I’m shocked at how enjoyable and well-executed LIttle Noah: Scion of Paradise is. Its a roguelike that ticks all the right boxes. It is approachable, but still challenging. You can go in knowing you’ll grow slightly stronger, but the unpredictability of which Lilliputs you’ll and randomization keeps things fresh. The enemies can be quite strong, but it is possible to learn patterns and survive through proper planning and insight. It is a fantastic game and one of 2022’s better surprises.

Generally, it is easy to dig into Ground Divers. Yes, it gets very difficult very quickly. Sweltering Sand Wasteland is a wake-up call after Secret Bamboo Springs. However, the game is manageable if you pay attention and wisely direct Tsuruhashi. There’s a charm to it. Not to mention the different difficulty levels and additional challenges for each region offer a reason to go back and get the three stars to fully “complete” them.

I’m not sure whether to think of Yurukill as a decent shmup with a good adventure game attached, or a good adventure game with a decent shmup minigame inserted into it. Perhaps it doesn’t matter, as the two disparate flavors taste great together all the same.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is the sort of Musou game that not only gets what is special about Fire Emblem in general, but about Three Houses specifically. It’s a very involved title. The story gets quite detailed. So much so that folks who don’t have that Three Houses experience might not get the most out of Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes. But it’s generally an incredibly solid Musou game and a lot of fun if you are aware of everything going on.

Fishing Paradiso isn’t the fishing game for folks who want something technical or realistic. It’s the one you get if you like fishing in Animal Crossing or Story of Seasons. Which is fine, because a lot of people could probably use that kind of game. It is simple and sometimes not the most polished, but it is enjoyable.

AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative, like AI: The Somnium Files, is simply a fantastic adventure. Its plot is fascinating, and I love how it handles its investigations. It is absolutely a worthy successor, though I very much recommend people play both games.

These issues are relatively easy to overlook in light of the fact that there’s really nothing quite like Metal Max Xeno Reborn in the JRPG space. It may still be a bit spartan and feel undercooked compared to its better-known, more lavishly produced contemporaries, but its focus on vehicle combat and spare, understated storytelling makes it unique and rarely boring. Appreciating what Metal Max Xeno Reborn does in spite of itself feels kind of like digging an old relic out of a pile of junk, dusting it off, and finding that it’s still got some life in it. It’s not quite a treasure, but it’s farther from being trash than it’s ever been.

I’m genuinely impressed with Birushana: Rising Flower of Genpei. It presents an intriguing take on historical events in an easily digestible way. It presents players with love interests who are interesting both due to their backgrounds and nature as warriors, as well as romantic partners. Shanao is a strong heroine. It looks great. Not to mention with the “if” routes, it ends up feeling even fuller. It’s another great Switch otome game.

Even if Tempest is one of those Switch otome games that dares to be different, in terms of its gameplay, story, and tone. I appreciate what it does, even if that does mean I needed to spend a lot of time with it to unlock routes and endings. It’s just a shame that I encountered so many crashes. I spend more time saving to ensure I wouldn’t lose progress than I did making sure trials went as planned. Still, it is fascinating and a good addition to the system’s library.

TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge feels like a time capsule. You can tell going into it that the people at Tribute Games deeply respected the source material. They did their research, both in terms of watching the show and playing past titles. It is also absolutely evident that they worked on similar sorts of games, because it often feels as fluid as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game. There are a few situations that frustrated me, but it’s genuinely a joyful experience.

Appreciating Symphony of War takes some adjustment to its production values, but our 50 hours with the game were largely a joy. It’s built for those who delight in fiddling with systems and tweaking squad builds, and its combination of ideas offers a distinct tactical experience.

Card Shark is a game that made me feel daring, and I was glued to my Switch trying to outsmart my opponents. Yes, every once in a while I’d come across a con I didn’t enjoy as much as the others. But considering the assortment of tricks you learn and the way the challenge grows, it still can feel very satisfying. Especially since the story that happens while taking advantage of marks is so compelling.

Tokoyo: The Tower of Perpetuity is a novel challenge. It forces you to get creative, consider timing and patterns, and push yourself to improve. There’s also a sense of urgency, both due to the fact that the tower layout changes daily and karma encourages you to not loiter around. Yet at the same time, there isn’t too much pressure. Tomorrow is another day. You might be better another day of the week or when using a different character. Not to mention there’s no real penalty for not being the best. It feels like the kind of game someone could devote a few weeks or months to, gradually getting better or enjoying for a brief part of every day.

