BIT.TRIP CORE is not for the easily frustrated. It’s difficult, and the repetitive gameplay does not reward those who aren’t immediately interested. That said, fans of challenging rhythm games may find themselves put into an early ’80s-style arcade trance from which they won’t want to escape.

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.

Overall, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is not the best port on the Nintendo Switch. It’s priced at $15.00, and I can’t recommend it as much as its predecessor unless you want a portable copy of KOTOR 2. Of course, updates might be made to patch the various bugs, but if you want to try out this version, be aware of the glitches and frequently save so you don’t lose anything if it crashes!

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.

9 Years of Shadows’ pixel graphics are gorgeous, its story is compelling, and its boss battles are worth the slower moments you have to wade through to get there. It’s a fun adventure that offers enough surprises to keep Castlevania fans engaged throughout.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition is still a game that will push strategy fans to (and beyond) their limits. You’ll spend more time learning than playing. But the Joy-Con mouse functionality in this Switch 2-only release removes a major obstacle to the long-serving rewards awaiting those able to stick with it.

Admittedly, the Game Boy emulation will probably turn off many potential players. That said, there’s fun to be had under the dated surface. I don’t think Save me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition is a great adventure, but the refinements have cemented it as a good one.

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is an effectively updated version of the original Atelier game from Gust. Beneath its modern sheen is a short, retro adventure that forgoes the intricate combat and crafting of the modern Atelier games. Instead, it focuses on a time management loop that’s open enough to warrant multiple playthroughs for those seeking a cute and gentle journey.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a splendid remake. The updated visuals and quality-of-life improvements add plenty to this already-fun title. The puzzles are interesting and challenging, with plenty of variety to keep you hooked.

Guild of Dungeoneering Ultimate Edition has a lot to offer. While it’s a relatively easy game to get through, it’ll keep you busy for hours, and no two playthroughs will be the same.

Severed Steel is a rapid-pace first-person shooter that demands quick reflexes and creative thinking to blast your way through the minions of a nefarious mega-corporation wreaking havoc in a dark future.

Creature in the Well has a unique concept I cheer along with an eye-catching presentation. True, the execution can feel slightly mixed – certainly not disjointed per se, but jumbled at intervals. The difficulty, at times, is lacking in a balance that leads to consistently true satisfaction, and thus some marks were missed, or not fully realized. But when it comes to exploring the hand-crafted dungeons, finding secrets, and reading up to learn more about the mystery, Creature in the Well excels.

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.

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.

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?

Because of its dedicated focus on strategy, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is a refreshing change to today’s gimmicky turn-based JRPGs. Its serious story, unique gameplay elements, and challenging scenarios will appeal to those who recall a time when tactical games were more about strategy and less about selecting their waifu.

Keen: One Girl Army is an addictive tactical experience, featuring a heroine sporting rollerskates and a deadly blade. It’s fun and challenging sliding puzzle game, plus a visual and audio treat, and comes highly recommended.

Whether it’s just for short burst, or even if you want to spend hours playing it, TENS! is a must play for any puzzle game enthusiasts.

Unforeseen Incidents is a great-looking title that provides tremendous detail in the graphics and great voice acting. Some gameplay aspects could be improved but all things considered, it is a good point-and-click game.

Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle +Hell is simultaneously new and nostalgic. The arcade gameplay will be familiar to fans of NES-era titles, but the game’s modern features and obvious love for the source material elevate it above your typical 8- or 16-bit throwbacks.

Kraino Origins is a brief platforming game that allows plenty of room for replayability. It’s challenging enough to keep going without wanting to rage quit. The graphics are charming, the music is fun, and the controls are simple and smooth.

Bloomtown: A Different Story follows a number of familiar beats to fans of turn-based combat, monster taming, and wholesome community RPGs. It cleverly weaves the contrasting elements together into a game that feels rich and original, with a storyline that doesn’t shy away from the dark or solemn.

To succeed as a Metroidvania, a game has to set itself apart from the rest. SuperEpic’s second-screen mini-game approach is not only an innovative concept, it helps underline the satirical conceit the game’s story lays out. Even with its shallow combo-based combat system, there’s plenty here for fans of the genre to enjoy.

I would say War Tech Fighters does a fairly good job of living up to the claim of combining anime with blockbusters. The action is fairly steady throughout the game. The ability to upgrade and customize your War Tech is tons of fun. Aside from the load times, everything about this game says yes. If you’re looking for a ton of action, War Tech Fighters is certainly a game you should try.

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.

Subnautica: Below Zero expands on an already very successful and proven formula, delivering an enjoyable and satisfying experience. It may suffer from a few technical hiccups on the Switch, but nothing too bad to ruin the experience.

