The newfound comedic writing is welcome, and the new puzzles are very creative. On the other hand, the game's plot falls short of expectations, and the new Somniums found here are too linear and don't bear much of an impact on the story. Overall, No Sleep For Kaname Date is a fun and appealing work for the series' fans that just falls short of building a more ambitious game.

This delightful, and simultaneously disquieting work features elements that will appeal to everyone, whether they are seeking a more story-driven game or a more action and puzzle-based experience. With its stunning audiovisual enviroment and a lifespan that may be rather short but full of reasons to come back to, Neversong is without any doubt a new and a very welcome gem in the Nintendo Switch catalogue.

Replacing turn-based gameplay with dynamic action, Three Hopes brings three different stories that intertwine with each other, along with different endings and side quests that allow access to additional rewards. While the missions could be more varied, the gameplay is very fun and engaging, and this is without a doubt a very good game that can bring a renewal to both the Fire Emblem and Dynasty Warriors series.

Astria Ascending is a rather unusual RPG in the sense that it's visually similar to a side-scrolling metroidvania, but its gameplay is that of a turn-based JRPG. With that in mind, and while its plot feels rather sub-par, Astria Ascending features a very fun combat system, engaging and complex character progression, and an absolutely astounding visual world. Fans of JRPGs will have plenty to enjoy here, including committed completionists.

Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers delivers a fun and welcoming arcade-style beat'em up experience that goes beyond the nostalgia trip cliché. This new entry fits nicely with the classic 16-bit trilogy, while adding new touches and elements to the gameplay that allow for more variety and experimentation. The series' identity is alive and well, and the co-op multiplayer is a marvel to play, even if on solo the experience can start feeling repetitive too soon.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fitting remaster of a game (or rather, of a pair of games) that has more than earned its place in the Donkey Kong Country series. A lovely audiovisual experience, levels with the distinct DK flair - including the barrels, the mine carts, Rambi, and the crazy enemies - and a gameplay packed with trial and error and collectibles, never too harsh but not a walk in the park either, this is an easy recommendation for players less versed in the original game. Those well acquainted with the original though will think twice when looking at the price tag for a remaster that does not bring significant new elements.

Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 follows the footsteps of its predecessors and sticks to their guns. This third chapter introduces some new elements, namely when it comes to character mechanics, but it keeps the overall trademarks of the Azure Striker Gunvolt series intact, with emphasis on the frantic action and the marvelous audiovisual world. Those looking for a high difficulty challenge might end up a bit disappointed though, as the game is truly as accessible as humanly possible.

OMNO may bring a simple and rather short experience, but its gripping and accessible gameplay, gorgeous art style and ease of exploration will no doubt provide a welcome few hours for players looking for something more relaxing. Indeed while OMNO's simplicity might not be ideal for those looking for something very intense, anyone who wants to enjoy themselves with rather accessible puzzles and a charming world to explore will find in this game a lovely addition to their Nintendo Switch collection.

LEGO Bricktales is a fun puzzle game and a relaxing experience that follows a different direction of the LEGO world. While there is a (minimal) plot here, the core of the experience is based on building, and that's where the game stands out the most. Fun and engaging challenges and a welcoming gameplay for beginners, that's what LEGO Bricktales is about.

Tanuki Justice is a homage to 8-bit era action platformers and does a good job at that, with its mix of simple action and frantic boss fights, along with a lovely visual style. At the same time time, Tanuki Justice does not particularly stand out in any of its components, and despite its good formula it doesn't rise above its peers.

Casting cinematic realism aside, this pixellated 2D non-stop shooting fest is not for those who can't take on a challenge but players who like to be pushed to the edge will be duly rewarded by its fast-paced, exhilarating gameplay. Colt Canyon would be even more rewarding and enjoyable if its experience lasted longer but even if it's rather short, there's enough here to satisfy some wild west-themed appetite, whether solo or co-op.

The Long Dark is a survival game that does a very good job at conveying an experience mired in solitude and bitter loneliness, all while keeping a pleasant-looking art style. Even though the visual quality was a bit compromised when the game was ported over to the Nintendo Switch, fans of survival games will find many resources to work with, a healthy variety of game modes, and a plot that's truly immersing.

