Atari Mania is endearing and enjoyable despite some stumbles, especially if you hold some form of nostalgia for the old Atari brand. I had a good time with this even if I felt like I was waiting too long between batches of mini-games. The overworld puzzles ended up being one of the cooler parts of this package. I just wish the mini-games erred more on the side of WarioWare excellence as opposed to the muddy middleground.

Unsolved Crimes is not a terrible title, but it always feels lacking in some way across each aspect of the game.

Overall, the M2 emulation and menu navigation are certainly strengths of the Darius Cozmic Collection Console, but at the end of the day it feels much more like four titles than nine, given how similar some of these versions are. Some of the games have online rankings, which adds to the replay factor, but there are no historical materials on offer, and the game balancing options are incredibly sparse. There are some decent screen options, and being able to remap all of the buttons is nice, but it’s hard not to see this package of Darius games as being light on firepower. We’ve seen much more robust compilations come to Switch, so I can really only recommend these games to true Darius diehards.

This version of Clue is a perfectly fine recreation of the board game in video game form; however, the lack of single-system multiplayer kills a lot of the utility of the Switch version. The mobile version offers a far better deal and is also way easier to get a bunch of friends together to play Clue digitally.

This is a game for a very specific set of people, and I am not included that set. Nonetheless, I had a good time with the game once more people got involved. If you have a group of friends that like to bust a groove, Just Dance 4 may be the party game for you. If you're more interested in leveling up a black mage than a dancer, then avoidance is your smoothest move.

While I’ve only played the Switch version, I have to imagine that the original PC release of Golem Gates would be a lot of fun. All of the actual game design is fantastic and very addictive. Unfortunately, this is another instance of a great RTS game not translating well to a traditional controller. Add to that the performance issues on Switch and the console release becomes an even harder sell. Were it not for a truly delightful core gameplay loop, Golem Gates would be an easy pass. As it is, there is a compelling experience to be found, but it’s buried deep.

Ultimately, if you and a partner have played the more modern co-op action RPGs already and are looking for your next fix, Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance 2 holds up where it matters. The gameplay is fun, and the both of you might find its outmoded aspects charming. But if you don’t have a buddy (or spouse, child, etc.) close by to pick up a sword and slay goblins with you, the appeal is much more limited.

If you're looking for an entertaining ride through the Crystal Chronicles world this is the game for you, but if you're looking for an RPG, look elsewhere.

A reasonably well-made game that desperately needs a soul.

Jam Sessions 2 isn't a terrible game, but it seems to be a huge step in the wrong direction for the series.

The Switch version plays great, but Capcom could have included more ways to customize the gameplay, visual, and audio settings. Street Fighter fans who have always wanted a way to play the game at any locale will love having the game on a super portable system like the Switch. As a single-player experience though, this version of Street Fighter leaves a lot to be desired and you might be better off downloading a NeoGeo fighter.

Your enjoyment of Super Meat Boy Forever will be determined entirely by your particular enjoyment of masochistic platformers. If you played Super Meat Boy 1.0 and thought “man, I wish this were way harder,” Forever may be just what you’re looking for.

Octomania is not by any stretch a terrible game. It is a very lightly featured game with absolutely no frills and a decently fun battle mode that can provide a nice experience at times.

A great value for the money. It’s a fantastic multiplayer game, and even if you’re just duel-wielding by your lonesome, blowing zombies apart is incredibly fun.

Amusing and well worth it if you love SpongeBob SquarePants and enjoy a run-around-collecting-items type of game.

In the grand scheme of things, Runbow Pocket isn't bad. The available single-player content is quite nice and it offers something substantial for on the go. The disappointing change to multiplayer will be hard for many to look past. Where this brought the Wii U version to new heights, it feels here like an afterthought. It is hugely disappointing to see it locked behind an online section that will get barely used. Waiting hours for players to come online isn't exactly my idea of fun.

