Here’s the games I have reviewed so far on the Nintendo Switch in this genre, from best to worst. Note: If multiple games have the same score, they will be sorted alphabetically.

Action-Platformers

Game	Genre	Grade
Mega Man Legacy Collection	Compilation / Action-Platformer	A+
tl;dr Mega Man Legacy Collection is a collection of the first six NES games in this series of Action-Platformers. Two of these games are absolutely legendary, one is just as good if a bit less-iconic, and the other games here are all at least worth playing. Pair that with an absolute wealth of options and bonus content and a very reasonable price tag and you have an absolute must-have collection that any fan of Action-Platformers should own.
Mega Man X Legacy Collection	Compilation / Action-Platformer	A+
tl;dr Mega Man X Legacy Collection is a collection of the first four games in this series of Action-Platformers. Every one of the included games is excellent, with the first in particular being a must-play game that still stands tall as one of the finest in the genre. What’s more, this package includes a huge wealth of bonus content. Fans of Action-Platformers should absolutely have this game in their collection.
Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove	Compilation / Action-Platformer	A+
tl;dr Shovel Knight: Treasure Trove is a collection of the Action-Platformer Shovel Knight and all four of its expansions, including Plague of Shadows which is not purchasable separately. Shovel Knight was already a must-have game, but this collection is so jam-packed with value it makes the entire package one of the best games to get on the Nintendo Switch. Unless you have this collection on another platform, you need to get it on your Nintendo Switch.
Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe	Action-Platformer / Puzzle	A
tl;dr Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe is a delicious combination of color-matching puzzle gameplay and action-platformer that is both unique and a lot of fun. It’s just missing a multiplayer mode to make full use of all of the great gameplay that’s on display here.
Dead Cells	Action-Platformer Roguelike	A
tl;dr Dead Cells is an action-platformer Roguelike that shines as a great example of all of those elements. It’s damn hard, but always compels you to try to get a little farther after each time you die, and the presentation is a wonderful companion to the likes of the Castlevania series.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer / Third-Person Shooter	A
tl;dr LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is yet another game in Traveller’s Tales’ family-friendly franchise of LEGO Open-World 3D Action-Platformers, with this game revisiting all nine numbered Star Wars films with entirely new gameplay. This is the LEGO game that gets everything right – the new Third-Person Shooter gameplay helps to bring players closer to the action, the comedy is as great as it’s ever been, the presentation is gorgeous, and the world provides lots of interesting places to explore. This is not just a great LEGO game, it’s a great Star Wars game, and just a great game overall. If you only ever play one Traveller’s Tales LEGO game, this is the one to play.
Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 + 2	Compilation / Action-Platformer	A
tl;dr Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 + 2 contains the first ten numbered games in the original Mega Man series in a physical release, with nearly all of those games being great, and three of them being absolutely phenomenal. What’s more, this package comes loaded with bonus content, and after initially being overpriced is now a better value than buying the two Legacy Collections separately… at least if you don’t mind the 3.3GB download required to play Mega Man Legacy Collection 2. However, save for that flaw, this is an excellent collection of great games that should be considered a must-have for fans of Action-Platformers.
Neva	Action-Platformer	A
tl;dr Neva is a stunning Action-Platformer about a woman and her adopted white wolf cub fighting off an evil corruption. The gameplay here is good, and more substantial than this developer’s previous work, Gris. But the focus here is still on the absolutely beautiful presentation. In any case, this is a stunning game that is absolutely not to be missed.
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope	Action-Platformer	A
tl;dr Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope is an Action-Platformer that is the first game in the Shovel Knight series. It melds together some of the best parts of classic NES games to create something that is surprisingly original and nostalgic at the same time. Fans of platformers in general absolutely should have this game in their collection.
TowerFall	Action-Platformer / Arcade	A
tl;dr TowerFall has up to six players in a furious battle shooting arrows at one another or teaming up against enemies in a challenging and rewarding action-packed experience with a fantastic presentation, and with exclusive content that makes the Switch version of the game the definitive way to play it. It’s a bit on the tough side, but if you enjoy skill-based platforming and especially if you want to play with friends, TowerFall is absolutely a game you should own.
Castlevania Anniversary Collection	Compilation / Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Castlevania Anniversary Collection is a collection of Action-Platformers that includes eight of the great games from early in the series (well, six great games plus two crappy Game Boy games). This collection gives players a wealth of options and bonus content, and is… actually pretty ideal for a collection of some of the best Action-Platformers ever made. This title is a must for fans of the genre.
Castlevania Collections Bundle	Compilation / Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Castlevania Collections Bundle includes three bundles of Castlevania Action-Platformers: Castlevania Anniversary Collection, Castlevania Advance Collection, and Castlevania Dominus Collection, collectively containing seventeen Action-Platformers and Metroidvania games. The overall level of quality here is extremely high, with very few stinkers, and overall this bundle represents an absolutely massive amount of great gameplay. However, definitely compare the price in this bundle to the sale prices of the individual Collections contained within, as you might get a better deal getting the individual games, depending on the current sale.
Cuphead	Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Cuphead is an Action-Platformer like Contra and Metal Slug where you’re firing tons of bullets and dodging enemy attacks, but what really makes this game special is its absolutely gorgeous hand-drawn animation and its high difficulty level. Not to be missed.
Explosionade DX	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	A-
tl;dr Explosionade is an Action-Platformer with 2-Stick Shooter mechanics and some really delightful game mechanics like its shield/anti-gravity mechanic and adaptable grenades. It’s a bit short and lacking in content, but it’s more than worth its small $6 price tag, and fans of the genre should absolutely give this game a try.
Flinthook	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	A-
tl;dr Flinthook is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements that has you fighting through room after room of space pirates with a blaster gun and a grappling hook. The game looks and sounds great, and the grappling hook makes for some really fun gameplay that makes just moving around a joy. It’s a tough game, and the Roguelike elements do have a few issues, but overall this is an excellent Action-Platformer well worth playing.
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX	Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Gunvolt Chronicles focuses on the Gunvolt series’ supporting character Copen, in an Action-Platformer that plays very much like the Azure Striker Gunvolt games but without the restricted limitations that those games had as they were originally designed for the 3DS and this was not. The result is what I would argue is a far superior game, and although it’s not nearly as memorable as the classic Mega Man games that inspired it, it’s still an excellent game in the same vein as those legends.
LEGO City Undercover	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr LEGO City Undercover on Nintendo Switch is an excellent upgrade to what was previously a Wii U exclusive title, one of the best games in Traveller’s Tales’ family-friendly franchise of LEGO 3D Action-Platformers, and an excellent Open-World game. This police spoof is a joy to play, and while it definitely still has areas that need improvement, LEGO fans should consider this a must-play, and those looking for a good Open-World game on Nintendo Switch would do well to give this some consideration.
Little Noah: Scion of Paradise	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	A-
tl;dr Little Noah is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements (on the “Roguelite” side of the spectrum) where players fight through dungeons as a young woman whose attacks consist of “Lilliput” creatures collected along the way and assigned by the player into their own custom attack combos. This makes for an extremely varied and enjoyable combat system, in an overall polished, appealing, fun and original take on the genre. If you like Roguelikes, this is absolutely a game you should try.
Mega Man 11	Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Mega Man 11 is an Action-Platformer that eschews the nostalgia-driven presentation and gameplay of the ninth and tenth installments and actually makes a top-notch effort to push the series forward for the first time in ages. The result is a breath of fresh air for the series, and a game that absolutely demands to be played by fans of the genre, even those who gave up on the Mega Man series long ago – for the first time in ages, Mega Man feels fresh and new again, and it’s wonderful.
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection	Compilation / Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection is a collection of six games in Mega Man spinoff series on the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS. Some of the biggest complaints about these games (namely, the punishing difficulty) have been addressed with new features, making the otherwise excellent games much more approachable, and the result is a series that is sometimes truly great but always at least pretty good. Plus, the amount of extra content here is fantastic, especially for the low price of $30. If you’re a fan of Action-Platformers, especially if you enjoy Mega Man games, you need to own this collection.
Mighty Gunvolt Burst	Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Mighty Gunvolt Burst is an Action-Platformer that’s nominally a retro-styled combination of Mighty No. 9 and the Azure Striker Gunvolt series, but save for its characters it’s actually a refreshingly unique take on the classic Mega Man formula with an inspired weapon-creation system that makes this, in my opinion, the pinnacle of both game series. The game is a bit on the short side, but it also has a budget price, and given how much fun this small package is, I urge fans of the genre to give it a try.
My Friend Pedro	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	A-
tl;dr My Friend Pedro is an Action-Platformer with Two-Stick Shooter controls that has players involved in acrobatic gunfights at the command of a talking banana. This game’s intense, ridiculous action is a blast to play, and while there’s a bit of repetition here and there, for the most part this game does an amazing job keeping things fresh and entertaining. A must-have for action game fans.
Neon Abyss	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter / Roguelike	A-
tl;dr Neon Abyss is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements that feels a lot like the designers were going for a side-scrolling neon-lit Binding of Isaac, and they largely hit their mark spot-on. Only a few technical flaws keep this game from reaching the same height as that classic Roguelike, but it’s still a phenomenal Action game.
Rogue Legacy 2	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	A-
tl;dr Rogue Legacy 2 is an Action-Platformer and Roguelike about a family line trying to explore the depths of a dangerous shape-shifting castle. This game improves on the first game in virtually every way, while keeping what was great about the original game intact. There’s so much variety here, so many ways to upgrade your characters, and countless new elements that make different character types even more distinct and add Metroidvania elements to the gameplay. An absolute must for anyone who enjoyed the first game, and well worth a try for anyone who enjoys Action-Platformers and Roguelikes.
Sanabi	Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Sanabi is an Action-Platformer where players take the role of a revenge-fueled man using his bionic arm’s grappling hook to swing acrobatically through a desolate cyberpunk-style city and gracefully and efficiently eliminate its robotic threats. What’s more, this game has an outstanding story filled with character and atmosphere, and while the story and gameplay can butt heads at time, it hardly matters as both the gameplay and the story had me glued to my screen. This is a truly must-play game for any Action fan on Nintendo Switch.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero	Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is an Action-Platformer with Metroidvania elements that takes the series’ already-amazing presentation to new levels with gorgeous, exquisitely-animated hand-drawn visuals. And while some players may not be thrilled with this game dialing back the series’ Metroidvania elements, the gameplay here is still plenty of fun and well worth playing for fans of 2D Platforming action.
