Full Metal Furies is high-quality side-scrolling brawler that understands its roots while still managing to both pushes the genre forward with its inclusion of some great RPG elements as well as add its own unique style to the genre. Furies offers many hours of single-player fun and shines exceptionally well when played to its full potential as a co-op experience. I highly recommend picking this title up if you’re looking for something new and charming.

It’s now 8 years old, but Super Meat Boy is still one of the best platformers in recent memory. Perfectly simple controls, great level design, and grotesque but cute humor make a very memorable experience. When Super Meat Boy Forever lands on the Switch, you can bet we’ll be playing that too.

Digimon Cyber Sleuth: Hackers Memory is a great game with a great story. Worth playing or trying if you feel it might not be your cup of tea. If you are a fan of Digimon like me I won’t have to tell you the fun in being able to play another Digimon RPG.

Even though I’m not the greatest at fighting games (and usually even despise playing them), Dragon Ball FighterZ manages to make the game feel easy to get into, and quickly become rewarding by learning move sets and counter plays. While the story mode allows a bit of the customization that was found in Xenoverse, FighterZ is much more focused on being a balanced fighting game rather than an RPG, and it’s all the better for it.

In all, Chromagun is a good game. Held short of being a great game by some less-than-fully thought out design choices. It’s on the short side and doesn’t offer a whole lot of replay value, so your mileage on the $20 fee for the eshop game might vary. I had a great time playing it, but came away feeling frustrated by the above gripes, and hoping that Pixel Maniacs’ next offering doesn’t fall prey to the same avoidable pratfalls.

Unknown Worlds Entertainment has delivered everything they said they were going to plus so much more with more updates on the launch horizon and for these reasons they can easily be forgiven for taking this long. It was worth the wait.

The Red Strings Club is a fascinating exploration of humanity, emotion, ethics, and our own preconceptions of evil. It tackles some huge topics, and while it does not manage to meet all of it’s potential it is worth playing just to visit The Red Strings Club, pull up a chair, and try something different.

While The Refuge, released on the PS Vita, is not present this does not impact gameplay and the Switch version of this title is far superior to its previous mobile incarnation. The team at Coatsink has optimized this title, making excellent use of the Switch’s power. If you were disappointed by the pace of Sonic Forces and absolutely love games like Rayman Legends, then this game will have you hooked. Shu is out now in the Nintendo eShop.

If you like Metroidvania style games with compelling storytelling, satisfyingly challenging boss battles, and music to match the feel of the game, Iconoclasts is worth playing through again and again. I am so glad that solo developer Joakim “Konjak” Sandberg has given us this masterful piece of art to consider. It was definitely worth the wait.

This shift in the overall Total War mindset really makes the Tomb Kings expansion stand out. Instead of amassing all the territory you can to subdue and vanquish your enemies, the Tomb Kings feel more focused. It’s not about amassing a world empire, rather the Tomb Kings are about restoring the glory of their own empire and gaining the power they seek that way. As a result, the whole affair was shorter than my normal Total War campaigns, but it was one of the most satisfying campaigns I’ve had since the Shogun 2 days.

Baseball Riot is a great physics puzzler and with a 5 dollar price tag on the Nintendo store it could be a great little title for rainy afternoons or the morning commute. However if you tend to lean towards your phone for those times this title might be better off left in the dugout.

I can’t recommend Darkest Dungeon enough. Its hallway crawling, madness suffering, darkness fighting, dungeon romping is some of the best RPG play I’ve had in recent years. The game shines on the Switch, despite a few minor setbacks in the font and controls. If you’re a veteran of the game or have never tried it, put it on your want list because Darkest Dungeon is very easily added to the Switch’s growing list of “Best Games”.

Son of Scoregasm is an easy recommendation to make to anyone that loves twin sticker shooters or challenging indie arcade games. For everyone else, your mileage may vary depending on your patience. Beyond a ridiculously fun scoring system, a ton of unique levels, multiple enemies and bosses, and a solid soundtrack, Son of Scoregasm is good ole fashioned shoot ‘em up fun. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it is easily one of the most refined iterations of it yet.

InnerSpace just might be the de-stressor you need after a long holiday season. Polyknights and Aspyr have put out a game that revels in its peace. Boss fights aren’t “fights”, they’re boss puzzles. You just need to figure out how to approach every situation, but you never need to fear failure. It’s a journey, a world of self-discovery from beginning to end. It’s a beautiful game, a sad game, and a hopeful exploration. Highly recommended.

