Pure Nintendo's Scores

  • Games
For 2,169 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 48% higher than the average critic
  • 21% same as the average critic
  • 31% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 4.1 points lower than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Game review score: 71
Score distribution:
2169 game reviews
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    GrimGrimoire OnceMore offers tower defense and RTS fans a level of learning and resource management that engages without ever hitting overload. It’s not my favorite tower defense game, but the quality artwork, interesting story, and solid gameplay should have genre fans (and fans of the original version) pleased with its Switch release.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    With an interesting story and attractive art style, it’s hard to get tired of Ken Follett’s The Pillars of the Earth. Even if you’ve already read the novel or seen the miniseries, being able to interact with the characters, explore its 12th Century English setting, and shape the narrative provides a new thrill. As far as visual novel adventures go, this one is hard to put down.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    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.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Tiny Troopers Global Ops is a fine and simplistic twin stick shooter. It’s a far more enjoyable experience with friends than playing on your own. That said, it doesn’t do anything really special to make the experience standout. Its short overall length, even shorter missions and lack of replayability makes Tiny Troopers Global Ops a mixed bag to recommend.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    The Legend of Gwen presents a fun world with a lot of potential, but there are too many issues with controls and difficulty of the game itself.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    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.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key adjusts the JRPG series’ gameplay formula in numerous ways—some subtle and some dramatic. Not all of the changes work, but the end result is still a very fun and satisfying conclusion to Ryza’s summer adventures.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    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.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Planet Cube: Edge isn’t just another platformer; it’s pure delight for genre fans. The simple graphics belie an addictive romp through a challenging world. And don’t be fooled by the cute cuboid hero; this is a tough title that will appeal to anyone looking to keep busy for some time.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe takes our pink puff out for another platforming romp. While it’s not a completely new game, there’s plenty of content on offer to make it a worthwhile purchase.
    • 55 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Nadir: A Grimdark Deck Builder feels unfinished in parts, but fans of card-based battle games will be intrigued by the ingenious combat mechanism that forces you to balance your attacks against the threat of the enemy’s retaliation.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    While there’s a relaxing tone to putting bikes together and I’m sure someone absolutely obsessed with motorcycles and motorcycle repairs could be intrigued by the title, Motorcycle Mechanic Simulator 2021 is such a broken, poorly optimized experience to find much fun in. I spent most of my time incredibly angry at the controls that constantly fought me and the ridiculous loading times to get into those controls. There are a lot of really great experiences to play on Nintendo Switch but Motorcycle Mechanic Simulator 2021 isn’t one of them.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Meg’s Monster tells the story of a big, mean monster who stumbles across the responsibility of caring for a little girl; if she cries, she brings on the end of the world. Playing as the monster, Roy, it is your job to help Meg find her way back home from the underworld by protecting her from other monsters, and playing with her to keep her happy. This unlikely pair forms a sweet relationship in this cute and heartwarming story that is definitely worth a play.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    When it comes to RPGs, we have the classics to remind us of how far video games have come. Ninja JajaMaru: The Lost RPGs includes two retro JRPGs that will certainly have you feeling nostalgic. Even if you’re not a fan of older games, the amount of customization available makes this bundle accessible to everyone from beginners to pros. While both games do feel a little outdated, and one is definitely better than the other, it’s nice to see these two finally get their worldwide debut after 30 years.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    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.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 30 Critic Score
    Demolish & Build Classic takes you on a tour of the “exciting” world of construction contracting. The big problem is that the world of construction and contracting is more of a mundane job with a lot of hard work and very little excitement. Performance issues and a disheartening beginning lead to lots of work and little fun. But if you can get past that, you do get to drive bulldozers, cranes, and the like.