My time with Astroneer was a pleasant experience that let me enjoy a more chilled out base building game. It lets you explore these worlds and discover everything it has to offer without ever holding your hand, nor providing challenges to make you feel stressed. That said, the chill gameplay style ultimately is the game’s long-term demise. After your first 10 to 15 hours, there’s no real reason to continue on to other worlds. Besides the setting changes, there’s nothing that new or challenging about going to other worlds. If you’re looking for a fun game to play with your friends, then Astroneer can be a good pickup. If you’re looking for the next long-term gaming experience, you might want to look elsewhere.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is a beautiful follow up to Innocence, ramping up every element that made the prequel so captivating. Its gameplay expertly combines puzzles, action and stealth with a story that absorbs you into its mystery and makes sure you feel every emotional beat along the way.

Reus 2 is a slow, thoughtful god game where you shape planets and watch civilizations react to the world you create. It focuses more on experimenting and learning than fast action or strict rules. The Switch controls can be a little clunky, but once things click, it’s a relaxing and rewarding experience. It’s best suited for players who enjoy chill, creative strategy games over constant excitement.

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.

Terror of Hemasaurus is a fantastic time, a wild homage to Rampage that tops its predecessor in nearly every way. It’s definitely meant to be played in multiplayer couch co-op. And maybe it’ll help you understand that if our planet can’t be destroyed by daikaiju, then maybe we just shouldn’t destroy it at all.

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.

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.

The Swords Of Ditto: Mormo’s Curse a very fun RPG that’s well thought out and excellently put together. For RPG and Zelda fans, this is a must-have for a modern take on a retro theme.

Deadcraft has a goofy tone that’s reminiscent of the Borderlands series; hyperviolent with a light comedic touch. It’s one of those games that finds the fun in treading the line between complete immorality and also trying to do the right thing.

Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER revisits the world of Neo San Francisco, presenting new characters and an interesting story to unravel. The voice work and graphics are lovely, though the run time is a little on the short side. If you enjoyed 2064, you’ll likely enjoy this stripped-down experience; just be aware that there’s less to this outing than its predecessor.

Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land takes the series in a direction that will appeal to fans of open world JRPGs, but may leave fans of previous Atelier games scratching their head. It also has numerous technical issues on the Switch. It’s still a fun adventure, it just leaves room to improve in its inevitable sequels.

Digimon Cyber Sleuth comprises of two nearly perfect Digimon game experiences, but unfortunately, they’re smack dab in the middle of an experiment in the franchise that feels much more like a chore than a game. When you’re finding, raising, and battling Digimon, you’ll be in heaven. But the insane amount of unskip-able dialogue and shallow “mystery-solving” gameplay is enough to turn off even the most dedicated fan.

Rune Factory 3 Special is a life/farming simulation game originally released for the DS in 2009. Remade, it’s now playable on the Switch. Fight monsters, grow and harvest crops, sell loot, cook, fish, and raise your relationship levels with the villagers in this very interactive and fun game.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox has the type of performance issues we shouldn’t be seeing on consoles these days. When it’s cooking, however, it provides a fully satisfying JRPG adventure for those seeking unique monsters to fight, vast environments to explore, and intriguing mysteries to unravel.

Other than the original Darius and Sagaia, these games are a great way to play a series of seriously challenging arcade shmups from the past where arcades ruled.

My time spent with the collection was great. Langrisser I & Lagrisser II both are immensely strong strategy turn-based RPG games, which make them so great. Fans who love the likes of Fire Emblem and Advance Wars are in for a treat with this collection. I can’t wait to put more hours into this one!

ATONE: Heart of the Elder Tree is a vibrant game, artistically, that tells a dark tale involving coming to terms with one’s loss, making amends, and being pushed into a place of power. It surprisingly did a great job with its unique combination of action, adventure, puzzle, rhythm, and role-playing genres blended together. It is a short game that offers replayability due to the decisions one makes changing the course of the story.

Though I’ve always enjoyed Epic Mickey, I’m thrilled to have revisited the game, as it has held up remarkably well. This remake makes it better than ever. If you’re looking for that “Disney Magic,” so to speak, you’d be hard-pressed to find much better than this. Full of surprises, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a delight.

Smelter is a clever mashup of genres with a cute style and fun action. The jolt between action and strategy sections can take some getting used to, but it’s worth sticking with until you get the hang of the rhythm.

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.

Unruly Heroes is far from a bad game. In fact, it has some of my favorite platforming of recent memory, at least in terms of pure gameplay. It just lacks the polish needed for platformer completionists like me, and it’s uncompelling story and music did not help. At least the developers are supporting it with content, despite it being months after its launch. If you are looking for an affordable platformer, this game is a must, but don’t expect to be putting in the same hours as Yoshi’s Crafted World.

