Despite some very minor annoyances, I really enjoyed my time with The Legend of Steel Empire. It’s a classic old school Shmup brought to the current era with upgraded art and funky music. Fans of the genre should absolutely check it out now that it’s available on Nintendo Switch.

Despite its engaging concept and moments of brilliance, the game is held back by these shortcomings, making it a journey of both delight and disappointment. This ultimately leaves Phantom Abyss feeling like a treasure chest that’s only partially filled – it has its share of gems that shine brightly yet leaves enough space to make you wonder about the treasures that could have been.

Kingpin: Reloaded is a very problematic remaster of a shooter that wasn’t exactly a classic even in its heyday. Though there are some nicer textures and quality-of-life improvements, there are plenty of bugs, glitches and missed opportunities as well, so the source material isn’t elevated above its mediocre status. There’s little to value here unless you’re desperately devoted to millennial shooters and willing to be forgiving to the developers as they continue to patch the game’s problems. It turns out that when Kingpin was being reloaded, the magazine was filled with blanks.

Occasional pacing issues aside, Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a fantastic follow-up to one of the best games in the series’ history. Its refined combat is snappy and satisfying. The three in-game cities are filled to the brim with activities to keep you busy, and Ryū ga Gotoku Studio’s penchant for weaving a compelling narrative remains unrivaled. Throw in a pair of unbelievably feature-rich games within the game in the form of Sujimon League and Dondoko Island, and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is an adventure fans of the series can’t afford to miss.

Honestly, I had much more fun with Momodora: Moonlit Farewell than I expected. Not only is the game beautiful and full of wonderful art and music, but it’s well-balanced, challenging, and engaging. Though the experience isn’t overly long, and I managed to get about 60% of the Steam achievements in one playthrough, there are some reasons to return, such as an enhanced boss rush post-game and Arrange Mode. If you’re at all a fan of Metroidvanias and are looking for a new obsession, look no further—a truly outstanding final entry in a great indie series.

Clive & Co’s first adventure into the world of DLC is good, and if you like the game, then you’ll almost definitely enjoy venturing into the Sagespire. There’s absolutely no denying that. But, given that it’s an extension of Final Fantasy XVI, it needs to be great—and I’m not quite sure that it reached that status. While there’s no denying that Echoes of the Fallen features a unique premise and a new stage to explore that’s every bit as challenging as it is breathtaking, you wouldn’t really be missing out on anything if you decided to skip it. Hopefully, the next piece of DLC will bring about a little bit more excitement.

Maybe that’s enough, though. Making one of the greatest SHMUPs ever released available to more players isn’t exactly nothing, and Radiant Silvergun still deserves that distinction even after all these years. Those just getting into the genre may want to cut their teeth on a few more forgiving titles before diving into this one, but SHMUP veterans should be ready for one of the most exciting games in the genre.

Altogether, I really enjoyed playing Bahnsen Knights, and feel it’s a good way to end this current Pixel Pulps trilogy. Though it’s not perfect, and makes some of the same missteps as previous games, it’s still well written and full of angsty sights and sounds. I highly recommend playing it on Nintendo Switch, since it’s the closest you can get to replicating the feel of holding a book in your hands and choosing your own adventure. A rousing apocalyptic finale well worth your time.

Whether you have played these games previously and are simply excited to see them released from the shackles of Nintendo’s handheld ecosystems, or you’re jumping into the insanity that is this sequel trilogy for the first time, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy is an unmissable courtroom drama.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is, in many ways, a new direction for this series, but there’s enough pulled from the past that it very much still feels like a Prince of Persia game. With excellent combat, some of the best platforming you’ll find in any Metroidvania, a fantastic world to explore, and a series of incredible powers to unlock, The Lost Crown keeps getting more interesting as you make your way through it. Fans of the series, the genre, or simply great games will want to check out Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.

Despite initially relying a little too much on trial and error, Howl is an absolute delight once its mechanics click. What initially appears as a simplistic tactical RPG soon morphs into a devilishly difficult puzzle game that begs for repeated playthroughs as you gain a greater command of new mechanics and the core gameplay loops. Whether you’re after a tactical RPG that does things a little bit differently or a puzzle experience that gets increasingly rewarding the more you invest yourself in it, Howl is an easy recommendation.

