Scribblenauts Showdown is a cookiecutter attempt at bringing back a lost franchise. While the party aspect isn't absolutely terrible, its bland nature made me shrug every time. And sure, the game tries to tie it in to the Scribblenauts franchise, but it misfires to an almost comical degree. This would be more funny if it didn't involve games I used to really love.

Paper Wars certainly does suffer from a lack of originality. That might not be what it is going for though. It’s a cheap, cute, tower defense game, in a fairly crowded genre. It has decent visuals that are appreciated, but outside of that, I say, throw it back in the recycling bin.

Guilt Battle Arena is a colorful 2D couch-combat game that always keeps its antics feeling fresh and entertaining. The art style and sense of humor is reminiscent of games such as Castle Crashers. Even with minor flaws, I do see Guilt Battle Arena as a fantastic game to pop in with your friends and to see who is the greatest hero in the universe.

Midnight deserves praise for bringing innovative and challenging level design to the golf genre. Deluxe makes the package feel more complete, although I would like to see more than just new levels. Some additional polish in terms of the controls and the freezing would be something to be desired in an update. Nevertheless, Midnight Deluxe shouldn’t be ignored as a solid puzzler with levels that will stump you for quite a while.

Outlast 2 does little to elevate it beyond the original Outlast. What results is a well put together, but ultimately predictable, and even generic horror experience. At times the story stumbles into masterpiece territory, but then quickly course corrects back into a generic evil cult plotline.

A few frustrating moments aside, I generally enjoyed my time with The Alliance Alive.

Its unassuming look might make you skim over it in the eShop, but it’s hard not to recommend you give Spy Chameleon a chance. This is a game greater than the sum of its parts, and the fun to be had here is absolutely worth the price of admission and overlooking its small blemishes.

Toki Tori 2+ follows the mold set by great efforts of the genre such as Braid and The Lost Vikings. Unlike the frequent changes George Lucas made to the original Star Wars trilogy, it's commendable that Two Tribes has listened to criticism and continued to implement improvements. Anyone who enjoys a challenge and likes games where you can temporarily travel in bubbles should give Toki Tori 2+ a look.

Last Day of June is mostly quite good. It’s a story-driven game with one of the best-told stories I’ve seen in some time, and it offers an emotional edge that’s likely going to leave you with a lot of feelings by the time you reach the credits. The gameplay, however, is passable at best and annoyingly repetitive at worst, and while it didn’t fully keep me from wanting to reach the end, it added a somewhat frustrating slog to get there.

Gekido Kintato’s Revenge is a curio in its position as a Game Boy Advance game brought to a modern home console. The update is totally fine - the sprite graphics look great, the music is good - but the gameplay is an artifact of older days. That’s fine if you just want to sit down for a challenging beat-’em-up with a friend, but if you’re looking for something modern and fresh, Gekido isn’t that. It’s just an alright retro remake.

This is the same Pirate’s Curse we’ve been playing since 2014. Back then, I called it one of my favorite 3DS games and I maintain that opinion today. Get it in whatever form is most convenient for you (but seriously the 3D effect is ridiculous).

Input latency and levels that are too long without the ability to save keep Castle of Heart from being as fun as it ought to be. That being said, it’s certainly not a bad experience. It is quite nice to look at no matter how you play. If you can overcome the controller lag, Castle of Heart can quench the thirst for classic action platforming among diehard genre fans. For more casual players, mileage may vary.

My personal frustration with Clustertruck shouldn’t take away from the game. Landfall and tinyBuild made a good game, even if there were times that I thought they’d owe me either a Switch or a TV. And I had plenty of occasions in which I nailed a tricky series of jumps or managed to overcome a tough level and felt amazing. The run eventually comes, and if you can tolerate not knowing when that is, Clustertruck could be for you.

Superola and the Lost Burgers is disappointing. It has and initial appeal based on its inspiration but fails in the execution. I would run away from this game as fast as you can.