Hot Wheels Unleashed captures the spirit of the toy line in a very appealing way and fans will find here a marvelous experience between collecting cars, customizing them, and making changes to the areas around us. While the gameplay experience could use some tweaks when it comes to its controls, and the high difficulty level will prove tough for some players, it's easy to get completely absorbed by everything that Hot Wheels Unleashed does well.

Pikmin 2 follows Nintendo's skilful adaptation of its classic series and the result at hand is an all-round marvelous and high quality conversion of the original to today's age. Keeping the essence of the experience intact, Pikmin 2 on the Nintendo Switch is able to provide a captivating, evolving, accessible and in-depth adventure comparable to the original nearly twenty years ago, but adapted to today's standards, thus opening the doors to new players while stimulating the renewed interest on the Pikmin series at a much larger scale.

Miitopia returns to a Nintendo console, this time adapted to the Switch, and once again it does a great job at making a fun game out of something as simple as personal avatars. With its countless customization options, the ability to import characters from the Mii community, and a fun combat system, Miitopia might not be the most ambitious turn-based RPG ever developed, but it's an accessible, fun effort at a social game that can bring a smile to everyone's face.

Lair of the Clockwork God sets a rather ambitious purpose for itself: to successfully merge platforming and point and click mechanics and wrap them up in a funny and enjoyable package with its own brand of humour. It succeeds at the latter, less so at the former. Indeed, platforming and point and click still feel entirely separate from each other in this work, but that doesn't mean they can't be enjoyed.

Its accessible difficulty level is a very positive element for less experienced players but along with a rather slow pacing, it makes this effort less attractive for more versed hands. All in all, The Cruel King and the Great Hero may not tower above its peers but it's certainly a worthy and lovely-looking work to explore.

The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters may not create the most terrifying environment ever seen in a game but it does a very good job with its art style and at providing a fun experience. The gameplay mechanics could use a bit more variety, as they end up feeling rather repetitive and cliché but there's plenty of good elements here to explore and if there is a follow-up to this game, the potential to do something more ambitious is immense.

Afterimage is a gorgeous looking Metroidvania that wraps itself around its players with an enveloping plot, charismatic characters, and engaging combat system. While some of the exploration tasks can feel out of place at times and the plot takes a while to fully settle in, Afterimage is without a doubt a very welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch rich catalogue of Metroidvania games, and one that can stand proudly next to its peers.

While its length is relatively short the game features a captivating plot set in the hallways of 18th century France as players make their way towards the royal court, deceiving others with a panoply of card tricks. With a gorgeous art style inspired by Franco-Belgian bandes dessinées and plenty of interesting characters to meet, Card Shark is definitely a game that deserves a good look.

Fans of the original and who would like to play it on the go will be all over this remake, a work that not only successfully captures the spirit of the original but also delivers an updated visual world. Those less keen on the Oddworld series and who don't enjoy puzzle challenges as much will mostly notice the game's somewhat clunky and imprecise control inputs.

Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos draws inspiration from some groundbreaking references when it comes to adventure games, and adds to them an extra level of challenge with a roguelite component. But while the simple gameplay, the world development possibilities and the co-op experience are indeed very welcome and well implemented, an overly simplistic plot, a lacklustre protagonist and redundant character development mechanics make this a game of limited appeal outside its narrowest target audience.

Please, Touch The Artwork 2 may follow the path of its predecessor but the creativity and originality in this sequel give us a more bold and ambitious experience than we could have expected and the result is a merging of atmosphere with addictive gameplay that makes this game truly stand out. While the main puzzle gameplay mechanic may feel a bit repetitive, Please, Touch The Artwork 2 goes beyond to put up an experience that allows us to explore the artworks at hand as freely as we like.

The game consists of an array of new, competitive, and addictive challenges, carefully tailored in a way that helps newcomers feel at ease and lures in veterans eager to try out their skills. The source material and overall environment have been optimized enough to fit with our day and age while remaining faithful to the classics, and the online leaderboards ensure plenty of global competition.

While games originally developed for mobile devices always display where they came from, it is clear that Package Inc was properly handled in the way the experience unrolls on Nintendo's console, whether playing it as a handheld game or on a television screen. Fun, accessible and challenging, Package Inc could benefit from more content but as it is, it's a great choice for anyone looking for a game that puts our strategic choices to the test.

