The Switch has a lot of options available for platforming fans at the five-dollar price point, ranging from excellent to terrible. Go! Go! PogoGirl comes in on the positive end of that spectrum thanks to its enjoyable gameplay and strong level layouts. It doesn’t redefine the genre or anything, but it’s also unusual and well-executed enough that even weary platforming fans shouldn’t get bored with it.

Azur Lane has enough interesting ideas of its own to help it stand out a little from the crowd, and there’s a considerable amount of content here to enjoy right from the get-go. It’s perhaps a little overly-complicated for its own good, and anyone who isn’t already somewhat familiar with games like these is probably going to be scared away by its busy interface and tutorial avalanche. At the same time, it’s not hard to see why this game was a pretty big hit in other regions. The art is good, the gameplay is reasonably fun, and there’s a lot to chew on for those who get engaged with it.

I found the puzzles to be very satisfying to solve in Unforeseen Incidents. There are also a few minigames and action bits now and then to help keep you on your toes, some more welcome than others. The story digs around a bit too much in the trope bucket, but both the characters and the various sets are interesting enough to carry your attention. The topic matter hits a little differently today than it did when the game first released, which may be either a plus or a negative for you. The port to the Switch has been pulled off well, and it plays rather intuitively with a controller. If you’re looking for a good point-and-clicker, this is one game you should see coming.

Star Trucker surprised me with its blend of truck simulation and its setting in a way I didn’t think was possible. This feels like a game catering to what I enjoy a lot in automobile simulation and exploration games. While it might not be for everyone, I’ve enjoyed playing Star Trucker quite a bit ever since I got review code on Steam Deck. I hope the developers optimize it a bit more for Valve’s handheld though.

I Am Level is one puzzle platformer that I had to force myself to put down. The beauty is in its visual simplicity and complexity. You never feel frustrated while playing, unlike those straight-up puzzle games.

As a Star Wars fan it’s no question for me that Tiny Death Star is worth playing despite the added heartache. However, I fully understand that for others, it may be closer to a toss-up as to whether it’s worth the time investment.

SoulSpark is a very entertaining game, so download it, try it, and if you are enjoying it, which I believe you will, buy some gems so you can get the most out of it.

With Haunted Hollow, Firaxis have created a perfect Frankenstein, having transplanted a fun, strategic, digital board game into the body of a casual, cutesy freemium app. It is a not a perfect game and the lack of a really strong solo experience is a serious oversight.

Ultimately the card game at the heart of Rootwork doesn't quite uphold its thematic aspirations.

Overall, this game is definitely fun and it's always satisfying to watch your black oil slurp its way into the mouth of a strange, big-eyed, oil-craving cartoon land-creature. Hopefully they deliver on the additional levels, but any game that mixes elements from Enigmo, World of Goo and Cat Physics is sure to do well.

Some of the voice acting could be better and a few of the puzzles have that usual adventure game problem of requiring some incredible leaps of logic, but generally speaking Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments does a wonderful job of making you feel like you are living the life of the gentleman detective himself. The cases are interesting to solve, and piecing things together really does make you feel clever. The actual overall narrative is somewhat lacking, but the moment-to-moment plot is compelling enough. The port to the Switch is solid, but you should as usual expect some lengthy loading times here and there. Fans of Sherlock Holmes or adventure games in general will likely enjoy what they get here.

DATE A LIVE: Ren Dystopia is an easy recommendation for fans of DATE A LIVE: Rio Reincarnation with its lovely art, music, and memorable characters. I don’t recommend playing it before Rio Reincarnation though.

AC/DC Pinball Rocks HD is a fun table that definitely feels like Gameprom pinball. I won't call it my favorite of their offerings, but it's certainly worth its space on the iOS devices of any pinball fan out there.

As it stands, trying it out for free and judging for yourself if the pacing and repetition is enough for you to stomach would be a great idea. In the meantime, I see lots of potential for Lakewood Plaza somewhere down the line.

If you could use a bit of cute, retro fun and have some spare change lying around, give Hurdle Turtle a download.

If you're looking for another stealth game, Robbery Bob 2: Double Trouble deserves a second look. It may not be in the running for most the memorable franchise in town, but it gets the job done for those of you who desire puzzle-oriented gameplay over non-stop action.

