The game is free-to-play, but it definitely falls on the “good” end of that spectrum.

If you were in love with the speedrunning elements in the previous Mikey games, I could see Mikey Jumps being a bit underwhelming for you. It's also fair to point out that Mikey's got a lot of miles behind him at this point, so some players might be over his particular brand of entertainment. But I think if you approach Mikey Jumps with a clear mind and leveled expectations, you'll find a really fun, cleverly-designed platformer with some brilliant level designs and rock-solid controls.

Crow Country joins Signalis as one of the best survival horror games in recent years. It is shockingly good, and I can’t wait to revisit it when its next update arrives. I urge you to at least try the free demo. It feels perfect on Steam Deck. What I thought would be a nice throwback horror game ended up being one of the best in years for the genre, and a standout title in an already amazing 2024 for games.

An excellent adventure platformer, Leo’s Fortune is a prime example of taking an established genre and simply taking the quality factor to an entirely different level.

The Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series isn’t an unqualified success. Some technical problems and the continuing font tomfoolery hold this set of games back from being all it could have been. Still, the improvements here are sensible and well-implemented, and while I’m not sure these are the definitive versions of each game, they are certainly going to be definitive enough for most. Short of keeping a menagerie of consoles and handhelds at your side, there’s really no better way to enjoy these all-time classics. A hearty recommendation to fans and newcomers alike.

Jacob Jones and the Bigfoot Mystery: Episode 1 – A Bump in the Night is, at its core, a simple game with a mix of challenging and dastardly puzzles thrown in that will be enjoyable for both adults and kids.

Paint It Back looks great, has fun and clever puzzles, and just plain feels good to play.

Super Mega Zero manages the difficult job of finding new depths to plumb in a sub-genre that has seen a lot of love over the years. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, another stage would come along and force me to come at things completely differently. The changing number gimmick combines with some truly inspired puzzle and platforming challenges to create a truly enjoyable, incredibly tricky action game. Throw in the extra collectible Pi items and speed runs, and you’ve got a game that will last you for a long while.

It has fantastic production values, amazing graphics, brilliant controls, and a solid set of well designed levels to play through.

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.

I think Super Mario RPG is a really good remake of a classic game. It makes a lot of improvements while staying true to the core of the original, and that’s all you can really hope for from something like this. Just keep in mind that its faithfulness extends to the game’s length, with the whole thing taking around fifteen to twenty hours to bring to a close. For some that will be a negative, and others a positive. At least for my part, I really appreciate a quick-paced RPG that feels like all killer and no filler. Something I can actually replay without setting aside a ton of time. If that sounds appealing to you too, then you’ll want to add this to your library.

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.

Takes iOS platforming and "one button" gaming in a direction I'm amazed no-one tries to do more often in touch screen gaming.

If you've been itching to just kick back and rip apart some zombies, Second Chance Heroes is a great place to start.

On the whole, I have remarkably few complaints. I have enjoyed my time playing Immortal Rogue and, bar the few complaints I do have, recommend it wholeheartedly. I would like to see the narrative system addressed, and the home bar issue fixed; but, after that… well, I can only wait to see what else Kyle Barrett has in store. If what we have is any indication, the future will not disappoint.

In this outing, however, Detective Grimoire is going to have to settle for being an enjoyable, though altogether too simple, ride.

It was always up in the air as to whether or not Spike Chunsoft could get back in the Shiren groove after so long without a new entry, but Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island shows that the developer still understands the beating heart of this long-running franchise. It’s a game that embraces where it comes from, and while that means it might still turn some players off, I think the best thing Shiren can be in this modern rogue-wild world is true to itself. A fantastic game, and I hope this is the start of a whole new chapter for Shiren.

Botany Manor has been a pleasant surprise from start to finish. It is equal parts relaxing, educational, and gorgeous. It also is a perfect fit for the OLED screen on Nintendo Switch in handheld mode. If you’re looking for a five or so hour first-person puzzler that doesn’t waste your time, Botany Manor is for you. Now please release a retail limited edition of it with a physical research book.

It's a true testament to my enjoyment of the game that I kept at it, grinding my way through old battles time after time and coming up with new strategies along the way. The retro-centric charming visuals certainly don't hurt matters either if you're a fan of the style.