Shotgun Cop Man	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	A-
tl;dr Shotgun Cop Man is an Action-Platformer and 2-Stick Shooter about the titular Shotgun Cop Man who has been sent on a mission to hell to arrest Satan, with this silly story joined by gameplay that has players using their firearms to propel themselves around the air as they fight demons. Movement and combat in this game is an absolute delight, and the absurdity of the story only adds to the joy of this game. The only thing lacking is the PC version’s level creator, but otherwise this is a must-have Action-Platformer on Nintendo Switch.
Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment	Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment is a standalone expansion to Shovel Knight, the second expansion out of four. This is an Action-Platformer that follows the Specter Knight boss from the first game, who has a unique move-set built around a wall run and a diagonal air slash attack. The game design and level design here is every bit as good as the first game, though it does re-use some assets and Specter Knight isn’t quite as fun a character to play as his shovel-wielding contemporary. Still, this is a solid entry in the series and an excellent Action-Platformer well worth playing.
Shovel Knight: King of Cards	Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Shovel Knight: King of Cards is a standalone expansion to Shovel Knight, the third expansion out of four. This is an Action-Platformer that follows the King Knight boss from the first game, who has a unique and fun move-set built around combo-ing shoulder bashes into pirouette spins. The game design and level design here is every bit as good as the first game, though it does re-use some assets and makes some changes to the map that are a bit disappointing. Also, the newly-added card game is decent, but nothing truly great. Still, this is a solid entry in the series and an excellent Action-Platformer well worth playing.
The Messenger	Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr The Messenger is an Action-Platformer that later in the game unfolds into a Metroidvania with strong gameplay, nostalgic visuals, and a great sense of humor, and it’s difficult without being as punishing as the Ninja Gaiden games that clearly inspired it. It’s just a pity that some design choices do still cause some frustration here and there.
20XX	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr 20XX is an Action-Platformer with strong Roguelike elements. It is obviously very strongly inspired by the Mega Man series and especially Mega Man X, although the Roguelike elements definitely make this distinct and different enough to stand on its own, albeit not without losing a few of the positive qualities of the Mega Man games while doing it.
30XX	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr 30XX is an Action-Platformer that’s a sequel to 20XX, and like that game, it gives players a Roguelike-style take on the classic Mega Man X series… but this time around, you can also opt to play the game much in the same way as the actual Mega Man games. Either way, this is an exceptionally well-crafted game that so perfectly imitates Mega Man-style gameplay that it’s better than everything that series has released in the past two decades. It’s just a shame the PC version’s level builder didn’t make it into the Nintendo Switch version of the game, but even without it this is an outstanding Action-Platformer.
20XX / 30XX	Compilation / Action-Platformer / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr 20XX / 30XX is a physical-only Compilation of the two named games plus 30XX’s DLC. Both games are excellent and worth playing, and this is a well-priced package, but if a physical release isn’t important to you, you’ll save more money just by buying the individual games when they go on sale, so do that instead.
A Hole New World	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr A Hole New World is an Action-Platformer designed to have the look and feel of a classic NES-style game like Mega Man or Ghosts ‘N’ Goblins, and it largely succeeds at delivering a quality experience much in that style, albeit with a huge jump in difficulty shortly into the game. Definitely worth a look for fans of retro-style games.
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug X	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Metal Slug X is an Action-Platformer that acts as an “alternate version” or “remix” of Metal Slug 2, changing around a lot of the enemies, stages, and power-ups from that game while still mostly offering the same experience. However, this game fixes Metal Slug 2’s terrible slowdown issues, and unless you’re a series fan or collector, you’ll want to skip Metal Slug 2 and go straight to this game, which is a superb Action-Platformer and an improvement over everything that came before in the series.
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug 3	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Metal Slug 3 is an Action-Platformer that many franchise fans see as the best in the series. Personally, I disagree, though I still think this is an excellent Action-Platformer well worth playing.
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug 4	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Metal Slug 4 is an Action-Platformer that makes a few small changes to the series formula, but overall this is more of the same great Action-Platformer gameplay, and well worth picking up for anyone who enjoys the genre.
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug 5	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Metal Slug 5 is an Action-Platformer that makes a few small changes to the series formula, but overall this is more of the same great Action-Platformer gameplay, and well worth picking up for anyone who enjoys the genre.
Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack	Compilation / Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Azure Striker Gunvolt: Striker Pack is a Compilation of two excellent Action-Platformers that play similarly to the Mega Man X and Mega Man Zero games, and the gameplay here is top-notch, although the 3DS origins of these games makes them feel a bit cramped, and the $40 price tag is pricey for what’s on offer here. Still, if you’re a fan of the genre who can find this game on sale, it’s absolutely worth snatching up.
Berserk Boy	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Berserk Boy is an Action-Platformer clearly inspired by classic games like Mega Man X, but with its own melee-focused gameplay that makes for some really excellent visceral combat and gives you a good amount of variety between weapon types. Fans of the classics in this genre will absolutely want to give this game a try.
Bleed 2	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	B+
tl;dr Bleed 2 is an Action-Platformer and 2-Stick Shooter with a simple, cartoony presentation and a silly story about a girl fending off an invasion. This game improves on the first one in almost every way, with even better action, better visuals, a great soundtrack, and the same wonderful variety, great level design, and excellent co-op. However, where it doesn’t improve on the first game is value – the main campaign can still be finished in an hour or so, and the extra game modes don’t stretch things out much more than that. For $20, I simply cannot recommend this game, but definitely get it if you see it on sale.
Bleed Complete Bundle	Compilation / Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	B+
tl;dr Bleed Complete Bundle includes Bleed and Bleed 2, both excellent Action-Platformers with 2-Stick Shooter gunplay, and both also extremely short and extremely overpriced games. Much as with the individual games, if you can get this collection at a discount, absolutely do so because the games are immensely fun. However, even with the savings this bundle provides, it’s still horribly overpriced at its normal price.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon is an Action-Platformer that was clearly inspired by Castlevania III, and it does a fantastic job of honoring the legacy of that game while updating the gameplay to be better-suited to modern sensibilities. I wish the game were longer, and I wish it went even farther in updating the classic Castlevania formula to suit the modern day, but largely this game succeeds and fans of the genre, especially old-school Castlevania fans, should consider this a must-have.
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Like its predecessor, Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is an Action-Platformer designed to look and feel like Castlevania 3, with this sequel bringing a new cast of characters, a longer campaign, a higher difficulty, and a new co-op mode. While I still prefer some of the qualities of the first game, the sequel is about on-par with it in terms of quality and brings enough new stuff that it doesn’t feel like a retread. If you’re a fan of the classic Castlevania games or just enjoy challenging old-school Action-Platformers, this game is well worth checking out.
Broforce	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Broforce is an action-platformer that pumps up testosterone-fueled shooting action to parody level, with lots of characters that are amazing parodies of classic action film heroes. It’s just frustrating that you’re never allowed to choose which hero you’re playing as.
Butcher	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	B+
tl;dr Butcher is an Action-Platformer with 2-Stick Shooter elements that plays a lot like the answer to the question “what if Doom was a 2D Platformer?”. The answer to that question is apparently, “It would be awesome fun”. The game is short and there are plenty of areas where it could do with being expanded on, but even within its own limitations, it’s a thrilling ride that fans of the genre and especially Doom franchise fans should definitely give a try.
Cave Story+	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Cave Story+ is an excellent version of a great Action-Platformer, but the price tag is absurdly high for a 15 year-old game that started out as a free download on PCs.
Caveblazers	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Caveblazers is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements that plays like a more combat-focused version of Spelunky. It’s not without its rough spots, but on the whole this is a surprisingly delightful challenging experience on the Switch.
Crypt Stalker	Compilation / Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Crypt Stalker is a Compilation of two (and a half) versions of Action-Platformer games inspired by the classic NES and Game Boy Castlevania games, and they succeed at this task beautifully. There are certainly some issues I could nitpick, but overall this is a delightful package that is well worth the $7 price tag.
Cyber Shadow	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Cyber Shadow is a challenging retro-style Action-Platformer clearly inspired by 8-Bit classics of the genre like the Ninja Gaiden series. While it takes a bit of time to really get interesting and the high difficulty means this game won’t be for everyone, the gameplay here is overall very well-crafted, the level design is superb, and fans of the genre looking for a fun challenge would do well to add this game to their collection.
Duck Game	Action-Platformer / Arcade	B+
tl;dr Duck Game is a multiplayer-focused Arcade-style Action-Platformer where players control ducks looking for weapons to kill each other. The fast, frenetic action here is delightful, and while I do have a few complaints, overall this is a superb game for anyone looking to add a great competitive multiplayer game to their Nintendo Switch library.
Fury Unleashed	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Fury Unleashed combines Action-Platformer, 2-Stick Shooter and Roguelike elements into one great co-op package, with an added fourth-wall breaking “comic book” presentation. If a joyfully action-packed blend of testosterone and Roguelike sounds good to you, this game will not disappoint.
Gunborg: Dark Matters	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	B+
tl;dr Gunborg is an Action-Platformer with 2-Stick Shooter elements that has players fighting through hordes of enemies and avoiding dangerous traps in a hostile spaceship. While this game doesn’t break any new ground for the genre, it is a very good entry in the genre, and one that fans of Action-Platformers should strongly consider getting.
Guns, Gore, and Cannoli 2	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	B+
tl;dr Guns, Gore, and Cannoli 2 is an Action-Platformer that takes the basic idea of the first game and greatly improves on it, adding in 2-stick aiming, fixing the controls, and making the gameplay much more fast-paced. It’s still repetitive at times, but overall this is a pretty good game.
Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX 2	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Gunvolt Chronicles 2 is an Action-Platformer with some similarities to the Mega Man games, but like its predecessor has more in the way of melee-style attacks. This sequel still makes it feel outstanding to bash into enemies, although the mix of a high difficulty and an ability to freely heal at any time makes this game feel either far too easy or too hard depending on whether you make use of that ability. Still, even with this issue (and a price tag that’s $10 more than the first game), Gunvolt Chronicles 2 is still a blast to play, and fans of Action-Platformers should absolutely seek it out.
Huntdown	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Huntdown is an excellent Action-Platformer that really captures the look and feel of a dystopian ’80s-style future, a la Robocop. The combat here is fairly unique for the genre due to its use of a cover mechanic, and the co-op is excellent. This game may be a tad sluggish, but overall this is an excellent entry into the genre well worth getting.
Katana Zero	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Katana Zero is a fast-paced Action-Platformer that has you playing a drug-fueled samurai assassin in an 80s-inspired setting, fighting through hordes of enemies where one hit kills. It’s a lot of fun and makes for some great action… except for those times when you get stuck dying again and again because of how unforgiving the game can be.
