When it comes down to it, Danganronpa Decadence is a must-play, even if you don’t consider yourself a visual novel fan. The enticing overarching mysteries and superb character writing are reason enough to give them a shot. Unfortunately, the 10th-anniversary edition contents, essentially just a gallery feature, might not be enough to warrant a full playthrough from seasoned fans, but the portability of the Switch and the ease of accessibility makes this one of the best collections available on the console to date.

Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp is an odd experience to recommend because its inclusion within Danganronpa Decadence makes it approachable to all purchasers of the package. Further, its base standalone $19.99 price point is fair, if only for hardcore fans of the genre to spend a little more time with these characters. Those who found enjoyment in the Ultimate Talent Development Plan minigame will find a familiar experience, but there’s nothing really here to keep you engaged outside of a sub-par board game with gacha systems.

Ninki Seiyuu: How to Make a Pop Voice Actress is an interesting visual novel based in reality to provide readers with a look at the behind-the-scenes trials that some voice actors could encounter. The characters and situations are relatable, but there’s still a sense of coincidence to sell the romance and plot. The routes themselves are largely uninteresting, but the characters and supporting cast really carry this experience, which is only made better by the beautiful designs.

If you have never had the chance to play Final Fantasy V before, the Pixel Remaster offers great value. This is a good version of a great game that shows clearly why Square is highly regarded for their expertise in RPGs. However, as a long-time fan of the game and the series, I sincerely wish they had gone the extra mile into making this version the most comprehensive and definitive edition it deserves.

Ruined King: A League of Legends Story is a competent narrative adventure for fans of the base game, but it barely scrapes by as a standalone game for newcomers to the series. The turn-based combat mechanics are refreshing, and the story elements are there. Still, the number of outdated gameplay components and flagrant unpolish that make progression borderline impossible ultimately makes this an engaging spectacle than an enjoyable playable experience.

It’s the kind of singularly relaxing-yet-meaningful game that reminds you that you can take a second away from your daily stress and just step outside and breathe...Maybe even go for a little walk.

Dying Light has found a new home and is worth returning to for both veteran fans and those touching down on Harran for the first time. Playing again made me excited for the sequel’s release and made me appreciate this title even more. This and more is what a port should do, so good luck and good night.

What Battlefield 2042 lacks in a single-player campaign, it makes up for in the sheer amount of content that it delivers to fans from all generations of the series. It’s a walk down memory lane that provides hours of that Battlefield action that you’d expect. You may have to spend a few of those understanding the UI and gun customization features, but with the inclusion of Hazard Zone and Portal, the possibilities of enjoyment here are endless.

Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation Code Fairy is a unique game. It’s unlike any I’ve played from the Gundam series as it’s carried by its story and characters who I grew attached to over the chapters. The quality animations and voice work do wonders for the enjoyment factor, and the missions provide just enough interaction to get the player involved in the action. Sure, it can feel a bit oversimplified, but if the idea is to make me want to play Battle Operation 2, then I just might be more interested now than I’ve ever been.

Cupid Parasite is one of the most engaging experiences I’ve ever had with an otome game. From my second playthrough to my fourth, I found myself shaking in my chair, wanting to know what would happen next. Its comedic romance kept me up until the late hours of the night, and I haven’t had a game that made me feel like this in quite a long time. Aside from affected routes, the translation work is solid, and I’m looking forward to the developer fixing the present bugs.

Tales of Luminaria would have benefited from a beta period where the development team could have heard and addressed concerns before launch, but they seem to be listening. The bigger issue is that you only get one first impression, and while the scope of this project for its platform is notably impressive, it’s just not much to write home about right now. Tales of Luminaria will be getting weekly episode updates, which is sorely needed because of the lack of launch content. Ultimately, it needs more polish and genuine care to shine as best as it can.

Bright Memory: Infinite is the product of a developer who wasn't satisfied putting out a game that he knew he could improve. So, instead of moving on, we get this over-the-top and insanely beautiful FPS adventure that is fun from beginning to end. Absolutely none of it makes sense, but who cares when I just launched an ancient sword-wielding statue dude in the air and cut him into pieces. Sign me up for the next adventure with Shelia.

Blue Reflection Second Light is a powerful story of a group of magical girls stuck in a world where males just don’t exist. While they explore their past, bonds are created to deliver fun and energic moments of storytelling made grander by emotional story beats. The action-focused battle system is fast and addictive, and exploration is straightforward without weighing the experience. It’s a low barrier of entry JRPG with plenty of charm to warrant a playthrough.

Super Robot Wars 30 is a wonderful place to start in this series due to its ease of accessibility and commendable encyclopedia of terms and characters. It’s an approachable SRPG no matter your skill level but shows age in its menu design and limited tutorials. Still, it managed to rope me in for hours of enjoyment as I survived off this mecha feast for days. So, here’s to another 30 years of Super Robot Wars.