If you’ve never played Sam & Max Save the World, this remaster is certainly worth investigating. It’s kind of clever, kind of funny, and appropriately priced. It doesn’t warrant a second playthrough, but few adventure games ever do.

RAILGRADE is a fun, low-key simulation game. They take train sims to a whole new level, though it can get repetitive after a little while. Still, it’s satisfying to play (and watch the trains) that you’ll still get a good amount of hours out of it.

Convergence: A League of Legends story is a fun Metroidvania-style game fans of the genre should keep on their radar. Its smart platforming, tough enemies, and unique eye-catching visuals make for a really fun experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Its lack of backtracking will definitely divide fans of the genre, who either will love the simple “you see everything in your first go” or become upset that there isn’t a reason to go back. Convergence does also suffer from performance problems on Nintendo Switch, which, while not game breaking, will make your experience even harder. That said, Convergence: A League of Legends story is quite a fun time and a great way to get into the larger League of Legends universe.

Silence provides a fun, thoughtful, but brief experience on the Nintendo Switch. Its charms may be lost on younger gamers, but old-school adventurers will like the way it harks back to the days of yore while eschewing many of the more annoying aspects of the genre. Silence has a great story that’s well acted, wonderful environments to explore and puzzles that are fun to solve, but you may want to wait for a sale before you set off.

Cursed to Golf is a wholly unique golfing experience that is well worth checking out. The mechanics shake up the golf formula, allowing it to stand out among its peers and breathe new life (ironic, huh?) into this sports genre.The visuals and sound design across the board are a marvel, yet its frustratingly difficult gameplay can deter certain individuals from the key replayability this golf-roguelike offers.If you’re anything like me, your little golf would-be champion will be spending more than eternity in purgatory. If that’s even possible.

Overall, Cronos: The New Dawn is an atmospheric horror outing with an interesting premise that creates a bleak feeling of isolation. It borders on frustrating at times with its high difficulty, but that’s also part and parcel of the genre. It may not convert anyone not already invested in these tough outings, but survival-horror fans are in for a treat.

In 2019, I thought I’d seen everything that top-down action-rpgs could dish out. Sparklite is nothing short of a happy surprise, offering new spins on a time-honored genre. From its beautiful graphics to its addictive gameplay, giving this fresh entry anything less than a perfect score would be criminal.

Ten Dates is a great game to play alone or with a friend to navigate the world of speed dating. The savagery of some interactions is great, and finding that perfect match is highly rewarding (and hard!). I’m hoping that there is a way in which the two protagonists, Misha and Ryan, would just get together, but I’m yet to find it, if it even exists. Although, much like the real world, you can’t always get what you want or say the right thing!

Overall, Manifold Garden is a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it has mesmerizing visuals, good puzzles, and a calming atmosphere. But there are a few negatives, like headaches, and music which lulls you to sleep. Priced at $19.99, I would recommend picking it up only if it’s interesting to you and on sale.

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.

Doraemon’s second Story of Seasons outing is another crossover event that’s likely to appeal to fans of both Doraemon and Story of Seasons. It looks fantastic and has a deep narrative, however the story can get it in the way of the actual farming at times.

It’s hard to find much fault with this ambitious, albeit niche, game beyond the fact that you’ll wish there were more of it. Labyrinth City: Pierre the Maze Detective dazzles with so much creativity, you’ll never think of mazes the same way again. It’s a bit cheaper than one of the books and much livelier, thanks to the brilliant audio/visual touches. Replay perks also broaden the audience who might not gravitate towards the books. If it looks interesting to you, don’t let plot concerns or repetitiveness scare you off. I’m confident you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. I hope to see another entry soon!

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 controls are the biggest let down in terms of the right analogue 8-directional aim. Fix that, and this is a game worthy of some solid playtime and fun.

With little replay value incentives and a campaign that lacks the qualities which make for a compelling experience, it is very hard to recommend this game even with its lower price tag.

We. the Revolution is the kind of game that you need to concentrate on, in a way that is captivating and graphic.

I found Headliner: NoviNews entertaining enough to play through multiple times. Yet I still have several concerns with it. Even if the length and repetitiveness isn’t a bother, the lack of choices in a key subplot (and lack of moderate choices in general) plus numerous glitches certainly are. I can’t recommend it at its $13.99 launch price, stimulating though it is. However, the very good foundation here means I’ll be watching for Unbound Creations’ next Nintendo Switch title with anticipation.

While a great game at heart, The Eyes of Ara has too many third-act issues for me to give a broad recommendation. Nonetheless, this is still a good release, skillfully crafted with attention to detail. For genre enthusiasts, I might even say The Eyes of Ara is a great release. Just be prepared for a daunting challenge as you near the end, likely with a walkthrough on hand.