Kero Blaster	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Kero Blaster is an Action-Platformer that’s far less ambitious in its scope than the developer’s former work, Cave Story, but it is nevertheless a fun smaller experience that’s no less worth playing.
Killer Queen Black	Action-Platformer / Arcade	B+
tl;dr Killer Queen Black is a team-based multiplayer Action-Platformer where eight players compete to see which team is the first to complete one of three goals. It’s amazing fun when it works, though there’s a terrible lack of options and occasional frustrations that make this a lesser game than it could have been.
LEGO DC Super-Villains	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr LEGO DC Super-Villains is yet another game in Traveller’s Tales’ family-friendly franchise of LEGO Open-World 3D Action-Platformers, with this being the fourth major crossover into the DC Universe. The focus on the franchise’s villains really gives this game a unique story and tone, and the new character customization system is an absolute highlight of this game, making this one of the best LEGO games in the series thus far. This still isn’t likely to change your opinion if you previously lost interest in the Traveller’s Tales LEGO games, but if you still enjoy them you should consider this a must-have.
Mark of the Ninja Remastered	Action-Platformer / Stealth	B+
tl;dr Mark of the Ninja is a stealthy ninja game that does just about everything right, and this version of it is comprehensive. While I have a few complaints about repetitive gameplay and frustrations about getting caught, for the most part this is exactly what you want in a stealth game on the Nintendo Switch.
Mega Man Legacy Collection 2	Compilation / Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is a collection of the seventh through the tenth numbered games in this series of Action-Platformers. These games are all pretty good, but none reach the heights of the earlier games in the series, there’s less bonus content than in the first collection, and it’s $5 more. However, it’s still a solid collection of great Action-Platformers with a good amount of bonus content, and fans of the genre would still do well to give it a look.
Metaloid: Origin	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Metaloid is an Action-Platformer with gameplay that seems straight out of the Mega Man X series, although this game takes a completely different approach to its game structure and weapon upgrades. Fans of classic 16-bit era action-platformers should definitely give this game a look.
My Friend Pedro x Shotgun Cop Man Bundle	Compilation / Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	B+
tl;dr My Friend Pedro x Shotgun Cop Man Bundle is a Compilation containing the two named games, both phenomenal Action-Platformer and 2-Stick Shooter titles with ridiculous, joyously fun gameplay. Unfortunately, the price of this bundle just isn’t as good as getting the games individually when they’re on sale, so I suggest you do that instead.
Neon Inferno	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Neon Inferno is an Action-Platformer set in a cyberpunk-style New York City where players take the role of contract assassins working for The Family, taking out threats from enemy gangs. This game combines classic arcade-style Action-Platformer gameplay with Shooting Gallery fighting with a background layer and a counter system to make for some excellent action, and the gorgeous presentation oozing detail out of every pixel art pore is superb. If you’re looking for a great modern action game that evokes a bygone era of gaming, you definitely want to give this one a look.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is an Action-Platformer inspired by the classic Nintendo Entertainment System entries in the series, but taking the gameplay in new directions. For the most part, this makes for a game with plenty of variety and an absolutely gorgeous presentation, but occasional gameplay issues and lower framerates on Nintendo Switch hold this game back a bit. It’s still absolutely worth playing for Action-Platformer fans though, especially players who crave a challenge.
Olija	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Olija is an Action-Platformer where players take the role of a shipwrecked warrior using a magic harpoon to fight enemies and grapple around the game’s island locales. The dour and hopeless atmosphere in this game is fantastic, and both combat and traversal are enriched by the way the spear can move players around. The game has a few issues holding it back, but overall this is a fantastic game well worth playing.
Owlboy	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Owlboy is an action-platformer with an asterisk next to “platformer”, since much of the game takes place in the air. This game has Metroidvania elements but isn’t quite a Metroidvania, and while there are a few frustrations, by and large the game is fun to play, and the music and visuals are an absolute joy to experience.
Panzer Paladin	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Panzer Paladin is an old-school Action-Platformer with some great straightforward action (although the game tries to make itself seem more complex than it really is). The 8-bit-inspired presentation is top-notch, the level design is great, and overall this is a fantastic entry in the genre.
Risk of Rain 2 + Risk of Rain 1	Compilation / Roguelike / Third-Person Shooter / Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Risk of Rain 2 + Risk of Rain 1 is a Compilation available only in physical form containing the two named games, both included on the cartridge. The first game is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements, while the second game brings the formula of the first game into 3D as a Third-Person Shooter. These games aren’t without their issues (particularly bullet sponge enemies), but they’re solid action games, and this Compilation is such a good bargain that I would argue that unless you insist on getting your games in digital form, you should absolutely get this package instead of buying either game separately.
Rive: Ultimate Edition	2-Stick Shooter / Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Rive is a combination of 2-Stick Shooter and Action-Platformer that does a great job pushing intense action and a good amount of variety of enemies and combat situations. I wish the game’s upgrade system was more fleshed-out, but what’s here is solid.
Rogue Legacy	Action-Platformer Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Rogue Legacy is an action-platformer Roguelike that gives players a great sense of progression as they build up their family line with each attempt at exploring the cursed castle. The gameplay and presentation is a bit on the simple side, but the game manages to be charming and enjoyable regardless. Well worth giving a look.
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin	Action-Platformer / Action-RPG / Simulation	B+
tl;dr Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a game that combines Action-Platformer, Action-RPG, and farming Simulation elements into a really unique game that does all of those things well. Of particular note is the game’s rice farming Simulation elements, which are lovingly crafted and do a great job of making this niche topic relevant, fun, and beautiful. This game certainly has its rough spots – the combat is mostly good but has moments of frustration, and the simulation can get a bit tedious. However, this is overall a unique exploration of its respective genres and well worth playing for fans of those genres.
Savage Halloween	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Savage Halloween is an Action-Platformer with old-school charm that has players blasting monstrous enemies with an arsenal of guns. This game doesn’t do anything especially original, but overall it’s a fantastic Action-Platformer, and an absolute steal at $5.
ScourgeBringer	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr ScourgeBringer is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements that has you fighting through hordes of enemies in fast-paced combat with a sword and gun. The combat here is the star of the show, making it extremely fun to slice your way through enemies, though the gunplay is a bit of an afterthought, and at times the high-speed action makes you feel a bit too out-of-control. Expect to die a lot, and occasionally die because the game had you charging into action when you were trying to dodge away from it. However, despite its flaws, this game is still a blast to play.
Shadow Bug	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Shadow Bug is an Action-Platformer that uses motion controls or the touchscreen to have the player dash to attack targeted enemies instead of jumping, with the game’s levels and bosses built around this unique mechanic. It works pretty well, and has a great overall feel to it, supported by an excellent presentation. That said, the Switch’s motion controls are less than ideal, so if you have the option of using the touchscreen to play this game, that’s definitely the way to go.
Shinobi: Art of Vengeance	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an Action-Platformer where players battle a cartoonishly evil organization as the survivor of an attack on your ninja village. This game definitely has its rough spots, but overall this is a beautiful, fun, and varied Action-Platformer that’s sure to please fans of the genre and especially fans of the Shinobi series.
Valfaris	Action-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Valfaris is an Action-Platformer with a great presentation that’s very “metal”. However, under that presentation there are some clever game mechanics and a good amount of variety. While it’s not without its rough edges, overall this is a superb game well worth playing.
10 Second Ninja X	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr 10 Second Ninja X is a challenging Action-Platformer with the premise that players must take out all enemies in each level within 10 seconds. The game gives players just enough options to really encourage them to think through making effective use of time and shaving seconds off their time in a way that’s fantastic… if you’re skilled enough to be able to do that. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in the earlier parts of this game, unable to progress. In other words, novice players need not apply here. But so long as that isn’t you, this game is well worth playing.
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr The original Metal Slug is an Action-Platformer that is in many ways still impressive even to this day. It does have a few issues with its difficulty, controls, and frequent slowdown, but even despite this it is a landmark of the genre, well worth returning to even after all these years.
ACA NEOGEO Metal Slug 2	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Metal Slug 2 is an Action-Platformer that improves on its predecessor with better controls, plenty of new options, new weapons, and new vehicles, but these improvements are balanced out by massive, near-constant slowdown. It’s still an excellent game, but unless you’re a diehard series fan or a collector, you’ll want to skip this game and go straight to Metal Slug X, a remix of Metal Slug 2 that largely fixes this game’s slowdown issues.
ACA NEOGEO Top Hunter Roddy & Cathy	Action-Platformer / Arcade	B
tl;dr Top Hunter is an Action-Platformer with a focus on the action where players play intergalactic bounty hunters hunting pirates on different planets. This is a fairly unique game with some clever gameplay mechanics, good cartoony action, and solid co-op play. It’s a bit rough in places, but overall this is a fun romp well worth trying out.
Aegis Defenders	Action-Platformer / Tower Defense	B
tl;dr Aegis Defenders is a blend of Action-Platformer and Tower Defense that has players running and jumping around a central point they need to defend from enemies, building structures and combining character abilities for new structures. It does a good job of mixing up the way Tower Defense is done, and the co-op here is very good, though the single-player portion could have used better AI, and the platforming sections that start off every level seem a bit superfluous. Overall, this is a solid take on the Tower Defense genre that brings enough unique elements to be worth a look for genre fans.
Black Future ’88	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter / Roguelike	B
tl;dr Black Future ‘88 is an Action-Platformer with 2-Stick Shooter and Roguelike elements that has a fantastic presentation, a killer soundtrack, and some slick, fast-paced action. However, some players may feel frustrated by how the game is constantly rushing you, and the tiny, hard-to-read text will almost certainly frustrate you. Still, if you’re looking for a challenging Action game, Black Future ‘88 is well worth a try.
Blazing Chrome	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Blazing Chrome is an Action-Platformer that plays like a long-lost 16-bit entry in the Contra series, with the same level of intense action, and its delightfully retro presentation. Its high challenge level, fitting for the Contra series, means it won’t be for everyone. However, if you like challenging action, this game should definitely be one you give a try.
Bleed	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	B
tl;dr Bleed is an Action-Platformer and 2-Stick Shooter with a simple, cartoony presentation and a silly story about a young woman hunting down heroes to prove she’s a better hero. The gameplay here is absolutely fantastic, with some really inventive level design, great controls, a lot of variety, and excellent co-op. Unfortunately, this game is painfully short and insultingly overpriced, and as good as it is, I cannot recommend spending $15 for what amounts to about an hour of gameplay. If you can get it on sale at a good price, definitely do, but otherwise it isn’t worth the cost.
