Strategically, the game certainly feels like a unique addition to the tower defense genre. However, the game isn’t strategically priced. Anthill lacks some of the basic components you’d expect from a game on the Nintendo Switch, such as the ability to play multiplayer and play in both docked and handheld mode. Fortunately, though, you can listen to the brand new, divine original soundtrack.

While Dark Devotion certainly adds a few novelties for a roguelike, it maintains a high difficulty level that can be off-putting. It looks lovely, though some iffy controls and sometimes convoluted story detract from the overall enjoyment.

A delightfully presented text adventure that relies too heavily on replaying old dialogue — even if the actual story is good, it may not be interesting enough to make you persevere.

SEN is for people who need a short puzzle game to pass some time. It’s a simple game that won’t stay with you, but It’s good for when you’ve had a hard day and just want to relax or channel your focus.

The Complex is a cleverly made interactive movie with an intriguing sci fi plot that eerily parallels the real world.

Decades after being cancelled at the last minute, the revived Ultracore offers a fun and tight action-packed retro experience even if it’s a little unfair in various parts.

Swimsanity! offers a fun blast of online or local versus play. Its game modes aren’t terribly original, but they work well in the underwater setting. Unfortunately, the fun doesn’t carry over to the game’s adventure mode or the single-player options.

Falcon Age is a quaint tale of tradition being overtaken by progress with a bittersweet ending. It’s $19.99, which isn’t that bad of a price, yet the game feels slightly short with its cliffhanger ending.

Golden Force doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does the nearly-impossible by offering a truly 16-bit experience, from sprite-based visuals to the tough-as-nails difficulty. If Gunstar Heroes copulated with Rocket Knight Adventures, Golden Force would be its beautiful brood. Just don’t go digging for the easy mode, it simply doesn’t exist.

About an Elf is a tough game to sell and something you must experience to fully understand what it is and why I genuinely loved my time with it; however, I was left wanting more. More of what, I don’t know, but what I do know is that if this is Meringue Interactives first go at making games, then I cannot wait to see what they do in the future.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Although TRON: Catalyst may feel like a paint-by-numbers entry in the Tron series, it’s one of the better kits we’ve had. It stumbles over repetition and some awkward gameplay segments, but the solid story and franchise-familiar elements will carry fans through its somewhat short runtime.

Shadow Labyrinth moves Pac-Man from his traditional mazes to the caverns of a dying planet, and will likely lose classic arcade fans along the way. But although it makes some gameplay and design mistakes that should have been avoidable, it’s weird enough to provide some fun for fans of 2D platformers.

Jet Kave Adventure is a fun action/platformer that anyone can enjoy. It’s a little on the short side (for the price) and could use some extra features to keep the player interested, but it looks great and is easy to play.

While there is fun to be had with Breakout Recharged, I really can’t suggest you go out and buy it at lunch. At $10 the game is simply overpriced and not worth your time. When the game is finally on sale, that would be the best time to experience this version of Breakout. Otherwise there’s a really good Atari Flashback Collection on Switch, which is a much better investment to enjoy these classic games.

The action adventure game Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising manages to carve out its own identity while serving as an introduction to the lore of the forthcoming Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes JRPG. Basic combat, tedious fetch-quests and linear town-building may put off those seeking a solid challenge, but the game’s sprightly action, jovial spirit, and spunky characters will carry casual platformer fans through its relatively short play time.

Maneater certainly gives players a different point-of-view on the action/RPG genre. Taking a shark from its violent beginnings to an inevitable battle for vengeance makes for a unique gaming journey. Unfortunately, its nice visuals and sly sense of humor aren’t enough to break up the monotony of undersea survival.

Dead or School provides a surprisingly long side-scrolling action campaign that’s sure to please fans of Castlevania-style games, especially those who’ve grown tired of countless retro-graphic homages. The action is tight, the story is fun, and the rewards are big.

Alex Kidd was more or less usurped by Sonic the Hedgehog as SEGA’s golden boy, and it’s not hard to see why. This platformer may have rendered some fun in 1986, but considering it’s a direct remake, it’s still a clunky platformer that has not aged well. If you’re an Alex Kidd fan, this is nothing short of a must-have, the QoL improvements make it a little more playable, and it’s one of the best-looking remakes on the Switch. If you need a satisfying platforming fix, it’s hard to recommend this classic title.

This “cozy RPG adventure” was clearly picked before it ripened. As such, it’s not as easy to recommend as it should be, with its many positives (music) clouded by sizable blemishes. Expect imagination and irritation, often in equal measure. Maliki: Poison of the Past has plenty of good ideas, but needs a patch to grow to its full potential.

I want to like Egglia. The writing and characters are fun, the village building aspect is an enjoyable twist, and the art is beautiful. Unfortunately, the game feels too stripped down to be enjoyable. Grinding and not knowing what level you need to challenge a boss is frustrating. I think this works as a mobile game where you might play in short bursts, but for a console game, it just feels off.

Kao the Kangaroo is a fun reboot that should get your attention. The save-system bug aside, Kao the Kangaroo is a simple and fun 3D platformer that anyone can enjoy. Yes, it doesn’t provide much of a challenge and once you’ve played through you will have seen everything on offer. You’re not getting the next Mario Odyssey-like game in terms of quality; it’s clearly a developer trying to punch higher than it can really go. That said, the game itself is a lot of fun and a refreshingly easy take on the genre. If you’re looking for your next easygoing platformer or just something that anyone in the family can enjoy, you should check out Kao the Kangaroo.

Bee Simulator’s flying mechanics will frustrate younger gamers, and its grade-school level presentation will turn away adults. If you’re able to find some happy ground between the two of them, however, it’s a thoughtful, educational, and fun way to live out the life of a bee.

This “fantastic journey through the human body factory” made me smile. Homo Machina is a very concise experience (perhaps an hour or so) but one that’s priced appropriately on the Nintendo eShop at just $2.99. While the puzzles themselves are so-so, this eye-catching game is positively wrapped in charm, and I suggest you add it to your Switch digital library.

Refunct feels like the promising start of something bigger and better. Despite some real potential, it ends up bringing little that excites or leave much of an impression, due to its scant half hour or so of gameplay. It’s priced right, but Refunct might be a game you only play once.