If you're looking for a soul-crushingly difficult platformer, look no farther than Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection. It retains a lot of what made the original such a classic, while also updating it with some more modern mechanics. Despite a few areas that felt a little unfair, with patience, you should be able to complete a single run within a few hours, allowing the game to never feel like it overstays its welcome, even after completing it three times over a single weekend. Whether you're a newcomer to the franchise or a long-time veteran, Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection is one hauntingly good time.

All in all, Tricky Towers is a fun little multiplayer-focused title. While there is single player, I personally don’t feel that it provides enough on its own to warrant a purchase. However, if you have local or online friends who enjoy a good puzzle game (and particularly Tetris), then this is easily worth the price of admission. Just please don’t blame us when that friendship is strained by the dark magic powers in the game.

The characters are excellent, the world is fascinating, and following Lina as she interacts with citizens of Los Ojos is entertaining. I just wish that the main narrative were gripping, but it never seems to find its footing, and that’s a shame.

ActRaiser Renaissance is a meticulously crafted remake that genuinely improves on the original game in several respects while maintaining the spirit of what made it special in the first place. The simulation and tower defense elements are instantly addicting, and the sidescrolling sections really make you feel like God has come down to smite the wicked. ActRaiser Renaissance is almost the best-case scenario for a remake.

The game has a good visual style, but you just a feel a little distant from the action due to the fixed viewpoint. Cooperative play is a nice touch and a welcome addition for the franchise. However, its implementation has not been thought through properly. Darksiders Genesis may forever be in the shadow of Diablo III, but that’s not necessarily a bad place to be. If you are a fan of Blizzard’s ARPG, chances are you’ll find a lot to enjoy here. I know that I did.

This Switch port is non-offensive, but several of the coding and error window effects were definitely intended for PC. Still, ICEY is fine. If you are seeking a short, functional, and fundamentally different experience, then you will find a lot to love. If you want a traditional story, a long adventure, or lots of action-packed gameplay, then search elsewhere.

The story has enough to keep you engaged and the inclusion of Star Fox is inspired. I don’t think this is the game that will reboot the toys-to-life genre, but I believe that it has enough to live on as a standard IP. I, for one, would be delighted to play through more adventures in the Starlink universe.

RPG superfans who are craving something different, who absolutely need a 3DS game, and who have not played February’s much better 3DS RPG, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology, will find a thing or two to like about The Alliance Alive. Cattle Call moved a bit closer to greatness with The Alliance Alive, but they are still not quite there as one of the 3DS’s last RPGs falls short.

As it stands, Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens is a rushed and sloppy game on the Wii U.

Combining fast paced combat with wonderfully designed levels and an ample amount of customization, CremaGames knocked it out of the park with Immortal Redneck.

Super Mutant Alien Assault is a chaotically fun, yet simple experience. It’s the type of experience that lends itself to short bursts of play in-between commercial breaks of your favorite TV show or to simply escape from work for a moment on your lunch break. The handheld capability of the Nintendo Switch lends itself to the quick and simple play Super Mutant Alien Assault offers. Sadly, it’s difficult to truly enjoy the game in co-op mode. Still, it’s sure to delight fans of the genre.

By today's standards, there's nothing revolutionary about Famicom Detective Club, but that doesn't stop both games from being really solid experiences. Despite a bit of predictability in the plots, both stories were incredibly engaging and nothing short of a complete joy to play through. It's easy to see that Mages really took a lot of pride in crafting a quality remake here, since every little detail shines through. If you're at all curious to see what these games are about, you owe it to yourself to give at least one of them a look.

Fortunately, this top-down shooter is a blast to play. It’s fast-paced, hectic, difficult, fun-to-play, and ultimately, rewarding. Tesla Vs. Lovecraft caught me off guard, and I’m glad to have played it. I recommend it for people who love the top-down shooter genre, those who like playing games in short bursts, and those who enjoy getting a group together for gaming. Get ready to experience the craziest matchup of historical figures you’ll ever witness. It’s a blast.

Overcoming a few minor issues in presentation, the end result is an excellent game that is worth a serious look for anyone who enjoys ballistic local multiplayer or intense precision platforming.