Contra X Castlevania Bundle	Compilation / Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Contra x Castlevania Bundle includes the Action-Platformer Contra: Operation Galuga, as well as the Compilation of Metroidvania games, Castlevania Dominus Collection. This is an odd pairing, but the games contained within this bundle are mostly all good and well worth playing. This bundle only represents a modest savings over buying the individual games, but if you’re looking to catch up on 2024’s Castlevania/Contra releases, this is a good way to do it.
Cursed Castilla	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Cursed Castilla is an Action-Platformer that perfectly copies the look, sound, and feel of the classic Ghosts ‘N’ Goblins series while bringing a few of its own unique gameplay elements. Like those games, this game has solid gameplay, but presents a formidable challenge. It’s just a shame that this game chose to copy the earlier games in the Ghosts ‘N’ Goblins series instead of the series’ pinnacle, Super Ghouls ‘N’ Ghosts. Still, for what it aims to be, Cursed Castilla absolutely hits its mark.
Dust: An Elysian Tail	Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Dust: An Elysian Tail is an Action-Platformer with Metroidvania elements. The Metroidvania mechanics here leave a bit to be desired, and the gameplay here often feels barely-controlled and chaotic, but despite these issues, this is still a thoroughly-enjoyable Action game with exciting combat and a great presentation.
Ghoulboy	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Ghoulboy is an Action-Platformer with an old-school aesthetic and sensibilities. It can be repetitive at times, and doesn’t do anything especially new or inventive for the genre, but the gameplay is solid and fans of this sort of game should find it to be worth a try.
Gravity Circuit	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Gravity Circuit is an Action-Platformer where players fight enemies as a heroic robot with gameplay heavily inspired by the Mega Man X series, with some Bionic Commando as well. The presentation and gameplay here are both excellent, giving us something similar to the Mega Man games while adding in plenty of unique elements of its own. There are a few frustrations I have with this game, and in particular I think the challenge level is too high, but overall this is a great Action-Platformer that genre fans should definitely check out.
Gunlord X	Action-Platformer / Shmup	B
tl;dr Gunlord X is an Action-Platformer originally intended for the Neo Geo, and because of this it feels like a blast from the past, with tons of great Turrican-style action interspersed with some Shmup-style stages. The gameplay suffers a bit due to a limited point of view and boss battles that result in difficulty spikes, but this is still overall a superb Action game well worth playing, especially for fans of the genre.
Gunman Clive HD Collection	Compilation / Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Gunman Clive HD Collection is a pair of solid action-platformers with a unique cel-shaded “hand-drawn” look. Although the gameplay is fairly simple and straightforward, the game’s stages and bosses can be amusingly creative at times. Definitely worth a look.
Infinite – Beyond the Mind	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Infinite – Beyond the Mind is an Action-Platformer where players double-jump, dash, and sword slash their way through enemies. There’s nothing truly original about this gameplay, and the game sometimes makes it too easy to zip past all the enemies it tosses at you, but overall this is a fun entry in the genre that does a great job making the player feel like a nearly unstoppable powerhouse.
Jet Set Knights	Arcade / Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Jet Set Knights is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer where players fight hordes of monsters to keep them from getting to a princess. The gameplay here is generally pretty good, but it doesn’t quite reach the same level as similar games like Towerfall, especially with somewhat poor level design, and minor Tower Defense elements that are promising but never properly developed. This is still an enjoyable game, especially in multiplayer, and those who enjoyed Towerfall but want to play something slightly different may find this game worth a look.
LEGO The Incredibles	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr LEGO The Incredibles is yet another game in Traveller’s Tales’ family-friendly franchise of LEGO Open-World 3D Action-Platformers, this time with its focus on Pixar’s superhero franchise. This game doesn’t dramatically change the usual Traveller’s Tales formula, but it gets a lot of things right, such as its custom character creator, its early access to the game’s Open-World, and its useful new co-op abilities. I don’t think this game will win over anyone who’s sick of the LEGO franchise at this point, but I do think it’s one of the more underrated games in that franchise.
Ninja Striker!	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Ninja Striker! Is a fast-paced family-friendly retro-style Action-Platformer where players breeze through the game’s levels attacking one enemy after another. It’s a game that threatens to be a bit too easy at times, and can even feel like it’s on autopilot, but players can find a challenge in the bosses and in speed-running the game, and it’s just so fun to move around and blast through the game’s levels that I’d argue this game is well worth the miniscule $4 price tag. Definitely give it a try.
Nuclear Blaze	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Nuclear Blaze is an Action-Platformer that puts players in the role of a lone firefighter trying to put out a raging fire in a secret research facility. The game delivers beautifully on the exciting premise, with some really fun and unique gameplay that makes players think about the best way to fight the encroaching flames, and the presentation is outstanding. It’s a shame that the game is a bit short and could have done so much more with its wonderful foundation, and death is frequent and frustrating, but overall this is a superb experience within the genre.
Odallus: The Dark Call	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Odallus: The Dark Call is an Action-Platformer that copies elements of old-school NES games in the genre, especially Castlevania. While it has some control issues and a bit of repetitive level design, the core gameplay here is still pretty good, and worth a look for fans of the genre.
Rising Hell	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	B
tl;dr Rising Hell is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements that has players climbing a tower and ripping into demonic enemies with claws. This game’s metal-infused presentation and visceral combat are compelling, but the challenge level may be a bit too high for some, in part thanks to somewhat slow attacks and the automatic hellbreak ability. On balance, this game is well worth looking into if you’re up for a challenge and looking for a combat-focused Platformer.
Shadow Blade: Reload	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Shadow Blade Reload is a straightforward ninja action game. It doesn’t do anything especially new or unique for the genre, but what it does do, it does (mostly) very well.
Shovel Knight Showdown	Action-Platformer / Fighting Game	B
tl;dr Shovel Knight Showdown is a standalone expansion to Shovel Knight, the fourth expansion out of four. This is a hybrid of Action-Platformer and Fighting Game that has the same basic gameplay of the Shovel Knight games, but now has a focus on multiplayer arena battles. The gameplay here is solid, but this isn’t as groundbreaking as Shovel Knight, and the AI is kinda’ dumb so you’ll definitely want to play with friends. However, if you do have friends to throw down with, this is definitely worth a look.
Stick Fight: The Game	Action-Platformer / Party Game	B
tl;dr Stick Fight is an arena-based multiplayer-focused Action-Platformer Party game where players fight as stick figures, trying to survive the longest. It’s an extremely janky game, but that jankiness actually works in the game’s favor, giving it a sloppy sort of charm. Add in a good variety of levels and weapons and you have a game that’s sure to make for a lot of fun at parties. It’s just a shame it’s so feature-poor and the online play is so unreliable – those are problems that do not add to this game’s charm.
Super Crush KO	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Super Crush KO is an Action-Platformer with a fantastic fighting engine that’s unfortunately wasted on repetitive level design and repetitive enemies. This is a game that’s more likely to be fun in short bursts, because the core gameplay is phenomenal… it just gets old a bit more quickly than I’d like it to.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game is yet another game in Traveller’s Tales’ family-friendly franchise of LEGO Open-World 3D Action-Platformers. This entry in the franchise makes some strong additions to the combat that really bring this game into its own, making it one of the better games in the LEGO franchise, though not so different from prior games that it’s likely to attract those who grew sick of the series prior to this.
Top Run	Auto-Runner / Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Top Run is an Auto-Runner with Action-Platformer elements that has some really excellent arcade-style gameplay and a great 80s-inspired motif with a killer soundtrack. The game is a bit shallow and repetitive, but it succeeds at what it’s aiming to do, and is an overall fun arcadey experience.
Unruly Heroes	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Unruly Heroes is an action-platformer based loosely on the classic Chinese tale Journey West, having you control four heroes as they fight through some really gorgeous levels. This game isn’t without its problems, but overall it is a solid, great-looking game that’s really fun to play.
Volgarr the Viking	Action-Platformer	B
tl;dr Volgarr is an Action-Platformer where players take the role of a Conan-type warrior and fight through hordes of enemies in challenging levels. The gameplay here is very good, but only if you have the skill or patience to deal with its high difficulty level.
Atomik: RunGunJumpGun	Auto-Runner / Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Atomik is an Auto-Runner with Action-Platformer elements where players use a chain gun to alternately blast away obstacles or propel themselves up into the air. It’s super-challenging, and I would’ve liked the player to have more agency, but overall this is a fast-paced, fun, adrenaline-fueled take on the genre that’s well worth playing.
Contra Anniversary Collection	Compilation / Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Contra Anniversary Collection is a collection of super-difficult Action-Platformers that includes ten great games from early in the series (well, if we’re honest, it’s more like five games, given that they’re including multiple versions of the same games as different entries). These games are absurdly unforgiving, but they’re still solid classics, and there’s a good amount of bonus content here as well. This collection is worth a look.
Contra: Operation Galuga	Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Contra: Operation Galuga is a re-imagining of the first game in the Action-Platformer series, and while it stumbles in many areas (nasty load times, terrible story, disposable new gameplay elements), the core gameplay is still solid. Fans of the genre and the Contra series specifically will want to play this game, though I doubt they’ll find it to be among their favorites in the genre.
Gunkid 99	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	B-
tl;dr Gunkid 99 is an Action-Platformer with 2-Stick Shooter elements where players fight enemies within an enclosed arena, but their primary goal is to just keep grabbing up weapons as they appear. This is a great concept with a lot of potential, but this game doesn’t do quite enough to make good use of it, with one of the bigger omissions here being a lack of a multiplayer mode. As a result, this is still a good game, but it feels like it missed an opportunity to be a much better one.
Guns, Gore, and Cannoli	Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Guns, Gore, and Cannoli is an Action-Platformer that combines zombies and the Mafia, and the result is a decent entry in the genre, albeit one that’s a bit repetitive and has some frustrating control issues.
Hardcore Mecha	Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Hardcore Mecha is an Action-Platformer with a particular focus on combat, with players taking the role of a mech pilot fighting against an army of terrorists, many riding their own mechs. The platforming is lacking and the controls are a bit unresponsive, but the decent combat still makes this worth checking out for players craving a 2D mech Action game.
Helvetii	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	B-
tl;dr Helvetii is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements, and while the Roguelike side of things is kinda’ half-baked, the Action-Platformer combat is good, making for an enjoyable game that’s worth trying out.
Icey	Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Icey is a combo-heavy Action-Platformer with a meta narrative that has the player struggling against a demanding narrator. The meta elements of this game are a bit of a mixed bag, but the action itself is decent.
