Remnant: From the Ashes on Switch is downgraded compared to other platforms, but is a much better port than I expected with DLC included. It feels like a good blend of The Division with souls-like elements, and the online has worked very well in the times I’ve tried it on Nintendo Switch. This is definitely one of the better third-party late ports to Nintendo’s hybrid system, and it even has a physical release, which is great to see.

In its current state, I absolutely recommend getting Resident Evil Village on iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max if you have a controller like the Backbone One USB-C edition or use an external bluetooth controller. The touchscreen interface even with its customization options is not good. Capcom has done a fantastic job so far in bringing this AAA survival horror experience to Apple platforms, and I hope we see more RE Engine games make their way in the future after Resident Evil 4 Remake releases. Resident Evil Village is a free download with an in app purchase to unlock the full game, so I definitely recommend downloading it if you have a supported device to see how good the conversion is.

If you already played Norn9: Var Commons on PS Vita, I don’t think this is worth grabbing at full price, especially since it costs more than the PS Vita original did back in 2015. If you skipped it, Norn9: Var Commons on Nintendo Switch is the best version not only for its features, but also its localization. This is definitely a nice way to get Switch players into Norn9 while we are waiting for Norn9: Last Era.

Like the best iOS games, Sprinkle Islands takes a simple concept and creates a nice little time-waster that will provide pretty reliable entertainment in short bursts. Sure, it's a one trick pony, but its presentational charm, and the wonderful, childish fun you get from spraying water around means that you'd have to be pretty joyless not to see any appeal here.

With a great selection of music, simple but well-executed gameplay, and a good, clean overall presentation, Cytus is well worth a recommendation for anyone interested in rhythm games.

It will take a ridiculous amount of grinding in order to get all of the content in the game, but thankfully the game is fun so I'll be playing it a lot anyway.

Solar Flux HD will have you back fighting entropy in no time at all.

Flick Home Run is a simple concept which is well-executed by Infinity Pocket. It's already provided days of entertainment, which is a dollar well spent. With so many excellent games available, I'm a little surprised this is in the very top rankings, but this baseball interpretation is certainly worth buying.

For pure entertainment dollar by dollar, I'll take Caylus over most board games in the App Store. It's an obscenely good game, which makes its flaws all the more frustrating.

With a tremendous amount of gameplay in the main game and a free play mode for those who master what the challenge mode has to offer, Freaking Inkies is more than just a unique and fun experience – it's a great value too.

A quintessential Korean action RPG. It has a lot of grinding, mixed with a decent storyline, and great sprite-based graphics.

Some of the quests and open world activities felt repetitive, but on the whole Sand Land is one of the better adaptations we’ve seen from the publisher. Whenever Bandai Namco Entertainment announces a new project like this, I never know whether it will be worth my time or not. Thankfully, Sand Land ended up delivering and is worth your time on Steam Deck. I definitely recommend trying out the free demo if you aren’t sure it is for you.

Some of the puzzles in Primordia can be really hard to figure out logically, which is one of the bad ways it can feel old-school. Some people may not resonate with the setting or some elements of the story, and those are such a big factor in this genre that it always needs to be considered. Other than those things, I’m hard-pressed to find too many things to complain about here. This Switch version handles the controls as you would expect. You can move the cursor around with the stick or use touch controls. Adventure game fans should enjoy it quite a bit, but be ready to get a little frustrated with some puzzles that feel borderline farcical in their design.

I suppose it's a good thing that Agent A's first episode left me wanting more, but I feel like the game and its promotions need to hammer down the idea that this isn't a complete story yet.

The appeal here is the same as it has always been with Minter’s Tempest games and variants. There aren’t a lot of games similar to Tempest, and it’s still a lot of fun. Every new stage brings its own shape and therefore its own required strategies, making for a game that constantly feels fresh and challenging. Online leaderboards give the score attacking a stronger sense of purpose, and the presentation makes the whole thing feel like an experience as much as a game. Oddly while the in-game controls are incredibly responsive, the menus appear to be suffering from some sort of lag. Not a huge deal, but worth mentioning. If you come for the pure gaming thrills that a Minter jam always promises, you won’t be disappointed.

World of Horror would’ve been an easy 5/5 if it had touchscreen support on Switch or had better controller support on the platform. Barring that, I have no hesitation in calling this a must-play horror game if you enjoy the genre and are up to try something interesting. Right now, World of Horror is amazing, but I really wish it controlled better.

Groundskeeper2 is an entertaining action game that will keep you busy blasting bots for bits and bobs for a while.

While it may lack gameplay innovations or flashy razzle-dazzle, it's a good solid example of the gamebook genre that should sit nicely in the library of fans.

Originally released back in 1992, Truxton 2 is a sequel to Truxton, and it has gorgeous visuals. It is also quite difficult, but really has been the game in this set I’ve revisited the most since getting access to it. As a vertical shmup, Truxton 2 has excellent gameplay, and I’m glad to see the audio issues get addressed quite a bit with updates following the launch. It isn’t perfect, but I’m pleased with the current state of Truxton 2, and it plays flawlessly on Steam Deck with Steam Remote Play Together support.

Visually speaking, Baseball Superstars 2012 is definitely the best-looking of the pack.

The colorful new style and great new explosion effects are just icing on a solidly designed cake. Whether you're a nostalgic fan or you've never delved into the series before, it's still worth playing to see how the developer has grown, now making a triumphant return to form from a rough patch in his life.

Sure, you can probably find a better pure game of pinball, and all the roguelite caveats apply here. The procedural generation can swing for or against you, and things can get a little repetitive after a while. But broadly speaking, this bit of pinball with a purpose offers up plenty of fun zombie smashing and loot gathering to keep you whacking away for hours on end. Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes has its tongue in its cheek and its hand on… someone or something’s heart, and that’s good enough for me.

All things considered, Shieldwall Chronicles is a pretty solid game. It needs some work—specifically on the complex combat system, and for play on smaller screens—but, on the whole, it is a fun, well made game. When there are so many games that are made for consumption and consumption alone, it is good to find one now and again that is made by someone who cares, for players who are looking for quality. Despite its flaws, Shieldwall Chronicles: Swords of the North delivers just that.

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

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.

The over-the-top violence and humor will simply not work for some people. However, I implore anyone on the fence to bite the bullet and check out this title. It strikes that hard sought balance of accessibility, appealability (again, for some more than others) and enjoyability with very little in terms of detraction, and it's certainly one of the better physics-based titles that I've checked out.

Burn it All is an easy recommendation, especially if you liked Burn the Rope. Similarly, if you download and enjoy Burn it All, you'll ned to give Burn the Rope a try.

Toaplan’s 1993-released vertically scrolling shmup Grind Stormer, considered a successor to Slap Fight, has been one of the biggest surprises so far from Bitwave’s releases. I’ve enjoyed experiencing it for the first time, and the quality of life features helped make it easier to play through initially. While the visuals and music are excellent in Grind Stormer, the gameplay is the real star. Grind Stormer also includes the V・V regional version which is worth checking out. I just hope the few small audio issues get resolved in updates.