Despite not reaching its full potential, I still found some entertainment in Arcade Spirits. By ignoring the romantic aspects, I was able to play it as someone with an appreciation of the heyday of arcades. The charming setting made for a promising launching point, the audio is excellent, and the story (with smart pop-culture nods and humor) has page-turning qualities to some extent.

Helheim Hassle is a genuinely funny game with a dark sense of humour that holds up throughout a series of creative and silly puzzles.

Coupled with a fun sketchbook art style and a hodgepodge of ideas from brawlers of the past, Super Punch Patrol does enough to stand out just enough in the beat ‘em up crowd.

Cake Bash is a great little party game with a lovely variety of mini-games, adorable playable characters and beautiful animation.

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.

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.

Cloud Garden is a peaceful puzzle game with plenty of levels on offer and a sandbox mode also in tow. It’s a simple and joyous experience for everyone.

The Legend of Steel Empire for Nintendo Switch strikes a solid balance between its modern upgrades and its Sega Genesis roots. Despite its short campaign, the game offers plenty for shmup fans to uncover and master without completely overwhelming casual arcade players.

Yars Rising is a terrific platformer. It features satisfying puzzles, shooting elements, a fast-paced and humorus story, along with a clever integration of a classic Atari game. Apart from some annoying loading screens, this is absolutely a game worth checking out.

Even if you’re not a fan of the show, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is still a good game as far as multiplayer arcade fighters go. If you ARE a fan of the show, you’ll really want to add this to your library.

A narratively disconnected relationship makes Old Skies stumble badly at the end. But that aside, this polished release is generally great. I’d love to see a sequel that explores more of ChronoZen and its staff while jettisoning the romantic fluff to a side-story spinoff visual novel. The best way to make that happen is to check this title out. Old Skies starts brilliantly and maintains its grip with fun individual stories and an overall sci-fi plot that keeps ticking in mostly thoughtful ways.

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

I do wish the time-honored gameplay was offset a bit more by balanced, polished, and tighter design at times. But if you’re “ready for a blast of funky nostalgia” the sense of déja vu that comes from familiar fun won’t be a negative.

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.

While WarioWare Gold on 3DS remains my favorite for solo play, when it comes to multiplayer parties, it’s hard to overlook Move It! It’ll keep you returning to it as you discover all the microgames, experiment with every mode, and shoot for hi-scores. Expect lots of smiles and laughter with the time-proven format. Fans will want this entry in their libraries to enjoy the hysterical hijinks.

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.

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.

Pupperazzi is just as cute as it sounds. Taking photos of dogs is easy and fun, though its simplicity may result in a lack of follow-through. Still, there’s something endearing and relaxing about snapping pics of happy pooches.

Bloodroots is a charmingly written tale of revenge. Although its story lacks originality, it makes up for it in vast weapon variety and satisfying yet challenging gameplay that keeps you coming back for more.

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.

A Little to the Left is a cute puzzle game in which you organize everyday household items. There’s even a cat who shows up every once in a while, which is always nice (even if he’s always making a bigger mess for you to clean). With a very cozy and relaxing vibe, this game is perfect for those who like to wind down and play something easy, but also a bit challenging.

It’s hard to mess up Breakout as it remains fun after all these years (decades even), but darn if Choice Provisions nearly did with their inexplicable decision to lock content, including online leaderboards. The fact that the game still succeeds despite this blunder is a testament to their talent and the timeless source material.

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.

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, 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.

Regardless of how “intense” it is (or isn’t) Shakedown: Hawaii is still a fun, beautiful game, and I enjoyed my overall experience with it.

Story of Seasons and perhaps even most Doraemon fans will feel at home in the latest entry of the celebrated series. While the manga cat’s inclusion doesn’t exactly breathe new life into the franchise, it certainly doesn’t ruin it. And while it’s on the pricier end of the series’ spectrum, it’s perhaps also the best-looking entry to date. If you’re looking for a cozy farm simulator and are all Stardew Valley-ed out, Doraemon Story of Seasons will surely satisfy.

With the eShop seemingly overrun with roguelike titles, Black Future ‘88 doesn’t overuse the idea. It does a good job of giving options for exploration to the player.

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.

Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes is much more fun than I ever thought it would be; however, it doesn’t do enough to hold my attention any more than a handful of battles and doesn’t do enough with those battles to make me want to come back. Couple this with the random generation that only hinders your progression, and you have a frustrating game that is only working against you.

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.

Crymachina boasts a dark, imposing world populated by monstrous machine enemies that uses classic sci-fi themes to examine deep existential questions. However, it doesn’t offer you any agency through a story that is unsatisfyingly similar to the studio’s last game.

A solid, portable way to experience Hitman Absolution. It has a few flaws, but the motion controls, fair price, and upcoming Contracts Mode make the Switch port worth playing.