Aerial_Knight's Never Yield proposes an interesting interception of concepts between a sidescroller and an endless runner, and it works great. With its demanding but fair gameplay mechanics and a surprisingly elaborate plot for a short indie title, the game also boasts a good use of the camera and an exquisite soundtrack. The only things that could make Aerial_Knight's Never Yield much better would be a multiplayer and online component, as well as a longer lifespan.

A Space for the Unbound is an adventure game that stands out for its absolutely gorgeous art style and memorable plot that brings in a bag of difficult themes for the player to come into contact with. As far as its gameplay goes, this is a rewarding experience featuring a great amount of puzzles, but its pacing is not what most players would expect, and often it's possible to be facing too many redundant tasks. This means that seasoned adventure game fans will feel more at ease with A Space for the Unbound, whereas a broader segment of the public might be put off by the way the game advances.

Wallachia: Reign of Dracula is a fun and compelling action platformer that acts as a good tribute to its inspirations and stands out amid its peers. While its lifespan might not be too impressive, the game's difficulty level helps in mitigating that aspect, at the same time that its game design and movements help with creating the impression of a game that works fine. Top marks for its soundtrack too, especially the voice works.

Destropolis can be summed up in two words: minimalist and frantic, that's what better characterizes this twin-stick shooter where waves of enemies will rush towards the player - or even better, players in cooperative mode. There are plenty of like-minded games on the Nintendo Switch eShop catalogue but Destropolis can still put up a fun, fresh experience. Those looking for something longer and more in-depth should look elsewhere, though, as Destropolis is mostly aimed at quick and intense experiences.

Just Dance 2021 follows the classical formula of Ubisoft's successful series and while it doesn't tread outside of its usual conventions, it proves once again that this is one of the best designed party games out there. It misses, however, in one crucial aspect - despite the possibility to pair up with players around the world for tournament play, it lacks an online component that would put friends playing against each other. With that in mind, Ubisoft's subscription service widely expands the catalogue of songs and the fitness option, as well as kid-friendly mode, are two very welcome components.

Knight Squad 2 doesn't spend much time with complex plots or mechanics - it's an action game where everything is simple and quick to assimilate, and that's its biggest strength. Up to eight players can take part in rounds of frantic combat across a great deal of game modes, and while this might not be the most engaging experience for solo players, those looking for multiplayer fun will find an insane amount of hectic moments in Knight Squad 2.

It's still one of the very best 2D Mario games ever, and now it looks sharper and performs better. With that said, the new additions are fun but they did not give the experience a greater creative and qualitative edge. The multiplayer minigames and single player training challenges are welcome, as are the difficulty and assist options, but those who know the original well enough might not see this Switch 2 version as a significant improvement over the original. Especially when the original is already so good, and fairly recent.

El Hijo is a stealth action game that acts as a good introduction for those taking their first steps in the genre, at the risk of not attracting many veterans. Despite a challenge level that many would call sub-par, El Hijo's simple and intuitive gameplay works as a great roadmap for anyone who wants to know more about stealth action, and the visual art works marvels at creating an experience that flows naturally for any beginner.

Citizen Sleeper marks an unusual arrival on the Nintendo Switch of an RPG inspired by board games, and it does a very good job at creating a somber and dystopian atmosphere with matching audiovisual qualities, while delivering enveloping parallel plot lines. Its short length, however, and a certain lack of gameplay mechanics that truly stand out, mean that Citizen Sleeper's appeal will be limited to players who are not part of its main target audience.

Serial Cleaners is another twist on the stealth action genre, one that uses a crime drama ambiance to put us in an unusual place as the cleaners of bloody crime scenes who must also avoid the authorities. Fun, creative, accessible, and with an exquisite soundtrack, Serial Cleaners greatly expands on its predecessor's legacy, but it's perhaps a bit too simple for more experienced players, and it can get repetitive after a while. Nevertheless, its formula works like a charm if played in short bouts.

This RPG features a stunning game environment, where the visual world and the soundtrack contribute to the player's immersion. The experience could benefit from a more dynamic gameplay, however, as its rather slow pacing and long prologue will make things difficult for players who want to see the plot advancing and their character developing with each play session.

Unusually enough, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a prequel of a game that hasn't been released yet but it will appeal to fans of the Suikoden series and JRPGs in general. While the game takes a while until it truly takes off and its more in-depth characteristics become more prominent, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising features a gorgeous art style, a surprising plot, charismatic characters and a very welcome city-building mechanic.

