JackQuest: The Tale of the Sword is a mediocre effort in the 2D platformer genre. While this review was mostly critical, I should clarify that the game isn’t bad – it just isn’t good either. In a world where we have our pick of the Metroidvania lot, JackQuest simply does nothing to stand out in the crowd. As a result, we’re left with something entirely basic in both design and function.

As a quick refresher between Grand Prix in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Circle of Sumo will serve well, but that’s the height of its potential. As far as local multiplayer goes, you can do a lot better elsewhere on the Switch eShop, especially in a post-Ultimate world.

Ultimately Halcyon 6: Starbase Commander is a game that’s fun in short bursts with considerable levels of potential that shine through in its combat, but the sheer level of busywork in-between sometimes felt unnecessary and too time-consuming for my liking. While it is a great deal for $19.99, whether you will fully enjoy your time in the galaxy is based on your tolerance for micromanagement gameplay.

Like many other eShop multiplayer titles, BATTLLOON is a decently fun, unique, and budget-friendly supplement to more complete multiplayer experiences like Super Smash Brothers Ultimate and Mario Kart 8. However, it is bested by many of its download-only peers–you are doing yourself a disservice if you pick up BATTLLOON before investigating alternatives like Ultimate Chicken Horse and Towerfall. Still, it is by no means a bad purchase, provided you are okay with a bare-bones but good time.

I greatly enjoyed my time with Paperbound Brawlers, and it will absolutely find a spot in my multiplayer rotation, which is getting harder and harder to do as the eShop lands more and more great titles. It’s no Towerfall, but it’s a solid platform fighter, and its tight gameplay, multiple modes, and unique traits do more than enough to justify a purchase for fans of the genre.

Shadows of Adam is a solid JRPG that doesn’t just cash in on SNES nostalgia. Its excellent battle system and attractive pixel art make it worth the cost of entry if you don’t mind some pacing issues.

Moto Rush GT is still capable of providing a great sense of speed while also calling for a gradual improvement in skill. If you’re a fan of fast-paced, reaction-based games, then this should be right up your alley. And if you do happen to own the motorcycle Toy-Con from the Labo Vehicle Kit, then you should enjoy this even more. It’s a simple game, but for what’s supposed to be a small experience, it’s not bad at all. If anything, the head-bopping soundtrack will probably keep you coming back to gradually tackle each level.

All things considered, this is a small content update, so it doesn’t add a huge new level of depth to the game, though it’s still a pretty solid package nonetheless. As the release of MudRunner 2 later this year nears, I look forward to seeing how the new trucks handle and what the developers have in store for the new maps. In the meantime, this is a good little treat to tide us all over.

Ultimately, Hyperlight Ultimate is a solid entry in its genre. It is colorful, smooth, difficult, and comes packed with replay value. Unfortunately, it often does become repetitive. If you were not already a fan of the genre, this will not be the game that converts you. Should you be looking for a twin-stick shooter, though, Hyperlight Ultimate is an impressive and affordable title that is absolutely worth a look.

An excellently fast and flashy local multiplayer title, but there isn't much beyond that.

Headsnatchers is an energetic, crazy local or online multiplayer game. General wonkiness with the controls leaves it a bit rough around the edges at times, but with a whole bunch of different objectives, the heavily-varied head-snatching gameplay is quite fun. The game does nothing to revolutionize couch multiplayer, but it’s a fun, cheap little game that anybody can get the hang of right away. It’s a solid title for a few family gatherings or kickbacks with friends. It is unlikely to find a permanent spot in anyone’s local multiplayer rotation, but if you’re in the market for a unique, colorful game that does a whole lot with its conventions, Headsnatchers is a great choice.

For better or worse, Fishing: Barents Sea Complete Edition trades in the traditional hands-on experience of virtual fishing for something more focused on button presses and automation. It’s relaxing but grind-heavy, and the automation takes some soul out of the gameplay.