There are tons of multiplayer modes, but the best of them is the mock game show Wheel of Rumpus. In short, you should probably get this game. This is our Stikbold! A Dodgeball Adventure review for Nintendo Switch.

World to the West is another solid entry in the Zelda-like games that are hitting the Switch’s eShop. Its shortfalls are minor, and its upsides are great. If, like me, you long for a top-down Hyrulian adventure on the Switch, then World to the West is a great game for you. It’s out today on the Nintendo Switch, for a mere $19.99 and worth every penny for a nice 10-20 hour adventure.

As an example of boss fights at their finest, Furi is a great game. And when it was over, I felt like I’d achieved something, even on easy mode. I suppose the reason I’m a little disappointed in the game is that it left me wanting more and that’s a good thing. Furi is out today, January 11th, on Nintendo Switch. If you’ve yet to play it elsewhere and love the premise, give it a look.

There’s a lot of “downtime” where you’re just waiting for things to happen, but that’s prison. You’re learning the routine of the jail, finding openings, and in the meantime, there are plenty of “quests” for other prisoners you can complete to build up your arsenal and keep yourself busy until you find the perfect opening. And as in life, in The Escapists 2 proves that duct tape can fix anything. If you’ve never played the series, or if you love it, it’s certainly worth the $20, especially if you have a friend to play with.

There’s little doubt that LA Noire was the perfect game for Rockstar to try VR with. But is it the killer app the ecosystem needs to get most gamers to invest? I’d say no. But for those looking for a game that’s worth playing on their Vive (and Rift with some trouble), LA Noire: The VR Case Files is right up there with A Mage’s Tale and Robo Recall as one of the best.

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.

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.

Tiny Metal is a very promising, and likely the best, attempt at replicating the successful Advance Wars formula that fans have been looking for. Although multiplayer has yet to be added to the game, and there are some minor performance issues, each of these can be taken care of with a few patches. This puts the game in a position to be great after a bit more work has been done to it, or to make an easily improved sequel.

Taking “one more turn” has never been more convenient, allowing you to command the Royal Navy, trade with the Japanese, invade New Zealandia and more on the go.

With all of this in mind, is The Deer God worth picking up on the Nintendo Switch? It is certainly a well-designed title that does provide enjoyable gameplay. Its tranquil aesthetic and procedurally-generated world make it a relaxing adventure to keep returning to. If you can look beyond the narrative or if you happen to share the game’s perspective, it’s a pretty neat romp and makes for a great portable title.

Local play lets you take your game to a party, and the ability to take turns with the controller means you can play with just the hardware that came with the Switch. Combined with improvements to the classic formula, the gameplay of Worms WMD makes it a good entry point for those new to the series as well.

Clocking in around 10 hours, with a lot of life squeezed from the magic marker mechanic, Max’s hunt to save his brother is an adventure worth taking. Just don’t put it ahead of other platforming adventures like SteamWorld Dig 2, Sonic Mania, and so forth.

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.

SteamWorld Heist was an excellent game when it launched in 2015, and it’s still excellent today on the Switch. Offering a familiar world and style with a new way to play amid the robots, it’s a strategy game that belongs on every Switch.

Oriental Empires is a fantastic option for seasoned RTS fans that are looking for something new and a little different. While this might not appeal to those that are either not excited about Asian culture or those not as familiar with strategy games due to the confusing menus and somewhat unclear “hints”, this certainly has its place in an RTS fans library especially at virtually half the price of other games of a similar nature.

It’s familiar, we know it, and experiencing it in VR immediately shows what this tech is capable of. It’s what gamers have been asking for: a real, full-fledged game, not an experience. There are rough edges and things Bethesda needs to fix, but it’s an achievement nonetheless.

The game looks great with its fantastic pixel art and also has a soundtrack that makes the game sound just as cool as it looks. If you are into puns and twin-stick shooters then Enter the Gungeon is probably for you. The game also features a co-op mode so if you aren’t into getting beat on alone you can bring a friend along for the bullet storm ride.

If you're looking for a classic top-down Zelda experience on Nintendo's new console, you really don't need to look any farther. Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King is a pitch-perfect homage to the SNES/Game Boy era Zelda games, and it also manages to stand on its own two feet by the end of the adventure. And the best part? No breaking weapons!

