Here’s the best games I have reviewed so far on the Nintendo Switch, from best to worst, and sorted by their exclusivity level. Note: If multiple games have the same score, they will be sorted alphabetically.

1. Nintendo Switch Exclusives
2. Nintendo Platform Exclusives
3. Console Exclusives
4. Significant Switch-Exclusive Features

Nintendo Switch Exclusives

These games are only on the Nintendo Switch, nowhere else!

Game	Genre	Grade
Super Mario Odyssey	3D Platformer	A++
tl;dr Super Mario Odyssey is Mario’s long-awaited return to 3D platforming, and it’s just about everything fans of the series could want. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it has damn near perfected it, filling the game with new surprises around every corner. It is an absolute must-have game on the Nintendo Switch
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate	Fighting Game / Platformer / Party Game	A++
tl;dr Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the latest in the series of Fighting Game/Platformer/Party Game titles, and it is in my mind the greatest, with absolutely tons of content, characters, stages, settings, and more, all built on a foundation of absolutely fun gameplay. A must-own game for the Switch.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom	Open-World Action-RPG	A++
tl;dr The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is not just an Open-World Action-RPG that returns to the world we were introduced to in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This is a game that finds new, impressive, and truly compelling ways to explore that world. This is a game that balances the familiar world and gameplay of that incredible game with brilliant new gameplay ideas, a compelling new story, and a massive scope that’s not only far greater than what was in this game’s predecessor, but is even greater than Nintendo led us to believe it would be. If you hated Breath of the Wild, this game won’t change your mind. If you have not yet played Breath of the Wild, you should probably go play that first. For pretty much everyone else, you should consider this an absolute must-have game, and a reason to own a Nintendo Switch.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons	Management Sim	A+
tl;dr Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a light-hearted, family-friendly, casual Management Sim where the time and date in the game is the same as in real life, and where players perform small tasks and customize their home and their village. This entry is a huge step forward for the series, adding many new mechanics and gameplay systems that greatly improve the game’s customization elements while giving added quality of life enhancements as well. There constantly seems like something new and fun to do, with new surprises seemingly every day. Unless you have a problem with more relaxed, slower-paced games, you should consider this game a must-have.
Astral Chain	Spectacle Fighter / Action-RPG	A+
tl;dr Astral Chain is a Spectacle Fighter like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, but it plays wildly differently than those games, with a refreshingly unique chain combat system, some Action-RPG elements tied to Arkham-like investigation sections, and a fantastical world inspired by classic anime, all in a package with a truly excellent presentation. This is a must-have game on Switch, especially for fans of Action games and especially especially for those looking for something truly different. Do not miss out on this game.
Bayonetta 3	Spectacle Fighter	A+
tl;dr Bayonetta 3 not only delivers on the finely-crafted gameplay this Spectacle Fighter series is known for, but expands on it with the wonderful new Demon Slave ability that has you swapping back and forth between Bayonetta and her kaiju-sized demonic creatures. Add to this some breathtaking setpiece moments and a gorgeous presentation and you have one of the best Action games of recent years. Do not miss this game.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land	3D Platformer	A+
tl;dr Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a family-friendly 3D Platformer that marks Kirby’s first fully-fledged 3D adventure, and it is an outstanding game that is one of the best titles in the Kirby franchise. While I have a few complaints about choppy background animations and a relatively easy difficulty level, overall this game is an absolute blast to play, full of personality and originality, all while drawing inspiration from some of the best Mario and Donkey Kong games, as well as Kirby’s own 2D adventures. If you enjoy Platformers, you should absolutely get this game.
Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope	Turn-Based Strategy-RPG	A+
tl;dr Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope is a family-friendly Turn-Based Strategy-RPG that improves on its predecessor Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle in virtually every way. Players have plenty of ways to adapt and change their party, the combat is delightfully deep but also wonderfully accessible, the game is bursting with personality, has a killer soundtrack, a great sense of humor, and plenty of content to explore. This just about everything you could hope for in a sequel, and then some.
Fast RMX	Futuristic Racing	A
tl;dr Fast RMX is a futuristic racing game that isn’t quite on par with F-Zero, but it comes damn close. It looks absolutely fantastic at blazing speeds, plays well, and although it has a few minor issues, it’s still a spectacular game that every racing game fan with a Switch should own.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses	Turn-Based Strategy-RPG	A
tl;dr Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a fantastic Turn-Based Strategy-RPG that mixes the series’ strategic gameplay with a fantastic plot and setting that feels like a mix of Harry Potter and Game of Thrones, with deep gameplay that has you bolstering character relationships to build up your team of students over multiple long, rewarding campaigns. The graphics aren’t all that impressive, and sometimes the game isn’t as forthcoming with information as I’d like, but overall this is an absolute must-have entry for fans of the genre, as well as those looking for a game with great story, and also those looking for a game they will be playing for a very, very long time.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity	Action Brawler	A
tl;dr Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, like the first Hyrule Warriors game, is a “musou”-style game in the same vein as the Dynasty Wars series. This time, this game ties directly into the plot of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, exploring the events that preceded that game in some creative ways. What’s more, the presentation, the visuals and music, the style, and numerous gameplay elements all tie back to Breath of the Wild. On top of that, the split-screen co-op here is absolutely phenomenal. Only a few flaws here (like occasionally repetitive combat and some frequent nasty slowdown) keep this game from true greatness, but even with these flaws this is still an outstanding game that most Switch owners would do well to check out.
Luigi’s Mansion 3	Puzzle / Action	A
tl;dr Luigi’s Mansion 3 is an absolutely gorgeous family-friendly game about Mario’s cowardly brother once again having to save the day by using a vacuum to suck up ghosts in a haunted mansion er, hotel. This game has a stunning presentation, that makes it one of the best-looking games on the Nintendo Switch, as well as excellent gameplay that combines Puzzle and Action elements with exploration in a way that’s truly unique. There are a few areas that could do with improvement, but overall this is absolutely a top-tier game on the Nintendo Switch that everyone who owns the console should consider getting.
New Pokemon Snap	First-Person On-Rails Shooter / Misc.	A
tl;dr New Pokemon Snap is just about everything fans could want from a sequel to the N64 classic, and improves on the original in numerous ways while still remaining faithful to its formula. This is a beautiful family-friendly On-Rails First-Person Shooter that has you snapping photos of Pokemon, testing your skill with the lens and your ingenuity with other tools at your disposal to capture the best pictures. Its lack of exploration and laid-back nature may not be for everyone, and there are areas where it could still be improved further, but overall this is a marvelous experience that every Pokemon fan will likely want to have.
Pikmin 4	Real-Time Strategy / Action-RPG	A
tl;dr Pikmin 4 is the long-awaited (10 years!) fourth mainline entry in Nintendo’s unique series of Real-Time Strategy / Action-RPG hybrid games that have you controlling an insect-sized space explorer commanding an army of ant-plant creatures. This sequel massively improves on prior entries in the series in numerous areas that both open up the game and make it more accessible, and it is visually-gorgeous as well. It’s just a shame that a few of the changes here add in some unfortunate flaws as well, and the lack of a full campaign co-op mode is a disappointing step backwards in a game that is otherwise all massive steps forward for the series. While it falls just short of Pikmin perfection, this is nevertheless an outstanding game, and one I highly recommend to all Nintendo Switch owners.
Splatoon 2	Third-Person Shooter	A
tl;dr Splatoon 2 is a Third-Person Shooter that takes a refreshing approach to the genre, where splatting the area with your color of ink is just as important as taking out enemies. While the game isn’t without its annoying problems, it looks great, plays great, has plenty of variety of weapons and game modes, and will suck you in for hours at a time.
Splatoon 3	Third-Person Shooter	A
tl;dr Splatoon 3 is a multiplayer-focused team-based Third-Person Shooter that adds a bunch of new content, new features, and new improvements on top of what we saw in Splatoon 1 and 2, yet it still feels like much the same sort of experience. To be clear, that experience is an outstanding Third-Person Shooter that looks great, plays great, and is truly unique within the genre… except, well, that’s just it, it’s not completely unique – Splatoon 2 is right there, on the same platform. Still, even if it feels in many ways like “more of the same”, it’s more of the same of something great, and the improvements mean that this is the best Splatoon game yet. Just know that if you didn’t care for earlier games in the series, Splatoon 3 isn’t going to change your mind.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury	Compilation / 3D Platformer / Open-World	A
tl;dr Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a Compilation of two 3D Platformers – an upscaled and much-improved port of Super Mario 3D World, and the all-new Open-World game Bowser’s Fury. On their own, each wouldn’t hold a candle to Mario’s best adventures – 3D World isn’t nearly as ambitious as Odyssey or Galaxy, and Bowser’s Fury is too short. However, combined they come very close to that same level of quality, and the resulting package is a must-have for Mario fans.
Super Mario Maker 2	Platformer	A
tl;dr Super Mario Maker 2, like its predecessor, is a Mario level creator that’s a creative gamer’s dream, and those who aren’t creative will have a huge wealth of content to enjoy. Even a half a year later the online play is still terrible, and it feels like for every two improvements this game makes it loses one feature from the first game, but overall this is still an excellent game every Mario fan should get.
Tents and Trees	Picross-style Puzzle	A
tl;dr Tents and Trees is a type of family-friendly Puzzle that’s somewhat similar to Picross, albeit with slightly different rules. While this iteration of Tents and Trees doesn’t do anything that’s particularly revolutionary, every single part of this game is polished and high in quality, from the great gameplay, good amount of content, and excellent features, to the classy visuals and wonderfully relaxing soundtrack. If you’re looking for a wonderful Puzzle game to chill with, this is an absolutely ideal choice.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom	Top-Down Action-RPG	A
tl;dr The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is a Top-Down Action-RPG that combines elements of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to make for something that’s truly unique and wonderful within the series, befitting Zelda’s first mainline adventure as the main protagonist. The new echo mechanic, while not quite as groundbreaking as Tears’ Ultrahand, is still inspired, and the puzzle design and boss design is phenomenal. This may not be quite at the same level as Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, but it is still an absolute must-play game.
Yoshi’s Crafted World	Platformer	A
tl;dr Yoshi’s Crafted World is a family-friendly Platformer that takes the series’ gameplay into a world made of cardboard and other crafting materials, making the entire game look like you’re playing through a child’s diorama. The game really explores this idea well, using it for all sorts of interesting surprises and twists on the gameplay, with some good co-op play and a low challenge level making it ideal for youngsters while still giving more seasoned players challenges to pursue. It’s not perfect, but even so it’s the best game in the Yoshi series since Yoshi’s Island, and a must-have for fans of Platformers.
Advance Wars 1 + 2 Re-Boot Camp	Compilation / Turn-Based Strategy	A-
tl;dr Advance Wars 1 + 2 Re-Boot Camp is a compilation of remakes of the Game Boy Advance Turn-Based Strategy games Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising. These are two phenomenal games, and the revitalized presentation looks great. However, there are some important features that are missing here, and in particular this game looks especially feature-poor next to the highly-similar game, Wargroove. I do still highly recommend Advance Wars 1 + 2 Re-Boot Camp, but between the two titles I think Wargroove is the better choice.
ARMS	3D Fighting Game	A-
tl;dr ARMS is a wildly unique 3D Fighting Game that plays like nothing else out there, with players focusing less on skillful moves and more on position and timing as they try to land punches on each other using stretchy arms. It is a surprisingly fun experience, and one that looks great and plays great, including in its 4-Player split-screen mode and in online matches. If you want a great competitive game on your Switch and don’t mind something that’s weird and takes some time getting used to, this is a must-have.
Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the Necrodancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda	Top-Down Roguelike / Music-Rhythm	A-
tl;dr Cadence of Hyrule does an excellent job combining the gameplay of Crypt of the Necrodancer and The Legend of Zelda, and pairing it with an excellent soundtrack… although not without a few issues cropping up here and there. On the whole, it’s still a solid game fans of both series should enjoy.
Fire Emblem Engage	Turn-Based Strategy-RPG	A-
tl;dr Fire Emblem Engage is a Turn-Based Strategy-RPG that loses a lot of the character interaction and party-building elements featured in the prior game, Three Houses. However, in its place we have the return of some important strategic elements in combat, as well as a new Engage mechanic that provides even more customization and expanded combat options, as well as the extremely fan-servicey use of classic characters from throughout the Fire Emblem series. This still feels like a far less significant game than Three Houses was, but it is nevertheless a solid experience well worth playing for any fan of the genre.
Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes	Action Brawler	A-
tl;dr Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes evolves the first Fire Emblem Warriors’ combination of Musou-style Action Brawler gameplay and strategic elements, pairing it with an excellent alternate story using the world and characters from Fire Emblem: Three Houses. The Musou-style gameplay is still somewhat shallow, and the game still has some technical issues, overall this is a fun action-packed experience that both Musou fans and Fire Emblem fans will want to get.
Fly Together!	Arcade	A-
tl;dr Fly Together! Is a family-friendly Arcade-style game like Flight Control, where players control the flight paths of planes as they guide them to airports to deliver passengers. It’s not a new concept, but it’s done exceptionally well here, with particularly great co-op and competitive multiplayer play. The single-player content feels like it could have been fleshed out more, but overall this is an excellent game to add to your rotation of fun multiplayer games on Nintendo Switch.
Kirby Star Allies	Platformer	A-
tl;dr Kirby Star Allies is a family-friendly Platformer in the Kirby series that largely stays true to the series’ roots, with the main difference being the new “ally” mechanic that has you making helper characters. It’s an audiovisual treat, and an absolute must-have game for those looking for a great kid-friendly co-op experience on the Switch. However, more skilled players looking for a challenge aren’t likely to find it here.
Metroid Dread	Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Metroid Dread is an excellent fifth entry in this series of 2D Metroidvania games, with stunning visuals, well-crafted gameplay, and excellent bosses. However, some of the level design and stealth elements here keep it from reaching the same highs as Super Metroid. Still, if you’re a fan of Metroidvanias, this game is a must-have for you. And if you’re a Metroid fan, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Mutant Mudds Collection	Compilation / Platformer / Falling Block Puzzle	A-
tl;dr Mutant Mudds Collection is a compilation of the two Mutant Mudds Platformer games and a new Puzzle game, with all three being good entries in their respective genres, and the collection overall being a fantastic value.
Pokemon Legends Arceus	Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	A-
tl;dr Pokemon Legends Arceus is a game that takes the Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG gameplay of Nintendo’s long-running Pokemon series and brings it into large, open areas (though not quite Open-World). The change in world design and gameplay here is significant, making this game not only highly enjoyable, but also truly unique in the series. However, this game is also deeply flawed and feels outright rushed – it is lacking a ton of gameplay features, there are multiple poorly-conceived gameplay elements, and the graphics have some major issues. It still manages to be a delight to play despite these issues, but these flaws keep this game from being the absolute triumph it could have been if it got more polish.
Pokemon Scarlet	Open-World Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	A-
tl;dr Pokemon Scarlet (as well as its counterpart, Pokemon Violet) is the first true Open-World game in the Pokemon series, and in addition to this, it also introduces multiple new elements to streamline the gameplay, as well as the wealth of strategic opportunities added by the new “tera type” feature. Unfortunately, all of these great qualities are marred by some nasty graphical and performance issues, as well as some gameplay frustrations. This is still one of the best games in the Pokemon franchise, but it’s a great game that is damaged severely by its significant flaws.
Pokemon Violet	Open-World Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	A-
tl;dr Pokemon Violet (as well as its counterpart, Pokemon Scarlet) is the first true Open-World game in the Pokemon series, and in addition to this, it also introduces multiple new elements to streamline the gameplay, as well as the wealth of strategic opportunities added by the new “tera type” feature. Unfortunately, all of these great qualities are marred by some nasty graphical and performance issues, as well as some gameplay frustrations. This is still one of the best games in the Pokemon franchise, but it’s a great game that is damaged severely by its significant flaws.
Ring Fit Adventure	Sports (Exercise) / Action-RPG	A-
tl;dr Ring Fit Adventure is an Exercise game with light Action-RPG elements that has you plugging a pair of Joy-Cons into the included Ring-Con and leg strap accessories to use the motion-sensing abilities of the controllers to workout in various ways to assist on your adventure. The motion control here works surprisingly well, and the presentation is very good (annoying character voices aside), plus there’s a good selection of minigames here that are extremely creative and fun. I feel the game’s designers could have gone even farther to add game elements into the exercise bits, but overall this is a one of the best exercise games ever made, and well worth getting if you can find it at a reasonable price.
Shin Megami Tensei V	Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	A-
tl;dr Shin Megami Tensei V is a Turn-Based Monster-Collecting JRPG where players build up a team of demonic creatures to fight their way through a post-apocalyptic Tokyo. No prior experience with the series is needed, but do know that this is a very tough game with a somewhat off-putting presentation, and as such it isn’t going to be for everyone. However, the amount of freedom players are given here to explore and build their own team of monsters is absolutely wonderful, with some deep combat mechanics as well. And series fans will be delighted at how this game streamlines elements of prior games while adding additional depth. While this is a somewhat niche game, it fills that niche extraordinarily well, and if you like complexity and challenge in your RPGs, you should absolutely get this game.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder	Platformer	A-
tl;dr Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a family-friendly Platformer that brings Mario back to 2D with brand new “wonder effects” that transform every level in the game in creative, inventive ways that infuse this game with tons of variety and personality. What’s more, this game has plenty of new multiplayer features and accessibility options to make this game ideal for younger and less-experienced players. This game is far more inspired than the New Super Mario Bros. games that preceded it… just don’t expect something as incredible as the classic games of Mario’s 8-bit and 16-bit eras or you’ll be disappointed. However, while this game doesn’t reach the same heights as Mario’s classic adventures, it is nevertheless a truly excellent Platformer that any fan of the genre should absolutely play.
Super Mario Party Jamboree	Party Game / Minigame Collection	A-
tl;dr Super Mario Party Jamboree is, in my opinion, the absolute best that the Mario Party series of family-friendly Party Game and Minigame Collection titles has ever had to offer. This game has an absolute wealth of varied content, gives players the option to cut down on the series’ infamous randomness, and has some delightfully inspired game modes, including some excellent online-focused multiplayer play. Apart from underwhelming single-player (never this series’ focus), there’s little to complain about here, and so very much to love. Going forward, I believe this will be the Mario Party game all future titles in the series will be measured against.
Vitamin Connection	2-Stick Shooter / Arcade	A-
tl;dr Vitamin Connection is a Two-Stick Shooter that splits up the ship’s functions between two Joy-Cons in a way that makes this game ideal for two-player co-op. It’s got an appealing presentation, a great soundtrack, and makes some really clever use of the Joy-Cons’ functionality, and really the only negative things I can say about it are that it’s not a game you can play in portable mode, and it’s not a game you’ll really want to play solo. But if you have a friend to join you, this game is a must-have.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3	JRPG	A-
tl;dr Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a JRPG that features a story about two teams of soldiers on opposite sides of a bitter war who find themselves forced to work together as they’re hunted by their former comrades and try to find the truth behind their endless struggle. While Xenoblade Chronicles 3 may not be quite as impressive as any of the prior games in the series, it features the series’ most well-rounded gameplay, and an outstanding cast of characters in an excellent story, making this my favorite game in the franchise. If you’re a JRPG fan on Nintendo Switch, this is definitely worth a look.
Astro Bears	Party Game	B+
tl;dr Astro Bears is a family-friendly Party game that expands on the earlier game Astro Bears Party, with the same core gameplay – it plays like a 3D version of Snake and Tron Bikes, with players leaving trails to try to snag others while avoiding trails themselves. It’s a fast-paced, fun, accessible Party game, but even with additional content over its predecessor, the game feels a bit… well, bare. Still loads of fun in short bursts, but not likely to be a game you play for hours.
Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics	Compilation / Card Games / Board Games / Sports / Misc.	B+
tl;dr Clubhouse Games is a family-friendly Compilation of 51 various games (plus a piano toy software) ranging from time-honored classic card and board games to simple sports and arcade games. While most of the individual games are pretty feature-poor, there is a massive amount of content here, and most of it plays well and is excellently-presented. There are even a few delightful surprises here as well. Add in good local competitive play for two players and decent online play, and you have a superb game collection well worth owning.
Colors Live	Art Application / Hardware	B+
tl;dr Colors Live is a well-constructed Art Application that comes with a unique stylus pen that allows pressure-sensitive interaction with the touchscreen. While I have issues with the stylus, the software it comes with is superb, and does a great job turning the Nintendo Switch into an art tablet. If that sounds like something of interest to you, definitely give Colors Live a look.
Crazy BMX World	Compilation / Auto-Runner	B+
tl;dr Crazy BMX World is a Compilation of the family-friendly Auto-Runner games Bike Rider DX, Bike Rider Dx2: Galaxy, and the previously Japan-only Bike Rider DX3: Time Rider. This Compilation frustratingly forces players to unlock all of its games, doesn’t support Pro Controllers, and lacks the earlier releases’ DLC. However, at $3, this is still an outstanding bargain of a package that contains simple but compelling Auto-Runner gameplay, and anyone who enjoys this sort of game or wants a fun but simple time-waster on the cheap would do well to pick this game up.
Golf Story	Sports (Golf)	B+
tl;dr Golf story is a golf game with RPG elements, a narrative story, and plenty of little diversions and golf-related challenges on the way. At its core it’s the same golf formula we’ve seen for decades, but adds enough on top of that to make it worthwhile for anyone interested in the genre
Good Job!	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Good Job! Is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has players solving puzzles that involve them performing tasks in an office (and usually causing plenty of damage in the process). It’s a clever Puzzle game with some wonderful open-ended Puzzle design and some excellent co-op play. Don’t miss it!
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix	Music-Rhythm	B+
tl;dr Hatsune Miku Project DIVA Mega Mix is a Music-Rhythm game with a collection of over 100 songs from throughout the franchise, with a fantastic presentation, loads of unlockable content, and good (but challenging) gameplay. It’s not quite on the same level as some of the best offerings on the Nintendo Switch, and there’s not much variety in the music (just highly-synthesized “vocaloid” J-Pop), but overall this is still a superb entry in the genre.
HIX: Puzzle Islands	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr HIX: Puzzle Islands is a family-friendly Puzzle Game that has players swapping hexagonal tiles to try to restore pathways that were destroyed by the devil-like Dix. This game doesn’t do anything revolutionary, but it is nevertheless a wonderful relaxed Puzzle game that fans of the genre will likely find well worth picking up.