If you’re looking for a straightforward, one-handed, one-time-payment puzzle game, Zero Escape may very well be it. The retro sounds and graphics delighted the kid (and teenager) in me. The difficulty curve was never insurmountable, and you’re never asked to spend more actual cash to get hints. The hourly mission is a great way to keep those stuck on a level motivated to keep revisiting it.

With a ton of gameplay, a distinct visual style, and a price tag of zero dollars, Deadly Bullet is an easy recommendation. It's a great way to spend an afternoon, and you'll get lost in the endless quest to unlock more content and top your high score.

Whether or not you like Rough Justice ’84 is going to depend heavily on how invested you get in its well-written story and virtual board game-style mechanics. It’s probably twice as long as it should be, and that means that gameplay elements that would normally be fine start to feel more than a little repetitive by the close of the tale. Nevertheless, I found the game to be interesting and novel enough that I would probably recommend it to anyone who finds the idea of it appealing. It was quite absorbing in many ways, even if it sometimes felt like it was trying my patience.

Weird pricing issues aside, Truck Trials 2 is still an undeniably fun game.

Think of MecaPix as Tetris with guns, but also in reverse.

I didn't initially expect much from Sugar Roll but came away pleasantly surprised. It has a decent amount of charm, a soothing soundtrack, and some superb level design -- especially later in the game. If you can deal with some particularly difficult stages and resist the urge to buy power-ups via the IAP system, you'll get along just fine.

This is a game worthy of recommendation both for diehard TD fans and those hoping for a rejuvenating shot in the arm for a tired genre.

OCO isn’t going to give Animal Crossing a run for its temper-quelling money or replace that book of slightly damp sudoku puzzles by the john, but leaving it on your phone’s multitasking list for a quick poke while waiting for the kettle to boil isn’t such a stretch. Each level is presented as a bite-sized chunk that’s easy to swallow, and the only thing that might get in the way of the VCR-style Play button moving you to the next stage is a 30-second ad for a clicker game that is a much bigger waste of time than any of OCO’s gloriously addictive and intelligent puzzles.

A Block and a Hard Place wrapped up much of the series, and while it provided plenty of conflict, it did remind me once more that although we see plenty of "that person will remember this" that indicate that your choices have consequences, we didn't see as many character clashes as I would want to.

Regardless, playing until you hit that "Now what?" point is pretty fun, particularly without the feeling of required IAP, which still makes Disco Zoo pretty easy to recommend checking out.

An amazingly creative game, and thanks to the multiple difficulty levels should be approachable enough for kids and challenging enough for adults.

Tokyo Xanadu eX+ is a solid port of a fairly good, if not spectacular, game. Falcom knows how to write an interesting cast of characters and it certainly knows its way around action-RPG combat, and both of those elements are present here. Tokyo is an enjoyable setting even if it’s getting to be a rather familiar one, and while this isn’t the most visually impressive game around it looks good on the Switch’s screen. Some pacing issues drag the experience down somewhat, as it piles on the quantity without ensuring the structure can properly support it. As long as that isn’t an issue for you, this is a pleasing action-RPG to add to your Switch collection.

This is still the flagship fighter of the system, and a must-own if you have any interest in SNK’s ill-fated handheld. It’s been given the same high-quality Code Mystics treatment here as previous releases in this line, ensuring you’ll have the best possible experience with this game.

Revita isn’t doing a whole lot that we haven’t seen bits of in other games before, if not necessarily in this exact combination. But it’s doing all of it rather well, with reliable controls, challenging and fun boss encounters, enough randomness to add spice but not so much to make it all a crapshoot, and interesting choices to make with your character’s growth during each run. Those looking for their next roguelite action game to conquer will want to give this one some consideration.

A neat variant on jumping games, which I'm throughly enjoying despite the jumping genre being so saturated.

Order Up is another entertaining romp around the Minecraft universe, and overall it delivers plenty of interesting choices as well as some big set pieces that are handled better than previous set pieces in the series.

Halcyon is one of those games that's something of a Zen experience to play, but is also downright maddening, both due to the difficulty in the latter levels as well as the "Ok, just one more time!" spell it casts upon you.

Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp is one of those remakes that maybe does too much in some ways while doing too little in others, but the quality of the original games shines through brightly. I have some mild issues with the visuals and technical performance, but what is great about these games, the tactical gameplay, can’t really be hindered by that kind of thing.

