS. Games are fast enough that it is great to play on breaks from work.

Without spoiling any more of the story, Inked will take you on an adventure of grief, loss, and healing. It does, as stated in the beginning, what good art should do: provoke thought and feeling. It is gorgeous in its presentation, but flawed in some of the execution of its gameplay features and controls.

I’m not usually a “city-building” kind of gamer. Aside for some dalliances within a particularly in-depth RTS, or in a few of the newer survival type games. Even then, they are little more than curious dalliances. So imagine my surprise when I found this particular title pulling me in as its deceptive simplicity evolved into multi-tiered complexity and intense micromanaging capacities.

I was very impressed by The Beast Inside not only for the visual aspects but also for the story of how the game was developed and came to be.

There are loads of weapons to pick up and use – from the long-ranged spear to the crossbow, and several shorter-ranged melee options as well, and the Knight will always have his trusty sword too. By the end of Castle of Heart, you’ll feel satisfied that you undertook the journey, and while there’s no real reason to replay the adventure, you’ll still be glad you saw it through to the end. I was.

Neverwinter Nights Enhanced Edition brings a classic game to a more modern look while retaining everything which made the original a classic in the first place. It's worth playing for anyone who hasn't ever played it and a fun trip through memory lane for those of us who have loved it. Unfortunately, the Switch version suffers from not having the touchscreen-enabled for navigating menus and in-game.

Dragon Quest Builders II is a game that provides the tools for one to craft some fascinating and detailed fantasy creations. The story is what drew me in, however. Dragon Quest Builders II is ultimately a game about fate and whether we are bound to our natures that hearkens to lore from the early Dragon Quest stories. Although rife with annoyances, the overall experience is worth it.

The world textures are believable, the weather system generates a true environmental feel. The cars look great.

While Atom RPG does capture the essence of the Fallout series this console port seems to fall short of the exceptional ratings it's seen on Steam. The unintuitive controls take some guesswork, almost to the point of being frustrating, Combat feels slightly awkward as well. The RNG gods seem irritated as trying to get through a battle, early on, unscathed is a challenge. On the flip-side, it is quite playable in undocked mode (on-the-go) but be prepared to read a "lot" of small-ish dialogue text. Nevertheless, characters are filled with engaging and witty dialogue to tell a great story.

Immortal Realms: Vampire Wars is not a bad game. It is, however, a game that missed its chance at greatness. I’m not smart enough to say what could have been different to really knock the experience out of the park, but the demerits listed above may provide a good starting point. Even so, it’s very much worth a try if you like marching armies of undead across the landscape, or if you really want yet another strategy game. I would be inclined to buy it, even if for its thematic elements, and I would very much like to see where the developers go in the future with this IP, but for the product in front of me, it’s an ok game.

If you expect an actual Star Wars experience from Journey to Batuu, you will be left disappointed. It is more like visiting Disneyland or a theme park: sure, you are surrounded by Star Wars aesthetics but ultimately all of this is just a stage for a small fun holiday for your Sim, complete with activities, outfits and presents. After the vacation is over, you will return to everyday life with next to no Star Wars vibes.

The Legend of Evil is an extremely difficult tower offense game. The difficulty detracts a bit from the fun of it, however, it is endearing in its design.

Frivolous, farty, and gloriously chaotic but not the best episode of South Park. Snow Day is a mix of ideas all balled up into an action brawler. if you and your friends love South Park then some genuinely inspired moments make this worth taking the time to play.

Warriors All-Stars adds a few fun new additions to the series, but ultimately falls short at making itself stand out for any reason other than the cast. It allows many of Koei Tecmo’s stars from multiple games to meet up and cause massive amounts of mayhem in the name of good, but adds no interesting mechanics or hooks outside of continuing to provide a great Musou experience.

With a huge catalog of beats, over 150, and multiple modes and difficulties to keep DJMAX fans and hardcore rhythm gamers occupied for hours, DJMAX RESPECT V will undoubtedly appeal to a special niche. Gamers looking for a relaxed inventory of well known songs may want to look elsewhere, as this unforgiving melody mangler refuses to pull punches on its freestyle mode, and may not have high profile tunes that other titles in this genre do.

