Slick and simple, and at times, fun that's bordering frenetic. Despite the lack of diversity in gameplay and sound, as well as few new challenges introduced throughout, the game's an easy-to-pick-up diversion that tests your multitasking ability.

Nightmares From the Deep: The Cursed Heart is kind of like the old pirates of yore: What it lacks in finesse, it makes up for in brute force. If refinement and attention to detail are a priority, then it will probably leave you cold. But if what you're after is a big pile of hidden object scenes and you're not too particular about how it's all tied together, this tale of tragedy on the high seas will fit the bill nicely.

I have mixed feelings about Mystery Manor Blitz. On one hand, the game brings some nice ideas to the hidden object table, and it's a great choice to play if you only have ten or fifteen minutes of game time to spare. But on the other hand, the game badgers you with way too many social profile requests, and deciphering their advertisements from actual in-game menus could be a hidden object level in of itself.

If you like orcs, elves, and other Lord of the Rings-esque fantasy trappings, give Kingdom of Heroes a try. Just don't expect to be bowled over by its less-the-stellar presentation and pedestrian gameplay.

I highly recommend Enigmatis: The Ghosts of Maple Creek. The length of the game is excellent and, while the bonus chapter isn't particularly long, it adds enough to the story to make it worth the Collector's Edition price.

While it's kind of fun, it's nowhere near the games it's basing itself on.

A decent defense title that is saved from mediocrity thanks to a rather unique gameplay mechanic.

f you're looking for a new game to play as an adult-pass on this. It's a little too easy and a little too shallow to really be worth your time. But if you and your family are about to head to the theater and watch the movie, having your children play the game during the car ride certainly will occupy their time on the road on the way there and back.

Taking over the world is a lofty goal, be it for a player or a developer. But as far as unique mash-ups go, Tiny Token Empires might just be the best we've seen yet. Demanding a good deal of strategy on multiple fronts, gamers with a thirst for global conquest and a taste for fantastic gameplay owe it to themselves to pick this one up.

Though the gaudy Vegas theme may not be for everyone, the core gameplay can be incredibly addictive, and you can eventually build up an impressively huge and complex tower. You'll just need to look past some of the design and interface issues on your way to the top.

Avernum: Escape From The Pit provides plenty of bang for the buck in a world that's both impressively vast and well realized. Trying to escape a horrifying fate has rarely been this enjoyable.

Kingdom Builder should be a great game on iOS. The rules are simple and the play eminently suitable for transition to a touchscreen interface. But while it essentially delivers what it needs to, it's a salutary lesson on how a number of small issues which might not be deal breakers individually can rapidly snowball and make an app slip into unusable territory.

If you're craving a shiny new fighting game, Street Fighter X Tekken is definitely pretty, but know that the entry cost won't be the last time you'll have to purchase something for an optimal experience.

Although this may seem like a lot of complaining, I honestly enjoyed most of my time with Spell Rift -- It's just not a game that's going to entertain you for hours on end.

The music has its moments, but it’s no rival to the first, and the visuals are arguably less striking than the original, which is over 30 years old at this point. It’s all just a little too basic and safe. Still, if you’re a parent who played the original back in the day, this is a great introduction to the world of gaming for the younger crowd. You might even find yourself enjoying it alongside them, if you’re a sucker for nostalgia.

I’m a big fan of pixelated titles and management/simulation games, so I knew Discounty was for me, and it didn’t disappoint.

If you’re someone who wants more of the fighting aspect of this game rather than focusing on the fact that it’s Hunter x Hunter, I can see why it’s not as enjoyable. Fights are simple at their core, despite there being different attacks you can do. Story Mode had a lot of story. And while it was skippable, I’d often skip it just for a quick fight, before entering another long story-filled chapter. That being said, if you do love the Hunter x Hunter world, this game is a must-play for fans.

At face value, Date Everything may seem like a silly little dating game. The hilarity of the memes and social media posts regarding the game is certainly attention-grabbing, but they don’t touch on the intricacies of the title. I was pleasantly surprised by the fact that it’s so much more than that. Characters interact with each other, and some even have a bit of history. Harper and Dirk, I’m looking at you. It creates a world that feels real, as they speak of other objects, immersing you in a sort of hub world within the walls of the house. You forget the fact that you don’t touch grass, and instead, you spend all day, every day socialising with your furniture. Okay, it sounds weird when you put it like that, but despite the game taking place in one major location, it doesn’t feel limited in the slightest.

