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

1. Puzzle (Match-3, Falling Block, & Unlimited Pattern Puzzles)
2. Puzzle (Hidden Object)
3. Puzzle (Jigsaw)
4. Puzzle (Numberlink)
5. Puzzle (Picross)
6. Puzzle (Sudoku)
7. First-Person Puzzle
8. Puzzle (Other)

Puzzle (Match-3, Falling Block, & Unlimited Pattern Puzzles)

Game	Genre	Grade
Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe	Action-Platformer / Match-4 Puzzle	A
tl;dr Battle Chef Brigade Deluxe is a delicious combination of color-matching puzzle gameplay and action-platformer that is both unique and a lot of fun. It’s just missing a multiplayer mode to make full use of all of the great gameplay that’s on display here.
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.
Ironcast	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle / Turn-Based RPG / Roguelike	A-
tl;dr Ironcast is a combination of Puzzle, Turn-Based RPG, and Roguelike elements that puts players in the role of an upper-class mech operator in an alternate version of Victorian England at war with France. This is a game that requires players to be mindful of its various interconnected systems as they engage in battles, with some really excellent strategic elements that make the game extremely engaging. There is definitely room here for improvement, but overall this game is a blast to play, and well worth giving a try.
Lumines Remastered	Falling Block Puzzle	A-
tl;dr Lumines is a Tetris-style Puzzle game where players drop blocks and match colors in the shape of squares and rectangles, all to the tempo of the game’s wide variety of music and visuals. The gameplay is solid, the fantastic presentation looks even better in HD, and in short for fans of this genre, this should be considered an absolute must-have.
Tetris Effect: Connected	Falling Block Puzzle	A-
tl;dr Tetris Effect: Connected is a version of the classic family-friendly Falling-Block Puzzle Game that gives the game an amazing audiovisual presentation with a fantastic soundtrack and beautiful visuals, a wealth of single-player and multiplayer game modes, and online multiplayer gameplay with cross-play and excellent matchmaking. It’s missing features I’d want to see and it has a few other minor issues, but overall this is quite possibly the best version of Tetris ever made. If you like Puzzle games, you need to own this game.
Batu ta Batu	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Batu Ta Batu is a Puzzle game that has players combining like-colored squares on a board to accomplish various goals in different game modes. Combining compelling gameplay, a lot of content, some good variety, and a low asking price, this game should be considered a must-have for Puzzle game fans on the Nintendo Switch.
Chime Sharp	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Chime Sharp, like its predecessor, is an excellent, chill sorta’ puzzle game that’s easy to pick up and hard to put down, and has a wonderful presentation. It’s just a shame that there’s no multiplayer.
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.
Gems of War	Match-3 Puzzle / RPG	B+
tl;dr Gems of War is a free-to-play Puzzle/RPG hybrid much like its predecessor Puzzle Quest, but Gems streamlines the gameplay, gives it some nice nuances, and elevates the multiplayer by having players challenge each other indirectly, giving them the freedom to choose how tough an opponent they want to take on. The microtransactions here aren’t too bothersome, and the only complaints I have are a lack of local multiplayer and the terrible story. However, the Puzzle gameplay here is top-notch, and fans of Puzzle games should consider this one an absolute must-have on the Switch.
Puyo Puyo Tetris	Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Puyo Puyo Tetris is a Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle game that combines these two genre classics into one wonderful cohesive package that mixes the two in multiple interesting ways. While I wish there were improvements made in the way things are organized in menus and in the presentation, on the whole this is a fantastic Puzzle game that fans of the genre should definitely check out.
Puzzle Bobble 2X/Bust-a-Move 2 Arcade Edition & Puzzle Bobble 3/Bust-a-Move 3 S-Tribute	Compilation / Match-3 Puzzle	B+
tl;dr This Compilation, which I’m just calling Puzzle Bobble 2X/3 for brevity’s sake, contains those two Puzzle games where players aim colored bubbles at other bubbles to match and clear them. This package has a good amount of content and decent features, and while it’s still lacking a few features we’ve come to expect from other games in this style, it is nevertheless an exceptional pair of Puzzle games well worth picking up.
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.
Soul Link	Falling-Block Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Soul Link is a family-friendly physics-based Falling-Block Puzzle that has players trying to stack Tetris-like blocks to make stable bridges. The gameplay here is excellent, and there’s some good variety for the game’s relatively low price tag. I do wish some of the game mechanics worked better, and the lack of multiplayer is glaring, but despite these issues this is still a superb Puzzle game well worth picking up.
Tetris Forever	Compilation / Falling-Block Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Tetris Forever is neither a comprehensive collection of Tetris games, nor does it contain the absolute best versions of Tetris among its 17 included games, some of which are very similar to each other, and nearly all of which are family-friendly Falling Block Puzzle games bearing the Tetris name, making this Compilation feel very one-note. However, what’s here is still a compelling mix of different takes on the classic Puzzle game, along with a truly excellent guided tour through the early history of Tetris’ rise to success. Puzzle Game fans and those with a fascination with videogame history should both consider this Compilation a must-have.