Sure, the idea’s aren’t genre defining and the story itself is a bit of a cheesy romp, but when my biggest complaint is that the port to Nintendo Switch could really have done with narrative and UI text that isn’t minuscule, there’s not a lot wrong. Pathway is a wonderfully upbeat ode to adventure flicks of old. The deliberately arcane pixel art shines though while the tone and setting never make gameplay a second fiddle. If you’re looking for a chilled out Sunday afternoon with the desert wind at your back and some treasure in your sights then grab Pathway now over at the Nintendo eShop.

Conway: Disappearance at Dahlia View feels like an "on the rails" classic quest game which can be a little off-putting. But if you like the Agatha Christie-style plots and the atmosphere of Hitchcock's Courtyard Windows, then be sure to take a closer look at the work of White Paper Games, because it is really good.

Joon Shining is not for the faint of heart or gamers who are easily disappointed. This game is a challenging golf platform game with puzzles and lots of magical mechanics.

Back 4 Blood is one of those games that you don’t have to particularly worry about grinding, which is incredibly refreshing. Between grinding for in-game currency for dungeon gear in FFXIV, and trying to level up my weapons in Dauntless, it’s nice to have a game I can jump back into with my friends at any point in time and just play. It’s fast-paced, creative, and just all-around good fun. What’s not to love? The game has been out for a while, but that just means that the developers have had more time to listen to feedback and start fixing some of those bugs that have been bothering players.

Like the first game in the series, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is far from perfect, with a host of problems, controversial gameplay choices, a ton of bugs, and an ever-present sense of haste and incompleteness. Even without taking into account the lack of tweaks and polish, it won't be to everyone's taste. But if you like the lingering atmosphere, the gritty, down-to-earth story, and the romance of the stalker's journey, then this is the Stalker you've been waiting for all these years.

DRAW CHILLY is an incredibly creative, self-aware indie side-scroller with some amazing assets and a great premise, but it felt like it could have been just a little more.

The game experience of God of War: Ragnarök is very uneven. The title features battles where main bosses serve as damage sponges, the plot that whiplashes between soul-searching and brutality, the world that is empty in some corners and over-saturated with puzzles in others. At the same time, it is a huge, well-crafted title with good overall story and character development. The complete absence of bugs and the game’s technical performance is more than impressive.

It offers a challenging, story-driven platforming experience that will reward the patient and methodical.

Ember is a worthwhile attempt to capture the essence of the classic RPGs we all loved. With its modest price of $19.99 USD, one can easily overlook the rather short adventure. Even still, if you're yearning for a new classic RPG playthrough then Ember is certainly deserving of your time.

Rising Star 2 is an interesting and lovingly crafted title that takes the traditional party-based RPG and drags it on stage with a modern twist. These bards are worth a look if you want something different, but don’t expect it to be rocketing up the charts next week either.

If you are looking for a game to blow up demons and add a solid FPS to your Nintendo library, look no further than Doom. It packs the entire campaign and much of the multiplayer onto a portable console, meaning that you don’t need to stop fragging just because you need to leave the house. The game’s eye candy has been reduced to match the console’s processing power, as well as feels a bit awkward using the console’s portable joy-cons rather than the pro controller. Even so, the game is worth a playthrough and hopefully a good sign of what is to come.

Despite this limitation, this frivolous couch competition is still worth a look if your bubble is more than 2 people big. It’s essentially a few new twists on hide and seek and there’s a reason why its a classic. Unspottable is short, with plenty of room for improvement but at the right price this charming game of guess who certainly will stay installed on ym system for now.

If you are a fan of mechs, and want to blast off into combat then Project Nimbus: Complete Edition has some great mech combat.

Mask of Mists is a lighthearted magical adventure that can provide the fans of the genre with few enjoyable hours of puzzle-solving and dungeon-delving.