While fans (and superfans… there are plenty in our forum) of Game Dev Story will undoubtedly be thrilled with Hot Springs Story, newbies to the land of Kairosoft will probably cringe a bit at the less than perfect graphics and the initial chaotic nature of the action. There's a lot going on at once, and until you really get the hang of what everything does it can seem daunting.

Minus any little issues, Lara Croft Go is another winner from Square Enix Montreal.

Simply put, it's a great, fast-paced platformer with excellent balance in terms of level design, controls, and replayability.

In spite of these shortcomings, you absolutely must play Type: Rider. I don't care if you aren't interested in typography, because it doesn't matter. It's an intricately-designed masterpiece that constantly throws fresh challenges and situations at you for the entire run of the game.

Telltale have put a dense tale on offer, red in tooth and claw and tantalizing in its player-driven possibility, and the second episode is already overdue.

It's a nice puzzle game done up in a classic style, with a good price and no hidden costs jumping out at you.

As long as you have an abundance of patience and a good sense of humor about setbacks, there's no reason you shouldn't adorn your finest fake mustache and give this game some of your time.

You can play it and know that you're getting your money's worth, and you get a lot of game out of this, because getting to space is extremely difficult, and a real accomplishment.

If you’re at all into puzzle games that are more interested in soothing you than hurting your brain, I think you’ve found your new addiction.

If you're into platformers, I'd give Jetpack Fighter a try. Don't let the free bit scare you off though, as you can get pretty far in without having to wait or spend a dime.

If you only have one device and don’t mind some small touch targets for the interface, Slay the Spire will easily be one of the best games you play on your iOS device. Once these issues get addressed, I can see Slay the Spire becoming one of my most played games on iOS after it has already been on that list on Nintendo Switch and Xbox One in recent months.

Having now played Nobody Saves the World on Xbox Series X, Switch, and PC, I would recommend the Switch version above the others for offering the ability to play at home or on the go with a competent port. The gameplay suits the pickup and play nature of the system as well. I’m going to keep chipping away towards completing every aspect of Nobody Saves the World on Switch, but I can’t imagine this won’t end up being my favorite DrinkBox Studios release so far. I hope it gets a physical release down the line. If you’re looking for a charming action RPG that blends a bit of Zelda and Diablo together with its own signature style, Nobody Saves the World is for you.

If you’ve already played or own Red Dead Redemption on Xbox Series X or Xbox One X, I only really recommend it on Switch for portable play. If you’ve never played it before and own a Switch, I love this release. The lack of gyro aiming is disappointing, but everything else is better than I expected given this is Red Dead Redemption‘s first ever re-release. Hopefully gyro can be added in so that this becomes my favorite way to experience Red Dead Redemption until a potential PC version releases.

If you’re looking for a new relaxing puzzle game to sink your teeth into, Sokobond Express is excellent. I haven’t even bothered trying this docked yet because it feels so perfect in handheld mode on the Steam Deck OLED. This is another win for Draknek and Friends, and I can’t wait to see what developer José Hernández does next.

Quilts and Cats of Calico is officially marked as Steam Deck Playable by Valve, but it really should just be Verified. Everything works perfectly including online multiplayer with turn notification support, and it looks gorgeous on the Steam Deck’s screen. Quilts and Cats of Calico is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a relaxing blend of a puzzle and strategy game.

Loop Hero is as hard to put down as the finest of idle games, but with enough meat on its bones to make it feel like your input actually matters. It’s the kind of game that has something to offer no matter how much or how little time you have to throw at it, and one that will likely keep you coming back now and then to play again. While it isn’t the most challenging of affairs, it’s certainly engaging and full of enough surprises to keep your interest over the long haul.

AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative may not be the unexpected surprise that the first game was, but it lives up to the impressive bar of quality set by its predecessor in a way few games of its genre manage to. This Switch version has a few technical issues, but nothing that should keep you from enjoying the game here if this is where you want to play it.

Draw Something is a perfect witch's brew of Facebook integration, word scrambling, and asynchronous two-player Pictionary.

I know it's not the same sort of game, but if you like Angry Birds and its ilk, I think Cover Orange will be worth your while - there's just a spiritual similarity of sorts going on there.

Unfortunately, there's just too much variability in terms of match quality to unequivocally recommend N.O.V.A. 3 based on its multiplayer. The annoying glitches and matchmaking system don't help and the lag is an issue that needs to be addressed. It's a shame because the underlying advancement and build systems are solid with a large potential for customizability.

