Trek to Yomi is something I would hesitantly recommend to fans of Kurosawa flicks or those looking for a stylish action game. It plays most of its gameplay cards too early and ends up being rather tedious for such a brief affair, but it’s worth the squeeze, if only barely, to see its various sights. That said, if you have any other options besides the Switch to play it on, I’d suggest doing so there. This is a game that is all about its visual presentation and the compromises the Switch version makes detracts from that.

It’s a shame there is a bit of a cloud over this release due to the previous collection’s existence, because this really is an amazing package for Wonder Boy fans. It’s hard to ask for more without involving Konami, and I wouldn’t have expected that to happen. Having so many ports included is fantastic, the emulation is where it should be, and you get a fair amount of extra to help round out the package. It’s unfortunate that those who bought the prior collection are left with an inferior product, but otherwise this is an anniversary-worthy release.

The overall plot of Wonderland Nights is reasonably interesting, but the stunningly poor voice acting and simple gameplay mechanics make it hard to stick with long enough to reveal that whole story. It reminds me a lot of one of those old flash games where you combined various items to see the results, playing over and over again until you got the ending you were after. The art has a unique and striking style, but the rest of the presentation is quite weak. It’s a mildly amusing game to poke at, but it could have been a lot better.

Demolish & Build Classic is another in a too-long series of PC ports that don’t do enough to optimize or adjust the experience for the Switch. There’s a good idea at its core, but significant performance issues, fiddly collision detection, and a clumsy UI keep it from achieving the promise of that idea.

Fire Emblem Engage is a more single-minded entry in the series than we’ve seen in a while. A lot of the things people may have loved about Three Houses don’t return here, and the battles are left to carry the load. The more focused design is by choice and I respect that, but it didn’t mean the characters and story had to be as diminished as they are. It’s fortunate that the battle mechanics ratchet things up this time, with the new Emblem system and the returning weapon triangle adding compelling strategic layers. Fans of the tactical aspect at the core of Fire Emblem will find a lot to like, but it’s a shame that the overall package isn’t as strong.

It’s hardly surprising that Motorcyle Mechanic Simulator 2021 is as unpleasant to play on the Switch as it is. Most of these simulator games are, simply because they’re built around PC play and the proper considerations haven’t been made for the Switch’s input methods and display. If you can get your head around the terrible controls and user interface, you might have fun taking apart bikes, fixing them, and putting them back together again. But at the very least, I’d wait for a deep, deep discount.

It’s a fun game to play, but it gets repetitive after a while because very little changes from session to session. There just aren’t very many variables in play in Void Prison, and the ones that are here feel a little more random than I’d prefer. You can be doing everything right only to have an enemy pop in next to where you are standing and bounce you out without any recourse. Void Prison is best enjoyed as a little snack here and there, a few sessions at a time. In that capacity, it certainly earns its meager keep.

Persona 4 Golden is shining its absolute brightest in this Switch port, and it was already a truly brilliant game that any fan of the genre should play. The fact that you can get an RPG this great for such a low price is wild, and Persona 4 has always been a great game to enjoy on a portable. If you already played through it on the Vita, I’m not sure you’ll find enough here to make it worth another scoop, but if this is your first time tuning in to the Midnight Channel the Switch version is an incredible way to experience it.

While a few of the gameplay portions in the middle dragged a bit too much, A Space for the Unbound is one of the best narrative driven indie games I’ve played. Despite not having been to Indonesia which inspires the setting, the storytelling, characters, and atmosphere all felt perfect. It reminded me of how I felt playing The Kids We Were and Persona 4 Golden in that sense. If you enjoy memorable stories and great characters, A Space for the Unbound is an easy recommendation on Nintendo Switch.

NeverAwake plays well, has a fascinating, strong sense of style, and is very unique. Its brief levels meant I ended up devouring the game like a bowl of popcorn, and I had a blast with every minute of it. The story and sense of wonder at what bizarre situation I would wade into next kept me going to the end, and the unlockable challenges and leaderboards brought me back for more still. If you like shooting games, action games, or twin-stick shooters, you’ll want to put NeverAwake on your shopping list.

The trimmed-down-for-PSP presentation of Persona 3 Portable was an overall detriment to the game in 2009/2010, and it hurts it even more in 2023. Some nasty upscaling works against the stylish UI and excellent character art, and I do at least wish the removed animated cut-scenes had been reinstated for this version. Even with all of that in mind, this is still a great JRPG. Challenging, compelling gameplay mechanics combined with a strong story and a fantastic soundtrack make this an easy pick-up for fans of the genre and series alike, even if one can’t help but wish for a less compromised version.

While some of the technical issues are disappointing, Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! is an easy recommendation if you have an Apple Arcade subscription. The structure of the game perfectly suits the service, and I hope it gets updated over time to bring in new content and fix some of the issues. If you don’t have an Apple Arcade subscription yet but enjoyed Pocket Card Jockey on 3DS, this is the best reason to check the service out.

Moonrider has an excellent presentation, and the controls are just as responsive as you would hope. The game throws out a lot of fun little twists as you make your way through its stages that ensure things always stay fresh. While it falls a bit short of the fantastic Blazing Chrome and ends a little earlier than I’d prefer, this is still a fine classic-style romp that fans of 2D action games will have no trouble getting into.

