Even playing the entire game solo I still had an absolute blast from start to finish, and performance on the Switch version keeps a consistent locked framerate throughout (the resolution in handheld can drop pretty low during some of the busier scenes). The combat is an unfortunate drag, but the puzzles stand on their own so well that it’s worth pushing through the dull battles to keep solving more of them until you’ve found the Nightmare Prince.

Even knowing that the only change of the new remastered version of Alliance Alive is the graphics, I still had high hopes for a better second experience. Some of the individual aspects I enjoyed, but as a full experience it still didn’t click. If you picked up Alliance Alive the first time around, whatever that experience was for you will likely be repeated on the Switch. To those whose main interest is the battle system, if grinding for moves and abilities is your thing, this remastered is a much prettier and convenient version to play.

Super Dodgeball Beats is simple to grasp, challenging at times in uneven ways, but generally fun with a visual flair that is humorous and bombastic in a delightful way. While I’d have hoped for some different ways to apply challenge, it doesn’t become insurmountable and the narrow scope of options lets you focus on jumping right into a match. Even with some repetition in the soundtrack, this is another solid rhythm-based game on the Switch that you can put some headphones on and get tunnel vision enjoying it.

In spite of being pretty fun to play, Galaxy Champions TV is missing the heart and character that made Smash TV so endearing. There’s no loudmouth TV announcer spouting dumb catchphrases; there’s no freedom in terms of how you move from room to room. You exit every arena stage right until you hit the boss stage. The minute-to-minute gameplay is decent, but then you hit a wall and keep playing the same stages over and over again to grind out experience, in hopes that a new perk might be able to give you the boost you need.

The first Dragon Quest feels like a relic from the past with its incessant grinding and tiring dialogue. But it’s hard not to recommend: it does have that Dragon Quest appeal that many games in the series have, and the soundtrack and visuals (save the character models) give this release a great classic feel. There’s no doubt this 33-year-old game shows its age, but Dragon Quest presents a simple, straightforward experience that’s worth playing if you can forgive its dated flaws.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is, at its worst, an enjoyable 2D platformer. Some of the level design is a tiny bit pedestrian, but the dynamic duo have a versatile moveset that helps make rolling around levels fun. Where this game shines is in the sum of its parts. The individual levels might not be outstanding, but combining those with alternate versions and a light and engrossing overworld make the whole package that is Playtonic’s second game a thrilling one. They might not have regained the crown from Retro Studios in the realm of Donkey Kong Country-like games, but they certainly retained the googly eyes.

Muse Dash is an entertaining rhythm game that forces the player to constantly act. The notes coming your way aren't for the faint of heart, and there are challenges to keep you looking ahead. The music selection and various options are quite impressive, too, even if I wouldn't dare touch Master difficulty for the life of me. While the progression system is mostly sound, I feel that the grind towards stat-altering costumes is somewhat harsh. In addition, the English text lines could have used a little more editing. Those points aside, this is the most complete experience of Muse Dash yet with a constant stream of updates in the pipeline.

The setting of Los Ojos feels alive, and its denizens are a delightful cocktail of awkward, savvy, charming, and repellent. While a playthrough can take around 3-4 hours, it’s worth returning to the world to meet different people and see how your decisions impact the overall narrative. What’s more, the dark and gritty aesthetic works well in a game that portends a potentially frightening future. At the end of a long shift, Neo Cab’s strong writing and effective story-telling make it well-worth hailing.

The four-player boss battle game is a free-to-start Switch game that carries Kirby charm but less complexity in an already decidedly uncomplicated series.

With regards to story and direction, the third Dragon Quest game definitely shows its age, but it also introduced a lot of elements that have gone on to become staples of the series. If you can look past some of its flaws, you’ll find a rewarding experience that enables you to experiment with some interesting gameplay systems. You will have to grind, you could get frustrated, and you may need to consult a walkthrough, but traditional JRPG fans will find an enjoyable adventure that hides a surprising amount of content. Yes, Dragon Quest III on Switch may be ugly, but if that’s the worst sin it commits, don’t let that stop you from trying out this classic of yore.

So many of Grid Autosport’s strengths, from its racing style to the focus on single-player gameplay, fit perfectly on the Nintendo Switch. Upon playing this port, it makes a ton of sense as to why Codemasters ported over the five-year-old game rather than one of its more recent offerings. It isn’t a classic by any means, but it is full of content and is a racing game that everybody can enjoy.

Generally, I enjoy turn-based strategy games and I had high expectations for what Overland had to offer. I have no problem with the game trying to move me out of my comfort zone and consider strategies not regularly employed in other titles, but it just wasn’t enough to keep my interest. I think there’s likely a group of people that will appreciate the simplified strategy and minimalistic take, but since I’m not one of them, they can feel free to abandon me like the poor soul in the tutorial.

I’m enjoying my time with Contra: Rogue Corps far more than I expected when the game was announced at E3 and revealed to be as un-Contra-like as possible. It’s rough around the edges, specifically in the ridiculous faux-bad-ass story and presentation coupled with the restrictions on local multiplayer. The actual shooting has enough there that could make it a fun multiplayer game, but with so much of it hinging on the online play, I can’t draw a total conclusion. I hope the weapon customization and upgrading can gel well with online multiplayer so that way Rogue Corps can transcend its issues and be a boisterous and enjoyable action game.

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch has gained the reputation of being a top-tier RPG and among the favorites of all time for some. While it certainly does a lot right, I think a few things hold it back from being truly amazing. The battle system, while fun, can become frustrating at points with the AI-controlled party members. Constantly switching between characters during regular battles wasn’t something I found to be as enjoyable as doing it for boss fights, but not doing so resulted in low MP. With a pretty high encounter rate, this caused more than a few issues. That’s not to say Ni no Kuni isn’t entertaining; it just feels a bit imperfect. Regardless, exploring the different sights within the stunning world and interacting with its fascinating characters helped to overcome the shortcomings.

