Sumatra: Fate of Yandi offers good point-and-click puzzles, but I found the tonal shift in its tale unappealing. I think the game isn’t long enough to be thought-provoking in the way intended. While I saw enough good things here that I’ll keep an eye out for the devs future point-and-click games, they might be better served by lighter plots to match the shorter lengths.

The Dark Eye: Memoria is a fitting to sequel. It continues the story well improving on it in every way. There isn’t too much progress in regards to gameplay, however the new character helps add new layers to an already great format. If you enjoyed the first one, this is a must play.

Whether you’re a fan of The Dark Eye franchise or point and click adventure games: The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav is certainly worth your attention.

Dreaming Sarah’s surreal world is fun to explore, all wrapped in great pixel art and an excellent soundtrack. There’s plenty of variety and puzzles to solve. Despite its short length, it’s worth checking out if you’re after something different yet memorable in the genre.

Signs of the Sojourner is a good, challenging card game that has more at stake than expected. Replayability is high as you create various decks, befriend new people, and try to get that good ending.

With its medieval setting and alchemy-based combat system, Black Legend looks and plays quite a bit differently from most turn-based strategy games available on the Switch. Its repetitive settings and battles, however, will likely turn away those used to a greater degree of variety and fun.

Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 will be a letdown for those who’ve already purchased some (or all) of the fighters released prior. But if you’ve been wondering why SNK hasn’t bundled these handheld games together, wonder no more. While very much a mixed bag, there’s enough here for the curious, and more so for fans. Bring on Vol. 2.

Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is a unique 3D and 2D story with many gameplay mechanics. However, the controls may be finicky, and the game can get repetitive after a while.

Bob Help Them! is a little game, with a lot of potential. I really liked the concept and feel of the game, it just didn’t have enough going on to keep me interested and it felt very repetitive.

NoReload Heroes Enhanced Edition is a fairly bland twin-stick shooter with smooth controls and fun gameplay for the first hour before it gets too repetitive.

Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is a game that will definitely keep you busy. I was seldom ever bored while playing as there was always a task I was working towards and a lot to do. I’m pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed playing it.

Beach Buggy Racing 2: Island Adventure delivers more than its predecessor, but there’s also more competition on the Switch in 2021 than in 2017. I can’t say I find the additions significantly more enjoyable, and there’s still plenty that could be improved. Despite offering a lesser version of karting staples seen elsewhere, this should still be enjoyable to fans of the first.

Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption is a fun game with great exploration, unique graphical design, and a great fantasy setting. Despite all this, I found myself having a hard time getting into the overarching narrative of a young thief on his road to redemption.

SUPER METBOY! is a great game with smooth controls, a nice variety of characters, and enticing gameplay to keep you busy for a few hours.

Across its 20 chapters, Faircroft’s Antiques: Treasures of Treffenburg Collector’s Edition tells an out-of-the-ordinary story that’s encouraging and well-made. It’s a hearty adventure for this genre also, one I clocked over 10 hours in. Even with some padding, that’s a fair amount of content for the price, longer than comparable games on the Switch. In a sea of hidden object games, this one emerges near the top.

Pinkman+ strips back the action platformer to its core components in a way that makes for a fast-paced, boldly-coloured game that is enhanced by its simplicity.

Gemini is a challenging action game with many weapons to choose from and unique enemies and bosses. However, the clunky controls may make you want to rage quit.

It’s hard to be mad at a game like Summer Catchers that has such a sweet sense of humor and such an interesting way to present a simplistic gameplay design. If you’re looking for the next indie platform that’s not just a character jumping from ledge-to-ledge, I definitely recommend Summer Catchers.

Thunderflash might not win any awards for originaility, but as a callback to the arcade classics of yesteryear, it’s not meant to. Overall, it’s a fun way to waste a few hours shooting things with a friend.

Despite a couple shortcomings with the story and extraneous elements, Bravely Default II is a rock-solid JRPG that will appeal to anyone with a love of world exploration, character management, and turn-based combat.