It is a beautiful and thoroughly captivating short story. Puzzles, while not overly difficult, are thoughtfully constructed and fit together like clockwork. Robert’s plays with our perceptions and understands that the audience is capable of keeping up with the unfolding story.

Frankly, Mecho Tales breaks my heart because I want to see more creative talent and this team has so much promise in their character designs. While Mecho Tales is not an entirely broken game, it is a game that doesn’t quite seem to know what it wants to be.

If you are itching for a Metroidvania-style game that will endear itself to you with charming characters and a soundtrack fitting to the style, Gearend is worth checking out. At this point, I can see Epsilon-98 and I having many, many adventures together. If Gearend is any indication of the creative potential of SolarLune, I want him to keep making games… because I will buy them, I will play them, and I will love them.

So is Brawlout a good game? Yes, for the most part, it offers everything I would hope to see in a fight arena game. However, a lack of ingenuity in design and some awkward paywalls in the store may find this title on the wrong side of a TKO judgment come round 12 in the ring.

While it doesn’t quite stand as tall as the Mario Odyssey masterpiece, Yooka-Laylee is a game every Switch owner should consider. Fantastic fun for all ages, and tons of content to boot.

The new map is huge and varied, and definitely the best part of the new expansion. You can do the Road to the Olympics story right from the start of the game (after the tutorial), and it’s only about 3-5 hours long. It’s worth playing through, but the long term fun comes from Japan itself, playing with others, and trying out all the different ways you can explore the map.

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.

Overall, Riptide GP: Renegade is a fun and delightful experience for any racing fans, but will especially hook those – like me – that grew up with Jet Moto. Although the story appears thin and doesn’t do enough to explore the settings of the world around you, the wide range of gameplay options and modes like online multiplayer will provide ample distraction to the player.

Nine Parchments is a solid twin-stick, isometric, Action RPG with some great multiplayer fun. As a single player title, it does begin to feel a bit repetitive but this is offset by the exceptionally fun multiplayer. If you own a Switch or PC, or other console and are looking for something to scratch that twin-stick shooter itch but with a magical twist, Nine Parchments is definitely worth checking out.

Reigns: Her Majesty has some really fun, quirky and dark writing and you’re sure to find yourself giggling unexpectedly at times. It’s the perfect game for travel to and from work or when you’re sitting on your own personal throne if you get my drift.

As an RPG, SF3 is a solid game with an interesting over-arching story, believable characters, a lot of lore and deep systems. As an RTS, it is a unique if at times frustrating tactical game focused on a clever use of limited number of resources and building a working infrastructure. While each one of its parts might not hold out against a “pure” game of respective genre, the mix makes the game something uniquely fulfilling.

ACORN Tactics was not enough to scratch any sort of itch – tactical or otherwise – and it was more of a frustrating exercise in futility than an enjoyable experience.

Subsurface Circular is an exploration of our humanity… as presented by robots. It presents you with the opportunity to wrestle with what you value along with the questions of autonomy versus automation.

The End is Nigh is one of the premiere indie gems on Nintendo Switch. Difficulty and rewards issues aside, this one’s immensely replayable, hilarious, and genuinely well designed in both sound, visuals, and gameplay. It’s the kind of game that may drive you nuts with its difficulty, but only because you know that you’re the one making the mistakes.

Playing a thief is never easy, but Seven: The Days Long Gone makes it fun. This new isometric RPG is packed with a few amazing elements one of the best is the deep dark story. Seven plays well but can be unforgiving at times, just the like world it takes place in. For fans of isometric RPGs, Seven delivers a lot of surprises.

What I feel is lacking though is the kudos system would be more compatible if it had actual influence beyond the occasional quest. I’d really like to reward those who give me kudos often.

At the end of the day, Left Hand Path is doing something gamers have been clamoring for in virtual reality. It’s a hard, retro- and Dark Souls-inspired dungeon crawler that rewards exploration and doesn’t end after its first hour-long episode. Add to that a number of small touches that show the developer understands virtual reality and what it can do, and you have a game that’s definitely worth exploring, as long as you can get past the too-polygonal art and disappointing animations.

While Lumo is a charming throwback game to the puzzlers of old, many of the issues with the game’s older design rear their head again here. Those who are fans of the genre will enjoy the game, while those going in blind will most likely find themselves frustrated with the game.

You could do a whole lot worse than Cat Quest if you’re in the mood for a lighthearted RPG adventure. If you’re looking for something with a little more teeth and a little less purring, that’s what Skyrim or Zelda are for. Cat Quest is made with love, joy, and a sense of humor that’s too often forgotten in games.