SD Gundam Battle Alliance is a great example of fan service and one which does a very good job at celebrating the Gundam series for its long-running fans. If this group will be delighted at the huge number of robots to unlock and enjoyable combat, those less versed are more likely to see the game's flaws with regards to repetitive missions and a rather lacklustre plot. With all things considered, SD Gundam Battle Alliance is an action RPG that mostly aims for the Gundam fans group rather than for a general audience.

Super Meat Boy Forever follows the legacy of its adored predecessor and it improves on several elements - namely, the stunning animation sequences, as well as the boss fights, which are the most enjoyable part of this game. At the same time, the decision to implement an auto-run mechanic when the level design feels completely disconnected from this way of playing is difficult to understand. Super Meat Boy Forever has plenty of qualities but it also has its peculiarities, fans of the original need to take that into account.

Basketball Classics does not attempt to deliver a detailed realistic experience but rather to set up a fast-paced, accessible arcade game that features much more than it seems at first. The game avoids any races it cannot win by focusing on a lighter experience that works fine, even if it won't appeal to every kind of player and its gameplay reaches its limits soon enough, but its old-school charm and ease of access more than make up for Basketball Classics' shortcomings.

Trigger Witch is a fun blend between an adventure game and a twin-stick shooter and a fun one at that too, with plenty of action and some puzzles along the way to keep players busy. While not a groundbreaking title, and its audio component could really use some improvement, its bold concept, engaging combat and colourful environment make Trigger Witch a good option for fans of both genres portrayed here.

Super Soccer Blast doesn't propose an extremely serious and realistic football simulation but it does a good job at offering a fun arcade-like experience, with intuitive gameplay and an enjoyable local multiplayer component. Not being the most ambitious football game ever made, its options can feel rather limited but it's a good choice for players looking for a less stressful football experience.

This fifth chapter is not a reboot, rather an experience that focuses on what Trine does best: fun and creative challenges. Trine 5's puzzles are a delight to tackle, and the game's slick level design allows the players to adjust them to the desired difficulty and approach them in different ways, while rewarding players that make the effort to explore more and more of the game's world. The co-op experience is a marvel too, as it opens new possibilities for solving specific puzzles. Trine 5 is without a doubt a game that the fans of the series and of adventure games with puzzle-solving will embrace.

Darkestville Castle may not bring a groundbreaking change to the point and click adventure genre but that doesn't mean this game is not a little gem, with both light-hearted humour and a somber environment that will remind players of landmark animated movies. With its surprisingly captivating plot, rapport with the characters and marvelous art style, Darkestville Castle is an easy work to recommend to any fans of point and click adventures.

Featuring a great world to explore, very tricky and demanding challenges and a fully immersive plot, this edition of Soulstorm will have players fully mired in its intricacies. Not all its aspects are flawless though, and some elements of level design along with long load times will cause some bouts of frustration, but this is an overall marvelous Oddworld experience and in a handheld-friendly format, too.

Vigil: The Longest Night is an interesting metroidvania-type with a gorgeous-looking visual world and some intense combat moments. It's also unfortunately affected by long loading times and some technical issues which could really use an update to correct. All in all, a good work but which needs some tweaking on its technical aspects in order to stand out among its peers in the Nintendo Switch catalogue.

With its constantly shifting but consistent gameplay style, there's no easy label to apply to this game, but while the difficulty level can feel too demanding, this is nothing short of a fun-packed work and fit for everyone looking for some quick, crazy action.

Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island + Emerald Rush is a DLC that does a very good job at delivering a challenging experience and at rekindling the players' relationship with the original game thanks to its new, stimulating roguelike mode and to the nostalgia-inducing settings of old DK Island. This DLC does not intend to reinvent DK Bananza's experience, so it focuses its value on adding new experiences to the original game, but it does so in a very fun and friendly way which fits nicely with fans of Bananza who want to get a bit more out of that game.

Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny brings the series to a new threshold - and if that can be said for the level of absurdity in the game, it's better applied to the characters' transition from 2D sprites to 3D models. The combat remains largely the same and very competent but while the performance isn't stellar and players have the option to scale down the visual quality in exchange for a smoother experience, it's safe to say this sixth chapter will be very much appreciated by long-running fans of the Disgaea series.

