Trifox is a fun action platformer that allows you to choose the type of character you play as. Although there are a couple of concerns with floaty physics and a rigid camera, but they are outweighed by fun fights, clever puzzles, and vibrant visuals.

I went into Dungeon Munchies with high hopes. But unfortunately, it left me with a sour taste in my mouth. The base is there for an interesting experience, but it needs polish. The cooking feature doesn’t allow for experimenting, and the level design lacks creativity, but the combat hurts the game the most. Maybe it’s because too many things are going on in the game instead of focusing on one or two features and making them work well.

Arkanoid Eternal Battle is an approachable game that delivers some timeless fun. But much like Bubble Bobble 4 Friends, it’s another Taito arcade classic that’s taken one step forward, two steps back. It brings less content to the table while asking for more money from the players. With online being something of a ghost town, I suggest waiting for a price reduction.

Jurassic World: Aftermath Collection is a decent experience for those looking for a horror-like game of cat and mouse set in the Jurassic Park universe. It does a decent job building tension with its gameplay, its surprisingly competent raptor AI, and its unique ability to switch up the puzzles. That said, deaths can feel quite cheap, especially when the game has you die for reasons you can’t understand (I’m telling you, I was completely under that desk before that raptor came in!). It also drags on a bit too long and doesn’t change things up nearly enough, making the experience become quite predictable. Jurassic World: Aftermath Collection provides you with some fun but ultimately a mixed time.

Yomawari: Lost In the Dark uses every resource it has to create an unsettling and involving horror puzzle experience. It provides plenty of scares and a surprisingly effective story that should be enough to compel players forward even after the game starts to lose its impact.

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.

Letterbox by POWGI is simple and fun. The no-frills style won’t provide much longevity after you’re done, but if you like word puzzles, this is enjoyable. Some future DLC – though unlikely – would also be welcome to help extend the game’s life.

Beeny knows what it is, and the 99-cent price reflects that. While pretty good is probably the most it could hope for with its scant content, it is fun while it lasts. The enjoyable graphics and music certainly help, too.

Create over 300,000 hybrid animals, make moral choices, and run and design your own zoo all in one game. A best-of-best-worlds mix of creativity and business management, Let’s Build a Zoo provides a lot to do, a ton of people to meet, and a crazy number of animals to adopt/splice.

Simply put, there’s too much going on in Undungeon. It feels like several different mechanics ratcheted together. But none of it is cohesive. Moreover, the story is too complicated; you must read a novel every time you interact with someone. Finally, the controls feel cumbersome, and the numerous loading screens take you out of the experience.

While those more familiar with the series might have some gripes, Taiko no Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival was an excellent introduction for me. No worries about being overly skilled at these types of games; you’ll have a good time, especially if you have friends in the room for a party-type setting. But even more solo gamers will have the main story and many unlockables to keep them busy. Whether competing or cooperating, this could be a ton of fun for family gatherings.

Potion Permit is a unique cozy game with adorable pixel graphics that will keep you busy for hours. The difficulty is relatively easy, but the gameplay is still fun and engaging.

Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3 is a second-rate version of Mario Kart; there’s no denying it. It tries to keep things fresh, and the voice acting is a welcome addition. Although there were a few smiles along the way, the presentation and gameplay aren’t up to scratch, and it’s a little pricey.

OneShot: World Machine Edition is an awesome game with memorable characters and an interesting story that will challenge your brain and make you think. If you like Undertale, puzzle games, or a great story, then I highly recommend checking out OneShot!

LEGO Bricktales takes the simple building blocks we know and love and wraps them within a cute puzzle environment. The satisfying builds and relaxing setting result in a journey into every kid’s dream: living in a world made of LEGO.

The retro point-and-click adventure game, Unusual Findings, is full of puzzles, colorful characters, sometimes odd conversation, and aliens—what more could you ask for? Our heroes share some witty banter, get into all sorts of trouble, and get to save the world, if they are successful.

Murder on the Marine Express has plenty of issues, an unlikeable lead being chief among them. But, for better or worse, it doesn’t overstay its welcome due to its two-hour length. For the budget price, genre fans can wishlist it and hope for a more developed sequel.

As far as KEMCO JRPGs go, Fairy Elements does its job—no more, no less. It’s fine as a light adventure you can return to from time to time, but you won’t be clearing room in your calendar to find that time.

Splatter – Zombiecalypse Now is a wild, over-the-top, trigger-happy shooter where your ZR button will be worn out if you stick with it for more than a few levels – and well done if you do! Don’t get me wrong, the visuals are gory and chaotic, but they clash with the dark, gritty setting and zoomed out top-down view, resulting in a pretty messy and ‘gets old pretty quickly’ experience.