Slayaway Camp is a smart, well-crafted puzzle game that transcends its niche trappings in such a way that even if horror movies aren’t your bag, you should still keep an eye out on this excellent game.

While cool concepts and ideas are awash throughout Swim Out, the dawdling pace of the 100+ puzzles drowns the more novel ideas. This is, for better or worse, an alright puzzle game that just happens to be in a sea of better ones. Good for a laidback romp, but not for much else.

All told, The Long Reach could have used some more time in the oven. It presents issues that seem readily solvable—lighting, object highlighting, proof reading—but in its current form, the game is frustrating and not particularly enjoyable. Maybe some of the problems can be patched out, but until that happens, I can’t recommend The Long Reach despite its intriguing storyline.

The supernatural elements in the game had me interested right away, but the interface issues and the tone of the narration kept pulling me out of the experience.

You might lose motivation in the long run, but it is a tasty treat for the few hours it lasts.

World Conqueror X is a fun and challenging war game that is somewhat marred by a lack of proper tutorials and explanations. Riding out any early frustration will allow you to uncover a worthwhile strategy title that has many hours of content, albeit with not too much variation in gameplay.

The Switch, as a portable console, is great for this game. It’s always nice to have an infectious zombie on hand to pass the time when out and about. And though the gameplay itself is repetitive, it's a solid game with its tactical challenges and a great design.

Bleed 2 is a very accurately named game. In many ways it could be seen as a level pack for its predecessor, but the few small changes in the design all help to make it a better experience. These kinds of short, creative games are perfect for the eShop, and if we see Bleed 3 at some point I wouldn’t hesitate to pick it up.

While Danmaku Unlimited 3 is not the most polished game of its kind, it is a very satisfying experience. The unique mechanics and multiple difficulty options combined with compelling reasons to keep playing and improving make for a game with a wider appeal than most other titles in the bullet hell genre. Danmaku Unlimited 3 successfully creates the tense feeling of a screen filled with bullets, without excessively punishing failure.

Kirby Star Allies is good, at times enjoyable even. It’s lacking in the single-player experience, though, especially compared to Kirby’s recent outings on Nintendo 3DS. The multiplayer is fun, but the focus on it might leave some fans in the cold. As someone who enjoys everything Kirby, I was left somewhat flat until the end of the campaign and the post-game. On my second run with friends, I did see the true potential of the game.

I like some aspects of The Trail, such as the calm setting and the sense of fulfillment when finally crafting that recipe that you had been working on forever. But the negatives -- the framerate, controls, and uninteresting story -- do hamper the experience. They are manageable, and The Trail isn’t necessarily a bad game. It has its moments, but technical limitations do put a damper on things.

Layers of Fear may at first glance fit into the often derided walking simulator subgenre, but its impressive design makes it a much deeper and more memorable experience than one would initially expect. It represents an effective Switch port and even goes out of its way to include a motion control option. In the Switch’s growing library of horror titles, Layers of Fear has positioned itself as a powerful front runner.

Steredenn Binary Stars might look like a generic shoot-’em-up on the surface, but it offers quite a bit to be excited about. I found the wonderful selection of weapons and multiphase bosses an absolute delight despite the relentless difficulty. While the all or nothing nature will be more than enough to turn some people off, for those who welcome it will without a doubt find themselves proclaiming, just one more run.

Although Magical Drop III isn’t at the top of the Switch’s tier list of puzzle games - Puyo Puyo Tetris and Ironcast are fighting for that spot - it’s still a high-tier product. Even if you’ll want to punch that stupid raven after losing for the 35th time, you’ll want to try again. The Neo Geo wasn’t really known for puzzle games, but this is the best that system had to offer.

Damascus Gear: Operation Tokyo is a good first attempt at a loot mech game from Arc. I think some of the issues could be worked out in a sequel, which coincidentally - or not - launched just after the Switch release of Operation Tokyo. It plays well on a handheld with the short missions, just pop the volume down a bit and move the headphones over to something else.