The Nintendo Switch doesn’t allow for too many racing games to shine with the well-regarded Mario Kart 8 Deluxe hogging the spotlight. But Gear.Club Unlimited is stealing the limelight this holiday season with its racing sim action, RPG-lite upgrade system and beautifully rendered licensed cars. Although it’s not a true racing sim, this is still the best racing game available on the Nintendo Switch to date.

If you’re in the mood for a twin stick shooter that is easy to pick up but provides hours of challenging gameplay, Crimsonland is worth a shot. While it doesn’t quite make me want to break my jeans that I could smuggle a couple of two-liters in, Crimsonland certainly means business up front with the promise of a party in the back.

If you are a fan of Minecraft and are looking for something fresh with an RPG feel, Portal Knights will definitely be a game that you should pick up. It combines the traditional gathering and creating formula with multiple, randomly-generated islands to explore packed with dungeons, monsters, and towns. While those who are looking for a creative mode won’t find that here, those who are looking for a more combat-focused building game will enjoy what Portal Knights has to offer.

All in all, if you’re looking for a fun pick-up-and-play game that’s easy to race a round or two and then move on, Mantis Burn Racing might be for you. If you like driving games which offer you the option to tune your machine to the way you like your car to handle, MBR has a promising system to allow you to do just that.

If, like me, you missed out in 2011 when LA Noire first launched, I highly recommend trying it now on Switch (or on PC, PS4, and XB1 where it was recently released. The Switch version feels right at home and has me clamoring that somehow Rockstar will bring more of its catalog to the console.

If you’ve got kids or a significant other who loves to whack LEGO minifigs with you, you’re golden. If that’s the case, you could do a whole lot worse than LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2.

Battle Chef Brigade is as glorious a concoction as its characters make to become part of the titular task force. Part Action RPG, part puzzle game, all charm, Trinket Studios’ release is a special blend of monster guts and magic that will make you smile from start to finish. This is our Battle Chef Brigade review, for the Nintendo Switch.

Gran Turismo Sport is the beginning of a new era for the titular PlayStation racing franchise, but some aspects should have been tuned further if they wanted to remain competitive. Unnecessarily convoluted game modes, a pointless photo mode, always-online connectivity, and terrible rosters of tracks and cars bog down an otherwise fun and immersive driving experience. Although this is easily one of the best feeling and best sounding racing games on PlayStation 4, other racing games are just more fun. And as a long-time fan of this series, that is the most heartbreaking of all.

Despite some great puzzles and an interesting group mechanic, I will be waiting before returning to Hyakki Castle. If you love dungeon crawlers and need something new, give it a try. If you are new to the genre then maybe start with the superb Legend of Grimrock.

It’s Skyrim. It’s been around for years and if you love it you’ll love it on the Switch. If you don’t like it, you probably won’t like it on the switch. To me, this might very well be the way I play Skyrim from now on because it’s so easy to put down when my daughter or wife need me and pick it right back up once my free time starts rolling in again.

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.

Hand of Fate 2 is vastly superior to the first game, and a great game in its own right. If you’re looking for a highly replayable Action RPG with beautiful visuals and fun combat, look no further. There really isn’t a game quite like Hand of Fate 2, so help foster innovation.

Gunman Taco Truck isn’t a particularly complex game once you work out how to beat it. There is limited longevity to this format, simply because it has a win and failure state, but it is absolutely worth your time. If you are sick of ghastly grey post-apocalyptic nightmares hen it might be worth spicing up your taco with Romero Studios' latest creation.

Need For Speed Payback is a mixed bag. One the one hand it’s a fun arcade racer with great customization, a wide range of cars and race styles and some truly great single player moments. Yet with the other hand holding an underwhelming multiplayer experience, lather, rinse repeat story missions, and some awkward storytelling pacing, NFS never seems to hit top gear in its goal to capture the glory of the old days.

So, does Star Wars Battlefront II fulfill the Star Wars fantasy? I believe it does, but it’s a very Empire Strikes Back fantasy; it’s not all lightsabers and Force-using. Sometimes it takes a blaster or two to get the job done or some fancy flying. It may require some frustrating moments of Dagoba-style training. At the end of the day, no matter who gets frozen in carbonite or loses a hand, you’ve got your squad to think about. Only together can you overcome the odds stacked against you.

