IronFall: Invasion was a perfectly solid third-person shooter wrapped in an incredibly technically accomplished shell back on 3DS. I would list it as one of the most technically impressive 3DS games ever made, up there with Resident Evil Revelations, Star Fox 64 3D, and Nano Assault. Without the context of the 3DS, IronFall: Invasion on Switch sorta just winds up being a perfectly acceptable third-person shooter. It is still technically excellent, but it isn’t as remarkable now as it was back in 2015. Still if you want a cheesy Gears of War-like game developed by a small talented indie studio, IronFall: Invasion is worth checking out.

I was genuinely shocked by how much I wound up liking MST. It’s bizarrely true to the source material while somehow succeeding in being a completely different game that’s still super fun. I’d talk more about the roguelite aspects of the game but they aren’t intrusive, which is honestly a surprise, because roguelites tend to overemphasize the “roguelite” aspect. How many times have I said “does this have to be a roguelite?” on this website? It’s a lot! But not today. Not today!

There is plenty to enjoy here, but the brilliant pacing, focus and storytelling from Case of the Golden Idol looms large over its sequel. It’s a shame it doesn’t live up to that potential, while still reinforcing the great ideas that are the foundation of the gameplay. Let’s hope the Golden Idol shows up once more in the future to bring both styles together for a spectacular conclusion.

Broken Reality is one of those somewhat hard to categorize games. While I can pick out individual pieces and compare them to other things, as a whole it is a very unique experience. At multiple points I simply stopped to take it in, or say aloud “that’s really cool”. But it does all this while never taking itself too seriously. The Switch version comes with a few minor hiccups, but not enough to sour the experience. What you’re left with is an incredible adventure full of beautiful worlds, fun puzzles, and witty writing. Broken Reality is one of those games that is just fun to spend time in.

Sashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography could be a great supplemental tool if you’re already working on learning Japanese. Its cute artstyle and miniature version of Shibuya is fun to explore and allows you to learn and discover a ton of Japanese words, but it falls a bit short as a full method to learn Japanese and as a photography videogame. Still, on your flight to Japan this is a fun way to learn a few words and phrases that you can put into practice when you’re there.

There’s a really enjoyable 20-30 hours here if you cut out a portion of the early game and the over-tutorializing, but in a year of incredible additions to the RPG genre, 8-Bit Adventures 2 is a tougher sell.

In the end Peglin feels like one of those great background games, that I can see players picking up again and again. I can’t look ahead in my crystal ball, but I foresee that Peglin may just stick around for quite some time.

By lowering the fear factor, SFB Games has changed the focus of what the game presents and instead leans heavier into atmosphere, and puzzle solving. Fortunately, those are exactly my favorite parts for these types of games. Give me a big spooky house with lots of items to find and clues to solve and I’m in heaven. A haunted house escape room so to speak and Crow Country delivers perfectly on those fronts. It isn’t until later in the game that combat becomes a necessity and that’s where my enthusiasm wanes. The finicky aiming is frustrating enough to generally want to avoid it at all costs. Outside of that Crow Country is highly successful at what it delivers. A tight package of intriguing puzzle design and nail biting ambiance that is perfectly tuned in difficulty. There’s even a hint system in place to ensure you don’t get stuck too long on any single puzzle. I loved my time with Crow Country and it will definitely be making an appearance on my Game of the Year list.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D helps bring a hugely important game to a wider audience. It’s not much more than a classic RPG, but the quality still shines through decades later. This might not have the archival material of some of the video game museum games that have come out lately, but it feels of a similar disposition as them because this is taking a titanic landmark game and giving it the tender loving care it deserves so it can be enjoyed by even more players in the current age. There might have been better RPGs made in the past 35 years, but most of them likely wouldn’t be as good as they are without Dragon Quest III leading the way.

I enjoyed LEGO Horizon Adventures, but it would be inaccurate to say this is a straightforward Horizon game. It’s aimed at the younger set, certainly, but in doing so, ignores a lot of what makes the Playstation series so enjoyable to me. However, if you’re looking for a chill, funny action game or something to play with your kid(s), this is a damn good choice. Now what I’d really like are more LEGO sets for the Horizon series. My Tallneck is lonely–it needs a Thunderjaw or a Slaughterspine to stand next to.

Ultimately, Potionomics is a really rewarding and engaging shop simulator with fun characters and an addictive gameplay loop. While I have some misgivings at how the game runs on Switch, this is a very worthy addition to shop running games, and I can see myself returning to Potionomics, if only to hang out with these characters and brew some more potions.

Tetris Forever is required reading. Not just for those who engage with games on a daily basis, but especially for people who are unaware of why games are cultural heritage and deserve to be preserved and celebrated as more than just toys. The new inclusion of Tetris Timewarp makes for a fun Tetris variant and is particularly rewarding after learning about the series' wide and wild history. So put the game on like a documentary with the family, introduce it to your colleagues and make them understand that it won’t be just Tetris forever, but games forever as well.

TMNT Mutants Unleashed has some really good ideas that don’t coalesce into a great game. The combat is fine, but nothing to write home about. The social RPG concept is novel, but not well executed. It’s all the more frustrating because the writing for the relatively engaging plot is great. Part of me wished this game had some time to be refined because the framework of something totally radical is here. It just doesn’t make it out of the sewers.

Whether or not the combined offering of Sonic Generations and Shadow Generations is worth it will depend heavily on what your expectations for each half of the game are. For my part, I see this as a brand new game starring Shadow the Hedgehog with a remaster of an old game packed in, and by that metric I think it is a stellar package. Sonic X Shadow Generations may spend a lot of time looking at the franchise’s past, but it represents the best I’ve felt about its future in a very long time.