I’d consider the smoother gameplay, more detailed story mode, and more interesting art style a fair trade-off for this extra content. There’s enough content in House Flipper 2 right now to keep players busy for a long time. I have a lot harder time accepting the major bugs the game currently features, though. In time, House Flipper 2 may well morph into one of the best examples of this sort of simulation title, but for now, there’s still work to be done.

I went into Ultimate Ninja Storms Connections expecting a competent arena fighter, and while I definitely got that, what I didn’t expect was an experience that thoughtfully packaged together the greatest hits of Naruto’s early years in a way that would serve as an entry point to the Naruto universe. The result is an experience that is both welcoming to newcomers, while still catering to seasoned fans with the expansive character roster and standalone story that may appeal to series veterans more than it did me. With substantial single-player modes and competent online net code that rarely faltered, Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is a well-rounded package that should impress both fans of Naruto and those simply looking for a solid arena fighter.

I really wasn’t sure how I would judge Fearmonium in the end. The game found all sorts of ways to challenge me, both good and bad. The combat wasn’t as smooth as I would have liked, and the comic panels are rough, yet the game premise is unique, and the world is fascinating. Ultimately, I truly feel there’s a solid and worthwhile experience here. Once the aforementioned glitch is patched, I can fully recommend it to fans of the genre.

Looking at how much time I’ve spent doing runs on this, even without the expectation of making it very far, is a testament to Trinity Fusion’s staying power. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if a game can get me to procrastinate writing a review because I’m too enamored with playing it, something has gone very right. Eventually, you’ll go enough rounds that rooms and setups might start looking the same, and not every build will go out as planned due to the luck of the draw throwing you a bad weapon or useless perk. But all of that probably won’t deter a rogue-lite fan who can see the fun in the stylish and fluid combat, and sci-fi sightseers will be in for a treat with all the beautiful backgrounds and wild alien lifeforms. Angry Mob Studios has struck a damn fine balance between fun, progress, and style here with Trinity Fusion, so here’s hoping some rebalances and tweaks will grow out this multiversal menagerie even more into the stellar juggernaut it’s well on its way to becoming.

Despite having some real issues with it, though, Astral Ascent simply feels great to play, and that goes a long way in a genre that lives and dies based upon exactly that. If you’re going to ask players to make run after run through the same areas and repeat the same challenges, you need to feel good on a visceral level. Astral Ascent nails that and is the exact sort of game I want to keep running through. In some ways, it feels more like a great Early Access game that needs a bit more polish than a truly finished product, but what’s here today is still well worth a look for fans of the genre.

Speaking purely in terms of dress-up sims, Fashion Dreamer is excellent. While I would have liked a bit more customization in terms of your actual Muses, there’s very little to dislike about the borderline-unlimited number of outfits that the game offers you. As an entire experience, however, I couldn’t help but find the game lacking. While Fashion Dreamer doesn’t disappoint when it comes to letting players express their inner fashionistas, the fact that there’s so little to do outside of creating outfits for people makes it hard to stay motivated for long periods of time. Sure, I’m happy to spend hours creating outfits… but I need something to do afterward, you know?

MassHive Media’s potion-crafting simulator is a good game and I enjoyed playing it. It could have been great if they had just let it simmer for a bit longer, though—a fact that I found regretfully painful to deal with. While there’s no denying that Potion Permit offers a fun time for those interested and a top-tier level of visual polish, its overly simplistic approach to certain mechanics, combined with a lack of post-game content, means that players probably won’t find themselves staying in Moonbury Town for long.

