Overall, the game definitely feels like a re-run. While the integration of the world has improved, the storyline has been lackluster at best. Compared to Pokémon X and Y which introduced 3D models and multi-dimensional terrain, Pokémon Ultra Moon feels like a re-mastered version of your typical 7/10 cookie-cutter game. It’s pretty much just like the extra Poké beans you get when you buy a Pinap Juice at the Pokémon Café. Don’t over-hype the game, and you’ll enjoy it just fine.

Much as it pains me to say, Ni no Kuni — an otherwise masterpiece — is not worth your time on the Nintendo Switch. Its issues are simply too frustrating to work around or forgive. The game is in dire need of patches that overhaul how the game performs on the handheld. I was hoping with talk of a new game in the series and this Switch port that the future of the franchise would be positive. For right now, I’m just disappointed that Nintendo fans have gotten the short end of the stick.

It’s not a bad game by any means, and I think some fans of both dark art and horror will enjoy this game much more than I did, but for me, I have to hark back to that abstract art analogy I used earlier.

As it stands, Fuga: Melodies of Steel is good, but it falls a bit short of greatness. It toys with some really interesting ideas but ultimately failed to fully capitalize on them. Even so, I did enjoy my time with it. If you're looking for a roughly 15-hour turn-based RPG experience, you can certainly do a lot worse, though I'd recommend waiting for a sale.

In the end, a terrific battle system and great art direction just aren’t enough to save Ruined King: A League of Legends Story from its lackluster narrative, clunky UI, and a wide spectrum of bizarre technical issues on Nintendo Switch. Hardcore League of Legends fans and hardcore RPG mechanics enthusiasts will still enjoy the game, but everyone else is better off playing something else this holiday season.

I have to say, overall, I found New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe to be a bit of a disappointment. It isn’t that it’s a bad game, far from it in fact. However, it is one of the weaker Mario games. There’s a lot of fun to be had, but not much by way of wow factor. The visuals are bright and appealing but lack depth and interest. The music is great, but it’s nearly all stuff that we have heard before. Of course, the platforming is spot on, but again, it doesn’t add anything new. If you can only afford to pick up one Nintendo 2D platformer, then you should get Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. However, if you want even more Mario in your life, then New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is still worth your time.

If you're interested in reliving some of Capcom's past glory, it's never been easier to do so with Capcom Arcade Collection. A wealth of customization options allows players to fine-tune their experience like never before. However, the lack of bonus features and a lineup that could've been more varied stop this collection from reaching a new high score.

Telling Lies is a strong piece of art, with excellent acting, believable dialogue, thoughtful themes, and layer upon layer of mystery to uncover. However, whether it's actually fun to play will depend on the individual and how strongly they connect with the characters and world over several hours of footage. Some players will just get bored.

Merrily exploring Kanto with the new controls, rather than catching wild Pokemon, isn’t terrible. The use of a single Joy-Con to get around becomes somewhat convenient. It’s easy to understand why, as it gives you, the player, far more freedom in regards to sitting down and progressing through the world. This proved to be too inconsistent a method, though, as catching monsters repeatedly is a core gameplay element forced onto you too much in the game.

BOXBOY! is a solid puzzle game with touches of platforming mixed in that puzzle game fans should check out. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel of the genre or leave a lasting impression, but it’s a fun way to tease your brain and enjoy some clever puzzle designs.

Alwa's Legacy is a good throwback to the Metroidvania games that inspired many titles in the genre. It features responsive gameplay, clever puzzles, and great visuals. While there isn't much reason to revisit the adventure, fans of the genre will find fun in Zoe's adventure.

Armello is a game that has a promising concept and a top-shelf presentation but falls far short of its potential. Despite its adept systems the game often proves a slow, monotonous affair that suffers from balancing issues. Tabletop enthusiasts and strategy game fans may glean some joy from this game. However, your time would still be better spent playing a myriad of other games that offer more entertainment than Armello.

Chess Ultra is a nice little game to own. When Nintendo first began marketing the Switch, they really hammered home the idea of taking it where you go, and playing it to pass the time. I feel that this title is a perfect example of that. If a player has a few hours to kill, it’s probably best to play a big game like Super Mario Odyssey or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. On the other hand, if someone has a mere few minutes to spare, turning on the Switch and playing a match of Chess would surely suffice.