Spooky Chase is a fun platformer with a devilish twist that makes you the enemy. It’s tricky but addictive, with great visuals and soundtrack to boot.

#DRIVE is a low-key simulation game with pretty backdrops that will relax you but may not keep you entertained for long.

If you are new to this series or simulation strategy games in general, expect to spend a couple of hours just in the tutorials of Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV: Diplomacy and Strategy Expansion Pack. The gameplay is complex, but not overly convoluted. As you gain experience and get familiar with the available options and the general flow, it becomes a satisfying adventure.

Littlewood is so gosh darn cozy. From the charming characters to the low-stakes RPG fun, there’s plenty to love in this interesting entry in the farm-sim genre. It may be the only game of its kind that is truly “pick up and play.” Or, like me, you can sink in plenty of hours and get lost in all that cuteness.

A short game, Under Leaves is probably one to add to your wishlist for a deeper discount. That said, it’s a delightful title to chill with and impressed me in many ways. I hope to see more from the small indie team at Circus Atos.

Although it tries to shake up the shooter forumal, Redout: Space Assault doesn’t fully succeed, with a lack of clear instructions and a control scheme that’s not intuitive. Although there’s plenty of action, it’s not as satisfying as it should be to shoot your way through space.

PAKO Caravan is a fun and engaging reimagining of a classic game that preserves the simple yet addictive nature of the original and is well suited to playing to the Switch.

Knight’s Retreat is a clever puzzle game based around the movements of chess pieces. There are 80 levels to keep players challenged, but its basic visuals and redundant gameplay may turn away chess and puzzle dilettantes.

There’s certainly something to be said for a game that leaves me thinking about it and wanting more. Wind Peaks definitely grew on me. But, reaching the end after playing for just over three hours (and getting all achievements) is a tough pill to swallow for a $14.99 game. I hope the sequel plays it less conservatively.

Beating 1912: Titanic Mystery has left me mixed. The game has many issues but was still fairly entertaining despite these. I’d say it’s an okay release overall, presuming you’re a genre fan who hasn’t already played it.

While newcomers may find some shortcomings in the whole package, hardcore fans will still find it a delight. Sure, it feels rather dated, but this port of a Neo Geo Pocket Color classic still hits the mark where it counts.

Blue Fire, albeit flawed, is a very enjoyable and satisfying platforming experience. It may not reach the heights of some of the games that inspired it, but that doesn’t stop it from being an incredibly enjoyable game that has plenty to offer.

Citizens Unite!: Earth x Space is a neat alternative to the original games. Including newly added side quests, characters, and a hidden ending. Citizens Unite gives players a fun new experience that lets them play two awesome games for the price of one.

In Astrologaster you play as an unlicensed doctor who helps his patients by seeking guidance from the stars. This visual novel is full of fun choices, characters, and songs, as well as cool spiritual aspects that will keep you somewhat entertained.

Rather than being a game for the whole family, My Universe – PET CLINIC CATS & DOGS is very much for younger kids. I can see them enjoying it for a couple of hours before the repetition cements itself. But this is a $29.99 game, and there’s no way to justify that price. The quality isn’t high enough for what ends up being an average game in most respects that kids will grow bored with.

If challenging games aren’t your thing, it would probably be best to stay away from Puss! However, overall, Puss! is a fairly decent game for those who enjoy a challenge, it certainly won’t disappoint.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Colorful Colore. It’s a fun puzzle game, even if it didn’t keep me busy for too long. If you’re looking for something short and sweet that will still give you a bit of a challenge, be sure to pick this one up.

Castle Kong gives Donkey Kong a colorful visual refresh and an extreme challenge bump, but otherwise sticks closely to the formula that made it a legend. Fans of classic arcade games will enjoy it, and will be thankful they don’t have to drop another quarter with each frustrated restart.

Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos is an adorable yet challenging dungeon crawler designed to play with friends and suitable for any character class. Its world is exciting, its style is lovely and it has a lot going for it that draws you into the adventure.

