A Dark Room succeeds because just when a part of the game gets familiar, it switches gears. The game keeps pushing you to explore, but why? In most other games, exploration is simply something you do because… well, it’s a game! You’re supposed to explore! But as A Dark Room hints more secretive reasons for your actions, you might wonder if you ever really had a choice at all.

Ship of Fools is meant to be played co-op, either locally or online. The artwork is gorgeous, and the gameplay is fun and intense. You can play this one solo, but eventually, you’ll feel overwhelmed. If you and a friend are looking for a challenge, this one is for you.

The Plucky Squire is a breath of fresh air. It takes a storybook setting and tips everything on its head, with lush environments, fun puzzles, and humorous dialogue. Apart from a few technical glitches, this is a game that captures the imagination and is worth checking out.

If you subscribe to Apple Arcade and can play Shinsekai Into the Depths on any of your Apple devices, there’s little to be gained by moving it to the Switch. But if the Switch is your only access to this undersea wonderland, Shinsekai is an intriguing, engaging, and beautiful adventure worth exploring.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is a Musou game for players who just can’t get into Musou combat. By relying more on narrative, puzzles, and RPG stat building, it certainly has a broader reach for action gamers. The new formula still becomes repetitive, however, and performance issues on the Switch may start to nag after a while.

The Battle of Polytopia is a fun game about expanding your own empire. The cute graphics and varied options provide an entertaining and welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch library.

Heroland enters the fold as the ultimate “sit back and relax” JRPG. Even though the game has hands-off combat and long-winded dialogue sections where your participation is questionable, you have charm oozing from every pixel. The self-aware humor and quirky characters make up for most of the shortcomings.

Time on Frog Island is a puzzle game in which you trade items with villagers to repair your ship and head home. With no real dialogue or map, finding these items is entirely up to your exploration skills. With a touching story and a cute art style, this game is definitely one you can sit down and enjoy for a few hours.

There’s a lot to be said for keeping it simple, and this game is a testament to that. Jump King only tries to do one thing, but it does it so incredibly well without compromising the challenge.

Dorfromantik is a unique puzzle game that people looking for a chill experience should check out. Yes, it has some weird control scheme decisions that take away from the fun, relaxed experience. That said, Dorfomantik does what every good puzzle game should do: offers smart simplicity. It’s a simple to understand but increasingly challenging game that people must check out. It’s a relaxing game for people looking for a chill experience and honestly, it’s a refreshing change people should enjoy.

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.

Out of Line is a simple, sweet game with clever puzzles scattered through a beautifully dystopian steampunk setting that suffers only from its short length.

Wobbledogs is a pet simulator in which you raise out-of-the-ordinary dogs. You care for them by feeding and playing with them. You can decorate their pens, and you can also breed them to create whatever breed you wish. It’s a good game for those who would like to just sit back and relax, and maybe create the weirdest pets imaginable.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak takes a while to get moving, but is otherwise as J as JRPGs can get. A new cast of characters and the new settings make it more accessible than previous Trails releases on the Switch, and gameplay tweaks will please those who don’t enjoy the grind of turn-based combat and complex party management.

Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile translates its ’70s setting into a fun audio-visual package. The mysterious characters (fully voiced) are well-developed, giving the game a page-turning quality. You’ll want to see them reach their conclusions, no matter the outcome. A few well-meaning but ultimately unfortunate choices knock the game down from great to just good, and I suspect this will fare less positively with Christie purists, given some of the liberties. But I think most players will get their money’s worth at $39.99, and the game’s replay value only sweetens the deal. The overall experience delivers an uneven, albeit high-quality, memorable mystery adventure.

I see great potential in Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories! I do think that there will be patches to fix the frame rate, and maybe even DLC chapters continuing the story.

Kirby’s Dream Buffet does enough things right to be a great experience both solo or against friends and family. The super colorful and attractive dessert stages are a blast to play on and the main gameplay concept is easy to grasp but hard to master. There’s plenty of rewards to unlock , so don’t worry about running out of things to try to get. While not the easiest Kirby game you can play and a few mini-games completely missing the mark, Kirby’s Dream Buffet is an absolute delight. For $15, there’s no reason to miss out.

MotoGP 25 is a solid motorcycle racing sim that looks and plays well. It’s got everything an enthusiast needs, from real-life riders to customizable bikes. After some time with the game, I still prefer four-wheeled races, but I also have a new appreciation for these two-wheeled beasts.

