From a small dev team, we can hope to see big features like PVP and further adjustments to campaign difficulty, but I think there is more beyond just those things that will keep Hero Craft from pulling off a flawless game.

I can’t say that Samurai Maiden doesn’t do what it seems to have set out to do: have a cute schoolgirl and her cute ninja friends slice and dice weird creatures to save the world while also sharing smooches. It doesn’t drop the ball on its gameplay elements, but all of that is clearly in service to the cheeky premise. If you like the basic idea of the game, I think you’ll find it does what it needs to in order to avoid disappointing you. If the concept doesn’t grab you, there is nothing here that will change your mind.

Turnip Boy Robs a Bank is a pretty good take on the roguelite action genre that fans of games like Enter the Gungeon will want to check out… but perhaps not on Switch. While the game itself is quite enjoyable for the most part and checks off the necessary boxes, there are significant performance issues at play here that drag down the experience. If you have another option to play it on, I’d recommend doing so. If all you have is a Switch, I think you’re better off playing a better-optimized Switch roguelite.

Wraithborne is Alpha Dogs' freshman effort, and it's not a bad one: it's well-realized within its own confines and makes good use of its visuals and level design. It's probably a bit short and shallow, but touch-controlled action gaming is really difficult, and Wraithborne stakes its claim valiantly.

If you found yourself enjoying the gameplay and controls of Skeeball, NBA Hotshot will likely be a welcome addition to the arcade game collection on your iPhone.

As far as how it actually plays, Exitium: Saviors of Vardonia doesn't offer a whole lot of new ideas, but it does offer an interweaving story that begs for the game to be played four times and enough quests to keep you busy for a long time.

I’ll say upfront that I wasn’t the biggest fan of either of the included games in their original forms. I think Citizens of Earth has dull combat and can get a little obnoxious. Citizens of Space has better combat but its story and themes don’t hit as well for me. Both games are trying hard to be funny and that is always a risky play. When you put them together, and do it in the very unique way Citizens Unite does, you get something that is a bit better than the parts of its whole. You can easily switch between the two games, and indeed there is some extra content in here that plays on that. Tired of Earth‘s battles? Jump over to Space. Want something a bit more grounded than Space‘s far-out setting? Hop back to Earth for a bit. Frankly speaking, both of these games are best enjoyed in smaller bites, and this unified collection greatly facilitates that approach.

If you're a Peggle fan who's completely exhausted the game, by all means, give it a go, you've got nothing to lose, but otherwise, there's really no reason you shouldn't be playing Peggle instead of this.

Visco Collection gives you seven games to play at a quality above this publisher’s usual efforts. While some good effort has been made in some ways, such as by adding online play to some of the games, it’s less impressive in other aspects. Don’t expect any fancy explanations of what these games are or why you should care about them or Visco. It’s just the games, running more or less as they should, with a few options in tow. For some that is going to be plenty, while others will find themselves wishing for a little more.

Don't think twice about tagging along with Guy as he journeys to and from the stars in a journey crafted from charming storybook graphics and a unique twist on puzzle games that only a platform as diverse as the App Store can provide.

There is a lot to like in Grimm, and if you can deal with tilt-only controls and some minor frustrations, it's worth taking a look at.

The only major problem with Smash Bandits' approach is the energy mechanic, which limits you to five plays in a short amount of time, forcing you to either wait or spend in-game chips to keep playing. Thankfully, chips are given out a decent amount, and playing it in short spurts is an excellent way to go about runs.

Regardless of the relative lack of content, I still think Ninja Throw tosses out enough interesting ideas to be worth a playthrough, even with the current oversaturation of physics-based puzzlers. However, don't expect much of a challenge for the most part.

Friendly, straightforward and furiously adorable, Clay's Reverie is a lot of fun.

I think MinoMonsters has the potential to become a pretty big deal. It's in a hell of a package, and it's clear that the developers want to continue expanding the world and building upon what they have.

If you've been craving that simple arcade experience, Pinch Peeps is the way to go.

There's enough content to keep players engaged, and the loot system works well in keeping you coming back to try and find a better piece of equipment.

All in all, this is a great compendium with lashings more style than any of its closest rivals. But there's a snag: these are the only two games included, and two games do not a compendium make. There's a placeholder for a third mini-game, but as yet the digital cupboard is bare.