Angry Birds is the Super Mario Brothers of mobile devices, and Angry Birds Space is so successful in redefining the Angry Birds formula that everyone should give it a try.

Agricola is a superlative port of an equally exceptional game. Just don't mistake the cute styling for simple mechanics. Even in "family mode", Agricola is both challenging and competitive.

At least for my tastes, Splatoon 3 is a great new chapter in a fantastic series. While more of an evolution than a revolution, it adds enough new things to liven things up for veteran players while also being the new de facto point of entry for new players. I’m not really sure where Nintendo can take the series from here, but I suppose that’s a problem for a couple of years from now after the team has done its thing updating this game. For now, I think we all have enough room in our lives for another helping of colorful, charming, ink-flinging action.

While the incremental upgrades probably won't win over gamers that weren't fans of the original, Hunters 2 still offers a compelling turn-based strategy experience.

It's not the most complex roguelike, or the cleverest. It is, however, just right for a casual dungeon delve on a mobile device. There's just enough meat to keep it compelling, and not so much complexity that you'll ever have trouble recalling your strategy when you come back from a break.

If you love 868-HACK or want a high score game with a unique touch, check out Helix.

It's already a darn solid game as it is, but there's plenty of loot to be added, new levels to be challenged by, and just more that can be done. But until then, there's plenty of fun to be had with Space Marshals.

With plenty of depth, replayability and a great melding of genres, there's plenty to check out and enjoy.

Overall, Shooty Skies is a fun, clever follow up to Crossy Road, a game that, surely, was hard to live up to. The crazy, endless flyer delivers an above-average experience, though not without a few prevalent flaws, and will appeal to Crossy fans and new players alike.

Play Hidden Folks. It's just so charming and fun to tap around in this world that feels alive. It's such a simple idea at its core of being a hidden object game, yes. But the artwork, sound design, and the realization of the ambition to create puzzles where you have to find specific folks in the middle of busy, bustling scenes, are all at their peak. Check this game out.

If you’ve not played Alien: Isolation before, the mobile version is phenomenal. It isn’t just a good value proposition with all DLC included at the low asking price of $14.99 compared to other platforms, but it looks and runs brilliantly even compared to the Xbox and PS4 versions. I know Feral Interactive is capable of miracle mobile conversions, but this Alien: Isolation is on a whole other level. Having tried it on consoles including the new Xbox Series X where it has an FPS Boost through backward compatibility, the iPad version with good headphones and an optional controller trumps all other console versions of the game. If you’ve been wanting to experience Alien: Isolation, this is a fantastic way to do so and one of the best iOS conversions ever.

My favorite thing about Ziggurat is that it dismantles the hardcore-casual myth that has so long plagued videogame culture generally, and iOS gaming specifically. An "endless" shooter with Peggle controls doesn't make for good advertising, but Ziggurat is a game that forces its players to pay attention, to process and react to constantly shifting situations, to do the (literally) impossible.

Considering how many games on the App Store are essentially doing the same thing, Fetch is mostly unique, and pretty beautiful to boot. For a little less than the cost of a can of Dog Food, you will certainly get your money’s worth from Fetch, especially if you have young children, an aging puppy, or a soft spot for man’s best friend.

Overall, though, All Is Lost is a very solid take on the genre. In fact, despite my complaints I’d say it’s one of the most fun runners I’ve played in some time.

Bad Piggies is awesome, and needs to be a part of your iOS game collection just as much as the rest of the Angry Birds series. Rovio nails the same accessibility of the Angry Birds games while taking the franchise in a direction that feels both totally fresh and entirely appropriate.

Cally's Caves 3 is jam-packed with content, of which a significant and satisfying portion is totally free to play with only infrequent ads as strings.

It's a smart variation on the dual-stick shooter theme, and one that's strangely reminiscent of my most recent obsession, Diablo III.

The joy of taxonomy may fade in time, but you'll always have the knowledge that you were the one to identify the humble Lob-hog-bit, and that's a memory that will last.

As a fast-paced real-time action game, Heroes of Loot 2 does enough well that I enjoy my time with it, but I didn't find it as compelling as I hoped it would be.

If you buy the game and all four DLC packs, Cogs will run you $4.95 and should take around 10 hours to complete if you try to beat every challenge in the game.