Jack Jeanne	Visual Novel / Music-Rhythm	B+
tl;dr Jack Jeanne is an otome-style Visual Novel with time management and Music-Rhythm elements that puts players in the role of a young girl posing as a boy to enter a prestigious all-male performing arts school. The writing here is excellent, the visuals are gorgeous, and the soundtrack is absolutely beautiful, though the game does have a few issues that drag it down a bit, such as slow pacing. However, fans of Visual Novels games should still absolutely get their hands on this game.
KORG Gadget	Music Creation Application	B+
tl;dr KORG Gadget is a Music Creation Application that is not going to be for everyone. While it does have some decent introductory tutorials to help newbies learn the basics, this is largely a music production studio software suite for professionals, and while this may be targeting a niche audience (especially with a nasty $48 price tag), it serves that audience extremely well, with a massive wealth of options, features, and content. If you wanted to turn your Nintendo Switch into a music production studio (and actually know how to operate one), KORG Gadget is exactly what you’re looking for.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership	Turn-Based JRPG	B+
tl;dr Mario & Luigi: Brothership is a Turn-Based JRPG that once again has you controlling the titular brothers with gameplay that uses timing-based attacks in combat and has you controlling the brothers’ actions separately outside of combat… however, this time so much of what Luigi does has been automated that you can effectively ignore him most of the time, only to tap “L” when he has a “Luigi Logic” moment and does something on his own. Due to this and other flaws, this is my least-favorite game yet in the Mario & Luigi series, but still an enjoyable, polished RPG that’s well worth playing despite its flaws.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle	Turn-Based Strategy-RPG	B+
tl;dr Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle is a Turn-Based Strategy RPG that plays a bit like the XCOM games, but is designed to be more approachable for players who are new to the genre. It looks gorgeous, has some unique gameplay elements, and is pretty user-friendly overall, although genre veterans may find some elements of the game frustrating.
Nintendo LABO Toy-Con 03: Vehicle Kit	Accessory / Minigame Collection / Party Game / Racing / Open World / Misc.	B+
tl;dr Nintendo LABO Toy-Con 03: Vehicle Kit is a really unique hybrid of a Minigame Collection, an Open-World Exploration game, a Party game, a series of Accessories you create yourself using the included pieces of custom-made cardboard, and a misc. tool you can use to explore the features of the Nintendo Joy-Con controllers. Furthermore, this game is much better than the previous two in terms of the actual gameplay content it offers, thanks to its Open-World Adventure mode and its overall more cohesive theme. This is definitely one of the better Nintendo LABO kits.
Nintendo LABO Toy-Con 04: VR Kit	Accessory / Minigame Collection / On-Rails Shooter / Misc.	B+
tl;dr Nintendo LABO Toy-Con 04: VR Kit is a really unique hybrid of a Minigame Collection, an On-Rails Shooter, a series of Accessories you create yourself using the included pieces of custom-made cardboard, and a misc. tool you can use to explore the features of the Nintendo Joy-Con controllers, and even a halfway decent beginners’ game design tool. While the Nintendo Switch clearly wasn’t designed with VR in mind, this kit makes it work, albeit in a highly limited fashion, and it’s comparatively cheap compared to more professional VR headsets. Overall, while it isn’t without some major flaws, this is my favorite Nintendo LABO kit, as the Blaster construction and minigame are both my absolute favorite, and this game goes much farther than the others in its game creation tools. If you only get one Nintendo LABO kit, get this one.
Nintendo Switch Sports	Compilation / Sports (Various)	B+
tl;dr Nintendo Switch Sports is a worthy successor to the Wii Sports franchise, with excellent versions of Bowling, Chambara (swordfighting), Golf, and Soccer, decent versions of Tennis and Volleyball, and a terrible version of Badminton. The game is colorful and polished, the sports are fun and accessible, and the online play works great. This game doesn’t do much to evolve this series, but it is a well-rounded and highly enjoyable entry in the series nonetheless.
Piczle Puzzle & Watch Collection	Compilation / Picross Puzzle / Puzzle / Simulation	B+
tl;dr Piczle Puzzle & Watch Collection is a Compilation of three Puzzle games presented as a Simulation of classic Game & Watch-style handheld LCD devices. The Puzzle games are solid, if a bit simple, and have a good amount of content for the $8 price tag. But what’s really surprising here is just how extensive a Simulation this is, going to some extraordinary lengths to make the LCD devices within the game as realistic as possible. If you’re a Puzzle game fan, this is a solid Compilation for you, but if you’re a fan of retro-style nostalgia, you should absolutely give this game a look.
Snipperclips – Cut It Out Together!	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Snipperclips is a Puzzle-Platformer where up to four players control anthropomorphized Joycon controllers snipping off parts of one another to get into shape to solve puzzles. It’s a fun concept that’s well-executed, with a lot of great all-ages Co-Op gameplay. It’s nothing revolutionary or impressive, and there are a few rough edges, but overall this is a solid game worth playing.
Super Mario Party	Party Game / Minigame Collection	B+
tl;dr Super Mario Party is the eleventh game in Nintendo’s family-friendly Party Game Minigame Collection series. This game has a ton of different game modes, and while some aren’t so great, others are fantastic. The minigames themselves are fun, varied, and make some clever use of the Joy-Con controller. On that note, you will need Joy-Cons to play this game, and don’t bother with the online play (it’s horrible). Likewise, this isn’t a game you’ll want to play in single-player. However, if you’re looking for a fun time in a party setting, this game does a fantastic job and is a must-have for casual multiplayer fans on the switch.
Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble	Arcade / 3D Platformer / Party Game	B+
tl;dr Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a fantastic entry in this family-friendly franchise of Arcade-style 3D Platformers about rolling monkeys in balls toward a goal. This release struggles with some performance issues, but its superb level design and excellent multiplayer both online and offline make for an absolutely delightful game well worth getting, and a must-have for fans of the series.
Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum ‘N’ Fun	Music-Rhythm	B+
tl;dr Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum ‘N’ Fun is the first Nintendo Switch entry in Namco’s family-friendly Japanese taiko drumming Music-Rhythm game series. Be warned that if you don’t by the taiko drum accessory, the motion controls are terrible, and the gamepad controls lack a soul, but the touchscreen controls are excellent and the “Party Game” mode makes for great gameplay in the same vein as Rhythm Heaven. This game’s cutesy, Japanesey presentation won’t be for everyone, but if you can work around its flaws, Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum ‘N’ Fun is a solid addition to your Nintendo Switch Music-Rhythm library.
WarioWare: Get It Together!	Arcade / Party Game	B+
tl;dr WarioWare: Get It Together! Is the Nintendo Switch entry in the family-friendly Arcade-style Party game that has players trying to complete over 200 “microgames” played in rapid-fire sequences. This game’s take on the formula has players interacting with the games using the varied cast of characters, and while not as ambitious as some entries in the series, it’s still a wonderfully fun time, especially when playing the game’s multiplayer features (most of which need to be unlocked through play). If you’re looking for a fun game to add to your Party Game rotation, WarioWare: Get It Together is an excellent choice.
WarioWare: Move It!	Arcade / Party Game	B+
tl;dr WarioWare: Move It! Is the second game in Nintendo’s silly family-friendly WarioWare Arcade / Party Game franchise to hit the Nintendo Switch, and this is a much more traditional entry in the series than the first game was. In fact, it was clearly directly inspired by the Wii entry in the franchise, Smooth Moves. While I don’t think it quite measures up to that game, WarioWare: Move It! is still an incredibly creative, enjoyable, uproariously funny, and extremely accessible entry in the franchise, with some solid multiplayer potential. This game doesn’t do anything truly groundbreaking for this series, but fans of the franchise will find it to be an excellent game well worth picking up.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2	JRPG	B+
tl;dr Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a JRPG that, much like its predecessor, is massive in its scope and ambitions. This game features a sprawling, beautiful world of countries built atop massive dragon-like titans floating in a sea of clouds, and an anime-esque story about a teenage boy who unwittingly finds himself forming a pact with the personification of a mythical sword. The world here is awe-inspiring and imaginative, the story and characters are compelling, and the gameplay is deep and rewarding… as long as you can get past the many, many flaws dragging down the experience, including a terrible opening and sorely lacking tutorials. This is not a game for everyone, but those who have the patience to put up with its flaws will find it to be an extremely rewarding experience.
2048 Battles	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	B
tl;dr 2048 Battles is a version of the 2048 Puzzle game popularized on Smartphones a few years back. This version looks good and plays well enough, but the isometric view is less than ideal and screws up the touchscreen controls, although it’s still a solid puzzle game when played with a D-pad or control stick.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon	Action-RPG	B
tl;dr Bayonetta Origins is an Action-RPG that is wildly different in look, tone, and gameplay compared to the mainline games in the Bayonetta series. However, while this may not be the sort of game that Bayonetta fans are used to, it’s still a delightful entry in the genre with a fun split-character gameplay mechanic. It does suffer from pacing issues, but if you have the patience to bear with it, I think you’ll find this to be a wonderful entry in its genre.
BoxBoy + BoxGirl!	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr BoxBoy + BoxGirl is a Puzzle-Platformer with the simple and straightforward premise that you play as a box-shaped character that can spawn off additional boxes to solve puzzles. The game’s premise and presentation don’t do anything particularly new and exciting, but this is still a solid game for fans of the genre.
BurgerTime Party!	Arcade / Party Game	B
tl;dr BurgerTime Party! is a family-friendly reimagining of the classic arcade game that updates the visuals and adds some new stage mechanics, while keeping the core gameplay intact. However, the real joy here are the new multiplayer modes this game adds, that should make this a blast as both a co-op and competitive Party game. Either way, this is a wonderful new take on the original.
Conduct Together!	Arcade / Simulation	B
tl;dr Conduct Together! is a family-friendly Arcade-style game with Simulation elements that has players using simple controls to manage multiple trains and switches. It’s a fun, challenging task of multitasking with some excellent co-op play baked right into the game design. The game’s controls never quite feel intuitive, and I wish the game expanded on its potential, but overall this is a solid “easy to learn, tough to master”-style game, and one that fans of co-op games should absolutely try.
Cruis’n Blast	Arcade Racing	B
tl;dr Cruis’n Blast is a family-friendly Arcade-style Racing game that plays like a roller coaster ride, with every second of gameplay packed with thrills and eye-popping sights to see, but with extremely shallow gameplay. This is still a magnificently fun experience to play, and perhaps the perfect game for younger racing game fans, but not everyone will appreciate this game’s dedication to magnificent spectacle above all else.
Fishing Star World Tour	Sports (Fishing)	B
tl;dr Fishing Star World Tour is a Fishing game that takes a cartoony, arcadey approach to the genre. The visuals here are gorgeous, the game’s use of motion controls are superb, and the arcadey gameplay infuses catching and reeling in a fish with enough variety to keep it from getting stale too quickly. The only problem here (beyond the annoying sax music when reeling in a fish) is frustrating progression. Still, this is one of the best Fishing games on the Nintendo Switch, and well worth a look for anyone wanting a good Fishing game.
Game Builder Garage	Content Creation Application	B
tl;dr Game Builder Garage is a Content Creation Application that acts as a “simple” game design tool, though it’s debatable just how “simple” it is. It is extremely limited in multiple ways, and even with an extremely lengthy tutorial it could stand to do better ensuring players understand how to use the tools contained within. Still, for a mere $30 this is a fun application to play around with, albeit not as versatile or user-friendly as some others that have been released elsewhere.
Groove Coaster Future Performers	Music-Rhythm	B
tl;dr Groove Coaster Future Performers takes the distracting visuals of the prior game and pairs them with Music-Rhythm gameplay that features a few nice additions, making for a better game overall, though still one that’s not going to appeal to everyone. Still, if you enjoy Music-Rhythm, this is definitely worth a look.
Instant Tennis	Sports (Tennis)	B
tl;dr Instant Tennis is a cartoony, family-friendly Tennis game that offers multiple ways to play – both with traditional and motion-control, and surprisingly they’re all pretty good. The presentation is a bit plain and the game is bare-bones when it comes to content, but if you’re looking for solid Tennis gameplay well-suited to all types of players, Instant Tennis absolutely delivers.
Kemono Friends Picross	Picross Puzzle	B
tl;dr Kemono Friends Picross is a Picross game with 150 traditional Picross puzzles, 150 Mega Picross puzzles, and 110 unlockable Clip Picross levels, with a clean and colorful presentation and plenty of game options. As with Jupiter’s other games in the genre, it lacks touchscreen controls, but on the other hand its tutorial is perhaps the best I’ve encountered at teaching new players how to play. If you’re a fan of the genre or looking to try your first Picross game, this game is well worth a look.
Mario Strikers: Battle League	Sports (Soccer)	B
tl;dr Mario Strikers: Battle League is a Soccer game starring Mario and friends that has a wild presentation, a fantastic metal-infused soundtrack, and solid gameplay. Underneath all the flash and substance is somewhat lacking variety, but other than that this is an excellent game of Soccer.
Motif	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Motif is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players recreate snowflake-like geometric shapes. This game has an elegant simplicity to it, and while simple both in graphics and gameplay, it is still surprisingly compelling. With this game containing over 300 puzzles for $3, this is an easy game to recommend to any Puzzle game fan on Nintendo Switch.
Multiversepool	Sports (Pool)	B
tl;dr Multiversepool is a cartoony, spacey-themed version of Pool with a sub-par presentation, a camera that could do with improvement, and optional motion-controls that are gimmicky and not worth bothering with. However, while it’s far from perfect, this is still a respectable Pool game that’s well worth the low $3.50 price tag.
Nintendo LABO Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit	Accessory / Minigame Collection / Misc.	B
tl;dr Nintendo LABO Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit is a really unique hybrid of a Minigame Collection, a series of Accessories you create yourself using the included pieces of custom-made cardboard, and a Misc. tool you can use to explore the features of the Nintendo Joy-Con controllers. Don’t buy this expecting deep gameplay, and its utility as a controller is somewhat negligible, but it is nevertheless a fun and unique experience that’s like nothing else out there, and well worth giving a try.
Paper Mario: The Origami King	RPG / Puzzle	B
tl;dr Paper Mario: The Origami King is a family-friendly game that mixes RPG and Puzzle elements. While it is decidedly not a “return to form” that series die-hards have been hoping for, and many of the experimental mechanics here are more trouble than they’re worth, these flaws are more than made up for by the game’s beautiful world, fun characters, compelling story, and some excellent exploration elements.
Picross S2	Picross Puzzle	B
tl;dr Picross S2 is a Picross game with 150 traditional Picross puzzles, 150 Mega Picross puzzles, and 10 Clip Picross puzzles comprised of multiple smaller puzzles, with a superb presentation and plenty of game options above and beyond the first game. However, like the first game, this nearly-ideal version of Picross falls short of perfection due to a lack of touchscreen controls.
Picross S3	Picross Puzzle	B
tl;dr Picross S3 is a Picross game with 150 traditional Picross puzzles, 150 Mega Picross puzzles, 30 Color Picross puzzles, and 25 Clip Picross puzzles comprised of multiple smaller puzzles, with a superb presentation and plenty of game options above and beyond the first two games. However, this nearly-ideal version of Picross shares the main flaw of its predecessors – a lack of touchscreen controls.
Picross S4	Picross Puzzle	B
tl;dr Picross S4 is a Picross game with 150 traditional Picross puzzles, 150 Mega Picross puzzles, 30 Color Picross puzzles, 150 Clip Picross puzzles comprised of multiple smaller puzzles, and five “Extra” puzzles. Like previous games in the series, this one has a superb presentation and it is otherwise a marginal improvement over the third game due to the expanded number of puzzles. However, this nearly-ideal version of Picross shares the main flaw of its predecessors – a lack of touchscreen controls.
Picross S5	Picross Puzzle	B
tl;dr Picross S5 is a Picross game with 150 traditional Picross puzzles, 150 Mega Picross puzzles, 30 Color Picross puzzles, 150 Clip Picross puzzles comprised of multiple smaller puzzles, and five “Extra” puzzles. Like previous games in the series, this one has a superb presentation and a solid array of features, but this nearly-ideal version of Picross shares the main flaw of its predecessors – a lack of touchscreen controls.
PixelJunk Eden 2	Platformer	B
tl;dr PixelJunk Eden 2 is a Platformer that has players using silk ziplines to swing their flea-like creature from plant to plant collecting pollen, with a striking electronica soundtrack and abstract light show visuals. Although there are still multiple parts of the game’s design that could do with improvement, overall this is a better game than its predecessor, and a truly unique Platforming experience.
Princess Peach: Showtime!	3D Platformer	B
tl;dr Princess Peach: Showtime! is mostly a 3D Platformer, though it plays very differently from other Mario franchise titles, mainly due to this game’s use of stage-specific costumes with context-sensitive abilities. The result is a game that’s varied and enjoyable, but also very shallow. This isn’t a great game, but it should be enough to satisfy fans of Mario’s favorite princess who have waited decades for her to star in her own game.
Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle	Collectable Card Game	B
tl;dr Shadowverse: Champion’s Battle is a family-friendly Collectable Card Game presented in a way comparable to a JRPG, complete with anime-style characters and story exclusive to this version of the game. There are some issues with various elements in the game, but overall this is a solid entry in the genre with a surprisingly fantastic presentation. If you’re a fan of Collectable Card Games, you should definitely give this game a look.
Words With Freds	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Words With Freds is a $1 Puzzle Game that plays like a cross between Hangman and Mastermind, and while it’s a simple game, it’s surprisingly compelling and has a fair amount of presentation options. If you’re craving an inexpensive word Puzzle game, this will be a great choice.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country	JRPG	B
tl;dr Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna, sold both as an expansion to Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and as a separate, self-contained game, is a prequel to Xenoblade Chronicles 2 set hundreds of years before the events of that game. You probably shouldn’t play this game without playing Xenoblade Chronicles 2 first though – you won’t get as much of an impact from the plot of this game, and you’ll spoil the story of Xenoblade Chronicles 2. You also shouldn’t play this game if you hated Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – there are improvements here, but not enough to fix all the issues that game had. However, if you played and liked that game, Torna is a no-brainer for you, as it gives a wonderful insight into an eventful part of that game’s story, gives you more of that world to explore, and adds some good changes to the combat and quest mechanics.
Airport	Arcade	B-
tl;dr Airport is an Arcade-style game that has players directing the flow of car traffic in and near airports. While the title may be a bit misleading, this game nevertheless delivers some simple but deceptively challenging gameplay, excellent co-op, and an appealing presentation. If you’re looking for a simple but fun Arcade-style challenge with good co-op, this game is well worth checking out.
Chalk Dash Carnival	Auto-Runner / Platformer / Party Game	B-
tl;dr Chalk Dash Carnival is a game that’s basically two different games in one. There’s one game that uses traditional controls, and it’s terrible, with sluggish movement and gameplay that has you dying a lot to unavoidable obstacles. However, when using the touchscreen in portable mode, this becomes a surprisingly decent, if a bit simple, game that has you drawing platforms and barriers to protect a character and guide them to an exit. For that mode alone, this game is worth a try.
Chess Royal	Board Game	B-
tl;dr Chess Royal is a bargain-priced version of the classic Board Game. It doesn’t have online play or a proper tutorial, but it’s a solid game of chess with an absolute ton of chess puzzles to solve. For $3, this is an absolute steal.
Codebreaker Puzzle 1000! ENG & JAN	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Codebreaker Puzzle is a Puzzle game where players try to find which letter corresponds to numbers spread throughout a Crossword-style Puzzle. With 1000 English-language puzzles to solve and simple but compelling gameplay, this game has a lot to offer fans of word puzzles, and there’s twice the content for players who can read Japanese and play Japanese-language puzzles. There are multiple areas where this game could be improved, but overall this is a pretty good Puzzle game.
Coloring Book	Art Application	B-
tl;dr Coloring Book is, well, a coloring book Application, although you can also create art on a blank canvas as well. The free app acts like a demo for the $7.99 “Creative Edition”, and both versions of the app have a pretty decent selection of tools to make art, even offering support for 4 players at once. However, this application isn’t going to be replacing what’s on your PC or tablet any time soon, and the lack of any way to transfer your art outside the application is disappointing. Still, as a fun toy for kids, Coloring Book does far more than it needed to.
Dots 8	Board Game / Strategy	B-
tl;dr Dots 8 is a family-friendly Board Game with Strategy elements with rules that are almost exactly like the classic game Go. There are some surprisingly good multiplayer options here, including 8-player pass-and-play gameplay sharing one controller or even just the touchscreen, however the game does not have computer-controlled opponents so there’s no single-player mode to speak of. Also, while the simple, relaxing presentation is nice, the competitive nature of this game feels like it would be better-suited to something more lively. Overall though, for its low price, this is a solid simple game to play in local multiplayer.
F-Zero 99	Futuristic Racing	B-
tl;dr F-Zero 99 is a fun take on the Futuristic Racing series that takes inspiration from the original Super Nintendo game, but expands on it by having 99 online players racing against each other on the same track. It’s extremely frenetic, and the crowded tracks can make for some frustration, but it’s also pretty fun and unique. Plus, since it is available at no additional cost to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, anyone who enjoys Racing games and already pays for the service would do well to give this game a try.
Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku	Boxing / Sports (Exercise) / Music-Rhythm	B-
tl;dr Fitness Boxing feat. Hatsune Miku combines the boxing-focused Exercise Application with the “Vocaloid” character and her friends, along with a soundtrack filled with Hatsune Miku’s music. And unlike the usual for the Fitness Boxing franchise, this time it’s not just voiceless covers, but the actual music. This fact puts this collaboration well above any of the other games in the Fitness Boxing series thus far, even if this is still more of an Exercise Application than an actual game – if you’re looking for something more like a game, you’re still better off with Ring Fit Adventure or Samba De Amigo: Party Central.
Futoshiki Math	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Futoshiki Math is a Puzzle game that’s similar to Sudoku, but instead of being separated into three-by-three grids, Futoshiki has greater than/less than symbols to hint at its answers. While this style of puzzle isn’t as well-established as Sudoku, it’s nearly as compelling, and fans of that style of game would do well to give this game a try too.
Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness	Action / Strategy	B-
tl;dr Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness is a game that combines Action and Strategy elements as players protect a princess in a mobile castle as it travels on rails to bash into an enemy stronghold. It’s a fairly unique and enjoyable game, but it’s nowhere near as good as its Nintendo 3DS predecessor.