DRAGON BALL: THE BREAKERS incorporates a niche but successful formula into a similarly successful franchise, which should be a match made in heaven. However, due to graphical and technical issues paired with the unbalanced gameplay and unclear progression and menus, it results in a bit of a mess of a game. It was worth a shot, but I feel as though Dragon Ball should stick to what it knows best.

Fault StP Lightkravte is a visually impressive visual novel with some nice, well-written story elements. Your enjoyment is going to completely depend on your familiarity with the Fault series. While it tries to be welcoming to newcomers, it’s obvious that various story and character elements are calling back to a previous entry in the series, which goes over the head of newcomers. Fault StP Lightkravte isn’t a bad game by any means, but it definitely isn’t going to be the visual novel that gets you into the genre.

If you enjoy multiplayer arcade-style games, you will enjoy Plunder Panic, especially in a party setting. But the graphics are limited, and stage designs (despite some creative backgrounds) don’t differentiate much. Add in the overall repetitive nature, and this one is just fair.

Hell Pie has the beginnings of an entertaining game with a silly sense of humour and classic platformer action, which has sadly been scuppered on the Switch by a glitch that crashes the game as soon as you hit the second level.

I don’t give many games a score of ten. That is reserved for experiences that are so gripping and mechanics that change the landscape of a franchise. Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope does just that. Every moment I wasn’t playing Sparks of Hope, I was thinking about it. And for a studio to take a proven formula, shake it up, and try something new is risky but rewarding. I can’t recommend this game enough.

Moncage is a puzzle game that should be treated like a collection of short stories rather than a novel. Enjoy it over several sessions, pausing when it’s difficult to think about the different parts, rather than consume it as one experience. It’s quite literally to be puzzled over.

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.

Atari Mania’s mash-up of microgames presents a chaotic blast of nostalgia, but the general repetition and some frustrating difficulty dampen the mood pretty quickly. Its unique approach to retro gaming is, therefore, best enjoyed by those with fond memories of playing all these games back in the day.

Youropa is a special puzzle game that manages to do enough memorable things to keep you interested and invested. Smart puzzle designs make the game a fun challenge to complete, along with clever new abilities you unlock as you play. The big miss here is its painting mechanic, which it describes as an important aspect, but rarely ever uses the feature. Youropa offers plenty of variety to keep you playing throughout its adventure.

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

At its surface, Gunslingers & Zombies is a run-of-the-mill tactical RPG with some performance issues. In spite of these concerns, the end result is still a fairly enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.

The Dark Prophecy is a fun little point-and-click adventure. All the puzzles make enough sense, and you can finish the whole thing in under an hour. It teases further parts of the story, and this certainly feels like the first chapter of what will hopefully be a longer tale.

Beacon Pines is an engaging choose-your-own-adventure story with a variety of characters, excellent graphics and score, and overall narrative about a town in peril combine to create a wonderfully addictive game.

Foretales has a lot of moving parts to this card-based game. The narrative-driven mechanic allows the players freedom to select which path to choose and how to play their hand is a fascinating, albeit risky, take on the genre. However, it works. You’ll enjoy your time with the game if you approach Foretales as a strategy game rather than a deck-builder.

No Place for Bravery—an action/adventure RPG from Ysbryd Games and Glitch Factory—does have some issues; the retro graphics aren’t the best, and they still produce some frame rate problems. The intriguing (mature) story and interesting environments, however, result in a good title 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.

Both games included fun graphics and pixelated characters. The music was fun, and the voice acting was excellent. However, they needed more variety in the gameplay.

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.

Overall, Hokko Life is a bland shell that wants to ride the coattails of Animal Crossing without doing anything to stand out or be unique. The game could be more polished, with lag and weird choices in camera zooms, though not outright terrible enough to get mad at. While the visuals don’t look bad, the music is forgettable. An average game at best, its $19.99 launch price means I can’t really recommend it.

Cat Maze is an entertaining romp into a magical world of potions and animals. Initial frustrations paved the way for an enjoyable adventure, with plenty to discover and a fulfilling story.

Arcade Paradise—a mashup business sim / retro arcade throwback—is one of those indie gems you look forward to telling other people about. If you’re a fan of the ’80s laser and chrome aesthetic, put on your puffy jacket and download it today.

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

The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero takes us back to the formation of the SSS, an organization Switch gamers will know from the Trails of Cold Steel games. It also takes us back to a relatively simpler system that’s perfectly sized for JRPG adventuring on the go.