Licensed games that are genuinely fantastic are a rarity, to say the least. Unfortunately, Crayola Scoot is not one of these top-tier titles, due to poor presentation and the matter that everything it does has been done better before. Crayola Scoot is not without its merits, though. An interesting approach to scalable difficulty and polished gameplay mean that, although it is no replacement for Splatoon 2 or the classic Tony Hawk games, it’s a fun title worth your time.

Newcomers may not find as much to be excited about with it when compared to more contemporary racing games, but for fans of the series, Hot Pursuit Remastered is a welcome return to form.

Building your characters is fun in Trials of Mana, and experiencing how the story changes with each party makeup ensures replay value. There's something to love for fans new and old alike.

All in all, Toto Temple Deluxe is a game you buy if you have friends to play it with. Solo, it can be no more than a brief distraction, but with friends it becomes an exciting brawl-fest. Solid modes and an impressive number of stages makes sure this multiplayer title is one to check out.

NBA 2K18 is a welcome addition to the Switch library. It’s great to have realistic hoops back on a Nintendo platform, and 2K knocked it out of the park with their debut Switch title. It looks great, plays great, and if the kinks can get patched should be the start of a great franchise finally embracing a Nintendo platform.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night demonstrates a lot of dedication and passion for Metroidvanias. It is a fantastic rendition of the genre. Even with some predictable plot moments and a platforming learning curve, it manages to be one of my favorite games of this year. The gameplay is tremendously well-crafted, and the addictive factor is through the roof. The style and art direction are complemented with old-fashioned ’90s-style timeless tunes that never bore or disappoint. Miriam and her adventure are a must if you have a Nintendo Switch. Playing Bloodstained has become my ritual of the night.

Art of Rally excels at providing a stylized rally experience that strikes a decent balance of being both realistic yet approachable. It features a good variety of cars and landscapes, all wrapped in a clean low-poly art style. While it does have some graphical limitations, this is still a fun racer that's definitely worth looking at for off-roading fans.

Still, putting its minor issues aside, Marble It Up! has proven to be a fun little gem. Indeed, it is quite little in its current form, but if you enjoy 3D platformers, then this should still be up your alley nonetheless. But, seriously, don’t let us down on those level packs, Engine Company. If anything, charge them for a very small fee. After all, its asking price is already $20, and there are other indie games that include more content for less. Thus, Marble It Up! is a game that can definitely hang around for a while if additional content is easy to obtain.

Star Fox Guard may be the most fun I’ve had playing a video game all year.

It looks good, plays great, and is a very solid and affordable title for the Nintendo Switch. If you are looking for something a bit darker and faster paced on the Switch, Implosion is a solid choice.

Coffee Talk is a game well worth experiencing. The music and art are exceptional, as well as little things like an app that displays more details on clients the more they connect with you. And when the credits rolled, I was saddened there weren’t more nights to complete. (There is a secret ending you can unlock by replaying certain days, though.) As it happened, I grew attached to every single entity that entered my shop, no matter how disparate they were from each other. Making sure everyone ended up happy was my primary goal while playing. If all that sounds as heavenly as hot cocoa, give this hidden gem a try.

Unfortunately, PvP mode sticks you with predetermined decks that you have no way of studying, and co-op has both players awkwardly split one deck instead of letting them use their own, so even these modes are fraught with some accessibility blunders. One Step from Eden has great ideas and a wealth of love put into the number of spells and abilities available; it’s just a shame that the breakneck pace and daunting multitasking requirements of the combat make it hard to appreciate all of that depth.

Kamiko is a fun pick-up and play experience, with great visuals, good gameplay, and makes for a fun retro-inspired experience. It’s worth exploring the game with each of the 3 characters just to see how different they actually play, which adds some replay value to the title. If you are looking for an inexpensive game for a weekend playthrough, Kamiko is a good pick.

Despite the flaws in story and system, overall The Alliance Alive HD Remastered was compelling from start to finish, and I have a feeling I’m not done with it yet. Two separate new game plus modes let you keep trucking, but there’s plenty of content I had left untouched. While you can blast through the main story in under 30 hours, this is the kind of game where fanatics might double their playtime. Players looking for something classic, yet new, will love this game, but it won’t satisfy everyone. The Alliance Alive HD Remastered is just a few tweaks away from being amazing, but it’s the perfect example of a rainy day JRPG.