Techno Banter manages to balance surreal twists and turns through a gritty nightlife scene with characters that feel grounded and believable. The story is concise and well written, set against a finely constructed backdrop of trippy art, a thumping soundtrack, and quick wit.

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.

Wunderling is a challenging and fun puzzle platformer. With smooth controls and unique level designs, it’s hard not to say, “one more try.”

If you own the original, it’s well worth the $9.99 update with DLC. At the same time, those on the fence waiting (hoping) for SNES Aladdin, it’s finally here to offer the best of both 16-bit worlds. The Jungle Book (Genesis version) is icing on the cakes. Disney Classic Games Collection: Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Jungle Book is an easy recommendation for 16-bit fans.

Arranger is a creative outing with a perfectly balanced sense of adventure. The light-hearted tone is coupled with the unique sliding mechanic to present something different and, most importantly, fun. This is a title worth checking out.

There’s no debating that the Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Edition is a great bundle of stellar games. But are there enough improvements and new content here to justify a full purchase so soon after the original releases? That’ll mostly depend upon how much you got out of them the first time (or on how antsy you are for the next Yumia adventure).

Wave 4 delivers more of that sweet racing goodness to this near-perfect game. It’s hard to criticize something so fun and fresh; in fact, the only obvious negative is that we’re now down to the final two waves. Let’s see what’s next.

The Hundred Line: The Last Defense Academy is a must-play game for anyone who enjoys TRPG gameplay and compelling, often surprising sci-fi storytelling. Despite its dark themes and disturbing imagery, it’s a total joy to play.

Warlock’s Tower is a fun puzzle game that’s challenging, but not hard enough to rage quit. As a whole, the game is charming and it’s fun alone, with a friend, or on the go.

Nelly Cootalot: The Fowl Fleet is the kind of charming and hilarious adventure game that only happens when real love goes into its creation.

Personally, I’ve always enjoyed a nice dialogue choice-based storytelling game, on the road! Another thing worth mentioning is: Many can find enjoyment in Dream Daddy, no matter the sexuality you possess — though depending on it, one might enjoy such more. Hence my scoring, as a genre enthusiast. I haven’t played a meaningful dialogue selection game in awhile, so this was a refreshing change in pace.

Young Souls combines two genres, beat ‘em ups and RPGs, beautifully. The story is intriguing, and the artwork is stunning. Mix in a bunch of equipment that you can upgrade and explore, and you have a well-built game. It takes a lot for a game to break into my all-time favorite list for this genre, but Young Souls did just that.

Fin and the Ancient Mystery will keep you playing for hours trying to get 100% on all levels. Honestly, this game was a lot of fun to review, it had a decent story and fun puzzles. For the price, it’s a no brainer to pick up and not regret.

Dave the Diver is successfully combines two very different genres. The deep-sea diving is action packed, full of exploration and a great soundtrack. The restaurant-sim side is put together in a way that’s challenging without being overwhelming. I highly recommend this title!

A Hero and a Garden is a simple visual novel with minimal gameplay and a deep story. It’s a short, fun game, and it’s worth anyone’s time.

Might & Magic – Clash of Heroes: Definitive Edition’s nearly perfect combination of puzzle and RPG elements make for engrossing gameplay that’s only occasionally hampered by frustration with the components that involve random luck. Whether this is your first playthrough or a double (or even triple) dip, it’s not to be missed.

Overall, the update for Retimed wasn’t too fancy but it was just enough content to keep players coming back for more. I’m pleased with the update and will definitely go back to the game for more.

Akane is a delightful twin-stick shooter that focuses primarily on melee combat, and wants the player to use their firearms sparingly. Mix this with the delightful graphics and upgrades, and there is a lot of fun to be had with this game.

Can a game be tense and relaxing at the same time? Vectronom rides this line pretty well, offering a puzzle game that is as gorgeous as it is challenging. When played with headphones, it’s as immersive as any puzzle game has ever been.