SpiderHeck is a ton of fun. It’s fast and chaotic and is an excellent choice if you’ve nothing to play and want a both visually stunning and unique brawler for the Nintendo Switch. It’s a heck more fun when you’re up against a friend beside you, but the single player mode is more than enough to sharpen your skills and put up an enjoyable challenge.

Circus Electrique is unlike any other RPG. Genre fans who like deep stat management will find a lot to like here. The mix of circus management and combat makes for a unique experience, although the management aspect does disrupt the flow. The game’s strength is in its storytelling and how well the voice acting and art compliment the narrative. The preferred way to play this game is on the TV, as in handheld mode, it’s difficult to read the text or see the different icons for the characters.

Though not the flashiest, After Wave: Downfall is a pretty good release for fans of the shooter genre. While it has a dated look, the water theme and enemy diversity make it a somewhat unique game that I’d recommend for co-op players. While tackling it solo is less enjoyable, there’s more than enough to keep you busy here, and you’ll have to play for quite a while before you unlock everything.

If you are really into the Blade Runner franchise and can put up with the shortcomings, I suppose you can get some enjoyment from Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition. Everyone else should take a pass on this remastered adventure game. Maybe if the studio comes out with a “More Enhanced” edition, with plenty more fixes in place, it may be worth another look.

Gerda: A Flame in Winter is an interactive novel featuring well-written dialogue and varied pathways, coupled with simple RPG elements. Much like a good book, this is one game that’s hard to put down.

There’s some fun to be had with An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs. But the high price destroys any chance of a recommendation from me. Bump the score up a point if there’s a heavy sale.

A fun game and concept with a specific audience. The issues with the brightness and layout knocked it down a few points. But the overall graphics and uniqueness still made MADiSON a fairly enjoyable experience.

Ooblets is a fun game that will keep you busy for days. But some parts can be overwhelming and feel unbalanced at times.

A former Apple Arcade exclusive, Little Orpheus successfully brings its cinematic platformer action to Nintendo Switch. This throwback to pulp movie serials works well on the TV screen, and the gameplay is better suited to Joy-Con controls than a touchscreen. The sense of wonder does slowly wear off, but it’s a quick, casual adventure worth completing.

Avenging Spirit is a lesser-known ’90s arcade game with a unique “possession” angle that helps distinguish it from the excess of retro platformers available on the Switch. It’s worth a playthrough, especially if you’re unfamiliar with its charms.

Before We Leave promises to be “gentle” and “relaxing” city-building game, and it is until you reach its game-breaking bugs. I guess you can’t expect the post-apocalypse to be all fun all the time.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection is one of the best retro gaming collections to come out in years. Obviously the developers absolutely loved the series, because every single moment of this collection is bursting with Ninja Turtle love. From including some of the best home console and arcade games, to including the most in-depth behind-the-scenes look at the games, The Cowabunga Collection sets the new standard for how retro collections should be. While the collection includes a few less than stellar games you should probably avoid, there are 8 great games to jump in to and have a great time. These are some of the best games to appear on a Nintendo (or Sega) console in the past and a great way to revisit these classics again today on Nintendo Switch.

What starts as a challenging and potentially exciting management sim, Idol Manager fails to keep your attention in the long term. Once you overcome those early financial hurdles and the money starts rolling in, the challenge ends, making for a stale simulated day-to-day experience.

River City Saga: Three Kingdoms is a fun yet flawed beat ‘em up. The neat historical aspect and familair faces should appeal to fans, though it’s marred by performance issues and a convoluted map system.

Please Touch the Artwork is a colourful and clever puzzle game that you can power through in an afternoon or so, but lingers with you for a long time afterwards.

Dyna Bomb 2 is a fun and tricky platformer that provides an addictive experience if you’re into collecting everything on screen. It’s unpolished, though, and the price is a little high for something of this caliber.

It’s not blowing it out of proportion to say that Pac-Man is one of the most significant characters in video game history. He’s so widely known and loved; that alone may be enough for some to pick up his latest release. Others with a fondness for the fledgling days of 3D platformers will find PAC-MAN WORLD Re-PAC is a good release that grows on you, even with its dated aspects. The pros definitely outweigh the cons, and $29.99 is a fair launch price for a physical game.

It’s hard to knock the Delicious Last Course on anything other than I just didn’t find it very fun — as was the case with the base game. Everything else though, from performance to visuals and music, is top notch. If you’re a bit of a glutton for punishment and want some more bosses to fight, the Delicious Last Course might be up your alley. And, for only $7.99, it’s pretty easy on the wallet.