The controls seem pretty stiff and gameplay gets repetitive fast. It has everything a brawler normally has but doesn’t bring anything unique to set itself apart.

Homebody is a good mix of survival horror and challenging puzzles set against a backdrop of psychological themes. While the time loop mechanic can lead to repetitive moments, the engaging storytelling and puzzles make up for any shortcomings. The game's retro graphics combined with well-executed sound design create an atmosphere. This is a good "retro-horror", which is interesting to play not only for fans of retro, but also for all lovers of horror or puzzles.

Memoriapolis is an intriguing city-builder that captures the sweep of history with its organic growth. Its dioramic visuals and innovative mechanics offer a fresh take on the genre that bridges city-building and 4X strategy. However, performance issues, a steep learning curve and rough edges temper its brilliance. It can truly shine on a beefy PC, offering a captivating experience with both thrill of ruling and relaxation of cozy city building.

It is a niche title, but it can be a very fun game if you don't mind spending hours remaking houses and decorating them to your heart's content.

It has enough to keep you and your family busy for at least a few hours of goodness with just the Incredibles 2 gameplay, attach the first movie and we have a lot of side quests and missions to go through. Just be careful as you drive around the main world though as the controls are not the best in this game.

Madden 19 is much like Madden 18 before it.

It’s a game that can’t be taken as any singular part; it’s more than a satire and more than a mini-game collection. It’s a statement and a joke and an open question about the ideologies we carry with us. It’s worth experiencing.

And I think that what really hinders South Park: The Fractured But Whole more than anything is the story does not take things to the epic scale the first one did. The gravitas and imperativeness of saving the entire world are not there like it was in Stick of Truth. Which is a bummer because these superhero characters were so great and this could’ve gone for a way larger scale.

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia hearkens to a simpler time, when console strategy games had a special magic to them... Nevertheless, the magic doesn’t hold up very well in the contemporary gaming world. Although it brings heaps of nostalgia, that nostalgia comes at the expense of depth and breadth of gameplay.

Ravenous Devils offers a rather short and non-replayable experience for one or two nights, but at the right price. I would like to put a separate plus for the courage of the idea and concept. At the very least, this is something out of the ordinary. I can’t particularly recommend it, but if you just unload your brain or get distracted, then it’s quite suitable for yourself.

Lego Harry Potter Collection for the Nintendo Switch is a nice, complete edition to the Switch's library.

I was a bit disappointed with the ending because I think I was hoping that there was a twist or something more meaningful to find at the lodge. With that said, I still enjoyed the theme and gameplay and loved seeing how the relationships with the sled dogs played out and progressed on the journey.

It is not the longest, slickest, or most evocative title sometimes. It does, however, have a surprising amount to do, and under the bubbly facade it takes a very unusual concept and weaves a slightly twisted tale.

Don’t Bite Devs’ platformer Wreckin’ Ball Adventure is a unique physics platformer where you, a robotic, bouncing ball, must escape from a high-tech facility. The game features 60 levels, a playground mode, and an endless mode for up to four simultaneous players. Although the premise is derivative and the level design sometimes uninspired, Wreckin’ Ball Adventure is, in fact, a fun and very bouncy adventure.

Raining City: Millions Recollections is a solid mystery-driven visual novel. It has many interesting side stories, plot twists and details to look for, and interesting side characters which grow on you. However, it struggles to deliver a true impact, mostly using shocking or nearly disgusting content for swift and effortless impact. While the story is interesting enough, it is hard to call it satisfactory for the amount of plot holes and loose ends. This novel can occupy you for several evenings if you like the dark stories and mystery solving. However, there is no great romance or diversity in the plot, as it might appear at first glance.

While the game keeps several essential systems intact and improves on the character models, I would have like to see more visual improvements throughout the game.