Groove Coaster Wai Wai Party!!!!	Music-Rhythm	B-
tl;dr Groove Coaster is a Music-Rhythm game where players play notes as their cursor crosses them on a line that’s constantly shifting and moving. The core gameplay here is decent, but the game keeps doing things seemingly designed to push players out of the groove rather than bringing them into it, such as its distracting presentation. Also, the music lacks variety. This is still a decent Music-Rhythm game, but it’s still a far cry from the best that the Nintendo Switch has to offer.
Kakurasu World	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Kakurasu World is a Puzzle game that’s similar to Picross, but with its own unique rules that the game doesn’t explain very well. I advise players who haven’t played Kakurasu to look up the game elsewhere online and see if the rules make sense to you. If you can figure it out, know that Kakurasu World is a solid version of the puzzle at an excellent $3 price, but this is not a game that’s welcoming to newer players.
Kirby’s Dream Buffet	Party Game	B-
tl;dr Kirby’s Dream Buffet is a family-friendly Party Game where players compete as tiny Kirbys trying to eat the most berries in giant-sized, food-themed areas. The presentation here is absolutely delicious, and the core gameplay is fun, although it’s a bit light on content and the lack of 4-player local play is disappointing. Still, if you’re looking for some simple fun online or via local wireless, this game should be well worth the $15 price tag.
Knock ‘Em Down! Bowling	Sports (Bowling) / Party Game	B-
tl;dr Knock ‘Em Down! Bowling is family-friendly Party-style bowling that channels the spirit of the Wii Sports bowling game surprisingly well, with some really solid party game modes and pretty good motion-control gameplay. The controls take a bit of getting used to, but on the whole this should make a fine addition to a party.
Lyrica	Music-Rhythm	B-
tl;dr Lyrica is a music-rhythm game that copies the Elite Beat Agents/Ouendan formula, albeit not perfectly, and uses it to explore Chinese music, history, culture, and poetry. It’s not for everyone, but if the topic matter sounds of interest to you, this will definitely be worth a look
Lyrica2 Stars Align	Music-Rhythm	B-
tl;dr Lyrica2 is a Music-Rhythm game that, like its predecessor, combines themes of Chinese history and poetry with gameplay that follows the Elite Beat Agents/Ouendan formula. What’s here is mostly decent, but it’s extremely niche due to its theme and high challenge level requiring a lot of multitasking with both hands. This game will absolutely not be for everyone, but if you’re enticed by its themes and not scared by a challenge, you may enjoy this.
Mario Golf: Super Rush	Sports (Golf)	B-
tl;dr Mario Golf: Super Rush is a cartoony game of Golf starring Mario and friends, with this entry in the series adding a new Adventure mode, a Speed Golf mode, and a Battle Golf mode. While the core golf gameplay here is good, many of the other elements of this game are poorly thought-out, flawed, or severely lacking content (still lacking even with free DLC adding more content post-launch). The result is a game that’s very good… and also a huge disappointment.
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit	Kart Racing / Hardware	B-
tl;dr Mario Kart Live takes Nintendo’s classic Kart Racer series into the world of AR games with an actual physical RC car that interacts with the game on Nintendo Switch using a camera. It’s a wonderful and unique experience, but one that comes with a lot of requirements, has a fair number of flaws, and has a pretty high expense. If you don’t mind these issues, this is something truly unlike anything else out there, and it is definitely fun, but be warned that this fun does come with a hefty number of issues too.
Molecano	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Molecano is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players build paths by piecing together letters into words. This is a solid take on a well-worn mobile-style Puzzle formula that adds a fun new element to the gameplay. It’s still a bit too simple and repetitive, and the $8 price tag seems too high, but this game is still worth picking up, especially if you can get it on sale.
Otto	Arcade	B-
tl;dr Otto has you using either motion controls or the touchscreen to tug on a rope holding Otto to maneuver him through levels. The gimmicky controls actually work pretty well, but the levels are overly simple and repetitive. It’s still a decent distraction that’s fairly unique, just don’t expect much depth or variety.
Picross S	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Picross S is a Picross game with 150 traditional Picross puzzles and 150 Mega Picross puzzles, with a superb presentation and plenty of game options. It’s a bit unfortunate then that this nearly-ideal version of Picross falls short of perfection due to a lack of touchscreen controls.
Picross S Genesis & Master System Edition	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Picross S Genesis & Master System Edition is a Picross game with 150 traditional Picross puzzles, 150 Mega Picross puzzles, 30 Color Picross puzzles, 150 Clip Picross puzzles comprised of multiple smaller puzzles. Unfortunately, it lacks the “Extra” content of prior games in the series, and the Sega branding here is a mixed bag, since the backgrounds that shift as you play can give away the answer to the puzzle you’re solving. Beyond this, the game is otherwise the same nearly-ideal version of Picross as the rest of the series, sharing the main flaw of its predecessors – a lack of touchscreen controls. This is a decent Picross game, but it’s a lazy sequel that uses Sega’s branding in place of content and most players will be better off getting other games in the series.
Piczle Colors	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Piczle Colors is a puzzle game that plays differently than the earlier games in the series – this is basically Picross with colors, where you use the numbers on the top and side to determine where to place colors. It plays okay, although the game feels overproduced for such a simple puzzle game. Worth checking out if you like Picross-style games.
Pocket Pool	Sports (Pool) / Sports (Mini-Golf)	B-
tl;dr Pocket Pool is a game that combines mechanics of Pool and Mini-Golf to make something quirky that’s sorta’ halfway between the two. It may not be what fans of Pool are expecting, and the game isn’t especially deep, but it’s an enjoyable if somewhat simple game that’s worth the low $4 price tag.
Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet Double Pack	Compilation / Open-World Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	B-
tl;dr Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet Double Pack pairs up both versions of the first true Open-World game in the Pokemon series, which it also introduces multiple new elements to streamline the gameplay, as well as the wealth of strategic opportunities added by the new “tera type” feature. Unfortunately, all of these great qualities are marred by some nasty graphical and performance issues, as well as some gameplay frustrations. This is still one of the best games in the Pokemon franchise, but it’s a great game that is damaged severely by its significant flaws. As for this package, this is a bundle with two copies of the same game, there’s little reason to get it, and it actually costs a tiny bit more than buying the games separately.
Pokemon Sword	Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	B-
tl;dr Pokemon Sword (like Pokemon Shield), the series’ first mainline entry on a console, is a solid Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG in much the same way previous entries in the series were solid Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPGs. However, the lack of significant new features or improvements and the removal of some beloved series features make this game a massive disappointment, even if the core game still remains… well, solid.
Pokemon Shield	Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	B-
tl;dr Pokemon Shield (like Pokemon Sword), the series’ first mainline entry on a console, is a solid Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG in much the same way previous entries in the series were solid Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPGs. However, the lack of significant new features or improvements and the removal of some beloved series features make this game a massive disappointment, even if the core game still remains… well, solid.
Puzzle & Dragons Nintendo Switch Edition	Match-3 Puzzle / RPG	B-
tl;dr Puzzle & Dragons is a version of the long-running family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle game with RPG elements, and overall I think this is a solid port of a somewhat mediocre Puzzle game. It all works well enough, but there doesn’t seem like there is much to the strategy here. However, the cheap price tag and the surprisingly compelling co-op play make this still worth looking into for fans of the Puzzle genre.
Skies of Fury DX	Combat Flight Simulator	B-
tl;dr Skies of Fury DX is a WWI-era Combat Flight Sim, and what it does, it does well. The gameplay is solid, the graphics are good, and four players can have a blast in the 2v2 multiplayer mode. It’s just a shame the game is so lacking when it comes to the variety department, because it could have been even better.
Sound Waves	Top-Down Puzzle / Stealth / Horror	B-
tl;dr Sound Waves is a Top-Down Puzzle game with Stealth and Horror elements where players must navigate environments, evade monsters, and find an exit by using sound in various ways. This is a clever take on this game’s genres, with some good puzzle design. I do have some complaints about the controls, but with this game selling for a mere $5, it’s an easy game to recommend for those looking for something a bit different.
Space War Arena	Strategy	B-
tl;dr Space War Arena is a strategy game where players command one of a pair of dueling space stations commanding an armada of ships to attack and defend against the other. It’s a great concept with a really original approach to the genre, but unfortunately players are limited by some frustrating design decisions that limit their strategic options.
Super Battle Cards	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle / Card / RPG	B-
tl;dr Super Battle Cards is a family-friendly Puzzle game with simple but compelling gameplay that has you moving a hero card around on a grid of health, shield, and enemy cards. It’s a bit shallow and there are some presentation issues, but overall it’s a fun time-waster.
Taiko No Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival	Music-Rhythm	B-
tl;dr Taiko No Tatsujin: Rhythm Festival is the fourth Nintendo Switch entry in Namco’s family-friendly Japanese taiko drumming Music-Rhythm game series. Once again, this game was designed for the proprietary taiko drum accessory, the Joy-Con motion controls are terrible, the traditional gamepad controls are good but seem a tad bland, and the touchscreen controls are secretly the best way to play this game. And once again, the cutesy, Japanesey presentation won’t be for everyone, but otherwise the gameplay is great. However, it’s hard to be enthusiastic about this game when Taiko No Tatsujin: Drum ‘N’ Fun! did this formula better on the Nintendo Switch in 2018, and is still the best game in the series on this platform. This is still a good game, but it feels like it’s lacking important features compared to Drum ‘N’ Fun!, and I think most players are better off going for that game instead.
Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers	Fighting Game	B-
tl;dr Ultra Street Fighter II is the latest, greatest version of Street Fighter II that takes the visuals of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, adds two new characters, rebalances the gameplay, adds in a few throwaway extra game modes and a decent art gallery… and then slaps on a $40 price tag. Make no mistake, the gameplay here is still fantastic, probably the best that Street Fighter II has ever been, but the cost is so absurd that it’s hard to recommend this game, and so prohibitive that it has left online lobbies empty. This is a game for die-hard series fans only – everyone else is better off going for the 30th Anniversary Collection, which is $10 cheaper and includes way more content.

Nintendo Platform Exclusives

These games are only on Nintendo platforms (including other Nintendo consoles and handhelds), nowhere else!

Game	Genre	Grade
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	Kart Racer	A++
tl;dr Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is not just a Kart Racing game, it is the Kart Racing game, removing the few flaws the Wii U version had and adding even more content to an already content-rich game, making this arguably the best-playing, best-looking and all-around best period when it comes to this type of racing game. If you have a Switch, get this game.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild	Open-World Action-RPG	A++
tl;dr The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is an Open-World Action-RPG that sheds much of the Zelda series’ formula and tries some really new and amazing things that make this an absolutely unforgettable experience unlike anything else out there, really pushing the thrill of exploration. It’s not without its flaws, but even so, there is so much to love here, so much new ground broken that it’s easy to look past those when everything else here is just pure joy. An absolute must-have.
Bayonetta 2	Spectacle Fighter	A+
tl;dr Bayonetta 2, like the first game, is a Spectacle Fighter like Devil May Cry, and it is arguably one of the best games in its genre, with amazing fighting mechanics, a lot of variety, and overall extremely fun gameplay, so long as you’re not bothered by the extremely sexualized main character. This is also clearly the definitive version of the game, so if you don’t mind the M rating, you should consider this game a must-have on the Switch.
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze	Platformer	A+
tl;dr Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is about as good as 2D platformers can get – it plays well, it looks great, and the level design is some of the best that’s ever been seen in a videogame. This is a game that should be in every Switch owner’s collection.
Metroid Prime Remastered	First-Person Shooter / Metroidvania	A+
tl;dr Metroid Prime Remastered is a remake of a game that combines First-Person Shooter Gameplay with Metroidvania game structure, first released on the GameCube. Not only has Metroid Prime aged incredibly well, but this remake is outstanding, going above and beyond in its graphical improvements, control options, and bonus content. The result is the absolutely definitive version of one of the greatest games ever made.
Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 Digital Bundle	Compilation / Spectacle Fighter	A
tl;dr Bayonetta and Bayonetta 2 Digital Bundle is a Compilation of the first two Bayonetta games, each of the two being one of the best Spectacle Fighter games ever made. You spend about as much on this bundle as you would buying the games separately using the discount, but this is a good way to get them both in one go and not worry about the confusing way that discount is implemented. You’re not saving more by getting the games this way, but it’s a good value on two phenomenal games regardless.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe	Real-Time Strategy / Action-RPG	A
tl;dr Pikmin 3 Deluxe is an outstanding and unique spin on the Real-Time Strategy genre that puts the focus on exploration and puzzle-solving rather than strategic combat, and this version of the game adds a slew of new features, including multiple good control options, and more extensive co-op play that I would argue is the absolute highlight of the game. Unless you played the original version of this game on Wii U and have zero interest in the new co-op play, consider this a game that you absolutely should not miss.
Super Mario RPG	Isometric Turn-Based JRPG	A
tl;dr Super Mario RPG is a remake of the 1996 classic SNES Isometric Turn-Based JRPG that’s extremely faithful to the original while adding completely modernized graphics and music, as well as new gameplay features. This is a great remake of a great game, and while it’s somewhat short and easy for a JRPG, it is so enjoyable throughout its 12-20 hour adventure that any fan of the genre should consider it a must-have, and players wanting to try their first RPG should consider this an excellent entry point. Either way, this game is outstanding.
Captain Toad Treasure Tracker	3D Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Captain Toad Treasure Tracker is a game where players guide the titular non-jumping character through numerous levels that are each like little puzzle boxes. The puzzles are clever, and the presentation is solid, and this is overall a fantastic puzzle game, although it’s not without a few annoyances.
Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition	Action Brawler	A-
tl;dr Hyrule Warriors is a Dynasty Warriors-style Action Brawler with a Zelda setting and characters. It looks a bit dated and has a few issues here and there, but it’s an absolute blast to play in co-op… once you look up online how to actually play in co-op.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe	Platformer	A-
tl;dr Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a re-release of a family-friendly Platformer that was originally released on the Wii. Multiple elements have been remade or expanded on here, including redone visuals, expanded features, and a really enjoyable new “Magolor Epilogue”. This combines with the original game’s excellent gameplay and great multiplayer to make for a truly excellent game. Unfortunately, the added content here doesn’t quite seem to justify the $60 price tag for a game that’s over a decade old, but if you’re a Platformer fan who never played the original, consider this a must-have.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond	Open-World First-Person Shooter / Metroidvania	A-
tl;dr Metroid Prime 4 is a First-Person Shooter and Metroidvania with Open-World sections, and it is an audiovisual tour de force on Nintendo Switch, with a gorgeous world, incredible puzzle design, and some clever gameplay elements. It also disappoints with its underwhelming Metroidvania elements, its half-baked Open World elements, and some truly baffling design choices. The result is a game that, while still outstanding, is a bit underwhelming given the 18 years it took for us to finally see this game release.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door	Turn-Based JRPG	A-
tl;dr Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a full remake of the classic family-friendly GameCube Turn-Based JRPG, one that series fans swear is still the best in the series, and they have a point – despite a slow start, this game is excellent, with some compelling but straightforward gameplay mechanics, likable characters, and a great story. What’s more, this release features a gorgeous graphical upgrade, a remade soundtrack, and some excellent minor quality-of-life gameplay additions. Overall, that makes this a must-play for RPG fans, and especially for fans of Mario RPGs.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars	Compilation / 3D Platformer	A-
tl;dr Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a compilation of Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy, all with improved resolution and full game soundtracks, and not much else. These games are legends, although of the three only Galaxy remains every bit as good as that legend. However, given the games’ age, the lack of enhancements, the lack of extra content, the high $60 price tag and the outrageous promise to yank the game from stores in a half a year, this otherwise must-have collection seems a lot less enticing than it should. It’s still a trio well worth owning for any fan of Platformers, but it’s one that’s hard for me to enthusiastically recommend.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore	Turn-Based JRPG	A-
tl;dr Tokyo Mirage Sessions is a Turn-Based RPG that is a port of the Wii U game that is at least loosely tied to the Fire Emblem and Persona franchises, but is really its own thing. It’s a game that feels like its characters, setting and story were pulled straight from an anime, with a solid presentation that makes the game feel truly unique. The gameplay is also pretty good, despite a few frustrating elements popping up from time to time. JRPG fans should definitely give this game a look.
Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition	JRPG	A-
tl;dr Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition takes the epic, sprawling JRPG from 10 years ago and finally gives it the release it truly deserves, updating the visuals and music, adding in tons of great quality of life improvements, and adding a brand new 10 hour epilogue. The result is the best version of a spectacular JRPG. There are some areas that could have been improved even further, but overall this is a must-play entry in the genre.
Fire Emblem Warriors	Action Brawler	B+
tl;dr Fire Emblem Warriors combines the Musou-style action-focused gameplay of games like Hyrule Warriors and Dynasty Warriors with some of the strategic elements of the Fire Emblem franchise, along with tons of (sometimes embarrassing) fan service for that series, resulting in a game that’s delightfully fun, if a bit shallow. Map and menu issues detract from this game a bit, but overall this is a wonderful action-packed romp.
Fragrant Story and Papaya’s Path	Turn-Based Strategy-RPG	B+
tl;dr Fragrant Story is a simplified take on the Tactics-style Turn-Based Strategy-RPG, but there’s still some excellent depth and creativity hidden within this game. Plus, at only $8, this is a no-brainer for fans of the genre.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD	Puzzle / Action	B+
tl;dr Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon is the second game in this Action Puzzle franchise starring Mario’s brother cowering and vacuuming his way through a gorgeous game with tons of personality and a fascinating world to explore. Unfortunately, this release changes little from the original Nintendo 3DS version of the game, and yet it jacks the price up a full $20, making this feel like a rip-off, especially when Luigi’s Mansion 3 is the same price and a better game overall. Play that instead.
Pikmin 2	Real-Time Strategy / Action-RPG	B+
tl;dr Pikmin 2 is a port of the second game in the Pikmin series, games loosely within the Real-Time Strategy genre that put the focus on exploration and puzzle-solving rather than strategic combat. This port has some very minor improvements that make this the definitive version of the game, but overall this is a bare-bones port. However, the core game is still excellent even by today’s standards, and well worth playing if you can overlook the dated visuals and bloated price tag.
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening	Top-Down Action-RPG	B+
tl;dr The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is a remake of the classic Game Boy games that gives the game a new, memorable art style, but mostly leaves the gameplay of the original intact. Unfortunately, this release has numerous flaws, including disappointing framerate issues, control issues, and missed opportunities in what little new content there is. Plus, the $60 price tag is ridiculous. It’s still a great game, but in many ways it’s also a disappointing one.
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD	Action-RPG	B+
tl;dr The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword HD is a massive improvement over the original Wii version of the game, with vastly improved visuals, hugely impactful quality-of-life changes, and new control options that… well, still have a lot of issues, but probably do about as good a job converting this game to Switch as one could hope for. This game’s fixation on the motion controls is still one of its most frustrating qualities, but it still features superb game design and an excellent presentation, and fans of the Zelda franchise won’t want to miss it, despite its flaws.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition	Open-World RPG	B+
tl;dr Xenoblade Chronicles X is an Open-World RPG about the remnants of humanity trying to survive on a distant planet after fleeing an Earth destroyed by a massive battle between alien forces. This is a massive, ambitious game, one with a lot of complex systems at work, and thankfully the Nintendo Switch version of the game adds a wealth of improvements and additional content over the Wii U version. If you’re an RPG fan with a Nintendo Switch, this is definitely a game you should look into, although it is still far from flawless. Despite this, it remains a truly unique and enjoyable game, and one still very much worth playing.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD	Platformer	B
tl;dr Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a solid remaster of an excellent Platformer from Wii and Nintendo 3DS, but this release doesn’t add much, and overall does little to justify its $60 price tag, especially when Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is also on Nintendo Switch and an overall superior game. By comparison, this feels a bit like taking a step backwards at this point.
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is a remake of a Game Boy Advance Puzzle-Platformer that not only completely recreates the visuals and sound from scratch, but adds multiple new features and a bunch of new levels as well. This is an all-around solid remake of a solid game, which is why it’s disappointing that the price seems overly high for what’s on offer here. Still, if you’re a fan of Puzzle-Platformers this is a game you’d be advised to give it a chance if you can snag it on sale.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe	Platformer	B
tl;dr New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is a port of a family-friendly 2012 Wii U Platformer, along with its standalone sequel. This game is absurdly overpriced and horribly unoriginal, and many players will be better off getting Super Mario Maker 2. Having said that, there’s no denying that the gameplay here is still excellent, and the presentation is absolutely polished. If you’re a fan of Platformers or just looking for a simple, straightforward Mario game, you should be more than satisfied with this game.
Pikmin 1	Real-Time Strategy / Action-RPG	B
tl;dr Pikmin 1 is a port of the first game in the Pikmin series, games loosely within the Real-Time Strategy genre that put the focus on exploration and puzzle-solving rather than strategic combat. This port has some very minor improvements that make this the definitive version of the game, but overall this is a bare-bones port of the worst game in the mainline series. It’s still well worth playing, but you’re probably better off playing this game’s sequels instead.
Pikmin 1 + 2 Bundle	Compilation / Real-Time Strategy / Action-RPG	B
tl;dr Pikmin 1 + 2 Bundle is a compilation of ports of the first and second games in the Pikmin series, games loosely within the Real-Time Strategy genre that put the focus on exploration and puzzle-solving rather than strategic combat. These ports have some very minor improvements that make this the definitive version of these games, but overall they’re both bare-bones ports. And while this package’s $50 price tag does save you $10 over the price of buying both games separately, it still feels overpriced considering how little effort was made to modernize these games. Make no mistake, the first two Pikmin games are still wonderful, but they deserved a better modern release than this, or at least a cheaper one.
Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma	Action-RPG / Management Simulation	B
tl;dr Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is an Action-RPG and “Farming RPG” Management Simulation that brings the long-running series in a new direction with a traditional Japanese-inspired aesthetic, and evolves both the combat and the farming gameplay in mostly-excellent new ways. There are some minor gameplay frustrations, and the Nintendo Switch version has performance issues, but overall this is a solid new entry in this series and well worth a look for fans of its respective genres.
Arcade Archives Punch-Out!!	Sports (Boxing)	B-
tl;dr This version of Punch-Out!! is an iteration of the classic Boxing game that’s distinctly different from the Nintendo Entertainment System release. I would argue this is not nearly as good as the less visually-impressive Nintendo Entertainment System port, but it’s distinct and different enough from that port to be worth a look for fans of the series, though the lack of content and high difficulty curve means that I would highly encourage those new to this series to start with a different entry in the franchise first.