If you enjoy arcade-style score attack action games, Galacticon is a must-have. While it isn’t hard to identify where it draws inspiration from, the overall experience threads the needle of being fresh and vaguely nostalgic all at once. It’s a bit no-nonsense, with only a single mode and a small set of options, but the QR code-based high score chart ensures you’ve always got a reason to come back. Great fun.

Breakers Collection feels like it’s one for the fans, and in that capacity it is excellent. It’s just about everything you could ask for from a Breakers re-release, with great emulation quality, lots of modes and extras, and an overall level of polish we haven’t seen in QUByte’s other retro collections up until now. Others will likely want to proceed a bit more cautiously, but it’s good to see a niche, beloved slice of the NEOGEO library get its chance to shine again.

Just like the game it homages, Terror of Hemasaurus is loads of fun that only gets better the more players you add. Unfortunately, it can also be just as repetitive over longer sessions. It’s a great bit of stress relief, and the story is interesting enough to be worth paying attention to. The sheer level of chaos when you really start going to town is certainly something to behold, and there are some aspects that make me giggle no matter how many times I see them. It’s a worthy successor that all fans of Rampage should check out.

Despite being one update behind the PC and console versions right now, TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge is absolutely essential. Playdigious did a fantastic job with this outstanding beat ’em up, and you owe it to yourself to play it if you have a Netflix subscription.

Melatonin from Half Asleep was only released a few weeks ago, and it is already one of my favorite rhythm games on Nintendo Switch. Just like Gal Metal a few years ago, Melatonin excels in its simplicity while being quite challenging. This coupled with the gorgeous visuals and excellent music makes Melatonin an easy recommendation for fans of Rhythm Heaven and those looking for a challenging new music-focused game.

Maximus 2 isn’t going to threaten the kings of the beat-em-up genre or anything, but if you enjoyed playing games like Castle Crashers, you’ll likely have a good time here. Leveling up all of the characters and unlocking their extra skins will take quite some time, so even if you’re playing solo there’s a lot to do here. Despite a few rough edges, it’s an excellent value for brawler fans on a budget.

If you dislike crate-pushing puzzlers, Pixel Boy isn’t going to change your mind. But if you enjoy that particular brand of brain teaser, Pixel Boy will give you what you crave. Sokoban clones are a dime a dozen on the Switch, but ones that add in extra elements in a manner similar to Chip’s Challenge are a rarer beast. Pixel Boy doesn’t have very appealing graphics. The UI feels cheap. Its soundscape is fairly barren. But it has a bunch of devilishly-designed mental knots to untangle, and that’s enough for me to recommend it.

I’d imagine Guntech 2 comes off a little better on other platforms where performance and visibility issues would be less of a problem, but even on Switch this is still a pretty good time. You’ve got a lot of elements to play around with, and the basic gameplay mechanics are snappy and enjoyable. It calls back to a particular time and place in gaming history in a very comfortable way, and those who enjoy more deliberately paced action games will get their fill here.

Chained Echoes really surprised me with its quality. I feel like I have a good sense of what to expect from these indie JRPG-style games that throw back to the 1990s, both their lows and highs. Chained Echoes blew past the upper end of those expectations, and is among the very best RPGs I played in 2022. If you like the genre at all, give it a shot. Between its fascinating world, enjoyable characters, unique and entertaining mechanics, and excellent presentation, this one is a winner from top to bottom.

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.

The Tale of Clouds and Wind is a serviceable 16-bit beat-em-up, but not much more than that. Add in some emulation issues that result in control lag, and you’ve got something that can get the job done if needed but probably shouldn’t be relied on for such a task. Given the assortment of Capcom beat-em-ups available at a cheaper price on Switch, it’s hard to recommend this to any but those on the hunt for something less common to play from this era.

Mortal Shell makes a decent transition to the Switch, and if there are Dark Souls fans out there who only own a Switch, need something else in the same vein, and don’t mind dropping a decent chunk of change, this might scratch the itch. Outside of that particular scenario, things get shakier. It doesn’t drop the ball in any serious ways, but there are lots of little things that add up to a game that just doesn’t feel as good to play as the game it wants to evoke. Worth a shot for the Souls faithful, but others should probably stick to the real thing.

Panda Punch is one of those games where you can spend an evening picking your way through it and have a fun enough time doing so, only to find your brain has almost entirely deleted the experience from your memories by the next morning. For the meager price it’s asking, I suppose that’s acceptable. Nothing I’d recommend rushing out and buying, but you could do a lot worse with your time and money than picking this up and bashing around some crates.

River City Girls 2 is more River City Girls, with all the good and bad that implies. The expanded playable roster and some minor gameplay tweaks are appreciated, along with the ability to play with others online, but so much here is the same that you probably don’t even need to read a review to know if you’ll like it or not. Want another reason to stomp around River City with Misako and Kyoko? Here it is. Looking for the next great brawler after Shredder’s Revenge? You’ll have to keep waiting.

While I hope Inscryption gets touchscreen support in a future update, it has arrived as an excellent conversion on Nintendo’s hybrid system. If you skipped prior releases with the hope of enjoying Inscryption on the go, your wait has been worth it. I’m looking forward to grabbing the eventual physical release. If you enjoy unique takes on narratives, Inscryption is a game you do not want to miss. It also shines on the OLED display on Switch.