The RPG element has been overblown, but it provides just enough incentive for you to get up and move. More importantly, it’s engaging enough to keep you on top of it well after you’d’ve lost interest in other exercise apps. The Ring-Con itself is a quality accessory that’s easy to use, and the whole package provides mostly accurate readings and feedback.

Cat and the Ghostly Road is a point-and-click adventure game that involves solving puzzles, exploring new dimensions, and helping out creatures and spirits, all to save your master. The puzzles are challenging enough to keep you from getting bored, but there’s also no real sense of danger in the game, which keeps it relaxing and fun.

Dust and Neon is a fun and engaging twin-stick shooter that set in a futuristic world featuring gunslinging robots. Its addictive action is sure to keep you busy.

Cube Creator X is a great addition to the Nintendo Switch. With updated graphics, new tools and materials from the 3DS version, Cube Creator X is a must-get if you enjoyed other games in the series or if you just enjoy building and being creative.

As someone who hasn’t played Shovel Knight since the original release, I found Showdown to be a very good return. It’s grown on me quite a bit, and if you’re a fan of competitive or co-op multiplayer games this could be considered a must. While offering less for the solo player, I’m confident the gorgeous pixel art, wealth of options, and unlockables will still prove satisfying.

Overall, Mr. Run and Jump is a colorful, tricky platformer that will get your heart racing. If you relish the challenge of replaying levels until you get them right, or collecting everything in sight, you’ll get a kick (and a run and a jump) out of this one.

Overall, Lone Ruin is a tough twin-stick shooter that hits the spot. The runs are quick and satisfying, with leaderboards and multiple weapons to encourage replay. It looks great and plays smoothly; just don’t get too comfortable because it will all be over soon. Until you play again.

While the main appeal of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, – Psychosis and mental instability – was not for me there is still plenty of fun to be had with the game.

I don’t think it’s impossible for sim fans to have fun playing Wind Story. And with some updates and fixes, that may be easier to do. In its current state, however, I found it more complicated and confusing than rewarding and entertaining.

If you’re a genre fan, Unravel Two would be a very good choice, even more so if you have someone to enjoy its puzzles with via co-op. While some of its choices didn’t quite hit the bullseye – much of the folk music clashes with the on-screen action – it offers a solid amount of high-quality content. And again, Unravel Two will leave you thinking, which is another plus.

The Knight Witch is an engaging shoot ’em up/Metroidvania that features a fun and unique world.

911 Operator Deluxe Edition is a stress-filled management game, that requires you to strategically think through simulated emergency scenarios. This game’s tension makes up for the lack of physical gameplay. If you’re looking for a tense and educational experience, try out this game.

Bahnsen Knights does a great job at keeping fans of visual novel adventures involved. It’s fun and unique story, visuals, and occasional minigames make it hard to put down, and it never feels repetitive or slow across the few hours it takes to complete it.

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect with Turkey, Please!. Overall, it was a charming game. That being said, Turkey, Please! is still no turkey as it isn’t stuffed full of content. This might not be enough to blow the dust off your 3DS, however, it is worth a look due to the game’s cheap asking price. Especially, if you never let your 3DS collect dust.

Ion Fury is a must play experience for anybody who wants a challenge and misses the aesthetic of a ’90s first person shooter.

Melon Journey: Bittersweet Memories is a unique journey into an interesting world. There’s a lot to uncover and enjoy as you explore, with neat retro graphics and soundtrack. This is one to check out, although a glitch (which is hopefully now patched) does mar things slightly—be sure to save regularly.

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 Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream does nothing totally different as a sequel, the streamlined crafting and simplified combat system allow players to be more invested in the story without becoming bogged down in complex game mechanics. For long-time fans, however, those mechanics are still available.

The most important thing to know about Guardian Tales is that you’ll only get out what you put into it. If you only want to work through the main story, you can just ignore all the other options and play through. But on the other hand, those looking for a deep and engaging experience will also feel right at home with this game. There is a ton of content here, which may intimidate some gamers at first, but don’t let that dissuade you – Guardian Tales is a thoroughly enjoyable time.

The price may be a bit high for a cartoonish card game, but Pirates Outlaws is fun and light-hearted. Better, it has good playability and re-playability with its numerous locations and different heroes to engage in epic battles.