Newt One is just a flawed experience. It clearly had some time and love put into it, but it doesn’t feel finished. Everything is working against it. It has an interesting art style, but lacks the animation and visual effects that supplement it. The premise is about restoring color to the world and bringing back music, but the music doesn’t match the levels, and is missing sound effects. Newt’s story is weirdly paced, and has a lot of unnecessary details that don’t add anything to it. In short, unnecessary details trip up Newt One from being something interesting.

Dragon Quest XI S is one of the finest RPGs on Switch. With its classic yet refined battle system and plethora of side content, the game can easily keep you chugging along for 100 hours or more. While the world at large may not be all that open, it offers a lot of flair and interesting elements to experience. Everything from entertaining characters to amusing quests, it all comes together in a way such that the journey never slows down. I do feel that the game tries to hold your hand just a teensy bit too much. You can change it in the settings so that some NPCs will start lying to you, but even then, it was hard to really get lost. That is, however, a slight misstep in a game that I adored from beginning to end.

Darksiders 2 is the best entry in the current Darksiders trilogy, and the Switch version, while not perfect, is a great way to experience it. Now we just need Darksiders 3 on Switch so I can take this entire excellent series everywhere I go.

Overall, Northgard is a wonderful strategy game despite its shortcomings. The rough edges can make it tough for newcomers to the genre to get invested, but if you're a fan of strategy games or able to tough it out through the warts until everything clicks, then you're in for a treat. The Switch is a natural fit for the 4X genre, and Northgard is a prime example of the potential that this style of strategy game can have outside the PC ecosystem.

While I could pick apart some specific nagging problems in Ori and the Blind Forest, whether it’s the combat or tiny platforming problems, my lasting memory of this recent replay and my previous Xbox One playthrough a few years ago is just the high moments. The bliss of exploring this world, combined with the deft storytelling and dazzling artwork, make for an enthralling adventure that stands tall as one of the modern classics of the Metroid-esque genre.

Playing Deadly Premonition is not unlike sitting down to watch a bad movie with a friend, and this might just be the perfect way to experience it. The Switch port seems to run quite well, and with an upcoming sequel confirmed alongside its release, now is the best time to jump in. I certainly can’t call it a good game, but I can definitely call it a fun game. If you enjoy a cheesy bad movie from time to time, Deadly Premonition is probably for you.

For those who are looking to recapture their memories of playing the original game just as it was, the Switch version is a fine means of relishing in that. As a video game releasing in 2019, however, new players should be cautious and, at the very least, aware of what they are getting into. Players who are familiar with the mechanics could complete the campaign in about 12 hours, while several to many more hours will be added for those who are new. If players want to discover what Star Wars games used to be like before the arrival of November’s Jedi: Fallen Order, this is a reasonable point of comparison. After all, 2002 seems like a long time ago when it comes to cinematic action-adventure game design. Sunshine, Metroid Prime, and Wind Waker all hold up as game experiences from this era. Jedi Outcast is far, far away from doing so.

Golazo does a lot right even in spite of a few nagging issues with shooting and passing. I sincerely enjoy the presentation as it has a wacky yet still grounded feel. The single-player offerings aren’t all that deep, but in a multiplayer setting, this is an enjoyable sports game. It’s light and breezy with just enough strategy that it could rouse amusing competition out of a local multiplayer session.

All in all, Untitled Goose Game is a cute, short experience that is hurdled with some camera issues, but makes up for in it’s charm.

Despite the game starting to feel a little shallow over ten years later, Castle Crashers is still an absolute riot when played with friends. I can’t recommend it as a solo experience, meaning its appeal on a hybrid console like the Switch may be a little limited. I can however highly recommend it for sitting down and having a good time with a group of friends. If you’ve got other game consoles then you can probably already play this game at its best, but it’s always a good time to jump in and have fun crashing through some castles.

While the adventure held my attention for a little while, eventually the backtracking and repetition wore me down. Those looking for a demanding action-platformer with Metroidvania elements may find buried treasure here. Others are just as likely to find Sydney Hunter full of fool’s gold.

There is certainly a lot to love about Puzzle Quest’s remastered return on Switch. The RPG-meets-puzzle battle system is just as deep and memorable, but almost everything else feels like something straight out of 2007. On the whole, that’s fine, but I can’t help but be dismayed by the bland visuals and presentation. But even failing that, you can just pick one of the 13 classes and romp your way through excellent and distinct battles. Purely based on its battle mechanics, Puzzle Quest is excellent, but it’s held back by the forgettable flourishes.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, despite its share of technical mishaps, remains one of the most wonderful entries in the series. The charm, gameplay and world building are wonderful to behold and deserve to be seen. The selection of smart fixes makes the game less of a grind and mostly an experience that keeps on trucking. While I don't think much of the Chamber Dungeons and other added trinkets, the refinements made to the overall flow make the journey worth it. For newcomers or Zelda veterans, Link's Awakening is a hoot from beginning to end.

While you can easily compare Sayonara Wild Hearts to other stylish rhythm games - Rhythm Heaven, Thumper, and Rez came to my mind while playing - the precise spectacle makes it stand out from similar works. This is a full-length interactive music video that exudes joy. It’s the absurdity and wonder of some Eurovision performances made playable. Like a good record from a band I like, I’ll spin this game often. That makes the secrets beneath the surface more appealing as Sayonara Wild Hearts might be one of my favorite music albums of the year in addition to being a killer video game experience.