Tit for tat, Spirit Stones isn't quite the same level of quality, but it's certainly good enough and different enough to merit trying out.

Captures something fun that has been left fallow elsewhere, one that turns a small spark of inspiration into a solid, well-rounded new form.

While Demon's Rise is probably lacking the balance, challenge, and polish to satisfy some players, I enjoyed the game quite a bit. That's saying something, given the presence of bugs that ruined at least a few good runs.

Enjoy this gift horse thoroughly.

I didn't expect much from Ring Run Circus, but came away satisfied. It has a perfect mix of relaxation and challenge that many games can't pull off, even if the overall experience is pretty short. The fact that there are no IAPs to speak of as well is the icing on the top of his uniquely baked cake.

Proun+ is an interesting game for many reasons, and racing fans, as well as anyone who likes tube-racers, tube-runners, whatever you want to call them, ought to give it a a shot.

Its various parts may not be terribly original, but the whole package together is a surprisingly great experience--especially for being free. I’d say that’s worth painting the town red over.

Schemata is a fun little puzzle game that also serves as a very basic primer for something players may or may not already know about. Ultimately, that's all just window dressing for an enjoyable, tense puzzler that requires quick reflexes and even quicker thinking. But hey, at least if someone catches you playing it, you can say you're studying circuit designs or something.

Regardless, Daytona Rush is pretty enjoyable and deserves at least a download.

Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a spiffy remake of a game that is very evocative of its time and place. As long as you keep that context in mind, you’ll likely have a really good time with it. The story has its ups and downs but the likeable protagonist and fantastic ending make it worth the weaker bits. This Switch port is quite good, and that makes it easier to enjoy the game portably, as was originally intended. A knock-down-the-door must-have this is not, but those who want to dig deeper into the world of Final Fantasy VII will find no better alternative.

Though it's seriously cribbing from Pokemon, Band of Monsters feels pretty fresh by Kemco's standards.

The main challenge with Ichi isn't so much solving a puzzle - with the tricks at your disposal, solving puzzles becomes largely trivial. The real difficulty comes in solving the puzzles in as few taps as possible.

Overall, there's some good and some bad, but--as I said--it's still Worms.

This feels like a game primed for time attacking, but there are no systems in place to support that kind of long-term mastery. At the very minimum, though, you'll get a couple of hours of fun out of it, and if you get into its meta-goals, you might find quite a bit more.

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.

Armello ain't perfect, but it's worth your time to experiment and see if you like it, and then you can spend as much or as little as you want to keep enjoying it.

There is so much here in terms of unlockable weapons and upgrades. There’re also the great production values and a story that’s actually worth exploring. However, it’s all tempered significantly by the game’s freemium system.

If you enjoyed games like 10000000 or Puzzle Quest, give this one a look

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.

There are a bunch of castle vs castle strategy games on the App Store, but few can come close to rivaling the look and feel of Battle of Puppets.

Don’t come into Valfaris: Mecha Therion expecting a similar kind of game as the first, but you can look forward to a similar vibe. It’s a heavy metal shoot ’em up with a style all its own, and it thankfully avoids many of the traps that so many games that try something different in this genre end up falling into. You’ll get better performance on other platforms, and in this genre that’s important, but this Switch conversion will absolutely do the job should it be your console of choice.

In this writer’s personal opinion, there are two Katamari Damacy games worth keeping around. We now have both of them on the Nintendo Switch, and I’m quite happy with that. We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie isn’t a perfect experience, but it’s a more than acceptable way to experience a sequel that could have phoned it in but chose to do more. And yes, the soundtrack once again rules. A good version of a great game, and still just as fine a wine as it was back in 2005.

If you enjoy platformers, aren’t turned off by an extremely high difficulty level, and think you’re going to get something out of going for all the secrets and playing all the modes? Yes, absolutely. It’s a Sunsoft game from Sunsoft’s prime, and that alone is a recommendation. Be warned, however, that the game has serious teeth that even modern conveniences can’t completely mitigate.

If you like strategic puzzle games that require tight planning and careful use of a limited set of options, you’ll get a lot of out of Howl. It squanders its decent story set-up, but if you come for the gameplay you won’t likely be disappointed. The intriguing presentation pulls you in, tickling your imagination while you learn the ropes and get to the real meat of the game.