Disjunction is an action/arcade RPG with an effective emphasis on stealth combat—you can’t just stroll through shooting people. The look and feel of the game are slightly nostalgic, and there is some variety with the three characters you get to play. If you like sneaking around, this one is a fun option.

For $29.99, you get a fun collection with Turrican Flashback, but it’s one you may want to wishlist if you’re not an enthusiast. It takes a more straightforward approach when it comes to Nintendo Switch compilations, one that’s hard to overlook. I just wish it felt more complete.

Half Past Fate’s pandemic themed addition to its romantic series is a nice little love story, but it doesn’t have much in the way of player interaction and feels like it only scratches the surface of the emotional impact of looking for love in lockdown.

My first impression of the Writhe wasn’t the greatest; after playing several rounds on each level, I started to enjoy it more. While it certainly lacks content, what is there is solid. However, the asking price of $9.99 is a little steep for the content available as of now.

Balancelot has a solid aesthetic and a unique approach to gameplay, but even without the awkward combat that originality is hit and miss.

Opinions on what the best 3D Mario titles are varied and polarizing. Is 3D World the best 3D Mario outing? For a game that came out nearly a decade ago, it still feels fairly new, which is not something that can be said of other recently released Mario ports. And while Bowser’s Fury may not be a full-fledged game, I almost cried when it was done, aching for more open-world Mario goodness. With all due respect to Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is the definitive Mario experience available on the Switch right now.

While lacking the capability to play online with friends, Epitaph is a fun game with a unique combat system, fun art style, and a great puzzle mode that adds to an overall positive experience.

Undermine is a clever rogue-lite with plenty of pixel art charm. The gameplay and design elements come together to create a fun, addictive experience that’ll appeal to action arcade gamers and RPG fans alike.

Heaven’s Vault is a relaxing game with an interesting, immersive storyline and a beautiful world to explore. While it lacks some “side activities,” it has plenty to offer with its unique puzzle system and tons of replay value.

Vera Blanc’s second outing is very much like her first in terms of style and gameplay, bringing both good and bad elements from the original game along for another ride. Still, the story is fun to read and the mystery worth solving, so fans will find enjoyment here.

Colossus Down offers an interesting art style and comedic writing, that all fit well in the wider context of the game. Sadly, it just isn’t enough to carry you through the repetitive and uninspired gameplay. Making it difficult to recommend to newcomers, and established fans alike.

Tadpole Treble Encore is a charming rhythm game that’s easy to play through, but difficult to 100% complete. An included level editor extends its life span, but its whimsical gameplay and music may take care of that on their own.

While Cube Life Island Survival isn’t terrible, it still isn’t the best. It does its best to separate itself from Minecraft, but it could still use more work. Unfortunately, there are more well-polished games in this genre on the Switch. However, for players looking for a game in this style of gameplay, the $14.99 being asked is a fair budget-priced choice.

John Wick Hex was a great experience. Players looking for a straightforward third-person shooter should probably steer clear of the game. But it was so much more than I expected for a game based on a movie since they decided to add the strategic element rather than a straightforward third-person shooter. The strategic component of it is where the game shines.

Bonkies is a puzzle co-op game that’s better with friends, but its short gameplay won’t have you entertained for long.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of The Forest offers adventure and visual novels fans a slow buildup of character development, interpersonal relations, and plot, then a really quick finish with an anticlimactic ending that left me wondering, “Was that it?” Its saving grace is that you play through more than once to see where you can take the decisions and how your character will end up.

When the Past was Around is a well-made point-and-click adventure. The music and visuals contribute to the captivating, if abstract, tale. The puzzles are just right in terms of difficulty, although the game could be a little longer overall, making it a very good distraction for an afternoon.

Golden Force doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does the nearly-impossible by offering a truly 16-bit experience, from sprite-based visuals to the tough-as-nails difficulty. If Gunstar Heroes copulated with Rocket Knight Adventures, Golden Force would be its beautiful brood. Just don’t go digging for the easy mode, it simply doesn’t exist.

Although it occasionally gets bogged down under its own ambition, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy is consistently surprising and fun. It may lack the melodrama and heroics of most JRPGs, but it still offers a lengthy campaign full of compelling combat and exploration.