Transcripted	2-Stick Shooter / Match-3 Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Transcripted is a game that combines Two-Stick Shooter gameplay with match-3 Puzzle gameplay similar to Zuma. While the two gameplay styles don’t always get along well with each other, for the most part this is a pretty cohesive gameplay experience that’s satisfying, unique, and features a superb presentation.
Tricky Towers	Falling Block Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Tricky Towers is a family-friendly physics-based falling block puzzle game where players try to balance and stack blocks to accomplish a specific goal. While the game could have used more content and options, overall this is a good entry in the genre, especially in local multiplayer mode.
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.
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.
ACA NEOGEO Puzzle Bobble 2	Match-3 Puzzle	B
tl;dr Puzzle Bobble 2 is a Match-3 Puzzle game where players aim colored bubbles at other bubbles to match and clear them. This is a huge improvement over the first game, though it still lacks features modern players may be used to from this style of game, and it is sorely lacking in content compared to the Puzzle Bobble 2X/3 bundle also available on Nintendo Switch. Still, while it may not be the best version of this game, it is still a superb Puzzle game.
Puyo Puyo Champions	Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle	B
tl;dr Puyo Puyo Champions is a Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle game in the long-running series that includes both Puyo Puyo 2 and Puyo Puyo Fever game modes. There’s an uneven selection of features, and there’s not much here for gamers who already own Puyo Puyo Tetris, but this is a solid Puzzle game, regardless.
Sparkle Unleashed	Match-3 Puzzle	B
tl;dr Sparkle Unleashed is a family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle in the style of genre classic Zuma, and it is mostly an excellent take on the formula, with a wonderful presentation and some nice RPG-style mechanics. Unfortunately, its lack of scores limits replay value, as does the lack of multiplayer. However, it is nevertheless one of the best games in this style to grace Nintendo Switch, and well worth picking up for any Puzzle fan.
Zumania – Magic Casual Puzzle	Match-3 Puzzle	B
tl;dr Zumania is a family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle game that’s clearly a knockoff of Zuma, but it’s a good knockoff. It has the presentation of a cheap mobile game, but the actual gameplay here is solid. Since Nintendo Switch still doesn’t have an actual port of Zuma, this is the next best thing, and Puzzle game fans would do well to seek it out.
Get 10 Quest	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Get 10 Quest is a family-friendly Puzzle game that takes the old “click a block to remove all adjacent blocks of that color” gameplay and gives it a twist by having players creating new blocks as they do so. While randomness still plays more of a role than I’d like here, this nevertheless manages to be an excellent Puzzle game that’s well worth its $3 price tag.
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.
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.
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.
Puzzle Bobble / Bust-a-Move (16-Bit Console Version)	Match-3 Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Puzzle Bobble is an exceptional, highly-influential Puzzle game where players aim colored bubbles at other bubbles to match and clear them. However, by “highly influential”, that means there are an absolute ton of game on Nintendo Switch that play exactly like this, including another version of this exact game… although I do prefer this version over the ACA NEOGEO version. This is a truly exceptional Puzzle game, I just think you’re better off playing one of the later games in the series.
Sega Ages Puyo Puyo 2	Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Sega Ages Puyo Puyo 2 is a Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle game originally released in 1994. It’s a marked improvement over the first game in multiple areas. It’s still missing features we’ve come to expect from Puzzle games today, and the online servers are deserted, but the core gameplay here is still solid, and worth a look for Puzzle fans who don’t own another version of the game.
Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon	Falling Block Puzzle Game / Roguelike	B-
tl;dr Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon takes the popular indie game character and drops him in a fusion of the Falling Block Puzzle and Roguelike genres. The presentation here is solid, the game is polished, and the gameplay is clever and original… but some of the core elements of that gameplay feel tedious and keep this from being a truly compelling entry in the genre. Some fans of Shovel Knight, Puzzle games, and Roguelikes might enjoy it, but it just did not work for me.
Sparkle 2	Match-3 Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Sparkle 2 is a family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle in the style of genre classic Zuma, and it pretty much just takes the previous game, Sparkle Unleashed, and changes a few things small things, resulting in a worse, more derivative game. It’s still enjoyable, but there’s no reason to play this over the previous game.
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.
Wakusei	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Wakusei is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle game where players drop planets into a gravity well hoping to get planets of the same kind to touch each other, combining into bigger planets. This game is clearly copying Suika Game’s formula, but the gravity well mechanic actually adds something new and interesting into the mix, and there are a decent number of unlockable options and features, though I wish there were even more. Still, for only a little over $5, this is a solid Puzzle game, and one I actually prefer over Suika Game.
Zumba Aqua	Match-3 Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Zumba Aqua (no relation to the exercise franchise) is a Match-3 Puzzle game clearly patterned after the game Zuma. While the presentation screams “cheap mobile port”, and the game is sorely lacking features and content, the core gameplay here is excellent, and does a good job copying that classic. For $3, this is a solid Puzzle game well worth getting.
