The struggle in Death Howl is real, both in terms of its story and challenge. It’s meaningful and haunting. While it can mean going through quite a bit of grinding and dealing with major foes and a bit of unfair RNG, it is a battle worth fighting.

Shashingo: Learn Japanese with Photography feels like the sort of edutainment game that you use in conjunction with other learning tools to help make learning a language more fun. It’s honestly a cozy tool! You explore the streets of a city. You get to see what can or can create a flashcard when you take photos. There are little tests of your knowledge. However, it does feel supplemental to a regular experience and, since it is more about building up a vocabulary collection, may not be enough for some people on its own.

The Diablo IV Vessel of Hatred expansion has me torn. I love a lot of the new changes, and I really wanted to say that I loved the story, but I don't.

The Switch version of Yakuza Kiwami might not be the absolutely ideal way to play the first game in the Like a Dragon series, but it runs quite well on the system and remains an absolute delight. The port is quite capable and runs better than I expected to. It would probably look better on another console or PC, but the joy that comes from actually playing an entry on a Nintendo system and see it go so well more than makes up for that.

Potionomics: Masterwork Edition makes me feel like someone coming to the Switch version is immediately getting access to the best version of the game. While there are some minor balancing issues remaining and someone might be as hit-or-miss on characters as I was, the changes and additions based on player feedback result in a markedly improved experience. It really makes it easier to appreciate Sylvia’s adventures in capitalism.

Knotwords is clever. It is the kind of game that regularly gives you a reason to return to it. There are minor variations to make it more challenging or accommodate people learning how to play. It’s also rather accessible, in terms of the UI, offering hints, and visibility. It is definitely a game folks who enjoy Wordle, crossword, and KenKen puzzles should check out.

Taken as what it is, a charming game with excellent production quality available entirely for free, there’s little to really complain about. While it likely won’t keep you as engrossed as Holocure, which to be fair has received a fair chunk of post-launch content, Holo X Break is another excellent addition to both the Holo Indie label and the growing roster of quality Hololive fan-games.

Cocoon is a strange game but one that’s worth the experience for those willing to accept that. The visual design is a treat of surreal imagery, and the puzzle design is superb. If you like unfathomable narratives and journeys through alien worlds, it’s highly recommended.

The Good Old Days captures the same sort of spirit as The Goonies, while also feeling like a unique Metroidvania. There are many ways to approach it and solve Sean’s money problems. All of them can be interesting. Can it get a little clunky? Yes. However, the nature of it and way it encourages replays does mean subsequent runs feel a little more manageable.

While there may be some unfulfilling moments in 7’scarlet, depending on the route, as a whole it’s an enjoyable and often otherworldly otome game. Given how unusual its storyline can get and the twists and revelations that come after chasing after certain love interests, it’s definitely one that stands out among other Aksys, Otomate, and Idea Factory works. I’m glad it’s gotten a Switch release so even more people can experience and appreciate it.

Unpacking is an incredibly chill game. It’s exactly what you want to play when you need to decompress. There’s a place for everything, and it’s up to you to put it in that place. There’s no rush. Enjoy looking at what the person accumulated. Think about what certain items mean. Hope that they find happiness in each new place. Then, if you feel like you need to calm down or want to enjoy the art again, head back and do things different next time.

I love how Metroid Prime 4: Beyond looks and plays, but it doesn’t feel as narratively satisfying or mentally stimulating as the original trilogy.

The Etrian Odyssey games have always been a triumph, and Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection is the sort of loving proof of concept to convince Switch and PC owners that yes, it’s still just as good on a platform that doesn’t feature two screens. Etrian Odyssey I, II, and III remain fantastic, challenging, and engaging games that will drive players to explore. Even better is that the auto-mapping and difficulty options increase the ease of entry, making them even more appealing. It’s wonderful to see all three games again, and I hope this is a precursor to a seventh installment.

Pacific Drive is a weird game. If you want to be swept into story of science gone horribly wrong, enjoy unique twists on the survival genre or have the capacity to fall in love with a car, there’s something here for you. However, its randomness and weird difficulty spikes are likely to be off-putting for others.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn is everything that it should be. While its gameplay systems may feel archaic in this new age of tactical RPGs, it somehow enhances the harshness of its narrative. This will no doubt make it daunting for those unfamiliar with this style of tactics title. It certainly won’t be for everyone, but remains a tried and true classic. And those who haven’t yet had to experience the Ogre Battle series will be in for a treat. As its themes of self-sacrifice and perseverance against all odds stand the test of time, even if its gameplay may not.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a far stronger game on the Switch 2 than Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar. The setting feels a little less claustrophobic with the move to 3D and redesign for some areas. The characters feel stronger and more interesting thanks to romantic and platonic events. There’s a wide range of crops to grow and items to produce, and it’s always satisfying to get big numbers on a bazaar day after successful restocks. I do wish relationships didn’t end up stuck in limbo because I couldn’t complete certain requests and I had a shipping bin option, and of course the handful of crashes I experienced got me down. Still, I absolutely love this remake and its aesthetic.