    • 53 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Despite great ideas at its foundation, Roller Drama has limited sports management features, minigames that drag and a mysterious dystopian setting that gets glossed over all too often.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse remaster is a constantly creepy, often infuriating survival horror game that has the misfortune of following the superior Maiden of Black Water on the Switch. Fans of the series and Japanese horror in general should be glad they finally get to play it, but those with low patience thresholds will do better to not step foot on Rogetsu Isle.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Gunscape is an attempt to recreate the oft-loved world of ‘90s first-person shooters. Although it reminds me of the ‘90s, it doesn’t inspure to keep playing. In short, while there is some nostalgic value to be had here, this one is for diehard fans only.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Mosaic Chronicles Deluxe uses virtual puzzles to serve two fables by fantasy author Olga Gromyko. The puzzle gameplay is not as tight as in competing games on the Switch, but the stories provide enough incentive to compel players through the game’s 50 levels.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    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.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Akka Arrh is a great arcade throwback with some cool, vintage vibes. The cost of the game at the time this review was published is a bit more than I might jump at, but the action and trippy visuals will keep you busy testing your arcade skills for a while.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    OddBallers provides what you’d expect—an odd collection of multiplayer mayhem. Despite user interface flaws, there are plenty of laughs on offer in this quirky affair. Just don’t play alone.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is a complex and confusing dungeon crawler that provides numerous rewards for those willing to brave its mission. There’s always a new combat mechanic to learn, a new plot element to unravel, and a new level to explore, and the process of working through it all is incredibly addictive.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Rhythm Sprout is a challenging, fast paced, action/rhythm game that will keep you on your toes. Everything from the story, to the characters and the original soundtrack is awesome. While Rhythm Sprout is not for the faint of heart, if you’re looking for something with great music, that’s upbeat, entertaining and quick to play, I highly recommend picking up Rhythm Sprout.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Go! Go! PogoGirl is a straight-up platformer with a bouncy twist. Its well-balanced difficulty, boss fights, and many collectibles provide a fun time full of action and replayability.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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!
    • 76 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    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.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The shadow of a prior collection from mere months earlier, plus the fact that this is pricier (while still feeling incomplete), is tough to ignore. Yet there are still plenty of good games here, so Wonder Boy Anniversary Collection is one to grab on sale.
    • 94 Metascore
    • 100 Critic Score
    Metroid Prime Remastered is an amazing return of Metroid Prime and one of the best video games released for Nintendo Switch. Its masterful remaster takes an already amazing game and enhances every detail for modern audiences. Its amazing graphics, improved environmental and character details, smooth gameplay presentation and modern control scheme make Metroid Prime Remastered perfect for anyone wanting to get into the series or longtime fans looking to get back into its high point. There’s really nothing bad to be said about Metroid Prime Remastered. It’s one of the best remastered games Nintendo’s ever done and at $40, it’s an absolute steal for the high quality experience you’re going to get. Don’t hesitate for a moment, go out and buy Metroid Prime Remastered.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    HEROish is a fun take on the MOBA and card-based combat genres. My expectations were low, given that I had first heard about this as a mobile release; however, I was pleasantly surprised with its charming and cartoony combat and deeper-than-anticipated gameplay, sinking more hours than I thought. My only gripe is that the campaign is short, and the multiplayer gets repetitive very quickly. It has so much potential to be a great game that many would return to it daily.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    OmegaBot is a fun platformer that serves as a strong debut from this solo developer. The gameplay feels like a fresh homage rather than a mere clone, with interesting characters and terrifically retro graphics.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Blanc provides a short but charming co-op adventure experience as you (and hopefully a friend) help a wolf and a deer find their families and assist other animals along the way. The black and white, hand-drawn style enhances the touching story of this unlikely pair coming together to help one another.
    • 80 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Fire Emblem: Engage will be welcomed by longtime fans who’ve felt disenfranchised by the direction of recent Fire Emblem games. The battlefields are clever and challenging, the visuals are outstanding, and the social stuff—although mostly unnecessary—isn’t so invasive as to bog down gameplay. The story may be perfunctory, but it’s hard to care when you’re having so much fun unleashing Twin Strike on your enemies.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    An intensely cinematic game, Trek to Yomi enhances the action-platformer genre with a rich story and beautiful design that leaves a lasting impression.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 55 Critic Score
    Wonderland Nights: White Rabbit’s Diary is a beautifully illustrated but poorly voiced and structured visual novel that centers around the politics of Wonderland. As the White Rabbit, it’s your job to match up characters to shape these politics, but it’s not quite a job worth taking.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    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.
    • 85 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Underneath the layers of cute pixelated art and a calming lofi-like OST is a short yet memorable story. It will leave you in need of Atma to dive into your heart after it is shattered time and time again by the tales to be told of feeling fearful of one’s future.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    The jump-scares in the WWI-themed survival horror sim Trenches are enough to elicit a little adrenaline, even though you know they are coming. There’s also a little replay value because the clues will be scattered randomly at the start of a new game. Even so, the theme and objective can be limiting; there is not really much to do beyond finding things, and there’s not much to experience except tension.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Alphadia Neo is a steadily entertaining RPG for 15 hours, give or take your side quest consumption. Extra challenges and a handful of post-game extras are a bonus. With enjoyable battling and fun fishing, this one is better than the sum of its parts and comes recommended.
