As an overall experience, it doesn't offer much new to the table, but it does expand on the ideas of the original in a way that changes how you'll approach it.

The story nudges this one just above being a thoroughly average RPG. It explores some interesting topics and themes that I haven’t seen many other games attempt to address. By contrast, the gameplay is so average it could have fallen out of a kit. I suppose the key thing is that it’s not bad to play, so if you have room on your plate for an RPG with bland mechanics but a good plot, you’ll want to check out The Caligula Effect 2. Just make sure you either play the first game or read up on its story and characters before you dive in.

It’s a decent enough time, and the second character comes in at just the right time to help maintain interest for the rest of the game. It feels very much like the indie action-platformer that it is, but it works well enough. It’s at its best when it’s focusing on its core elements, as its attempts to differentiate itself just don’t quite work. If you’ve got room in your heart and library for another platformer you’ll likely forget about a week after you finish it, Rift Adventure will serve your needs even if it won’t teach you much about taxes.

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.

The game has its moments, but more often than not you're fighting the level design, which is a problem. Despite the issues though, Trambo is a nice break from the immediacy and the need for instant gratification of many games in the current era -- just be ready for the urge to throw your device across the room a few times.

Limbo's soft-focus monochrome promises mystery and dread, but it's undercut by the very puzzles it deliberately obfuscates.

I think there's high potential for gamebooks in the Tekumel universe, but Choice Of The Petal Throne doesn't make the case for it as well as it needs to.

The Sundew has an incredible world and a rather complicated story, but it feels like it’s rushing the entire time. When the end of the game comes, it feels too sudden and lacking in satisfaction. It holds its end on the gameplay front, but it’s quite ordinary in that regard. But the story and setting are the brightest lights in this game, and the brevity simply doesn’t allow either of them to shine.

For anyone else, whether you’ll find 2-bit Cowboy Rides Again to be an essential title is down to your own interests and most importantly the degree of patience you’ll be willing to afford it. Nonetheless, it will be very interesting to see what Retro Phone Games do next and whether it’ll be a bullseye or if it will just keep beating a dead horse.

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.

RPG Covenant of Solitude is worth a play, as long as you enjoy JRPGs. It's not particularly long, and it's not really doing nothing special with its gameplay, but it will entertain you and occasionally challenge you, if nothing else. The story is interesting, it offers pretty good customization, and overall, it scratches an itch pretty nicely.

Dungeon Color is a simple game, but it’s earnest and works well enough. You have to use different-colored flames to open doors in order to reach your goal, planning each step carefully to ensure you can actually get where you need to go without blocking yourself in. Toss in a couple of other mechanics and you have a tangy yet mellow set of puzzles to chew on. It doesn’t take long to get through the game, the controls could be a bit more precise, and it starts to get a bit tiresome by the end, but you’ll get your money’s worth.

While the original Heavy Mach was a great sidescroller, the sequel has translated well to the overhead view along with improving nearly everything from the first game.

PKSArena has confirmed a number of future tweaks to increase challenge and gameplay options that will be forthcoming. A game like this could really gain traction with multiplayer support, either live or asynchronous.

What really hurts this one is in its performance in this Switch version. The system struggles to keep the game running smoothly, which hurts the impact of the visuals. There’s a decent enough game here, but one that is perhaps best enjoyed on another platform.

If I had a wish list for Wars and Battles, I would say the top item would be increased UI functionality. There is no reason a mobile app should include a syllabus of required reading in order to play.

As a puzzle game, Train Titans is certainly on the right track with its premise. It's mainly in the execution of its ideas and gameplay elements where the game falters somewhat. Still, if you're willing to look past some annoyances, Train Titans is worth a play through.

It's a bit dorky, and it needs a few tweaks to really offer much lasting value, but what's here is quite fun. It just needs a little more worth digging.

I’d probably be more excited about Chess Brain if there weren’t already so many games of this type on the eShop. As it stands, having to plan out your full route at once is something different but not really enough to keep the game from feeling very familiar. How much of a problem that is comes down to the individual, but if you’ve gotten your fill of chess puzzles, this one probably won’t change your mind. On the other hand, if you’re just looking for an evening’s worth of light brain teasers that won’t break your piggy bank, you will likely be pleased with what Chess Brain offers.

Yes, if you loved the original, you will undoubtedly enjoy Vs Racing 2. As far as being an arcade racer, the experience is about as smooth as one can expect for a game that focuses more on fundamentals. However, improvements over the original feel relatively minor, and the missing online multiplayer means Vs Racing 2 lacks that big ticket feature that sequels usually try and include.

At the moment, it still feels more like a proof of concept than a full-fledged experience, but as a quick and free distraction it works well.

I'm not sure if it's a case of Telltale stretching themselves too thin or if it was just a bad idea to try to make a direct sequel to what clearly worked well as a standalone story, but whatever the case, I've almost completely lost faith that Season Two can be salvaged. I guess we'll see in the next episode, though.

While Treemaker is a lot of fun to play and really lovely to look at, I have to admit that I was disappointed with the lack of variety when it came to the appearance of the levels.

It's unambitious, predictable, short, and not very stimulating, but it's almost impressive in how tightly mediocre it is in every aspect.

It's pretty hard to mess up a puzzle-RPG, and that hasn't happened here, but it's equally hard to step out from the pack, and I feel this game just doesn't do enough towards that goal.

Unless you're just dying to play Brick People with someone you're sharing a room with, though, multiplayer doesn't really make up for a lackluster single-player experience.

Recoil Games hasn't come up with anything all that fresh or unique in the world of one-touch platformers, but Rock Runners has hooks that work. If the rest of the game worked as well, relied less on repetition and more on thoughtful level design, we might have something special. Instead we find ourselves with a runner that isn't quite the same old thing, but doesn't do nearly enough to stand out.

On a mechanical level, Gunslingers & Zombies does its job. You have several things to consider, such as the range of your weapons, available ammo, the direction from which you are attacking, and whether to use your action points on taking the offensive or to save some for overwatch defense. Nothing you won’t have seen before, but it’s all competently implemented to provide a reasonably satisfying, light tactical experience. If you’re looking for a turn-based tactical Western-themed game on your Switch… well, buy Hard West first. But if you’re looking for a second one? This isn’t bad.