Super Meat Boy Forever will frustrate you; there’s no doubt about it. But that’s part of its draw. Just as games like Cuphead have an audience, the Super Meat Boy franchise has a slightly less masochistic one.

A multiplayer game with no online is a tough sell in the era of the Coronavirus. But Unspottable is enjoyable enough that I give it a mild recommendation, so long as you have people in your house to play with. This release would benefit from a solo mode and more options, but it’s decent as the first title from a small indie studio.

While there isn’t much to chew on aside from, well, collecting all the loot you can muster, Loot Hero DX still works well as a quick, mindlessly fun adventure.

Wingspan is a calm, thought-provoking bird-watching game with fun visuals and sounds and simple controls.

When it comes to polish, Freddy Spaghetti is molto al dente. Until this game gets a patch to fix its game-breaking bugs, I can’t recommend it on the Nintendo Switch, even for only $4.99.

Every day, more and more rogulikes are released, often making it difficult to figure out which ones will stand out. All of them are vying for attention, attempting to do something unique and interesting. Fortunately Rhythm Fighter feels like a fresh take on the genre, even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing.

Ping Redux is a lovely homage to classic gaming that works really well on the Switch, ramping up the speed and precision for a hugely challenging yet satisfying game.

As an adult and long time gamer, I feel this really is for a much younger crowd of players. It’s not necessarily a bad game, just very simple and easy with no real apparent challenge.

Kingdom Tales 2 is almost the exact same thing as its predecessor, making it a decent simulation strategy game regardless of whether you played the original. There’s no real incentive to play both, but fans of the genre will find enjoyment in at least one of them.

Drawn to Life: Two Realms lacks creativity in the gameplay and is overall a pretty dull experience.

Stardash has some good points, but cheap level design kills off most of the fun.

If you like resource management sims, Kingdom Tales is a fun game that’s safe for any age. For those who are even mildly down with OCD (yeah, you know me), it can be a compelling exercise in keeping all the wheels spinning and playing all the levels to the end.

Warplanes: WW1 Sky Aces is a decent game with fun aerial combat. This game does fall short of being the World War 1 dogfighting experience one would expect with repetitive missions and the tacked-on base-building mode.

I certainly don’t mind a somewhat easy game, but I need a bit of challenge to hold my attention. After several hours, I think I’ve seen enough of Blacksmith of the Sand Kingdom for the time being. Perhaps it improves, but it should’ve put its best foot forward much earlier. The battles are so simple that the efforts at depth are lost, making crafting less necessary and rewarding.

I have played a few card-style games (IRL and digital), and DungeonTop is a pretty good option. If you are in the mood for a more casual dungeon crawl, this is a fun game.

Door Kickers is a complex game made for the strategic thinker. There’s a lot of content to sink your teeth into, providing almost endless hours of S.W.A.T. combat. It could use better tutorials, and the convoluted controls may put some players off at first, but there’s a lot to uncover here for fans of tactical shooters.

Down in Bermuda is a fun little puzzle-adventure. That said, I beat it in just over three (leisurely) hours. The $19.99 launch price is hard to justify, especially for a game whose mobile origins shine through in both looks and feel. So wishlist this one for a future sale.

The puzzles in Iris.Fall can sometimes be momentum killers, and they will likely cause some players to leave the game unfinished despite its short duration. However, those who stick with it will be rewarded with an experience that never ceases to visually delight (and reward) the player.

While DOOM Eternal is rated M for its gore and violence, there’s a lot about the gaming experience that makes it safer to play for teen and young adult audiences than the average, multiplayer competitors of its genre. And if there’s ever a day I need to just chainsaw through some demons, I know where I can turn.

Landflix Odyssey is a decent 2D platformer with simple yet enjoyable gameplay and a sense of humour behind it.

In 1999, a portable arcade fighting game probably blew a few minds. Like many games of the era, time hasn’t been too kind to Fatal Fury First Contact. You can’t deny the charm, though, and its simplicity allows for a quick fighting game fix during breaks or right before bed. Serious fighting game fans may want to look elsewhere, but it’s not altogether terrible.