At it's core ARIDA is a narrative experience and if you keep that mind going in I fail to see how you won't find enjoyment in this short, but sweet, indie game.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - Tactics is a fairly entertaining game, and if you’re a fan of the turn-based RPG genre or The Dark Crystal I think you would do well to give it a try. Players who have seen the Netflix series might be able to connect more to the game than I was. As a standalone game, I can only imagine the confusion that could go through a new player’s head if they hadn’t experienced any of The Dark Crystal franchise. At that point, I think it struggles as a standalone game.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a great game for the fans of the series, plunging the player deep into nostalgia to refresh the events and immerse them in the beloved universe. However, it might not be the best game to begin your journey in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. Despite being a strong rhythm action game, the game’s biggest point is reliving memories that already have an emotional impact with its audience.

The Tiny Bang Story is a puzzle game that is short in duration, light on a story but has some delightful puzzles. The biggest complaint is the excessive item hunting in some cases, especially in undocked mode. And with a finicky touch control system, it might not be the best puzzle game for "on the go" fun. For the meagre price of $9.99, it's still worth a play if for only to relive those Highlights "Hidden Pictures" pages childhood days.

If you are a cat person, or just like sim-type micromanagement-type games, and you own a VR headset -- because let’s not forget about that requirement -- then I think you might like it. As a VR experience, it definitely did its job of making me feel like I was in a different place, but it did not really convince me that I was taking care of another living thing. Considering the game claims that it’s “the first virtual cat that feels like a real one,” it ultimately fell a bit short here.

A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead is first and foremost a game for fans of the franchise. Horror fans can also give it a try and even get some emotions and challenges, but I'm afraid they won't live to see the end credits and will quietly leave to find another place to tickle their nerves.

Obviously, this is just the beginning of a long journey, and for the first game from a very tiny studio it's a huge success. The enthusiasts did what the players asked for. One can only guess what fate awaits the FYQD studio, but I would not be surprised if in 10 years Bright Memory becomes a huge franchise under the wing of a major publisher.

RBI 19 is another step forward for the returning series, and it's still the only game in town on the Switch if you want a baseball game. But for a game that fancies itself as more arcade than simulation, it's still a bit bland to play for my liking. They either need to fully commit to the Arcade-stylings or try harder to be a sim. I'd expect RBI 20 to be more of the former.

In Gerda: A Flame In Winter, you have six hours to live a small but eventful life, full of contradictions and moral torment. It is the life of a person who did not participate in his own war but who understands that it will not work to stay away anyway.

The added atmospheric and thematic elements of the Cthulhu lore can be entertaining, though the game lacks in depth story, but the chance at fighting such diverse creatures as are presented should be a plus for any Lovecraft fan.

Gamers looking for quick fun, vehicle customization, and special career planning goals will be disappointed, but if you're a die hard MotoGP fan, this will certainly delight you.

The Great Perhaps provides a unique adventure puzzler with a story that is sure to surprise the player once completed. The hand drawn art style is endearing and the music fits the games ambiance very well. Unfortunately, The Great Perhaps is very short, with less than 3 hours of gameplay on its best day. With no achievements and no reason to revisit The Great Perhaps, this is definitely an adventure that you will only take once.

Zoria: Age of Shattering is a product of love and passion from Tiny Trinket Games. The game features a deep narrative, complex tactical combat, base building, and so much more. However, the lack of QoL-features brings it down: the highs are exhilarating, but the lows can feel a bit too draining.

WitchSpring3 Re:Fine – The Story of Eirudy is an eye-pleasing and adorable RPG that has some heartfelt characters but suffers at the cost of being a bit repetitive. The game employs some nice systems like doll summoning to act as battle allies but the awkward translation and frequent revisits to the same game areas equate to a ho-hum experience. At the price point of $39.99, you'd do best to try the series on the cheaper mobile phone versions first before plunking down that much coin on the Switch version.

Effie isn't the most complex action-adventure-platformer out there, and it isn't the most challenging. In this case, the lack of these features actually work well, as Effie delivers on a game where simplicity and nostalgia fuel a desire to continue playing. The game in its entirety is very short, but it definitely is one of the child friendly games that should be on the top of the list for younger gamers and new recruits to the genre.