C-Smash VRS is a really admirable take on Cosmic Smash that is so much fun on the Meta Quest 3, due to it being a really enjoyable VR tennis that also combines Breakout elements to make more of an arcade experience if you’re playing alone. Likewise, it’s quite enjoyable with others or an opponent. Just make sure you get used to your limits and boundaries before trying to get competitive.

Ultimately, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a solid brawler that continues Dotemu’s streak of great games. If you’re a hardcore Marvel fan, add a point to the score, since you’ll have a great time, but if you’re like me and have never found these heroes particularly compelling, this won’t change your mind.

Ultimately what you’re getting with Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is more of the same things you enjoyed last time. They’re very good things! But many players may find that the first game already offered all the high points of this sequel, and that the new modes don’t offer very much to rekindle their interest.

MyDearest and Kotake Create really did a fantastic job of pulling off The Exit 8 VR on the Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro. I mean, I’m sure it helps that the base game isn’t the most complex title. Even so, I felt no VR sickness or discomfort. It’s so easy find yourself immersed in it. It’s even easier to spot and experience the anomalies, thanks to the sound design and execution. Going through The Exit 8 in VR is now my favorite way to play.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective is rather niche, though with a hardcore cult following. But with its updated looks and wider availability, hopefully it will emerge into the spotlight and dance its way into people’s hearts.

If someone were to ask me which KEMCO games to play, Metro Quester would not just be on that list. It would absolutely be somewhere near the top of it. While the nature of it means it isn’t going to be for everyone who typically goes for every KEMCO RPG, it’s a really special and challenging experience that makes you think about all your actions.

What I can say for Kunitsu-Gami is that it feels like a game that could have existed on the PlayStation 2, and I mean that in the most positive way possible. It’s experimental and interesting, and I’m glad Capcom Development Studio 1 was able to make this game. The way it builds on the tower-defense genre and gives the player a more active role through the use of Soh as an avatar makes the game immediately more involved and interesting. I hope Kunitsu-Gami ends up garnering some kind of success so that it can show Capcom that these risks can be taken, even for AA titles, so we can see more of what its various development studios can create outside of established franchises.

DOOM: The Dark Ages feels packed with situations that test a player and challenge them to use every element in their arsenal. Not to mention, it’s also quite accessible and filled with collectibles that make it worth replaying Chapters in its story. However, I do feel like it is geared toward people who played DOOM and DOOM Eternal, with a narrative that sometimes necessitates prior knowledge of the storyline since 2016. Also, the mecha dragon and Atlan mech sections don’t leave the sort of grand impression one might expect.

Instead of getting a Pokedex at the beginning of the game you're given an enhanced Pokemon Navigator that contains more facts and information than the Pokedex. The game also supports the new wireless link so you don't have to carry a cable to trade or battle Pokemon. [JPN Import]

World of Warcraft The War Within is an excellent start to The World Soul Saga and I’m genuinely interested to see where the story goes next. Hero Talents add some interesting effects and skills to specific classes, which adds a greater variety of how you can play your character, and the narrative, while straightforward, is a lot of fun. The War Within has made me love MMORPGs again, and if Blizzard Entertainment keeps going in this direction, I can see myself playing this game for years to come.

The Red Bell’s Lament is another example of Voltage offering a great otome game that feels different than what we’d expect due to its execution and story. It can be a little light on the romance, but there’s a strong narrative with genuine surprises and fantastic character development. It does feature some flaws at launch, both in terms of some missing translations and actual bugs that might cause issues with progression. However, I’m pretty confident the will be fixed, especially since Voltage made a statement, and result in this being one of the more interesting otome games on the Switch. Once a patch does appear, I think I’d consider it a must-buy for fans of the genre.

ActRaiser Renaissance is the definition of a pleasant surprise. From its sudden launch as a Nintendo Direct shadowdrop to its refreshing revival of the game, it’s the epitome of the unexpected. It respects the original game. Yet, Sonic Powered and Square Enix built it up to ensure it does even more in a way that doesn’t feel forced. Both people returning to it and those experiencing it for the first time could equally enjoy it. And one can only hope Square Enix will keep in mind what worked here and make any other SNES remakes as robust.