It’s easy to see why this is a cult classic. BIOMOTOR UNITRON is a retro RPG done right. While it can be something of a grind, it offers more depth than you might think. And considering an original NGPC cart commands triple-digit pricing, this eShop release is a steal at only $7.99. So, if you’re a fan of dungeon crawlers, this sci-fi take shouldn’t be missed.

Mable and the Wood is a beautifully made gave that imbues a classic premise with new layers of depth.

Please Fix the Road is a charming puzzle game full of brain-teasing paths to fix. It sports cute aesthetics and a simple concept that keeps you on your toes in a relaxing environment. This budget title offers plenty of puzzles to keep you coming back until you solve them all.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a fun, accessibly challenging game that looks fantastic on the Switch. There aren’t enough new elements or improvements to help it compare to Luigi’s Mansion 3, but it’s still an enjoyable romp, especially for those who didn’t visit Evershade Valley on the 3DS.

Faircroft’s Antiques: The Forbidden Crypt Collector’s Edition delivers. This good-sized adventure (glitch-free) is an easy recommendation for those who enjoy games like this. And again, “Everybody’s just so nice!”

Duck Souls+ is a simple platformer with a cute 8-bit style, fun sense of humour and selection of cool hats to accessorise your duck with. What’s not to like?

Coromon might be a new game, but the idea is all too familiar. However, different game settings, a new story, over 100 different monsters and a vast world to explore make this game a fun experience. If you love the retro Pokemon games, I definitely recommend checking out Coromon.

As an action/adventure game, Helvetii falls just a bit short on some elements of gameplay and storytelling. However, it’s still a solid entry with very appealing looks, sounds, and mechanics.

Endless Ocean Luminous continues the relaxing series, changing a few things but keeping the core mechanics in place. It’s easy to lose yourself in this environment, though newcomers like myself might enjoy it moreso. I genuinely enjoyed my time in the water and will continue diving for some time to come.

Somehow making itself a difficult game to put down even during the most stressful of sessions, Grand Brix Shooter consistently feeds off my ‘just one more try’ attitude.

With its attention focused on surveys, and since the game variations aren’t very versatile, The Jackbox Survey Scramble can come off as repetitive. However, it retains the franchise’s goofy humor. Not only does the game offer its own jokes, it also leaves a lot of room for you and your friends to add your own humor on top of it. It’s a great game for parties or even just chill nights.

The roguelike, deck-based dungeon builder Into the Restless Ruins may not be a big budget spectacle, but strategy game fans will find it a solid addition to their game library.

Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher surprised me by its addictive nature. Who knew raising Kaiju could be so engaging? This simulation title makes giant creatures loveable companions, with plenty to keep you busy. I enjoyed this guilty pleasure.

In Paper Trails, you help a girl, Page, follow her dream of attending university awaits. The player helps Page avoid obstacles by folding papers into paths on which she can travel. It’s a fun, challenging mechanic that provides hours of clever gameplay for puzzle enthusiasts.

Heal: Console Edition is an immersive puzzle game that’s short and bittersweet. It will surely make you think and put you through an emotional roller coaster.

Sokodice is a relaxing puzzle experience. The simple concept provides something that’s anything but simple to solve. With well over 100 puzzles to solve, this is a well-designed game that will tease the brains of puzzle enthusiasts for hours.

CrossCode is a colorful, fun, and content full action RPG that has a lot to offer both young and old.

While it’s reliance on randomness can make the game annoying at times, Loop Hero is a rare treat Switch owners should check out. It’s unique blend of RPG adventure and deck building mechanics provide you with a gaming experience you won’t find elsewhere. It’s addicting gameplay loop keep you going back for more and constantly making you say “just one more turn.”

My time spent with Speedrunners on the Switch was more than enough to change my mind from my previous impression. Overall, it’s a solid game for single players, but local co-op is a blast and should be welcome at any gaming party.

X-Out: Resurfaced is a quality remake of a shoot ’em up originally released for the Commodore 64. The original’s underwater setting and submarine customization options are now supported by improved graphics, UI fixes, and a co-op mode that should help it appeal to more than just those seeking their retro fix.

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 simpler than its VR counterpart, Mini Trains is priced accordingly. It’s only $ 5.99, which I feel is just about ideal for what’s offered here. True, some things are lacking (tutorials, non-linear design, HD rumble) which does drop my score. But if model railroads hold any type of appeal to you, I think this is a very good puzzle game. It’s one that stands out due to its theme, offering challenging fun, and packed with charm.