Arcade Archives VS. Super Mario Bros.	Platformer	B-
tl;dr Super Mario Bros. is an absolute classic Platformer, and VS. Super Mario Bros. is a version of the game that’s altered just enough to be frustrating without changing enough to make it feel truly new. On top of this, the price seems too steep, especially with the NES version of Super Mario Bros. being easily accessible on Nintendo Switch Online’s NES app. As a result, while this is still a great game, it’s a game that almost no one will find worth buying.
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.
The Wizard of Bug	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr The Wizard of Bug is a character-based Puzzle game in the style of a Sokoban game where players push around hearts representing the life of their character and enemies. it’s a brilliant idea that is well-executed here, but it’s wrapped in an absolutely terrible presentation. Fans of the genre should definitely give this a look, but I think many players will have a difficult time looking past the flaws.

Console Exclusives

These games are only on Nintendo platforms (including other Nintendo consoles and handhelds), PC, and mobile phones, but do not appear on other game consoles.

Game	Genre	Grade
Alekon	First-Person Shooter / Misc.	A
tl;dr Alekon is a family-friendly photography-focused First-Person Shooter where players take pictures of fictional creatures (literally called Fictions), with gameplay that is clearly inspired by the Pokemon Snap franchise. However, more than just being a copycat, Alekon is a wonderfully-accessible, varied, and just overall delightful game that actually manages to rival the Pokemon Snap games to become a truly great game in its own right. Fans of the Pokemon Snap franchise should consider this a must-buy, and anyone curious about photography videogames may want to consider making this game one of their first entries into the genre.
Cytus α	Music-Rhythm	A
tl;dr Cytus α is a Music-Rhythm game in the vein of Elite Beat Agents and Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan, where players are touching notes on the touchscreen in time with a scrolling metronome-like bar. However, while this game was clearly meant for touchscreen, the controls on a traditional controller are surprisingly good as well. This game has issues with an overly-high challenge level, deserted online servers, confusing menus, and frustrating progression that makes you play to unlock the game’s 200 varied songs, but that hardly matters since the game is so very fun to play. This is a must-have for Music-Rhythm fans on the Switch.
Hades II	Action / Roguelike	A
tl;dr Hades II is an excellent follow-up to its predecessor, a fine Action Roguelike with an absolute ton of content, and that follows in the footsteps of its predecessor while changing things enough that this feels like a very different sort of game while still fitting in with the original. The Nintendo Switch version is visually the ugliest way to play the game, but it still plays perfectly fine, and if you’re looking to play a truly excellent Action game on the go, this is well worth picking up.
Voez	Music-Rhythm	A
tl;dr Voez is an absolutely joyous Music-Rhythm game, with fun and simple gameplay, and a wide variety of music. While you can play it fine in docked mode, this is a game that’s really designed for handheld play, which may limit its appeal, but if you enjoy Music-Rhythm games, you owe it to yourself to try this one.
A Robot Named Fight	Metroidvania / Roguelike	A-
tl;dr A Robot Named Fight is a combination of a Metroidvania that is very clearly trying to be like Super Metroid, and a Roguelike with randomized level design, permadeath, and the gradual unlocking of upgrades. It doesn’t quite reach the heights of Super Metroid, but it’s still an engaging experience that fans of the genre should definitely check out.
Baba Is You	Puzzle	A-
tl;dr Baba Is You is a character-based puzzle game with wildly inventive mechanics that have you pushing around words to change the rules that the game follows. While the presentation leaves something to be desired, the gameplay here is so absolutely inspired that it really should be played by anyone looking for something new and different, especially fans of puzzle games.
Backpack Hero	Roguelike / Turn-Based RPG / Management Simulation	A-
tl;dr Backpack Hero is a game that combines Roguelike, Turn-Based RPG, and Management Simulation elements, with a strong emphasis on organizing equipment in your backpack for the most effective results in battle. The way this game takes a classic RPG mechanic and expands on it to make it such a major element of the gameplay here is absolutely inspired. There are a few areas where this game could do with a bit more work, but overall this game is an absolute delight, and one that is definitely worth a look for fans of RPGs and Roguelikes.
Blossom Tales: The Sleeping King	Top-Down Action-RPG	A-
tl;dr Blossom Tales is a Top-Down Action-RPG that does a phenomenal job of copying the Zelda formula, looking and playing much like a long-lost Zelda game. It’s short and a bit lacking in originality, but what’s here is still top-notch.
Bravely Default II	Turn-Based RPG	A-
tl;dr Bravely Default II is a Turn-Based JRPG that’s technically the third game in the series, but features a completely original story, characters, and world. That story may be somewhat formulaic, but it is well-written, with excellent characters, wonderful voice acting, great music, and solid visuals (though the art style for the characters may not be for everyone). The brave/default combat mechanic and a great job class system keep the gameplay interesting, even if they don’t revolutionize the genre. All things considered, this is a must-have for RPG fans on Nintendo Switch.
Dandy Dungeon – Legend of Brave Yamada –	Puzzle / RPG	A-
tl;dr Dandy Dungeon combines an RPG with a Puzzle game in a really unique and original way that has you stepping on every tile of each dungeon floor and fighting enemies in your path in the game-within-a-game, all while Yamada prances around in his underwear, sings the game’s music, and constantly adds stuff into the game based on the zany events of his life. It’s wacky, fun, wildly original, and instantly endearing, only being marred by repetitive gameplay and grinding. Definitely worth a look.
Fae Farm	Action-RPG / Management Simulation	A-
tl;dr Fae Farm is a family-friendly “Farming RPG”-style Action-RPG and Management Sim that has players travelling to a magical island surrounded by whirlpools where they will find a pleasant community waiting for them… and of course a vacant farm too. Apart from the “magical” themes, this game doesn’t really do anything particularly new or transformative for the genre. Rather, it takes the standard gameplay of the genre and does that very well, with a wonderful polished presentation. It’s not anything truly groundbreaking, but it is still one of the best games I’ve played in this genre.
Flipon	Match-3 Puzzle	A-
tl;dr Flipon is a Match-3 Puzzle game that directly copies the formula of Panel De Pon, and does so extraordinarily well, not only retaining the quality combo-heavy game mechanics of the original, but adding new features like special abilities and 4-player competitive play. It’s only real flaws are a lackluster presentation and a lack of online play. Still, for $6 this is a phenomenal Puzzle game that’s well worth adding to your collection.
Grindstone	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	A-
tl;dr Grindstone is a Puzzle game that has players guiding a warrior through hordes of color-coded monsters. It’s a compelling, visceral Puzzle game that’s a delight to play, with only a few very minor complaints I can point to. Fans of the genre should definitely give this game a try.
Guardian Tales	Top-Down Action-RPG	A-
tl;dr Guardian Tales is a free-to-play Zelda-style Top-Down Action-RPG with fun gameplay, lots of variety, an appealing presentation, and great writing with a superb sense of humor. The only thing that detracts from this otherwise outstanding game is the overbearing presence of the countless ways this game wants to catch you up in its microtransactions. However, if you can stomach all the gacha mechanics, it’s well worth a look – everything else about this game is outstanding.
Horace	Platformer	A-
tl;dr Horace is a Platformer where players take the role of a robot trying to make sense of the world, help others, and clean up junk. This is a wonderful Platformer with a surprisingly moving and funny story and great characters. It can’t fully seem to decide if it wants to be a Metroidvania or a more straightforward Platformer, but either way this game is a phenomenal Platformer well worth playing.
Lost in Play	Graphic Adventure	A-
tl;dr Lost in Play is an absolutely charming family-friendly Graphic Adventure where players take the role of two children playing both in the real world and in their make-believe imaginary world. The presentation is adorable, the characters are wonderfully lovable, the puzzles are clever, and the gameplay is highly accessible. There are maybe a few small complaints here and there, but overall this is an outstanding entry in the genre that’s sure to bring a smile to your face.
Melatonin	Music-Rhythm	A-
tl;dr Melatonin is a family-friendly Music-Rhythm game that takes the basic gameplay idea of Nintendo’s Rhythm Heaven series and adapts it to this game’s dream-inspired levels with a wonderful pastel presentation and bizarre dream logic. Not only does this game feature great gameplay comparable to its inspiration, it actually builds on it with clever ways to shake up that gameplay. I do have a few minor complaints, but overall I think this is a must-have game for Music-Rhythm fans.
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle	Spectacle Fighter	A-
tl;dr No More Heroes 2 improves on the first game in nearly every way, delivering the same great action and outlandish presentation, but with better graphics, better controls, streamlined game design, better minigames… really, the only thing I can find fault with here is the game’s camera is still a pain and the visuals are a bit dated. However, aside from that, this game is an all-around fantastic Spectacle Fighter that should be played by anyone who enjoys the genre… at least as long as they don’t mind a lot of misogyny and an immature sense of humor.
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo	Visual Novel / Graphic Adventure / Horror	A-
tl;dr Paranormasight is a Visual Novel with Graphic Adventure and Horror elements following multiple characters who possess “curse stones”, and are enticed to hunt down and use their curses to kill each other to resurrect a friend or loved one. This game has a wonderful Rashomon-style plot, excellent fourth wall-breaking puzzles, and a beautiful art style, all for only $20. It has a few issues, and a somewhat silly premise, but overall this is an outstanding Visual Novel and Graphic Adventure, and in particular fans of those genres who enjoy dark stories of the occult should absolutely consider this a must-have.
Quilts and Cats of Calico	Board Game	A-
tl;dr Quilts and Cats of Calico is a family-friendly videogame adaptation of the Board Game Calico, and it takes a game with wonderful “easy to learn, tough to master” gameplay and translates it exceptionally well to videogame form, with a good selection of game modes and an outstanding presentation with a lovely soundtrack. If you enjoy Board Games or Puzzles and particularly like “cozy games”, consider this a must-have.
Remnants of Naezith	Platformer	A-
tl;dr Remnants of Naezith is a challenging Platformer where players must use a grappling hook and the game’s fun physics system to swing their way to the end of every level. The gameplay here is great, fast-paced, and gives players a lot they can do despite having a limited move set. If you’re down for a tough but fair Platformer, this is a great choice.
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.
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 Dig	Platformer / Roguelike	A-
tl;dr Shovel Knight Dig is a Platformer with strong Roguelike elements, tweaking the excellent Platformer gameplay of the original Shovel Knight and using it to have the player digging down into the earth in a Roguelike-style structure. This game captures much of what worked so well in the original Shovel Knight but recontextualizes it into a Roguelike experience, and for the most part this works brilliantly, though the high challenge level may put off fans of the original game. Still, if you’re not intimidated by a challenge, this is a superb game well worth playing.
Super Cable Boy	Platformer	A-
tl;dr Super Cable Boy is a challenging Platformer where players control a Game Boy-like device in a digital world. The visual presentation is striking and fits the game’s themes well, but what really stands out here is the excellent gameplay, which challenges players to swap between different “cartridges” (abilities) to perform some great acrobatic feats. There’s even a solid 2-player co-op mode here as well. In short, if you enjoy challenging Platformers, consider Super Cable Boy a must-have.
Super Mega Zero	Platformer / Shmup	A-
tl;dr Super Mega Zero is a challenging Platformer with some Shmup sections where players control a zero who can’t jump, but who can touch numbers to jump or dash that many times. This is one of many creative gameplay mechanics that this game is constantly adding into the mix, and combined with excellent level design, a fantastic soundtrack, and some really fun (if a bit overly-easy) Shmup levels all make for a game that’s a lot of fun, and should be a no-brainer for fans of challenging Platformers.
The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood	Graphic Adventure / Visual Novel	A-
tl;dr The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is a game with Graphic Adventure and Visual Novel elements that puts players in the role of an exiled witch who makes a forbidden deal with a powerful and ominous entity, starting a chain of events that has her reading cards to foretell the future for others in her coven during a highly contentious time This game’s story, characters, and soundtrack are all excellent, and while the card creation elements are poorly-explained, this is a minor complaint about a game that not only weaves a thoughtful and emotional story, but makes you the one weaving much of that story. I cannot recommend this enough.
The Red Strings Club	Graphic Adventure	A-
tl;dr The Red Strings Club is a Graphic Adventure with an extremely well-written cerebral cyberpunk neo noir plot, and some great atmosphere to go with it, as well as some great bartending gameplay elements that fit surprisingly well with the game’s themes of emotional empathy and information gathering. It’s not super-long and the controls are less than ideal, but players looking for a fantastic, well-told story should absolutely look into this game.
Toodee and Topdee	Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Toodee and Topdee is a family-friendly Puzzle-Platformer that has players swapping between two characters – one who controls like a Platformer, and one who controls like a Top-Down character-driven Puzzle Game character. This game’s fantastic level design makes wonderful use of the game’s central gameplay mechanic, and supplements it with a nice presentation and adorable characters. There are a few places where this game could have been improved, but overall this is a phenomenal Puzzle game that fans of the genre should definitely play.
UFO 50	Compilation	A-
tl;dr UFO 50 is a Compilation containing 50 retro-style games purportedly created by fictional game developer UFOSoft. This collection has a ton of variety and creativity, and while not every game ends up working out, enough succeed to make this collection worthwhile, especially for players who enjoy retro-style games.
Unavowed	Graphic Adventure	A-
tl;dr Unavowed is a Graphic Adventure about a new inductee into a paranormal investigation organization solving gruesome mysteries and finding answers about the demon who possessed you. The game looks great, the writing is sharp, the characters are fantastic, the voice acting is excellent, and the character-swapping mechanic gives players numerous ways to solve problems. The game doesn’t provide you quite as much freedom as one would hope, but overall this game should be considered a must-play for fans of Graphic Adventures and especially fans of classic LucasArts-style point-and-click games.
What the Golf?	Sports (Golf) / Misc.	A-
tl;dr What the Golf? Is a family-friendly game that starts with the basic concept of golf and then re-works it and messes with its basic fundamentals in as many ways as possible. The result is a game with tons of variety, a great sense of humor, and a surprisingly fun multiplayer mode. Definitely worth a try even if you’re not a fan of golf.
Winds Of Change	Visual Novel	A-
tl;dr Winds of Change is a Visual Novel advertised as “The Ultimate Furry Tale”, but far from being anything salacious, this is a surprisingly compelling fantasy tale about a seer coming into possession of a dangerous magic blade sought after by an evil empire. The story takes quite a few common genre conventions and explores them in unique and interesting ways, with strong writing, good characters, a solid presentation, and plenty of meaningful player choices. Even if you’re not normally a “furry” fan, if you enjoy fantasy stories you’ll want to give this game a look.
World of Goo	Puzzle	A-
tl;dr World of Goo is a physics-based puzzle game that’s oozing with personality and overflowing with inventive ideas.
7 Billion Humans	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr 7 Billion Humans is a Puzzle game about creating a set of instructions for a group of employees to follow to complete various spatial organization tasks. This is a direct follow-up to Human Resource Machine, and it improves on that game in multiple ways, although the presentation is still a bit lacking and the game may still be daunting to more casual players. Still, if you’re looking for a good Puzzle game that’s also a nice introduction to the world of programming, this is an excellent choice.
1993 Shenandoah	Shmup	B+
tl;dr 1993 Shenandoah is a Shmup originally intended for release on the Amiga in 1993, but only just now seeing light of day on the Switch. Its old-fashioned design may put off some players, but the excellent upgrade system, solid local co-op play, and unique presentation all combine to make this a pretty unique game that’s worth checking out for fans of the genre.
A Little Golf Journey	Sports (Golf)	B+
tl;dr A Little Golf Journey is a simple, family-friendly Golf game that presents its courses as dioramas, and strips down the gameplay to its essentials. In doing so, it makes for a smooth, streamlined experience that’s free to explore new possibilities within the genre, hiding secrets in the game’s levels and giving us some excellent level design, all within a presentation that’s absolutely delightful. This isn’t the most realistic or technical Golf game out there, but it is by far one of the most enjoyable.
A Monster’s Expedition	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr A Monster’s Expedition is a family-friendly Puzzle Game where players take the role of a cuddly monster exploring an outdoor museum of humanity. The puzzle design is good and becomes more involved over time, the presentation is lovely with particularly good sound design, and the clever satire caused by monsters trying to understand humanity is excellent. The game can feel a bit repetitive at times, and it’s not always clear where you can and can’t reach just yet, but overall this is a superb Puzzle Game well worth playing.
Antonblast	Platformer	B+
tl;dr Antonblast is a Platformer that channels the frenetic energy of the classic Wario Land games and delivers a delightful whirlwind of destructive energy, one that is so viscerally delightful it feels like it crashes to a halt when you actually need to take a moment to be more careful. While these moments may perhaps be necessary, they slow down the flow of what is otherwise a delightful game that Platformer fans should absolutely get their hands on.
Artifact Seeker	Arcade / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Artifact Seeker is a game with Arcade and Roguelike elements that’s similar to Vampire Survivors, with a bit of Slay the Spire tossed in for good measure. It’s a great combination that adds depth to the fun “Bullet Heaven” gameplay, though the terrible menu interface and at times unclear information can be frustrating. Still, this is a great addition to this genre that’s definitely worth trying if you’re looking for a new Vampire Survivors-alike.
Astrologaster	Visual Novel	B+
tl;dr Astrologaster is a Visual Novel about a late-1500s unlicensed doctor who diagnoses patients by reading astrological signs. It’s a well-written and wonderfully voice-acted farce with wonderful characters and a great sense of humor, with clever (albeit at times unclear) situations to diagnose using the power of the stars (or more often, observation and historical insight). Anyone who enjoys Visual Novels and would delight in a funny Shakespherean romp through a tale of medical quackery should definitely give this game a look.
Bakeru	3D Platformer	B+
tl;dr Bakeru is a family-friendly 3D Platformer that puts players in the role of a tanuki magically transformed into a human (among other things), in a wacky adventure through an anachronistic version of Japan with spirits, mechs, and plenty of absurdity in between. This game doesn’t do anything especially new or truly extraordinary, but everything it does is fun, accessible, and varied, making for an overall enjoyable adventure well worth checking out for any fan of 3D Platformers.
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.
Boomerang X	First-Person Action	B+
tl;dr Boomerang X is a First-Person Action game that has players tossing an X-shaped boomerang around arenas with hordes of enemies, with abilities that have players careening around the place at high speeds. The feeling of freedom and the amount of variety here are outstanding, but counter-balanced somewhat by the feeling that you’re often out-of-control. Still, while it has its drawbacks, this is an immensely fun Action game well worth playing.
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.
Chico and the Magic Orchards DX	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Chico and the Magic Orchards DX is a family-friendly character-based Top-Down puzzle game stylized to look like a Game Boy Color game, where players take the role of a squirrel solving puzzles by pushing around a walnut. The puzzle design and boss design here is phenomenal, and the presentation is pitch-perfect to capture nostalgia. And while there are some irritating control issues, overall this game is an absolute winner, well worth playing.
Cobalt Core	Turn-Based Card RPG / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Cobalt Core is a Turn-Based Card RPG and Roguelike much like Slay the Spire, but it brings its own clever ideas to the genre, such as battling with spaceships consisting of different parts, and being able to build a deck using three different characters with their own specialties. All of this is within a really endearing presentation. I have my issues with the game’s progression, but overall this is a fantastic addition to this genre, and fans of games like this will definitely want to play it.
Cosmic Express	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Cosmic Express is a family-friendly Puzzle Game where players create train routes in various space colonies to deliver aliens to their homes. The gameplay here is simple but well-crafted, with some really clever puzzle design. There’s also a good amount of content here, some good variety, and an adorable presentation. If you enjoy Puzzle games, this is definitely one you’ll want to get.
Crumble	3D Platformer	B+
tl;dr Crumble is a 3D Platformer that has players speeding through obstacle course-style levels as a slime with a grappling hook-like tongue. Crumble is sorely lacking polish and has some really terrible performance issues, as well as a bit of a steep learning curve. Yet despite these major flaws, it is an absolute joy to play, with an incredible sense of speed, thrilling physics, phenomenal level design, and an outstanding sense of freedom. It may be far from perfect, but it is still an absolutely must-play game for fans of Platformers.
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.
Crystal Project	Turn-Based JRPG	B+
tl;dr Crystal Project is a Turn-Based JRPG that definitely has its shortcomings – the graphics are extremely unimpressive, the story and characters are virtually nonexistent, and the lack of direction can leave you feeling lost and lead to massive difficulty spikes. However, despite all of these flaws, this is an immensely satisfying JRPG, thanks to its excellent job class system, great combat, liberating exploration, and gorgeous soundtrack. As long as you can overlook the bad stuff and focus on the good stuff, this game is absolutely worth playing.
Cyber Hook	First-Person Platformer	B+
tl;dr Cyber Hook is a First-Person Platformer that has players speeding through levels and performing amazing acrobatic feats using a grappling hook. It is an absolute joy to run, jump, and move around in this game, a joy that is absolutely enhanced by the expert use of gyroscopic motion controls. However, the game suffers from nasty framerates at time that drag down the otherwise sublime experience. If you’re looking for a game to partake in great acrobatic feats, this is still going to be a must-have game for you, just be aware that the Nintendo Switch version of the game comes with both advantages and disadvantages.
Danmaku Unlimited 3	Bullet Hell Shmup	B+
tl;dr Danmaku Unlimited 3 is a Bullet Hell Shmup that has players absorbing the bullets of defeated enemies and “grazing” live bullets to power up a “trance” meter for a temporary power boost. This is a solid and visually-striking entry in the genre, but the way players’ attacks fill the screen with beams feels overpowered and can be distracting. Still, this is a must-have for fans of the genre.
Dicefolk	Turn-Based RPG / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Dicefolk is a Turn-Based RPG Roguelike game where players are managing a trio of monstrous “chimeras” as well as upgradeable dice that represent their potential moves in battle. There are some really clever game mechanics here, and while it’s not without its issues, overall this is an enjoyable and unique entry in the genre well worth playing.
Draknek and Friends Puzzle Bundle	Compilation / Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Draknek and Friends Puzzle Bundle is a Compilation of four solid family-friendly Puzzle games – three of them are different takes on the “block pushing puzzle”, and one that has you creating train routes. The savings over buying the games separately is moderate, but well worth it as there aren’t any stinkers here. This package is a good choice for Puzzle Game fans.
