Runefall 2 – Collector’s Edition

Genre: Match-3 Puzzle

Players: 1

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Review:

The original Runefall was a Match-3 Puzzle game released on PC in 2014 and ported to mobile devices in 2018. Its sequel, Runefall 2, released on PC in 2019, was ported to Nintendo Switch in 2022 in a “Collector’s Edition”, with this release ported to PlayStation 5 in 2023. This sequel reuses many of the same visuals and gameplay from the first game, and in this game you can certainly still see a clear line to this game’s origins on PC and mobile devices.

This is important, because this game’s gamepad controls feel like they were clearly grafted onto the game, with players using the analog stick to guide a circular on-screen cursor, rather than working with one built into the game’s interface. This control method feels clunky and unnatural, though I can at the very least credit this version with including touchscreen controls as well, as they are definitely the better way to play this game.

Runefall 2’s gameplay starts with the typical Bejeweled-style Match-3 formula, though it thankfully has more to offer than just this. The twist in this game is that players can only see a portion of the puzzle at a given time, and must make matches not only to clear away on-screen obstacles, but also to redirect the camera to new locations, working their way towards branching paths or points of interest in this manner. It’s a clever idea that the game puts to good use, challenging players not to clear each level, but to explore it.

The presentation here revolves around a throwaway story of a party of royals chasing down a thief who stole some sacred rune stones, but at the very least the art here looks good, and the surprisingly good soundtrack feels suitable for a game set in a medieval fantasy setting, even if there’s nothing truly memorable here. However, the way this game is designed… it can’t quite shake the impression that it was built around a very mobile-style design, which is rarely appealing.

Overall, I think Runefall 2 is a good Puzzle game that brings a few interesting ideas to the table, though it still feels a lot like a Bejeweled-clone, and the game’s mobile-style presentation and poor gamepad controls leave a somewhat poor impression. If you’re looking to pad out your Puzzle game collection on Nintendo Switch, this game might interest you, though you definitely shouldn’t expect anything truly magnificent here.

tl;dr – Runefall 2 is a Match-3 Puzzle game where players must guide the screen around by making matches in a Bejeweled-style puzzle. The gameplay here is interesting enough to differentiate this game from countless other Bejeweled clones, but not enough to make it truly excel beyond its inspiration, and a mobile-style presentation and poor gamepad controls both leave a poor impression, even if the game remains an overall decent one. In the end, this game isn’t going to blow anyone away, but Puzzle fans may find it a nice addition to their collection.

Grade: C+

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