JALECOlle Famicom Ver. Pizza Pop!	Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Pizza Pop! is an Action-Platformer that was never released in the West, and while I can see how hit detection issues would have been a good reason for this, this release adds a second “Extend Ver.” version of the game that’s much more polished, and the result is a great retro-style Action-Platformer with a lot of variety and a ton of personality, even if the gameplay is a tad on the simple side.
LEGO Harry Potter Collection	Compilation / 3D Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr LEGO Harry Potter Collection is a good Compilation of the two LEGO Harry Potter games, but it’s not a great one. Some performance issues persist, and the preserved lack of continuity between the two included games is disappointing. If you’re a fan of LEGO and/or Harry Potter, you’ll likely still enjoy this, but it definitely feels like it could have been better, especially after all these years since the original releases.
LEGO Jurassic World	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr LEGO Jurassic World is a solid port of yet another game in Traveller’s Tales’ family-friendly franchise of LEGO mash-up games with good (though at times simple and repetitive) 3D Action-Platformer gameplay and some minimal Open World elements. This game follows the plot of the first four Jurassic Park films, and while it does a good enough job with that, it feels like a somewhat cynical game that reuses a lot of what all the other LEGO games have done. Not bad, but it’s going to feel very familiar to anyone who’s played any other LEGO game.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is a solid port of one of the better games in Traveller’s Tales’ family-friendly franchise of LEGO mash-up games with good (though at times simple and repetitive) 3D Action-Platformer gameplay and Open World elements (once you get to them). The Nintendo Switch version is inexplicably more expensive despite this game being a decade old now, but if you enjoy LEGO and/or Marvel and want a strong co-op experience that combines both, this is an excellent choice.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 is yet another game in Traveller’s Tales’ family-friendly franchise of LEGO Open-World 3D Action-Platformers. This game offers more superhero antics in an Open-World, but without any major enhancements that I can think of. The core gameplay is still good, though some players may have tired of it by this point. Basically, if you like Marvel Comics and haven’t yet grown tired of LEGO games, you’ll probably enjoy this.
Omega Strike	Action-Platformer / Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Omega Strike is an Action-Platformer with Metroidvaia elements that has players gradually unlocking abilities for three swappable characters. This game can be a tad slow-paced and repetitive, but overall it’s an enjoyable retro-style experience, and fans of these genres will find it worth a try, especially if you can catch it in a good sale.
Regions of Ruin	Action-RPG / Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Regions of Ruin is a unique blend of side-scrolling Action-RPG, Action-Platformer, and Management Sim elements. None of these parts is all that great or noteworthy, but together they form something that’s just novel enough to overcome these shortcomings and become something worth a try.
Shadow of the Ninja Reborn	Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is an Action-Platformer and a remake of a classic Nintendo Entertainment System game about ninjas sent to take down an evil dictator. This remake introduces a huge number of changes, some good (like the beautiful new presentation and the ability to use both weapon types without having to swap them out) and some bad (awkward jumping and item selection). The result is still an enjoyable re-imagining of the original game, but this feels like it could have been much better if these flaws had been addressed.
Steel Assault	Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Steel Assault is an Action-Platformer that has players fighting through enemies and climbing between platforms using a zipline-style grappling hook. It’s got a great mix of old-school charm and interesting gameplay ideas, but the gameplay can be overly demanding of the player without letting them know what to do, and once they figure it out the game is extremely short. There’s still some quality gameplay here, but only if you’re not bothered by the game’s flaws.
Taimumari: Complete Edition	Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Taimumari is an Action-Platformer that combines melee attacks with a Mega Man-style level structure. This is a rough game that feels clunky at times and has a terrible localization, but underneath that is some fun gameplay worth playing, especially if you’re a fan of the genre. At least, if you can get the game at a discount – the standard asking price is far too steep for what’s on offer here.
Treadnauts	Arcade / Action-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Treadnauts is a multiplayer-focused arena-based Arcade-style Action-Platformer with players using wall-crawling tanks to try to take each other out. This game uses some fun but challenging physics to assist in your movement, and these make this a game that will be somewhat challenging for less-skilled players to master. It’s also lacking online play and any sort of significant single-player mode. However, if you’re looking to add a game to your Party Game rotation, this is a solid choice.
Velocity 2X	Action-Platformer / Shmup	B-
tl;dr Velocity 2X is a game that jumps back and forth between Action-Platformer and Shmup gameplay styles, with a focus on speed and being able to teleport around the levels as you zip through them. It’s fun gameplay, but it’s somewhat marred by a frustrating control scheme that you can’t change.
7 Horizons	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr 7 Horizons is a family-friendly Action-Platformer that has players taking the role of members of a peacekeeping team sent to fend off alien invaders plundering their planet for resources. This game is seemingly inspired by classics of the genre, but has none of the challenge of those games, nor any especially unique or compelling hook to make the game stand out. As a way to gently introduce players to Action-Platformers, this isn’t a terrible choice, but it’s otherwise a pretty forgettable entry in the genre.
ACA NEOGEO Blue’s Journey	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Blue’s Journey is an Action-Platformer with an adorable presentation and an environmentalist message, but it’s filled with numerous frustrations that make it harder than its appearance would lead you to believe. Unless you don’t mind dying countless times, this one probably isn’t for you.
Chop	Action-Platformer / Arcade	C+
tl;dr Chop is an arena-based Action-Platformer that has up to four muscular characters in a bloody battle to the death. While this has its moments of fun, the game has far too many problems getting in the way, from awkward controls to poor design choices. Ultimately, it’s a game that had promise, but not one you’ll likely want to buy.
Contra Run & Gun Bundle	Compilation / Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Contra Run & Gun Bundle includes the Action-Platformer Contra: Operation Galuga, as well as the Compilation of Action-Platformers, Contra Anniversary Collection. Pretty much everything in this bundle is good, if a bit overly-hard. However, one of the two included games goes on sale regularly, resulting in a better price buying the games separately than you can get in this bundle. The result is a good bundle whose value leaves something to be desired.
Couch Co-Op Bundle Vol. 2	Compilation / Shmup / Roguelike / Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr The Couch Co-Op Bundle Vol. 2 is a Compilation of Black Paradox, Bleed, Shikhondo – Soul Eater, and Vertical Drop Heroes HD. This is a decent selection of games with a modest discount, but there’s nothing to get super-excited about here. If you’re looking to fill out the co-op action games in your Nintendo Switch library you may want to give this bundle a shot, but don’t set your expectations too high.
Dex	Action-Platformer / RPG	C+
tl;dr Dex is an Action-Platformer with strong RPG elements set in a cyberpunk world. Be warned that the first few hours of this game are terrible, and even past that this game’s Action-Platformer elements remain pretty bad throughout. However, once the game’s RPG elements open up, this part of the game has some good content to offer, and players with the patience to see it will be rewarded with an interesting world to explore. If you think you can bear with the game’s flaws until it gets better, Dex might be worth a look.
Door Kickers: Action Squad	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Door Kickers: Action Squad is an Action-Platformer where players take the role of a SWAT team member entering structures full of hostile enemies trying to take them out and rescue hostages. There are some clever ideas here and a fantastic nostalgic retro-inspired presentation, but this game is too simple and shallow to recommend over numerous better games in the genre on Nintendo Switch.
EleMetals: Death Metal Death Match!	Action-Platformer / Party Game	C+
tl;dr EleMetals is an arena-based Action-Platformer that has players duking it out in deathtrap-filled arenas with a heavy metal theme. The action here is great… until you start to feel your hands suffering because of all the button-mashing the game requires. There are other good multiplayer Action-Platformers that don’t put you through this ordeal, you should probably play one of those instead.
Firework	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Firework is an Action-Platformer with gameplay mechanics like Mega Man X, though with far more linear progression. The core gameplay here is good, but the repetitive levels and enemies often makes it feel too monotonous. Still, fans of the genre may want to give it a look.
Fusion Shift	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Fusion Shift is an Action-Platformer that puts players in the role of a floating alien blob capable of possessing humans, and tasks them with killing all humans in each level. It’s a fun premise that works well, but isn’t really utilized to its fullest here, with some dumb enemy AI and a lack of multiplayer. However, for only $3.50, this is still an enjoyable game that should make for a fun distraction.
Gonner2	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter / Roguelike	C+
tl;dr GoNNER2 is an Action-Platformer with 2-Stick Shooter and Roguelike elements that, like the first game, is very odd, and has no intention of explaining any of what the heck is going on. This is certainly an improvement, with both the 2-Stick Shooter mechanics and multiplayer being significant additions. But in the end, this game still suffers from the same issues as its predecessor – this is a very niche game that’s just not welcoming to new players.
Heroine Anthem Zero: Episode 1	Action-Platformer / Action-RPG	C+
tl;dr Heroine Anthem Zero is an Action-Platformer with RPG elements that has players in the role of a forest ranger-type character in a medieval fantasy world who happens across a mysterious unrest and must investigate its cause. The hand-drawn visuals and orchestral and voiced music is absolutely gorgeous, and the world and characters are intriguing, but players wanting to see more of these will have their patience constantly tested as the game’s pacing is atrociously bad, thanks in part to incessant loading screen after loading screen. If you can bear with it, there’s some wonderful content here to enjoy, but don’t attempt to do so unless you are extremely patient.
High Noon Revolver	Action-Platformer / Arcade	C+
tl;dr High Noon Revolver is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer with Auto-Runner and Roguelike elements and a Wild West theme. The characters and their firing rate are both sluggish, and so too is the frequency with which you unlock new characters. However, for a mere $3, this is worth a look if the premise sounds interesting to you.
King of the Hat	Action-Platformer / Arcade	C+
tl;dr King of the Hat is a family-friendly Arcade-style arena-based multiplayer-focused Action-Platformer where up to four players facing off with hat-wearing characters whose hats are both a weapon but also their greatest weakness. While this idea is clever, and the core gameplay is decent, there’s not a whole lot more going on here. And while players looking to throw down in multiplayer will likely enjoy this, there’s a wealth of better games on Nintendo Switch that are more deserving of your attention.
LEGO Worlds	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr LEGO Worlds is an Open-World 3D Action-Platformer that many have compared to Minecraft, with its procedurally-generated environments and the player’s ability to deform and recreate the environment as they like. There’s a lot of promise here, and a surprisingly good presentation, but unfortunately it comes with a lot of problems. Interacting with the environment is fiddly, the game’s goal structure is unclear and frustrating, and the game feels overall unpolished. If you’re looking for something that breaks the mold of the usual Traveller’s Tales LEGO game formula, this may be worth a look, but be prepared for the headaches that come with it.
