Evertried is a welcome take on the rogue like genre. Although it can feel repetitive, the turn-based gameplay is a refreshing take.

Although it falls just short of the similar (but more intricate) Atelier games, those who enjoyed them will be entertained by Blue Reflection: Second Light. The fun characters, moving story, and familiar (albeit lighter) crafting / battle systems typical of Gust games are a great way to fill the time while we await the release of Atelier Sophie 2.

Satisfactory puzzle-platformers are many on the Nintendo Switch. But the transformative and unique A Boy and his Blob, while easy, rises well above most of the competition. Time has been kind to this game, both in presentation (graphically and musically) and general design. If you haven’t had your fill of it yet, add this one to your Switch collection.

Overall, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a classic RPG with one of the best Star Wars stories in the franchise. It is priced at $14.99, and I say it is worth it! There is plenty of replay value, trying for different endings and seeing different responses in your dialogue choices. Will you go Dark, Light, or Neutral? Will you bully your way through quests or try to be diplomatic? Play it, you ‘meatbag’!

Space Crew: Legendary Edition falls into the category of a “certain type of game for a certain type of player.” If you haven’t played a challenging space sim, then I really don’t think Space Crew is for you. It’s hard and very unforgiving, with lots of systems you need to understand and control. However, if you’re someone who loves challenging space sims and you’re looking for something new to play on your Nintendo Switch, then Space Crew: Legendary Edition is likely a decent game you’ll enjoy. It really depends on the type of player you are.

I appreciate the unique control scheme, which made Hoplegs stand out in its promotional videos and material. But overall, it was a frustrating experience, even though I progressed quicker when the controls started feeling more natural and gained more momentum. The repetitive level design, visuals and music become tedious, leaving Hoplegs (sigh) no real leg to stand on.

Overall though, Metroid Dread is excellent. MercurySteam has more than proven themselves to be a worthy steward of the 2D Metroid games. They understand the genre and what fans are looking for from Nintendo’s bounty hunter extraordinaire. Metroid Dread is simply a must-play title for newcomers and fans alike.

Hermitage: Strange Case Files does many things right, with well-written characters, interesting cases, and incorporating gameplay that affects the story’s outcome. If you are looking for a very good visual novel and enjoy creepy mysteries with a twist of supernatural to solve, Hermitage: Strange Case Files is a solid choice.

While some of its puzzle flow can be hit-or-miss, The Sundew delivers an entertaining graphic adventure. While I hate to see the sound design miss the mark so badly, genre fans should enjoy pointing and clicking their way through this tale’s surprises.

Panorama Cotton changes up the series’ cute-em-up experience by switching to a 3D action arcade style, but it introduces some problems along the way. The trippy enemies and color palette provide some quick fun, but they quickly wear out and allow performance issues to dampen the experience. Unless you’re a fan of the series, this isn’t a game you’re likely to finish.

With Mario Party Superstars alongside Super Mario Party, the Nintendo Switch has two different but great series installments. While Superstars would benefit from more boards, it’s a charming nostalgia-laden trip with far-reaching multiplayer appeal for family and friends of all ages. It’s also replayable as ever, with online play, achievements, and unlockables.

Black Widow Recharged has too high a price, too little going for it, and too many bugs (the last of which is at least somewhat appropriate, I guess).

Cotton 100% is a fantastically fun game. The stages are way too short, though, and that’s a drag given the $14.99 price tag. But is its price a show stopper? That’s up to you, the consumer. Still, Cotton 100% is silly, entertaining, and gives a decent challenge to beat.

Bouncy Bullets 2 is a very good game to throw music on and play aimlessly. Each level is progressively more challenging, and just when you think you’re ready to give up, you find a way to advance.

Sloppy level design and sluggish run speed and teleportation turn the speed-based Aeon Drive into a bit of a slog.

Crysis Remastered Trilogy on Nintendo Switch is an absolute must play experience. The Crysis games were already fantastic first person shooters and the remastered experience on Switch is a sight to behold. All 3 games have been updated to look and run amazingly well and playing in handheld mode will genuinely blow you away.

Reminiscence in the Night doesn’t offer much to keep you occupied, albeit at a modest $4.99 price. Choices that lead to different endings hold some appeal, but certain aspects of the script seriously lack. There’s also little balance between being cryptic and offering clarity. This release leaves you with questions but feels more rudimentary than sophisticated.

Armed Emeth isn’t pricey, and it’s an entertaining retro RPG for all ages, with a good presentation and a decent story.

Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom The Prince’s Edition is a complete package for any JRPG fan. The world is fleshed out, its genuine joy to experience, the characters are interesting but Ni No Kuni II’s biggest strength is the gameplay. It constantly keeps on giving, but it never overwhelms.

Stilstand is an interactive graphic novel that accurately captures the minutiae of despair and loneliness through a darkly funny and absurdist story.

DBZ: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set is packed full of epic fights, side quests, and a good amount of free DLC. The game looks and plays great on the Switch. I highly recommend it for fans of the series.

The Amazing American Circus takes you on a romantic romp through the American frontier. It offers an innovative take on card duelling games that feels like a step in the right direction towards the experience it really wants to be.

Knockout Home Fitness is a Switch exclusive competing with the Fitness Boxing series and the expanding number of Switch workout games. I always welcome additional choices, and it manages to hold its own, more or less. But the price might be high for the content of a title that never aims to be anything more than “good enough.” Weigh the pros and cons and check out the demo to decide if you want to “Knock out inactivity” with this one.

Astria Ascending checks off the proper JRPG boxes while adding enough unique twists to satisfy fans of the genre. It won’t sit at the top of your “must complete” list, but it’ll serve you well when you need a break from higher profile releases.

It’s too bad Takorita Meets Fries isn’t good. As there are few hero quest stories with female protagonists, Takorita could’ve been great for a younger audience. Unfortunately, Takorita Meets Fries struggles with its identity and who the intended audience is supposed to be. The simplistic story, lack of gameplay, and cartoon artwork might appeal to a much younger crowd. But the crude humor takes away that option.

The new version of Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water comes with improved graphics and some new content, but it would be a game worth playing even without them. Although it’s occasionally more frustrating than scary, the clever gameplay and its dedication to tone and story make it one of the best survival horror games available for the Switch.

Dojoran is an incredibly well-made, simple video game that anyone can enjoy. I had a great experience and will return to it often, each occasion trying to lower completion time and death count. If you have a spare $4.99, I highly recommend this game.

Curious Expedition 2 is pretty to look at and fun to play for an hour or so. However, any longer than that, the gameplay gets repetitive and dull.

If you enjoy playing Volta-X online in the main mode, you’re likely to enjoy the Metaverse update. It’s offline for you to play when you want and practice with the various Voltas.

A Little Golf Journey oversells its “stunning” courses and struggles to stay fresh with a mostly safe approach, regardless of plot attempts. It’s the sort of game that did enough to make me want to keep going for a few hours, but not enough to finish, let alone 100% it. Lacking diversity, both aesthetically and gameplay-wise, it pales when compared to many other Switch golf titles. But, even with a subpar camera, the secrets are quite a bit of fun. Assuredly not $19.99 fun, though. The content is there, but the enjoyment and polish aren’t as much. Wishlist this one for a sale while you browse other relaxing games on the eShop, and wait for an improved follow-up.

The Long Gate bills itself as “…a challenging and elaborate puzzle game with puzzles based on real world physics and circuits.” If any of those words frighten you, stay away, as its elaborate level setup and first-person point of view complicate things even further. But if you’re within its target audience, it could be one of the most rewarding logic puzzle games you’ve played in quite some time.

Shadow Corridor is a fun Japanese horror game. Perfect for Halloween and any late-night sessions alone or with a group of friends. The controls are smooth and easy to pick up, the jump scares are very effective, and the music elevates everything within this game. My main concern is the replayability the game promotes isn’t as strong as I initially hoped, but that doesn’t impact the overall experience too much.

Project Winter is a great game concept that you can clearly see how the game is supposed to work. Yet the game was ruined by bad lobbies and awful players. While this is not the game’s fault on its own but rather its player based Project Winter is a game that can’t really be recommend you go out and purchase, unless you have four other friends that want to play with you. As a solo experience, there are much more enjoyable multiplayer games you can jump into on Nintendo Switch.

Overall, LoveChoice offers a good time to experience, at least once with each of the different endings. Priced at $4.99, I think it is worth it. I can tell a lot of heart and love was put into this title.

Knights & Guns uses…well…knights and guns to change up the classic Space Invaders / Galaga 2D action gameplay, but is bogged down by its in-game economy for weapons and advancement. It’s fun for some quick two-player gaming sessions, but is not rewarding enough for long-term engagement.

Tetris is Tetris, so well known and broadly adored. And even if Tetris Effect: Connected is familiar, it’s still great fun. The refinements make it a worthy addition to your Switch library, even if some of the tunes can be hit or miss. It’ll scratch that Tetris itch, offering rewarding challenges you can return to time after time, even for those who’ve been manipulating shaped blocks since Alexey Pajitnov’s original.