Each chapter is dealt with through different gameplay mechanics, where players will find elements of puzzle games, stealth action, or criminal investigation along with the usual dialogues and plot choices. It's Shuten Order's biggest and most creative asset, but it also falls short of expectations as these gameplay mechanics are not explored as extensively as they could, and the game's somewhat fragment structure can lead to finding out what's going to happen too soon. Nonetheless, its solid plot, full of unexpected twists, and intriguing characters are well worth a good look.

With fast-paced, albeit very simple gameplay and a lovely looking visual environment, Super Arcade Football is much more suited for a multiplayer experience as its artificial intelligence is rather lacklustre and will leave solo players a bit underwhelmed with what's at hand.

Cobra Kai: The Karate Kid Saga Continues is a sharp beat'em-up experience that's especially aimed at fans of the series, who will find countless content and references to appeal to their knowledge of the franchise. While visually some of its choices are questionable and it has some flaws in this regard, the overall gameplay experience is fun and fits perfectly with players who keenly follow the original series.

Project Zero: Maiden of Black Water is a remaster that does a lot of things right, and which shows that the series still has the ability to deliver a good amount of frights. While the opportunity to implement a more functional control system was not taken and there are some technical performance issues, the overall effort is a work that's very satisfactory to explore, especially thanks to its high quality level design.

Because it takes such risks with its plot and delivers very engaging puzzles, this sequel successfully musters from its sources an absolutely mind-blowing ending, which more than makes up for the game's flaws that include poor quicktime events and an over-reliance on sexualized humour that quickly loses its track. Fortunately, everything comes together and works out nicely in the end.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl bring the fourth generation of the Pokémon series to the Nintendo Switch and they might perhaps take this job too seriously, in the sense that these remakes demonstrate a lack of creative freedoms taken in the conversion process. While many of the elements that made the original games popular are still here, it would have been very positive to take a few steps forward to make the experience more in line with contemporary standards. As it is, it's still a great game, and one that fans will appreciate for being able to enjoy in a new, more immersive format.

This puzzle-platformer, which goes from isometric to side-scroller, to 2D shooter to 3D navigation, is loaded with references to 1980s classics and collectible objects. The game keeps track of the objects we collect, not of the references we catch, and that’s a good challenge for when we are not feeling frustrated by the rather clunky platformer controls.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl bring the fourth generation of the Pokémon series to the Nintendo Switch and they might perhaps take this job too seriously, in the sense that these remakes demonstrate a lack of creative freedoms taken in the conversion process. While many of the elements that made the original games popular are still here, it would have been very positive to take a few steps forward to make the experience more in line with contemporary standards. As it is, it's still a great game, and one that fans will appreciate for being able to enjoy in a new, more immersive format.

Its controls, though, can be stiff and slow at times, which makes some segments more frustrating than they should. There's also a lack of variety in the mechanics, and its puzzles could be more creative. Dollmare works better as a short, subtle atmospheric horror experience that can be finished in one go, rather than as an ambitious adventure.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars looks ambitious and indeed sets high expectations under the form of a platforming hack and slash that looks good and can rightfully boast about its comical dialogues. Where Ninja Wars falls short though is in fulfilling all its ambition, and the game's disappointing lifespan and feeling of repetitiveness make this an effort that could have gone much further but which doesn't achieve what its expectations set out.

As far as the structure and gameplay are concerned, this is a great achievement which strikes a good balance between the original formula and today's tastes. At the same time, the way this sequel fits in the Nintendo Switch has its share of problems, with visual performance issues becoming too frequent. All in all, this is a remarkable work that nonetheless ends up getting harmed by its technical execution.

Aeterna Noctis is a fine metroidvania that does a great job at taking inspiration from some of the most outstanding games in the genre. Its visual world and level design stand out and for good reasons, while the game's welcoming pace allows players to focus on the exploration. At the same time, the game's pacing can also be a weak point as it makes it harder to keep focused, and a very high difficulty level may put off less experienced players while its long loading times make the experience less enjoyable.

Featuring a cast of captivating characters, decent combat system and some interesting gameplay mechanics, there's enough here to appeal to long-running fans. However Rune Factory 5 disappoints when it comes to its visual performance, even to the point of harming the gameplay experience, while its exploration can quickly become repetitive. The result is a game that could have been much more enjoyable had these elements been treated differently.