While this pack contains two games, the conceit of both, a rhythm-based RPG is ultimately fairly shallow. In the end, just about every RPG element is an afterthought. Still, there’s simply far too much charm here to overlook, especially if you’re a fan of the long-running Taiko no Tatsujin series or rhythm games in general. Playing either title in docked mode with full volume, or in portable mode with good headphones is enough to get anyone in the groove.

OFF is one of the most out-there titles I’ve played. It’s a creative game that’s sure to leave an impression. The turn-based battles are satisfying, the puzzles are some of the toughest and most creative I’ve seen in recent years, and the visual style stands out. If you’re a fan of quirky titles, this one is worth checking out.

Penko Park is an adventure game that combines creepy and cute. You visit an abandoned wildlife park where you must get photos of the creatures who live there. The game is super fun and comforting, providing a great way to help pass some free time.

Overall, Herdling is a wonderful adventure. It’s a little rough around the edges in terms of framerates and hit detection, but it presents a unique outing that captures the loneliness of a child and the herd he inherits and protects. If you’re after a sweet journey set among lavish landscapes, this one is worth checking out.

Fruit Mountain is an enjoyable little puzzle title that changes the fruit-merging formula just enough to make it stand out. With sweet visuals and a couple of modes, plus online leaderboards, there’s plenty to make this one worth checking out for fans of the genre.

BIT.TRIP FLUX is the game Pong would have become if better parents had raised it. This challenging arcade action rhythm game should be one of the first you get in the BIT.TRIP series, although there’s no real point in going back to BEAT if you do.

If you can handle the level grind and upgrade treadmill, Event Horizon – Space Defense is a fun arcade action/adventure role-playing mash-up. If you need more player engagement, the level grinding can become a bit mundane.

Metal Slug 2 is a classic run-and-gun game with plenty of action. It’s a tough game, but that’s the point, and you’ll certainly have fun wading through hordes of soldiers and trying new weapons, especially with a buddy in co-op mode.

While stage design feels a bit bland, BIT.TRIP FATE makes up for this with extremely enjoyable and satisfying gameplay.

A short but sweet adventure, The Little Acre is a must for genre fans. Even if it is overpriced on the Nintendo Switch, it has too much quality and charm to skip.

BE-A Walker may be a “walking simulator” but it’s nowhere near as humdrum as the genre suggests. The easy to pick up, difficult to master controls make the Joy-Cons work in tandem, in near-perfect harmony. The difficulty curve may be too much for some to handle, but if you’re looking for a satisfying challenge, this may just be it.

I was really looking forward to Mario Strikers: Battle League, and for the most part it has been a worthy successor, but it’s a little hampered by the complexity of the gameplay. Even scoring goals can be a bit difficult overall. Soccer is definitely not known for high-scoring affairs but it is simply too difficult to score goals in the time allotted. This does seem to be different from what I remember in the previous games. It was a bit easier to score goals and that is definitely missed. There’s a balance that sports games need to strike, but Battle League does tend to be just a bit more difficult. Still, there is a lot to love about Mario Strikers: Battle League, but it almost made me want a remaster of the first two games more than anything.

Darkwood is a simple but hugely satisfying top-down horror survival game that will have you jumping at shadows.

Elvira and the Party Monsters embraces its campy theme, with a bright and vivid presentation, backed up by an impressive audio package. This table offers plenty to keep you busy, with a range of scoring challenges. It’s arguable if it’s worth the launch price of $9.99. But if and when you pick this up, don’t be surprised if your thoughts line up with Elviras’ invitation, “How ’bout another ball”?

Williams Pinball: Scared Stiff is a solid machine that makes a fun (although maybe overpriced) addition to your Pinball FX library. Its busy playing field exacerbates the dim lighting that Zen is now forcing us, but Elivra is the Mistress of the Dark, after all.

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.

Challenging and unique, Deathstate blends an RPG narrative with a roguelike style and mashes it up with some classic Cthulhian horror.

Overall, Promenade is a deceptively simple-looking title that’s full of things to do. There’s plenty of variety to keep you hooked, with challenging puzzles and platforming elements to conquer. It’s a sweet outing that’s super-satisfying to play.

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.

If you already own some of these, or if crafting isn’t your cup of tea, that’s something to consider. But if you’re an RPG fan, the Atelier Dusk Trilogy Deluxe Pack is well worth the time and money spent, and will be enjoyed.