#womenUp, Super Puzzles Dream	Falling Block Puzzle	C+
tl;dr WomenUp is a Puzzle game that combines Falling Block Puzzles with jigsaw Puzzles to make for some pretty good gameplay. It’s a shame that the presentation is so lacking, and an even bigger shame that this game doesn’t capitalize on its full potential, but even with these flaws, this is still a decent inexpensive Puzzle game well worth a look.
ACA NEOGEO Puzzle Bobble	Match-3 Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Puzzle Bobble is an exceptional, highly-influential Puzzle game where players aim colored bubbles at other bubbles to match and clear them. However, by “highly influential”, that means there are an absolute ton of game on Nintendo Switch that play exactly like this, including another version of this exact game, and the ACA NEOGEO release is sadly lacking basic features. This is a truly exceptional Puzzle game, but even if this is exactly what you want, there are better ways to get it.
Akihabara – Feel the Rhythm Remixed	Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle / Music-Rhythm	C+
tl;dr Akihabara – Feel the Rhythm Remixed is a Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle game that seems directly inspired by Lumines, albeit with more prominent Music-Rhythm elements. Unfortunately, those Music-Rhythm elements are poorly implemented, and the multitasking it requires of players makes the Puzzle gameplay less compelling while failing to bring the game the challenge it sorely lacks. This is still a decent Puzzle game, but it’s hard to see why you’d bother with it when you can just play Lumines Remastered instead.
Box Align	Match-3 Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Box Align is a puzzle game where you need to move blocks to match three of the same color until you can clear everything, without making moves that do not make a match. It looks good, and plays fine, but isn’t groundbreaking or addictive in any way.
Bubble Puzzler	Match-3 Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Bubble Puzzler is a Match-3 Puzzle game that’s clearly copying the Puzzle Bobble formula of aiming multicolored bubbles at bubbles hanging above to try to match them and clear them. However, while this game lacks originality, it’s a pretty good take on this formula, albeit a pretty easy one – this isn’t a game to get if you’re looking for a challenge. However, for younger and more casual Puzzle fans, this is a good choice, especially if you can get the game on sale.
Crossniq+	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Crossniq+ is an Unlimited Pattern Puzzle game that has players moving blocks on a field to form a full cross of the same color. The concept is simple and the presentation is fantastic, but the gameplay just doesn’t have that “addictive” quality you really want in this sort of game, and the lack of a two-player mode is really disappointing. Fans of the genre may want to give this game a try, but most are better off going for something else.
Day and Night	Falling Block Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Day and Night is a Puzzle game that takes the classic Puyo Puyo formula and adds in a mechanic where only half the blocks are matchable, based on the in-game day/night cycle. It’s a cute concept, with a truly fantastic presentation, but unfortunately, the game doesn’t stop there, and adds a bunch of other mechanics as well that over-complicate things, and doesn’t give players any settings to customize their experience. The result is a game that feels like an over-complicated mess despite its initial brilliance.
Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine	Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Dr. Fetus’ Mean Meat Machine is a spin-off of the Super Meat Boy franchise in the form of a Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle game combining classic Puyo Puyo-style gameplay with obstacle course-style level design. This focus on the game’s obstacle course design makes things frustrating given how unclear it is when a move will collide with a hazard, and the lack of game modes and multiplayer makes this game feel far too limited. It’s still enjoyable, but also frustrating and limited at the same time.
Ekstase	Falling Block Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Ekstase is a Falling Block Puzzle game that strongly resembles Lumines, having players create like-colored rectangles with the falling blocks, and only clearing them when a like-colored bar passes over them. This game is mechanically a bit more complex than Lumines, but it lacks much of the audiovisual variety of that game, and there’s no multiplayer here either. However, if you’ve already played Lumines and want something similar but a bit tougher, Ekstase is well worth a look.
Fruity Puzzler	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Fruity Puzzler is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle game where players drop fruit hoping to get fruits of the same kind to touch each other, combining into bigger fruit. This game is clearly copying Suika Game’s formula, but it does so well, with slightly better visuals and added multiplayer. And like Suika Game, there’s some compelling gameplay here, but the physics are frustratingly hard to predict, and the game is severely lacking in content and features. In the end, this may make for a decent time-waster, but not much more than that.
Galaxy Mania	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Galaxy Mania is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle game where players drop planets into a well hoping to get planets of the same kind to touch each other, combining into bigger planets. This game is clearly copying Suika Game’s formula, but it does so well, with slightly better visuals and added multiplayer. And like Suika Game, there’s some compelling gameplay here, but the physics are frustratingly hard to predict, and the game is severely lacking in content and features. In the end, this may make for a decent time-waster, but not much more than that.
Hampuzz	Puzzle-Platformer / Match-3 Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Hampuzz is a family-friendly Puzzle-Platformer game with Match-3 mechanics that has players trying to guide an alien hamster to the exit of each level. This game is mechanically extremely simple, but strong puzzle design makes it worth a look if you’re a fan of puzzle games.