    • 57 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Paper Cut Mansion is a cute and spooky roguelite with a brilliant sense of design and a tantalizing mystery at its core.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is a fun game fans of the 3D platforming genre should check out. It’s easily one of the best licensed games to come out in a number of years. Visually, the game looks like an episode of the TV show, with super vibrant colors and worlds that are full of life. There’s also the great humor found within the game, reminiscent of the early seasons of SpongeBob when the jokes felt clever. That said, it’s not without its faults. Ultimately, the puzzles and combat—two major areas of gameplay throughout Cosmic Shake—aren’t great. The puzzles are incredibly simplistic and never change as the game goes on, and the combat just feels off throughout the entire game. Neither thing is a game breaking element, but they do take away from a fun experience. In the end, if you’re a fan of 3D platformers or fan of SpongeBob SquarePants, there’s enough fun to be had in SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake that you should check out.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    The platforming action of Onion Assault is betrayed by its imprecise controls, but there’s more than enough action and fun to help players get around them. The upbeat vibe and general wackiness of combat and characters make this a good (albeit frustrating) way to kill an evening or weekend.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Melatonin is a dreamy rhythm game that hits all the right notes. It’s compelling yet relaxing, with an addictive quality that will have you yearning for more.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Chasing Static is a psychological horror game in which you play a character who stumbles upon a failed research facility. These always mean trouble, this time caused by a surrounding energy field that can make a person slowly lose their mind. Recovering the equipment to fix the field and discovering what happened won’t take the player more than a few hours, but it’s a mostly fun, constantly creepy time while it lasts.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    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.
    • 64 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    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.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Aka
    Overall, Aka is a solid attempt at the life sims genre, with it truly hitting the mark of being casual and cozy rather than being like the others within the same genre that are more-so grindy time and resource management games.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The Knight Witch is an engaging shoot ’em up/Metroidvania that features a fun and unique world.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Taking all the elements of visuals, variety of characters (with more available via DLC), attacks, environments, replayability, single and multiplayer modes, and overall challenge, Rumble Fish 2 is a good 2D fighter to have ready to go.
    • 60 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    I see Papetura having a broad appeal to both fans of cinematic puzzle platformers and graphic adventures. It doesn’t overstay its welcome, yet it feels fully realized. It grew on me, and I suspect I’m not alone. With attractive visuals, a captivating world, and more, this game is well worth your attention.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Cute, quirky and playful, Togges is a light-hearted romp around a fun and colorful universe that encourages you to think differently.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Bravery and Greed looks good and plays well, adding platforming and brawling elements to the roguelike genre. The characters are fun, the fighting satisfying, and the levels balance the difficulty to encourage replay.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Children of Silentown is yet another story centered around a mysterious town with a disturbing past (and present), but it’s handled with a sense of tenderness and youthful optimism that’s often missing from modern games. It’s one of the most cohesive and engaging puzzle adventures I’ve played in quite a while, and it’s well worth your time.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Retro Goal is a solid game that does simple soccer well. It’s got a simple control scheme (thanks to its simple gameplay) and offers a surprisingly in-depth management element. Its simplicity is the only negative I can bring out, as you experience everything the game offense incredibly quickly. Your long-lasting enjoyment of this game will likely depend on your love of soccer. If you’re like me and aren’t a big soccer fan there are a few hours of fun to be found in Retro Goal.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    River City Girls 2 almost ticks all the boxes: fun gameplay mixed with anime-style aesthetics and a humorous story. The jarring loading screens between each playable area annoyingly slow the pacing. It’s enjoyable, it’s just not as smooth as it should be.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Crackpet Show is a great game for anyone looking for a frantic, fast paced shoot-em up. It can get a little frustrating and repetitive, mostly when you’re stuck on a specific episode, but it’s original and great for short bursts of gameplay, especially on a portable system like the Switch.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Kukoos: Lost Pets is a 3D platformer in which you enter different universes to save pets that have gone rogue. In these universes, you have to tackle obstacles and puzzles to collect enough “fwendly” plants and coins, and to save enough pets. This game is made for anyone, and is exciting and fun.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    For the $9.99 price tag, Sword of the Vagrant gives you a lot of content, enough challenge, and a decent story to keep you wanting to get to the end. I just hope Vivian can eventually buy clothes in her travels, as running around in leather underwear seems drafty and embarrassing!
