The racing in Cruis’n Blast truly reflects the game’s arcade roots, focusing on fun over-the-top thrills over any sort of realism. As long as you are okay with that, you’ll likely have as a good of a time with this Switch version as I did. I do wish there was support for online multiplayer as not everyone is going to have willing players in their vicinity, but I guess if a casual player was going to join in on any racing game without Mario in it, it might be this one. It’s colorful, silly, fast, and stylish. Raw Thrills did just about everything it could to make this home version the ultimate way to go Cruis’n, and it certainly does a good job of scratching an itch.

There are probably more broadly entertaining Square Enix RPGs you can buy on mobile, especially if you’re looking to splash out a cool twenty. But if you have cozy memories of huddling under your blanket with a flashlight or sneaking a quick bit of grinding at school, Collection of SaGa FF Legend will honor those feelings of nostalgia. If you don’t have those warm fuzzies but happen to have enjoyed the recent SaGa releases, you’ll also want to check these out. They’re not always fun, but they’re certainly interesting.

You can have a great concept, nice visuals, and plenty of novelty, but it’s all for naught if the game doesn’t feel good to play. Unfortunately, SkateBIRD has a lot of issues in that regard. The physics lack weight, which I can forgive to an extent because they are birds. The ridiculous camera is harder to get past. Anytime you’re near pretty much any object, the camera has a tendency to start going haywire, making it hard to point yourself in the direction you want to go and really easy to fall off of raised surfaces. Your birdie boarder also falls off its board at the drop of a hat, and between that and the camera you can end up in some very frustrating situations. All of the charm in the world isn’t enough to save this one.

The overall visual design looks really rough and low-cost, with the only relief coming from switching over to the classic style where possible. There’s a solid tribute to the original Boulder Dash here, with plenty to keep you busy for hours on end, but you’ll have to ignore a lot to enjoy it.

Razion EX is another high-quality shoot-em-up in the Switch’s library, with a distinct flavor all of its own. While it’s not the most fully-featured of releases, it has all of the important options and modes you would want in a game like this. The different difficulty modes are well-balanced, and whether you’re going for score or survival there is a good time to be had here. Shoot-em-up fans of all sorts will find things to appreciate in this game.

Oddly, the online leaderboards for the Score Attack mode seem to be non-functional at the moment. Hopefully those kick in sooner rather than later, as players will eventually want to migrate over to comparing with each other. Even without that feature functioning, Espgaluda II is another highly-affordable conversion of one of the better arcade bullet hell shooters.

It’s not quite enough to propel the game to the must-have status of some previous WarioWare titles, but there’s still plenty here to like.

This is very similar to the Puzzletronics game that QUByte released a few weeks ago, but puts a car and traffic twist on the idea. You need to swap the tiles around to create a clear path for the car to reach the goal. In the beginning, it’s as simple as putting the right shape of road pieces where they belong. Soon, you’ll be dealing with things like tunnels, traffic lights, and bonus pick-up items. The difficulty ramps up nicely as a result, and those elements help differentiate this a little from Puzzletronics. Like that game, however, this is a relaxing puzzler to unwind with for a couple of hours.

Personally, the engaging combat was more than enough to keep me interested through the game’s fifteen or so hours. The rest of the game around those battles is decent enough glue. Awkward and rough, but charmingly awkward and rough.

Dice Legacy could probably have been a little more adventurous with its take on the genre, but it’s novel enough where it counts and hits the mark on the fundamentals where it needs to.

The aesthetic, music, and voice acting are all brilliant and they come together perfectly. While the initial bits of the story took a little while to get going, the time I spent with Olympia Soiree was more than worth it. It may not be the easiest and most accessible otome game, but it definitely is one of the best ones I’ve played.

The awkward controls, annoying mission design, and a sense of humor that tries way too hard all add up to a game that would be tough to love even without any technical issues. And I’m afraid to say that there are plenty of those to go around. Good concept, but that only takes you so far.

The farming side of things is a little better than the RPG side of things, but there are so many games on the Switch that offer a more satisfying experience, it’s hard to recommend this one. Add in a bevy of bugs, and this lands firmly in the so-so bucket.