Dungeons of Dreadrock	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Dungeons of Dreadrock is a character-based Puzzle game that has you thinking your way through 100 floors of a dungeon. The puzzle design in this game is outstanding, really requiring you to pay attention to the environment and enemy patterns. The controls and interface aren’t quite as excellent, though, and sometimes the game seems to expect too much of the player, requiring you to break down and use its (quite good) hint system. Still, on balance, this a Puzzle game that fans of the genre will absolutely want to play.
Dungeons of Dreadrock 2 – The Dead King’s Secret	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Dungeons of Dreadrock 2 makes small improvements to the original game while retaining what made the first game so special, resulting in yet another superb Puzzle game that is a must-have for fans of the genre, and an absolute must-have for anyone who enjoyed the first game.
Eastward	Action-RPG	B+
tl;dr Eastward is an isometric Action-RPG with gameplay and puzzles similar to classic Zelda games, but without the same freedom of exploration. The game starts out dreadfully slow, but it more than makes up for that with its lovable characters, beautiful pixel art visuals, and abundance of personality and charm.
Etrian Odyssey III HD	First-Person Dungeon Crawler / Turn-Based JRPG	B+
tl;dr Etrian Odyssey III HD is a remake of the 2010 Nintendo DS Dungeon-Crawling JRPG with a heavy focus on players mapping out the dungeons within the game. This is the first time this game has seen any sort of port or re-release, and while the HD-polished presentation here is still dated, this is nevertheless a strong step forward for this series that’s still great to this day. If you only get one game in the original Etrian Odyssey trilogy on Nintendo Switch, this is the one to get.
Find the Balance	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Find the Balance is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle game where players must stack numerous objects without them falling. While this game doesn’t have the nice presentation or some of the features of Art of Balance, it makes up for it with a good variety of game modes, including an excellent Endless mode. If you’re looking for a good, inexpensive Puzzle game, this is well worth trying.
Football Heroes Turbo	Sports (Football)	B+
tl;dr Football Heroes Turbo is a silly, cartoony, arcadey game of Football that has players getting into fistfights and scoring money for good plays. It is also an absolute blast to play, and while it can get a bit chaotic at times (and the online lobbies are apparently empty), until the Switch sees a port of Madden, this may very well be the best football game on the console.
Goliath Depot	Platformer / Arcade	B+
tl;dr Goliath Depot is an Arcade-style Platformer that combines classic arcade-style single-screen game design with superb gameplay mechanics, gameplay variety, and level design, all in a game about shutting doors and windows in response to a machine uprising in a factory. This is the perfect game for those craving a retro-style Platformer with modern sensibilities.
GrimValor	Metroidvania	B+
tl;dr GrimValor is a Metroidvania with an atmosphere ripped straight out of Dark Souls, but more than anything, this is a game that delights with its satisfying, fast-paced combat and solid RPG elements. Don’t go into this expecting the deep exploration of some of the best Metroidvania games, but if you’re looking for a nonlinear game with some great action and solid platforming, GrimValor is an excellent choice.
Hexceed	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Hexceed is a free-to-play Puzzle game that plays similarly to Minesweeper, but with more variety, and game design that never requires the player to guess where it is and isn’t safe to click. The amount of content included here for free is mind-boggling, and there are no microtransactions – only paid expansion content once you exhaust the over 470 levels included for free. And while the presentation may look dull, the gameplay here is absolutely superb. If you are a Puzzle game fan on Nintendo Switch, you should absolutely download this game immediately.
Hextones	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Hextones is a Puzzle game where players place hexagonal tiles trying to fit them as tightly as possible while matching their colors and symbols. This game features simple, compelling gameplay and a wonderfully calming presentation, and while there’s a disappointing lack of options and features, the $3 price tag makes this a no-brainer for Puzzle game fans.
Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition	Puzzle-Platformer / Platformer / Party Game	B+
tl;dr Home Sheep Home is a family-friendly co-op Puzzle-Platformer and Party Game based on the Shaun the Sheep animated series and films. This game manages to do a great job with all of its disparate elements – the license is scaled-down somewhat, but what’s here does justice to the franchise. The Puzzle-Platformer content is smartly well-crafted, and the Party Game content is fun and varied enough to keep players entertained for a good while. I have some issues with the core Platformer mechanics here, but overall this is an excellent package that does its best to please everyone, and largely succeeds.
If Found…	Visual Novel	B+
tl;dr If Found is a Visual Novel that pairs a sci-fi story about a space explorer looking to save the universe with a story about a young woman struggling with how to deal with friends and family. The sci-fi story is a bit lacking, but the more down-to-Earth tale is far more engaging, both with its authentic use of local Irish slang and culture, as well as its powerful themes of love and self-acceptance. This game isn’t without its flaws, but overall its good elements outweigh its bad ones, resulting in a game well worth trying if you’re looking for an engaging story.
Into the Breach	Turn-Based Strategy-RPG / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Into the Breach is a Strategy-RPG with Roguelike elements that simplifies the genre and has players focusing on just the strategy. It’s very difficult, but fans of the genre will find it to be an excellent challenge.
Is This Seat Taken?	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Is This Seat Taken? is a family-friendly logic-based Puzzle game that has you trying to assign seating to a group of people so that all their individual needs are satisfied. The gameplay here is straightforward and accessible but still enjoyable, with new quirks and complications added as you continue playing, and the quaint presentation is wonderfully appealing. This game doesn’t push any envelopes, but it also doesn’t have any significant flaws. If you’re a Puzzle game fan, you’ll definitely want to give this a try.
Jenny LeClue: Detectivu	Graphic Adventure	B+
tl;dr Jenny LeClue is a family-friendly Graphic Adventure that tells a story-within-a-story of an author writing a tale about a kid detective. The presentation here is outstanding, with some truly wonderful writing and voice acting. The gameplay isn’t very revolutionary or challenging, but that only makes it a better choice for younger or more inexperienced players, and more skilled players will still probably find the game’s wonderful writing makes this a worthwhile purchase.
Kittens and Yarn	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Kittens and Yarn is a family-friendly hex-based tile-swapping Puzzle game that tasks players with rearranging hexagonal tiles to make the lines of colored yarn on the tiles match up. The surprisingly-compelling gameplay is complimented by a warm, soothing presentation. The game is short, but at $3, it’s still well worth picking up, and as such I think Puzzle game fans should consider this a must-have.
Kunai	Metroidvania	B+
tl;dr Kunai is a Metroidvania with visuals that look like an old-school Game Boy game and gameplay that has you swinging around using a pair of kunai grappling hooks. The game is a bit too linear at points for the Metroidvania genre and the level design can seem a bit repetitive, but the game makes up for this with just how incredibly fun it is to move around. Definitely a game to try out for fans of the genre.
Loddlenaut	Open-World Action-RPG	B+
tl;dr Loddlenaut is a family-friendly Open-World Action-RPG that has players exploring and cleaning up underwater environments, then recycling the junk they collected to upgrade their gear. This is a short but relaxing and satisfying experience with compelling gameplay, and if its topic matter appeals to you, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Loop Hero	Roguelike / RPG / Management Simulation	B+
tl;dr Loop Hero is a game that combines elements of the Roguelike, RPG, and Management Simulation genres into unique gameplay that has players changing the terrain on an endless loop a hero walks along fighting monsters. There are areas where the game could have done with a few adjustments, but overall this is a highly compelling and wildly original game well worth playing.
Lunistice	3D Platformer	B+
tl;dr Lunistice is a family-friendly 3D Platformer with visuals that evoke the classic PlayStation, and game design that’s a lot like Sonic Adventure with less of a focus on speed and more of a focus on platforming. The result is a brilliant love letter to the era that’s delightful to play, and while it’s a bit short and has a few minor issues here and there, for only $5 this is an absolute no-brainer for anyone who loves the Platforming genre, especially those who pine for the golden age of the genre. Do not miss this one!
MO:Astray	Platformer	B+
tl;dr MO:Astray is a Platformer that has you flinging a little blue blob around a destroyed research facility. The gameplay here is clever and original, and the compelling story does a good job propelling you to keep moving forward. There are a few small frustrations here, but overall this is an excellent, thoughful Platformer well worth playing.
Mosa Lina	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Mosa Lina is a physics-based Puzzle-Platformer that spits in the face of genre conventions, giving players a simple task to perform and outfitting them with tools that may be wholly incapable of completing that task. it’s up to players to experiment and find unique ways to use their randomized set of tools. And sometimes players need to admit they can’t do it, give up, and try something different. This won’t be a game for everyone – some players will surely despise the high difficulty and the game’s absolute refusal to present something well thought-out and polished. But others will be absolutely delighted by the variety, wild creativity, and the bold decision to teach players the hard way that they need to be willing to admit defeat. At the very least, players craving something different in a Puzzle-Platformer should absolutely consider Mosa Lina a must-have.
Nairi: Tower of Shirin	Graphic Adventure	B+
tl;dr Nairi: Tower of Shirin is a family-friendly Graphic Adventure about a young girl who finds herself suddenly on the run from forces seeking to capture her, and trying to find answers both to her family’s wearabouts as well as her connection to an ancient mystery. The gameplay here is fairly standard for the genre, but the charming characters, story, and presentation make this well worth a look for fans of the genre, especially for the low $5 price tag.
Neo Cab	Graphic Adventure	B+
tl;dr Neo Cab is a neo noir Graphic Adventure set in a not-too-distant future where players take the role of a rideshare driver who finds herself at the center of a mystery and must navigate thought-provoking conversations while keeping track of her dwindling bank account and fluctuating driver review score. This is a well-written game with some great characters and a compelling story, although some of the gameplay elements here are not as well-implemented as I’d like. Overall though, this is an excellent game and fans of the genre should definitely give it a look.
Old Skies	Graphic Adventure / Visual Novel	B+
tl;dr Old Skies is a game with Graphic Adventure and Visual Novel elements set in a future where the wealthy can pay for time travel services, with players taking on the role of Fia, whose job it is to accompany these time-traveling tourists. The characters and story here are great, though I do wish the game’s Graphic Adventure elements weren’t quite as clunky. Still, this is an excellent choice for those craving a good time-travel story.
Overboard!	Visual Novel	B+
tl;dr Overboard! is a Visual Novel that puts you in the role of a murderous wife looking to cover her tracks after pushing her husband off a ship to his doom. This game utilizes numerous clever systems that give players a wealth of impactful options while also challenging them to keep an eye on the clock, and the great characters and solid writing make this a game you’ll be happy to play through repeatedly to try for different endings. There are still places this game could have gone even further, but ultimately Overboard! Is a wonderful entry in the genre that fans of murder mysteries should absolutely try out.
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.
Part Time UFO	Arcade	B+
tl;dr Part Time UFO is a physics-based Arcade-style game that has players grabbing things with a crane connected to a tiny flying saucer. The gameplay here is simple but surprisingly nuanced, there’s a lot of variety and some surprising depth, and while it’s not a very long experience, its low price still makes it well worth adding to your game library.
Peglin	Arcade / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Peglin is a game that mixes gameplay clearly inspired by Peggle with Roguelike elements, in the guise of an RPG. The blending of different gameplay elements here is outstanding, though it could do with a tutorial and more balanced level design, and it could stand to be a good deal longer. However, despite these flaws, this is a delightful game that Peggle fans and Roguelike lovers will both want to get their hands on.
Pianista	Music-Rhythm	B+
tl;dr Pianista is a family-friendly Music-Rhythm game that has players playing solo piano themes based on the abridged works of legendary classical artists. This means the song list is much more recognizable than what was in the similar game Deemo, but that song list is also much shorter, and the Nintendo Switch version of Pianista unfortunately lacks Deemo’s great touchscreen gameplay. However, this is still absolutely worth picking up for Music-Rhythm fans on Nintendo Switch.
Please, Touch the Artwork 2	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Please, Touch the Artwork 2 is a character-based Puzzle game that combines hidden object-style puzzles with a few other puzzle types, all in a package based on the artwork of expressionist and surrealist painter James Ensor. The presentation here is excellent and the game does a wonderful job giving players access to hints if they get stuck. This game is only about an hour long, but for only $5 it’s well worth trying out.
Polyroll	Platformer	B+
tl;dr Polyroll is a family-friendly Platformer that plays like a midway point between a Sonic game and a Mario game, and the result is something that’s actually pretty enjoyable. It’s definitely not going to win any prizes for originality, but what it lacks in originality it more than makes up for with well-crafted gameplay and quality level design. Add to that an appealing $5 price tag and you have a game that Platformer fans should definitely check out.
Pool Panic	Puzzle / Misc. Game	B+
tl;dr Pool Panic is an odd game where you play an anthropomorphized cue ball hitting other anthropomorphized billiards balls into pockets, but unlike traditional pool you can move around freely, and so can the balls you’re aiming for. The game is weird, silly, and wildly inventive, although at times it’s not always clear what you’re expected to do. Definitely don’t play this game if you’re expecting anything resembling real pool, but if you want something more offbeat, it’s definitely worth a look.
Puddle Knights	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Puddle Knights is a character-based Puzzle game that has you moving around knights so that nobles can step on their capes to avoid getting their feet dirty in puddles of mud. It’s a cute concept with an appealing presentation, and it makes for some really clever puzzles despite how simple it is to play and control. Puzzle fans, this is definitely a game you’ll want to take a look at.
Quarantine Circular	Graphic Adventure	B+
tl;dr Quarantine Circular is a Graphic Adventure game about an interrogation of an alien life form in the midst of a global pandemic. This game’s well-told story makes it well worth playing despite its short length and the confusion caused by its character-swapping narrative.
Samba De Amigo: Party Central	Music-Rhythm / Exercise	B+
tl;dr Samba De Amigo: Party Central is a Music-Rhythm game with Exercise Game elements has players shaking the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons like maracas. The controls are a bit sloppy and lacking in precision, but they work well enough, and otherwise this is a truly joyous game with great music, great style, and fun gameplay that will have you sweating it out as you dance. Music-Rhythm fans with a Nintendo Switch will definitely want to grab this one.
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.
Shadows Over Loathing	Turn-Based RPG	B+
tl;dr Shadows Over Loathing is a Turn-Based RPG and Lovecraftian Horror-inspired follow up to West of Loathing. However, far from being a Horror game, this is once again a game that aims to make everything a joke, and largely succeeds. The deliberately primitive hand-drawn black-and-white presentation is whimsical even if it isn’t impressive, and the adaptive soundtrack is subtly brilliant, but perhaps the biggest surprise here are some solid RPG mechanics underneath what is nominally a game focused primarily on its humor. As a result, this is a game well worth trying out for any fans of the genre, so long as they’re not put off by the visuals and silliness.
Sky Racket	Shmup / Arcade Brick Breaker	B+
tl;dr Sky Racket is a family-friendly game that combines the Shmup and Brick Breaker genres into one fun, cohesive style of gameplay with a fantastic, colorful, expressive art style and some absolutely superb co-op play. There are a few frustrating flaws that may result in you taking a few unearned hits on occasion, but otherwise this game is a joy to play, especially if you have a friend to play it with.
Tangle Tower	Graphic Adventure	B+
tl;dr Tangle Tower is a Graphic Adventure about a pair of detectives summoned to a mansion on a strange island to investigate a mysterious murder, with a large lineup of unique and memorable characters as suspects. This game has a wonderful presentation with stylish visuals, great voice acting, nicely streamlined gameplay, and a story that is truly compelling… up until the game’s second half, when everything kinda’ just falls apart. Still, until that point this game is a pure joy that’s one of the best I’ve played in the genre, and I’d still recommend it to Graphic Adventure fans as long as they can enjoy the journey even if the destination fails to deliver on that potential.
The House of Da Vinci	First-Person Puzzle	B+
tl;dr The House of Da Vinci is a First-Person Puzzle game that has you fiddling with beautifully intricate, deviously-designed devices to find a way to enter farther into Da Vinci’s workshop. This game’s puzzles are fantastic, and the game has an excellent optional hint system to keep you from getting stuck for too long. The only flaw here is the game’s motion controls, which can be awkward and frustrating. However, the rest of the game is so good that they’re worth putting up with.
The Last Friend	Tower Defense / Arcade Brawler	B+
tl;dr The Last Friend is a colorful, cartoony post-apocalyptic game that combines Plants Vs. Zombies-style lane-based Tower Defense with Arcade Brawler style action, and while it’s not quite on the same level as Plants Vs. Zombies, it’s still a lot of fun, with the Brawler elements bringing both an added layer of strategy and a more frenzied pace. The game is a bit short and lacking in features, but for the $15 price tag, this is a very good doggo.
The Room Two	First-Person Puzzle	B+
tl;dr The Room Two is a First-Person Puzzle game where players interact with a mechanical puzzle boxes to try to gradually unlock their secrets. This is an outstanding Puzzle game that improves on its predecessor, though it does have some control issues and a disappointingly short length. Still, if you’re a fan of Puzzle games, this is well worth a look.
There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension	Graphic Adventure / Misc.	B+
tl;dr There Is No Game is a delightful post-modernist look at videogames using largely Graphic Adventure mechanics that has you defying the game’s narrator and playing around with the so-called non-game’s elements to cause him frustration. It’s amusing and original, even if it does frustrate some times as you click all over the screen looking for what you’re meant to interact with. Still, despite this frustration, this is such a fun, original game that it’s well worth playing, especially for fans of the genre.
To the Moon	Graphic Adventure	B+
tl;dr To the Moon is a Graphic Adventure that puts you in the role of a pair of scientists tasked with using Inception-like technology to help a dying man achieve his final wish. This game has an absolutely wonderful story with lovable characters (except the two protagonists, who are both kinda’ jerks), and it has a truly beautiful soundtrack. That said, it’s not without its flaws, and the game is riddled with control issues. It’s still well worth playing though, especially if you’re looking for a great story on the Switch.
Triangle Strategy	Turn-Based Strategy-RPG	B+
tl;dr Triangle Strategy is a Turn-Based Strategy-RPG that makes use of Octopath Traveler’s “HD-2D” graphical style, and pairs it with an outstanding Game of Thrones-style plot. The gameplay is a bit stifled by slow character progression and an inability to change class or recruit new members. Also, the heavy focus on story can mean you’ll sometimes go quite a while without any actual gameplay. However, the strategic elements here are still very strong, and that superb gameplay combines with the excellent story to make this an outstanding entry in the genre, despite the game’s shortcomings.
Void Scrappers	Arcade / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Void Scrappers is a mix of Arcade-style gameplay with Roguelike mechanics in the “Bullet Heaven” style popularized by Vampire Survivors, with the theme this time being spaceships fighting hordes of enemy ships to collect scrap. To its credit, this game has a similar kind of compelling gameplay to Vampire Survivors that will keep bringing players back for just one more run, and although it has multiple issues that keep it from reaching that other game’s greatness, it’s different enough that it’s still worth getting in its own right.
W.A.N.D. Project	Arcade / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr W.A.N.D. Project is an Arcade-style Roguelike in the “Bullet Heaven” style of game that Vampire Survivors pioneered, but it manages to separate itself from the pack with its gameplay that has you combining spell components on a flowchart-like grid to create your own custom attacks for your alien-fighting magical girl. I wish there were more content and even more ability to customize your character’s abilities, but overall this is an inspired take on the genre that anyone who enjoys this sort of game should absolutely check out.
Wildfrost	Turn-Based Card RPG / Roguelike	B+
tl;dr Wildfrost is a Turn-Based Roguelike Card RPG where players must help their chosen hero fend off enemies in a frozen wasteland. It doesn’t offer quite enough agency or variety to surpass the likes of Slay the Spire, but it’s a delightful entry in the genre all the same, and one absolutely worth playing.
Zombie Night Terror	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Zombie Night Terror is a Puzzle-Platformer in the vein of Lemmings, where players indirectly control a zombie horde rampaging through the game’s levels. Level goals could be a bit more clear, and this release is missing the PC version’s level builder, but otherwise this game is an absolute delight that makes fantastic use of the Nintendo Switch’s unique features, has a great presentation, and gives players a truly inspired twist on a classic of the genre.
Zumba Garden	Match-3 Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Zumba Garden is a family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle game which, like its predecessor, is clearly copying the Zuma formula, and like its predecessor it does a surprisingly good job of it. In fact, this time I would argue things are even better, with a solid presentation and an outstanding RPG-style upgrade system. There are a few options and game modes I wish this game had, and a few minor complaints here and there, but it’s hard to complain when for only $3, we’re getting a “copycat” game that’s nearly as good as the original. If you’re a Puzzle game fan on Nintendo Switch, this is definitely one to get.
Angel at Dusk	Shmup	B
tl;dr Angel at Dusk is a Shmup with an “angels meets bloody body parts” theme, and that has some really well-crafted game mechanics that make for a truly unique experience within the genre. Some visual issues undermine that experience somewhat, but this is still a delightfully original entry in the genre that Shmup fans will absolutely want to check out.
Be Brave, Barb	Auto-Runner	B
tl;dr Be Brave, Barb is a side-scrolling Auto-Runner with light Puzzle-Platformer elements where players maneuver an anthropomorphic potted cactus plant who can go off the sides of platforms and change her gravity to reflect this change in direction. It’s a clever game mechanic that the game makes good use of in its excellent level design, even if the core gameplay is a bit too simple. And on top of everything, this game has an adorable presentation with a really lovable protagonist. Platformer fans looking for something a bit different should definitely try this one out.
Bezier: Second Edition	2-Stick Shooter	B
tl;dr Bezier is a Two-Stick Shooter that plays a bit like Geometry Wars combined with the ship upgrade system from Gradius. This game isn’t without its flaws, but overall it’s a solid 2-Stick Shooter with fun gameplay and a great soundtrack.
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.
Bright Paw	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Bright Paw is a Puzzle game where players use movement cards to direct a cat to each stage’s exit. This game’s visuals are highly polished, and its excellent narration is absolutely charming. The gameplay is a bit too simple to be truly engaging, but this is nevertheless a wonderfully enjoyable Puzzle game experience.
Bug Academy	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Bug Academy is a family-friendly physics-based puzzle game where players command a swarm of bugs to complete various tasks. There’s a lot of variety here, and the silly presentation is wonderful. It’s not an especially deep game, and the lack of precision in the controls can be a bit frustrating at times, but overall this is a wonderful game well worth playing.
BZZZT	Platformer	B
tl;dr BZZZT is a challenging Platformer where players try to get through obstacle course-style levels as a robot. This game doesn’t do anything especially new or original, but nevertheless the quality of the gameplay, level design, and presentation shines through, making this well worth a look.