Fantasy Life has something for everyone and feels like an expansive, multi-layered adventure.

Overall, I think Ashwood Valley need to invest more in plot and engagement. It’s all well and good having cute maps and designs, but without lore, nothing is compelling me to appreciate the overall game.

So, is the I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream Switch version it worth playing? Yes and no. It’s a great bit of writing, and if you’re a fan of the story and its world, it’s the best way to explore more of it given the original author helped create it. On the other hand, the decision to bring the game over with minimal changes makes it an overall flawed experience. With a better cursor and some much-needed bug fixes, this would definitely get a higher score, but as-is, I think only big-time Ellison fans will want to suffer through the annoyances of playing when they could find a gameplay video somewhere.

To wrap up, I enjoyed my time with EvoCreo2. It’s a game any fan of Pokémon could enjoy, without the £60 price tag. I liked the Creo designs, main story, side quests, interactions, and world layout. Particularly, the Creo upgrades are more in-depth than just evolution. They had customisable moves, passives, and traits to help them prestige. I also loved the evolution animations and how they were unique for each elemental type. Other animations, such as attack and sprite movements, were also lively. My personal favourite is the Bug Bite move attack animation with its snarly fangs and fluid blood movement.

Do I recommend Sorry We’re Closed? A million times yes! If you like old-school horror games and miss the PSX era, then this game is just what you’re looking for. It’s got a Y2K flare combined with the darkness of familiar survival horror titles. On top of that, the storyline is engaging, the characters are likeable, the dialogue and relationships feel natural, and trying to uncover the mysteries of both worlds had me glued to my screen for hours.

To me, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is the perfect game to snuggle up with. Even if you play for just an hour, there’s so much to do, and it’s all so relaxing. With an abundance of side quests and main quests, you’ve always got something to do.

Don’t get me wrong, I had a lot of fun playing Genso Manège. The mini-games and overall art style were well executed. The age and adoptive sister/brother romance did put me off though, as well as the lack of dialogue options. I wish the game gave you more chances to get to know the characters and interact with them before throwing you into their route. That being said, once you start romancing them, each character has an in-depth backstory. You could also see the progress levels with each character, which was nice to know.

Tensei is not perfect – there’s not much content here, ultimately – but we still really enjoyed our time we had with this intriguing casual title.

Yes, this is not a game for everybody. But if you’re looking for a flight sim on the Switch then you can’t do much better than this.

Ultimately Just Crow Things is a fun time that isn’t pretending to be anything it isn’t. If you’re looking for an amusing little indie title to while away some hours with you could do a lot worse.

The controls are well judged but not as fluid as in something like Ridge Racer (at its best), and the tracks are solid if never truly exciting. There is a dizzying amount of content here though, so if you’re a fan of the original then this sequel is a must buy.

As with many co-op platfomers of this type the controls need to be spot on to avoid being frustrating, and sadly Bread and Fred doesn’t quite nail this aspect. Too often we found ourselves struggling to get out of an area because of slightly finickity physics or overcomplicated controls, and it didn’t feel as if the blame lay at our door. If you stick with it things do improve though, with the slightly fudged controls being workable and the game offering some interesting level design and ideas.

It’s a very short title, but anyone looking for a chilled puzzle experience should be checking out Paper Trail.

A game that keeps throwing surprises and different puzzles at you, Animal Well is arguably one of the very best indie releases from 2024.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the chibi shapes and this caused me to lose attention, and skip most dialogue to avoid looking at NPCs and cutscenes longer than I had to. This lack of engagement with a core part of the game pulled me out of the immersion. But I’ll admit that that’s mostly my fault. Maybe the real critters were the avatars we made along the way…

Overall, I think this is a wonderful game for fans of Error Salvation. You get to play through a variety of alternate endings, both good and bad. Bad in the sense that they’re depressing and dark. From the selection screen, you have multiple options to choose from.

The combat is fiddly, and the levels are designed in a way that means it becomes even more frustrating than fun.