Rush Rally 3 is impressive for being the product of a one-man band. It has a sizeable amount of content and accessible driving model. Its simplistic presentation is a bit of a bummer, but this is still one of the most balanced racers on Switch so far.

Strike! Ten Pin Bowling doesn’t do anything super crazy with the formula, but it doesn’t really have to. This is still a charming, well-put-together little bowling title that’ll allow you to have fun without going to a real alley (or if you’re like me, there isn’t even one to go to in real life).

Vasilis isn’t going to be the type of game for someone who’s looking for a “fun” experience with engaging gameplay. Instead, it’s the sort of title that uses the artistic potential of video games to provide perspective. It excels in this area thanks to a unique presentation style and is worth the investment for those looking to play something different.

I’ve played a good chunk of racing games on the Switch at this point, and Speedway Racing is by far the lowest effort I’ve seen yet. If it functioned properly and ran smoother, then it would at least be worthy of consideration as a compact title. But in this state, you’re better off avoiding it and picking just about any other racer. Sega Ages: Virtua Racing isn’t stock car racing like this, but it does have similar arcade-style circuit tracks. It’s about the closest thing, and despite being one of the earliest 3D racing games ever, it’s a far more enjoyable experience than this poor indie.

A great time with pointless constraints, Battlesloths takes a winning formula and shoots itself in the foot... again, and again, and again.

Trancelation is neither a powerful language-learning tool nor a particularly exciting arcade experience. But if you're looking for a supplement to a language you're already learning, and for some reason Duolingo isn't enough for you, this game will help you with rote memorization of basic vocabulary.

For a game in which the story is billed as the main focus, it says volumes that the plot does nothing to shine. Features such as the ability to watch a few classic movies are a nice touch but do little to tie into the actual game and feel like they were added just to create a selling point. If you're looking to pass a couple hours, you can certainly do worse than Stone, though you can also do better.

Relic Hunters Zero: Remix takes the standard roguelike experience and shifts it into overdrive, delivering a faster and more consistently rewarding experience. I always felt like I was making progress and never felt like a run was wasted. Some technical issues and a lack of environment variety keep the game from sticking the landing, though. With more environment variety and remappable controls, Relic Hunters Zero: Remix could easily go from good to great.

Ultimately, Knight Squad simply does not have the quality of gameplay to take full advantage of its impressive list of modes. A complete experience could have left a mark, but nobody will be knighting Knight Squad when all is said and done.

Gear.Club Unlimited 2 is back with its Tracks Edition expansion, but building off of a bad foundation only leads to a mess. The unfair AI, unbalanced cars, puddle-deep "sim" mechanics, repetitive circuits, egregious economy, and laughable performance just drag the whole experience down. Tracks should've been its own (improved) title, but this one is currently better off swerving around.

Construction Simulator 3 offers a few improvements over its predecessor and has a decent helping of content, but with performance issues.

Truck Driver isn't some revolutionary new title in the truck sim genre, and it's not trying to be one. For a console sim, and especially one for the Nintendo Switch, it looks good, runs well, and has a lot of hours' worth of content.

PBA Pro Bowling 2021 tries to pride itself on realism and prestige, but its pay-to-win mechanics and difficulty curve get in the way.

At best, Forward to the Sky is extremely unpolished. At worst, it's unfinished. It's one of the most generic games I've ever played, with almost no redeeming factors to it. I don't quite wish I had the few hours I spent playing this game back, but I can't possibly recommend that anyone play it, especially given the astronomically absurd price.

Chained has a gameplay system that's easy to learn, yet hard to master and an interesting story hook to motivate the mechanics. It's a bit too easy and the story ends abruptly, but it's still a terrific puzzler from Studio Digital Caffeine.

If you're in the mood for a mobile-like puzzle experience, I highly recommend Sokodice. Conceptually, it's easy to pick up, new mechanics are regularly added to increase puzzle variety and difficulty, and it's practically designed to fit perfectly in those little gaps in your day when you only have a few minutes to spare.