If you enjoyed Akiba’s Trip Undead & Undressed a lot and want more, Akiba’s Trip Hellbound & Debriefed is worth checking out at a discount. In its current state, it suffers from feeling too much like the PSP game it is based on, and with the technical issues on Nintendo Switch. While I did enjoy it more on PC, the PSP roots are still there and it just feels like more should’ve been done to bring the original Akiba’s Trip to a modern audience. If you’re new to Akiba’s Trip, I definitely recommend Undead & Undressed instead of this if the premise appeals to you.

There isn’t much here to recommend it specifically over other similar efforts, but it’s not a bad way to spend a quiet evening.

With an excellent behind-the-car racer in Rush Rally 3 and now a superb overhead entry, it’s hard to imagine what more this developer can do in the rally racing category, especially at such an incredibly competitive price point.

Difficulty spikes abound, movement through the world is slow even on horseback, and there’s a lot of cumbersome backtracking that is only made worse by that plodding pace. The voice acting is painfully bad, and that hurts a story that already isn’t the greatest. Bob and weave around all of that, and you may find things to like here. The battle system is excellent, and there is certainly a bit of clunky charm to the game. Promising, but in the end it falls well short of its potential.

Whatever No More Heroes III lacks in fresh ideas, it makes up for with sheer refinement. If this is the way Travis and his oddball action series goes out, I think it’s a fine enough finale.

Fantasian is a very demanding experience, and you really have to be in love with its mechanics to put up with it all. Heaven knows the narrative isn’t going to keep you motivated. Fantasian is an absolute masterpiece in most regards, and yet I find myself struggling to recommend it.

Garden Story has a lot of problems running on Switch, at least in its current form. They range from extremely lengthy load times to outright crashes, and I’m afraid to say that I ultimately wasn’t able to complete the game due to the latter. I’m sure it will be patched eventually, but it’s being sold right now. If those problems can be sorted out, I think this game will appeal to fans of things like Blossom Tales or Ittle Dew, but for now I can only recommend proceeding with the greatest of caution.

Fort Triumph is enjoyable, especially early on. The rules of the battle system are well-designed, the visuals are colorful and attractive, and the difficulty curve is pleasing. You’re better off enjoying it in its Skirmish mode than its Campaign Mode, because while it’s all well-made enough I feel it gets rather repetitive over the course of the story. I don’t think I would recommend it to a fan of Heroes of Might & Magic in spite of its leanings, but those who enjoy turn-based tactics games will find plenty here to fill their bellies.

It kind of feels like the RPG equivalent to one of those Kairosoft sims. You’re going to win no matter what, but it’s charming and playable enough that the inevitability of it all isn’t a big problem. As long as you know what you’re getting into with it, Swords & Souls: Neverseen is a very good time.

If you enjoy games like Dear Esther or Gone Home, you will love What Remains of Edith Finch. If you’ve never played a walking simulator before, What Remains of Edith Finch is the best one to try out as your first experience. With The Unfinished Swan and now What Remains of Edith Finch, I will play anything Giant Sparrow releases going forward without thinking twice. Both of these are fantastic games and What Remains of Edith Finch is a must play for everyone who enjoys great storytelling and beautiful experiences.

The presentation has been juiced up a bit here, but there are also some technical issues that weren’t in the mobile version. It’s not a bad game, mind you. It’s completely average. But I can’t imagine any world where buying this would serve you better than grabbing any of the dozen or so Atelier games that offer a much better experience.

The characters make the game, and while the pacing is a bit up and down through the course of the story, the ending more than makes up for any bumps along the way. I’m less sold on the side-stories and exploratory bits, but the overall experience is one worth checking out.

If you have no interest in Space Invaders, the stiff price and relative lack of extras make this a hard sell. If you already own Space Invaders Forever, I would be incredibly hard-pressed to recommend spending sixty dollars to get the rest of the games in this set. That means Space Invaders Invincible Collection is for you if and only if you really like the series and haven’t already grabbed Forever. But if you do meet those qualifications, this is a genuinely dandy pick-up. I truly wish more had been done with giving this storied series the added historical context it deserves, but the treatment of the games themselves is top-class.