Perhaps not quite as pure and joyful an experience as Grapple Dog, Grapple Dogs is still a hugely impressive and playable platformer.

So this is an occasionally bumpy ride, but the superb presentation and enjoyable cast make this a mystery worth looking into for fans (if not newbies) of the genre.

It’s over fairly quickly, but while it lasts, Little Kitty Big City is a very sweet ride that has clearly been made with a lot of passion and care.

It won’t be for everyone, but Thank Goodness You’re Here offers up such a bravely unique vision it’s hard not to be impressed.

With the ability to upgrade your weapons, collect pets, and increase your stats, there’s a constant sense of progression in WitchSpring R. It’s one of the best things about it, and makes it an essential purchase for RPG fans.

I’m seriously going to make it a regular addition to my exercise routine because A) it’s fun, and B) it works up a sweat! I genuinely feel as if I’ve done a real workout at a gym class with an instructor afterwards, but from the comfort of my own home with my favourite Vocaloid. I also think the addition of building up your data to keep an eye on your progress is a nice touch, as I can see where I’m going wrong, and what I need to do more of.

Celestia: Chain of Fate completely took my breath away, and it truly felt like I was in a fairy tale. The art and music are beautiful, and I loved that even the people you only meet a few times have additional stories and extras dedicated to them. I’ve already romanced Luke… so I think I’ll go for Ash next!

If you’re happy to be patient with this cosy game, I say give it a go. I enjoyed Magical Delicacy, and respect that it has so many great ideas – but you certainly have to be in the right mindset to play it.

If you like the base game, and you’ve completed all stages, we’d say this DLC is worth your time. You get a bunch of new levels to work through, all of which are just as creative and innovative as the original.

This is a game we’d ultimately recommend playing in short bursts – this way it offers a perfectly judged experience for both experienced and novice fans of the tower defense genre.

If you like cosy fantasy games, but with a hint of action, then Elrentros Wanderings comes highly recommended – as long as you’re okay with things getting a little repetitive at times.

I absolutely adore the art in this game. The character models are gorgeous, the art pieces during romantic scenes are beautiful and cosy, and the UI has a charm to it.

Echo Generation: Midnight Edition is worth a pop for those who love retro science fiction and want something new out of the genre.

I think my love for Potion Permit comes down to the stunning world design, weird villagers and homely, whimsical charm. That and I’m not immune to being a witch doctor. Echoing what I said at the start of this review, you need to try this game! Potion Permit is stacked with a great storyline, freedom of choice but a linear progression, lovely visuals and a huge sense of accomplishment as you build relations between the characters.

Despite being a simple game at heart Dadish 3D is undeniably a fun time. It boasts tight controls, a good array of locales and bosses, and is constantly amusing. This is a must for Dadish fans, and worth a look for anyone else.

Ultimately, Sticky Business has perfected the art of relaxation whenever you need to take a break from the hustle bustle of reality.

Now I know Otome games can get steamy sometimes, but some of the dialogue and art for Tengoku Struggle Strayside had me giggling and kicking my legs like a teenager. That’s a good thing, trust me.

This is a budget title, but one with more charm than most games in this price bracket. So this is a hard title to score. For fans of ironic low budget kitsch this could be a four star game – for those unable to look beyond the visuals this could be a one star experience. Ultimately though, if you’re looking for a new 2D platformer to play and don’t mind a few rough edges you could certainly do worse.

The presentation might be a little low-rent overall, but the controls are perfect and there are just enough new ideas continually thrown in to keep you playing. Add in support for up to four players and you have an indie game that is very hard to hate.

There’s a great range of challenges, the presentation is purely old school cool, and the controls are ultimately well judged.

A game like What The Golf? strikes a far better blend of ridiculousness and actually engaging gameplay, although younger gamers might still get something out of this.

Our only complaint would be the price tag, which is a tad high considering the age of the game – even if there admittedly is plenty of content to get your teeth into. For any fans of old school first person shooters this is still a must buy though.

Cavern of Dreams is effortlessly nostalgic, whimsical and charming. I’ve been so eager to get my thoughts out on this title since it is wholeheartedly my current favourite game I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing. Before I’m Fynnished (ha!), Cavern of Dreams really is a title kids and adults can easily enjoy.