Match Three: Pirates! Heir to Davy Jones	Match-3 Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Match Three: Pirates! Heir to Davy Jones is a family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle game that’s basically a knockoff of Bejeweled. The piratey theme and reasonably varied levels keep things interesting enough here, but not enough to project it above countless better takes on this exact same gameplay formula on Nintendo Switch.
Piffle: A Cat Puzzle Adventure	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Piffle is a family-friendly Puzzle game in the style of those mobile games that have you aiming balls at blocks. This is actually a very good version of that type of Puzzle game too, but it’s lacking some important features, and the $20 price tag is just way too high. If you’re looking for a decent casual Puzzle game and Piffle is on sale, it may be worth dropping a few bucks on, but don’t buy it at full price.
QQQbeats!!!	Match-3 Puzzle / Music-Rhythm	C+
tl;dr QQQbeats!!! looks to combine Puzzle Bobble-style Match-3 Puzzle gameplay with Music-Rhythm gameplay elements, and while it has a fun concept and a good presentation, it falls short due to its undercooked Music-Rhythm gameplay and its confusing Puzzle gameplay elements. I still think some players will enjoy this, but it doesn’t live up to the potential of its concept.
Runefall 2 – Collector’s Edition	Match-3 Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Runefall 2 is a Match-3 Puzzle game where players must guide the screen around by making matches in a Bejeweled-style puzzle. The gameplay here is interesting enough to differentiate this game from countless other Bejeweled clones, but not enough to make it truly excel beyond its inspiration, and a mobile-style presentation and poor gamepad controls both leave a poor impression, even if the game remains an overall decent one. In the end, this game isn’t going to blow anyone away, but Puzzle fans may find it a nice addition to their collection.
Sega Ages Columns II: A Voyage Through Time	Compilation / Match-3 Falling Block Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Sega Ages Columns II marks the first time this 1990 arcade Match-3 Falling Block Puzzle game has been released stateside, and what’s more, it comes with the original Columns and a slew of game modes and options. This is a phenomenal port, but sadly it’s a fantastic port of two mediocre Puzzle games. Fans of the genre and collectors may find some interest in this release, but others are better off looking to better games in the genre.
Sega Ages Puyo Puyo	Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Sega Ages Puyo Puyo is a Match-4 Falling Block Puzzle game originally released in 1991, with this version based on the 1992 arcade version of the game. It’s missing features we’ve come to expect from Puzzle games today, and the online servers are deserted, but the core gameplay here is still solid, though it’s missing some small tweaks to round out the gameplay that subsequent titles added. It’s still worth a look for Puzzle fans who don’t own another version of the game.
Storm Tale 2	Match-3 Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Storm Tale 2 is a Match-3 Puzzle game like Bejeweled, and both the presentation and controls have received a huge improvement over the prior game, but it’s still lacking in originality, and the gameplay still depends far too much on luck. Puzzle fans may find this to be a fun time-waster on Nintendo Switch, but you have numerous better options on the platform.
Suika Game	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Suika Game is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle game where players drop fruit into a jar hoping to get fruits of the same kind to touch each other, combining into bigger fruit. There’s some compelling gameplay here, but the physics are frustratingly hard to predict. And while the $3 price tag is nice, the game is so severely lacking in content and features that it doesn’t exactly feel like a deal. In the end, this may make for a decent time-waster, but not much more than that.
Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Sushi Striker is a fast-paced Puzzle game where players clear like-colored plates of sushi from constantly-moving conveyor belts. There’s some fun gameplay here, but the game has some minor control issues, frustrating issues with the visual presentation that interfere with the gameplay, and an insultingly high price tag for this sort of game. It may be worth playing for fans of the genre, but only if it gets a severe discount.
Tetris 99	Falling Block Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Tetris 99 is a Falling Block Puzzle game that takes the original Tetris and has players fighting it out to be the top player out of a field of 99 competitors, and it’s free to play for anyone with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Unfortunately, matchmaking is so terrible that most players will never win a match. The $10 DLC definitely improves the game, but even then all of the added content seems to be flawed in some way or another. There are some good ideas here, and there is some fun to be had for those who can put up with those flaws, but regardless of whether you play the free version or get the DLC, Tetris 99 is still a disappointment.
Tumblestone	Match-3 Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Tumblestone is a puzzle game where players eliminate colored blocks in sets of three. It’s lacking the “addictive” quality the best puzzle games have, but it’s decent enough.
Watermelon Party	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle / Party Game	C+
tl;dr Watermelon Party is a Puzzle/Party Game that plays a lot like Pipe Dream, laying down paths to try to be the first to get your character to all of the watermelon pieces. It’s fun and works well, but is woefully lacking in features, and it won’t take long before you decide to move on to something else.