Overall, A Monster’s Expedition is magnificent. The structure perfectly suits itself to portable play with its interconnected set of islands that you can slowly chip at while on a break or while grabbing a coffee. This release gets everything right and I hope it does well enough to warrant a physical release. If you’ve wanted a relaxing and well-designed puzzle game on Switch, look no further than A Monster’s Expedition which is one of the best games I’ve played this year on the system.

When I first discovered Wingspan, I wasn’t sure it would click with me but wanted to check it out for its art. Having now played it over the last two weeks almost daily, it is a superlative experience on iPad and a very good one on iPhone. The asking price being half of what it costs on console also helps given how good this feels on a touchscreen. The lack of cross platform progression and iCloud save sync are the biggest downsides here. Barring those issues, Wingspan looks gorgeous and it is one of the most relaxing games you can play right now on iOS.

While the average player may be better off waiting until the arrival of the Spelunky games on Switch, Spelunker HD Deluxe has charms of its own. The multiplayer modes alone add a lot of value to the game provided you can find people to play with, and pushing up the leaderboards in single-player is quite satisfying as well. Its adherence to the fussy rules of a rather early computer game will surely turn some away, but approach it on its own terms and you’ll find a challenging adventure that rewards you for your patience and investment in its mechanics.

In its current state, it feels a bit lacking for its asking price on Nintendo Switch considering you don’t really get more than what the Apple Arcade version offers. If you don’t have Apple Arcade and want a puzzler you can keep coming back to (with hopefully future content updates), Doomsday Vault will serve you well.

There are two different characters with very different playstyles, and each has a handful of weapons that you’ll need to make clever use of. The twin-stick style shooting gives the game its own flavor to an extent, though it is a bit clumsy with the melee-focused character. All in all, it’s a tough game that will speak well to a certain subset of players who are willing to give it the necessary time.

As a game, Last Stop could’ve used a bit more polish in controls and clarity. Despite that, I enjoyed my time with it and can’t wait to see what Variable State does next.

Right now, My Time at Portia on PC is still the best version overall because of the visual and performance boost, but the mobile version is a close second thanks to its new features and up to date content.

Personally, I think this is the game where the series really started to show its ambitions and break away from most of the pack. It’s excellent, and fans of the series would do well to check out this treasure.

Even with its faults, it’s still a game that is worth checking out. The moment-to-moment action is a blast, and it’s hard not to appreciate its enthusiasm.

Does Ayo the Clown reinvent the platforming wheel? No, but it doesn’t have to. It’s a little easy, a little short, but it’s creative and a solid example of the 2D platforming genre.

Play it on your TV and you’ll enjoy this fish fry well enough, but those who primarily play in handheld will want to proceed with caution.

I wouldn’t quite put it over Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends Definitive Edition as far as Switch Warriors games go, but it’s not far from that mark at all. If you enjoyed the Hyrule Warriors games, give this one a go. Link isn’t here, but you’ll still have fun.

Final Fantasy II Pixel Remaster is a lovely remake of a game that people tend to either love or hate. Its strongest element is arguably its story, and that’s why I feel it’s hurt so much by cutting the excellent extra content added in the Game Boy Advance version. With that in mind, I think it’s best to stick with the old version of the game if you already own it and it still works. This new version is more modern in its presentation and UI, and ultimately it will be the one that survives. It’s also the only one you can buy now, so if you want to play Final Fantasy II it’s this or nothing. I enjoy the game, but you will need to be willing to put up with its eccentricities if you seek to do the same.

If this is your first experience with the game, I think you’ll find the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster version to be quite a worthy purchase. It feels its age in terms of story and themes, but it remains a solid RPG with some great beats. The results of turning in that particular item to Bahamut still gets me pumped to this day, and the initial sequence leading up to the bridge feels like the perfect way to kick off an adventure. There are better games in the series, to be sure, but the relative simplicity of this installment makes it well-suited for players who can’t devote their full attention to a more complex RPG. It’s a strong update to the original game, and I suspect we’ll be enjoying it for many years to come.

There are a lot of clever ideas in this game, but the game exhausts most of its tricks well before it ends. I think it’s still worth playing, provided you enjoy RPGs to begin with. It’s just unfortunate that a game that blasts out of the gates with such vigor ends up so flat in its closing hours. Add in some technical issues specific to this version, and you have a real hit-or-miss affair.