Woolhaven is a solid addition to the base game, adding so much that it feels like a sequel. The development team has done a fantastic job expanding the lore and keeping fans invested in this cute-yet-deadly world.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond delivers on all counts with stunning visuals, an outstanding soundtrack, and solid exploration. While not everyone will agree, at face value this is a wonderfully constructed game that has been worth the wait. If you’re on the fence, do yourself a favor and jump into Samus’ latest adventure.

It’s simple; if you’re a Picross fan, you’ll enjoy this game. If you’re a Story of Seasons fan and you like Picross, you’ll really enjoy this game. With over 300+ puzzles, Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons is a great addition to the growing library of Picross games on the Nintendo Switch. It’s highly recommended if you enjoy puzzle games, or pixel art.

Bear and Breakfast stands out as one of my favorite games of the year. Its visual style is instantly appealing and its gameplay feels nearly flawless. It’s a chill game that wants you to feel relaxed while micromanaging your own bed and breakfast locations. The game has a wonderful reward system and there’s a ton of things to unlock to keep you playing for hours on end. The game on Nintendo Switch is extremely well done, despite a control scheme that requires a bit of practice to get used to. Bear and Breakfast feels right at home on the platform sitting next to the likes of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley. Bear and Breakfast managed to be so wonderful that it jumped to the top of my game-of-the-year contender list. Do yourself a favor, go and buy this game. It’s an absolutely wonderful title that must be played for a bear-y good time (I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist).

Roots of Pacha is a single player or co-op farming/life simulator in which you build relationships, a village, and human history. Taking place during the stone age, you and your clan settle on new land and work together to make a village. Farm, cook, fish, craft, and more in this fun and relaxing game that’s sure to keep you entertained for hours.

Rytmos is a fun puzzle game. Regenerating the different planets, and making songs give the player a satisfying feeling. A little more of a challenge or maybe some different modes would have been great. But overall Rytmos is a great addition to any puzzle fans library.

Murder By Numbers puts you into the heart of a detective drama with fun characters to hook you into the story and puzzles that give your brain a decent workout.

Overall, CRYPT CUSTODIAN is a solid platformer with easy to learn mechanics, a fun world to explore, and plenty of things to do.

Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space is a great point-and-click game with clever writing and puzzles; I was hooked from the beginning. At only $9.99, it’s easy to recommend this title to genre fans.

Paradox Soul is a Metroidvania that manages to keep the spirit of the genre despite being smaller in scope. Mix in some decent collectibles and combat scenarios, this is a great title any fan of the genre should try.

WitchSpring R is a cute, wholesome RPG driven by a rich, revolutionary plot, packed with challenging combat and a fun fantasy world filled with secrets to uncover.

Considering the visuals, gameplay, replayability, and online options, Toy Soldiers HD is very well done and fun to play. Figuring out how to best use your units is almost as much fun as enacting a campaign in your childhood sandbox.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a faithful reintroduction to the series for new and long-time fans. It’s great to have Advance Wars back in our lives, with updated visuals and voicework that bring this title to life. Hopefully, this means the beginning of all-new adventures for Orange Star!

Vaporum is a “Steampunk Dungeon Crawler” with a hidden mystery lying underneath the strange laboratory of mechanical creatures out to destroy you. I recommend this game to anyone looking to play a game with collecting, puzzle solving, and combat.

The theme, gameplay, and the excellent visuals in Raji: An Ancient Epic make for a fun session every time you fire it up. The limitations are minimal, and the very few critiques I might have are not major detractors. This is a good game and worth a playthrough.

Get Mechstermation Force, get a partner if you can, and get ready to save the world. You’re going to frequently die trying, but the process will be a blast.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is a turn-based, roguelike adventure that will help skeptics understand the appeal of such games. Frustration is part of the fun. And although the gameplay can feel unfair, every attempt to beat it is a joyful run.

Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition does something very right with the series. It features the classic action we know and love and introduces an RPG-like story mode. It looks great, plays well, and even has a happy feel to it. When did fighting become to much fun? Ready? Fight!

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.

Tower of Babel – no mercy is a great game to play with the family or friends. It’s easy to understand, has a silly and charming style, and can be played for as many rounds as people desire.