Aloof	Match-5 Puzzle	C
tl;dr Aloof is a Match-5 Puzzle Game that has players creating Puyo Puyo-style matches in specific shapes to succeed in seafaring battles between anthropomorphic animals. The mechanics here are deep, and the co-op play and team competitive elements hold a lot of potential, but the game’s overly-long tutorial doesn’t do a good enough job preparing players for effective play, and the extremely dour presentation saps all the fun out of the game. There’s still plenty of fun to be had here if you look for it, but it’s just a shame that it’s buried under these problems.
Amazing Brick Breaker	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	C
tl;dr Amazing Brick Breaker is an Unlimited Pattern Puzzle that has you aiming to ricochet a series of balls at descending blocks, like in numerous Smartphone games. This is a decent iteration of the formula, and it even adds in a good 2-player competitive mode, but the $5 price tag and lack of features compare poorly to the numerous games like this already on Smartphones. Unless you absolutely need a game like this on your Switch, stick to the Smartphone games.
Anode	Falling Block Puzzle	C
tl;dr Anode is a Puzzle Game where you connect electrically-linked colored blocks to a similarly-colored detonator. This game has some interesting ideas for the genre, but they don’t work in a way that’s particularly intuitive or fun. This game is okay, but only the biggest fans of the genre will likely find this to be worthwhile.
Blipz	Match-3 Puzzle	C
tl;dr Blipz is a family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle game where players move through a grid leaving colored markers, with three or more contiguous markers clearing themselves. The core gameplay here has some good ideas, but this game unfortunately doesn’t build on those ideas, resulting in a mediocre game that may pass as a decent time-waster, but not much more than that.
Bubble Fresh Fruits	Match-3 Puzzle	C
tl;dr Bubble Fresh Fruits is a Match-3 Puzzle game that’s clearly copying the Puzzle Bobble formula of aiming multicolored bubbles at bubbles hanging above to try to match them and clear them. However, while this game lacks originality, it’s a pretty good take on this formula, albeit a pretty easy one – this isn’t a game to get if you’re looking for a challenge. However, for younger and more casual Puzzle fans (particularly those who find the colorful presentation appealing), this is a good choice, especially if you can get the game on sale or in a bundle.
Bubble Shoot Farm	Match-3 Puzzle	C
tl;dr Bubble Shoot Farm is a Match-3 Puzzle game that’s clearly copying the Puzzle Bobble formula of aiming multicolored bubbles at bubbles hanging above to try to match them and clear them. However, while this game lacks originality, it’s a pretty good take on this formula, albeit a pretty easy one – this isn’t a game to get if you’re looking for a challenge. However, for younger and more casual Puzzle fans (particularly those who find the colorful presentation appealing), this is a good choice, especially if you can get the game on sale.
Bubble Shooter FX	Match-3 Puzzle	C
tl;dr Bubble Shooter FX is a family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle game in the style of Puzzle Bobble, and while it does a decent job with that formula, it doesn’t do anything especially new or exciting with it either. On top of that, the game is a bit on the bland side, and it is woefully lacking in its features. Still, for $4, it’s a decent enough Puzzle Bobble clone, and if you’re a fan of the genre, you may find this game to your liking.
Classic Games Puzzle Collection	Compilation / Arcade / Match-3 Puzzle	C
tl;dr Classic Games Puzzle Collection is a Compilation containing three bad knock-offs of the classic Arcade game Qix, and three mediocre knockoffs of the classic Match-3 Puzzle Bust-A-Move AKA Puzzle Bobble. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the price of this Compilation is insultingly high, though when the bundle inevitably goes on sale for $2, I suppose some may find it worthwhile. Still, it’s hard for me to recommend a bundle full of cheaply-made copy-pasted games.
Darkest Hunters	Match-3 Puzzle / Dungeon-Crawler / RPG	C
tl;dr Darkest Hunters is a game that combines Match-3-style Puzzle gameplay with Dungeon Crawler-style RPG gameplay in a way that’s inspired, original, and ultimately crippled by horrible interface issues and a terrible tutorial. Fans of these genres looking to play something fairly unique may want to give it a try, but be warned that you’ll probably only want to play this in portable mode due to the terrible interface problems this game has with a controller.
Fantasy Saga Frenzy	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Fantasy Saga Frenzy is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle game where players drop fantasy-themed items into the play field hoping to get items of the same kind to touch each other, combining into bigger ones. This game is clearly copying Suika Game’s formula, and apart from local multiplayer it adds nothing, while playing worse and costing more. You’re better off just going with the original Suika Game, or one of countless other clones.
Funghi Puzzle Funghi Explosion	Match-3 Puzzle	C
tl;dr Funghi Explosion is a Puzzle game that’s basically just Bejeweled but with anthropomorphic fungi instead of gemstones. The odd presentation doesn’t help the gameplay, and the game is light on options, but if you want an odd version of Bejeweled, this gets the job done.