    • 65 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Ace Angler: Fishing Spirits is a fun game, especially if you enjoy collectathons. Many of the games come down to luck, but this title will keep you entertained for a few hours.
    • 77 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    The platform and theme are simple, but Swordship is not easy. Its take on shmups is unique, its visuals are interesting and its story is just enough to inspire the whole “be the hero” ethos. If you like dodge-em games this one is a good addition to your game library.
    • 87 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Turn off the lights and go into your play of Inscryption knowing you will experience a narrative like no other. The gameplay is well done, but the story that lies under it is perfect. If you are a horror fan, do not skip this one.
    • 90 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Don’t look at Chained Echoes as a throwback to the 16-bit JRPGs of yesteryear, just look at it as an amazing game with an engaging battle system and wonderfully paced story. You can also look at it as one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2022.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    It Takes Two is a great co-op game to add to your Nintendo Switch library. It could even be something fun for you and your special someone to do on rainy days, or even a weekly date night. I would have really loved some side quests, or collectibles, but I still had a great time playing It Takes Two.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered offers a trip back to when JRPGs didn’t just offer multiple playthroughs, they counted on them. This game expects you to miss numerous events and items, and to want to try again. Because of its complexity and general aimlessness, however, I’m not sure many will want to.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Intrepid Izzy is a clear labor of love that looks great and plays well, although minor flaws stop it from being perfect. If you enjoy Shantae’s adventures, this is a nice homage to that series.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Orbital Bullet is a fine rougelike run ‘n gun game that can be fun for a few hours. Its circular stage design and rougelike randomness offer a wide ranging experience every time you play. That rougelike element will ultimately be the make-or-break for anyone’s enjoyment of the game. In my experience, it’s usually more unfair to you when you start a run, giving you the worst weapons, stages and enemies to fight. It also does nothing new that a few dozen other games haven’t done before. Orbital Bullet can best be described as an average experience designed for those who truly love roguelike games.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 75 Critic Score
    Oddworld: Soulstorm – Oddtimized Edition is a darker take that tests the titular Abe in a much bigger quest. The high-quality cinematic style is impressive, and the game plays well overall. It’s less humorous than the original, and lacks that nostalgic factor fans of the ‘90s versions may have. Yet it’s still a challenging and entertaining platformer that will test your patience and prowess.
    • 68 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Samurai Maiden gives players a goofy mix of hack-and-slash action, light platforming, and yuri fan service. Surprisingly, it also gives us some pretty fun combat when it’s not being overly frustrating. The game will appeal more to achievement completionists than those seeking a good (or even coherent) story, so consider that when looking at this game at full price.
    • 63 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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.
    • 83 Metascore
    • 95 Critic Score
    Mario Kart has been the king of kart racing for a long time. These latest additions only serve to further cement this title, with stunning visuals and engaging gameplay that bring a smile every time; it’s just that good.
    • 79 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Buddy Simulator 1984 surprised me with the way it morphed from a text-based adventure into a creepy-yet-sweet story. If you’re looking for something completely different, this is one title you should consider checking out.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    Once Upon a Jester is a classic hero quest told through some creative gameplay and writing. There are plenty of touching moments mixed in with the humor, which I wasn’t expecting. The music sets the scenes perfectly as well. What I love about Once Upon a Jester is that the creators took a lot of risks, from the story to the voice acting, and even the mechanics for putting on a show. And all of these features stick the landing. This game is everything I love about the indie scene.
    • 65 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    Super Kiwi 64 is pretty decent overall and won’t hurt your wallet. That said, despite the many things working in its favor, it has a rough around the edges feel I didn’t expect. A patch may determine if this a game you go back to every so often or if it’s a one-and-done deal.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    There’s a solid base for a kart game here, but there’s just not enough content to be considered a contender on the Switch. As a result, it’s hard to compete against something like Mario Kart. And priced at $40, spend the extra $20 and get Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch instead.
    • 66 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Surprisingly, the online play works well, and it is cool to have a portable version of ARK for playing on the go. But would I recommend it on Nintendo Switch? $49.99 is…pricey for the quality. It’s worth it if you have no other way to play ARK, but only if it goes on sale. ARK: Ultimate Survivor Edition itself is a very good, if not great, game, but this port is more mediocre than the best it can be. While I like playing it on Switch as an existing fan, I’m not sure I would if I was new to the game.