For those looking for a PvP-intensive MOBA, Battlerite delivers some of the best small-scale battles you can find. Rounds are quick, but gameplay is addictive and fluid enough that you can continually play without realizing it. Though it may not have much depth, Battlerite has lots of action packed into an easy to learn package.

If you were worried that Call of Duty would not deliver on the promise to go back to its roots, please try the game. I was skeptical, especially after the beta. I thought there was no way it could happen. I was pleasantly surprised to find out they made good on that promise. Call of Duty: WWII has an amazing, engaging, and emotional story. It is very worthy of the title and will go down in history as one of the best single player experiences Call of Duty has offered.

Bubsy is a cat-out-of-time trying to find his fit in a world that’s memories of him haven’t been too endearing. Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back is a moderately enjoyable game, but it just out of place within it’s current price bracket. Aside from the price, there are moments where Bubsy’s commentary feels rather forced (occasionally annoying), but other times he delivers one-liners that made me chuckle. It feels like Bubsy is trying too hard to be Deadpool-esque in relevancy and self-awareness.

When all is said and done, the strong gameplay overcomes the flaws in the game. While the graphics are hit and miss, the modding community has already started making improvements. If you are tired of the typical racing sim, or are looking for a more realistic off-road experience, Spintires: MudRunner may be the game for you. And you won’t have to stop by the carwash when you get done.

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.

On top of the original base game, Ittle Dew 2 + on the Switch has the Dream World which adds 5 new dungeons with their own difficulties to conquer, a new boss, and cards to collect. It's a great way to make a somewhat short game last a little longer. And trust us, Ittle Dew 2 is so charming you'll want it to last as long as it can.

Nioh: Complete Edition is a worthy “Soulsbourne” game, and maybe one of the best. With the inclusion of all the DLC and the great performance of the port, Nioh should be a day 1 purchase for all fans of the genre. The combat system allows you to play fast and aggressive or slow and defensive, whichever suits your playstyle, and the inclusion of DLC weapons from the start means that you have an incredible amount of customization right off the bat to play through this deep, lengthy game.

I can't imagine anyone beating Giants' offering when it comes to Farming Simulator 18. If you're looking to relax and feel the digital earth between your digital hands, this one's a keeper. Recommended.

Destiny 2 on PC makes you feel as though the series really always belonged on the computer. The extra level of detail in each nook and cranny, the fluid, fast-paced and incredibly accurate movement thanks to the control set-up coupled with high framerates, and the support Destiny 2 has for multiple GPU and monitor setups really drive home that Bungie and Vicarious Vision made Destiny 2 its own on PC.

Gaijinworks’ latest game isn’t the big AAA JRPG like Final Fantasy. It’s more intimate, along the lines of Disgaea, and some might say it deserves the same following as that popular series. While Summon Night 6 is an overall good game, it also doesn’t do quite enough to differentiate itself from the crop of tactical RPGs already available on PS4 and PS Vita.

Simply put, Super Mario Odyssey is the best game of 2017, and one of the greatest games of all time. Nintendo is on a roll. Long live the King.

Knight Terrors is a game that feels at home on the Switch because of the Switch’s mobile appeal. It falls right in the category of a cell phone game; it’s something that you’d pick up for a few minutes, play a round, and be on your merry way. It isn’t a living-room blockbuster like a certain plucky plumber keeps producing, but at $3 USD, it’s hard to shake a hat at it… or a Stick of Returning.

Dungeons 3 is a solid Dungeon manager that will keep you entertained for many hours between the fun gameplay, loving the attention to the details and endless puns and jeers of Thalya and the Narrator towards each other and famous franchises. If you are tired of the paladins and people who play them, this is the game for you.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a great game. If you’re a fan of the series, this is a great addition to the family. If you’ve never played the rebooted series before, I would recommend starting with Wolfenstein: The New Order, if you don’t you won’t be able to follow the story very well at all. While Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus has its flaws, I think it’s a definite buy.

Assassin’s Creed Origins is a breathtaking sensorial odyssey. It is the MMO I have been waiting for without the MMO part, and boy would my heart skip a beat if it were massively multiplayer online. Ubisoft has won a new superfan.

If you are curious about what D&D is all about, or a veteran chasing a feeling of nostalgia, you should give Tales from Candlekeep a shot. It’s a well-polished rendition of classic D&D and is sure to provide hours of entertainment.