Even with its flaws, Within the Blade is a solid 2D stealth game that pays homage to classic ninja games while also doing a bit more towards the actual concept than most of those past hits ever attempted to. The pixel art looks slick, the mechanics are enjoyable to learn, and the overall game is a really good time. While the stages can get a little dull in their layouts and the story doesn’t really go anywhere interesting, the moment-to-moment action makes this one well-worth picking up for ninja fans looking for their next shadow dancing partner.

An easy recommendation for those who love Cotton and a solid recommendation to shoot-em-up fans in general, Cotton Reboot is a great return for a character we’ll hopefully be seeing more of soon.

Clap Hanz Golf in its current state will feel a bit grindy after you’ve played for a good amount of time and just want to unlock everything that’s left. Despite that, it is definitely worth your time and I hope it continues to get regular updates in the future with maybe even a real-time multiplayer mode.

At the end of it all, it just feels like there isn’t enough here to enjoy. Throw in some slightly clunky controls and it’s clear there are better ways to scratch your jigsaw itch on the platform.

The enemy variety just doesn’t create a lot of interesting scenarios, and all the quirky arena layouts don’t do a lot towards that end either. The more I played, the less I wanted to. Still, there is some fun to be had here if you explore all of the modes and can forgive how similar every session feels.

World’s End Club is an odd thing. It feels like it’s trying to tell a more family-friendly version of the now-common Death Game tale, but in doing so a lot of the tension and fascinating character work is tossed to the side. I like a good twist in a game, but most of the ones in this game just feel like they came out of nowhere. The platforming bits are somewhere between atrocious and irritating. It’s not without its merits, but if you aren’t completely opposed to playing the game on Apple Arcade that is probably the wisest course of action.

Those less experienced with the genre may not enjoy it as much, as the difficulty and complexity ramps up considerably as you go. I can’t say I found myself loving the game at any point, but its raw enthusiasm sure made me want to. Still, love isn’t everything. I liked Indigo 7, and perhaps that’s enough.

It’s a solid action game, and one that will especially appeal to those who appreciate stylish combat.

Unavowed is one of those rare adventure games that I feel can appeal even to those who are not predisposed to play the genre. Its compelling story, well-developed cast of characters, strong production values, and carefully-designed gameplay mechanics create one of the better adventure game packages I’ve seen this side of Thimbleweed Park. As long as you’re okay with some grisly content (you’re investigating demonic killers, not a theft at the bubblegum factory after all), you should give this game a look. It’s really something special.

Destroy All Humans! has an interesting premise that helped it stand out back when it first released in spite of not exactly being a top-shelf game. Oddly enough, that premise is still quite unique more than fifteen years later. But the things that were rough then feel even rougher now, and I’m just not sure it’s going to impress anyone coming to it for the first time. When the mayhem hits a high and you’re blasting away humans, their structures, and their defenses with your otherworldly weapons, it’s still a lot of fun. What happens between those bits isn’t as interesting, unfortunately. In fact, it can sometimes be outright dull. Add in some technical issues with this port and you have a rather lukewarm invasion all-around.

The pacing is all over the map, and even at its best it feels more inspired than inspiring, if you know what I mean. In spite of the fact that these are remastered versions, they come across very much as creations of their times and places. You may find something to latch onto here, but it’s just as likely that you’ll be turned off.

As orthodox as it is in terms of gameplay, it does everything it’s doing so well that I can’t imagine any fan of the genre coming away disappointed. Add in the stellar visuals and excellent music, and you have a well-balanced experience that is more than worth your time and money.

Baba Is You is absolutely essential on iOS. The game itself was already amazing and I’m glad the iOS conversion is nearly perfect. While my two problems with it will not be an issue for everyone, I’m hoping future updates bring iCloud save sync and the ability to create a suspend save in the middle of a level. I already thought Baba Is You was sold for too little at its Nintendo Switch and PC asking price so having it at half of that on mobile feels like even bigger of a steal. It is pretty crazy to me that two of my favourite puzzle games of all time, Baba Is You and The Witness are finally now also playable on my phone (and iPad). Having Baba Is You on Nintendo Switch ready for me to boot up as a break between other games was always great but having it ready to instantly load up anytime on my phone is even better.