I imagine Rōnin will probably only pique the interests of either dedicated endless runner gamers or fans of its Asian-influence art style. Otherwise, there isn't much here to explore.

It's a sharp, fast-paced romp and while its somewhat hampered by its diminutive length, there's enough of Liberation Maiden to warrant attention. Bombs away.

Rocket Patrol is an unapologetically casual game, and the strategy probably isn't deep enough to hold an iOS card aficionado's long-term interest.

Any Landing is a fun and unique game, and I again want to applaud the developer for their very customer-friendly approach to IAP.

Considering the fact that the online arena space on mobile devices is limited, Fright Fight is a noble inaugural effort for the studio, and delivers a decent fighting game with an agreeable price of entry. I just wish a little more polish went into it, there were more fighters to choose from, and it was a premium title with everything included.

While it may be too difficult for some, I enjoyed my time with Dual Survivor, as multitask-centric games don't come around too often -- just note that those of you who are willing to put in the time will definitely appreciate it a little more. I wish it had a bit more of a personality for sure, but the gameplay makes up for it and it's even more fun with a friend.

On its sketch-book visuals alone, Roll Back Home accomplishes that and is worth checking out.

As it is, The Firm's monotony, gallows humor and lack of depth are holding back an otherwise very beautiful game.

While I have high hopes that the developers can eventually optimize and patch in improvements to make it truly playable, at this point it’s really hard to recommend NBA 2K15 in its current form.

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're tired of waiting for the next Infinity Blade, this might be just a good enough substitute.

It's a more competent Harvest Moon than Natsume's last attempt, and I'd handily recommend it over the free-to-play farming games that were assuredly inspired by the original Harvest Moon games.

If you’re new to the world of Tales of Arise, the bundle of Tales of Arise with Beyond the Dawn is an essential. If you already have Tales of Arise and beat it back in 2021 or last year, this DLC is very good if you’re dying to spend more time in the world and with the characters. I like the cast a lot, and while this DLC feels a bit too disjointed as a part of the full package, it is still a good time. I wish the new costumes were included in the asking price though because the $30 for Beyond the Dawn was already a bit much. Having those additional paid DLC costumes included would make this an easier recommendation.

I’ll certainly give Inti-Creates some credit here. Umbraclaw is trying some things outside of the developer’s usual wheelhouse, and they are interesting things. It almost gets there, but it ultimately feels caught between being some kind of roguelite and being a more linear action game. I also think the way the difficulty works here is a bit too manipulative in a way that doesn’t feel good. With all that said, Umbraclaw is still a nice-looking game that is very playable, and even if it fails trying something I will at least commend it for trying.

Hauntii is an amazing game that needs some more work on Nintendo Switch. The technical issues hold it back, but it is still worth your time and money. I recommend playing it on another platform if you have that option though. If you are ok with some performance issues, it feels right at home on Switch in handheld mode.

The campaign mode certainly sets this game apart from most other dual-stick shooters, which tend to be just endless survival games.

It would certainly have been nice to get some multiplayer, even just on a local level, but even without it, Riptide GP is an entertaining title that looks fantastic on new devices.

I think Switch owners have gotten used to dealing with performance issues. It regrettably comes with the territory, even when it doesn’t seem like it should be a problem. If you think you can push past some “worse than Metal Slug 2" slowdown, random bits of stuttering action, audio issues, and lengthy load times, Shootas, Blood & Teef is fun. You have a nice variety of weapons, the levels are fun to navigate, and the shooting is tense and satisfying. But if you have access to another platform, you may want to pursue it there instead. This Switch version just isn’t up to snuff.

The Gods: Rebellion does a decent job recreating the character action experience on iOS in nearly every aspect save controls. If you have more patience than me (or are simply used to iOS character action titles) by all means check out Rebellion as it offers a lot in its other elements.

I hated Sonic Dash when I first played it. I did. I was sick of runners and I didn't like that the newest Sonic game had to be a runner. Well, guess who's still playing Sonic Dash? I hate to say it, but I gladly finished every mission in PAC-MAN DASH!, and should the developers release new content, I'll likely download the update and give them even more of my time, if not my IAP dollars. Once you accept that it's terrible, it's really not so bad.

The biggest issue I have with Suspect In Sight lies with its controls. Players are given the option of using either the accelerometer or virtual joystick to control your helicopter. Unfortunately, both simply feel sluggish and not as responsive as I'd like.