Danganronpa Decadence is a good value if you’re looking to get into the Danganronpa series, packing in solid ports of three excellent adventure games and a mildly amusing spin-off. While these Switch versions aren’t as smooth or fully-featured as you might like, I would imagine most first-time players aren’t going to mind the few nicks and flaws. Provided you’re okay with the mature subject matter, these are games you really should play if you haven’t before. If you’ve already picked the Danganronpa games up on other platforms it’s harder to call this is an essential purchase, but those who have hoped for this series to hit Switch should be satisfied.

In a time when consumable IAP is king, Polara stands out for its stand-alone offering. If you find yourself asking for more games that are sold complete, then this is most definitely one that deserves-or requires-your love.

Forgive Me Father 2 even in its early access state right now, is gorgeous and fun to play. Just keep in mind that this is still early access and there isn’t a full game here. If that’s ok with you, jump in. Forgive Me Father 2 looks gorgeous, sounds amazing, and feels brilliant to play. It also fixed whatever I disliked in the first game. This is definitely shaping up to be special, but needs more time. I’ll be covering it more as it gets closer to its full release.

If you enjoy weird, wonderful things or have ever wondered what it'd be like if Pug Luv Beats had been more of a game than a musical toy, you seriously need to check out Bad Hotel.

It's a rare free-to-play game that respects both your time and your money, and it's definitely worth checking out.

Astronut looks fantastic visually, with charming character designs and Retina Display support for 4th generation devices.

A highly enjoyable, action-packed shooter that offers some of the most intense battle sequences you'll find on the iPhone, making this latest from Gameloft a gaming experience that's rather hard to pass up.

The game may have its flaws, but Gameloft has done a great job in making what could have been a quick and dirty port into a legitimately fun piece of software.

This series is getting better, but since it takes the small development team at least a year to produce an episode, this intriguing mystery may not be resolved for a few more years; but we'll be waiting.

Make no mistake, Solstice Arena isn't a full-blown MOBA. Still, I think there's enough here in the actual gameplay to overlook a some of the missing elements and quirky design decisions.

In my view there will always be room for awesome takes on traditional TD games but I hope developers take note because OTTTD proves that the genre can be improved in an awesome way while still staying true to its roots.

Free-to-play should mean free to enjoy, and Zombie Highway 2 takes that to heart.

If by some weird quirk of fate you haven't played a tower defense game, Sleep Attack TD is a fantastic introduction.

It's just a game you can play anyplace, anytime and for as long as you want. Be careful though, it's a little addictive and hard to stop playing, and now that you know all about this remarkable game, I'm off to help Aristotle before those pesky aliens catch up with him.

I guess if I have anything bad to say about the game, it’s that Sneak Ops is a little too on the nose of emulating a lot of the mechanics of Leap Day, and I’d love to see a bit of innovation on the whole daily level game format. Also, it’s weird that paying for the game seems to make it less fun, but your milage may vary on whether or not you feel the same. Either way, Sneak Ops is fun, free, and super easy to recommend.

I’m a big fan of Yars: Recharged. The first time I fired it up, I ended up playing it for the rest of the evening. Admittedly, I love the original game too. But I think this game does a wonderful job of adapting the basic loop of that classic and bringing in enough modern elements and new ideas to justify itself as something of a sequel. I really like its unusual blend of frantic shooting and calculated puzzle-solving, and I would happily recommend it to Atari fans and newcomers alike.

Despite its difficulty in explaining its complex systems, Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is a fantastic RPG that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the genre. Its systems are immensely satisfying to learn, its labyrinth floors a treat to explore, its encounters challenging and interesting, and the story is outstanding. It is, to an extent, a game that gives back the more you put in, but the patient player will find a bounty of rewards here for their efforts.

For some fans of the original, Not Tonight 2 might feel erratic in some ways, but I enjoyed it almost as much as the original on Switch. I recommend it to fans of the original and those who enjoy Papers Please. It just needs some performance improvements in certain areas.

KINGDOM HEARTS III is a lot more demanding compared to the other releases here, and it understandably struggles to hit a locked 60fps out of the box on Steam Deck. With a bit of tweaking, that is possible though, and having native KINGDOM HEARTS III on a handheld with rock solid performance, is excellent. If you held off on the games on PS4 or Xbox One before, KINGDOM HEARTS III is a solid PC release that has no issues running on Steam Deck including its cut-scenes. I enjoyed my time revisiting it on the go.