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.

Rune Raiders is simple, but it isn't mindless. It packs several layers of strategy into a casual frame. More than that, it's rather charming, with characters and quips to make you smile.

While there's a lot that's odd about Vulture Island, I really like the game here. The puzzles are fetch quest type stuff, but their uses are just devious enough that they will make you feel stupid for not figuring it out sooner. And the whole game's clunkiness just kind of gives the game a particular character to it.

On the surface it seems like a game with modest goals, but I think what it does is actually a lot harder than it looks. And, I’m happy to say, it pulls it off beautifully.

Beyond the occasional muddled input, Tiny Invaders is an excellent debut from the folks at Hogrocket. Its puzzles are infused with such urgency that you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, mashing reset to take one more shot at beating the timer.

The whole thing will get a lot more addicting when I can rank on Game Center with the first update, but even as it stands now, Space Junk is a highly enjoyable space shooter well worth a look.

I think those who have patience and are okay with off-beat games will get an awful lot out of Romancing SaGa 3, and I’m absolutely thrilled that it’s out and accessible for a far wider audience at long last.

Overall, End of the Universe feels good to play. While neither music nor sound effects alone stand out, the combined effect, especially with the art, is excellent. The controls are smooth and work well, and the basic gameplay of avoiding obstacles, bullets, and catching baddies with a hail of lasers, missiles, or a black hole (a black hole!) is incredibly satisfying. While it’s certainly not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, fans of Immortal Rogue will not be disappointed. More broadly, anyone interested in pixel art, rogue-likes, pixel art in rogue-likes, or fast-paced games with mild tones of existential dread should give it a shot. It’s worth it.

The torture is part of the fun, and afterward you can say, with just enough regret and maybe a little heartburn, that what you just did was very hard, you could have done something much more pleasant, but it was totally worth it in the end.

The controls are really easy to use, although it's not easy to do precise softer shots (especially with the multi-ball) as the controls seem optimized for harder more direct shots.

It's possible to grind the fun right out of this game, but if you stick to playing modes you enjoy and challenge yourself with three stars when you want to, there's no reason this skeleton-crushing simulator should lose its charm.

Pie in the Sky: A Pizza Odyssey may not be for everyone, but those of you who enjoy a good relaxation-based affair will get a good amount of time in with it.

If you're looking for a nice take on the Asteroids formula, don't hesitate to give Red Nova a look.

I can see a few key aspects where Phoenix 2 could really improve in order to be a better experience, or at least are shortcomings that are tough to adjust. But regardless, the core concept behind Phoenix 2 is great, and it does a great job at being a game worthy of playing daily.

An excellent port showcasing a psychedelic flair in its retro-visuals that seems to be quite prevalent in iOS arcade titles (and for good reason). Add in the quick pace, large number of levels and wide variety in difficulties, and you've got a great game worth checking out.

Beyond Oasis is a flawed gem in the Genesis line-up. Unfortunately, some emulation issues and the nature of virtual controls magnify a few of its flaws, and it will almost certainly make you angry at times as a result. Nevertheless, the game can still be enjoyed in its current form, and on balance is probably one of the best action-RPGs currently available to mobile gamers. I'm very happy SEGA selected it for the SEGA Forever line-up. If you've never tried Beyond Oasis before, you'll definitely want to give it a chance. Even more than two decades later, the adventure of Prince Ali (amorous he) remains quite a bit of fun and rather unique to boot.

Sunsoft fans and those who like digging into the margins of console libraries will get a real kick out of Sunsoft is Back! Retro Game Selection‘s offerings. Each game has been handled with care, and it’s great to see some games that missed their shot at localization back in the day finally get a chance. Hopefully this is just the first of a series of such collections, but even if this is all we get, it’s nice to see another side of this once-mighty publisher’s library of classics.

n a vacuum, Indiana Jones: The Pinball Adventure is a slam-dunk pick-up. It’s a wonderful, beloved table that has never had a home version before. It has all of the licensed bits intact, and that is harder to do with this property than most. It plays well, and has lots of options and features that will keep you coming back. It’s a good value, particularly compared to dropping coins in the real thing. But this isn’t a vacuum. You can get equally good tables like Medieval Madness for a fraction of the price, and that is something you’re going to have to consider before buying this. For both pinball and Indiana Jones die-hards, it’s an easy enough choice. Others will have to weigh their options carefully and hope they do not choose… poorly.

