Gem Crash

Genre: Arcade

Players: 1

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Review:

Gem Crash is an Arcade-style game similar to a Brick Breaker where players try to break down gems using a bouncing ball. However, rather than moving a paddle, players rotate the entire stage, using this to line up the ball with its target. This game was released on Nintendo Switch in 2018, but delisted in 2025.

While I hate to see any game delisted from storefronts, I have to say that this time it’s no great loss – Gem Crash fails to make use of its unique premise to deliver anything fun. It’s difficult to predict how the ball will bounce so lining up shots in time for the next bounce is difficult, and stages are timed so you’ll soon find yourself failing to complete them over and over again as you struggle to get the ball where you need it to go to finish the level’s task.

The presentation here is fine, using 2D visuals backed by some heavy electric guitar music. It’s nothing extraordinary, but it’s not where this game’s problems originate.

I would tell you not to bother getting Gem Crash, but at this point you can’t get it whether you want it or not. So at this point, all I can tell you is, you’re not missing out. This game was just frustrating for me, without anything resembling fun.

tl;dr – Gem Crash is an Arcade-style game similar to a Brick Breaker, where players try to line up shots with a bouncing ball by rotating the stage. It’s a clever premise, but the unpredictable bouncing of the ball making playing this game horribly difficult, and the unforgiving time limits will only lead you to frustration. This game is now delisted, so you’ll just have to take my word for it that you’re not missing much.

Grade: D

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