Luckslinger	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Luckslinger is an Action-Platformer set in the Wild West where players can collect luck from downed enemies to affect the frequency of lucky and unlucky events happening. It’s a clever idea, but the lack of control over this mechanic ultimately just makes much of the game feel random. This game isn’t without its charms, but it doesn’t live up to the potential of its clever concept.
Mechstermination Force	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Mechstermination Force is an Action-Platformer that has players fighting one giant hulking mech after another like one big boss rush mode, and where each of those bosses is a level unto itself. It’s a wonderful concept, but it’s hobbled by a combination of a high difficulty level and sluggish and at times unresponsive controls.
Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD	First-Person Shooter / 3D Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath is a port of a 2005 Xbox First-Person Shooter with 3D Action-Platformer elements. While there are some creative ideas at work here, at every turn this game is marred by poor design choices that make the game needlessly tedious, and missing options that really feel like they were needed. The result is a game that still has some fun to offer, but you have to put up with a lot of frustration to actually enjoy it.
Paperbound Brawlers	Arcade / Action-Platformer / Party Game	C+
tl;dr Paperbound Brawlers is a multiplayer-focused arena-based Arcade-style Action-Platformer and Party game where players attack each other while shifting gravity to move around the arena. There’s some fun and original gameplay here, but it feels rough and lacks some polish that could have greatly improved it. Overall it’s a worthwhile entry into its genre, but one with a lot of room for improvement.
Pixel Gladiator	Action-Platformer / Tower Defense	C+
tl;dr Pixel Gladiator is a combination Action-Platformer and Tower Defense game that has you shooting monsters while defending your base. Unfortunately, poor controls, a lack of content, and some disappointing gameplay decisions squander this game’s potential. It still has fun moments, but it’s not nearly as good as it could have been.
RetroRealms: Ash vs Evil Dead	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr RetroRealms: Ash vs Evil Dead is an Action-Platformer based on the Evil Dead horror franchise and promising the potential to swap in content from other RetroRealms games you’ve bought. However, the game itself is merely decent, not great, and the extra features you can unlock aren’t worth the hype. Unless you’re a huge fan of the source material, you should stick to better games in the genre.
RetroRealms: Halloween	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr RetroRealms: Halloween is an Action-Platformer based on the Halloween horror franchise and promising the potential to swap in content from other RetroRealms games you’ve bought. However, the game itself is merely decent, not great, and the extra features you can unlock aren’t worth the hype. Unless you’re a huge fan of the source material, you should stick to better games in the genre.
RetroRealms Double Feature: Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead	Compilation / Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr RetroRealms Double Feature: Halloween and Ash vs Evil Dead is a Compilation of RetroRealms: Halloween and RetroRealms: Ash vs Evil Dead, both similar Action-Platformers that are decent but nothing special other than being based on well-established Horror film franchises. This is a decent bundle of the two games, but not enough to overcome the games’ middling quality, and unless you’re a fan of the franchises these games represent, you’re better off just getting better games in the genre.
Risk of Rain	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	C+
tl;dr Risk of Rain is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements that has some interesting ideas it brings to the genre, but ultimately it doesn’t quite meet its potential thanks to its poor AI and bullet sponge enemies.
Sacred Stones	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Sacred Stones is a challenging Action-Platformer that plays like a boss rush. The gameplay and boss design here is very good, although players may stumble at first due to a poor localization, confusing opening, and a high challenge level. However, players who crave that challenge will find a lot to like here.
Sega Ages Shinobi	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Shinobi is a classic Action-Platformer originally released to arcades in 1987. While there’s still some fun gameplay here and multiple iconic moments, the game is still extremely short and filled with unfair gameplay designed to stretch out play time and sap quarters from players. This version’s helpful features soften the blow of some of that, and what remains is a decent but flawed game.
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Shantae Advance is an Action-Platformer that was never released when it was originally created for Game Boy Advance, but now it’s brushed up and finally getting its day on modern platforms. Unfortunately, while this isn’t a bad game, it can’t compare to most other games in its series, thanks to confusing level design despite that this game isn’t a Metroidvania like most of the games in the Shantae series. If you’re a series fan, this is a great gift… but otherwise, you’re better off playing other games in the series.
Super Cyborg	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Super Cyborg is an Action-Platformer that is clearly directly inspired by the classic game Contra, and it does an excellent job of replicating that game’s gameplay and visual style. Unfortunately, it fails to do anything especially original or noteworthy, making it a forgettable experience. If you enjoy Action-Platformers, you’ll probably enjoy this one, but it’s not going to provide you with anything you haven’t already seen countless times elsewhere.
Super Daryl Deluxe	Action-RPG / Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Super Daryl Deluxe is a side-scrolling Action-RPG/Platformer with a really unique style and some cool customization options for combat. Unfortunately, the combat is clunky and frustrating and the game is bogged down by fetch quests.
The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors	Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr The Ninja Saviors is an Action-Platformer that has players fighting hordes of enemies as a robotic ninja. Originally released on SNES, this game has reworked visuals and enhanced features, but still has the same great fighting engine that makes for some fun action for those who are up for a challenge. It’s just a shame that movement in the game is so slow and clunky.
They Bleed Pixels	Platformer / Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr They Bleed Pixels is a challenging Platformer with Action-Platformer elements that has players fighting through deadly blood-soaked spike and buzzsaw-filled levels as a girl with magically-transformed stabby-hands. The core gameplay here is great, but it’s sabotaged by combat controls that force a lot of different types of attack into just one button. Fans of the genre with patience for unusual control schemes may enjoy this, but everyone else may find this too frustrating to be worthwhile.
Thy Sword	Arcade / Action-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Thy Sword is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer where players slash their way through rooms full of enemies. This game has a lot of great retro-style charm and appeal, but it unfortunately suffers from issues with frustrating hit detection, repetitive gameplay, and slow progression. As a result, what could have been a great throwback game is instead just a decent one.
Apple Knight	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Apple Knight is a pretty generic Action-Platformer, but it has good level design and plays well enough. It’s a shame the character progression is so slow and the music is so terrible you’ll want to hit the mute button, but if you can get this game on sale, it’s a decent time-waster.
Arcade Archives Don Doko Don	Action-Platformer / Arcade	C
tl;dr Don Doko Don is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer that strongly resembles Bubble Bobble, though it’s more challenging and not on par with that beloved classic. It’s not a terrible game, but I don’t think it will hold the interest of modern players for very long before they give up and move on to something else.
Assault Suits Valken Declassified	Action-Platformer / Shmup	C
tl;dr Assault Suits Valken, elsewhere known as Cybernator, is an Action-Platformer with Shmup sections that has been given a wonderful port here with tons of extra content and options. Unfortunately, the game being ported is still a clunky, frustrating mess that doesn’t really deserve all this care and attention it’s received.
Biolab Wars	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Biolab Wars is an Action-Platformer with a great retro-style NES/SNES pixel art aesthetic, and not much else. It’s not terrible, but the gameplay is repetitive, uninspired, and stiff. it’s not bad, but it’s extremely forgettable.
Crashnauts	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter / Party Game	C
tl;dr Crashnauts is an arena-based Action-Platformer Party Game. While it works and there’s nothing especially wrong with it, it’s pretty forgettable and what few unique elements it has just serve to make it chaotic and lacking any real depth.
Devious Dungeon	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Devious Dungeon is an Action-Platformer with some light Roguelike elements that has players delving into a dungeon and collecting loot to power up their character. This game is very similar to Rogue Legacy, but unfortunately it’s also far, far inferior to that game in just about every way, with the main problem here being dull, monotonous, repetitive gameplay. You’re much better off going with Rogue Legacy or another game in the genre instead.
Devious Dungeon 2	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Devious Dungeon 2, like its predecessor, is an Action-Platformer with some light Roguelike elements that has players delving into a dungeon and collecting loot to power up their character. Unfortunately, this game is only a marginal improvement over the first game when it needed a major overhaul to compete with the likes of Rogue Legacy. Once again, the gameplay here is limited and repetitive, and you’re much better off going with something else.
Devious Dungeon Collection	Compilation / Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Devious Dungeon Collection is a Compilation of Devious Dungeon and Devious Dungeon 2. Both games are mediocre Action-Platformers with light Roguelike elements that are too repetitive and limited to compete with other similar games on the market, and this Compilation doesn’t offer enough of a discount to make up for that fact.
Get Me Outta Here	Action-Platformer / Arcade	C
tl;dr Get Me Outta Here is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer where players play an abducted human blasting waves of aliens on a spaceship. There’s a decent variety of enemies to fight here, but the core gameplay remains constant and gets repetitive pretty quickly. Also, the digitized voices here are pretty annoying. All in all, this is game is okay, but there are much better options on the Switch.
Gonner	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	C
tl;dr Gonner is an Action-Platformer with Roguelike elements that is very odd, and has no intention of explaining any of what the heck is going on. This is frustrating enough, but in addition, the game is punishingly difficult. At the very least, the presentation is truly unique, though not everyone will enjoy it. While i don’t think this is a bad game, it is an extremely niche one that’s not for everyone.
Gravity Oddity	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter / Roguelike	C
tl;dr Gravity Oddity is a game that combines Action-Platformer, 2-Stick Shooter, and Roguelike elements with a gameplay mechanic that lets players walk on any surface and use a teleport gun to zap between surfaces. Unfortunately, poor level design, poor boss design, and an underwhelming presentation all prevent this game from fully reaching the potential of its premise.
Gunpowder on the Teeth: Arcade	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Gunpowder on the Teeth: Arcade is an Action-Platformer with a black-and-white war footage aesthetic, which looks great, but unfortunately makes the game more frustrating to play… and this is a game loaded with frustrations. If you like your games super-difficult, you might enjoy this, but most players are better off looking elsewhere.
Gunslugs 2	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Gunslugs 2, much like the first game, is an Action-Platformer with simple gameplay and a retro-style presentation that does little to set itself apart, has dumb enemy AI, and its basic design frustratingly both encourages and discourages fast-paced action. While this is an improvement over the first game, it’s not enough of an improvement to make this worth getting instead of countless better games in the genre on Nintendo Switch.
Haunted: Halloween ’86	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Haunted: Halloween ‘86 is an Action-Platformer that has players taking the role of a pair of kids fighting a horde of undead enemies. This game does try some interesting things, but issues with movement and the limitations of the retro hardware this game was designed for keep this from being the fun nostalgia trip it aims to be.