If you’re an experienced player, you will likely take just about 10 hours of gameplay from starting the game to finishing it for the first time, though most of it will be spent replaying the first two worlds. It could very well be that the game truly begins once you master the game and start playing it for the high score, but I personally didn’t have the patience to get to that point, nor did the decent controls pull me forward the way that other challenging games have in the past. Whether this is a worthwhile purchase for you comes down to how much tolerance you have for highly punishing mechanics so that you can push through to the enjoyable sense of mastery it eventually offers.

Kaze and the Wild Masks is a solid platformer with its transforming character, healthy number of collectibles, and tough-but-fair bosses. However, it takes a little too much inspiration from Donkey Kong Country, the controls are touchy, and the difficulty ramps up too fast. Still, there are enough positives to make the prospect of a sequel enticing.

Agent A: A Puzzle in Disguise is a fun little puzzler. It has fairly simple puzzles, but the real challenge is connecting the dots and figuring out what you need to use and where. I may be stuck in chapter 5, yet I can still happily recommend it. The visuals may be a little underwhelming, but it’s more than serviceable for the type of game this is. I would heavily recommend that you play it in handheld mode, too, though using a controller is not inhibiting. However you choose to play it, Agent A will take you on an adventure and make you use your brain along the way.

Skies of Fury DX will surprise a lot of players, given a seemingly paradoxical situation where the game is simultaneously a mobile port and a polished, satisfying experience. Still, if repetition is an issue for you, then Skies of Fury is one of the worst games your money can buy. The amazing gameplay is the key here: if you enjoy that, and do not mind playing a handful of very similar missions over and over, then Skies of Fury DX will treat you well.

Mechstermination Force has solid gameplay and plenty of heart. It knows exactly what kind of game it wants to be, and it manages to stick the landing when it comes to addictive gameplay and rewarding progression. The lack of narrative flow between each fight, though, really hurts it. That emotional engagement with each boss you fight is sorely missed, and it’s that missing piece of the puzzle that prevents Mechstermination Force from being a truly excellent boss rush game.

Windjammers 2 is an ultra-refined version of the original disc-throwing experience, but without any kind of unlockables, progression, or reason to return to the game, it can be a hard sell for anyone who isn't already a hardcore fan.

Shinsekai: Into the Depths is a game worth playing. Its large world is addictive to explore, its oxygen mechanics are innovative and create dramatic gameplay moments, and its audio is a real delight. However, the flow of gameplay is regularly disrupted by weird annoyances like excessive fall damage, a helper robot who doesn’t help, and menus that are a little too cumbersome to navigate comfortably.

Eastward contains phenomenal art and colorful writing, yet the plot meanders breezily from moment to moment with little care for pacing and an unoriginal core storyline. Factor in average combat and puzzle-solving and a couple bugs that should be addressed, and Eastward is not quite as fun to play as it could be. That being said, a lot of people are going to fall completely in love with it anyway for the things it does right, and you might be one of them.

Despite some issues here and there, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a worthwhile investment for fans of the series on Nintendo Switch.

Even though it’s great that the game is identical to all of the other versions, it still could have been so much better if they actually went ahead and used the console’s unique features. With that said, if you don’t already have Minecraft, it’s really up to you to decide if you want to shoot for the Wii U Edition or not.

There are still plenty of challenges and content to be found in the ‘3DS version of the game. The uniqueness and musical charm are present, just not in a way that complements the console version of Yoshi’s Woolly World.

Those looking for a deep story or compelling adventure gameplay may not find it, but there’s a lot to love in this first episode. It’s just not for everyone.

Grapple Dog offers a lot of replayability and opportunity to hone your grappling skills, but the game often feels too slow due to overly long levels and long load times. Some performance hiccups hold back the thrills as well.

Don’t expect a deep experience here, folks. What you will find is a rather expansive list of artists and songs paying homage to one of the best eras in gaming. I just could have used a little more refinement in its mechanics and the mixture of the additional levels outside the story to do something a little more spectacular during my main playthrough.

In the end, Elliot Quest is nowhere near perfect and falls short of the classics it’s inspired from. However, it would be unfair to call it a bad game. It’s more a mixed bag; you’re either going to enjoy the game, or be annoyed with it.