While Sheepo has some flaws, the solid platforming coupled with shape-shifting mechanics more than make this worthy of your time. Definitely worth checking out.

Considering the limitations of the Switch’s small screen and physical setup, Colors Live offers a pretty good range of tools and functionality for a low-cost painting game. It doesn’t have the capabilities serious artists will want, but its accessibility and daily challenges provide a fun way to get some drawing practice in and stay creative.

Diablo II: Resurrected gets enough polish and features to appeal to fans of the original release and to series newcomers. The exploration/combat loop is still fully engaging, with only a few remnants of its age interfering with gameplay on the Switch.

Death’s Gambit’s Afterlife is a creative 2D platform that has incredible level and character design. The start menu and actual combat instructions could be more detailed, but all in all, it’s a very good game.

HIX: Puzzle Islands is a surprisingly fun game. The fun puzzles strike a perfect balance between tricky and satisfying, with a truly relaxing ambience set amid a cute and well-designed world. It easily earns its E rating, as this is a title that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Gleylancer is a deep shooter that grew from a good shmup to a great one the longer I played it. To those in the know, this clever shooter’s a tour de force, and I can now see why. It’s smooth, addictive, highly replayable, and enjoyable, with rarely a dull moment. If you’re a genre enthusiast, consider this an essential addition to your gaming library. Kudos to Ratalaika Games for publishing this, and for only $6.99. If this game had co-op, it might’ve been a 10.

Travis Touchdown has grown in his “final installment” of No More Heroes. Because of this, the overall game has a different feel than previous entries and might be why it’s my favorite game in the franchise. Travis is a much more likeable character with some tangible realizations of action’s consequences. Paired with an interesting story, this makes No More Heroes 3 the best entry in the series. If you are a fan, No More Heroes 3 should definitely be added to your library.

Overall Don’t Touch This Button! is an incredibly average room-based puzzle game that probably isn’t worth your time.

One-Eyed Lee and the Dinner Party is a fantastic mystery game that eases you into its ominous yet colourful world and explores the essence of humanity through fantastical characters.

Ultra Age may not be a complete package, offering little outside it’s compelling combat. However, the moment to moment gameplay is incredibly enjoyable, even if the Nintendo Switch version of the game is noticeably stripped back.

Where’s Samantha is a charming title about true love between two scraps of fabric. The clever puzzles will keep you busy as you enjoy a journey through a cloth-based world.

A Juggler’s Tale is a polished title, delivering a smooth gameplay flow that’s over too quickly for its launch price. Anyone can appreciate the visual presentation and voiced story. Meanwhile, enthusiasts will enjoy the blend of puzzles (albeit easy ones) and action. It’s a unique game in many ways and one that leaves an impression. But, it also leaves you wanting more. I hope to cheer on Abby in a sequel, one whose price better matches its length.

NBA 2K22 is another good entry in the fantastic NBA 2K series. Its reworked shooting mechanics, impressive visuals on Switch, and loads of NBA content will keep any basketball fan’s attention for hours on end. While many modes received no noticeable additions, and there’s a heavy desire for spending money on microtransactions, NBA 2K22 is still a must-play for Switch basketball fans.

In the end, G-Darius HD is a challenging shooter from a time when arcades were still relevant. It still looks good and sounds cool, but it’s not great as a standalone.

WarioWare has traditionally been one of the more bizarre entries in the Nintendo catalog, but it has always been a welcome one. And although the crazy microgame approach won’t appeal to everyone, WarioWare: Get It Together! freshens up the approach just enough to make sure longtime fans will want to check it out.

Hoa is a spirited adventure with a relaxing atmosphere. While I wish it were longer for its launch price (with optional challenges), I’m confident I’ll replay it. The desirable aesthetics combined with goal-driven gameplay are too enjoyable a combination. Did this puzzle platformer go unnoticed by you this summer? It’s never too late to give it the attention it deserves.

While there are issues, especially with online play, KeyWe is a decent couch co-op game.

A little stale outside of racing mode, and the game is hardest at the beginning because the three cars given to you are bad. Still, Rush Rally Origins is a solid racing game with above-average graphics.

Monster Train First Class combines a fun story with cool designs, challenging strategic gameplay and the excitement of unlocking and making the most of epic new features at a dream pace.