One Eyed Kutkh is an interesting idea. Gorgeous and imaginative in its design but severely lacking in its execution. It leaves gamers wishing there was more to this game so more time can be spent in its world. Unfortunately, unless you’re looking for something simple to keep you occupied for a couple minutes, One Eyed Kutkh falls short.

Detention is a complicated package. Everything outside of its gameplay is top-notch. Its story, visuals, and sound flawlessly accomplishes what (I think) the game is trying to convey. At the same time, these things are experienced through slow, somewhat dull adventure gameplay.

Flinthook has a sound base, complete with an excellent grappling hook mechanic and a distinctive, fun mode of movement. The roguelite design leads to some repetition, but the gorgeous art and great style (even in the face of well-worn scenery) helps make up for that and other shortcomings. Be prepared to die a lot, but if it clicks for you, be prepared to want to jump right back in for another go.

Grid Mania doesn’t really do anything new, but it plays well, has some variety to its gameplay, and provides a solid challenge. Mania might be a little hyperbolic, so let’s just say the game is Grid Fun for the whole family.

The core flight feels good and each mission is an appropriately brief length that lends itself well to casual, quick play sessions. That makes it easy for me to overlook that it didn’t land without some turbulence.

TurtlePop, but as it stands, this is all far too convoluted to be something worth sinking a lot of time into. Charm can only go so far when strangled by numerous and conflicting ideas.

This isn’t a game that compels me to play for hours on end. However, it provides ample entertainment, and is one I can easily come back to for some good-old-fashioned island adventuring (plus zombies).

Despite the difficulty spike at the end, I really enjoyed playing through A Hole New World. The game scratched a very specific itch for me, and despite its problems, it ended up giving me a far better experience than revisiting the fascinating, clunky horror games of my childhood would have. Let’s hope the planned fixes elevate the game even more.

Bridge Constructor Portal will turn your brain’s valve with some physics fun, but it’s little more than a collection of challenges coated in a familiar cake frosting.

Hollow, as a game, is an effective horror experience plagued by some poor goal communication with the player. It has clear issues but at its core, Hollow is a technically impressive game built on generally good gameplay. As a port to Switch, this game is unfortunately an abysmal mess.

The thing with The Final Station is that it knows what it wants to be. This proud survival game mixes the eerie with action smoothly, and I couldn't help to be impressed. While it is more linear than I would have liked, it delivers on a thrilling experience that I can't get enough of. The pixelated style and its gameplay are some of the smoothest seen on the platform, and it is hard to pull yourself away just a tiny bit. The Final Station is an intriguing journey through and through.

NORTH was a breath of fresh air for me. Too many games now require fast reflexes and have tons of gun play, but NORTH begs to be played slowly. Take your time, read the letters carefully, and follow the path that is outlined. Some actions can get trippy at times but it all concludes in an unexpected ending. I am happy that I took the journey to the NORTH, I just hope my character is, too.

A free demo is on the eShop that consists of the first world, including the end boss, and it is worth a look since it gives a very good impression of how the game plays and what it is. With the full game, you get 15+ hours of content for only $9.99, and you can return to completed stages to improve your completion times for crowns and a better star rating, which are tied to in-game achievements. Just don’t expect a ton of variety or hand-holding. Wanderjahr won’t take you a year to beat it, but it might just feel like it.

At first glance, Super Toy Cars looks to have a strong offering of new ideas to draw the curiosity of Nintendo Switch Owners. Offering a package of 15 tracks with various racing modes and 16 upgradable cars to tinker with, Super Toy Cars feels like a strong offering on the surface. However, the races and tracks quickly feel repetitive.

The story is disjointed, the dialog stilted, and the characters feel like cutouts. But all that could be forgiven if it were fun to play, but it isn’t. Bad puzzles, repetitive combat, and poorly designed encounters are constant companions. I respect the desire and the work that must have gone into making this revival a reality. I just wish the product would have been better for long-suffering fans.