Insomnis sets the atmosphere right in terms of tense audio and cleverly inserted environmental elements but ultimately fails to deliver a genuine horror experience. Aside from a few stereotypical jump scares for the scripted surprise factor, there’s absolutely nothing going for this game as a horror title.

Where Cards Fall is full of surprises as it has the presentation of a simplistic puzzle game but offers so much more in terms of story beats, beautifully crafted environments, and unique puzzle mechanics. This labor of love has become a memorable gaming experience to me that doesn’t push metaphorical ideals onto the player to figure out during table discussions. Instead, we have an emotional adventure following a character’s life that you don’t have to relate to to feel connected to their journey.

Riders Republic is a step in the right direction for open-world games. It fills the void for extreme sports games in an industry mostly filled with narrative or combat-driven projects. From the sprawling mountains of Bryce Canyon to the luscious forests of Yosemite, there’s always something beautiful to see and exciting to do. Ubisoft crafted a brilliant social, digital atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re actually participating in the Rider’s Ridge Invitational. See you on the slopes, kid.

Even without strong narrative backing, Shin Megami Tensei V delivers a compelling experience for the entire 60+ hour journey. The game smartly provides the player with core features the series is known for, alongside excelling in its fantastic environments, combat mechanics, and immaculate soundtrack. Shin Megami Tensei V is a natural evolution of this series and a must-play RPG.

Demon Turf has a lot to offer in its platforming design that challenges the player at every corner. It’s a shame that it becomes repetitive upon multiple visits, but the charm of these characters adds loads to the overall experience. It’s a platformer, not much more, but it doesn’t need to be because it’s got attitude, so hail to the Demon Queen, baby.

As you search for Charlotte May, you start to learn what kind of neighborhood Dahlia View really is. There are hidden truths lying everywhere in this community. Unfortunately, despite a proven premise, a pretty presentation, and a promising protagonist, there was no substance to fully immerse me in the narrative of Conway: Disappearance at Dahlia View. The plot was predictable, the slow pacing was punishing, and the lack of music made it difficult to trudge through.

Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut is a must-play Metroidvania that boasts an enjoyable gameplay loop of continual discovery, well-designed enemies, and a charming presentation. If you haven’t managed to play this version via its other release platforms, this is an opportune time to do so. You can’t ever go wrong with Shantae, and hopefully, many more gamers come to appreciate the infectiously exuberant splendor that this game radiates.

Unpacking has a simple presentation with some thought-provoking moments for players who are willing to immerse themselves in the experience. The story is straightforward, yet the method by which the player engages with it is so novel that it feels grander than it truly is. It’s a shame the abrupt ending left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. However, for a title designed to be played in one sitting, it manages to pack many different emotions into its short runtime, and utilize its medium so creatively that it has become one of my favorite games of the year.

HaremKingdom has some of the best comedic writing of any moege available. It takes familiar tropes and presents them in a hysterical way that only a group of writers who truly understand their audience can produce. The loser protagonist angle does hurt this experience, but this is undoubtedly the ultimate fanservice for those who need the legendary harem route to be the entire game.

Tunche has some performance issues, but it more than makes up for it with its presentation. The combat is thoroughly enjoyable and complex. The visual style and animations are a complete joy, and the rogue-lite elements are incredibly generous and motivating for players to continue run after run. Tunche provides an entraining and, at times, addicting beat ’em up experience, and that’s all I could have asked for.

Cotton 100% undoubtedly has some interesting charms and cool boss battles, but there isn’t much to it as a classic shooter. This 2021 release does the absolute bare minimum to preserve this oddity from the ’90s. If you need to try one game from the franchise, you might as well pick up the Saturn Tribute release of Cotton 2. As for this curious SNES shooter, it’s not among the games you need to play before you die.

In broad strokes, the story of Subway Midnight feels like a metaphor for dealing with trauma. However, despite how much I enjoyed the artwork and environments, the vagueness left me without much to hold onto after it was finished. Players who do tend to project onto blank slate characters, though, will likely find Subway Midnight a more profound, more emotional experience, so I’d recommend the title to that crowd.

Panorama Cotton isn’t a fun game, and what may have once been a technical showpiece for the Sega Genesis simply has no relevance today. This probably isn’t something you want to play; regardless of the cute character sprites, enjoyment takes a dive moments into the experience. You’re better off playing Space Harrier.

Aside from its highly brief playtime and minor use of fetch quests, The Legend of Tianding is an excellent beat’em up action platformer that touches upon a cultural figure that has been mostly forgotten. The polished and fleshed-out combat, along with the brilliant art design and Taiwanese voice-acted dialogue, makes this a thrilling historical adventure with a strong foundation for what can be an anthology of forgotten ethnic heroes.