Whatever momentary feelings of frustration I had while playing Mixups were more than outnumbered by how much fun I had overall. Even without the other five games Word Puzzles had, it’s still a worthwhile purchase if you’re the sort who plays word games — and I am, which means (like most of Lightwood Games’ other offerings) I can’t get enough of it.

If they had just made it so that there was any kind of skill involved in picking the right door — literally any skill whatsoever — it could have redeemed the whole thing. Instead, Left-Right: The Mansion just feels like a seemingly endless, monotonous game of chance, where the only way to win is to simply not play.

No matter how interesting an idea the progression system is, it doesn’t make up for the fact that everything else about Emerald Shores is brutally bad. In every way, from every perspective imaginable: this is just an awful, no-good game.

It’s actually kind of ironic to be describing anything in Death Mark as a breath of fresh air, since so much of it seems to stiflingly claustrophobic and dark. But really, that’s what it is: where most visual novels seem content, for better or for worse, to stick to a formula, this game does things a little differently, and for the most part, the game is better for it.

If you’re a Carcassonne fan who wants the game on your Switch, you should be happy to discover that the version that’s made it over offers a pretty faithful simulation of the real deal — and if you’ve never before played the game and you’re eager to learn (and don’t mind the easy AI kicking your butt repeatedly), then this is a pretty good time to start.

Even if you don’t have an ounce of affinity for the first game, or weren’t around to experience it to begin with, ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove still comes together as a modern roguelike that everyone can enjoy.

With all of that, I cannot recommend Anthem to anyone at launch. There is simply way too much bad to allow for the good to truly shine through. The endgame content is really good, but the boring grind and unbelievably shallow story on the way there do not justify a $60 purchase.

The sound and gameplay both hold up and there’s something cool about playing this on a Nintendo console after all the history shared between them and Sony. It’s also the same port we’ve seen with options to speed up the time spent in battles. So if it’s the first time you’re experiencing the game then you’re in for a treat and I’m glad to see it on the Switch, but at a current price just over $20 for those with other options you may want to wait for a sale.

Overall if you like the aesthetic and want to spend an afternoon or more with a great little platformer then you can’t go wrong with LOVE. It’s a very attractive price and you get a unique game that you’d actually come back to now and then.

That oddness aside, however, Chronus Arc is pretty much exactly what you’d expect from a Kemco RPG. It’s not going to wow you with anything new, but it’s solid enough that you won’t be too disappointed should you find yourself playing it.

If you’re a Nintendo Switch Owner there’s no real reason for you to not download this title. It’s already a Game of the Year Contender.

Even if this were the most balanced game ever, even if it made picking it up and playing a breeze — ARK: Survival Evolved would still be a strong contender for the worst game on the Switch. It looks like garbage and it plays even worse, and no matter how great the intentions behind it or what crazy ambition it shows, there’s no reason why anyone should willingly seek it out and play it.

Crackdown 3 is certainly a mixed bag, what with a fun campaign mode that does come off a bit dated bogged down by a lackluster multiplayer mode that didn’t need to be included. However, it’s hard to argue against the Xbox Game Pass option, and Crackdown 3 is certainly worth the asking price for that program. I wouldn’t pay $60 for it, but $1.00 for the trial, or $10.00 for the monthly fee? Yeah, why not. It’s got enough to enjoy, more so if you enjoyed the original Crackdown, and won’t take up much of your time.

While Linear Bounded Phenogram is presented well, it’s simply not as good or satisfying as Steins;Gate Elite. I found myself just skipping through much of the dialog in hopes of getting to a heart pounding scene, but never really got what was looking for. There are some intense moments here and there, but it takes a long time to get there, and the road to them is long and rather dull at times. While it is well crafted and different, I can only recommend this to the true Steins;Gate fans who are hungry for more.

Gal Metal is a game where you’ll probably find yourself playing through the story just to get to music scenes where your goal is to provide a steady, unceasing beat. Not exactly the most thrilling stuff. Different than most other rhythm games, sure — and if you love rhythm games for the rhythms themselves, there might be something interesting here for you.

A game that could have easily felt like the final part of a trilogy now feels like the start of something more, and has laid the groundwork for potential Metro games to come.

I can recommend Steins;Gate Elite to anyone who wants to experience a fantastic visual novel with multiple endings. I cannot, however recommend this if you are hoping for full interaction or solid gameplay because there really isn’t anything like that here. Outside of a few button presses here and there, there is no game to be played. I am not usually a fan of visual novels, but I didn’t feel bored with this one. Check this one out if you love science fiction stories that captivate.

If you’re in the market for a game that does have relatively little structure, then that won’t do — though I’ll hasten to add that the game also includes a sandbox mode, where you can build to your heart’s content. But if, like me, you’re a more goal-oriented sort of player, then you’ll find that RollerCoaster Tycoon Adventures offers a perfect blend of creativity and structure.

For those that were disappointed with Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised here. It’s also a perfectly fine jumping on point for new players, and the online multiplayer component will likely give this game legs well past the initial launch. Finally, the VR really should be one of the first things you boot up, and stands out as one of the better VR experiences on the platform thus far.

If you’re looking for a game that offers tonnes of content, Scintillatron 4096 isn’t it, especially if you’re playing it on Vita. But if you played that Atari Flashback Classics collection and want to recreate the feeling with something newer, this game should do the trick.

If you have a PS4, Xbox One, or PC, you should really give Apex Legends a try. It’s managed to hit the ground running, with very little in the way of server issues or other hiccups after the first week. It’s clear Respawn has plans to support the title in the long-term, and the six Legends characters available from the start (with two more unlockable via in-game currency) provide enough variety to begin with. This will be the Battle Royale title I stick with for the immediate future, and I’m excited to see this game evolve over time.

Stay undeniably has a unique, interesting hook, but I can’t say that the rest of it lives up to that little bit of innovation.

Unfortunately, Dragonfly Chronicles isn’t one of those games that’s so bad it ends up being cheesy fun, or so bad that you can enjoy hating on it. It’s just plain bad, and not in any ways that make it redeemable.

I’d highly suggest checking out Battle Princess Madelyn, or possibly revisiting the game if you already played it around launch. The changes made so far have all been positive, and it’s certainly one of the best attempts at nailing the Ghosts ‘n Goblins formula that I’ve seen in recent years.

Now, do I love Pic-a-Pix Pieces so much that I’m ready to proclaim it one of my very (very, very) early GOTY contenders? Probably not, since there’s still a long time and a lot of games to go in 2019. I can, however, say with certainty that after playing the heck out of this game on the Switch, I’m going to pick it up for the Vita and PS4 and do it all over again on those platforms too. If that’s not an endorsement, I don’t know what is.

The PS3 version of Vesperia that never made its way out of Japan has always been a long sticking point for fans, and with the release of the Definitive Edition, it’s a wrong that has finally been righted.

It’s fine for what it is, and I certainly wouldn’t begrudge anyone who does love the game and hold it in insanely high regard, but if I’m being completely honest, I just don’t get it.

I think it does a great job of emulating a style of RPG that is generally not represented on consoles or PC’s nowadays, and scratches an itch I didn’t even know I had. It’s not overly long, has a solid combat system, and the story is robust enough to draw you in and keep you hooked. Give this one a shot when you get a chance, you won’t be disappointed.