Mega Man Battle & Fighters	Compilation / Action-Platformer / Fighting Game	C
tl;dr Mega Man Battle & Fighters is a Compilation of two Fighting Games with strong Action-Platformer elements, Mega Man: The Power Battle, and Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters, both genuinely fun games that play like a boss rush of the Mega Man franchise. Unfortunately, these versions of the games were heavily cut back for their port to NEOGEO Pocket Color, and on top of that, the lack of a proper English localization is irritating. Even worse, players can already get Arcade-perfect versions of these games in Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium. With this being the case, why would anyone bother with these versions?
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2	Compilation / Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 + 2 contains the first eight numbered games in the Mega Man X series in a physical release, and the result is an extremely uneven package. Not only are the first four games much better than the latter four, but the game requires a 6.6GB download to play the latter four games. At the very least, the bonus content here is quite good, but that’s hardly enough to justify buying such a broken package when you can just get the good stuff by buying Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1 on the eShop. Unless you want the first four games on a cartridge, you should do that instead.
Metal Slug 1st & 2nd Mission Double Pack	Compilation / Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Metal Slug 1st & 2nd Mission Double Pack is a Compilation of the two named Action-Platformers in SNK’s long-running series originally released on the NEOGEO Pocket Color. Unfortunately, the limitations of that hardware really hobble these games when they’re compared to other games in the genre or even in its own series, including the ACA NEOGEO games you can get on the Nintendo Switch. Unless you have a nostalgia for the original releases, you’re better off sticking with other games in the Metal Slug series.
Moon Raider	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Moon Raider is an Action-Platformer about a young girl fighting hostile aliens on the moon while searching for a cure to her mother’s illness. This game has a nice retro-style presentation and seems like it could have been built up to become a more interesting Metroidvania, but instead it’s mostly a pretty disposable Action-Platformer that does little to distinguish itself within its genre.
QUByte Classics – Jim Power: The Lost Dimension by PIKO	Compilation / Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Jim Power is a Compilation of two versions of the same Action-Platformer, albeit not the Super Nintendo game that was released back in 1993 but an unreleased (until recently) Sega Genesis version and a newly-developed Nintendo Entertainment System version. Both versions are flawed but decent games, and while you’re not likely to see these as “classics”, they aren’t without their charms.
Songs for a Hero: Definitive Edition	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Songs for a Hero is an Action-Platformer where players take the role of a princess-saving hero who sings about everything going on as he’s on his adventure. The singing is not very good and will grow tiresome quickly, and the gameplay is just not interesting enough to be worthwhile on its own. This isn’t a terrible Action-Platformer, but you have so many better options on Nintendo Switch.
Swords & Bones	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Swords & Bones is an Action-Platformer where you play a nameless knight fighting through monsters to take down a wolf demon. The presentation has some good elements here, but the gameplay is mediocre and poorly-paced, and it’s all wrapped in a package that’s mired by sleazy sales tactics. This isn’t a bad game, but you have much better options on the eShop.
Swords & Bones 2	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Swords & Bones 2 is an Action-Platformer where you play a warrior princess fighting through monsters to take down a demon. The presentation has some decent elements here, but the gameplay is mediocre and poorly-paced, and this game doesn’t fix any of the issues that were present in the previous game. This isn’t a bad game, but you have much better options on the eShop.
Toast Time: Smash Up!	Arcade / Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Toast Time is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer where players control toasters that attack by flinging toast, which also flings them in the opposite direction. It’s a clever concept, but it makes the gameplay chaotic, especially in multiplayer. It’s still enjoyable in short sessions, but it’s not likely to be a game you’ll play for very long.
Towertale	Action-Platformer	C
tl;dr Towertale is an Action-Platformer that plays out as one big boss rush. The combat here is decent, but isn’t really enough to carry a game that’s otherwise fairly mediocre in just about every way.
Vertical Drop Heroes HD	Action-Platformer / Roguelike	C
tl;dr Vertical Drop Heroes HD is an Action-Platformer and Roguelike that has you delving into vertically-scrolling randomized levels. Unfortunately, the game does little to set itself apart within the genre, and has tedious combat and a forgettable presentation. It’s not bad, but it’s not very good either.
Warshmallows	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	C
tl;dr Warshmallows is an arena-based multiplayer-focused Action-Platformer with 2-Stick Shooter elements where players try to blast each other away as anthropomorphic marshmallows. There’s some decent gameplay at the core of this game, and the title theme is wonderful, but there’s numerous issues including a disappointing lack of content that are keeping this game from being as good as it could be. Action fans may enjoy this, but there are far better options on the Nintendo Switch.
Aborigenus	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Aborigenus is an Action-Platformer with some light Stealth and RPG elements, but these elements are poorly-implemented, and overall while there’s nothing truly atrocious here, there’s also nothing this game does well enough that makes it worth wasting your time on.
Arcade Archives Donkey Kong 3	Arcade / Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Donkey Kong 3 is an Arcade-style Platformer where players are literally tasked with shooting bug spray at Donkey Kong’s butt. An odd game to be sure, and it’s decent, but nowhere near as memorable or compelling as the prior two games in the series. On top of this, the price seems too steep, especially with the NES version of the game being easily accessible on Nintendo Switch Online’s NES app. As a result, it’s difficult to give this game a recommendation.
Brotherhood United	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Brotherhood United is an Action-Platformer in the same style as classics like Contra and Metal Slug. Unfortunately, it’s nowhere near as creative as those games, and is instead repetitive and forgettable. You have much better options on the Nintendo Switch.
Bucket Knight	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Bucket Knight is an Action-Platformer with a decent old-school presentation, but it’s unambitious, forgettable, and short. There’s not much reason to even bother with it.
Dogurai	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Dogurai is an Action-Platformer with a monochrome “Game Boy”-style presentation and simple gameplay. Unfortunately, the retro design causes numerous problems with the gameplay, and what’s more that retro design just reminds you of other games that did what this game does, but much better. While not a terrible game, Dogurai doesn’t live up to the games it’s copying.
Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrected	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Ghosts ‘N Goblins Resurrection is an Action-Platformer that takes the Ghosts ‘N Goblins series’ notoriously difficult gameplay and turns the “difficult” part up to 11 in ways that seem designed to frustrate players. It’s a shame too, because there are gameplay elements here that have a lot of potential, but it’s hard to enjoy them when the game is actively trying to make you hate it.
Gigantic Army	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Gigantic Army is an Action-Platformer where you gun through hordes of mechanized aliens using a mech. There’s some good action here, but it’s crippled by terrible controls and an overall low difficulty level. This game had potential to be more, but as-is, it’s disappointing.
Gunslugs	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Gunslugs is an Action-Platformer with simple gameplay and a simple 8-bit-style presentation, but it does little to set itself apart, has dumb enemy AI, and its basic design frustratingly both encourages and discourages fast-paced action. There are plenty of better options for this type of game on Nintendo Switch.
Halloween Forever	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Halloween Forever is a retro-style pixel art Action-Platformer where players play a Jack-O-Lantern-headed man spitting candy corn at spooky enemies. The visuals and theme are delightfully nostalgic, but the sound is terrible and the gameplay is tedious and frustrating, with poor level design and game design in places. There are multiple better Halloween-themed games on Nintendo Switch.
JALECOlle Famicom Ver. Saiyuuki World	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Saiyuuki World is an Action-Platformer that was originally created as an altered Famicom port of Wonder Boy in Monster Land, but this game hasn’t aged well and it’s easy to see why it wasn’t localized to the West. This may be an interesting curio for collectors, but everyone else is better off leaving it alone.
Jetboy	Action-Platformer / Arcade	C-
tl;dr Jetboy is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer where players must collect fuel and return it to their spaceship. This game has a great presentation with a mix of retro and modern elements. Unfortunately, this presentation is marred by slow movement that makes both fighting and avoiding enemies far more difficult than it should be. While this game isn’t without its charms, most players are better off skipping it.
KnightOut	Action-Platformer / Strategy	C-
tl;dr KnightOut is a game that combines Action-Platformer and Strategy elements as players alternate between building up castle defenses and then manning those defenses to fend off enemies or take down an opposing castle. The core premise here is great, but everything about this game is sloppy, poorly-executed, and unpolished, resulting in gameplay that’s frustrating more often than it is fun.
Leif’s Adventure: Netherworld Hero	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Leif’s Adventure is an Action-Platformer with Puzzle-Platformer elements and a strong asymmetrical co-op component where players take the role of a boy on an adventure to save his Norse-themed village, joined by a spirit who assists Leif him on his adventure. This game’s combat and platforming both leave a lot to be desired, and while the game’s two-character mechanic has potential, the game does a poor job properly balancing it both for one or two players. This results in a game that is frustrating and unsatisfying no matter how you play it.
Max and the Book of Chaos	Action-Platformer / Arcade	C-
tl;dr Max and the Book of Chaos is an Arcade-style Action-Platformer that has you blasting enemies in single-screen stages reminiscent of the Buster Bros. games. Unfortunately, this game performs poorly on the Nintendo Switch, has control issues, and has tiny and at times unreadable text. This game still has its charms, but you have to put up with multiple frustrations to enjoy it.
Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2	Compilation / Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Mega Man X Legacy Collection 2 is a collection of the second set of four games in this series of Action-Platformers. These are the worst games in the series, and four of the worst games in any Mega Man series, and while there’s a healthy amount of bonus content here, a lot of it is the same bonus content already included in the first, and far superior, Mega Man X Legacy Collection. In short, this is a collection only for the most die hard of Mega Man fans.
Mulaka	3D Platformer / Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Mulaka is a 3D Platformer set in a world of Mexican mythology, and while the game takes great strides to provide an authentic experience, it fails miserably in making that experience enjoyable. Poor graphics, annoying sound, unskippable text, poor hit detection… a multitude of issues make this a game most players won’t want to bother with.
Okinawa Rush	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Okinawa Rush is an Action-Platformer seemingly patterned after retro Arcade-style games and classic cheesy kung fu movies. There’s a lot of work that went into giving this game’s combat system plenty of depth and variety. Unfortunately, that work went to waste thanks to this game’s terrible, unresponsive controls and atrocious platforming. There’s a good game hidden under all these problems, but you’d need the patience of a true kung fu master to find it.
PI.EXE	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr PI.EXE is an Action-Platformer where you play an energy sword-wielding computer program fighting against a spreading computer virus. The core gameplay here had real potential, with this game’s best moments delivering smooth, delightful action as you slash through hordes of enemies. Unfortunately, this gameplay is ruined by terrible performance issues and some really poor design choices that slow down the game’s pacing and cause your attacks to stop working as you’re forced to recharge, sometimes as you’re in the middle of a difficult series of maneuvers. As a result, what could have been a joy is instead infuriating, resulting in a mess of a gameplay experience that’s a terrible disappointment.