While Spelunker Party is definitely not your traditional platformer, playing through the game either solo or with a group is great fun. Though completionists will not be able to collect everything on their own, the quality of the game and sheer amount of things to do make this a great game to pick up. If the large number of items there are to collect in each level do not keep you feeling rewarded, the solving of increasingly difficult platforming sections will.

The Mummy Demastered is probably going to be, like all of WayForward’s games, a bit of a niche and cult classic. It’s a movie tie-in that shouldn’t be good, but is. I have no idea how it got made, but I’m super glad it did. And honestly, I now will probably rent the Tom Cruise movie. It won’t be as fun as the game, but it does have Russell Crowe as Dr. Jekyll, so there’s that. The Mummy Demastered is out today on PS4, PC, XB1, and the Switch. It’s $20, and that feels about right for the 10 or so hours you’ll get from this throwback adventure.

If you are a fan of RPG’s with a good steady story and is anime-styled characters dialogue, you may enjoy this. I enjoyed my time with it and love the combat. For those whose wheelhouse this is in and those that are looking to try it let me know your thoughts on Nights of Azure 2 down below.

Don’t let the pixels fool you into thinking this will be an easy feat. Maybe it will be for some of you people out there who are good with puzzles it will be. In the end, though it will be a good time and a good challenge. To those who pick up this cool indie title on October 23rd let me know down below what level stumped you the longest and which you had to skip.

Etrian Odyssey V is a fun and interesting game for anyone who likes a bit of challenge and isn’t put off by having to create your own maps. There’s a good balance between explaining enough to get the player started in figuring things out and leaving a lot to be discovered. The combat system is also deep and allows for a lot of customization and strategic choices.

In general, I don’t mind new games that get inspiration from some of these older hits, as long as they find a way to improve upon their predecessors. Unfortunately, Riskers doesn’t pull this off. The open-world lacks the reckless abandon found in GTA, and the shooter missions are not up to par with the stylized graphics and pace of Hotline: Miami. If I didn’t have any prior knowledge of the games, I would swear GTA and Hotline were the evolution of Riskers, not the other way around.

While the game causes you to go through some learning pains, The Flame in The Flood will reward those who stick with it to a great experience that you won’t find elsewhere. Playing through this game throws the player into a situation that will make the player feel helpless and constantly struggle to look for material, rather than eventually getting so powerful you just feel like you won the game.

Just last week, Oxenfree was launched on the Nintendo Switch, bringing it to a whole new audience. As one of those new people, I am thrilled to have been given a chance to experience Night School Studio’s debut work. A tale of choice, friendship, communication, and what we do if we’re given a chance to alter events… Oxenfree is a narrative masterpiece.

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.

Whether you’re an older gamer like me chasing the experience we had in our youth, or a newcomer to the retro genre, it’s worth your time. You’re in for hours of entertainment from one playthrough alone, and even more, if you’re a completionist that craves finding all the secrets a game has to offer. So do yourself a favor: load up the eShop (or Steam if you don’t have a Switch), search for Tiny Barbarian DX, click the ‘buy’ button and settle in for a great time.

Neon Chrome’s environmental destruction and bright, cyberpunk colors do a lot to help it stand out from a crowd of dark and dreary rogue-likes. Giving players a sense of progression helps motivate you to play through multiple rounds, and the procedurally generated levels mean you are always doing your best to scout ahead and make a plan for the next room, whether that be taking out a few walls or running in guns blazing.

When a game can bring about those kinds of emotions but also stay fun and enjoyable, that’s how you know it’s really good in my book. You never want to give up and only want to keep trying til you beat it.

While some of it does seem trope-y and parts been done before, I feel Gianty has done enough to make the story in Goken their own. Overall the game felt like a good solid addition to anyone’s Action RPG library.

While 88 Heroes can be fun for a quick play session, the premise feels as though it hurts the overall game. Making each level beatable by each hero makes the game a little too easy at times, but it is fun to get one of your favorite heroes and mess around with their unique abilities. While you can unlock modes that let you limit the heroes you wish to use, to either a pool of 8 with Magnificent 8 mode or 1 with solo, it still doesn’t quite solve the game’s issue of needing to cater to all of the heroes as a whole.

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.

This game has everything I personally love in a third person action shooter. It provides a satisfying blend of action and story with the freedom of play, personable characters, and a compelling storyline. The comic book presentation gives the shooter its own personality and character and it has online cooperative play. If you enjoy a thoughtful tactical shooter, then I would recommend giving Rogue Trooper Redux a try.