In conclusion, I had a blast playing Sympathy Kiss, and I can’t wait to dive back in to reach other endings. This Otome game has given me yet another fictional man to love, and for that, I highly recommend it.

A first person shooter that is perhaps a little too focused on style over substance, this is still worth investigating for fans of the genre.

The battles are one note, there aren’t exciting new kinks added in nearly enough, and the action is fairly slow. If you’re really hankering for a dungeon crawler you can do worse, but you can also do a lot better.

The way qomp2 keeps you guessing means it’s a must try if you’re looking for a new experience.

Yes, several aspects are clunky and have not aged well – but the amount of care to bring this game to a modern audience should be applauded. They don’t make them like this anymore – for better and for worse.

It offers little surprises but if you’re a fan of puzzle titles like this then you can’t really go wrong, especially for the low price point. Just don’t go in expecting much in the way of frills when it comes to the presentation.

The controls are stiff, the jumps are constantly frustrating, and no real element feels particularly fun. These were important games in their time, but now we can’t see anyone playing them for more than a few minutes. Unless you’re a die hard Monty Mole fan we can’t really recommend this one.

Despite having no prior experience with the series, or even with visual novels in general, I found myself totally engrossed in the story of Apollo Justice. The bizarre dialogue and twisty plots made the whole thing feel like a playable anime, with stunning art and animation to match. While it may stumble sometimes with puzzles that feel too tricky for their own good, referring to a guide occasionally is a small price to pay to enjoy three fully-realised epics such as these. We the jury find Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy… Not Guilty! Of being a game you’ll regret picking up.

Despite the colourful and generally chill aesthetics, Promenade is certainly not a game to be trifled with. This only made us enjoy the game all the more though. What could have been another bland indie platformer is something much more interesting. So if you’re looking for a new platforming challenge, we’d highly recommend Promenade. It’s charming, well designed, and has a few interesting new ideas of its own.

Time Master is a charming, whimsical game with easy controls, great replay value and engaging levels. Despite not finishing the game to completion I’m eager to get back on the game and seek out those later-game levels – that alone should be telling enough of the entertainment value of Time Master.

Overall, Another Code: Recollection comes recommended to those who love dialogue-heavy games. It’s a relaxing experience, with some head-scratching puzzles thrown in, made all the easier with the brilliant addition of the Compass and Hint functions.

If you’ve had a tough day, and the soup on the stove still has a while to go, then give Anomaly Agent a shot – and lose yourself in a simpler world. For a little while, at least.

Hiveswap boasts some brilliant character design that feels true to the Homestuck lore – on top of the fun interactions you’ll partake in. Similarly to Pesterquest you get to tell your own story through the friendships in the game. Though some of the friends you make are…questionable. Trolls are fascinating in that their ways of befriending are rather extreme. You’ll be put to some extreme lengths to accumulate new chums.

I think it’s safe to say I thoroughly enjoyed Pesterquest and still continue to do so! I haven’t gotten through every route yet, but knowing I have more plus replay value ahead of me hasn’t left my mind, and I’m itching to have this review live to get back on it.

You get a lot of decks to play with, sure – but we would still expect a much more refined party game experience for such an outlay. So with that in mind we’d only truly recommend Heads Up! Phones Down Edition when it’s on sale, and even then you may be better off investigating some of the other more unique party titles the Switch has to offer first.

If you’re nostalgic for the classic fast-paced restaurant/cafe management games, you’re bound to love Pixel Cafe. It offers hours of fun and is one of those rare games that reminds you of fond old favourites from back in the day. With a low price tag, it’s worth checking out.

If you’re aren’t into platformers as a whole, Tevi might not be for you – it’s probably one of the more complicated entries in the genre out there, but it’s just about worth the effort.

If you like JRPGs, combat with depth, and love getting to know characters more, CRYMACHINA is the game for you. Not a lot of games as of late feature such a distinctive art style, and it inspired me to pick up my own digital art projects again for a while – and that’s saying something!

To sum things up, this game was a real experience. It opened me to a new genre of games which I previously dismissed. I found myself wanting to replay stories just to try for different endings. World of Horror is an ideal title for gamers who like causal horror titles. There’s a low commitment to the stories despite the range in difficulty, and it’s easy to pick up and come back to time and time again.