Having a way to eliminate threats is a sense of comfort in any horror survival horror game, but it’s not one Outlast gives you. This adds a sense of stress that you just don’t feel from many other games in the genre. While the Switch port does have some minor slowdown and jarring load screens, it doesn’t detract from how horrifically wonderful the game is. With the emphasis back on horror and survival, Outlast is a welcomed return to what made the genre great to begin with.

Overall, I just wasn’t enjoying the game, which is a problem. There’s definitely some inventive puzzling here, but I found the experience more frustrating than fun.

I enjoyed my time playing through Little Triangle, but I wasn’t blown away by it. It’s definitely a solid platformer with a little humor here and there, but that’s about it. What it does have is well implemented though, and the options to play with a friend combined with the natural ease of using Joy-Con make it a great pick-up-and-play game for any occasion. Although there is no unique hook or ground-breaking ideas, Little Triangle is a good title to scratch that platforming itch.

When I say this game lives and dies by its writing, I mean it. And unfortunately, the more I thought about the game and the world it describes, the more it fell apart.

It’s refreshing to find an entirely self-contained mobile game that doesn’t have in-app purchases and doesn’t require a constant internet connection. Sadly you can reach the end in one play session and it doesn’t take much longer for 100% completion, but it’s worth the price of entry for the joy of that Nintendo polish in mobile form.

A Normal Lost Phone does a lot of things right: unlocking story bits is interesting, the phone premise pays off, and the atmosphere sells Sam’s character. Seeing such delicate subject matter in a game is nice, but the end game felt a bit preachy without offering anything too helpful. I would definitely play another phone-snooping game with more surprises in the story as I wasn’t blown away by any revelations here.

Aperion Cyberstorm does many things reasonably well, but nothing well enough to really set it apart from other shooters on the platform. The uninteresting Campaign mode drags down the other, better-executed ideas, and prevents the game from being all that it could have been.

In the end Nightmare Boy offers up something thoroughly different from a visual standpoint and can be quite challenging, just not always for the right reasons. If you give it some time it does pick up momentum and you can get into a groove but when you hit the spots where you’re not sure where you’re going, things understandably drag quite a bit. Probably only recommended for the most die-hard Metroidvania fans who have blown through what’s already available on the system, show patience with Nightmare Boy and some fun can be had with it.

At the end of the day, Monster Energy Supercross: The Official Video Game for the Nintendo Switch is a serviceable motocross game, albeit if you only like racing alone. It’s disappointing how much was cut from the Switch version, but despite all that was removed, this is in fact the only version you can take to an actual Supercross event.

Typoman: Revised is a puzzle-packed love letter to letters undercut by slightly scrambled platforming mechanics.

The core of Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is good, especially with the Score Attack mode and the novel new local two-player mode. Unfortunately, the botched offline score uploading, minor technical issues, and disappointing Adventure mode drag the entire experience down. If you have friends locally to play the two-player mode or friends online to score chase with, this is a fine game, at least as long you’re always near WiFi when you get high scores. Without the well-implemented high score chases, it’s still fun, just maybe more fleeting than it could have been.

Black Hole does, honestly, some tricks that nobody else does. The fixed screen with the gravitational pull is an unique concept that keeps you sharp. The act of playing the game is awesome, and nothing should be taken away from it. After 40 levels though, there is nothing for most players to return to. Sure, there is room to improve on your runs, but that really depends on the type of person you are. As for myself, I’ll probably end up going back to it now and again.

While the game isn’t perfect, its ability to preserve a culture through an active medium while still being an enjoyable gaming experience is a trend I hope Lienzo and other are able to continue in the future.

Ace of Seafood is a joke delivered with a knowing smirk. The image of a laser lobster engaging a flotilla of tiny submarines defending a sunken refrigerator is not something that springs from a serious mind. It’s surreal, amusing, and bewildering. But it isn’t fun. It’s a good joke, and without it this game wouldn't merit a mention, but the joke is let down by execution. If it played well, if it looked better, if it performed acceptably this could be a funny little cult-classic, a recommendation to the right audience. As it stands, however, all it has going for it is a prevailing mania. That’s not enough.