    • 73 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    In lesser hands, Harvestella’s balance of JRPG and farming sim could’ve ended up as a bland mishmash. Instead, Live Wire and Square Enix have created a solid blend. Its effective gameplay loop and engaging story push you down surprising paths that are fun to travel.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Space Tail comes across as an forgettably mediocre game. While its art direction and strong story start seem to lead to a potential great adventure, the game mechanics you use are fundamentally broken or just boring. This makes the entire experience feel dragged out and not fun. It’s a game that I played for this review and ultimately will never go back to. While it is by no means a bad game, Space Tail is a game I can’t recommend for people. There are plenty of better games on Nintendo Switch for you to check out.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    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.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    McPixel 3 is a gag-heavy mashup of microgames and ’90s adventure puzzles. It works when relying on speed and insanity, but its repetition and heavy reliance on trial-and-error solutions and gross-out humor will turn all but a few players away before completion.
    • 59 Metascore
    • 60 Critic Score
    Overall, Aquarist is a solid business simulation, but the clunky controls ruined the experience. Playing this game on the PC is probably the way to go.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Dropsy is a game that tries to show the human species that being a good person does matter. While there were some things I would change, especially the controls (I personally couldn’t stand them), this is an interesting, original game. If you’re a fan of point-and-click adventures, you will definitely want to check this one out.
    • 81 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    As a whole, the Nintendo Switch version of Sifu is very good. The action fighting game has a reliable theme, good visual elements, interesting combat with smooth mechanics, a decent challenge level with a multitude of controls/moves, and a solid story.
    • 78 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    Fans of classic arcade games should love Donut Dodo, mainly because it gives them something new. It’s not a port; it’s a new game that looks, sounds, and plays like it should’ve been released in 1982. It’s a clever, low-cost addition to your digital arcade.
    • 71 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is an imaginative reinvention of the iconic Pokemon adventure, with a heart wrenching story and a real sense of soul, which is let down by sloppy mechanics, half-fulfilled ideas and disappointingly common cut corners.
    • 72 Metascore
    • 50 Critic Score
    Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is an imaginative reinvention of the iconic Pokemon adventure, with a heart wrenching story and a real sense of soul, which is let down by sloppy mechanics, half-fulfilled ideas and disappointingly common cut corners.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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.
    • 75 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    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.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Trash Sailors has its fun moments and extremely unique art style to help visually stand out. Plus, like every co-op game in this genre, it can be quite hilarious to play with friends as chaos ensues and everyone is yelling at each other to do tasks. Yet a key gameplay aspect of Trash Sailors is completely broken. The combat doesn’t work and isn’t fun, despite it being so integral to the gameplay. Add the fact that it’s unplayable in single player mode and you’ve got a very mixed experience that may not be worth your time. Until these issues get fixed and combat is completely overhauled, Trash Sailors may be more trash than treasure. Especially when much better co-op experiences exist on the Nintendo Switch.
    • 74 Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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.
    • 76 Metascore
    • 90 Critic Score
    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.
    • 69 Metascore
    • 70 Critic Score
    Sonic Frontiers takes a huge gamble on changing up its entire gameplay presentation and the open-zone approach mostly works. It’s a blast running around in these open zones discovering all there is to offer. There’s also plenty of variety in the side quests and minigames, although you won’t truly love the throwbacks unless you’re a long-time Sonic player. That said, Sonic Frontiers suffers from being glitchy, where you run into graphical issues at nearly every section. It also suffers from major pop-in issues, with noticeably fuzzy visuals and downgraded graphics from other hardware counterparts. It’s also a weird game, even by Sonic standards. There’s still a lot of fun to be had in Sonic Frontiers and I recommend checking it out.
    • 70 Metascore
    • 40 Critic Score
    Paradise Marsh seems less concerned about being an “adventure” and more about delivering feelings. Some will no doubt appreciate its efforts. Others, like me, might feel it needs to work harder at providing what’s advertised. I feel bad knocking a solo dev’s first release, but I sincerely enjoyed little of my short time with this game, same as our contributor with whom I sought a second opinion. The visual and gameplay repetition combine with other shortcomings to make a forgettable title. Next time.
    • 86 Metascore
    • 65 Critic Score
    When it’s firing on all cylinders, Bayonetta 3 serves as a confident reminder of why we’ve been looking forward to its release for so long. Unfortunately, the number of misfires can’t be overlooked, making this easily the least enjoyable game in the series.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Critic Score
    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.
    • 82 Metascore
    • 85 Critic Score
    Shatter Remastered Deluxe takes the simple block-breaking concept and adds its own twist. With many modes, a fun mechanic, and varied level design, this addictive score chaser is worth a visit.

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