While it might not be the perfect FMV game, The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is pretty darn close. With the entwined stories, spectacular acting, and lengthy scenes, it truly is an interactive experience fans of the genre should not miss. And I’d personally love to see Haruka get tangled up in more adventures such as this one. She’s a character that speaks to my soul. Let me traipse around Japan solving crimes with her, please and thank you in advance.

Touken Ranbu Warriors is made for a very specific audience. It feels meant for people unaccustomed to Musou games, what with its easy control option, small levels, and focused tasks. The grinding elements even seem to be less taxing, with simple minigames and Honmaru area placement to garner experience and such while you’re doing other things. (Just like in the Touken Ranbu Online browser game!) Touken Ranbu Warriors also very much focuses on its characters, showing them interact with one another and pointing out characteristics showcased in the original game, anime, and other spin-offs. This means that while Touken Ranbu Warriors is a Musou game with the trappings we know, it might not be the best choice for someone looking for a new entry to play.

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.

Seven Pirates H might just be the weakest of the localized Genkai Tokki titles. Part of this could be the transition from Compile Heart to Felistella. It also could be due to a shift from 2D to full 3D. The lower monster girl count, decreased difficulty, and general direction mean Seven Pirates H is a much shorter and simpler game than its predecessors. People who want it for the fanservice and envelope-pushing content will find exactly what they are looking for, but it is a stripped-down experience compared to past titles.

I get the feeling that unless someone is extremely invested in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, they won’t get anything out of Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising. The background it offers for characters like CJ, Garoo, and Isha and the series’ world is great! It’s pretty valuable, in terms of lore and establishing a mood. But the actual experience is average and takes a while to get interesting. It never really hooked me. Rather, it made me want to go back to other games that did it better.

In the end, while Trek to Yomi is a small and deliberately limited affair, its taut structure and evocative visuals carry it well through its short lifespan.

It’s not a radical reimagining of the original Wii Sports, but Nintendo Switch Sports does a good job of translating a lot of the fun to a modern system. But the fun is largely about playing with friends. The three same-y court sports drag the collection down a bit, but we’re hopeful that the good parts will be augmented by further development support in the future.

Coromon is a game with a lot of promise that builds on the Pokemon formula. Is it perfect? Not quite yet. I’d say the balance is slightly off in many ways. But it is still a lot of fun. It also feels like a solid first step. I’d love to see a sequel that incorporates new types, dual types, and adds more creatures.

Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness refines a gameplay system that was already great, and offers a ton of challenges to keep you busy! And hey, maybe this time, more players will be fortunate enough to discover it.

Despite quibbles, though, Relayer is a solid entry into the canon of mecha-based strategy titles. Kadokawa Games developed an original, endearing sci-fi RPG with a strong character focus. It may be held back by its rougher edges, but anyone with a love of sci-fi anime should give it a look.

Chrono Cross has always been an essential JRPG, and this The Radical Dreamers Edition remaster makes it feel even more important. The story, the design direction, the way it handles its parallel worlds and characters, its battle system, and its precursor game that shows how it grew? They’re all extraordinary. Like Chrono Trigger before it, it is historically important and an example of exemplary game design.

A Memoir Blue is a peek into someone else’s life. We don’t know Miriam. We don’t speak her language. But by the end of the game, the player will know exactly what she went through. It is touching and accomplishes a lot, in part thanks to its visual direction and soundtrack. Just know going in that it is more of an experience than anything else, and a brief one at that.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is, like most games starring Kirby, thoroughly pleasant. It feels wonderful to play, offering all sorts of rewards for exploring and interacting with its world. I also feel like out of all his adventures, this is the one in which all of the areas fit together best into a cohesive world. It’s also quite well-balanced! I do wish some additional series staples showed up and that Waddle Dee Town did more to encourage me to hang around. But it is generally lovely.

If you need a farming-and-fighting fix, Rune Factory 5 is an option. It just isn’t the best one out there. It’s living in the shadow of its far superior siblings.

After watching the credits roll on Akito and K.K.’s journey, I still find myself itching to finish up every single thing in Ghostwire: Tokyo. Pray at those last few Jizo statues. Find the remaining tanuki. Figure out how to get inside of the 24th floor of the shopping complex so I can take out its pesky corruption spot. I’m forty hours in and counting and one hundred percent willing to do it all over again.