In many ways, this game is as generic as its protagonist. But much like how a bag of no-name potato chips still gives you your salty hit, this game will scratch the platforming itch for an evening or two. The difficulty ramps up relatively quickly though, so if you’re looking for something chill this probably isn’t it. Unless you feel chill through tension, in which case you won’t go wrong here.

It does not pull it off as effectively as the original PC version for what I think are obvious reasons, but it works well enough. This is a decent way to play Doki Doki Literature Club if it’s your preferred option, and you definitely should play it. As long as you’re okay with some heavy, mature content, anyway. This is more of a horror story than anything else despite its candy-colored appearance. But it is an incredible one, and one that could really only be done in the medium of video games.

In spite of its insistence otherwise, Cube Blast is more about getting a good shuffle and/or abusing power-ups than any actual strategy. The production values are nice enough and there’s a basic appeal to this sort of thing, but I simply can’t see any reason to recommend throwing money down on this over playing the free mobile version.

There are no clever abilities to unlock here. No memorable boss battles. No unusual set pieces or challenges. It’s the Metroidvania equivalent of a bowl of plain corn flakes. That doesn’t make it a bad game and I’ve thrown more money at worse things, but it’s just so very bland.

Mario Golf: Super Rush may eventually be a great game, but for now it has to settle for being a good one. The new modes help liven up the gameplay in a way that some players are sure to enjoy, and the Golf Adventure gives you something to do beyond the usual stuff. I can take or leave the new swing meter, but I can easily imagine opinions being all over the board on that point. Ultimately, however, I can’t ignore the relative lack of courses and online options available in this launch version of the game. You’ll have a good time going on tour here, but you could have an even better time by picking up the Nintendo 3DS game.

In its current state, Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat is a great addition to Apple Arcade. Hopefully it gets more songs and even modes through big updates like many of the games on the service have been getting in recent months. If you’ve never played a game in the series before, Taiko no Tatsujin Pop Tap Beat is a super polished entry that is light on content right now but is still a joy to play and a great rhythm game to just pickup and play.

While you’ll have to give up on some of the visual razzle-dazzle and brisker loading times of the other versions, this is a fine way to play Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. It’s easily the best handheld Tony Hawk game yet, and that’s worth quite a lot. And while those with other options for playing on their TVs would do well to exercise them, if this is your only means of playing this superb reboot, I don’t think you’ll be upset with it in the least. Vicarious Visions has done an excellent job with the development of this game, and an equally impressive job porting the game to the Switch.

Sloppy collision detection and tepid attacks mean that you’re going to be taking a lot of unexpected hits. There’s a bit of wiggle room thanks to your character having a life meter, but if you run out you’ll be punted all the way back to the start of the often lengthy stage. I’ve played far worse, but I can’t find much enthusiasm for Together, especially so if you mean to play it solo.

First-person platforming is a tough thing to get right on a basic level, and the more that is asked of the player the harder it is to make it all work. Even in its beginning stages, Cyber Hook leans heavily on a swinging mechanic that doesn’t always work as you might expect. It’s not a big deal when you can easily try again, but that safety net disappears soon enough. I’m not opposed to games asking the player to perform ultra-challenging feats of parkour. In fact, I rather like it. But if that’s the ask, the game really needs to get its fundamentals right. That’s where Cyber Hook misses the mark. I think players who are very, very patient will find something to like here, but it strikes me as frustrating for all the wrong reasons.

The more I played Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, the more I questioned who it’s supposed to be for. It leaves too much of the of-its-time original game intact to be a good choice for new players. It changes too many things that probably should have been left alone to work as a hit of nostalgia. With SEGA’s own fantastic SEGA AGES release of Miracle World available on the Switch for a fraction of the price, this game should have been free to take bigger chances on modernizing the gameplay as much as it updates the presentation. In the end, it’s a weird mid-point that may appeal to some (but not all) hungry Alex Kidd fans and very few others.

Looking at it as a whole, Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny makes a couple of very strong steps forward but sacrifices much in the process. It feels like it’s building a foundation for the future, but like most games of that sort it also comes off as a bit weaker than would be preferred. In some ways, it’s a game I’d like to recommend to Disgaea newcomers. It’s certainly more accessible than some previous entries. On the other hand, it runs horribly on the Switch, the story is entirely forgettable, and I think you’ll find a considerably better value overall in picking up Disgaea 1 Complete or Disgaea 5 Complete. As good as it is to see a new game in the series, Disgaea 6 feels a bit undercooked.