Puzzle Puppers is a good, solid game that shouldn’t take too much time to get value out of. It’s one of those games that won’t keep you busy for days on end, but is nice to pick up and play for some pretty clever brain teasers. It does good on providing a warm, loveable aesthetic while providing quick and easy gameplay.

For those who have a dedicated group to play with online there are hours worth of fun to be had overcoming the more difficult challenges. However, If you’ll need to rely on random players the fun can only go so far without any form of communication. And if playing solo is your only option, I’d highly suggest thinking twice because quite frankly playing alone is not very much fun at all.

All in all, I can't help but wanting more out of Old Man's Journey, which clashes with the game's point. It is a narrative-driven experience that ends when it needs to and doesn't leave any questions unanswered. That being said, the interaction isn't overly grand. Some puzzles are found along the way, but finding the gentleman's true purpose is what the journey is truly about. If it clicks with you, you will likely walk with the same appreciation I did. The message is truly wonderful, and that left me a little satisfied at the very least.

Lone Wolf only gets better the further into the game you get. The writing is superb, from the terrific pacing of the story to the interactions between the characters you meet along the way. Spending half of your time reading text on a screen doesn’t sound like the most fun until you realize just how engaging the story is. It’s a shame that Joe Dever passed a little over a year ago as I would have loved to have seen more Lone Wolf titles on the Switch. Instead, I will continue to thoroughly enjoy his final game, and make sure to read the work he left behind.

The concept of TorqueL is interesting and unique, but the game unfortunately doesn’t live up to its quirky premise. I definitely enjoyed some of my time playing through the campaign, but I never felt that the gameplay ever really clicked with the level design. The art and sound design also leave much to be desired, and can sometimes even be straight up irritating. There may be good value for those who prefer a straightforward platformer with an interesting hook, but for others who want a little more than a one-trick pony I would think twice before downloading TorqueL -Physics Modified Edition-.

Having played Bayonetta for the first time on Switch, I had some concern it would feel dated, especially after playing through Bayonetta 2 on Wii U. However I found it difficult to believe this game is nearly a decade old. It has a sense of style and charm that many fail to achieve, all without sacrificing the most important element: fun and exciting gameplay. So while it’ll be easy to overlook this in favor of the sequel, in doing so you’d not only be doing a disservice to the game, but a disservice to yourself.

Bayonetta 2 is an absolute masterpiece that should be experienced even if the character action game genre is not normally your cup of tea. It gleams with creativity and polish in absolutely every department. Had you asked me to find issue with the original Wii U release, I would have told you that significant frame rate drops can be an problem. Given the Switch’s correction of this singular issue, I have yet to identify a single thing to take issue with in Bayonetta 2 on Switch. I’ll let you know if one day I find something.

It plays great, it’s hard to beat but addicting. There’s enough content to enjoy looking for, and I honestly think that it’s a well-designed game for what it is. It’s small, and uses a lot of the same enemies, but that’s a huge nitpick on what I think is a great game. It reminded me of why certain enemies are designed the way they are, like how Super Mario Bros. certain enemies act against Mario’s primary form of mobility, jumping, by also jumping. Xeodrifter adopts this mentality, by putting upgrades in places that have challenges preceding them, and with enemies that are supposed to get in the way of how the space explorer plays. I recommend it if this sounds like an experience you’d like to try.

I recommend playing Aqua Kitty UDX on your TV. There’s also a two-player co-op option, which is nice. In the end, I enjoyed Dreadnought Mode but found Normal/Arcade Mode to be uninspiring. If you need an underwater bullet-hell shooter, Aqua Kitty UDX should scratch that itch.