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.

The massive world and intricate real-time battle system of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 may seem daunting even by JRPG standards, but both are easy to get into. It’s not my favorite Xenoblade Chronicles game, but I can say with certainty I enjoyed nearly every battle, plot twist, and Nopon I encountered in the 140+ hours I’ve put into it (so far).

Treehouse Riddle isn’t bad for what it is, a niche puzzle game. If you’re part of that niche, and the thought of busting out pen and paper to solve complex math problems appeals to you, by all means, this is a satisfactory implementation. But the lack of variety keeps me from giving this a broad recommendation as a good game since I didn’t enjoy my time enough with it. The unique setting, solid story, and good music only go so far.

Tinykin is a fun platformer with smooth controls, fun graphics, and stress-free gameplay. It’s a great game to pick up and play on the go.

Kokoro Clover: Season 1 is a good game for younger players that may be new to the platforming genre. The storytelling is the best feature of the game, and the presentation is unique, making it unlike anything else I’ve played before. The game ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, opening the door for a second season, which I hope happens.

Much like Wind Peaks, Like No Other: The Legend Of The Twin Books is a family-friendly release that has left me wanting more. I like the game (and the studio that made it), but I seriously question the content for the price. So wishlist this title and hope a sequel adds more of the good stuff while adjusting some things that didn’t quite land.

Two Point Campus is a management sim in which you create and maintain college campuses. Its joint focus on business and provides a fun challenge as you create a great learning environment where your students and staff can thrive.

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.

Youni is a very short and unfortunately lackluster experience. Once you’ve played the first few levels, you have essentially seen it all. Whilst some of the jump scares are great and some moments are very eerie, there isn’t much else to keep you invested or wanting to play. The poor visuals impact the smoothness of the gameplay, causing frustration on top of the slow pacing.

Farm Manager 2022 is a realistic simulation game without real-life stress. Once you get past the learning curve of the controls and check out all the features the game has to offer, this is a fun game that you’ll sink hours into.

At the current asking price of $9.99, Atari’s arcade action game Yars: Recharged is an easy recommendation for your Nintendo Switch library. This is a fun game with enough challenge to keep you playing for hours.

HunterX has the potential to be an excellent platformer, but the lack of story left a gaping hole, and the gameplay grew dull and repetitive after a while.

Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? is exactly what you expect it to be – a carbon copy of the television show it is based on. With that, you get a simple and not particularly challenging trivia game that is accessible to the whole family. Sadly, it’s let down by the slow pacing, annoying character hosts, and performance issues mentioned. Hopefully, the latter can be sorted sooner rather than later!

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.

Cult of the Lamb is a unique game in a world full of roguelikes, mashed together with a management sim that is oh-so-much fun. The cutesy graphics help tone it down, but don’t be mistaken – this is a dark game at times; it’s also a must-play title if you’re looking for something a little different.

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II will provide a mana-blast of nostalgic glee for those who played the original Dark Alliance hack-and-slash RPG on their GameCube, but it doesn’t offer enough excitement or variety to otherwise hold your attention.

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.

Mega Man Battle & Fighters feels right at home besides its console, mainline counterparts. The controls are super tight, the visuals are extremely pretty, and the boss battles are equally challenging but rewarding. Mega Man fans will feel right at home with this set of fighting games. That said, the localization is completely non-existent, making it pretty much impossible to understand anything in the game (including menu navigation). Deal breaking? No, but keep Google Translate open at all times. For people who aren’t fans of the Mega Man formula, Mega Man Battle & Fighters doesn’t do anything different that might pull you in. It’s a Mega Man-style game through and through, so if that isn’t your thing, you might want to look elsewhere.

Pure Crosswords is a great example of a simple game done well. The clean interface and personalization make this an accessible and fun title. There’s plenty of content to keep you busy for a very long time and crossword enthusiasts won’t be disappointed.

Overall, Gale of Windoria is one of the more average RPGs I’ve played. The story is uneven, the battle system options largely unnecessary, and the lack of post-game content makes it an outlier amongst its contemporaries. So while the breezy familiarity can hold some appeal for fans, if you’re looking for stuff you haven’t seen before, I’d look elsewhere.

Ground Divers is a decent mining game, with cute characters and fun dialogue punctuating an engaging, if brief, series of missions exploring the subterranean levels of an interesting alien planet.