With a varied and high quality musical selection based on Rock and Metal, the game's audiovisual component is worthy of praise. As for its gameplay, it can get a bit confusing at moments when there are too many things on the screen simultaneously, and a plot that feels too bland. Still, Double Kick Heroes can be a fun experience, especially for those who are particularly keen on Rock and Metal music.

Syrup and the Ultimate Sweet is a name that doesn't hint much at what kind of game this is but it reveals that its content is very sugarcoated. Indeed this visual novel features a very sweetened world, with ten different endings and a good plot for a game with such a low selling price. It may not be the most breathtaking work ever made but Syrup and the Ultimate Sweet does a decent job, even if its main protagonist seems a bit off from the game's world.

If the game suits perfectly on the Switch as something to play on the go, making full use of the system's handheld qualities, it also feels somewhat dated when it comes to its technical aspects and something that doesn't strive to reach the same threshold as its peers. All in all, a fun and varied game, but one that could make an effort to be up to its counterparts of today.

This first-person puzzler makes the player manipulate the perspective and use optical illusions in order to solve its challenges and while it's a difficult concept to express, the game is surprisingly satisfying to watch. On the other hand, something seems to have been lost in the way and Superliminal is less fun than it wanted to be, not to mention somewhat repetitive, giving the impression that the player is doing the same puzzle over and over again. Superliminal has its qualities but it's also a difficult game to recommend.

Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX is a re-edition with some modern touches of two cult classics of the 32-bit generation. While some aspects feel outdated, this work holds quite well and it will bring a smile to the faces of fans of the original games thanks to its qualities around the in-depth development of creatures, their design, and the amount of content to explore.

Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club is a wholesome puzzle adventure, where Snoopy and the gang set to solve everyday mysteries that are affecting the main characters of the Peanuts universe. Friendly and very accessible, the game fits well with a younger audience, but it could certainly use more elements that stimulate the sense of discovery, leaving the impression of good ideas that deserved more investment. Still, as a no frills and friendly experience, it does a good job, though it could let its players return to the same file after wrapping up the last mystery.

Minoria is a metroidvania-type of game that encourages the player to explore and which benefits from having a good combat system. At the same time, it feels it could have gone much further in its ambition, and its rather short length and repetitive settings, a certain lack of orientation when it comes to the exploration, and the lack of attention dedicated to the other characters make this a game that doesn't clearly standout amid its peers, even if it gets part of the job right.

Root Film is a visual novel that shares some points with other genres. Its plot ends up feeling too cumbersome and takes some time to pick up momentum during the first half of the game, along with an exploration that doesn't transmit the player a clear sense of purpose, only to then become much more compelling later on. This can be a problem for those not persistent enough, but players who won't put it down will enjoy a much more engaging effort closer to the end of the experience.

Slaughtering hordes of enemies is a fun experience, and the performance is worthy of praise as the game runs smoothly with no major hiccups. The enormous cast with their myriad abilities and mutual benefits is one of the main selling points, but Warriors: Abyss becomes repetitive too quickly, and it doesn’t take long until it can start feeling like a chore. This is rather a game to be taken lightly, not one to invest long hours in lest the feeling of repetitiveness overwhelms the player.

Summer in Mara may not stand as high as its life sim peers but it's not without its charms, thanks to a lovely visual environment, quality dialogues and an enjoyable plot. Where Summer in Mara does less well, however, is when it comes to the way it works - several technical flaws that end up making the experience less involving and some of the tasks are mostly redundant, for example.

Becastled is a simple take on three popular genres, and it does several things right. It’s accessible to newcomers, it does not overcomplicate things, and even when we lose it lets us get back on our feet quickly. It’s less compelling than expected, however, and it can quickly become repetitive, which is where its simple audiovisual component can become a liability.

ISLANDERS: Console Edition is a simple city-builder that focuses on providing a relaxing experience, rather than on the intricacies of urban planning and juggling of interests. This is both its most positive and negative trait at the same time - the experience at hand is relaxing and welcoming, but the lack of any kind of challenge and strategy makes this a limited effort. Those only looking for the calm side of laying down buildings and getting points without any further challenge will find a great companion and for a good price too, but anyone looking for something deeper will quickly grow tired.

