While we certainly had fun playing Jackbox Naughty Pack, its very existence at times feels questionable. For every laugh had at a sex-related question it left me wondering if we’d have just as much fun returning to the family-friendly entries. Plus, it certainly doesn’t help that Let Me Finish is a bad idea, crude or not. But then again Cookie Masterson does say the F-word… It’s tough but Jackbox Naughty Pack is… fine. While its implementation of crude ideas isn’t terrible by any means, I just hope the developer returns next year with Jackbox Party Pack 11.

There are a lot of things I like about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown. I think there’s a good foundation here for a follow-up that really brings it all home. As for this particular entry, I think it understands the material and has a lot of good ideas, but it never quite reaches the level it felt like it was building towards. Turtles fans might want to check it out, along with those who enjoy turn-based tactical games and are on the hunt for some lighter fare. It’s a decent on-the-go experience, too. Not the best TMNT game you can get on Nintendo Switch, but maybe the most unique one.

I miss the era of games Reynatis feels plucked fresh out of. The PlayStation Vita was my gaming awakening that defined my taste, and was a swan song of a particular era of Japanese portable games that were able to be experimental and weird on a low budget. The ambitions of the team far outshine the budget they were given, but there’s definitely something to like here. The combat is flashy and fun if not a bit simple, yet still outshines most other action games of this scope. The six playable characters are plenty customizable, and once you get into it there’s plenty of fun to be had. I respect Furyu continuing to fund creatives of all sizes with enough money to make their weird and cool games, and Reynatis is among their better titles. For those who are coming at this from an exclusively Square Enix fan perspective, however, I don’t know if you’ll be able to see past the blemishes. Maybe don’t play it on Nintendo Switch, though.

Gunhouse never lacks in spectacle, but it won’t take long before you recognise that the gameplay loop that it looks to hook you on is a shallow one. This collision of genres can still entertain, but it needed a few more ideas that remixed its own concept to keep the player’s interest from waning too quickly. It’s good in short bursts, but lacking in depth.

Cake Bash is cute, colourful and a delightful time with friends but it’s hindered by a lack of content. While we enjoyed unlocking new cakes and trying to be as tasty as possible over the first couple of hours, the slim mini-game selection results in repetition creeping its way in far sooner than you’d want. Cake Bash is a tasty party game but just like eating a cake, you’re left wanting more.

Piczle Colors is a decent puzzle game that offers a good number of tough and rewarding brainteasers to sink your teeth into. Unfortunately, my time spent coloring in squares was hindered thanks to the game’s often confusing and less than helpful presentation of its clues. Challenging sure but not always in the way you want.

A fairly ordinary take on the genre and one that plays totally fine but lacks the ingenuity and satisfaction you want.

I couldn’t help but feel that Urban Trial Playground is a blatant quick cash grab to release on Nintendo Switch when there isn’t any competition in the genre.

If you’re easily frustrated you will probably give up way before the four or so hours it takes to beat the game, which is a shame because it’s a title that has something to give.

Type:Rider takes a subject many might consider fairly humdrum and turns it into a beautiful journey through time. Had the platforming been as memorable as the visuals then this could have been something truly special. Instead what you have is a unique idea that needs more focus on the actual gameplay.

You won’t lose your soul to Coffin Dodgers, mainly because there’s little reason to linger for long in Sunny Pines. The premise to this race for your soul does more than enough to catch your interest, but the game lacks enough content to keep it alive.

Once all is said and done, I can’t help but feel like Garage could have been so much more. It has some great aspects, don’t get me wrong, but the potential is there for all to see and maybe some extra development time was what the game needed to finetune certain things. As it is, what you will find is a game that you will have a lot of fun with, but one that also grows repetitive the more you play. I just kept thinking that there are much better games out there that share a lot of the same ideas.

Swap This! is an adorably cute puzzler that’s quick to pick up but like all smartphone games won’t hold your attention for too long. At less than the price of a cup of coffee though you’ll have a hard time finding a game on the Switch that’s as charming or enjoyable for less.

When you’re being chased it’s honestly such a heart-pounding moment. It simply misses the mark in other areas needed to be considered a truly great game.

If you’re a true platform nerd who likes collecting things, then Fox n Forests may be worth looking into. However, if you are seeking a brand new experience in the genre, then you may be left feeling that there’s a little more to be desired.

I walked away from Star Wars: Republic Commando glad that I had played it, but wishing that I’d done so on another console. This Nintendo Switch port simply doesn’t feel finished, which is a big shame considering how well Aspyr has done on pretty much every other Star Wars port. If you’re willing to look past that then there’s a fun, if dated, game here that shows a side of Star Wars that’s rarely focused on in games.