Puzzle fans will find a lot to love in Vesta. The game goes beyond simple tasks to a fully fleshed-out experience with beautiful graphics and an intriguing storyline. While the pacing can be slow and certain puzzles frustrating if you don’t follow the correct sequence on the first try, this is a perfect title to pick up and chill out with. The levels can vary in length, but overall aren’t that long, lending itself well to short play sessions while on the go.

This expertly paced journey through nature provides a similar spiritual cleansing that one gets on a summer hike, and that’s a wonderful feeling if you’re currently stuck with the winter blues.

What it comes down to for a game like this is whether you’re a fan of the genre and what your expectations are for the length of the experience. I’d say that Darkside Detective isn’t the best adventure game on the system but it holds up well in the middle of the pack. The greater the breadth of your pop culture appreciation the more likely I’d say the jokes and references are to connect for you. In general, the game is riding on that understanding. It’s a worthwhile romp for genre fans who’d like a chance to enjoy five chapters with a reasonable length, have a few laughs, and not being quite as frustrated as with other games in the genre on the Switch.

Tales of the Tiny Planet is an adorable looking game, sure, but you will be done with it quickly. It offers six worlds filled with all sorts of trickery, and that’s pretty much it. I did enjoy all of the levels, I’m just really bummed that there isn't more. The Nintendo Switch version would've been a perfect platform to expand on what made the original great, plus offering something unique for the new paying public. At the moment, Tales of the Tiny Planet is simply a fine title.

When that patch comes, Owlboy is absolutely worth checking out, even if just for the pretty artwork and enjoyable story. Fortunately on top of that, the gameplay is also sound, delivering a nice puzzle platforming experience with a wealth of variety and distinctive elements. That being said, the Switch version is rough around the edges right now. It’s still possible to play through and enjoy, but it might be worth holding out for the patch (or even the physical version in May).

The Fall Part 2: Unbound adds a significant amount of depth and complexity to the formula set by its predecessor and it is all the better for it. Combat has become more interesting and varied. The new characters are a welcome addition to the world. The story presents fresh ideas and feels like a worthy follow up to The Fall. The occasional awkward mechanic aside, The Fall Part 2 presents an exciting and satisfying adventure.

The entirety of Disc Jam depends on if you’re into playing Disc Jam competitively online. If you’re not into that, then this game is probably not for you. The Ghost Arcade is the best mode aside from online play, and while it’s nice that it’s there, it’s just the same thing with an offline hat. On the bright side, online runs very well and thanks to cross-play with PC, the player base should stay strong for a while. The disc-throwing action is very fun, but with limited ways in which to do it, Disc Jam is a one-trick sport.

Overall, I had a really surprisingly fun time with ATOMIK: RunGunJumpGun. It has a good sense of difficulty and nailing everything was satisfying. Next to that, the grand sense of style is unmatched by most that I play in the genre. The big bummer is that it took only a few hours to fully complete the roughly 100 levels in the package. An endless mode would made me really happy, and would've made ATOMIK something I could return to. Still, what’s here is made with care, making for an enjoyable experience.

3D MiniGolf is a bad piece of software that can't even serve its purpose correctly. With only 70 minutes worth of content, I found myself quickly erasing this game from my memory. The skeleton of a minigolf game is absolutely there, but it is buried under way too many annoyances. Ultimately, the game plays alright, but that doesn't make it something worth looking into, which is a shame.

Shiftlings’ size-swapping mechanic serves as a perfect metaphor for the game itself. Simply put, it lacks balance. The cute art style would make for a perfect parent-child co-op experience, but the skill required for certain platformer-specific puzzles makes it a bit too difficult for a younger child to master (and/or have fun). The story elements that are fleshed out don’t really amount to much. It would have been better served without the bloat of the story. It harkens back to the oldest of game truths; as gamers, we ultimately don’t care how or why Bowser kidnapped Peach (possibly something cake-related?), we only care how we’re going to save her, and the playable journey ahead.