If you've been desperately craving an Assassin's Creed game set in an 18th Century pirate wonderland to play on the go, this will do the trick, but don't expect too much from it. If you can deal with all the bugs, you'll certainly be taken on a bizarre ride and you'll have a ton of stuff to do in the world.

It's another strong licensed effort for the Ninja Turtles, even if it probably won't be one for the history books.

While not reinventing the genre, Wolf Boy is an entertaining game with plenty of action, although it can tend to feel a bit repetitive.

Tactical Soldier is a pleasant surprise for fans of tactical turn-based strategy games. It's incredibly challenging, but as such it's also incredibly satisfying when you figure out the best way to deal with the many scenarios in the game.

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.

I like the story and want to see more of it, but I want the systems to get more engaging before plopping out more cash, especially because it's so easy to see that the fundamentals are already in place. Ash II: Shadows is an improved game over the original in many ways, but until some tweaks are made and we see how the rest of the episodes shake out it's hard to gauge if it's ultimately an overall better experience.

You’ll probably love this though, especially if you see yourself enjoying a portable game of Operation, and although it’s not something I’d play repeatedly myself, it’s great for a touch of comic relief.

I did have some issues with piece placement and you can see me fighting with the game in the video, but since nothing is real-time, these problems only serve as minor annoyances because you can just easily fix any piece that didn't wind up where you want it to by using the undo button.

Atari's Greatest Hits is absolutely one of the very best buys in the App Store.

If Mafia Rush sounds a little basic, that's because it is. However, it's still a solid dual stick shooter that's currently being offered for free. At that price, it's certainly an offer you shouldn't refuse, at least for fans of dual stick shooters.

Fans of classic shooters like Gradius ought to get a lot of fun out of Neoteria. It comes up with plenty of challenge and gives the proper nod to the old games it's clearly inspired by, but it delivers the action in bite size pieces and is easy to pick up and play at anytime.

The game is very promising, though, and I feel confident the developer is going to see it through to its potential. What's here is great when it works, and it's a wonderful thing to buy an app and know you've got everything, lock, stock, and barrel these days.

If you missed Lightning Fighter the first time around and can look past the somewhat greedy IAP system, Lightning Fighter 2 is certainly worth checking out.

Ancient Battle: Rome may look ugly, but the combat is solid.

As I’ve mentioned several times, Oil Rush is a gorgeous game. Combine this with established gameplay elements and there should have been a lot of love. However, it just felt like the various aspects of Oil Rush just didn’t mesh well together

Optimally, Paradise Bay is something to fill in time where little else might fit. It's not particularly engaging, but there's a certain amount of enjoyment to be derived from watching your little settlement slowly grow.

I wish there was a little more to Incidence, but I had a great time learning its rulesets and mastering them. By the time I hit level 100 I felt like a pro, but there wasn't anything left to conquer. I have a feeling that any updates probably won't incrementally increase the difficulty or expand upon the concept (as the complete onboard set doesn't either, it's more of a moderate slow build). Right now Incidence simply is what it is, but puzzle fiends should have a grand old time picking it up while it lasts.

If you're expecting a brand new Street Fighter that's pushing the limits of the latest iOS hardware, then you'll probably be disappointed. If Capcom were to go all out and create all new sprites and a full new game from the ground up, it'd likely need to be a free to play casual swipe-fighter like Injustice or Marvel Contest of Champions just to justify its cost. Not that I wouldn't play the crap out of something like that, but it's still not a replacement for a traditional fighter. However, if you loved the older Street Fighter IV games on mobile then I think you'll love Champion Edition. It's all of the improvements I've been wanting for years, and its excellent online modes will ensure it lives a long, happy life. Or at least until the next iOS update breaks it.

Right from the start Felix the Reaper makes three promises: There will be dark comedy, there will be shadow puzzles, and there will be dancing skeletons. It delivers on all three. The humour is black, the puzzles are interesting, and Felix’s dance moves are excellent, if somewhat mistimed. This is clearly a labour of love, and that love shows through clearly. Unfortunately, it was not evenly distributed, and the rough patches make themselves known rather quickly. Nevertheless, I would encourage you, oh reader mine, to give it a shot. Watch some gameplay, read a few reviews—it could be just the game for you!

All together, these systems make for a clever game. And it's certainly a cute one. I'm just not convinced it will have all that much lasting power.