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven has become my favorite game of 2024, and it might be the best turn-based RPG on Switch. From the moment I played the demo at PAX West to when I rolled credits and immediately dove back in, I’ve been completely enamored with its nonlinear trappings and charming world-building. It’s my sincere hope that the team that brought this remake to life will be given the reins to a Romancing SaGa 3 remake and then new SaGa titles moving forward, because they hit a grand slam with this one. There’s no doubt on my end – cold or otherwise: Revenge is a dish best served with romance.

But let me be clear: Shin chan: Shiro and the Coal Town is a great experience that has me fully invested in Millennium Kitchen’s flavor of adventure games. Between a well told slice-of-life narrative, an improved structure, a super fun minecart racing mode and some really pretty art, this is a top tier adventure game for anyone hungry for some weapons-grade nostalgia.

Developer All Possible Futures has done enough to prove they can really create something visually stunning while also weaving together a whimsical fairy tale story. On the other hand, it also feels like they had something to prove, with too many ideas, and instead of honing in on any one or two, decided to shove them all in at once. Even with all my complaints, it never took away from the fun that’s inherent within the simplistic gameplay and story. With all the mini games and mechanics being so slight, any grievances were short lived as I progressed further into the games 8 hour run time. The game really moves at a pretty brisk pace, with a slight drag at the finish line. Outside of that, I would definitely recommend The Plucky Squire, if anything for that visual 2D hand drawn art transition to 3D. It’s a neat trick and one I’ll remember for some time to come. This is a case for games as an artform, even if it’s technically shallow.

I preferred Neva to Gris, though both games are triumphant and artistic video games that will probably make you cry like a baby. If you’re a lifelong pet owner like myself, Neva has the potential to hit you like a train, but it’s also a universal enough feeling to work for anyone. The combat is a great addition to the video game aspect that definitely filled in a hole for me in the experience. Nomada Studio continues their penchant for making gorgeous games that are packed with emotional resonance. Now that they’ve told game stories about parents and pets, we’ll see how they can make us all cry next.

Card-en-Ciel’s gameplay is incredibly fun, which makes it an easy recommendation for anyone who has liked games like Slay the Spire or Monster Train but wants an anime twist to it. However, if you’re looking for a more developed story or characters that go beyond just providing window dressing for the core of the gameplay, I’d advise caution. I really enjoyed my time with Card-en-Ciel, especially for someone who loves that kind of card-based roguelite, but I just wish Inti Creates would give us more from the story and presentation.

This is a remarkable rail-shooter with a deep understanding of its inspiration, while also offering a fresh experience. If you enjoy Star Fox, Galaxy Force, Space Harrier, or After Burner, you will find something to love in Rogue Flight.

Fear the Spotlight is a fun time, though it’s quite short and a smidge underwhelming–for somebody who has played every Silent Hill and most of the mainline Resident Evil games. For a newcomer curious about this genre, Fear the Spotlight provides an excellent entry point.

Ultimately Echoes of Wisdom excellently weaves itself into the grand tapestry of Zelda with surprising originality while being careful never to trample on what has come before.

While I wouldn’t say that Ys X quite hits the highs of Ys VIII, it tends to lean much more in that direction than Ys IX did, all while amping up the openness of exploration and expanding on the movement options from the prior entry. While the general tone and style moves back into the high fantasy setting, it doesn’t completely abandon what worked about Ys IX either. The new sailing mechanics add a genuinely unique spin to this entry and a focus on building up just two party members creates more intentional combat encounters. While elements of the technical design still feel rooted a few generations in the past, an updated engine and attention to the Switch version in particular make this the most technically accomplished game in the series. Perhaps most of all Ys X: Nordics presents a fun world to exist in and a charming cast of characters that I became genuinely invested in. It is somewhat reassuring to know that despite my earlier fears, there may in fact be hope that I like this series as a whole, and not simply one game.

With Gori, the hoverboard platforming mechanics just aren’t as precise as they could be, frustratingly so, and that ends up being a lot of what you are doing in these levels. Especially with boss battles, the expectations of the game aren’t entirely clear and can leave you fumbling. Also this game takes a pretty steep hit in the graphics department due to the Switch’s lower power to handle Gori’s fur. I stand by my hype for this game and love the fact that these games can still exist in this space. I pine for the days of the B game, and will support devs who continue to hold that torch, but I also am realistic in that there’s nostalgia definitely clouding my lenses here.

There may be an eager audience for an NES puzzle room game, but it’s apparently not me. Your mileage may vary, so watch a few videos before making the call.

I’m delighted to see Epic Mickey getting a second shot at life, and escaping exclusivity after all these years. This isn’t some landmark 3D platformer, but it’s a game with an incredible amount of heart put into it. While I would have loved to see this remaster do a bit more to smooth over the rough edges in game design, its respectful approach to updating the visuals is excellently done. Performance unfortunately isn’t perfect on the Switch, though it isn’t game breaking either. This is and always has been a game that will appeal to a very specific combo of 3D platforming and Disney fans, but for that audience it remains a flawed but charming trip into the forgotten past.

Konami stays winning with their compilation releases, as Castlevania Dominus Collection brings even more Metroidvania goodness to Switch players. It certainly doesn’t hurt that Portrait of Ruin and Order of Ecclesia in particular feature some absolutely banging music tracks. While we aren’t hurting for Metroidvanias on the eShop, the ones on offer here are among the finest in the genre and are all well worth the time it takes to go through them. We’re not quite into the spooky season yet, but you’d do well to add this package to your wishlist so that you’re prepared with the proper amount of skeleton-smashing entertainment ahead of Halloween.

Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Canines feels like a case of a developer learning from what worked and didn’t work from their first effort and improving on it effectively. The result is a fun platforming adventure that I can recommend to both fans of the original and newcomers alike.