If you're spent on this genre, it's probably safe to give this one a pass, but if you've got a strong affection for the Game Boy, a deep appreciation for loose references to a certain vintage Konami franchise, or just like solid no-frills runners, you'll likely get your money's worth out of this atmospheric throwback.

The writing and atmosphere are top-notch, and as long as you come into it knowing those things are the focus I think you’ll get on well with Haven.

Seabeard isn’t the magically universal game that I wish it could be, but for those that can work within its system, the rewards have the potential to be truly great.

ANNO: Mutationem is a good port of a great game. The flaws from the original are still present here, but the gameplay perfectly suits the Switch’s hybrid nature. It also can look absolutely stunning on the OLED display in handheld mode. If you aren’t sure about the performance or how it looks when played docked, I’d recommend downloading the free ANNO: Mutationem demo on the eShop. I’m glad ANNO: Mutationem finally arrived on Switch and hope it gets a physical release in the future.

In the end, I’ve decided to give this game a slightly stronger recommendation than I otherwise would have simply because of how good the remaster quality is. As a first-person shooter, Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion has never been anything more than decent, and it lacks much of the character of the first two entries. But I respect that Nightdive gave it the royal treatment to finish out this rather unexpected yet welcome set of remasters, and I think if you found a lot to love in its previous efforts with Turok you’ll find enough to carry you through this one as well.

A flawed experience, but the chances Oda takes make the ride invigorating. I would love to see what else he can do, and I hope he continues making many more games before... the inevitable. Sorry, this game is making me morbid.

Mr Jump has a very specific appeal to it. I'm sure you can tell right away whether it's your thing or not.

The game is set in a nicely animated koi pond environment with some very nice touches.

The art style is cute, the music couldn't be better, and the game is built on a funny (yet entirely cliche) premise.

If you enjoy arena shooters and don't mind tilt controls, Quadblast is an excellent, straightforward challenge with a nice sense of style.

Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded provides a heap of content for the cash and even if only to check out a piece of videogaming history, if you're into point'n click adventure gaming, it's worth a peek.

Steampunk Tower may not rock the proverbial boat when it comes to Tower Defense, but it's still a pretty fun game.

Putter King Adventure Golf does a great job of capturing the spirit of miniature golf, bringing back memories of playing this as a child against my father.

I love Mini Motor Racing and feel that it's a worthy candidate for being one of the better arcade racers currently on the App Store. Not only are the gameplay elements sound, there's tons of worthy maps and content that'll keep you coming back. Furthermore, recent updates to the game show that the developers are willing to put the effort necessary to smooth out any issues.

I like this game, and it’s fun in short bursts, but it doesn’t scratch that itch like it should. There’s no zing. Progression is slow and upgrades often have minimal impact. Despite the huge variety of weapons, new runs don’t usually feel that varied. For some reason the shops almost always have duplicates of the weapons in your hand. Sometimes you’ll find or buy a super awesome gun, but that’s rare. I don’t know if they need to tweak their algorithms or what, but It all becomes a bit too repetitive. If you do manage to beat the game, you’ll gain access to hard mode. All that said, a solid, free, gameplay focused mobile game with no price gouging? I want to hug the developer. Definitely pick this up and try it.

Super Arc Light is a game that has some key shortcomings, but nothing too damning.

Its combination of play mechanics from various genres is beautifully executed, its challenge is immense, and it's got just a whole lot of personality.

If you're into vehicular action games, you really can't go wrong with giving CaRRage a try. It suffers from a lack of personality at times, especially in regards to the soundtrack, but for a free game it offers up a whole lot more than a lot of paid experiences.

Even if it doesn't have the same brain-stimulating effect on other people that it had on me, the game is a game worth playing for everyone, not just those who are already fans of music games like Guitar Hero. Beat It! is a delight to play, and a true brain-teasing, unique experience.

If I had to come up with one negative about Cows vs Aliens, it would be that it's really just a one-trick pony.

I enjoyed my time with A Light in the Dark quite a bit on Nintendo Switch and hope to see more from the world. It is rare for visual novels to feel this grounded and real. Hopefully it gets a physical release in the future.

Difficulty aside, the only serious issue I've had with Bike Baron is the lack of a quick level reset.