History 2048	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	C
tl;dr History 2048 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 controls, and it’s lacking the options and multiplayer modes of the similar and less-expensive 2048 Battles
In the Mood	Match-3 Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr In the Mood is a Match-3 Puzzle game, a Puzzle-Platformer, and an Ecchi game that mixes classic Puzzle Bobble gameplay with Platforming elements, along with cartoony nude girls in the backgrounds. There are actually some good gameplay ideas here, but they’re undermined by a lack of content, a lack of multiplayer, a lack of options, and some unfortunate level design choices. This game can be completed within an hour, and you’re better off playing another Puzzle game that will last you longer than this.
Match 3 Adventure Collection	Compilation / Match-3 Puzzle	C
tl;dr Match 3 Adventure Collection is a Compilation of two family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle games: Gems of Magic: Lost Family and Match Three: Pirates! Heir to Davy Jones. Both are uninspired knockoffs of Bejeweled, and while you may still find these games worthwhile if you get them on sale, you’re better off getting another better Puzzle game instead.
Pokemon Cafe Mix	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	C
tl;dr Pokemon Cafe Mix is a touchscreen-only free-to-play Unlimited Pattern Puzzle game where players slosh around Pokemon characters to try to link them up to meet specific goals in each puzzle. The presentation here is very appealing, but the gameplay is shallow and lacking in skill. It’s a decent time-waster, but not a game you’ll likely get hooked by.
Pokemon Cafe ReMix	Unlimited Pattern Puzzle	C
tl;dr Pokemon Cafe ReMix is a touchscreen-only free-to-play Unlimited Pattern Puzzle game where players slosh around Pokemon characters to try to link them up to meet specific goals in each puzzle. The presentation here is very appealing, but the gameplay is shallow and lacking in skill. It’s a decent time-waster, but not a game you’ll likely get hooked by.
Princess Bubble Story	Match-3 Puzzle	C
tl;dr Princess Bubble Story is a Match-3 Puzzle game that’s clearly copying the Puzzle Bobble formula of aiming multicolored bubbles at bubbles hanging above to try to match them and clear them. However, while this game lacks originality, it’s a pretty good take on this formula, albeit a pretty easy one – this isn’t a game to get if you’re looking for a challenge. However, for younger and more casual Puzzle fans (particularly those who like princesses), this is a good choice, especially if you can get the game on sale.
Yum Yum Line	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Yum Yum Line is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players move colored tiles to try to make rows or columns of at least 5, trying to clear as many as they can before the game board gets clogged up. It’s an okay time-waster, but it’s too shallow and random to be anything more than that, and it’s overpriced too. It’s not horrible, but Nintendo Switch owners have numerous better options.
Balance Blox	Match-3 Falling Block Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Balance Blox is a Puzzle game of the standard “match 3” variety, but here you have to watch the way the stage is balanced as you place blocks. It’s an interesting concept, but one that adds more frustration and tedium than fun, and there’s little else here to keep you interested.
Bubble Cats Rescue	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Bubble Cats Rescue is a knockoff of the classic Puzzle game Bust-A-Move AKA Puzzle Bobble, but with a worse presentation, worse controls, and fewer options. It’s still a passable Puzzle game, and it’s cheaper than the Puzzle Bobble games available on the eShop, but you get what you pay for.
Bubble Shooter DX	Match-3 Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Bubble Shooter DX is a Puzzle game where you shoot colored bubbles at other bubbles to match them and clear them. It’s basically a generic Puzzle Bobble game, but it’s lacking multiplayer mode, stage music, and any semblance of a personality. If you really want a game like this, you’re better off getting one of the ACA Neo Geo Puzzle Bobble games.
Christmas Puzzle Story	Match-3 Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Christmas Puzzle Story is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle game where players drop Christmas-themed items into the play field hoping to get items of the same kind to touch each other, combining into bigger ones. This game is clearly copying Suika Game’s formula, and apart from local multiplayer it adds nothing, while playing worse and costing a lot more. You’re better off just going with the original Suika Game, or one of countless other clones.
Crystal Crisis	Match-3 Falling Block Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Crystal Crisis is a Puzzle game that has some similarities to Puyo Puyo and Super Puzzle Fighter, but while it has some nice graphics, the gameplay relies too much on luck and the loading screens between matches are absolutely absurd.
Gems of Magic: Lost Family	Match-3 Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Gems of Magic: Lost Family is a family-friendly Match-3 Puzzle game that’s basically an uninspired knockoff of Bejeweled, lacking in any interesting features or gameplay elements. As such, there’s no reason to play this over countless better takes on this exact same gameplay formula on Nintendo Switch.
Gunhouse	Falling Block Puzzle / Tower Defense	C-
tl;dr Gunhouse is a game that combines Falling Block Puzzle and Tower Defense elements, but the result is a chaotic mess where you’re constantly being pushed to do things that are non-intuitive. It’s an interesting experiment in gameplay, to be sure. It’s just not an experiment that works.
Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa	Visual Novel / Match-3 Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Kotodama is a game that combines Visual Novel and Match-3 Puzzle game elements, with a story about a transfer student getting wrapped up in a search for answers to their new school’s mysteries. The presentation here is good, but everything else about this game is an indecisive mess of various elements that don’t mesh together well at all, and as a result nothing here is done very well. While not a terrible game, you’re better off going with another game in whichever genre most interested you about this game’s cobbled-together pieces.