Despite these grievances with Archetype Arcadia, it’s a perfectly fine visual novel. If you like Sword Art Online or a darker storyline mixed with futuristic themes, you’ll probably enjoy this one. There are certainly worse visual novels to play through, and with more refinement, Archetype Arcadia could have become a brilliant little gem.

Overall Spirittea is imbued with so much charm, and it’s all wove together to create a fascinating and whimsical experience. Plus, with a character as sassy and hilarious as Wonyan to guide me, all the tasks he bestows are always delivered alongside amusing dialogue. I’m a dog person at heart, but Wonyan is my honourary cat.

If you’re after a bold and brash 3D platformer you should definitely check out Bang-On Balls: Chronicles. Just not on the Switch.

DreamWorks All-Star Kart Racing is a just about serviceable budget kart game, but did we really need another one of those?

For some Frog Detective won’t offer enough actual detective work, but it’s still a gently amusing ride that will certainly appeal to younger gamers.

We can’t question the work that’s gone into reviving Gargoyles Remastered, but we do slightly question whether this was a title that needed bringing back in the first place.

Many won’t be able to adjust to the sometimes unfair difficulty spikes of course, but if you’re an FPS fan you owe it to yourself to at least give this a try.

This is worth a shot if you like pouring hours upon hours into a visual novel – especially since there are multiple routes. However, you’ve really got to push yourself to get through the first few hours – don’t go into it expecting a predecessor to Danganronpa, because this game is nothing like that.

Gothic Classic has an avid fanbase, and for good reason. The game is intricately detailed, with deep lore, and meaningful world-building. But sadly the awful controls are too much to cope with, and they do ruin the game to some extent. Perhaps it works better on a keyboard and mouse – but this is a game on the Nintendo Switch, and on this format it doesn’t quite work.

Overall, I really do love Super Mario Bros Wonder. It brings in classic elements of past games but sprinkles in a ton of new features to create something new. I love the variety of characters you can play as, and the variety of new items and power-ups. I’m a big fan of the badges and think they are really useful! Some levels and boss fights are easy compared to past games. I think they could have squeezed in a few more levels in each world too. It is a magical and vibrant experience for all ages! Not to mention, it has a super catchy soundtrack (Piranha Plants On Parade is a true masterpiece)

Lil Gator is a wonderfully refreshing and often very funny adventure we’d recommend everyone to check out.

The presentation is as bare bones as it comes, but Hidden Gems Volume One is still an interesting and wisely budget priced option that’s worth investigating for Switch owning retro gamers.

It wisely has a low price tag but that still can’t really justify the lack of creativity on show here. Not even true die hard fans of the genre will get much out of this one.

Koa and The Five Pirates of Mara is perhaps a little twee for older gamers, but anyone that’s after a fast paced platformer should check this out.

Perhaps it’s slightly overpriced for what is ultimately a 5-6 hour experience, but this is still a very unique release and one worth supporting for anyone with even the slightest interest in gaming history.

It has a slightly high price-tag, but if you’re looking for a first person shooter that’s a little different – at least in term of aesthetics – then you should dive right into Forgive Me Father.

If you’re looking for an off-kilter 3D platformer Super Adventure Hand isn’t a bad option, but we’d recommend waiting for it to get a discount point before giving it the full two thumbs up.

It’s perhaps a tad overpriced, and the presentation is bare bones, but if you’re interested in gaming history you could do a lot worse.

The Nintendo Switch port truly does hinder the game, ultimately. The game itself is excellent if it’s being played on a more powerful platform, and perhaps if this game was released after the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 the outcome would be different.

Disney Illusion Island might not appeal to those who want non-stop hardcore platforming thrills, but there’s more than enough challenge here for those who look for it.

If you love Stardew Valley, Sun Haven, and the earlier Harvest Moon games, you are sure to find yourself enjoying your time in Fae Farm. While there were some concerns about the pricing, it’s easy to say that it’s worth it. Fae Farm has hours of content to play through and it’s clear to see the amount of love that went into it during development. The attention to detail is amazing, and it certainly sets a new standard for the genre.