At the end of the day, Crypt of the Necrodancer is a trip. You hop on for the ride, enjoy some groovy tunes, and overcome a slew of challenges along the way. Even though every run is different, I always felt I was in control. It’s hard to get on the beat, but once over that initial hump, Crypt of the Necrodancer becomes one of the most intriguing experiences available on the Nintendo Switch eShop. Don't sleep on it.

I had a great experience playing Sky Force Reloaded, and will keep playing it when I want to be doing something on my Switch that isn’t as big of a commitment of an RPG like Xenoblade. It doesn’t do anything revolutionary for the genre, playing it safe in all regards. It has a lot of content in an enjoyable package. The loop of short, quick play sessions is addicting, and an experience I did not expect to have as much fun with as I did.

Dripping with a fanciful charm, Aegis Defenders is a joyous blend of puzzle platforming and tower defense. While it starts slow, it’s an artful fusion of two somewhat disparate genres that comes together as a beautiful whole near the end, making it well worth a look in the crowded Switch eShop.

Mercenaries Saga Chronicles will itch a scratch if you’re looking for a solid strategy RPG experience. The gameplay is fun, easy to get into and accessible for anyone that’s ever wanted to play a strategy RPG but didn’t know what to begin with. Beyond the solid gameplay mechanics lies a very generic presentation and a list of other things that come as cheap, uninteresting, or uncreative. In general, the game doesn’t have a lot of bad elements, but too many bland moments restrict it from becoming a truly memorable experience.

As with most JPRGs, a lot of progression options are present, related to special powers and weapon upgrades. Since they don’t make the combat any easier to digest, it doesn’t feel relevant to get too detailed about them. Not mentioning that you manually have to click through endless English dialogue while listening to Japanese voice acting doesn’t really change the fact that Fantasy Hero ~Unsigned Legacy~ is a title that can and should be ignored.

Dragon Quest Builders as a package is all kinds of fun. The way you build up towns and explore the worlds is a true time sink for many hours. I found myself constantly looking for materials, quests, or items to push towards a 100% completion. That doesn't mean everything is grand, mind you. The lack of significant updates to the camera or bosses left me sour more than I would like to admit. These problems can be forgiven in time, but the smaller chapters constantly offer clear reminders of the problems. The Switch version offers little in the way of notable exclusive content, but playing it in handheld does make the proposition an easier one. The free-build mode seems like the ideal way to play Builders, and that is more than enough for me.

Mercenary Kings is a great time by my lonesome and we’ll see how it performs online. If it does well, I think this could be the next big Switch online experience, up there with Mario Kart and Splatoon.

The Switch has had a surprisingly large RPG library in its first year; already it feels like there’s more RPGs on Switch than were on its predecessor and they just keep coming. Where The Longest Five Minutes stands out is that despite the name, it is fast. I did a lot of exploring in the environments looking for treasure and still managed to roll credits in under 12 hours. Given the Switch’s propensity for roguelikes and exceedingly long, story-driven games, this is a minor miracle. Not every game has to be a seven-course meal; sometimes you just want a light snack. On that front, Longest Five Minutes delivers.

While a few consistent problems weigh it down, Dandara is still an engrossing adventure. As many times as the in-game map bugged me or the difficulty got me down, I kept at it, working my way through the peculiar world, seeking out new items and upgrades and figuring out how to move around delicately to attack or avoid foes. It might not be for the faint of heart, but Dandara is a wonderfully idiosyncratic game.

The skill management system is a broken, confusing mess is what I’m saying. If any of you figure out how it’s supposed to work, please let me know. And that’s pretty much the whole game. Go on missions, kill some aliens, grab some loot, and craft your way to victory. Everything except the human characters looks great and there are some nifty graphical effects here and there. Control is smooth and combat is fun, especially the bonuses you get for random things like attacking from behind, destroying enemy shields, etc. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I like the loot/crafting system largely because it happens organically and you’re not hunting anything down. Earth Wars is a fun game, well worth the ridiculously cheap price (five bucks). It’s not perfect but it’s a spirited attempt to imitate Muramasa.