There are oddities, such as some cut-scenes being fully acted-out by quality artists and others relying on simple text, online connectivity requirements, and for the non-RPG player, it's definitely recommended to step through the guide every now and then to ease confusion

In the end, Skate It for iPhone greatly improves upon the already impressive game that was found on the DS a year and a half ago.

Overall, Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is a decent beat-em-up, but not much more than that. This franchise has had enough serious lows that I think this still falls somewhere in the average zone, so I think I can give it a soft recommendation to Double Dragon fans. The roguelite structure does the game no favors at all in my opinion, and while the presentation is nice it does sometimes feel like it’s getting in the way of the gameplay. Not a bad dust-up, but not a great one either.

One could certainly argue that there’s a far amount of monotony in other Assassin’s Creed titles as well, but at least those have large open worlds to provide some variety. That key is missing from Pirates and keeps it from being a better offering.

Obviously, I’m a bit conflicted. But it’s only fair to review Diablo Immortal the way we have reviewed games like this before and the way we will probably review games like this in the future. By those standards, yes, this is a fantastic action-RPG experience. Go clear up the twelve gigabytes or so that you’ll need, download it, and get into it. It’s going to try to sell you things, but it will use a very soft sell approach until you’re in very deep indeed. Perhaps deeper in than many of you will play anyway. Diablo Immortal is here. It is everything we could have hoped for, and everything we have feared.

Bloodstroke is a terrific action game, and a great introduction to John Woo action on mobile.

A person could buy Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for just a little more money, and unless they’re a Nick fan, they probably should. But if you already have Smash and are looking for something else along those lines, this is a good pick-up.

Flame Keeper may eventually end up being a great example of the roguelite genre, but in this unfinished form it’s just too slight to give too much attention to. You can easily see everything worth seeing in a couple of hours, and while that’s not bad bang for the buck, it’s not great relative to other games of this sort that you can pick up for a similar price. As I say from time to time, I can’t review an unknown future. I can only look at what is here in front of me now, and in that context Flame Keeper is just okay.

A certain type of player is going to love Class of Heroes 1 & 2: Complete Edition, but it’s important to keep in mind what these games are and aren’t. They’re fundamentally not all that different from their original PSP incarnations, and the new localizations aren’t great. Beginners will want to proceed with caution, as despite the colorful look and school theme these are extremely unforgiving experiences. If you feel like modern dungeon crawlers aren’t nasty enough or just miss the friction of the classic Wizardry games, this is going to be right up your alley.

If you enjoy rail shooters or Cotton a lot, you’ll probably find enough in Rainbow Cotton to enjoy to make it worth your while. It’s as good as it can be, given the source material. That’s really the catch here; this is an excellent version of a deeply flawed game, and despite its fixes and improvements it’s not really enough to save it from being the worst shooter in the Cotton series. Not entirely without its charms, but not a game I can muster much enthusiasm for either.

Rio's improvements to the core gameplay system, combined with better visuals and good music make this game the best yet in the series. However, much like the previous iterations, there are a few issues that prevent the game from living up to its full potential.

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.

Ultimately, Fara falls prey to more RPG cliches than it mocks. It's ambitious, and not overly-so, but it's neither unique enough or successful enough to stand out from other games in the action RPG genre.

There are frustrating levels – you try climbing over a sheer wall using only your arm – but most of the current levels are great. Some are even delightful.

It would be more satisfying if the various characters, means of transport, and weapons were unlocked along the way, rather than all provided from the start. Overall, a good game, but just for a couple of days or for the kids.

The lackluster story mode isn't a deal breaker, as this isn't a game style that really lends itself to storytelling, but neither is it a particularly strong selling point.

The crowd-sourced level generation systems are excellent, but new locales may not be enough to preserve your interest in Cubemen2's just okay gameplay.

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.

SCHiM is a lovely abstract take on games like Frogger for the modern era. Come into this expecting a work of art with excellent audio design more than a complex puzzle game. I enjoyed just about every level despite the mechanics not really evolving. I enjoyed it enough on Steam Deck to order a physical copy of the Switch version from Japan already. This is definitely worth your time if you enjoy delightful, gorgeous, and relaxing puzzle games.

If Sonic Superstars was meant to reinvent 2D Sonic, I think it missed the mark. But it’s a good, solid entry in a series that is always in need of such, and that counts for a lot.