Card Shark	Graphic Adventure / Misc.	B
tl;dr Card Shark is a game that combines a Graphic Adventure game with elements of Card Games and Arcade-style games in a pretty unique way, having you less concerned with playing cards and more with various ways of cheating as you progress through 18th Century France with the charming rogue, Comte de Saint-Germain. This game won’t be for everyone, but it’s charming and unique enough to be worth a look.
Castle Morihisa	Turn-Based Card RPG / Roguelike	B
tl;dr Castle Morihisa is a deck-building Card-Based RPG Roguelike that is very clearly cribbing a lot of its notes directly from Slay the Spire, though it does change a few things and the mythological Japanese theme does help to set it apart. This game isn’t anywhere near as good as the game that so clearly inspired it, but it’s still an enjoyable entry in the genre worth checking out, especially if you’re looking for something as close as possible to Slay the Spire.
Color Zen	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Color Zen is a Free-To-Play puzzle game that’s the best kind of Free-To-Play. It’s a simple, straightforward puzzle game with a clean design and you get a lot of content without being hounded by microtransactions. It’s just a pity it doesn’t play as well in docked mode as it does in portable mode.
Crossbow: Bloodnight	First-Person Shooter	B
tl;dr Crossbow: Bloodnight is a First-Person Shooter where players fend off hordes of monstrous enemies in a courtyard trying to survive as long as possible. While this game doesn’t provide a lot of variety, depth, or features, it looks fantastic, plays well, and its tiny $5 price tag more than makes up for what it’s lacking. This is not a game to get if you’re looking for something deep you’ll want to play for hours. But if you’d like to blast away enemies for a few minutes, this is an outstanding way to do so at a phenomenal price.
Crown Trick	Top-Down Dungeon-Crawler / Turn-Based RPG / Roguelike	B
tl;dr Crown Trick is a Top-Down Dungeon-Crawler that has players venturing into a world of nightmares with a talking crown. This is an all-around good entry in the genre, albeit one that’s not without its flaws and frustrations. If you like this sort of game, Crown Trick is well worth checking out.
Dave the Diver	Action-RPG / Arcade / Management Simulation	B
tl;dr Dave the Diver combines Action-RPG sections where players dive into the sea to catch various fish, and Arcade-style Restaurant sections with some Management Simulation elements when you’re serving up those fish to clamoring customers. The gameplay in both sections is good, and both work well together, but each has some flaws that hamper the enjoyment, and the game overall has problems with frequent loading screens and pacing-stopping character conversations. This is still a fun and original game, but these small annoyances do gradually add up.
Death Trick: Double Blind	Graphic Adventure / Visual Novel	B
tl;dr Death Trick is a game with Graphic Adventure and Visual Novel elements that puts players into the role of two characters both separately investigating the same mystery – the murder of a traveling circus’ stage magician. The story, characters, and presentation here are excellent, and while some of the game mechanics can be a bit confusing, this is overall a solid entry in the genre that fans of detective-style games will want to try out.
Death’s Hangover	Arcade Brick Breaker	B
tl;dr Death’s Hangover is an Arcade-style Brick Breaker where players take the role of a pair of idiot warriors that Death has resurrected to invade Bastard Dracula’s castle and take back the souls that the villain stole while Death was on a bender. It’s a solid entry into its genre, with some unique and fun mechanics and a silly but endearing personality that set it apart. It’s a bit short and lacking features that were in the PC version, but for $5 it’s well worth a look if you want a cheap, fun Arcade-style game.
Dinkum	Action-RPG / Management Sim	B
tl;dr Dinkum is an Action-RPG and Management Simulation that has players settling an Australian-inspired locale, with gameplay that feels like a combination of games like Minecraft and Animal Crossing. And while the pacing has issues and there are some tedious gameplay choices here, overall I think this is a solid take on the genre worth checking out.
Disc Room	Arcade	B
tl;dr Disc Room is an Arcade-style game that puts players in the role of an astronaut trying to survive for as long as possible in various deathtrap-filled rooms. This game features extremely simple gameplay, yet is still extremely compelling thanks to a good amount of variety and a well-crafted goal structure that gives players good reason to keep revisiting prior rooms. An excellent addition to the Nintendo Switch library.
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince	Turn-Based Monster-Collecting JRPG	B
tl;dr Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince is a Turn-Based Monster-Collecting JRPG starring Psaro, the antagonist from Dragon Quest IV, with this game acting as a prequel to that classic following Psaro’s growing power as a monster wrangler as he seeks to challenge his demonic father and undo a curse. This is a pretty typical entry in the genre, and while it doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, it’s still well worth a look for fans of this genre, especially those who are Dragon Quest fans.
Dusk	First-Person Shooter	B
tl;dr Dusk is a First-Person Shooter that channels the spirit of classic games in the genre, and does so largely successfully, pairing those classic games’ fast-paced focus on action with some small nods to more modern sensibilities. It’s still missing a few features, most notably a complete lack of multiplayer, but this is nevertheless a superb take on the genre’s golden age, and well worth playing for genre fans.
Eliza	Visual Novel	B
tl;dr Eliza is a Visual Novel about a woman who works as a human “proxy” for an AI therapist. This game explores the positive and negative ramifications of technology in a way that’s both intelligent and yet also personable. While it’s frustrating that your choices usually seem to have little effect on the story, and the tiny text isn’t really ideal for the Nintendo Switch’s small screen, the excellent story, great characters, and superb voice acting still all shine through. If you’re looking to enjoy a smart story about technology, Eliza will not disappoint.
Etrian Odyssey HD	First-Person Dungeon Crawler / Turn-Based JRPG	B
tl;dr Etrian Odyssey HD is a remake of the 2007 Nintendo DS Dungeon-Crawling JRPG with a heavy focus on players mapping out the dungeons within the game. It’s still a great game, and the controls on Nintendo Switch work surprisingly well, but this release is pretty pathetic when you hold it up to the 2013 Nintendo 3DS remake, Etrian Odyssey Untold. If you’re a fan of Dungeon Crawler JRPGs, this is still a superb entry in the genre, but this is sadly nowhere near the best version of this game.
Etrian Odyssey II HD	First-Person Dungeon Crawler / Turn-Based JRPG	B
tl;dr Etrian Odyssey II HD is a remake of the 2008 Nintendo DS Dungeon-Crawling JRPG with a heavy focus on players mapping out the dungeons within the game. It’s still a great game, and the controls on Nintendo Switch work surprisingly well, but this release is pretty pathetic when you hold it up to the 2015 Nintendo 3DS remake, Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold. If you’re a fan of Dungeon Crawler JRPGs, this is still a superb entry in the genre, but this is sadly nowhere near the best version of this game.
Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection	Compilation / First-Person Dungeon Crawler / Turn-Based JRPG	B
tl;dr Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection is a Compilation that includes Etrian Odyssey HD, Etrian Odyssey II HD, and Etrian Odyssey III HD, all games that are remasters of Nintendo DS First-Person Dungeon Crawler Turn-Based JRPGs. The games themselves are excellent, but even remastered their presentation is terribly dated, and they compare pretty poorly with the remakes of two of these games that the Nintendo 3DS got. What’s more, while this bundle costs less than buying the games separately, the price is still a bit high for what’s on offer here. If you’re a fan of this genre, these games are still well worth getting, but it’s far from the triumphant return this franchise deserves.
Everhood	Music-Rhythm	B
tl;dr Everhood is a Music-Rhythm game that looks like an odd combination of Undertale and Guitar Hero and only gets weirder from there. The gameplay here has players avoiding notes on the Guitar Hero-esque tracks, and while that gameplay doesn’t feel quite as compelling as hitting the notes, it’s still enjoyable, and the presentation here is so good, and so creative, it makes this a truly memorable experience well worth having regardless, especially if you’re a fan of Music-Rhythm games or Undertale.
Filament	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Filament is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has you returning power to a derelict spacecraft by solving puzzles involving wrapping a powered cord around a series of pillars. While there’s nothing truly extraordinary about it, this is an all-around solid Puzzle game with some well-crafted puzzles and a unique premise. Fans of the genre would do well to give it a try.
Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure	Graphic Adventure	B
tl;dr Gibbous is a Graphic Adventure about a young librarian who finds himself trying to undo a magic spell and discover the secrets behind an ancient book and the forces trying to gain control of it. This is a game that is clearly inspired by the classic works of Ron Gilbert, and it largely succeeds at presenting players with the same sort of experience, even if the level of writing and humor isn’t quite on par with Gilbert’s. Even so, fans of the genre will likely find this a solid game well worth checking out.
Gnosia	Visual Novel / Strategy	B
tl;dr Gnosia is a Visual Novel that incorporates elements of social deduction-style Strategy games like Mafia/Werewolf/Among Us. The combination of the two types of gameplay isn’t perfect – the dialogue in the parts of the story where players discuss and vote out intruders feels awkward and stilted, and the gameplay lacks multiplayer and doesn’t properly convey to players the impact of the RPG elements at play. However, despite these flaws, this is still a unique and interesting implementation of this style of gameplay, and the overarching story is made more interesting by the inclusion of a Groundhog Day-style gameplay loop that provides an intriguing overarching story across multiple gameplay sessions. Players who are enticed by this game’s unique combination of gameplay styles should find it worthwhile to check this out.
Grapple Dog	Platformer	B
tl;dr Grapple Dog is a family-friendly Platformer where players take the role of a cartoony anthropomorphic dog named Pablo and use a grappling hook to swing through the game’s levels. While there are some issues with the game’s physics, overall this is a delightful entry in the genre, well worth playing.
Harvestella	Action-RPG / Management Simulation	B
tl;dr Harvestella is an Action-RPG with Management Simulation elements in the vein of “Farming Sim” games like Stardew Valley… however, those farming elements are not nearly as pronounced as you might expect given the game’s title. Add to this a pretty tedious opening chapter, and many players may be disappointed by Harvestella… but if you stick with it, it does become better, and the phenomenal presentation is plenty enough reason to stick around until it does.
Heave Ho	Platformer / Party Game	B
tl;dr Heave Ho is a Platformer that has players controlling a character’s two hands to try to grasp and grapple their way to an exit. It’s fun in single-player, but this game truly shines in multiplayer. It’s not perfect, but if you have four people who can maybe-sorta’ work together, this is a really fun time.
Hogtie	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Hogtie is a Puzzle game that’s similar to sokoban-style gameplay, but where your character cannot push anything, but must instead pull using a lasso, roping pigs and dragging them back to a green pasture. This clever twist on a tired subgenre actually makes clever use of this mechanic with some superb puzzle design for some really clever puzzles. Just be sure to get the game on sale, as the standard price is overly-high.
Hook	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Hook is a short, simple, elegant Puzzle game where players pull on lines attached to hooks in an order where they won’t bump into each other. It’s well worth its $2 asking price.
Horizon Chase 2	Arcade Racing	B
tl;dr Horizon Chase 2 is an Arcade-style Racing game that once again aims to capture the spirit of classic games in the genre like Out Run, and this time around the game drops some of the frustrating elements from its predecessor to make for a polished, well-crafted experience that plays well, but doesn’t do much to distinguish itself or leave much of a lasting impression. Still, if you’re craving old-school Arcade racing fun, I do not think this game will disappoint.
Human Resource Machine	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Human Resource Machine is a Puzzle game about creating a set of instructions for an employee to take boxes from one conveyor and process them properly before placing them on another conveyor. In essence, this is a game that has players using a rudimentary programming language to solve tasks, and it does a good job of making that a fun challenge. However, those who struggle with math concepts may find this too complex for them. However, for Puzzle fans who enjoy a thoughtful challenge, this game is well worth a look.
It’s a Wrap!	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr It’s a Wrap! is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players running through various movie scenes and also timing the scenes’ special effects to make each stage passable. The trial-and-error back-and-forth nature of the gameplay won’t please everyone, but otherwise I think this is a fun and original entry in the genre.
Laser Kitty Pow Pow	Arcade	B
tl;dr Laser Kitty Pow Pow is an Arcade-style game where one or two players play as giant cats on clouds shooting armies using laser eyes. It’s silly, fast and frenetic, and surprisingly fun. For the tiny price tag, this is a surprisingly good simple game.
Master Key	Top-Down Action-RPG	B
tl;dr Master Key is a Top-Down Action-RPG that is clearly inspired by the Legend of Zelda franchise, but with the hand-holding removed and the difficulty level turned up to “at times unfair”. This, along with the game’s 2-color visuals, will be a turn-off for some players, but Zelda fans looking for a challenge will definitely want to give this a look.
Lorelei and the Laser Eyes	Graphic Adventure / Puzzle	B
tl;dr Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a Graphic Adventure game with an extremely strong focus on its Puzzle gameplay, with some really excellent puzzle design that will thrill seasoned puzzle-solvers looking for something challenging and original, but that might cause more casual puzzlers to balk. Add to this an absolutely amazing visual presentation and less-than-amazing controls, and you have something of a mixed bag that some players will absolutely love while others will hate it. Still, I do think the positives outweigh the negatives here, and the game’s target audience will likely be truly delighted with this game.
Mini Trains	Puzzle / Simulation	B
tl;dr Mini Trains is a Puzzle game with Simulation elements where you build train tracks to direct trains to hit multiple points without crashing. It’s okay, but there’s so much potential for more here that it feels like a missed opportunity.
Minit Fun Racer	Auto-Runner	B
tl;dr Minit Fun Racer is an old-fashioned Arcade-style Auto-Runner that plays out like an obstacle course with some “Roguelite” elements. You likely won’t get more than an hour or so out of this game, but for the low price of $3 it manages to be enjoyable enough while it lasts to worth the price, and the pledge that all earnings from the game will go to charity makes it that much easier to give it a try.
Mr. Driller DrillLand	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Mr. Driller DrillLand is an HD remaster of the GameCube entry in the long-running Puzzle-Platformer series, releasing in the West for the first time. It takes the series’ solid gameplay and adds a good amount of variations to keep things interesting. I would have liked to see more done with the multiplayer, but overall this is a good entry in the series that should please fans of the genre.
Murder by Numbers	Picross Puzzle / Graphic Adventure	B
tl;dr Murder by Numbers is a game that combines Picross Puzzles with Graphic Adventure elements and a presentation that feels reminiscent in many ways to the Phoenix Wright games. The Picross and Graphic Adventure elements don’t always mesh well together and are cause for some pacing issues, and the Picross gameplay itself is a bit lacking, but the engrossing story and lovable characters still make this an enjoyable game well worth playing for fans of either style of game.
Mystic Vale	Turn-Based Card Game	B
tl;dr Mystic Vale is a Turn-Based Card Game where players buy upgrades to their cards to improve their deck. It’s a fun mechanic that’s well-implemented here, and there’s a great risk/reward mechanic as well. The menus are a bit clunky and there’s a lack of players being able to interact with each other, but overall this is a solid addition to this genre.
Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid	Open-World Action-RPG	B
tl;dr Natsu-Mon is a family-friendly Open-World Action-RPG where players take the role of a young kid running free in a rural Japanese community and filling his summer days with whatever activities players choose to partake in. This game has a wonderful relaxed atmosphere and pulls elements from Animal Crossing and Zelda games while still retaining its own sense of identity. While this game doesn’t reach the same heights of those franchises, it’s still an enjoyable game well worth a look for anyone wanting something low-key and chill.
Never Give Up	Platformer	B
tl;dr Never Give Up is a challenging Platformer where players navigate through multiple progressively more difficult versions of each of the game’s levels. The core gameplay and level design here is excellent, but the repetitive game structure and incessant jabbering of the main character both detract from what is otherwise a fun take on the genre.
Not Tonight: Take Back Control Edition	Graphic Adventure	B
tl;dr Not Tonight is a Graphic Adventure in the same vein as Papers, Please, putting players in the role of a natural-born British citizen in a post-Brexit dystopia. At risk of ejection from the country due to their parents’ immigrant status, the player is forced to work as a bouncer and balance ethical choices that come with the job against the need to earn a steady income. While this game doesn’t reach quite the heights of Papers, Please, it is nevertheless an engaging experience that fans of this sort of game will find to be a worthy successor to that game, even if its slower pacing drags it down a bit.
Onion Assault	Platformer	B
tl;dr Onion Assault is a Platformer where players play as a shirtless hunk (or his mom) fighting off an invading army by tossing vegetables at them. The gameplay here combines elements of Super Mario Bros. 2 with Donkey Kong Country, and the result is fantastic, and held back only by a somewhat loose controls and a lack of Donkey Kong Country’s depth. Still, as a solid mash-up of those two titles, this is an excellent Platformer well worth playing.
Penko Park	First-Person On-Rails Shooter / Misc.	B
tl;dr Penko Park is an On-Rails First-Person Shooter with a wildlife photography theme much in the same way that Pokemon Snap is, and that is because this game is pretty much an off-brand Pokemon Snap. Despite how this game was clearly directly inspired by Nintendo’s series, this is a pretty good replica of the formula, albeit a low-budget one with really simple visuals, a soundtrack that’s virtually absent, and missing a few of the nuances of the Pokemon Snap games. However, as a small-scale filler between those titles, Penko Park is an excellent choice.
Piczle Lines DX	Numberlink Puzzle	B
tl;dr Piczle Lines DX is a Puzzle game that has you connecting dots of the same color with lines of a specified length. It’s simple enough that it’s easy to pick up, and compelling enough to keep you going. Worth a look for puzzle fans.
Piczle Lines DX: 500 More Puzzles!	Numberlink Puzzle	B
tl;dr Piczle Lines DX: 500 More Puzzles!, like Piczle Lines DX, is a Puzzle game that has you connecting dots of the same color with lines of a specified length. It’s simple enough that it’s easy to pick up, and compelling enough to keep you going. This game drops the first game’s story mode in favor of a lot more puzzles and some bonus material, giving it the edge in my book. Worth a look for puzzle fans.
Piczle Lines DX Bundle	Compilation / Numberlink Puzzle	B
tl;dr Piczle Lines DX Bundle is a pair of Numberlink-style Puzzle games with a good amount of content and features, with each of its two games helping to fill in the gaps of the other. Fans of the genre should definitely give it a look.
Prime World: Defenders	Tower Defense	B
tl;dr Prime World: Defenders is a Tower Defense game with a Collectable Card Game mechanic that results in some grinding being a part of the game, for better or worse. In any case, the game looks great and plays pretty well. Fans of Tower Defense games should definitely give it a look.
ProtoCorgi	Shmup	B
tl;dr ProtoCorgi is a Shmup where players take the role of a robotic dog on a quest to rescue his creator. This game’s pixel art presentation is absolutely adorable, and the gameplay is solid, albeit nothing truly exceptional. If you’re looking to expand your collection of Shmups with added cuteness, this is a good choice.
Putty Pals	Platformer	B
tl;dr Putty Pals is a Platformer where players control two characters at the same time, or split up the characters between two players. It’s a decent game that’s worth a look, even if it doesn’t do anything especially significant to push the genre forward.
Q-YO Blaster	Bullet Hell Shmup	B
tl;dr Q-YO Blaster is a Bullet Hell Shmup. It’s a decent game that plays well, but the most memorable thing about it are its absurd heroes and oddball bug-themed enemies. Definitely a solid pick for fans of the genre.
Retrograde Arena	2-Stick Shooter	B
tl;dr Retrograde Arena is a free-to-play multiplayer arena-based Two-Stick Shooter where players must push enemies into red walls with gunfire rather than damaging them directly. The game’s unique physics take some getting used to, but once you do you’ll find some surprising depth, and the free price tag makes this a game you should absolutely try.
Rush Rally Origins	Top-Down Racing	B
tl;dr Rush Rally Origins draws from the gameplay and visuals of its predecessor, Rush Rally 3, while taking the game into the Top-Down Racing genre. This is a less-ambitious game than its predecessor, and as such less impressive, but it manages to fix most of the problems of the prior game while retaining the great gameplay and nice visuals. It’s a shame this game still lacks any multiplayer gameplay of note, but despite this flaw, this is still one of the best games this genre has ever seen. If you enjoy the genre, do not miss it.
Rytmos	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Rytmos is a family-friendly Puzzle game with a heavy musical component, though it isn’t a Music-Rhythm game. Rather, this game gives players a stylish take on the classic sliding block puzzle, but one with clever puzzle design that combines with this game’s museum-like tour of different worldwide musical instruments and genres, resulting in an enjoyable Puzzle game that musically-inclined fans in particular will likely find appealing.
Satazius Next	Compilation / Shmup	B
tl;dr Satazius Next is a Compilation of Shmups that includes Satazius and its remake, the titular Satazius Next. Both games are equally solid Shmups with a retro feel to them much like Gradius, and if you enjoy this genre you’ll do well to pick this game up.
Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley	Top-Down Action-RPG	B
tl;dr Snufkin is a family-friendly Top-Down Action-RPG featuring the characters and world of the Moomins franchise, giving players a brief little adventure filled with lovable characters. This game isn’t very long or deep, but it is charming and filled with variety. If that sounds appealing to you, this game may be worth a look.
Sokobond	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Sokobond is a family-friendly Puzzle Game where players push around blocks representing atomic elements with the goal of joining them all together to form a molecule. Don’t worry if your science is rusty, the gameplay here is simple and easy to pick up, but Sokobond does clever things with that simple and elegant concept. It’s nothing revolutionary, and the presentation is in no way impressive, but this game is nevertheless a superb Puzzle Game that fans of the genre should absolutely play.
Solas 128	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Solas 128 is a Family-Friendly Puzzle Game of the “using mirrors to redirect beams of light” variety. This game stands out a bit more than the average game of its kind with a catchy music-infused presentation, but otherwise it’s not doing anything too out of the norm for the genre. If you’re a Puzzle game fan, this game is worth a look.
Spark the Electric Jester 3	3D Platformer	B
tl;dr Spark the Electric Jester 3 is a 3D Platformer that’s blatantly copying the formula of 3D games in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, but it largely does a good job of it, even if the game absolutely feels like an unoriginal knockoff and a few of its original ideas fall flat. It also suffers from performance issues on Nintendo Switch. Yet despite all of this, the core is a very good 3D Platformer, and even if it doesn’t beat Sonic at his own game, Sonic fans are still going to thoroughly enjoy this.