Islanders: Console Edition is a very good addition to the Nintendo Switch’s library. It is the the perfect game to take on the go, to play in short bursts or for longer spells. For this price you can’t really go wrong.

Steel Assault nails its presentation, and I’m impressed more than enough that I’ll keep an eye out for Zenovia Interactive’s next release. It does need to look closer at the retro arcade classics of yesteryear that it aims to honor, though. Trading in the 1-life setup for co-op would be a wise start, as would be the addition of scoring. This gorgeous game might be better on sale, but it’s an accomplished title that does many things with skill.

An otherwise decent racing game, terrible AI choices, and rubber-banding cripple Cruis’n Blast. A real shame.

A Night at the Races does an admirable job of balancing difficult, twitch-style gaming with a narrative that’s unique to the genre. It’s not for everyone, but those who are up to the challenge will find it a bit more rewarding than most high-speed platformers.

When all’s said and done, though, Centipede is so classic that it’s almost always enjoyable on any system, and the same is true here. I hope Atari tries harder with future Recharged installments, but I can’t deny that this mixed version is still fun. If you have someone to play co-op with, grab the game and hope for Millipede: Recharged to follow.

At $24.99, I think Staxel’s priced a bit high, and I’d wait for a sale. But multiplayer can be lots of fun, playing with friends both locally and online. If you find the premise and presentation appealing, Staxel’s a cute, chill, but familiar title. It’s a game that can bore or relax depending on your thoughts about Minecraft and farming/new-guy-in-town simulators like Harvest Moon.

Virtuous Western is a quick, easy puzzle game with an 8-bit cowboy aesthetic and a speed run mode, but not much else to make it stand out from the wealth of similar games.

Townscaper offers little to keep players engaged and seemingly never will. I have to call it what it is, an early access Steam experiment trying to pass itself off as a full-fledged Switch release. Since the developer admits no DLC’s on the horizon to address expected features that are MIA, this incomplete title’s one to skip, even at just $5.99.

Fans of the original will love this updated classic and all of its new features. For those looking for a difficult but fun challenge that includes numerous single and multiplayer game modes, I highly recommend checking out Spelunker HD Deluxe.

I give Badland props for its challenge, multiplayer, bold visual style, and content relative to its price. But it’s a game that wears its mid-2010s origins on its sleeves, warts and all. I feel it hasn’t held up as well as hoped and will have its work cut out for it to stand out on the congested Switch eShop. Want to play Badland in 2021? Do so on a mobile device instead. You’ll get touch screen support and more content that way.

Dreamscaper is a randomly generated dungeon crawler with fun combat, breath-taking design and a premise that is both moving and expertly woven into the mechanics and structure of the game.

There is plenty to do and see in this game that justifies the price of entry. However, Black Book’s most valuable asset is the rich setting and lore that it showcases with pride.

WitchSpring3 [Re:Fine] – The Story of Eirudy is a port of a made-for-mobile, turn-based JRPG that should’ve stayed on mobile devices. It’s not bad, but it’s better played in short bursts where the game’s lack of a solid hook and issues with repetition are more forgivable.

While there are issues, both in the game itself and the porting, Sonic Colors Ultimate is a fun enough time.

Fort Triumph is a good strategy game with more than one way to play with fun characters and unique maps.

King’s Bounty II is a good adventure game with better turn-based combat. There are plenty of elements to keep the player interested, but the story does not have the depth you might expect, and therefore doesn’t warrant the $59.99 price tag.

Unbound: Worlds Apart blends gorgeous design and animation with puzzle platformer challenges that incorporate a number of unique mechanics to create an extensive and exciting adventure.

Barry the Bunny provides an addictive platforming experience, complete with cute critters. A few issues prevent it from being perfect, but platforming enthusiasts should consider giving it a go.

Piczle Puzzle & Watch Collection has games that are merely okay overall if you aren’t a fan of this style already. But as a collection overall, this is a good release. It makes a positive impression, and its retro approach comes in at a fair price.

Telling a cautionary tale about society isn’t usually the goal of an arcade sport game, but that’s exactly what Golf Club Wasteland does. That it’s also fun to play is a nice bonus, providing an oddly relaxing and challenging experience for puzzle and platforming fans alike.

While there are many questionable choices present, DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+ remains an enjoyable shmup.

Together is a unique platformer, offering fun and laughs in co-op mode. The gimmick wears off if you’re not super into platformers or you don’t have a strong partner. The difficulty could put off casual players, but If you’re looking for something challenging that’s a little different, check it out.