My Downtown	Match-3 Puzzle	C-
tl;dr My Downtown is a Match-3 Puzzle game that’s pretty much just another take on the Bejeweled formula. There’s some pretense of there being a Management Simulation-style city builder between levels, but this doesn’t appear to have any bearing on the gameplay and serves no real purpose as far as I can tell. Add to this poor gamepad controls (but decent touchscreen controls) and an underwhelming mobile-style presentation, and you have a decent but mediocre Bejeweled clone that may satisfy players looking for something like that, but won’t do much more than that.
Numolition	Match-2 Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Numolition is a Match-2 Puzzle game where players destroy numbered boxes by matching 2 or more of them, or combine them to add up their numbers. The core gameplay concept here has some good potential, but the disappointingly restrictive gameplay modes and terrible controls keep it from ever reaching that potential. While this game is not without its merits, if you’re looking for a good Puzzle game, I recommend you look elsewhere.
Storm Tale	Match-3 Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Storm Tale is a Match-3 Puzzle game similar to Bejeweled, and while the core gameplay here is good, it’s marred by buggy controls, an ugly presentation, a lack of anything noteworthy to set it apart from the crowd, and luck playing far too major a role in the gameplay. You have better options than this on Nintendo Switch.
Zumatch	Match-3 Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Zumatch is a Match-3 Puzzle game that is both a blatant clone of Zuma and an asset flip. While it doesn’t have any absolute game-breaking flaws, it does have countless smaller ones that make it an overall less-satisfying experience, and you’re far better off going for some of the better Zuma clones on the Nintendo Switch.
5 in 1 Classics: Fashion Bubble Mania	Compilation / Arcade / Match-3 Puzzle	D
tl;dr 5 in 1 Classics: Fashion Bubble Mania is a Compilation containing three bad knock-offs of the classic Arcade game Qix, and two mediocre knockoffs of the classic Match-3 Puzzle Bust-A-Move AKA Puzzle Bobble. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the price of this Compilation is insultingly high, and this publisher has put out another more comprehensive collection at the same price. Do not buy this bundle, it is a rip-off.
Asobu Tights	Match-3 Puzzle	D
tl;dr Asobu Tights is a Match-3 Puzzle game with pervy anime art based on a web series, and nothing this game does makes it worth spending money on – the gameplay is a poor-man’s take on Bejeweled, the unlockable videos make the file size too big despite that they’re freely available on YouTube, and the ecchi elements make this game creepy and awkward without going far enough to make it enticing, with all of this in a package that’s priced at an insulting $21. Don’t buy this game – save your money and either watch the YouTube series or play another bad puzzle game instead.
BraveMatch	Match-3 Puzzle	D
tl;dr BraveMatch is a Match-3 Puzzle game that takes inspiration from Puzzle Quest and Grindstone, but does absolutely nothing to build on that inspiration. This game is only playable in handheld mode with the touchscreen, the presentation is lacking, and the gameplay is shallow, with dumb enemy AI and easy upgrades that make the game easily beaten in a half an hour, and after that, there’s nothing else to do here. Do not waste money on this game.
Candivity	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Candivity is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle game where players drop sweet treats into the play field hoping to get sweets of the same kind to touch each other, combining into bigger sweets. This game is clearly copying Suika Game’s formula, and while it tries adding things to the formula, just about everything this game does fails in its execution. You’re better off just going with the original Suika Game, or one of countless other clones.
Candy 2048 Challenge	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Candy 2048 Challenge is a Puzzle game that takes the well-worn 2048 puzzle, adds a candy theme, and… not much else. This is an absurdly bare-bones take on this well-established game formula, and absurdly overpriced too. Do not get this.
Endless Puzzle Fun Collection	Compilation / Puzzle	D
tl;dr Endless Puzzle Fun Collection is a Compilation of two family-friendly Puzzle games: Candy 2048 Challenge and Yum Yum Line. Both are extremely simple, shallow Puzzle games, and this bundle barely saves you anything on their bloated, way too high prices. Do not buy this.
Hope’s Farm	Match-3 Puzzle / Management Sim	D
tl;dr Hope’s Farm is a Match-3 Puzzle Game with Management Simulation elements that is very clearly a lazy mobile port, with terrible controls due to a lack of proper optimization on Nintendo Switch, and clear signs that this was a game originally designed around a microtransaction model. The Puzzle gameplay is uninspired, and the Management Sim elements are so simple that all they manage to do is to interrupt the Puzzle gameplay. There are better games in both genres on Nintendo Switch, don’t bother with this one.
Jewel Rotation	Match-4 Puzzle	D
tl;dr Jewel Rotation is a Puzzle game that has you rotating concentric rings of jewels in a square playfield to match four in a row. Unfortunately, the game’s look is generic, its controls are terrible, and the gameplay is boring. This game isn’t worth your time or money.