People can and do split hairs about which Cave shoot-em-ups rank where, but I think there are two things that are generally agreed upon. First, even the worst of the classic line-up is excellent by the standards of the genre. It’s hard to go wrong with any of them, and Mushihimesama certainly won’t let you down in that regard. Second, Mushihimesama is one of the most beginner-friendly titles among a roster that often leans hard into the veteran player’s needs. It’s not surprising this latest initiative would lead with this particular game. It can be seen as a suitable gateway into the rest of this cherished developer’s works, and this Switch version does it every bit of justice it deserves.

It seems mostly tuned for players who might be interested in a bright, colorful shooter but don’t have the patience to deal with the punishment some of the classics dish out. Either way, its low price makes it easy to bite on. I found Rangerdog to be an easy game to like, and even if it’s not as challenging or risque as Parodius can be, it certainly scratched a similar itch.

The controls on both games are fine, and while they aren’t lookers, they don’t come off as junk either. If your pocket money is coming up a bit short but you want a quick hit of shooting action, I don’t think you’ll feel bad about grabbing this combo pack.

Overall, Umurangi Generation on Nintendo Switch is one of the biggest surprises in recent years for me. I definitely regret not playing it sooner on PC. If you enjoy sandbox style games with lots of replayability, photo modes, and photography, this is the game for you. It is best played on PC thanks to the technical issues but I’d be lying if I said this isn’t one of my favorite games of 2021 on Nintendo Switch. Hopefully it does well enough to get a physical release.

It’s over-the-top, flashy, colorful, and fun as heck. It’s easily one of the best fighters on the Nintendo Switch now, and thanks to its crossplay feature and general popularity in the fighting community, it offers a lively online experience on top of a solid local foundation. Go go, Power Rangers.

It’s a relatively lengthy game for its genre and the back half will test your patience at times, but as a whole Astalon is a terrific game that may surprise you in some interesting ways. Some issues with backtracking keep it from being a total slamdunk, but if you’re feeling nostalgic for that old style of exploratory action game that can be a little opaque in a good way, you’re likely going to have a very good time with Astalon: Tears of the Earth.

Overboard!, like some of the best adventure games, makes a complicated world out of what initially seems to be a very compact space. A puzzle box that gives back as much as you’re willing to put in. That it’s all handled with inkle’s usual flourish only makes it all the better. Do you think you have what it takes to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes and get away with murder? Pick this game up and give it your best shot.

In spite of the rough edges, there’s a lot to enjoy here for your eight bucks provided you didn’t get your fill with the Demon’s Rise games already.

It can be really annoying on the more challenging difficulty levels to have the framerate and resolution flopping all over the place. I’m still going to give this a thumbs-up, but if you are sensitive to framerate and/or resolution inconsistency, you should probably stick with the original versions.

Personally, I found the puzzles more engaging than the story, but your mileage may vary. At the very least, I can say that I haven’t played a game exactly like this before. That could be a good or bad thing; here it’s the former.

Mighty Goose may only keep your attention for an evening or two, but it’s a honking good time.

The combat is simple, using controls similar to a twin-stick shooter, but that simplicity can get repetitive over the course of the game. If you’re patient, there’s something here to enjoy. How often do we get noir detective RPGs on the Switch, after all? But you’re going to have to be prepared to put up with a lot of rough edges.

It just didn’t work for me. If you can see things the way the game presents, and you don’t mind some truly irritating puzzle design in places, you may take to LOVE better than I did.

The price is a bit on the stiff side given the game is as brief as it was in the 16-bit era, but taken as a whole this is as it ever was: fun, feel-good, and something you’ll want to come back to now and then in the future.

The reality TV-style presentation remains a highlight, but the actual gameplay bits get repetitive. A shame, as this Switch port is excellent from a technical standpoint.