The TakeOver is a good beat em’ up. It doesn’t evolve and expand the genre, and that’s where a feel of disappointment stems. It’s entertaining, the soundtrack is spectacular, the visuals are serviceable, and the campaign is engaging enough to keep you invested for its duration. The lack of online leaderboards and online co-op is disappointing, as the omissions limit the value proposition of the title. If you are looking to experience another beat em’ up on the Nintendo Switch, then The TakeOver is something you should play, but you may feel a bit unsatisfied by what the package offers.

BAFL: Brakes Are For Losers delivers a chaotic, messy multiplayer experience sure to provide a few laughs even if more often than not it’s down to watching others trying to deal with the wild handling of its vehicles. An overall lack of both variety and content, however, prevent this title from reaching its full potential relegating it to a short and shallow distraction.

Personally, I would love to see The Kid competing against top dogs in arcades across the city, turning his or her newfound passion into something to be proud of. For now, though, these desires are merely wishful thinking for something that clearly has the potential to manifest into something much more interesting and thought-provoking than the dreary narrative that binds some genuinely clever ideas together.

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain delivers an enjoyable – if familiar – assortment of challenging games for all ages that shine best when competing with others. Unfortunately, a general lack of content means you’ll see everything it has to offer within a day or two, mode variety stretching your milage maybe a little farther. A fun, if short-lived experience.

I have no doubt that this port is the best that Apex Legends could be on Nintendo Switch, with Panic Button once again working their magic to optimise the full-featured gameplay experience as well as they could given the scrappy console’s limitations. The port is as undeniably remarkable as it is divisive from a technical standpoint and its competitive heart remains, but the resulting outcome from that concerted effort is an option best left to those who are unable to leap into the action to become a Champion elsewhere.

It’s possible for Polygod to be a genuinely fun experience, but the stars must align, and patience must be given. Everything here is interesting and appealing, from the visuals which are bold and sharp, to the base roguelike underneath the gloss. But it comes with a but and a lot of maybes.

In its current state and with how it is discounted quite a bit on other platforms, I definitely recommend PGA Tour 2K25 on another platform if you’re a fan of golf games. On Nintendo Switch 2, it is only worth buying right now if you have no other platform and can play while connected to the internet. Once the input lag and load times are addressed, it will be easier to recommend.

With obvious criticisms aside, a game such as Just Dance 2021 could very well be the medicine we need to help provide some form of normality to this year’s holiday season. Having the under-appreciated privilege of joyfully dancing and laughing next to a Christmas tree within the isolated bubble of our loved ones not only boosts morale, but it also opens up to the realisation of how incredibly fortunate some of us are to have others to share that little bubble with.

With the exception of the PAC-MAN: Championship Edition demake, Namco Museum Archives Volume 1 is really only ever going to appeal to old fogeys similar to myself who want to latch on to the past and stuff them into a Nintendo Switch. Sure, many of the games don’t hold up well, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be celebrated. It’s just a pity that Namco can’t seem to be that bothered. While M2 does a fantastic job as always in actually handling the emulation process, the disappointing lack of extra features leaves a lot to be desired.

This deserved to be a home run, and it’s just an okay way to play some great games. Your mileage will vary based on how much some of this mattered, but if you’re looking to play these in excellent quality I’ll point you in the direction of the PS4 or PC ports. If Nintendo Switch is your console of choice, and you’re desperate to see what you missed a decade ago, you might as well check out the Switch version. Vita copies go for ridiculous prices, and I know maybe two other people who aren’t me that still own that system. I love the Danganronpa games, despite their myriad of flaws and occasional problematic content. These games are important to me, and they were formative for the person I grew into and the content I’ve fallen in love with since. It does not need to continue, as much as it is very likely it might in the coming years now. If it does, I’ll give it an open-minded chance I guess. It just won’t be the same after such a gratifying and perfect conclusion for a series that managed to always ramp up the stakes.

It’s far from perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but for what it is there’s definitely plenty of addictive gameplay here if your willing to put the effort in.

Goetia is a mixed bag. There are some wonderful moments in here such as the story, which certainly kept me going, and the visuals and soundtrack which do their best to keep you engrossed, are certainly impressive. It falls short, however, due to some of the overly difficult sections that can lead to many frustrating points in the game, which can then make it grow slightly tiresome. What this boils down to is simply that Goetia doesn’t find the perfect balance needed for a truly great point-and-click game. But there is certainly something there for true fans of the genre.