Overall Her Majesty’s SPIFFING was a pleasant surprise, full of cracking humor and some suitably absurd puzzle-solving. It may feel a bit on the short side but given its price the length is fair and I would prefer it over too soon rather than overstaying its welcome. For people searching for a game that is light, not terribly demanding, and can just be enjoyed for quite a few hours it’s pretty easy to recommend.

In the end Brawl isn’t necessarily a bad game, it’s just a hodge podge of ideas that individually may work but somehow when they’re mashed together it doesn’t seem to congeal. There’s obviously been effort to inject some personality into things but at the same time, what makes each character distinct ends up detracting a bit from the ease of handing someone a controller and having some fun. With the voice work, it’s also obvious that the single-player story mode had some investment but the glorified tutorials with somewhat bland play and wonky AI failed to leave a very positive impression. Just from top to bottom the overall effort plays out as pretty average, though its stuttering periodic performance issues make it more difficult to redeem.

The story is great, the music is fine, and the game runs well in both docked and handheld mode. Night in the Woods did not really leave me with a lot of complaints. So if you’re interested in trying out a well-written story that is fairly relaxing in gameplay to get through, but also want to immerse yourself in an environment along the lines of something like Oxenfree, then Night in the Woods is definitely a must-have.

While the road to the best challenges were a bit tedious, my brain found the rapid pattern recognition and rule application of Nuclien very satisfying over the course of the few hours it took to complete everything. This is in no way a high-concept game; it is simply the full exploration of a relatively simple idea. If you’re looking for something a bit different that will test your ability to quickly recognize numbers and patterns it can be quite an engrossing activity while it lasts.

Overall, 10 Second Run Returns is a solid but somewhat dull title. The music is nice, but everything else from the art, gameplay, and multiplayer is quite barebones. What it lacks in sizzle it makes up for in function. The level design is fair and fun to overcome, and holds plenty of challenge for the platforming fanatic. Although there may be many other more exciting looking selections available on Switch, 10 Second Run is a good option for quick and reliable platforming fun.

The core game here is already so strong and so engrossing that more content is good no matter how necessary it might be. I’m thrilled Radiant Historia is back on a modern system, especially since the new release is now the best, definitive way to experience a masterful RPG.

Tiny Troopers Joint Ops XL’s console transformation fails to make the most of the Switch platform. As a premium-priced experience on console, it fails to offer the improvements that one would expect. The shadows of the game’s mobile roots as well as its rough transition to physical controls make the console version difficult to recommend.

My main problem with SteamWorld Dig is that, apart from the puzzle rooms, there’s not a lot of meat on these bones. Second, I recently played (and perhaps you did too) SteamWorld Dig 2, a game that blows its predecessor out of the water in every possible respect. However, it’s interesting to go back to the original after playing its sequel, because you can see how the core gameplay evolved. I like SteamWorld Dig; I just like SteamWorld Dig 2 more and that fact, maybe unfairly, winds up hurting the former. It’s definitely worth playing, though, on whatever system you have that it runs on.

80’s Overdrive is a very pretty game with really good core mechanics and some really questionable and frankly unnecessary complications layered on top. The take home here is that I really liked it until I didn’t anymore. I still pop in from time to time, but this is not a game I’m particularly compelled to play long-term.

Super One More Jump has a lot to love. It is incredibly addicting with tons of levels to get through. My struggle to get every blue gem became an obsession and 100%-ing it all takes time and effort. Add to that the additional modes and graphical styles, and you have something that feels very full and complete. If only the music was better... if only.

What it boils down to is whether you’re looking for something light, silly, and generally pressure-free to enjoy for a reasonably low price. If this all looks and sounds like something of interest I’d say it is wonderfully varied and probably has more content than you’ll complete anytime soon. If you like applied geometry and physics, some tricky puzzle scenarios, and a dose of silliness, Tennis in the Face isn’t a grand slam but it plays a respectable game nonetheless.