If you skipped prior versions of Divinity: Original Sin 2 on other platforms and enjoy meaty RPGs, you definitely need to get Divinity: Original Sin 2 as soon as possible. Ever since I played the first Divinity: Original Sin on console, every Larian Studios release has continued to impress and Elverils did a superlative job here with Divinity: Original Sin 2 on iPad.

This is a fun adventure with enough meat on its bones to easily justify its asking price. It’s still not perfect, but I’m glad the developer was able to finally get Mr Tako in his best threads, so to speak.

Overall, this is a really enjoyable shooter. It feels good to play, and that’s really what counts in the end. It could be a little harder, and I do hope the technical issues I had while playing it were either unfortunate coincidences or will be fixed in an update. But I certainly found the game worth my time while it lasted, and it scratches the Defender itch well enough that I suspect I will be returning to it now and then in the future.

This release puts a thematically-appropriate wrapper around the puzzles, presenting your Knight as a ninja making its stealthy escape through the pieces “guarding" the path. That theme helps a little bit, but at the end of it all you’re still just flogging away at another set of chess puzzles. Even with how similar it is to previous games, there’s still some enjoyment to be had here. I’m not sure how many more of these the world needs, though.

An impressive remake of a fairly old game, and one that should be experienced by fans of mystery stories and Japanese adventure games.

Those who delight in making Mii doppelgangers and watching them get into hilarious situations will have a blast with Miitopia, but if that doesn’t sound like something you’re interested in doing, you’re probably better off steering clear.

Famicom Detective Club: The Missing Heir is impressive if only for the fact that a new lick of paint and a few tweaks here and there leave it feeling so close to a modern game in so many ways. It will at times betray that illusion with some frustrating progress-blockers, but for the most part this is a great choice for fans of adventure games or even just a good mystery story. Mages has done a fantastic job of updating the game’s presentation, too. This isn’t the kind of game we’re used to seeing from Nintendo, particularly when it’s reaching into its classic library, but I’m glad it’s finally available to a wider audience.

There are moments of incredible beauty in both Subnautica games, and I’m happy that they can now be experienced on a handheld screen. If you have to choose between the two games, I’d recommend the first game over the second. That said, I’m sure playing that original will eventually lead you to the follow-up anyway.

It’s fast, furious, and full of neat tricks to learn to consistently bring your play to a higher level. It sure doesn’t hurt that it’s an incredibly competent port with just about every option you would want. Those who love shoot-em-ups shouldn’t miss it.

Perhaps not the best value for your money in terms of pure length, but there’s something interesting here for those willing to find it.

There’s just enough flexibility in Fly Together! that various strategies can work, and whipping your team together to find a winning one for each new challenge is great fun.

While the first game felt a bit short, this new one has almost two or three times as much to offer. The mechanics can get a little repetitive after a while, but seeing all of these familiar characters in a slightly more natural setting than usual is a solid hook that pulls the game through its slower moments. A great sequel for fans of the first, and a compelling spin on the Pokemon formula for those who missed the original.

While there are some moments that frustrate or drag a little during its runtime, Smelter is quite impressive on the whole. It’s not difficult to spot its inspirations, but it does its own thing well enough that it avoids the pitfall of feeling like a lesser copy. Fans of 16-bit action games will definitely want to give it a look.

I’ve been playing the game quite a bit, exploring all of the various options and features, and I get the impression I’m not anywhere near finding everything the game has to offer. Shoot-em-up fans without other platform options may still find the tech problems worth dealing with, but it’s too bad Switch owners are left with this kind of decision yet again.

One late-game puzzle can be a bit tricky due to relying on knowledge of a common Japanese word game called Shiritori, but otherwise Mom Hid My Game! 2 is a bit of light, silly fun. As usual for games from hap Inc., the ending is sweet in a sentimental sort of way. You probably won’t replay it often if at all, but that first go is definitely a nice slice of madcap joy.

It feels a bit thin for the price, especially when you can enjoy the same experience on your mobile device for almost a third of the cost. Still, if you enjoy oddball games or just need a pick-me-up, you should consider playing Say No! More on one platform or another.

SaGa Frontier Remastered, even with all of its improvements, isn’t here for the approval of the masses. It wants to make a couple of very good friends, even if it ticks off the rest of the room in doing so. You might be one of those friends. The odds aren’t in your favor, but when has SaGa ever cared about the safe bet?