This his City Hunter remaster brings the 1990 classic to the world. If only more region-exclusive games could follow suit. Fans of the manga and anime series will find a simple but fitting 2D side-scrolling action game, with little more than moving around, shooting and jumping, very good soundtrack and some welcome - if short - bonus content. New quality of life options also make it feel more at home, but the gameplay could use more tweaks when it comes to level navigation. The retail price, however, is too high for what this City Hunter brings, and it would be more suitable to a full remake and/or a lot more bonus content.

This game features complex but fun gameplay mechanics and lots of content to explore, which will keep players satisfied for a long time. art of rally doesn't do so good when it comes to its graphical performance, with problems in the way the action is exhibited on the screen, not to mention a lower resolution. Players able to see beyond these flaws will fully enjoy a very demanding but overall satisfying experience.

Party Hard 2 is not exactly your typical party game...or a party game at all, for that matter. On the contrary, it's an anti-party game, in the sense that players will have to murder party goers and revelers in order to get a quiet night. Concept aside, Party Hard 2 works quite well in its mechanics and it delivers a good dose of fun, for those who can handle the thought that the game's 'hero' is a killer of party goers, that is.

Connection Haunted has an original concept joined to an interesting game world and several alternative endings. At the same time, it offers little in terms of longevity as its main idea is done with too quickly. Then again, this game does not intend to be a monumental work but rather a simple, if immersive, horror experience. In the end, there's plenty to explore here for a potential sequel.

Its fun mechanics and several pathways, the wealth of content to find and a soundtrack that fits like a glove on this cliché-ridden comedic experience mean that those players who know what to expect will find a fun and delightful game. Players outside its target audience, though, will struggle with enjoying the experience and are unlikely to become fans if they are not receptive to its mixture of on-rails action, visual novel interactions, and absurdist humour.

Elden: Path of the Forgotten will definitely evoke memories and impressions of some very known action and adventure games, namely those with a particularly difficult combat. When it comes to the fights, Elden demands a certain tactical mindset but it also runs the risk of becoming too repetitive. With a charming audiovisual presentation but a plot that suffers from minimal narration efforts, this is a game that might please fans of action and adventure games but which will have some work to do if it is to convince other players.

This is no frantic action game, rather its experience is about diving and tracking different maritime species, with a background plot that helps the players know more about the main character. The gameplay is relaxing and contemplative, and it has a relevant educational pillar, though there could have been a lot more done here to further advance the exploration aspect of the game, not to mention that the graphics feel rather sub-par, which is disappointing in a game that depends so much on its visual dimension.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is very ambitious and delivers an enormous amount of content, a long gameplay campaign, engaging turn-based combat, and an atmosphere that fits perfectly with the Warhammer series. It's less successful, however, at welcoming new players who are not familiar with the Warhammer lore. The experience can get cumbersome, with its heavy menus, long loading times and framerate drops, and despite recent updates, some flaws remain unadressed. Rogue Trader is a strategy RPG that does several things right, but execution problems make the Nintendo Switch 2 version fall below its potential.

While the gameplay can feel entirely different depending on the control scheme used, this doesn't affect Ellipsis' value as a good and fun game for shorter sessions. Those looking for a more in depth work, however, will find that Ellipsis is too short and runs out of options quickly enough.

The game does a great job at grabbing the player's attention and provides a fitting audiovisual environment, but its gameplay can often feel repetitive with a course of action that gets dull sometimes. For a game that makes use of so many dialogues, Oxenfree II is not always able to deliver the most interesting exchanges, and its plot development turns out to be more linear than it seems. Fans of plot-heavy games with mystery settings still have plenty to enjoy here, though.

Mega Dimension is a DLC that brings some welcome new features to the game, such as a more demanding difficulty and new Mega Evolutions, as well as a plot that directly follows that of Pokémon Legends Z-A. Mega Dimension does not do so well on other fields, however, and very often the game feels repetitive when it comes to its overdone actions and settings, especially when it comes to the small dimension of its map. Mega Dimension is competent, but it adds more in quantity than in quality, and the price is too high for what it delivers.

Terror Squid deserves to be praised for its intuitive, easy to grasp gameplay and for its score attack challenge, a characteristic that is not far from arcade experiences of previous years. Its difficulty level, though, gets to very high levels that may put off those less versed in these challenges, and its pricing will look too high to most players, especially when the content is so short and the game's longevity reaches its end rather quickly.