A very worthy addition to the Demagog repertoire, Highwater builds on the gorgeous and provocative world of the studio’s other games with a story-driven escape from a flooded planet. It is a sharp critique of late stage capitalism, but it populates the devastated world with a touching story, wholesome characters, and surprisingly engaging combat.

Faeria is a thoroughly enjoyable strategic card battler that’s consistently fun to play. This multifaceted game feels like one you can play for the next few years and not get weary of it.

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.

This isn’t the least pricey shmup option out there. But for the asking price, R Type Delta: HD Boosted delivers value for money. The game looks good, sounds good, and has replayability. If you like a shmup, go get this one.

Absolum is a strong roguelite with enough content to keep you busy for hours and fun characters to try out. If you’re a fan of beat ‘em up games with challenging bosses, then certainly pick this game up.

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.

While the story isn’t needed, RANDOMAX is packed with fast-paced bullet hell action with short bursts of addictive gameplay.

Later Daters: Part 2 is a great continuation of Part 1 with in-depth characters, silly antics, and fun gameplay. If you enjoy dating sims, this is one to check out.

Kathy Rain is a ‘90s-inspired point-and-click adventure game that follows a college student on her journey of discovering her hometown secrets. Dealing with supernatural elements and old family secrets, the game provides plenty of fun puzzles and interesting characters to captivate fans of retro adventures.

Timelie is a fantastic game that is close to faultless. Despite the strict preciseness needed for some actions, this is the perfect game to introduce several mechanics found in puzzle, stealth, and adventure games. The art style and soundtrack are sublime.

Knights and Bikes tells an emotional story of friendship and family in a way that perfectly captures the experience of childhood adventures.

Deadly Days is a humorous and fun take on a zombie apocalypse with a simple enough premise for any player to jump into and understand. See how long you can survive in this rogue-lite action game!

If you prioritize up-to-the-minute aesthetics, Pokémon Legends: Z-A — and arguably any title in the series — isn’t for you. Still, I can’t deny how much fun I’ve had playing this game. Its addictiveness triumphs over any minor issues. Real-time battles and entertaining side quests shine in Lumiose City. Launching at $70 with $30 of DLC might give some pause. But if you have a spouse or kids who will play this one too, the value is there, with dozens of hours of thoroughly satisfying adventuring. Don’t miss this release.

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.

The Switch release of SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters Clash looks wonderful in its pixelated glory and they’ve added bonus features that make the game even more accessible. Features such as rewind, customizable displays, and even a manual truly create a well-rounded experience. It also helps that the Switch release is, quite frankly, really cheap. At $8, I highly recommend checking out this game, even if you’re an extremely casual card fighting game player. The price is cheap enough and the game is so welcoming to newcomers that it could be a great stepping stone into the genre. For those who already love card fighting games, SNK vs. Capcom Card Fighters Clash is a great pick up you’ll enjoy immensely.

Blending fun territories and weapons with easily accessible features, a variety of gameplay modes and a solid solo offering, this installment makes for the kind of game that does the Splatoon name proud.

Overall, Resident Evil 7 biohazard Gold Edition is a fantastic return to form for the series. Sure, it’s a few years old now. But if you want the true Resident Evil experience ahead of playing Resident Evil 9 this is a great entry that’s well worth your time. Just keep the lights on if you’re playing at night. What was that sound…?

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.

While there’s no excuse for this collection taking nine years to arrive on Nintendo hardware, it’s undeniable that this package represents five years of classic 8-bit (and now 16-bit) games that hold up in sheer fun. For an NES kid like me, this is a 10 out of 10 package for the pair of DuckTales games alone, never mind the underrated TaleSpin and the original Rescue Rangers in co-op. I recognize that those without nostalgia might lean closer to the 8 range. After all, the challenge is higher (especially without an NES controller), the bonus content is on the lighter side, and there aren’t any Game Boy versions. So, I’ll reluctantly split the difference and, with my gaming acumen engaged, award The Disney Afternoon Collection a 9 out of 10.

Strange Antiquities is a gorgeously designed game that uses a shop management setting to explore the compelling story of a community ravaged by occult monsters.