Stacklands	Card Game / Survival Adventure	B
tl;dr Stacklands is a Survival Adventure game played with the mechanics of a real-time Card Game, and this combination is refreshing and enjoyable, even if there are some irritating mechanical issues and poor design choices keeping this from being even better. Despite this, the compelling gameplay and unique core idea make this well worth seeking out for Survival Adventure fans.
Star Seeker In: The Secret of the Sorcerous Standoff	Graphic Adventure / Visual Novel	B
tl;dr Star Seeker is a game that combines Graphic Adventure and Visual Novel elements in a way that’s reminiscent of both classic LucasArts games and the Ace Attorney series, putting you in the role of a detective trying to unravel a magical murder mystery. The game’s writing is outstanding, with great characters, a fun story, and a delightful sense of humor, the visual style is appealing and distinctive, and the gameplay seems to effortlessly guide players through solving the mystery without holding their hands too much. In fact, this is pretty much an ideal entry in the genre save for one thing – it is depressingly short. Still, for a mere $6, Star Seeker is a must-buy for any fans of the Graphic Adventure or Visual Novel genres craving a fun, brief bit of detectiving.
Star Wars: Hunters	Third-Person Shooter	B
tl;dr Star Wars: Hunters is an online-only multiplayer-focused team-based Third-Person Shooter similar to other “Hero Shooters” like Overwatch. The presentation here is good, and the gameplay is great, but it’s marred by nasty monetization that locks away most of the game unless you grind for countless hours or fork over massive amounts of cash. It’s a shame that an otherwise great game had to be tarnished in this way.
Startide	2-Stick Shooter / Bullet Hell Shmup	B
tl;dr Startide combines 2-Stick shooter and Shmup genre conventions and adds in some novel ideas of its own, with some excellent, fast-paced, quality gameplay… that’s unfortunately marred by a slew of design flaws and annoyances. It’s still very good, but it could have been so much better.
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town	Top-Down Management Sim / RPG	B
tl;dr Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is a Farming RPG much like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon, and it is an extremely polished entry in the genre that does pretty much everything it sets out to do quite well. Unfortunately, nothing it sets out to do is particularly original. So even though this is a solid entry in the genre, it’s hard to give it a hearty recommendation when there are more inspired Farming RPGs on the Nintendo Switch you could be playing instead.
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.
Super Magbot	Platformer	B
tl;dr Super Magbot is a challenging platformer that has players using magnets to attract and repel their way through levels. The presentation here is pure old-school nostalgia, and the gameplay is inventive, but it’s also pretty challenging and difficult to make this game’s mechanics feel like second nature. Not for everyone, but if you enjoy a challenge, you should give it a look.
Super Metboy	Arcade	B
tl;dr Super Metboy is a family-friendly Arcade-style game where players control ball-like characters who use the same button to float, melee attack, and use ranged attacks. This makes for some fun, lighthearted gameplay, and some excellent local co-op, and though I wish the game’s minor Roguelite elements were more pronounced, and I wish the melee attacks were less risky to use, overall this I found this to be a delightful game, if a tad shallow.
Talk to Strangers	Graphic Adventure / Visual Novel	B
tl;dr Talk to Strangers is a game that mixes Graphic Adventure and Visual Novel elements in a scenario that has players in the role of a door-to-door salesman trying to find the right things to say to convince prospective customers to buy their (unnamed) products. The trial-and-error nature of the conversation choices isn’t quite as bad as you might expect, and the game more than makes up for any repetition by having some genuinely good writing with lots of character and delightfully silly situations. For only $5, this is well worth a look.
Tangledeep	Top-Down Dungeon-Crawler / Turn-Based RPG / Roguelike	B
tl;dr Tangledeep is a Top-Down Roguelike Dungeon Crawler that is a solid entry in the genre with a good amount of variety and an absolutely fantastic soundtrack, but the inability to directly compare equipment is needlessly frustrating. Still, this game is well worth a look for fans of the genre.
The Big Journey	Platformer	B
tl;dr The Big Journey is a family-friendly Platformer with gameaply and a presentation that seem directly inspired by Loco Roco. And while this game doesn’t quite match Loco Roco’s creativity, it is nevertheless an absolute delight that’s worth seeking out if you’re a fan of that franchise, or if you’re looking for an easier Platformer for younger players.
The Room	First-Person Puzzle	B
tl;dr The Room is a First-Person Puzzle game where players interact with a mechanical puzzle box to try to gradually unlock its secrets.This is an outstanding Puzzle game (that naturally plays a lot like the game it inspired, The House of Da Vinci), though it does have some control issues and a disappointingly short length. Still, if you’re a fan of Puzzle games, this is well worth a look.
The Lost Light of Sisu	Platformer	B
tl;dr The Lost Light of Sisu is a Platformer where players take the role of a square-shaped alien searching for energy cubes to power their spaceship. This game doesn’t do anything truly groundbreaking, but it is nevertheless a solid Platformer with some good level design and a generally good challenge level. If you’re a fan of the genre, this game is well worth a look.
Tiny Barbarian DX	Platformer	B
tl;dr Tiny Barbarian DX is an action-packed Platformer that’s simple and straightforward, and at times a bit repetitive, but it boasts quality gameplay and is well worth trying out.
To Be or Not To Be	Visual Novel	B
tl;dr To Be or Not To Be is a Visual Novel that retells the classic story of Hamlet with modern sensibilities and a “Choose Your Own Adventure” style of gameplay. The writing is funny and irreverent, and the choices make for some fun and meaningful departures from the original work (or a delightful interpretation of the original work if you make the same narrative choices Shakespheare did). Either way, this is a fun take on a timeless story, well worth checking out for Shakes-fans and non-fans alike.
Treasure Hunter Man 2	Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Treasure Hunter Man 2 is a $2 budget-priced Metroidvania that’s actually pretty decent despite the small price and generic name. It doesn’t do anything particularly unique or spectacular, but what’s here is good, and definitely worth adding to your collection if you’re a fan of the genre.
Umurangi Generation	First-Person Shooter / Puzzle / Misc.	B
tl;dr Umurangi Generation is a First-Person Shooter where what you’re shooting is photographs, trying to capture shots of specific “photo bounties” spread across the game’s levels. The gameplay is a great simulation of photography, and finding each photo subject makes for a fantastic puzzle, even if there are some issues here like a slow walking speed and underwhelming visuals. However, the real treat here is the atmospheric dark story players glean by observing the seemingly-relaxed environments. If you’re a fan of environmental storytelling, or a photography enthusiast, this game is for you.
Voidwrought	Metroidvania	B
tl;dr Voidwrought is a Metroidvania about a being of ichor in service to a dark god seeking to reclaim the remaining ichor from monsters it has transformed and empowered. This is overall a pretty solid Metroidvania, even if very little it does seems particularly new. If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll probably enjoy this one.
West of Loathing	Turn-Based RPG	B
tl;dr West of Loathing is a turn-based RPG that is determined to deliver an absolutely hilarious experience with its ridiculous parody of the wild West, and it succeeds at this brilliantly. Don’t expect anything much in terms of gameplay or graphics, though – they’re not horrible, but they’re clearly an after-thought and mostly just here in service to the funny.
Wylde Flowers	Management Sim / RPG	B
tl;dr Wylde Flowers is a family-friendly “Farming RPG”-style Management Simulation with less of a focus on the farming and more of a focus on running errands for townsfolk and partaking in a story about a young woman helping her grandmother and becoming the newest member of the village’s secretive coven of witches. This game’s presentation is highly-polished and the gameplay is extremely easygoing and accessible, making it ideal for newcomers to the genre, though more experienced players may find it lacking in options and customizability. In either case, Wylde Flowers is a solid addition to this genre.
Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX	Arcade / Shooting Gallery	B
tl;dr Zombie Panic in Wonderland DX is an Arcade-Style Shooting Gallery game that has players blasting away silly anime-style zombies. This game doesn’t take itself seriously at all, and that’s just fine, because its silly presentation is one of its best qualities, and fits the fast-paced action well. While there are still some places this game could do with improvement, overall it’s an excellent co-op Action game well worth playing.
9 Years of Shadows	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr 9 Years of Shadows is a Metroidvania where you play a woman trying to find the source of a curse plaguing her land. Some of the gameplay mechanics here seem needlessly irritating, and the game doesn’t really make the best use of the fact that it’s a Metroidvania, but despite these issues there’s a lot to like here, including some creative abilities and a beautiful presentation. This isn’t a great Metroidvania, but it’s not a terrible one either.
80 Days	Interactive Story-Driven Adventure / Trading Simulation	B-
tl;dr 80 Days is a game that combines Interactive Story-Driven Adventure and Trading Simulation elements with a steampunk-infused Jules Verne-inspired story. The story is by far the best part of this package, making for a riveting read with wonderful characters and a fascinating world, but the unpredictable gameplay can make the game frustrating enough that many will have difficulty enjoying that story.
A Good Snowman is Hard to Build	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr A Good Snowman is a family-friendly Puzzle Game where players push snowballs to create snowmen. The presentation here is simple but charming, and the puzzles are well-designed, but the game is lacking on the content side of things. Still, this game is fun while it lasts, and if its concept appeals to you, you may find it worth giving a try.
A Highland Song	Platformer	B-
tl;dr A Highland Song is a Platformer that has players helping a young girl to navigate the treacherous Scottish countryside. The game’s presentation is beautiful, with a gorgeous soundtrack and absolutely superb voice acting. And the game’s approach to the Platforming genre is unique and inspired. Unfortunately, the multi-layered scenery makes it a real pain to move to the part of the scenery you want to interact with, creating other problems as a result. There’s still a lot of great elements here, but you have to put up with a fair amount of frustration to get to it.
Alien Death Mob	2-Stick Shooter	B-
tl;dr Alien Death Mob is a 2-Stick Shooter that has players fending off massive hordes of enemies in gameplay that is fast, frenetic, and challenging, while still giving players every opportunity to overcome this massive challenge. This is not going to be a game for everyone, but players looking to take on tons of enemies with a spray of gunfire should give this game a try.
And Then There Was No Light	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr And Then There Was No Light is a Sokoban-style Puzzle game where players complete circuits by pushing boxes to connect power sources to door switches. It’s nothing revolutionary, and the presentation is pretty awful, but the puzzle design is so good I think it’s absolutely worthy the tiny $2 price tag.
Annalynn	Platformer / Arcade	B-
tl;dr Annalynn is an Arcade-style Platformer about a miner grabbing up gold while fleeing hostile snakes that pulls gameplay elements from Pac-Man, City Connection, and Donkey Kong Jr. , to name a few. It’s a solid tribute to classics of the genre, though like the games it imitates it can be a bit simple and repetitive.
Ascendant Hearts	Visual Novel	B-
tl;dr Ascendant Hearts is a linear Visual Novel combining stock “isekai” and “harem” plot types in a story about a young man from our world finding himself transported to a world that runs on Role Playing Game tropes. It’s not especially deep, the intro gets a bit too much into the weeds, some of the character conflicts get old quickly, and there’s some female objectification fanservice content that won’t appeal to everyone. However, despite these flaws, the characters are likeable and this is overall an enjoyable story, even if it isn’t an especially impactful one.
Behold the Kickmen	Sports (Soccer)	B-
tl;dr Behold the Kickmen is a Soccer game that proudly announces it was made by someone who doesn’t know how soccer is played, and the result is a game that is not only a hilarious satire of the sport, but also an excellent spiritual representation of that sport (albeit one that is full of inaccuracies), with some excellent core gameplay. It’s just a shame that a few flaws keep it from being an even better game – namely, its underwhelming visuals and its complete lack of any sort of multiplayer. Still, even with these issues, this game is more than worth its $4 price tag. If you’re a Soccer fan who won’t mind a riff on the sport, definitely check this one out.
Bury Me, My Love	Visual Novel	B-
tl;dr Bury Me, My Love is a Visual Novel that simulates a text conversation between a man and his wife as the wife tries to escape the violence during the Syrian civil war. It is an incredibly well-told story with strong characters, but unfortunately the Switch just isn’t the ideal way to play this game, with the adaptation to the console damaging the Smartphone version’s immersion.
Cat Clean Ocean	Open-World Action-RPG	B-
tl;dr Cat Clean Ocean is a family-friendly Open-World Action-RPG that has players exploring and cleaning up underwater environments, then recycling the junk they collected to upgrade their gear. This game is clearly copying Loddlenaut, and while it is worse than that game in multiple ways, it’s still an enjoyable and relaxing experience, and its lower $8 price tag may make this a sufficient low-cost alternative.
Cavern of Dreams	3D Platformer	B-
tl;dr Cavern of Dreams is a family friendly 3D Platformer where players take the role of a tiny dragon trying to get back a bunch of stolen dragon eggs. The game design here is clearly aiming to replicate the look and feel of classic Nintendo 64 games like Banjo-Kazooie, and it largely succeeds, though the game does lack an overall sense of cohesion tying it all together. Still, this is well worth a look for fans of 3D Platformers, and particularly those with a fondness for N64 classics of the genre.
Coffee Pack	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Coffee Pack is a Puzzle Game where players sort trays of coffee by placing mixed trays next to each other so drinks of the same kind can be rearranged to the same tray. It’s a surprisingly compelling and enjoyable experience, even if the presentation reeks of “mobile game”, and it’s severely limited by a lack of game modes and options. Even despite these flaws, I still think this is worth a look for Puzzle Game fans looking for something relaxed.
Crying Suns	Real-Time Strategy / Roguelike	B-
tl;dr Crying Suns is a game that combines Real-Time Strategy and Roguelike, putting you in the role of a cloned admiral awakened to bring his galactic empire back from the brink of a mysterious calamity. The pacing here is pretty slow, the controls are awkward, the Strategy elements are a bit simple and the Roguelike elements are marred by the pacing, but despite these issues, this is still a pretty solid game that overall makes good use of its Strategy and Roguelike elements to craft a worthwhile experience for fans of those genres.
DERU – The Art of Cooperation	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr DERU is a Puzzle game with a clear focus on co-op play, though it’s certainly enjoyable in single-player as well (trading out the need for communication with the need to multitask). The game has you using black and white geometric shapes to block off black and white streams to protect each other so they can get to a goal. There are some good, clever puzzles here, and excellent co-op play, but the game is hurt by sluggish controls that don’t respond properly. Still worth a look for those looking for decent co-op games.
Don’t Give Up: A Cynical Tale	Graphic Adventure / Action-RPG	B-
tl;dr Don’t Give Up is a game that combines Graphic Adventure and Action-RPG elements to tell a story about an antisocial game designer suffering from depression, and a plucky hero looking to save the day. The story and presentation here is excellent, but the gameplay is really hit or miss. Still, while not everyone will enjoy that gameplay, I feel like this game’s better qualities outweigh the bad.
Dry Drowning	Visual Novel / Graphic Adventure	B-
tl;dr Dry Drowning is a Visual Novel with Graphic Adventure elements that plays like Phoenix Wright set in a futuristic totalitarian city-state plagued by a grotesque serial killer. The puzzles here are often overly cryptic or ambiguous, which can be pretty frustrating. However, the game is still compelling due to its setting, characters, and story, and fans of the genre may still want to give it a look
Elevator… To The Moon! Turbo Champion’s Edition	Interactive Toybox / First-Person Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Elevator… To The Moon! is a fun little First-Person Puzzle game where you’re fixing problems on a ridiculous expedition to the moon. The puzzles are good albeit nothing revolutionary, and the story and comedy are really well done, although some of the references feel a bit dated. All told, this is an entertaining game worth a play-through.
Fishing Vacation	Sports (Fishing) / Horror / Misc.	B-
tl;dr Fishing Vacation is a Fishing game with Horror elements designed to look like something created for the original Game Boy. If that mix of elements strike you as ill-suited to both a Fishing game and a Horror game, your suspicions are correct – this game doesn’t do either of those things well… but that’s also kinda’ the point. Rather than being about those, this game is all about creating a delightfully silly mood based on its eclectic clashing of disparate elements, and simply for this unique mood alone, I think this game is well worth its low $2 price tag.
Frederic: Resurrection of Music	Music-Rhythm	B-
tl;dr Frederic: Resurrection of Music is a Music-Rhythm game that combines Guitar Hero-style “hit notes falling down the path” gameplay with a Gitaroo-Man-style silly story and nice remixes of Chopin’s classical tunes. It’s a bit short on content and the game’s controls are a bit awkward, but it’s still worth a look for music-rhythm fans.
Frederic 2: Evil Strikes Back	Music-Rhythm	B-
tl;dr Frederic 2, like the first game, is a Music-Rhythm game that combines Guitar Hero-style “hit notes falling down the path” gameplay with a Gitaroo-Man-style silly story and nice remixes of Chopin’s classical tunes. This one is even shorter than the first game and the game’s controls are still a bit awkward, but if you liked the first game, this is… well, more of that.
Go! Fish Go!	Auto-Runner	B-
tl;dr Go! Fish Go! Is an Auto-Runner in the style of Temple Run, and for a $2 game it does a pretty good job with the genre, with nice fast-paced cartoony visuals and some solid “let me just give this one more try” gameplay. It’s a tad frustrating that your character’s movement lags behind your controls, making for occasional deaths that don’t feel like they’re your fault. However, overall this is a decent time-waster.
Good Pizza, Great Pizza	Arcade	B-
tl;dr Good Pizza, Great Pizza is an Arcade-style game that has you making pizzas to order and managing your restaurant. The presentation here is nice, and the gameplay is good, but without touchscreen controls, this version is inferior to the one you can get for free (with ads) on your smartphone.
Graviter	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Graviter is a Puzzle game that has players altering planets in space to alter gravity and change the trajectory of a projectile. It’s a simple but solid Puzzle game, but at $8 for 100 levels, this seems a bit pricey to me. Still, Puzzle game fans will likely enjoy this game, especially if they can catch it on sale.
Hatsune Miku Logic Paint S	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Hatsune Miku Logic Paint S takes the popular “vocaloid” characters and their highly-synthesized J-Pop music and brings them to the Picross genre in a game that has a great presentation, but is somewhat lacking in its features. Still, fans of both Picross and Hatsune Miku will likely find this to be a solid pairing of the two.
Hero’s Hour	Strategy / RPG	B-
tl;dr Hero’s Hour is a game that combines Turn-Based Strategy, Real-Time Strategy, and RPG elements, with players guiding armies to gather resources and build up their kingdom to compete with other kingdoms. This game has a multitude of problems, from its progression and pacing issues, control and interface issues, and its odd hands-off battles, yet for all of its many frustrations, this is nevertheless a compelling and enjoyable experience, and Strategy fans with the patience for long game sessions will likely find this to be worth a look.
Highrise Heroes: Word Challenge	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Highrise Heroes is a Puzzle game in the same vein as Bookworm, albeit with some unique gameplay elements that set it apart and a bizarre story about escaping a skyscraper after a disaster. The core gameplay here is excellent, but the game is lacking in content and has no multiplayer, making for a good but disappointing experience overall.
Hole io	Arcade	B-
tl;dr Hole io is a family-friendly Arcade-style game where players move a hole around to swallow up objects to grow its size, aiming to get it as big as possible. The core gameplay is pulled straight out of the game Donut County, and there are countless poor design choices and gameplay flaws here. Yet despite all of that, it’s hard to deny how fun and compelling this game is, and for only $5, this is a superb time-waster.
Hole io & Paper io 2	Compilation / Arcade	B-
tl;dr Hole io & Paper io 2 includes the two named games, both family-friendly Arcade-style games. These two games aren’t perfect, but they’re still plenty of fun in spite of their flaws, and this bundle is a decent deal on the price of this pair, making it well worth getting.
Lotus Bloom	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Lotus Bloom is a Puzzle game that has players using colored orbs to power diamond-shaped emitters to shine light on similarly colored lotus flowers. It’s a simple Puzzle game but one with surprisingly clever puzzles. It’s also short, but reasonably-priced at $3. Puzzle fans looking for a short but sweet entry in the genre would do well to check this out.
Minimal Move	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Minimal Move is a Family-Friendly Puzzle-Platformer where players controlling a pair of alien investigators exploring a strange section of space with altered states of gravity, with players using one character to move blocks left-right or up-down, and the other character to rotate them. These mechanics make for some good gameplay thanks to solid level design, though this is hampered somewhat thanks to controls that do a poor job adapting to the changes in gravity you’ll be dealing with frequently. Still, for Puzzle-Platformer fans, this is well worth checking out.
Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin	Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	B-
tl;dr Monster Hunter Stories 2 is a more family-friendly take on the Monster Hunter franchise that takes the series into the realm of Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPGs. It’s a solid game in many respects, but as a Monster Hunter game it’s overshadowed by Monster Hunter Rise, and as a Monster Collecting RPG it can’t quite compete with Pokemon. However, if you’re a fan of both franchises looking for an interesting take on the Monster Hunter universe, or want to try your hand at a Monster Hunter game that doesn’t require cat-like reflexes, this game may be one you’ll want to look into.
Neon On!	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Neon On! is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players connect cords to plugs to try to get the right color power from each outlet to its destination(s). The core gameplay here is well-designed and given a great amount of variety with different issues you’ll encounter, and the game overall has a great relaxed presentation, though issues with the game’s at-times volatile physics interfere with that chill vibe somewhat. Still, even with these issues, the $5 price tag makes this game an easy pick-up for Puzzle fans.
Never Stop Sneakin’	Stealth	B-
tl;dr Never Stop Sneakin’ is a Stealth game that takes a simpler, faster-paced, and more lighthearted take on the genre, with an absolutely fantastic presentation that does a superb job of parodying the original Metal Gear Solid in particular, and an outstanding title theme. The only real issue here is that the simple gameplay gets repetitive very quickly, and the game feels like it could do with more depth, variety, and customization. Still, despite these flaws, this is still a wonderful and unique take on the genre that’s well worth playing.
Nonogram Minimal	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Nonogram Minimal is a Picross Puzzle game with 200 puzzles as well as the ability to create and share your own puzzles. This game has multiple flaws holding it back, but the puzzle-sharing feature is so delightful that it makes up for a lot of these flaws. If you’re a fan of this type of game, this is definitely one entry in the genre well worth getting, even if it’s far from perfect.
Octogeddon	Arcade / Misc. Game	B-
tl;dr Octogeddon is an odd Arcade-style game where you play a giant octopus and gradually upgrade his various tentacles to ward off incoming threats, in a way that feels a bit reminiscent of a tower defense game, sorta’. It can get a bit repetitive, but it’s an interesting and unique game that’s easy to play and has an amusing presentation. Worth a look.