Much like Tevi herself, the game is a bit of a work in progress. There’s good and there’s bad, but overall I feel the good outweighs the bad. It’s a fun, challenging, original game with amazing art and wonderful characters. Yes, there’s also elements that felt rougher, but none so egregious it held the entire experience back. If you’re willing to put in the time, you’ll find a great adventure here.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a wonderfully whimsical—and, at times, delightfully dark—new entry into the Dragon Quest Monsters franchise. While its graphics were more dated than I’d have liked, and I did find myself wanting a more free-roaming experience, I’d be lying if I said that I was anything but happy with how this game turned out. I truly hope that Square Enix continues putting their all into making DQM better and better with each new entry. Happy 25th Anniversary, DQM!

Ready or Not is an excellent tactical shooter that really immerses you into the role of a heavily-armed law enforcer, with all the split-second life-or-death decisions that entails. There are some annoying niggles in the single-player campaign and a few conspicuously missing features so there’s room for improvement, though it’s overall fun. It’s definitely a slower-paced shooter that requires a lot of patience for success, but if you’re willing to put in the effort to be a perfectionist policeman, Ready or Not will be right up your precinct.

For me, the hallmark of a good puzzler is reaching a zen-like state with the game. That happened early for me with Colored Effects and didn’t let up until I hit the end. I wish there were more, but that’s not a complaint from me. At such a low price point, and with solid execution, there’s no reason not to spend your weekend with this excellent little indie.

Salt and Sacrifice isn’t completely perfect—it suffers from some weird decision-making regarding boss speeds and invincibility frames, and it doesn’t come with the same kind of polish that larger companies are capable of applying to games. Fortunately, none of this really stops that from making it a solid game. All-in-all, Salt and Sacrifice proves itself to be a worthy successor to Salt and Sanctuary, and its focus on Mage hunts helps it to stand tall as a unique (and fun!) 2D soulslike.

The Pale Reach is a hard sell despite its minor price tag. The perils and tranquilities of the icefields, the new threat of the Urghal, and new fishes, diaries, and characters spruce up this expansion. However, The Pale Reach fails to provide more than just a passing journey through a glacial uncharted region due to its sparse one-hour length and lack of exciting new features. If you want more DREDGE, this is for you, but if not, this expansion won’t win you over as it’s too slight to engage over the long haul.

Overall, the Switch port of Firefighting Simulator – The Squad is a bit of a mixed bag. Graphical issues and AI quirks aside, the game still delivers where it counts: the fundamental mechanics and the thrill of multiplayer gameplay. Despite its repetition and simplicity, it does a decent job of introducing players to the nuts and bolts of firefighting. The game truly comes alive in multiplayer, where teamwork elevates the experience, capturing some of the excitement and challenge of the job. It’s not perfect, but for those with a keen interest in firefighting and a willingness to overlook its technical issues on the Switch, this game can be a solid pick.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising ends up feeling a bit more like a large update than a true sequel, despite what some of those involved in its development would insist, but at the end of the day, I’m not sure I care. At its core, this is still a fantastic fighting game filled with content. Some of that content may not exactly be new, but when almost everyone missed it the first time around, I’m glad that it will get another chance to build a community. Outside of the strange changes to the story mode, this is a better game than the original in every way and well worth the time of fighting game fans.

As spirited as Christmas itself, Lake: Season’s Greetings is a lovely piece of prequel dlc that harnesses everything that makes the base game so pleasant and easygoing to play. The new characters are memorable, the delivery gameplay is conveniently chill, and the short runtime ensures it doesn’t overstay its welcome. Sure, not much has changed, there are a few bugs and the Christmas theme isn’t quite fully baked, but whether you enjoyed the original Lake or Season’s Greetings is your first foray, you’ll certainly find cozy comforts in Season’s Greetings-time to warm yourself by the fire and play this exquisite-if-light piece of dlc.

The latest Persona 5 spinoff could be called a lot of different things. Strange? A bit, yeah. Minimalistic? Compared to the rest of the series, definitely. But you can also, undoubtedly, call it creative. And, most importantly, you can very easily call it fun! So long as you can get past its slightly odd presentation in the beginning, Persona 5 Tactica promises an enjoyably unique experience that only serves to build upon the world of Persona 5 established by its predecessors. Regardless of whether or not SRPGs are normally your thing, any self-respecting Persona fan owes it to themselves to snag a copy of P5T as soon as they’re able.