This is a game that's mostly aimed at a public looking for a quick experience and while it does a pretty good job at that, it also runs of ideas too quickly and would really benefit from having an online component, but since that's not available players will have to settle with hat's on offer here, which is not bad at all.

Immortals Fenyx Rising is ambitious and putting this game on a Nintendo Switch is a feat, in a certain way. However, the game fails to impress at the several facets it puts up - there's plenty of content, but it gets repetitive soon; the game world is vast, but the enemies' variety is too short; the combat is engaging, but quickly becomes too simplistic. On top of that, the game is clearly affected by performance issues on the Nintendo Switch. While there are good elements on display, Immortals Fenyx Rising could certainly use some improvements in order to stand out on the Nintendo Switch catalogue.

It's a demanding game, with a tough and demanding difficulty level and a good selling price, but which also brings little that has not been seen before many times. Its difficulty could be too frustrating for less experienced players, while its lack of original material means it won't quite standout among its peers.

With a vast game world, full of points of interest, varied missions and a fun, comical plot, Maneater's flaws mostly derive from its performance mishaps, namely a less stable framerate when there's plenty going on in the screen, and a feeling of repetitiveness in the mid-term. Nonetheless, this is a fun game to explore, which fits the Nintendo Switch perfectly.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet brings the Pokémon series to an open world experience and while there's plenty here to enjoy and co-op gameplay stands out very positively, there are several elements that needed more work, namely the difficulty balance that puts a hindrance on open world exploration, and the technical performance that raises unnecessary obstacles. Overall Pokémon fans still have plenty to explore here, and the plot grows increasingly interesting near the end, but Scarlet and Violet definitely could have benefited from a bit more time in the works.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet brings the Pokémon series to an open world experience and while there's plenty here to enjoy and co-op gameplay stands out very positively, there are several elements that needed more work, namely the difficulty balance that puts a hindrance on open world exploration, and the technical performance that raises unnecessary obstacles. Overall Pokémon fans still have plenty to explore here, and the plot grows increasingly interesting near the end, but Scarlet and Violet definitely could have benefited from a bit more time in the works.

If the plot and background events are mere motifs, the combat is accessible and easy to get into, which along with its variety of game modes and components like local multiplayer and a map editor make this an enjoyable experience, even though it doesn't go out of its way to become a groundbreaking game among its peers and a certain monotony becomes inevitable after some time.

Thanks to an exquisite art style, a challenging combat system, a very interesting mind-based plot and a very well implemented and flexible character development model, Monark boasts elements that are worth highlighting. Where Monark does less well is on its execution, though, as well as on its simplistic and repetitive puzzles, but it's the game's laggy performance that often harms the experience and makes it difficult to enjoy to anyone beyond a core of RPG fans.

Earth Defense Force: World Brothers brings a new visual approach to the EDF series but while the aesthetics are new, the gameplay experience remains mostly the same, though more accessible for a wider audience. World Brothers also brings a myriad of characters, which help make this a rich experience, but the lack of local co-op multiplayer using a single Nintendo Switch and EDF's usual performance issues end up harming World Brothers for those players less familiar with the series, as well as its high price for what's here. Regulars and veterans will certainly enjoy what's here, though.

Without the intricacies of detailed simulations, there's plenty of fun to be found here, especially in local multiplayer sessions. The lack of online multiplayer, though, is difficult to understand, and the short number of teams and game modes, and an AI that doesn't always work like we'd expect can make for a rather limited and less consistent game. In any case, players looking for simple, quick football action have something cost-efficient to find with Super Soccer Blast: America vs Europe.

Spitlings presents itself as a chaotic arcade game, even though it starts off on a rather slow pace that may put off less patient players. Nonetheless, those who dedicate some time to immerse themselves with the simple mechanics involved will be duly rewarded with a fun and varied multiplayer experience that doesn’t leave out a bit of a tactical dimension. Spitlings is less stellar on a single player basis, though, and it can become rather repetitive on a short-term basis.

While not a gigantic or epic effort, Worm Jazz does its job right and provides some good fun, even though there's not actually a lot of jazz here and the experience could be longer. Still, for those looking for some simple, puzzling action, Worm Jazz does the trick and is worthy of attention from Nintendo Switch owners.