Stray Gods: Orpheus is an easy recommendation for fans of the base game despite its short runtime. I enjoyed the many songs and visuals in the DLC a lot more than I expected, but it should’ve either been cheaper or offered a bit more story. If you’re ok with an hour or so long experience, Stray Gods: Orpheus is worth grabbing, and it also reminded me of how good the game runs and looks on Steam Deck OLED.

If you want a puzzle game that will test you, this isn't for you. If you just want something that you can interact with in order to get rewarded with interesting themes and gorgeous artwork, Monument Valley 2 succeeds at that. But if Ustwo ever explores this world again, I think there's a gap between the gameplay and the art that could be crossed to make this the masterful experience these games have just barely fallen short of being in my eyes.

Although Triangle Strategy might not be the second coming of Final Fantasy Tactics that some are hoping for, it’s an excellent entry into the tactical RPG genre that should have players enraptured for dozens of hours. Just be prepared to spend an awful lot of time with characters who have a tendency to talk too much and say too little. The plot itself is intriguing enough and the gameplay mechanics compelling enough to keep you coming back, but one can’t help but pine for the character work of the games that clearly inspired this one.

If you remember any of the barrel blasting sequences from the Donkey Kong Country series, Land-a Panda is like an extreme homage to these.

You really shouldn't pass Continuity 2 up if you're a puzzle-game fan. Screenshots don't do it justice – the minimalistic style works beautifully in motion-and both the music and sound effects are great.

This may well be Digital Eclipse’s finest collection yet, and is a must-have for any fans of beat-em-ups, the Turtles, or general gaming history.

The thruster physics feel great, the level design is excellent, both in looks and layout, and it all works very well, but it doesn't quite mesh with the story.

Whether or not you've got a friend (or toddler) to play Crabitron with in this unintentional co-op mode, you really need to check the game out as Crabitron is a perfect example of how to intelligently craft a game for the iPad that really could only exist on the iPad.

Yes, Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes is worth playing. If you have a recent iPad or an iPad mini, it's probably worth playing on iOS, though you might want to hold out for a few bug fixes. With those in hand, this could easily be one of the best puzzle strategy games on the platform. Without them, it's simply not.

Barring a few issues, Cupid Parasite is another fantastic otome game from Idea Factory and one that is a great way to get into the genre if you’ve wanted more of a romantic comedy than the usual beats in otome games. I hope we get more otome games like this in the future.

LISA: Definitive Edition, taken as a whole package, is an RPG unlike any other I have played before. Sometimes that’s a good thing, sometimes it’s a bad thing. This is a very heavy, raw game in terms of its story. It hits on some very tough topics and it pulls zero punches. If you’re squeamish about violence or gore, or just aren’t into the idea of a very rough and frequently cruel narrative, you might want to hold off on this one. But if you’re okay with that kind of thing, I recommend playing this to see what it has to say.

There is potentially more gameplay to experience here than in your entire game library, particularly if you're trying to promote a lowly League club to Premiership level.

Sure, Triple Town is just another matching game, but it's deep and surprisingly strategic.

Casual gamers who are unfamiliar with games of this sort will most likely be turned off by the complexity of the game's inner workings, but those who know what they're getting into and enjoy similar games will probably agree with me when I say that Inotia 2 is one of the best action-RPG's on the App Store.

As a Universal release with Retina support, Anodia looks lovely on any device. I'm not sure it actually reinvents the brick breaker, but it's certainly an exciting and beautiful example of the genre.

Even when its story temporarily devolves into a series of extremely dull fetch quests, it's kind of a blast. For a game about such a particular hobby, it does a good job of being a crowd pleaser with well-designed RPG elements and odd little sim touches.

It's one of those rare strategy games that anyone can pick up and play and find an infinite number of ways to tackle its challenge provided that they know how to play Tic-Tac-Toe.

An endless supply of constantly evolving environments, coupled with finely tuned jumping, will keep you coming back for a long time.

BattleLore: Command's gameplay design is outstanding, and its solid presentation helps it deliver on it in stylish fashion.

So The Quest Keeper falls just short of the heights that Crossy Road reaches, but it's a perfectly valuable game in its own right. It's a ton of fun, it kept me coming back to it again and again to try and get both high scores and to complete quests, and I got to outrun a bunch of spiders.