Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 1 gathers eight of the studio’s influential shooters, charting their evolution from Tiger-Heli to the chaos of Batsugun. With strong emulation, contemporary conveniences, and its arcade spirit intact, it’s a gem for genre fans. That said, some extra historical context would have made the anthology truly definitive.

If there’s a criticism to be leveled at Toaplan Arcade Collection Vol. 2, it’s the same one that lingered over its predecessor: the absence of supplemental materials. No developer interviews, no cabinet artwork, no design documents. There’s nothing that contextualizes these releases beyond the games themselves. For a studio with such an influential legacy, these kinds of extras would have enhanced the package immensely. And while this second volume offers more variety than the first, some may find the overall impact slightly diminished, especially if they consider Batsugun from Vol. 1 as Toaplan’s crown jewel.

Tall Trails is a cozy, curiosity-driven adventure where exploration and experimentation replace combat and conflict. With Alp’s magical rocket boot turning frogs, flowers, and peppers into fuel for flight, the game makes every moment of climbing, leaping, and soaring feel fun.

Particle Hearts blurs the line between puzzle-platformer and interactive art exhibit, sending players drifting through dreamlike biomes. It may be too opaque or leisurely for some, but those open to a meditative pace will find it a luminous experience.

Much like its lead character, Death end re;Quest: Code Z commits a few missteps. From near-obliged grinding to stinginess with a key resource, you will encounter frustration nearly as often as witnessing one of the franchise’s Death Ends. Players with limited patience might be better off revisiting the previous two entries.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar adds a fresh twist to the classic farming sim with lively weekly markets, expanded crafting, and smart quality-of-life upgrades. While stamina limits and repetitive sales may frustrate some, the game’s charm, variety, and vibrant visuals make Zephyr Town a cozy and rewarding place to settle in.

Caput Mortum is a brief but haunting throwback that blends intentionally clunky controls with Lovecraftian atmosphere and clever environmental puzzles. It’s occasionally frustrating, but its unnerving setting and deliberate design make it an impressive descent into the depths of historical horror.

Slay Dragon feels like playing a tabletop campaign, with all the freedom and engrossing storytelling that comes with it. While the visuals can be a bit plain, the customization and progression make The Nameless a surprisingly deep and rewarding adventure.

Project X: Light Years serves as both a homage and a lesson in how to breathe new life into classic shooters. It respectfully builds on its Amiga heritage, revises what needed fixing, while preserving the key play systems that made it iconic.

Scar-Lead Salvation might be worth a cautious look if you’re in the mood for some scrappy third-person shooting. For everyone else, it’s more a case of missed potential than a direct hit.

Firefighting Simulator: Ignite strikes a tidy balance between realism and accessibility, making hose-dragging, smoke-ventilating, and civilian rescues feel tense without drenching you in technical details. The AI can fumble and online hiccups are present, but satisfying fire dynamics and co-op play make it one of the more engaging vocational sims around.

Jelly Troops proves that real-time strategy doesn’t have to be too series, mixing clever mechanics with a cast of gelatinous heroes. It’s not flawless, but the game’s charm provides quick and accessible slime-based showdowns.

Class of Heroes 3 Remaster improves the visuals and trims some rough edges, but its old-school dungeon crawling still demands plenty of patience. It’s a faithful update that fans will appreciate, though the grind and ego-bruising difficulty remain resolutely in place.

Cladun X3 delivers the same fast, bite-sized dungeon crawling and eccentric charm the series is known for, now with smoother systems and a gentler difficulty curve. Still, its recycled visuals and safe design choices make it feel more like a nostalgic retread than the bold, new adventure you might be hoping for.

M.A.S.S. Builder nails the thrill of mech construction, letting you craft jaw-dropping machines that feel like they’ve walked out of a Gundam movie. Unfortunately, once you take them into battle, repetitive missions and shallow combat make it feel more like a filler episode than a main event.

ZOE Begone! is a frantic shooter where a green triangle with attitude blasts through doodles that look like they’ve emerged from an animator’s old sketchbook. The controls sometimes trip over themselves, but the turbulent rhythm of dodging, dashing, and cartoon carnage is solid.

Mamorukun ReCurse! takes a cult-favorite shooter and gives it a thick layer of modern polish, adding everything from twin-stick controls, multiple play modes, to sharper visuals. It’s tough but fair, offering both a chaotic, colorful bullet-hell worth ReVisiting.

HYKE: Northern Light(s) is a mildly charming adventure that occasionally integrates bittersweet storytelling. Its detailed art and decision to show its characters’ downtime are undoubtedly worthwhile. But ultimately, the experience is hampered by shallow combat, somewhat repetitive mission design, and limited customization. I’m always up for an evocative trip through a ruined world, especially with a crew of cute witches. But HYKE’s inventory of minor issues prohibited the game from casting its spell over me.

Ultimately, NBA Bounce is NBA Jam with less flavor. There are some changes to the arcade hoops blueprint, from three-on-three matches to party modes with randomized gimmicks. But the lack of actual players, distinctive athlete models, and any online play confines Bounce to the bench.

Mahelyk and TheClassifiedX have created an unhinged, affectionate romp through a corrupted childhood memory. GlitchSPANKR is a game that scrutinizes our digital habits, finding humor and sentiment in unexpected places. The humor here is as abundant as it is sharp.

Silver Bullet is a thrilling throwback that blends tight, old-school gallery shooting with modern smoothness and melee parries. It’s pure arcade joy that’s simple, challenging, and delightfully repayable.

Maid of Salvation shifts Orange Popcorn’s action formula into a top-down metroidvania, balancing exploration, upgrades, and lively combat. t’s a polished, occupying metroidvania that’s challenging enough to keep you engaged without feeling punishing.

Dream Garden is a serene sandbox that rewards patience and creativity, letting you create tranquil landscapes at your own pace. There can be a bit of clunkiness to the controls, if you need precise positioning. But the peaceful mood and meditative visuals make this soothing digital diversion worth tending to.

Claire a la Mode dishes out a sugary-sweet serving of momentum-fueled platforming, blending tight controls with a dessert-themed world. It’s a pleasing reminder that approachable, replay-ready action can still feel fresh when every character, collectible, and crumb of level design is placed with the watchfulness of a master chef.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is adorable, relaxing, and full of charm, even when its grindier side kicks in. If you’re willing to take things at a slow, cozy pace, this island getaway delivers plenty of heart and looks great on Switch 2.

R-Type Delta: HD Boosted proves that this late-’90s shooter still shines, with its Force orb mechanics feeling just as clever, tense, and satisfying as ever. While the HD treatment isn’t a comprehensive upgrade, it doesn’t need to be. Delta is still tough as nails, stylish as hell, and serves as a reminder of why the game has a legion of fervent fans.

Kingdomino’s PC version keeps the board game’s elegant, low-stress strategy intact while trimming away the setup and scoring busywork. It’s light, quick, and a little limited in depth, but that simplicity makes it ideal for whenever you’ve got 15 minutes to play a match.

Schildmaid MX is a horizontally-scrolling shooter where you power up by diving into bullet patterns, before taking evasive action once your shield burns out. Between its smart shield gimmick, multiple modes, and score-chasing hooks, genre fans will want to jump in head-first.