Powers of Hex	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Powers of Hex is an Action-Platformer where players take the role of a wizard exploring themed locales to challenge “Elfvis” to gain their magical powers. This game is clearly aiming for a low-rent version of the Mega Man formula, but it’s severely lacking in polish and overall quality. Still, those who can appreciate a tough as nails challenge may find this to be worth the $1 asking price.
Reaper: Tale of a Pale Swordsman	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Reaper is an Action-Platformer with RPG elements, and it’s very apparent that it’s a port from Smartphones, with floaty controls, terrible interface issues, and repetitive game design. It’s not without its charms, but there are far better games like this on the Switch – play one of those instead.
Robonauts	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Robonauts is an Action-Platformer where players play as a robot hopping from planet to planet to exterminate space-bugs. Unfortunately, the game won’t allow players to aim, and the AI isn’t exactly great at aiming. There are other problems here as well, and while this still isn’t a terrible game, I don’t see much reason to play it when there are so many better options on Nintendo Switch.
Sega Ages Wonder Boy: Monster Land	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Sega Ages Wonder Boy: Monster Land is a solid port of the old Sega Arcade title, but the game has aged poorly. The combination of Action-Platformer gameplay and RPG elements is a good mix, but the slow movement and unforgiving combat makes this game just not very fun to play.
Vosaria: Lair of the Forgotten	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Vosaria is an Action-Platformer where instead of jumping, you reverse gravity, while exploring ever deeper into a cave and shooting at monsters. Unfortunately, this game has a number of issues that make it hard to enjoy, such as really poor level design and ugly visuals.
Whisper Trip	Action-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Whisper Trip is a fast-paced and challenging Action-Platformer that has you speeding through a modern facility as a katana-wielding ninja… in theory. In practice, the controls are so terrible that you’ll spend most of your time dying because the game’s mechanics just do not provide the sort of precision control that the gameplay calls for. Do not play this game. Definitely check out the soundtrack, though – it’s outstanding.
Agartha-S	Action-Platformer	D+
tl;dr Agartha-S is an Action-Platformer with a physics system that has it’s elements deforming as you interact with them. Unfortunately, just about every element of this game is executed poorly and amateurishly slapped-together. While this game has some good ideas, in the end it’s a shoddy mess, not worth playing.
Arcade Archives The Genji and the Heike Clans	Action-Platformer / Top-Down Action	D+
tl;dr The Genji and the Heike Clans blends two different types of Action-Platformer with Top-Down Action, but none of these types of gameplay feels especially well-done, and they’re all pretty unpolished. While I appreciate this game’s ambition, I don’t recommend you play it.
Castle of Heart	Action-Platformer	D+
tl;dr Castle of Heart is an Action-Platformer where players take the role of a knight seeking vengeance on the wizard who turned him to stone. This game’s presentation is decent, but neither the platforming or combat are enjoyable, resulting in a game that is just a tedious slog to play.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising	Action-Platformer / Action-RPG	D+
tl;dr Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is an Action-Platformer with RPG elements with a great presentation, but this game’s pacing is absolutely abysmal, forcing you to sit through countless loading screens, slow-moving conversations, and other speed bumps to the point where the actual gameplay seems scarce, and even when you do finally get to it, it doesn’t seem anywhere near special enough to be worth all the tedium. Skip this one.
JALECOlle Famicom Ver. Magic John & Totally Rad	Action-Platformer	D+
tl;dr Magical John and Totally Rad are the Japanese and Western versions of the same Action-Platformer, which has a pretty good presentation but the gameplay is terrible. As amusing as this game’s localization may be, the game itself isn’t worth playing.
LEGO Brawls	Action-Platformer	D+
tl;dr LEGO Brawls is a multiplayer-focused arena-based Action-Platformer that some people will tell you is like Super Smash Bros. Do not listen to them. Not only is this a dull, shallow, pointless game that lacks the fun of Super Smash Bros., but its gameplay does not feel especially close to Super Smash Bros. either. What it does feel like is a waste of time and a waste of $20. Do not buy it.
Reknum	Action-Platformer	D+
tl;dr Reknum is an Action-Platformer with a retro-style presentation and a medieval fantasy theme. Unfortunately, multiple design flaws sap any fun out of playing this game, such as poor level design and frustrating hazards that force players to restart the entire level. Skip this one.
Super Kirby Clash	Fighting Game / Platformer	D+
tl;dr Super Kirby Clash is a Free-To-Play Fighting Game/Platformer hybrid that’s an expanded version of the 3DS title Team Kirby Clash Deluxe. What that amounts to is a co-op game that has up to four players fighting various Kirby bosses in extremely repetitive button-mashing affairs that are mediocre at best… oh, and then the game drags things down with sleazy microtransactions. Yeah, don’t bother with this one.
The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame	Open-World 3D Action-Platformer	D+
tl;dr The LEGO Movie 2 Videogame is yet another game in Traveller’s Tales’ family-friendly franchise of LEGO Open-World 3D Action-Platformers, but something went very wrong this time. Frustrating and sluggish movement and a joyless presentation make this one of the hardest games in the franchise to enjoy, even if you’re a fan of the film. This game does have its redeeming qualities, but there are more than a dozen better games that play exactly like this one does, but better. With that being the case, I suggest you play one of those games instead.
Warlocks 2: God Slayers	Action-RPG / Action-Platformer	D+
tl;dr Warlocks 2 is a game that combines Action-Platformer and Action-RPG elements, with players taking on the role of a would-be warlock doing favors for an assortment of odd characters. Unfortunately, this game does a poor job of just about everything it tries to do. Terrible controls, poor progression, limited choice, repetitive levels, frustrating combat, a story that’s not at all compelling… I suppose some players may find something to like here, but there’s so little here that’s truly enjoyable for me to recommend this game over the countless better options you have.
Arcade Archives Splatter House	Action-Platformer	D
tl;dr Splatterhouse is a violent Action-Platformer has you fighting off various grotesque enemies as a Jason Vorhees look-alike. It’s okay, but the action is simple and unforgiving, and this release’s $8 price tag seems far too costly when multiple bundles include this game with a far better value.
Arcade Archives Youkai Douchuki	Action-Platformer	D
tl;dr Youkai Douchuki is an Action-Platformer that has some surprising old-school charm and a few clever ideas… but it ruins all of that by constantly throwing enemies at you that you can neither destroy nor dodge, resulting in a game you’ll quickly sour on. Skip it.
Eradicator Genesis	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	D
tl;dr Eradicator Genesis is an Action-Platformer with 2-Stick Shooter mechanics set in a post-apocalyptic future where you fight robots and grotesque mutants. This game looks and sounds like a great retro-style game, but plays horribly, with clunky, slow, repetitive, poorly-crafted gameplay. Do not waste money on this.
Gravity Light	Action-Platformer / 2-Stick Shooter	D
tl;dr Gravity Light is an Action-Platformer and 2-Stick Shooter that has players getting through levels as a square with a gun. This game doesn’t do anything interesting enough to warrant a purchase, and what it does do is poorly-made and not worth your time.
JALECOlle Famicom Ver. Bio-Warrior Dan The Increaser War	Action-Platformer	D
tl;dr Bio-Warrior Dan is an Action-Platformer that was never released in the West, and it’s easy to see why. Poorly made with bad platforming, terrible hit detection, horrible controls, and nasty input lag, I can’t see any modern players actually enjoying this.
JALECOlle Famicom Ver. Yokai Club	Action-Platformer	D
tl;dr Yokai Club is an Action-Platformer that was never released in the West, and it’s easy to see why. While the gameplay bears some similarities to Kid Icarus, it’s so poorly-made, with bad Platforming and terrible hit detection, that I can’t see any modern players actually enjoying this.
Ninja Shadow Quest	Action-Platformer	D
tl;dr Ninja Shadow Quest is an Action-Platformer where players play as a ninja fighting against monsters. The presentation is boring, the platforming is mediocre, and the combat is terrible. Don’t buy this game.
Squad Killer	Action-Platformer	D
tl;dr Squad Killer is an Action-Platformer with light Roguelike elements. Unfortunately, it looks ugly, plays poorly, has terrible pacing, and there’s not really anything that makes it stand out among a crowd of much better Action-Platformers on the Nintendo Switch. Don’t bother with this one.
Awakening of Cthulhu	Action-Platformer	D-
tl;dr Awakening of Cthulhu is an Action-Platformer with broken visuals and boring, repetitive, brainless combat. Do not buy this game.
Azuran Tales: Trials	Action-Platformer	D-
tl;dr Azuran Tales is an Action-Platformer that has you fighting through a medieval fantasy dungeon, combining terrible combat with awful platforming, and while the graphics are passable, they don’t justify the 2.5GB file size. Do not buy this game.
From Shadows	Action-Platformer	D-
tl;dr From Shadows is an Action-Platformer that has you fighting enemies as a werewolf or a vampire, but either way it looks ugly, plays poorly, lacks any sort of unique personality, and doesn’t have any sort of hook to make it interesting. Don’t waste your money on this.
Mimic Hunter	Action-Platformer	D-
tl;dr Mimic Hunter is an Action-Platformer with some Puzzle-Platformer elements that has you using the sword of an anthropomorphic rat to fight off “mimic” monsters. There are some interesting gameplay ideas here, but the controls here are so abysmally terrible that it ruins any enjoyment there is to be had here.
Scribbled	Action-Platformer	D-
tl;dr Scribbled is an Action-Platformer with crudely hand-drawn visuals, and there’s not much else of note to say about it. It looks ugly, sounds awful, isn’t fun to play, and does absolutely nothing interesting or noteworthy in its gameplay. There is no good reason to get this game.
American Man	Action-Platformer	F
tl;dr American Man is an Action-Platformer that seems inspired by the classic Contra games, with players taking the role of a muscular gun-toting Rambo-type character and shooting down a bunch of animals trying to kill you. Just about everything here is terrible, from the dull visuals and annoying sound to the bad controls, poor level design, and terrible difficulty curve. Do not play this game.
Arcade Archives Dragon Buster	Action-Platformer	F
tl;dr Dragon Buster is an Action-Platformer that may have been ahead of its time in some ways, but it was still an all-around awful game, with ugly visuals, terrible platforming, and horrible combat. Avoid it.
Caveheart Legacy Of The Depths	Action-Platformer	F
tl;dr Caveheart is an Action-Platformer about a thief exploring a mysterious dungeon, and every part of this game is terrible, from the horrendously bad localization to the eye-wateringly awful graphics to the broken, abysmal gameplay. Do not waste money on this disaster of a game.

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