Wavetail encourages you to explore to its fullest a beautiful aquatic world, with fluid animation that makes for thrilling action and a profound story that reinforces the importance of community and compassion.

Do Not Feed the Monkeys is a simple game that has put a lot of effort into constructing an absorbing world that it is easy to let take priority over making sure your character eats.

Grapple Dog is an adorable, challenging platformer with a lot of content for the price. It’s a great filler if you’re waiting on some of the bigger 2022 titles to be released, or if you’re wanting a game to play with the kids. I highly recommend checking it out!

Bokura is a clever co-op game that makes use of an unusual play structure and innovative puzzles to deliver a story about friendship and contemplations about the human existence that stays with you.

No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is a wonderfully effective mashup of puzzle-based gaming styles held together by fun characters and a chaotic story. A knowledge of the series is useful, but this entry served as my introduction, and I still had a blast.

Toodee and Topdee is a fun, challenging game with an original concept. Change your perspective from 2D, to Top-Down with the press of a button, solve puzzles and defeat awesome bosses. Highly recommended for the player that loves puzzle games.

A strikingly beautiful game, Chants of Sennaar takes you on a journey through a number of finely crafted cultures that challenge your puzzle skills and absorb you fully into the looming secrets of the labyrinth.

Not Tonight is a simple yet effective game that is sure to resonate with anyone living through the chaos of Brexit.

As a huge fan of the Yoshi series, in general, I can honestly say Yoshi’s Crafted World did not disappoint me. I really found the details behind the levels to be stunning and highly enjoyable – I can’t stress enough how creative it looks. Despite a few minor complaints here and there, fans of Yoshi games and platformers in general should give Yoshi’s Crafted World a go – there’s even a free demo, so there’s nothing to lose.

Little Kitty, Big City is a joyful experience that successfully emulates playing the role of a cat. This sweet and relaxing game provides plenty to do in an easy-to-navigate environment that’s ripe for exploring. I appreciate the work the developers have put into this, and I hope they get a chance to create similar titles in the future.

While Bug Academy might not be what you should use when you’re studying for your Entomology exam, it is still a blast to play. The asking price of $12.99 is well worth it. Bug Academy proved to me that bugs are more than just pests that wouldn’t be any fun in a video game.

Embracelet is a beautiful and emotional puzzle game with a focus on a story that explores maturity, identity and responsibility, both as an individual and as a global community.

Foregone is a good 2D action platformer, and worth a play-through. I’ve played many games that are easy to put down when the review is done, but Foregone is staying in my rotation for a while.

Battle for Neighborville: Complete Edition is a fun, colorful, silly game with a good amount of content to keep the player busy. While the game is older, this updated version is the obvious choice for fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Yurukill: The Calumniation Games combines puzzle solving with bullet hell action to create a unique gaming experience. Its dark premise is handled with humor and an engrossing mystery that’ll push you quickly to a rewarding end, and various difficulty settings will make sure fans of both genres can get there.

If you’ve already played Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons on another platform there’s not much in the story or in-game achievements to warrant another trip. Playing with a partner, however, creates a whole new experience that’s certainly worth sharing. And if you’ve never experienced this tale before, you should. The puzzles are fun, the story is touching, and it comes together in a way that’s likely to leave a lasting impact.

Monster Hunter Stories may be aimed at a younger audience than Capcom’s standard Monster Hunter games, but it still requires plenty of strategy when it comes to the turn-based fighting and reaching further in the game. If you’d rather collect and raise animals than hunt them, this is your story.

Is This Seat Taken? is a terrific little indie outing that will make you smile. The logic-based puzzles feature groups of fussy people who know what they want. It’s satisfying to help them find their place while following a sweet story about fitting in. Well done to the developers!

Sunshine Manor is uniquely spine-tingling just in time for Halloween. The terrific visuals and excellent soundtrack, not to mention the ghostly plot of exploration, create a creepy-yet-fun vibe.

A lot of fairly standard platformer stuff is given a whole new kind of charm in Never Give Up and it comes together to make a smart, funny game that really works.