Just as it was when originally released in 2012, Double Dragon Neon is still a well-made and well-thought out reboot of the arcade classic that will certainly please veterans and newcomers to Billy and Jimmy Lee’s adventures.

Crystal Ortha offers a breezy adventure that breaks from the norm just enough to please grizzled fans of JRPGs. It looks and feels right home on the Switch, but it’s easier to enjoy in short, handheld gaming sessions as opposed to long hours in front of your TV.

Tropico 6 may not be at its best on the Nintendo Switch but it is still worthwhile even on noticeably underpowered hardware. Once you get past the huge load times at the beginning and the lengthy tutorial, the only question is how would you like to rule? For the people? Or with an iron fist?

Simple and silly, Paw Paw Paw is a fun little action RPG with a solid co-op offering and a fair variety of options to suit different play styles.

While there are good ideas presented here, PHOGS! is too slow and unexciting for it to stand out from the crowd.

Excalibur Games has serious work ahead if they want to make Tracks – Toybox Edition a good game for the Nintendo Switch, especially if targeting whole families. Having a proper tutorial, improved UI, and touch screen support are some of the fundamentals they should revisit.

When I first saw Wonder Blade, I kind of assumed it would be a goofy little adventure, nothing too much more. But I was proven wrong. Trying to get your combo hits in a row as high as possible with a lot of fun. The armor changes serve a purpose other than just defense; it was a nice little touch and surprised me. There were so many small things in Wonder Blade that you may find in games of this genre. I was happy and excited to see that many of them were found in this one. It made it feel like more of a solid game. At $14.99, it’s certainly worth the price.

Jurassic World Evolution: Complete Edition is packed with content and should appeal to anyone who loves the Jurassic Park franchise and enjoys management-simulation games. There are presentation and interface flaws, but given the sheer amount of content on offer, fans should still check this one out.

Autumn’s Journey is a short visual novel with delightful characters. Choices are minimal, but the game will go by so fast as you’re immersed in the strong story.

I said at the begging of the review I didn’t have high expectations; it’s a shame the game proved less fun than I expected. Unfortunately, I did not get very much entertainment out of it at all. It felt more like an educational game for young kids trying to put things in the right order. Sadly, even those can be more fun. However, fans of the YouTube channel may get some entertainment out of the game, but I cannot justify the $4.99 price tag for anyone. Fans should probably stick to the YouTube channel.

You may not think a game based on forklift operation could be all that entertaining. With the right group of friends working either cooperatively or competitively, however, you’ll get some fun out of What the Fork. Just be sure to avoid having to work alone.

OctaFight is a good-looking multiplayer arcade game with fun music and a unique art style. However, unless you have up to eight friends on your couch, you’ll soon get bored after a handful of rounds.

Kolumno is a simple puzzle game with a focus on timing and execution that makes for a good test of your brain and your reflexes for such a low price.

Roundout by POWGI is a fun word game mixing crosswords and word wheels to test your mind that you can pick up and play anywhere at any time.

Steampunk Tower 2 is a tower defense game that’s more grinding and flat rather than filled with strategic gameplay with an engaging story. It looks pretty and controls nicely, but there isn’t much to do.

Electro Ride: The Neon Racing suffers from touchy controls and an overall lack of depth. It’s not amongst the best racing options available for the Switch, but it does contain a couple of unique elements that may appeal to gamers looking for something a little different.

SYNTHETIK: Ultimate provides a good old-fashioned shoot-’em-all with plenty of tactical difficulty. There are enough levels, avatar classes, and weapons to keep a gamer busy for a fair number of hours. The game could stand some controls and training improvement, but it is a worthy action/arcade entry.

Absolute Drift: Zen Edition is a peaceful driving game crafted to focus on control, precision and challenging yourself.

Art Sqool fails as both an “art school simulator” and a video game. There’s nothing educational here, and its gameplay is the equivalent of scribbles I might’ve drawn as a toddler.