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 is a great fishing sim, especially if you’re a hardcore angler. If not, this might be a little too detailed for you. But if you’re a patient fishing enthusiast, you’ll find plenty to keep yourself busy in this realistic-feeling title.

On arrival, I had a sense of hope and promise for the twin-stick shooter, Aniquilation, but was left with an “oh well” experience. With a little refinement, it has the potential to be a really fun game with some interesting aspects. As it is, the game leaves too much to be desired.

GameDec is a point-and-click cyberpunk adventure set in a dystopian world, You make a living by discreetly investigating crimes, mysteries, and transgressions in the vast sea of alternate realities to which most humans retreat. It provides a fun mechanic for dialogue junkies who find joy in solving the big puzzle.

F.I.S.T: Forged in Shadow Torch is a great Metroidvania, that does everything it needs to very well without re-inventing the formula.

Logic Pic is a fun picross title that boasts many puzzles to solve. If you’re a nonogram fan, you’ll absolutely enjoy this outing. With zoom controls, this would score even higher. As it is, it’s still well worth your time.

Redout 2 is a blast play for long-time F-Zero fans. Its blisteringly fast gameplay and brutal difficulty make it feel right at home with some of F-Zero’s more recent outings. The game demands precision, insanely fast reflexes, and the willingness to fail and try again. Redout 2 does this with just the right level of frustration, but also rewards and entices you back for more. It’s definitely not for newcomers to the F-Zero-like genre, as it’s easy to get frustrated and consistently lose races. It also doesn’t help that this Nintendo Switch version currently has a few visual and gameplay hiccups; they don’t ruin the experience but ultimately hinder it a bit. Regardless, Redout 2 on Nintendo Switch is a must-play for F-Zero fans.

Milky Way Prince – The Vampire Star is an artistically impressive visual novel that compliments the darker narrative and theme. A theme that is rare to come by, that many people will relate to on some level. Unfortunately, this narrative is presented with a lack of depth, and the slow pacing harms the user’s overall experience. Additionally, the ‘sex sense’ sections could have been presented far better, and just come across a little hollow.

Wave two of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC hits the spot in every way. Every track brings a smile and feels like it truly belongs. It’s a fun yet challenging collection that will have you laughing, even while occasionally losing in frustration.

I’d like to see a longer sequel go all-out with the soundtrack, but Growbot’s fun characters and unique puzzles make it a good choice, albeit one for a future sale.

If it interests you, South of the Circle is a game worth playing at least once. But while I can tell that some heart was put into it, it does feel like one of those artsy games trying to seem deep. Other than a few instances, South of the Circle made me feel empty, thinking of how it could have been meatier. It’s also priced a bit high for what essentially is a movie with little gameplay.

Spidersaurs is a beautiful homage to a bygone era of over-the-top ‘90s cartoons and challenging platformers. The game does enough to make it feel distinct from similar games, adding in special abilities and beautiful art and voice acting. The game is a challenging yet short experience. If you are a fan of Contra, you won’t be disappointed.

Endling: Extinction is Forever is a good game for survival fans and another reminder that humans suck. The story evokes a lot of emotion and tough choices. Overall this is a bitter-sweet game. The story is bitter, and the gameplay is sweet.

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series does a great job of grouping two beloved but not well known games together in a package that works well on Nintendo Switch. The games have a charming visual style and a gameplay simplicity that I greatly appreciate. That said the game does have some unforgiving late game platforming that randomly pops up for no reason, some annoying voice over work, and a lackluster celebration for, you know, what’s supposed to be a series milestone. There’s enough fun to be had with Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series to recommend this game to anyone who enjoys 2D platformers or someone who’s looking to rediscover two classic games deserving more attention. Hopefully, this will lead to Klonoa seeing either a new game or the Game Boy Advance games being remade.

Train Valley is a relaxing simulation game that still makes you think. While you won’t suck hours and hours into it in one sitting, it’ll always be fun to return to.

Running on Magic is a runner platformer that puts players in a challenging but light-hearted race against the Grim Reaper himself. Its whimsical presentation and procedurally generated levels keep things interesting for its somewhat short lifespan, just don’t expect it to be more than it claims to be.

Overall, The Hand of Merlin is a tactical game that plays well if you can look past the long loading times and user interface issues. While it initially put me off with its complicated menus, the decent visuals and engaging battles are fun once you get the hang of them. It’s possibly a tad on the expensive side, but fans of turn-based strategies will likely find some subtle enjoyment here.

XEL has the potential to be a great game, but too many elements are left unpolished. Hopefully, a patch will be able to fix these issues, and then it may be a solid adventure game.