Triangle Strategy pushes heavily into its narrative, perhaps to the detriment of its turn-based combat. That will turn some away. But for those who are willing to push through, you’ll find the game worth (nearly) every second you put into it. Excellent level design, diverse character abilities, and a tense political climate generate an engrossing experience for JRPG fans.

Arcade Archives RAIDEN brings the challenging and time-honored shmup to the Nintendo Switch. With HAMSTER’s extras, this is as good a time as any to revisit it or check it out for the first time. It’s an oldie but a goodie. It comes highly recommended, especially in co-op.

As far as retro puzzle/platformers go, Moons of Darsalon is one of the most unique and entertaining I’ve played in quite some time. It’s engaging, it’s funny, and it’s frustrating in (usually) the most entertaining of ways. The gameplay, graphics, and audio combine to remind us that sci-fi is still allowed to be campy fun. Gil Gerard would be proud.

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid provides a gaming adventure as cozy as its name. Its stakes may be low, but it packs in plenty to accomplish and will have players feeling nostalgic for a time they may have never even experienced.

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

Overall. Mario Tennis Fever is a terrific entry in this long-running series. It adds a new gimmick that doesn’t distract from the game yet balances the playing field. Plus, you can turn it off if it’s not for you. With plenty of multiplayer modes and a decent solo adventure, this is a title that will satisfy even the most disgruntled of Mario Sports fans.

Arcade games are known for being to-the-point and energetic. Finding one that’s both of those things, and fast-paced, is a treasure. There’s definitely replayability in a title like Super Destronaut: Land Wars. Short as it might be overall, the game modes never get boring.

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.

Prison City is a high-quality game in the NES mold, and its difficulty reflects that. But there are more than enough options, so most gamers will find some genuine enjoyment. And if you were an NES kid, you’ll enjoy this Retroware release even more! Newly updated and now with a physical edition, don’t overlook this game if you initially did. Whether you’re a collector springing for a physical copy or someone looking for a good value digital game, Prison City is great fun for fans of challenging retro-style action platformers.

As someone with limited experience with games of this nature, Wild Hearts S has proved surprisingly addictive. Check out the demo if you’re curious, but I really believe it’ll be a game that grows on you. Even though I feel like there are certain respects where I’ve only scratched the surface (dozens of hours in, no less), the game is intuitive in the areas it needs to be. Such approachable depth that avoids the overwhelming trappings makes this game a winner and a keeper.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a great turn-based JRPG that holds up exceptionally well against its modern competitors. The story and combat system are equally deep, allowing the game’s bigger moments to carry players through a fair amount of combat repetition and prolonged narrative dumps.

Move or Die: Unleashed is a fast and furious multiplayer game that’s so fun, it hurts. There are many crazy minigames to try, each with the overarching goal of moving or dying. It’s sure to have you laughing and cursing in equal measure.

As management sims go, Discounty has the perfect balance of job tasks to make the game challenging and downtime to keep the game relaxing and cozy. The style is adorable, your character is customizable, the dialogue is funny, and the story is entertaining.

Summertime Madness is a short, yet challenging adventure puzzler with a great story and amazing visuals that create a very unique aesthetic. Whether you pick it up for the gameplay, the artwork or both, you won’t want to put it down until the summertime (or the madness) ends.

Lucy Dreaming is a point-and-click adventure game in which you play as a young girl whose determination to end her nightmares sends her on an investigation of a decade-old murder. With its quirky sense of humor and pixel art style, Lucy Dreaming tells a very fun and interesting story that is bound to keep you playing for hours.

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.

Princess Peach: Showtime! is a welcome return to the spotlight for our favorite princess. It oozes charm, with loads of variety, providing plenty to do across multiple transformations, levels, and modes. It’s not super difficult, but it’s so entertaining that I don’t care. There are also multiple challenges and collectibles to keep players coming back for more.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a combination 2D side-scrolling combat game and 3D farming sim, and both elements are strong enough to stand on their own. You’ll need to master each to be successful, and you’ll have a fun time on both sides once you figure them out.

With new features, modes, and various quality of life upgrades from its mobile origins, Part Time UFO on Switch continues to exemplify the fun and quirky sensibilities of HAL Labs without losing a step or grip.