Kitaria Fables is an incredibly fun RPG that combines the exploration and fighting style of Zelda with the farming and village gameplay of Stardew Valley and the cute animal characters of Animal Crossing. I played this for hours at a time, unable to put it down.

If you’ve never heard of Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams, that’s no reason to ignore Cotton Reboot! You need not be a retro gamer to appreciate this shoot ’em up’s excellent arcade/action gameplay, you just need to be a fan of cute, upbeat fun.

Apple Slash is incredibly fun but over way too soon. The visuals and soundtrack are a treat, while the short story has humor and heart. It’s absolutely worth playing but doesn’t quite justify the price. If you see it on sale for a dollar or two, grab it quickly, though.

Corpse Killer – 25th Anniversary Edition offers us a trip back to gaming’s horrific full-motion video past. It’s an era we should study to make sure we don’t repeat our mistakes, but it’s far enough behind us now that I can admit some of those mistakes can provide a bit of goofy fun.

Overall, Fuga: Melodies of Steel is a charming, beautiful, and challenging game that shows just how determined a child can be in the face of seemingly impossible odds. The love these children have for their parents is truly unstoppable.

Risk System is a fun action arcade game that will keep you busy for a few hours. However, the repetitive gameplay may end your session early.

Champion’s Battle is, in short, fun. There is plenty to do and, even though the price-tag is a bit on the high side, it is a complete game. Any foibles are minor and easy to overlook if you just want to enjoy a card-based strategy RPG.

A Plague Tale: Innocence – Cloud Version is an incredibly well-written, well-designed immersive game that blends stealth, survival and puzzles in a rich historical setting with an intense story of family, war and magic.

Papa’s Quiz is not the most dynamic trivia game available for the Nintendo Switch, but it may be the best at making sure family members of all ages are on an even playing field. It’s perfect for a couple rounds when family movie night’s done but you’re not yet ready for bed.

Trigger Witch successfully combines a top-down RPG with a twin-stick shooter, creating a fun amalgamation of genres that works really well. It’s fun to play and provides plenty of exploration in a cute and colorful world that also happens to be ultra violent. I’d prefer less violence – or an option to turn it off – but there’s still plenty to enjoy here.

Lambs on the Road: The Beginning can be completed in less than an hour, but it is only $2.99. It’s a good start, with a bit of polish and if they expand on some of the ideas, there’s a good foundation here. Hopefully more will be released soon to continue John’s journey, in this dark and interesting world.

Doomsday Vault is a cute puzzle game, with beautiful settings and challenging missions that delivers a powerful environmental message.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a wonderful package that will provide plenty of laughs and thrills for fans of mysteries, adventures, and visual novels. The situations and scenes make a successful leap to the big screen, and there are enough new gameplay elements to engage longtime fans without making them miss their favorite characters from previous Ace Attorney games.

Unavowed is a solid retro adventure game. The story is not always evenly paced, but it is compelling with plenty of twists and surprises. The gameplay is simple, and the parts all work together to make a coherent whole.

Ports from mobile games are often a risk. Sadly Kickerinho World is an example of a mobile game that was already on the right platform.

Ayo the Clown isn’t the most original game, but it’s a solid, colorful platformer. An ill-fitting idea here or there and a sluggish pace shouldn’t stop kids from enjoying a playthrough, even if they don’t go back to 100% the game. Give me a sequel that edits itself a bit, add a two-player mode, and you’ll have a real winner.

Freddy Spaghetti 2 has tidied up the bugs that wrecked its predecessor, but the mechanics don’t live up to the potential for fun and silliness in the concept.

If you haven’t played A Short Hike yet, you might get into Haven Park for a little bit. But it’s a game that seriously needs more original ideas and better implementation of ideas in general.

Space Invaders may be a monumental entry in the history of gaming, but it’s not exactly the most enjoyable title in the Switch era. Super Destronaut DX-2 is if Taito’s debut title got a handful of QoL updates and thrown smack dab in the middle of a rave. It’s a solid entry in the arcade genre if you’re into classic space shooters.

Induction is a simple yet clever puzzle title with a unique concept. Don’t let the relaxing music and pastel tones fool you; this is one tough game! Replayability is minimal, but there are some real brain teasers in here for those ready to accept the challenge.

The very core of Epistory – Typing Chronicles is centered around words and story. The narrative and visuals carry over well to the Switch, but the typing combat gimmick requires the cumbersome use of an external keyboard or the built-in adaptation to Joy-Con controls. It’s a fun, clever game, but one that’s best experienced on the computer.