If you’re not as weird as me about touching your screen this is a fun game to play. I had a fun time recreating classic Nintendo characters and my kids enjoyed painting animals provided in game. You’re not going to create complicated pieces of art but if you or your kids would like something fun to play with for 30 minutes or so then Qbics Paint will be a fun time waster for all ages.

All in all, I had a fun time playing Infinite Minigolf. I ignored the power ups when I could and I have a store full of unused tickets to purchase clothing. Minigolf when properly designed is exciting enough that the missions and power-ups become a distraction, hopefully as more courses are developed by the community, the focus stays on creativity. Nothing is more satisfying in minigolf than coming up with an insane geometric plan that is pulled off with a mix of both skill and luck.

Sausage Sports Club is a weird, ridiculous, and absurd game that is much better being treated as a playful jaunt than a deep experience. Keep it around for parties where the concept of sausage-shaped animals hitting each other would be a good fit, or maybe it’s the kind of thing that is just fun to romp around in by yourself or with a friend or two. Sausage Sports Club is delightful in its silliness and makes up for the slapdash nature with its charm.

Taken as a whole, Evoland: Legendary Edition should probably be viewed as just including Evoland 2, since that game is, for the most part, totally alright. I’d look at the first game as a nonessential bonus. It’s a solid gag, but that’s about it. The second game also veers into that humorous minefield, but at least it can precariously hang with decent action-RPG elements and amusing writing.

With Monster Energy Supercross - The Official Videogame 2, Milestone has finally reached their true potential. They managed to make a decently fun motorcycle game that knows its target audience. The physics and individual gameplay elements are very much improved and will make potential racers grin. While I don't see myself going back to in the near future, I can't deny that the game is made well enough. Sometimes, that’s just enough to keep me entertained.

Shadow Blade: Reload is not a terrible game by any means, but it doesn’t do anything to make it worth playing over others in the genre.

Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX seems to be a decent entry point into the world of Atelier, and its crafting system hides a depth that will satiate more meticulous players. The main story does take a back seat to the character interactions and exploration of the world, but I had some fun seeing Ayesha’s journey (nearly) to completion.

Night Call ultimately feels like it’s missing something crucial to tie it all together. I think the game would’ve been better if it really was just about driving around Paris getting to know these people who are living out their everyday lives. The mystery-solving is half baked, and the fact that you can’t carry the stories of your passengers forward into future cases just makes me wish the mystery wasn’t there at all. I really did love the conversations I had with the game’s diverse cast, but in the end I was just left frustrated that I wouldn’t be able to see them through to their end without slogging through a lot of stuff I’d already seen.

Aeolis Tournament is a fine multiplayer outing. While the modes could've been more diverse, I did enjoy playing the game with friends. You got your rounds in pretty fast, particularly since there is barely a learning curve. Aeolis Tournament, in that sense, is for those in need of something simple and direct. Naturally, you can go for additional goals and power-ups, but the core works well enough for an hour or two. Frankly, I can't see myself keeping it long in my rotation, but the game works well for how long it lasts.

The variety of loadouts make it a solid pick-up for veterans and newcomers, but the absence of online leaderboards and sometimes obtuse localization do hold it back to a degree. Sifting through the barrage of eShop entries in the genre, I would certainly put this in the upper half of shoot-’em-ups on Switch.

Crystar is an excellent story wedged between way too much repetitive and meaningless combat inside gorgeous yet long-winded dungeons. The non-stop button mashing fights add no value or depth to the story except for the simple reason to progress. Unfortunately, what initially started with a shocking plot and opening unfolded quickly into a tedious gaming experience.

The story of Surmount on Switch is a sad one, a pleasant, cute, challenging, uncomplicated, and fun bite-sized adventure that gets completely cratered by insurmountable show-stopping bugs that completely throttled my momentum and made me ask several times “what am I wasting my time for?” I have to balance giving the developer a chance to produce a minimally disruptive experience and a guidepost of whether to spend hard earned money on a game. Regretfully I have to recommend you find your sense of adventure elsewhere, whether giving the PC version a flyer or turning to a much more serious title like Jusant.