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.

Spiritfarer is a game that brightens death, a dark and touchy subject. When playing, you will learn to say goodbye to the ones you love, and to enjoy every moment with those around you.

Whether you find a deeper meaning to the narrative RPG Cabernet, the game still has much to offer and does a wonderful job of keeping you playing. It’s educational, fun, relaxing, charming, and emotional, and definitely worth the playthrough.

Cosmic Top Secret is a fun adventure/puzzle game. The odd presentation may strike some as just being weird, but I think it’s quirky enough to be both different and engaging. If you are geared more toward action games, this may not be your thing. But if you like detective stories, this is a good option.

Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King is an admirable package. While some game editions are missing (and Lion King fails to hold up) this bundle shows the kind of care I long to see in all re-releases. It’s worth it for Aladdin alone, while the extras should tempt those on the fence.

Atlus gave DS series fans more of what they enjoyed with this entry. Now, thanks to SEGA’s publishing, additional players can experience what all the fuss was about. It’s unnecessary for me to extend this review any further with nostalgic gushing or flirts with spoilers. To conclude, while newcomers might prefer starting with the first game to determine if its repetition becomes addictive, existing fans might find Etrian Odyssey III HD is the installment they want.

If you’re looking for an endless outer space toy box to play in (and there are options to play without a scenario goal or with unlimited funds), then orbit.industries is a fun diversion. Learn, and fail, and start again on your way to the stars. Just don’t forget about the interest rates.

Smushi Come Home is a genuinely adorable exploration game with a simple, idyllic world to explore and fun characters to interact with. It offers a pleasant adventure to while away an afternoon or two.

Overall, Stranger Things 3: The Game is a nice addition to the Nintendo Switch library of games, and fills the void of good, inexpensive beat- ‘em-up games that were previously missing on the platform. That being said, the game was designed with hardcore fans of the series in-mind, which will differentiate it’s value to some. As mentioned previously, it does emphasize a lot of fanfare, but its beat-‘em-up combat is some of the best on the Switch, making it a must-own for any beat-‘em-up fan.

An amazing experience from beginning to end, though there isn’t enough content to justify the $19.99 launch price. Wait for a sale, then definitely pick it up, and you won’t be sorry.

Sea Salt isn’t an especially complicated game, but at less than $15 it has plenty to make it worth the low price.

The House in Fata Morgana: Dreams of the Revenants Edition is a long and finely constructed visual novel. It promises an intricate plot of suspense, intrigue and revenge for anyone willing to commit forty or more hours to the story.

Day and Night is a unique twist on a classic puzzle game with charming graphics and sound effects. If you enjoy puzzles, this is worth checking out.

We‌ ‌Should‌ ‌Talk‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌great‌ ‌game‌ ‌that‌ ‌was‌ ‌fun‌ ‌to‌ ‌play‌ ‌through.‌ ‌As‌ ‌you‌ ‌dissect‌ ‌your‌ ‌various‌ ‌relationships,‌ ‌you‌ ‌are‌ ‌in‌ ‌for‌ ‌a‌ ‌treat.‌ ‌The‌ ‌overall‌ ‌story‌ ‌is‌ ‌unique—more‌ ‌than‌ ‌I‌ ‌expected‌ ‌it‌ ‌to‌ ‌be.‌ ‌I‌ ‌also felt the balance between text and the actual conversation was very well balanced and well done.

It will keep you busy for hours trying to craft better gear and foraging throughout the map for that much-needed material. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is a cutesy, time-consuming monster for the Switch, and it’s worth getting.

Splatoon 3’s Side Order DLC puts players into a rogue-like single-player campaign as Agent 8, tasked with rescuing Marina and her friends from the mysterious Deca Tower. Each run through the tower offers a new set of challenges and opportunities to customize abilities and weapons, leading to multiple playthroughs and strategic planning. While some levels may prove more challenging, especially with unfamiliar weapons, Side Order offers a refreshing departure from multiplayer chaos with its replay value and different gameplay options.

RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic is a fun, addictive experience, provided you have the time and patience for it. If you’re a fan of the original games or world building games in general, this is definitely one to add to your list.

Despite its nearly 20-year-old origins, Hitman: Blood Money – Reprisal makes for a fun, violent time on the Nintendo Switch. The aging graphics and cumbersome controls aren’t enough to hamper its core stealth action gameplay no matter what playthrough you’re on.