Cubicity is a family-friendly puzzle game that is full of cute little animal avatars. It packs in ninety-five levels of puzzle fun for a meagre price. It suffers from some repetitive music and gameplay and after awhile levels seem easy to clear for full credit. It definitely ranks well in handheld mode and makes for great stop-and-go on the go gameplay!

If you board Tartarus, rest assured there are some still some great moments. The world looks and sounds fantastic. The voice acting is noteworthy, and there’s nothing quite like a panicked antipodean space chef.

I’m disappointed with this game, it has perfectly kept the spirit of the original Shenmue but in doing so has not brought any of the new innovations of the industry.

The way the game approaches presenting its story is a bit weak. Altogether it feels like the studio is trying to preserve the feeling and the legacy of the Shadow of the Colossus but is lacking experience. Despite its weaker sides, Praey for the Gods is a game worth playing and supporting its developers. Especially if you like pain and suffering…

Sea Salt looks and feels like one of the great DOS games of yore. It features complex and well-designed pixel graphics with an interesting premise – being a dark, Lovecraftian god and punishing the unfaithful in the best way dark, Lovecraftian gods know how.

Chikara Action Arcade Wrestling is a game you pick up and play for a few hours in short bursts that you have fun with but spend hours if not days fine tuning your custom creations.

Reficul 666 is a dark, pressured, and – honestly – scary game. It is also a short jaunt through an apocalyptic neighborhood. That said, there comes a point where the darkness is so deep that it obscures a game’s merits. Indeed, this indy horror game misses out on its best feature, its world building, in favor of increased spookiness.

Port Royale 4 is a big game that puts all of its eggs into one basket: trading. This leaves other parts such as building and sea combat very basic for such an involved title. If you are into min-maxing and being on top of a great many things to keep your trading empire the best version of itself, you will have a blast in PR4. However, if you are someone who generally likes strategies and wants to have a good time conquering the 17th-century Caribbean, you might get bored due to the lack of other activities to pursue.

Cranked Up is an interesting take on the puzzle platformer genre that incorporates some vertical and horizontal puzzle play with a difficult rocket-based movement style. For the right player Cranked Up could be a delight, but for the uncoordinated, this game may not be their best tasting donut.

While Gleamlight is beautiful visually to behold some of the developer's design decisions make the game frustrating to play at times. The game isn't exceedingly hard but there are times, due to its dark presentation, you're not sure which way to go. The design leaves too much to trial and error. The decision to use a "keep it clean" design for the user interface sometimes takes it a step too far. With this being said, the game does offer some fun for the better first half of the game, after that it grows a bit stale.

If you’re going to choose between RTR on the other consoles or the PC, and the Switch? The only reason to choose the Switch is if you simply must have the game in a portable fashion. It’s not that it plays poorly, it’s that it’s so clearly a downgraded version of the revamped game, making it a zero-sum equation if you know what I mean.

Robot Squad Simulator is an adventure game that makes controlling robots fun if you have some patience. With an interface that could do well by providing more helpful feedback and less frustrating controls, it's hard to overwhelmingly recommend this title. Unfortunately when all is said and done "these aren't the droids you're looking for".

Battle Planet: Judgement Day offers an action-packed ride that you and your friends can enjoy for many hours to come. I personally enjoyed running around co-op style with my friends and seeing how far we can get before switching and making fun of the others. With only a few tweaks the developers could really polish it into a pure Gem. With a price point of $14.99 on steam, I think it’s a great buy.

Despite porting it over to the newer operational systems, I don’t feel that there was enough of a difference from previous versions to warrant a release at this price point.

If you are predisposed toward the infernal if you enjoy the gory and the journey this game might be for you. If you are looking for solid gameplay and perpetual darkness is an issue, then you will see more devils than this vast hell can hold.

Hellbound is based around recreating the classic first-person shooter game experience of the 90s, which it does succeed in doing. If you were a fan of those games or wanted to experience what they were like in a modern package, then the developers at Saibot Studios have delivered, for the most part. Unfortunately, the game falls short of a great experience.