So, should you download Need For Speed: No Limits? Well, it’s fun, and free, so I say go for it. Just be prepared to switch back to Horizon Chase while your energy refills.

Despite any criticisms though, Elemental Rage is one of the best experiences you can have if you enjoy a good action-platforming game. The iPad version looks great on the larger screen, but it feels a bit more natural to play on the easier to handle iPhone or iPod touch.

While it certainly succeeds at creating a collection of games that are just as much fun if not more so than its previous title, the dreaded star currency makes a return.

Running around without a head and with bombs for hands is far more fun than you'd think, and even if the game doesn't ramp up the challenge as much as most of its ilk, the total quirk and oddness of it all should make for an enjoyable experience for most.

It's a lovely game, and for the most part it works quite well. I consider my time with it well spent, even if a few tweaks could have made These Robotic Hearts of Mine much more atmospheric.

I just wish there was more of everything. I want a reason to pull out more skills and level them higher.

The overall feel and pacing of the game -- a bit more relaxed than the typical shooter out there -- combined with the ethereal audio stylings deliver an experience that might come across as a bit of an oddity to the typical gamer as compared to most of his other iOS releases, or certainly most other shooters out there.

A cautious recommendation. If you can stomach the mild horror of obliterating humanity, if you can handle a somewhat clunky port, it's pretty great to have Pandemic on the go.

The new Karateka legitimately feels like it might be what Mechner's original idea would have been, if then were now. And that's a win. For those who remember the original, the new Karateka must not be missed.

Sadly Another Case Solved latches a little too hard on the freemium model, which in turn holds it back from being the marvellous game it has aspired to be.

But as the bard said, the play's the thing, and in that regard, Docking Sequence is quite sturdy for its asking price.

The dramatic changes in art style and game mechanics are probably going to leave the many fans of the first game scratching their heads, but nothing the game does seems all that likely to pull in anyone else.

On its best day, the arcade version of Avenging Spirit is a clever game that doesn’t quite click the pieces together to become a great one. No, it left that for its Game Boy port. Throw in some emulation errors and the lack of desirable features like online leaderboards, and this ends up being a very middle-of-the-road affair. I love the many options Ratalaika has given us access to here, but with the actual game itself running weirdly, there’s only so much praise I can give for getting some of the bells and whistles right. It’s okay enough for fans of the arcade game, but only just.

All up, Kirby’s Dream Buffet feels more like an extra mode you would find in a mainline Kirby game than something that can stand on its own. It’s amusing enough in short bursts with other players, but you’ll likely have seen all that’s worth seeing in a single session. Even as a party game, the lack of support for more than two players on one system makes it a little tough to recommend. The core idea isn’t bad and it’s certainly a polished experience, but it ends up being just a light snack rather than a filling meal.

Xtreme Sports is one of those games that would have flown past most players back when it released, and as a WayForward Game Boy Color offering it still tends to live in the shadow of Shantae. I’m not sure if I can be the one to change anyone’s mind about it, but I can at least back up the many other reviews of this game over the years by saying that there is more to this game than you might think at a glance. If you’ve ever enjoyed any events-based sports game or can appreciate a good score/time attack game, you really should give this one a shot.

I really wanted to like Hot Lap Racing, because the Switch could really use more good racers. While I can’t say that I never hated it, because sometimes I did, I think overall it’s decent enough. I could see this developer going on to really good things in the future by building on this foundation. But in the end, I think it doesn’t quite succeed in its goal to ride the line between sim and arcade-style racing. The two contrasting tastes are not mixed in a pleasing way here, and when you throw in some performance issues it makes for a racer I can only lightly recommend.

When I first played this year’s Alone in the Dark re-imagining, I thought it was a very good but flawed experience. After this week’s massive update, I’m glad I waited a bit longer to do my review because it is now in a much better state, and is worth your time even if you never played the original. Just be aware of the visual cutbacks needed to get this running on Steam Deck. I liked it enough to get it on PS5 for a replay.

Setting aside considerations of overlap with other releases and a more complete version coming down the line, Wonder Boy Collection is a fine set. The original game has a lot of charm even now, Monster Land‘s ambition is admirable, Monster World is an excellent action-adventure, and Monster World IV is one of the better late-era Genesis games. As dull as the usual interface is, I can’t argue with the suite of features it offers. Please apply your own circumstances as needed, but taking Wonder Boy Collection for what it is, it’s well-worth the price of admission.