Origamihero Games 2D Platformer Collection	Compilation / Platformer / Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Origamihero Games 2D Platformer Collection includes the Platformer Smash Star, along with the Metroidvania games Treasure Hunter Man 2 and Unstrong Legacy. The Metroidvania games are pretty good, but what’s really special about this package is its outstanding price. For just over $4, this is a solid collection of content well worth getting.
Overlanders	Futuristic Racing	B-
tl;dr Overlanders is a futuristic racing game that plays a bit like the Star Wars: Podracer series. The core gameplay here is good, with an inspired “Monster Hunt” mode that does something refreshingly new for the genre. unfortunately, the game has a serious lack of polish, and the lacking multiplayer options really hurt this game’s longevity.
Oxytone	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Oxytone is an Unlimited Pattern Puzzle game where players place randomized hexagonal tiles with lines on them to connecting as many lines as possible in a chain. This is a creative spin on an older puzzle design, and while there’s a frustrating inability to plan too far ahead, overall this is a delightfully compelling and relaxing Puzzle game well worth its low $8 price tag.
Paper io 2	Arcade	B-
tl;dr Paper io 2 is an Arcade-style game where players draw lines to expand their territory while trying to avoid other players touching their line before it’s completed. The simple gameplay is surprisingly compelling, and there’s a lot of good multiplayer potential here. It’s a shame this game doesn’t have more options or game modes, but with a $5 price tag, this makes for an easy game to pick up for anyone looking for a fun time-waster.
Pizza Tower	Platformer	B-
tl;dr Pizza Tower is a Platformer where players take the role of a crazed chef racing his way through stages in an ominous and bizarre tower. The presentation here is absolutely phenomenal, with a truly unique and eye-catching art style. The fast-paced gameplay is appealing too… until you get your hands on it and find the controls to be pretty unwieldy. While still a good game, I feel like these control issues prevent Pizza Tower from being a great one.
Planetarian	Visual Novel	B-
tl;dr Planetarian is a linear Visual Novel with no player choice set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where a scavenger happens upon a human-like robot with a mindless fixation on her planetarium and no conception of the terrible state of the outside world. The characters take a bit of time to warm up to, but once you do this becomes a nice story that blends both charm and despair into something bittersweet. This won’t be for everyone, but those who find the game’s blend of ideas interesting might want to give it a try.
QV	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr QV is a character-based Puzzle game where players play as a girl restoring balance to the dimensions by going to various levels and activating their gates. The puzzle design and level design here are excellent, but the unskippable dialogue really drags down the pacing. Despite its flaws, this is a solid Puzzle game.
Retro Bowl	Sports (Football)	B-
tl;dr Retro Bowl is a Football game that evokes the look of the classic Tecmo Bowl, but offers its own unique gameplay that’s absolutely fantastic. It’s just a shame that this game is missing so much – the game won’t let you play defense, and doesn’t have multiplayer. However, despite these omissions, this is one of the best Football games on Nintendo Switch due to the fact that everything it does do, it does extremely well. Well, and also due to the lack of great alternatives on Nintendo Switch.
Rift of the NecroDancer	Music-Rhythm	B-
tl;dr Rift of the NecroDancer is a Music-Rhythm game and spin-off of Crypt of the NecroDancer that ditches the Roguelike elements in favor of a standard Music-Rhythm game with Guitar Hero-like lanes, but instead of hitting notes, you’re hitting enemies, and this is both this game’s best feature and its worst – it truly sets the game apart, but it also forces players to memorize a variety of baddies and recall them on the spot. The result just doesn’t seem conducive to a great Music-Rhythm game, but fans of the franchise may still enjoy it.
Rush Rally 3	Rally Racing	B-
tl;dr Rush Rally 3 is a Rally Racing game that is a solid entry in the genre that manages to rise above its value pricing and mobile-centric development to be worthy of competing with games from bigger developers. The graphics could do with brushing up in some areas, the lack of multiplayer options is unfortunate, and the menus are terrible, but despite these flaws, this is a game that is nevertheless an excellent entry in the genre.
Servonauts	Arcade / Party Game	B-
tl;dr Servonauts, is a co-op-focused Arcade-style Party Game vaguely similar to Overcooked, where players are robots trying to get the right kind of gas to vehicles in a gas station by connecting hoses to various machines. The core concept here is great, making for some really good co-op play. Unfortunately, this is undermined somewhat by imprecise controls at times. However, even with these issues, co-op fans may still want to give this one a look.
Shinsekai: Into the Depths	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Shinsekai is a Metroidvania, albeit a somewhat limited one, where players explore the depths of a post-apocalyptic series of underwater caves to escape an encroaching ice. This is a pretty unique experience, and the sound design here in particular is excellent, but numerous game design and control issues make it far more frustrating and limited than it could be. Still worth a look, but it doesn’t quite meet its full potential.
Sqroma	Puzzle / Arcade	B-
tl;dr Sqroma is a Puzzle game with Arcade-style elements that has you navigating a square to an exit point while avoiding turret fire and other hazards. While the core premise is simple, Sqroma adds some really clever mechanics and some phenomenal level design that make this a surprisingly excellent puzzle game – surprising because the presentation is extremely unimpressive in a way that makes the $9 price tag seem a bit steep. Still, if you can look past the unimpressive visuals and music, I think you’ll find this to be a wonderful Puzzle game.
Steam Prison	Visual Novel	B-
tl;dr Steam Prison is a Visual Novel that puts players in the role of a police officer in a world of segregated classes who finds herself framed for murder and banished to the literal depths of society. The game is at times over-the-top in its depictions of injustice and villainy, but in general the story, its world and its characters are all compelling, and overall this is a game well worth playing for fans of the genre… but only if you can get it in a really good sale, because that $65 price tag is absolutely ridiculous.
Subsurface Circular	Graphic Adventure	B-
tl;dr Subsurface Circular is a Graphic Adventure game with a great story and slick graphics, but its short length and the feeling that you’re not really having an effect on the story keep it from being something truly great.
Sudoku Zenkai	Sudoku Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Sudoku Zenkai is a Sudoku Puzzle game with a potentially limitless number of procedurally-generated puzzles. It’s not without a few small issues here and there, but overall this is a pretty solid entry in the genre, well worth getting for Nintendo Switch players who want a Sudoku game on the platform.
Super Glitch Dash	First-Person Auto-Runner	B-
tl;dr Super Glitch Dash is a family-friendly First-Person Auto-Runner where players avoiding obstacles and collecting pickups in a futuristic corridor as it is constructed in front of them. This game doesn’t do too much out of the norm for the genre, and its price seems a bit high, but otherwise this is a decent representation of this style of game, and if you’re looking for a decent Auto-Runner this should suffice.
Super One More Jump	Auto-Runner	B-
tl;dr Super One More Jump is an Auto-Runner that incorporates a shifting gravity element that has players trying to anticipate how their jumps will re-orient as they pass between and around platforms. There’s some good puzzle potential here, and a healthy amount of options, but mostly this just ends up playing like any other challenging endurance-focused Auto-Runner, with a gimmick that doesn’t shake things up nearly as much as you might hope.
Tested On Humans: Escape Room	First-Person Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Tested On Humans is the follow-up to Palindrome Syndrome, and as such it is a First-Person Puzzle game that aims to recreate the experience of an escape room, and it largely succeeds. This game features a theme that has players waking up in a facility where apparently deadly experiments were performed on people, and you must solve puzzles to escape. This game is not without its flaws, and the help function is still somewhat lacking, but overall this game is worth a look for Puzzle fans looking for a videogame version of an escape room experience, and I would say it’s a slight improvement over its predecessor.
The Shape of Things	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr The Shape of Things is a Puzzle game where players must reassemble 3D objects by manipulating each of their pieces. The gameplay here is highly accessible, the presentation is appealing, and the music is wonderfully soothing. My biggest problem here is that the precision needed to correctly complete each puzzle is a bit exacting in a way that seems to run counter to the otherwise relaxed presentation here. Otherwise, this is an excellent Puzzle game.
Travel Mosaics: A Paris Tour	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Travel Mosaics is a Picross Puzzle game with a distinct way of doing color picross puzzles and a decent presentation (once you get past the main menu, anyway). However, it lacks the ability to “test-mark” squares, and refuses to let players continue past an incomplete puzzle. Were it not for flaws like these, this would be one of the better Picross games on the Nintendo Switch, but as it is, this is just a pretty good entry in the genre.
Travel Mosaics 2: Roman Holiday	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Travel Mosaics 2, much like the first game, is a Picross Puzzle game with a distinct way of doing color picross puzzles and a decent presentation (once you get past the main menu, anyway). However, it lacks the ability to “test-mark” squares, and refuses to let players continue past an incomplete puzzle. Were it not for flaws like these, this would be one of the better Picross games on the Nintendo Switch, but as it is, this is just a pretty good entry in the genre.
Travel Mosaics 3: Tokyo Animated	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Travel Mosaics 3, much like the previous games in the series, is a Picross Puzzle game with a distinct way of doing color picross puzzles and a decent presentation (once you get past the main menu, anyway). However, it lacks the ability to “test-mark” squares, and refuses to let players continue past an incomplete puzzle. Were it not for flaws like these, this would be one of the better Picross games on the Nintendo Switch, but as it is, this is just a pretty good entry in the genre.
Tricky Taps	Arcade	B-
tl;dr Tricky Taps is a family-friendly 1-Button Arcade-style game where players guide a ball through a machine by controlling mechanical elements of the machine, all with one button. The gameplay is simple but enjoyable, and there’s plenty of content here. It’s just a shame that the presentation is so simple and the game doesn’t capitalize more on the potential this lays the foundation for. But for only $5, this is a fun time-waster worth the small price tag.
Trombone Champ	Music-Rhythm	B-
tl;dr Trombone Champ is a family-friendly Music Rhythm game where players try to not only time the notes of their music, but use one of a selection of control schemes (including pretty good motion controls) to ensure it comes out at the right pitch as well. Or more frequently, to attempt that and fail, creating a discordant cacophony that is nevertheless still a delight due to just how silly everything, a silliness this game leans into hard. This isn’t a game you’re likely to play for long stretches of time, but you may want to play it with friends in a party setting, if only to see how ridiculously bad the music gets with everyone performing together. For that reason, this game is well worth trying out.
Turbo Shot	2-Stick Shooter	B-
tl;dr Turbo Shot is a free-to-play 2-Stick Shooter with a semi-randomized upgrade system and a bright, cartoony presentation. The core gameplay here is pretty fun, especially the enjoyable online deathmatch mode. But this game is severely lacking in options, and has some absolutely nasty monetization, including pay-to-win mechanics. There’s still a lot to like about this game, but it definitely feels like the gameplay was compromised severely for the sake of the microtransactions.
Understand	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Understand is a Puzzle game where players must figure out the rules for each puzzle and draw a line that follows those rules. It’s a clever concept and at its best it is reminiscent of greats like The Witness and Baba is You, but more often it’ll leave players scratching their heads and looking up a walkthrough online. In addition, the extremely simple presentation and $10 price tag make this game somewhat less appealing. On balance, this is still a game Puzzle game fans will want to consider, but it’s not for everyone.
Unstrong Legacy	Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Unstrong Legacy is a $2 budget-priced Metroidvania that’s actually pretty decent despite the budget price. It doesn’t do anything particularly unique or spectacular, and the platforming is sub-par, but otherwise what’s here is good, and definitely worth adding to your collection if you’re a fan of the genre.
Urban Trial Playground	2D Stunt Racing	B-
tl;dr Urban Trial Playground is a 2D Stunt Racing game where you race a motorcycle on an obstacle course. It doesn’t have the microtransactions of Trials Rising, but it’s missing that game’s wealth of features too. It’s still a fun game, but it feels a bit empty by comparison.
Vivitter	Party Game	B-
tl;dr Vivitter is a family-friendly free-to-play Party Game that has players competing in minigames that are all a spin on the “get close but don’t go over” concept of “chicken”. Despite the simple concept and some issues with repetitive games and pacing, this is nevertheless a great choice for a game to add to your Party Game list due to its fun and accessible minigames, great sense of humor, and lack of pushy monetization.
Volta-X	RPG / Real-Time Strategy / Roguelike	B-
tl;dr Volta-X is a game that has you managing a team controlling a mech in a one-on-one battle, with gameplay that combines elements of RPGs and Real-Time Strategy games, with base building and Roguelike elements as well. The gameplay is fast-paced and chaotic, and will not appeal to everyone. However, if you are good at multitasking and enjoy a challenge, you may find this game to be refreshingly original and well worth a look.

Significant Switch-Exclusive Features

These games do appear on other platforms, but the Nintendo Switch version includes unique features that set the game apart and make it special in its own right.

Game	Genre	Grade
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition	Metroidvania	A+
tl;dr Ori and the Blind Forest is, quite simply, one of the best Metroidvania games ever made, and not only is this an amazing port of a previously Xbox One-exclusive title, but it’s actually improved in its Switch release, which now stands tall as the truly definitive version of the game. This is a must-have game on the Switch, and if you missed it on the Xbox and PC, you owe it to yourself to get it now.
Alien: Isolation	First-Person Stealth / Horror Game	A
tl;dr Alien: Isolation is a port of the 2014 First-Person Horror game with heavy Stealth elements following Ellen Ripley’s daughter as she investigates her mother’s disappearance. This version adds graphical improvements that actually make it look better than the other console versions, and this is on top of an already-impressive game with a stunning presentation and some great cat-and-mouse gameplay. If you’re a fan of Horror with a Nintendo Switch, consider this game an absolute must-have.
Deemo	Music-Rhythm	A
tl;dr Deemo is a wonderful Music-Rhythm game with gameplay that recreates in abstract the feeling of playing a piano. It has a huge selection of music, a good number of options, and some absolutely gorgeous artwork, although the gameplay itself is unfortunately visually bland. While you can play Deemo fine in docked mode, this is a game that’s really designed for handheld play, which may limit its appeal. But if you enjoy Music-Rhythm games, this game is a must-have.
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.
Among Us	Party Game	A-
tl;dr Among Us is a Party game similar to classic social games like Werewolf and Mafia, where players try to figure out which of the others among them are murderous impostors before it’s too late. The port to Nintendo Switch is quite good, includes cross-play, and has controls I strongly prefer over other versions. The barrier for entry here is still a bit high thanks to the sort of conditions you need to get a proper game going, but the small $5 price tag and the massive amount of fun on offer here when this game really gets going make it more than worth the trouble to round up enough friends to play it properly. If you can manage to do that, this game is an absolute must-play.
CastleStorm	Tower Defense / Arcade	A-
tl;dr CastleStorm is a side-scrolling Tower Defense game with Arcade-style gameplay elements where players can customize their own castle and then war with opponents in other castles, commanding troops and firing using a ballista to control the battlefield. This is a game that gives players a lot of freedom to make strategic choices, and does a good job making them easy to understand through the game’s campaign. What’s more, this is a fantastic multiplayer game both in co-op and competitive play, local and online (though the online lobbies are empty now), and the Nintendo Switch version is the definitive version of the game, with its excellent touchscreen controls in portable mode. If you enjoy Strategy games and don’t already have this on another platform, you should absolutely give it a try.
Castlevania Dominus Collection	Compilation / Metroidvania / Action-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Castlevania Dominus Collection is a Compilation containing three Metroidvania-style games in the Castlevania series from Nintendo DS, along with the arcade Action-Platformer Haunted Castle and a brand new remake of that game, Haunted Castle Revisited. The original Haunted Castle is clunky and dated, but everything else here ranges from good to outstanding, with Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow being one of the best games in the franchise. This collection does a good job with the dual-screen and touchscreen elements of the original games, and adds a bunch of features and bonus content, overall making for a great package that’s a must-have for any fans of Metroidvania games and the Castlevania series specifically.
Deemo -Reborn-	Music-Rhythm / Graphic Adventure	A-
tl;dr Deemo Reborn is a re-imagining of the original Deemo that takes the piano-focused Music-Rhythm gameplay of the original, improves the graphics, and adds new Graphic Adventure elements. The graphics are definitely an improvement here, and both the Music-Rhythm and Graphic Adventure gameplay is top-notch, but the two gameplay styles don’t work all that well together, and the much smaller track list compared to the original Deemo means that even though this is still a great game, it doesn’t quite measure up to its predecessor.
Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition	Spectacle Fighter	A-
tl;dr Devil May Cry 3 is a Spectacle Fighter that’s a prequel to the first two games, focusing on Dante’s rivalry with his brother Virgil. This game is a return to form for the series that’s still a joy to play to this day, even if the graphics are dated (despite the remastered HD upgrade) and the camera could use a bit of work still. And while the game is still somewhat overpriced, at least this time Nintendo Switch owners are getting something in exchange for that expense – new control options to swap combat styles mid-combo make the Nintendo Switch version the definitive edition of the game. If you’re a fan of this genre, Devil May Cry 3 on the Nintendo Switch may be a must-buy, despite its price point and even if you already own it on another platform. And for those who never played it in the first place, this is a no-brainer.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition	Top-Down Turn-Based RPG	A-
tl;dr Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a Turn-Based RPG that had to sacrifice couch co-op and a lot of graphical fidelity to fit onto the Switch, but the game retains its massive, deep, well-told campaign, excellent strategic gameplay, absolutely beautiful soundtrack and superb voice acting and writing, and superb co-op play in local wireless and online. Plus, the Switch version has exclusive cross-save support with the PC version on Steam. The result is a version of the game that is one of the best RPGs on the Switch, and a must-have for fans of the genre who don’t already own it on another platform.
VVVVVV	Platformer	A-
tl;dr VVVVVV is a gravity-changing Platformer designed to look like an old-school Commodore 64 game, but its simple exterior hides an extremely well-designed game underneath, with a memorable soundtrack, excellent level design, and a really good challenge level. Also, the Nintendo Switch version is the definitive version of the game, with more features and a better framerate than other versions. It’s just a shame that the game is still too damn short. Still, it’s amazing while it lasts.
GRID Autosport	Racing Simulation	B+
tl;dr GRID Autosport is a port of a 2014 Racing Sim that improves the graphics over the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, as well as adding a huge variety of options and different ways to play. This was already a solid Racing Sim before, and the improvements almost make this the definitive version, although the lack of analog triggers on most Nintendo Switch controllers are one noteworthy flaw (though one you can address with a GameCube controller if you have the adapter). Otherwise, this is an all-around excellent Racing Sim, and currently the best game in the genre on the Switch, a deserving honor even if there’s not much competition for that honor right now.
Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns	Match-3 Puzzle / RPG	B+
tl;dr Puzzle Quest: The Legend Returns is an HD remaster of the classic Puzzle/RPG hybrid that adds in a slew of new content. This is a fantastic game with compelling gameplay that’s greater than the sum of its parts, and this is the absolute best version of the game, but it is also a game that definitely shows its age in some places.
Skylanders: Imaginators	Action-RPG / 3D Platformer	B+
tl;dr Skylanders Imaginators is the sixth and currently final game in this Toys-to-Life series, a family-friendly Action-RPG with Platformer elements. This game doesn’t do anything truly major to shake up the formula, but rather refines it, making for the best game in the franchise. What’s more, the Nintendo Switch version is arguably the best game in the series thanks largely to the game not needing a “portal” device, and saving your Skylanders figurines so you don’t have to keep scanning them. Unfortunately, by 2022 this is also by far the most expensive version of the game, meaning that as fantastic as it is, you’re probably better off spending less to play any other version of the game.
Starlink: Battle for Atlas	Space Combat Game / Open World	B+
tl;dr Starlink is an Open-World game masquerading as a Space Combat game, and while it can get a bit repetitive, it’s still enjoyable and well-crafted. The exclusive Star Fox content here makes the Switch version of the game the one to get. As for whether to get the physical or digital version, don’t expect the cool toys to do much to improve the gameplay, but they’re nice enough that you might want to get the physical version just to have them as, you know, cool toys.
2064: Read Only Memories INTEGRAL	Graphic Adventure	B
tl;dr 2064: Read Only Memories is a Graphic Adventure set in a bright cyberpunk future with a story about a robotic AI who seeks the help of a reporter to find out what happened to its missing creator. The game has a nicely nostalgic presentation, and the story here is decent, albeit nothing extraordinary for the genre. Fans of Graphic Adventures may find this game worth a look, and the Nintendo Switch version has a bunch of exclusive content, making it the definitive version of the game.
Conga Master Party!	Arcade / Party Game	B
tl;dr Conga Master Party is a family-friendly Arcade-style game that has you moving through partygoers trying to attract people to your conga line. Its simple gameplay and fun presentation hides a surprising amount of strategy in its gameplay, as well as a wealth of multiplayer content, including some exclusive to the Switch version. I wish there were a bit more depth, and the game’s random elements can be a bit frustrating, but overall this is a superb game to pick up if you’re looking for something simple and fun, especially if you want to play with a group.
Hyper Light Drifter – Special Edition	Top-Down Action-RPG	B
tl;dr Hyper Light Drifter is a top-down Action-RPG that has players exploring a strange land as a mysterious swordsman. The presentation here is outstanding, and the Nintendo Switch version of the game is clearly the definitive version, but be warned that this isn’t a game for everyone – the high difficulty and the lack of explanation of many of the game’s basic elements will likely frustrate some players. Those with the patience to bear with it are likely to enjoy it, though.
Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus	Arcade	B
tl;dr Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is a decent follow-up to the original Pac-Man Championship Edition, itself a re-imagining of the arcade classic Pac-Man. However, this time around things just feel more cluttered and the game loses the elegant simplicity of the first Championship Edition. However, it’s still fun to play, especially in the new Switch-Exclusive 2P mode, which offers some excellent co-op. Overall, players looking for a decent modern evolution of the classic Pac-Man formula should be mostly pleased with this.
Hob: The Definitive Edition	Action-RPG	B-
tl;dr Hob is an Action-RPG that has players exploring a world filled with machines they need to manipulate to progress, and while the world and its machines are fantastic, the game’s poor signposting and a few other problems make for an unnecessary amount of frustration. This is still worth checking out, but it definitely feels like it could have benefitted from more playtesting.
Sega Ages Virtua Racing	Arcade Racing	B-
tl;dr Sega Ages Virtua Racing gives us the definitive version of the classic Arcade-Style racer, with newly-improved framerates, resolution, and draw distance, and 8-player splitscreen play. It’s still archaic in some ways, but this port has revitalized the game to still be relevant today.

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