Marble Power Blast	Match-3 Puzzle	D
tl;dr Marble Power Blast is a terrible knockoff of Zuma that manages to mess up a formula that’s over 15 years old, with absolutely terrible controls, and a loss of a lot of what made Zuma special. Don’t get this game, even if you’re craving Zuma on your switch. Wait for the real deal, or at least a better knockoff.
Space Blast Zom A Matching Game	Match-3 Puzzle	D
tl;dr Space Blast is a terrible knockoff of Zuma that manages to mess up a formula that’s over 15 years old, with absolutely terrible controls, and a loss of a lot of what made Zuma special. Don’t get this game, even if you’re craving Zuma on your switch. Wait for the real deal, or at least a better knockoff.
Zumba Blitz	Match-3 Puzzle	D
tl;dr Zumba Blitz is a Match-3 Puzzle game which, like its predecessors, is clearly copying the Zuma formula. Unfortunately, while the previous games were some of the best games of this kind to hit the Nintendo eShop, Zumba Blitz is one of its absolute worst, with ugly, slapped-together visuals and inexplicably poorly-designed gameplay. I do not know how a game this poorly-conceived and poorly-made can release just a few months after one of the best games of its kind, all within the same series. However, whatever the reason, make it a point not to get this game – you are far, far better off getting one of the other games in this series.
Frutakia 2	Match-3 Puzzle	D-
tl;dr Frutakia 2 is a match-3 Puzzle game that has players moving columns of symbols on a slot machine to make matches. Unfortunately, the gameplay is so random that players will feel like they have little control over what happens, the control options here are all flawed, and the game’s sound effects don’t fit the game’s theme. This game isn’t worth bothering with.
Zumba Royal Marble Shooter Mania	Match-3 Puzzle	F
tl;dr Zumba Royal is a Match-3 Puzzle game that’s once again copying the gameplay of Zuma, but here it does so extremely poorly, having numerous flaws but chief among them is having terrible aiming that makes it far too difficult to gauge where your shots will land, and multiple colors that are far too similar to each other. There are multiple better Zumba games on Nintendo Switch, do not waste your money on this one.

Puzzle (Hidden Object)

Game	Genre	Grade
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.
Hidden Through Time	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Hidden Through Time is a hidden objects-style Puzzle game that’s reminiscent of Where’s Waldo, with a few clever additions to the formula, including the ability to create and share your own puzzles. There are definitely areas where even more could have been done to make this game even better, but overall this game succeeds very well at what it’s aiming to do.
Hidden Cats in Rio de Janeiro	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Hidden Cats in Rio de Janeiro is a family-friendly hidden object-style Puzzle game where players try to uncover the 900+ hidden cats and other objects within a contemporary Rio de Janeiro setting. Mechanically this game works pretty well, and mostly this is a good but unspectacular take on the genre that should be well worth its $4 price tag for players who enjoy this style of game.
Cats and Seek: Kyoto	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Cats and Seek: Kyoto is a family-friendly hidden object-style Puzzle game where players try to uncover various hidden cats, puzzle pieces, and other things in a pair of cartoony Kyoto-based scenes. The gameplay here is one of the better Hidden Object games, but there’s nothing truly extraordinary here, and the game is extremely short. Still, for only a few bucks, this may be worth a look for fans of the genre.
Crowded Mysteries	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Crowded Mysteries is a Where’s Waldo-style “find the hidden object” Puzzle Game where players are tracking down events in the timeline of various crimes that happened in a section of a city. This game’s concept is great, and it has a wonderful charm to it, but the execution makes it harder to find what you’re looking for with its monochrome visuals, and doesn’t let you mark things you find that you know you’ll be looking for later. Overall, this is still an enjoyable game, but it feels like it could have been much better.
Death Coming	Puzzle / Simulation	C+
tl;dr Death Coming is a Puzzle / Simulation game where you’re looking through what is basically a moving Where’s Waldo scene, trying to find the best ways to manipulate the environment to cause a massive number of people to die. It’s a fun idea, but it’s limited by the fact that you’re looking for things to do rather than actively being creative.
Hidden Cat Outlaws	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Hidden Cat Outlaws is a family-friendly hidden object-style Puzzle game where players try to uncover the 600+ hidden cats within a Wild West setting. There’s a nice presentation here, and a quirky “boss battle” minigame, but mostly this is a decent but unspectacular take on the genre that should be worth its $3 price tag for players who enjoy this style of game.
Hidden Cats in Tokyo	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Hidden Cats in Tokyo is a family-friendly hidden object-style Puzzle game where players try to uncover the 1700+ hidden cats and other objects within a contemporary Tokyo setting. Mechanically this game works pretty well, but mostly this is a decent but unspectacular take on the genre that should be worth its $6 price tag for players who enjoy this style of game.
Hidden Kittens: Kingdom of Cats	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Hidden Kittens is a family-friendly hidden object-style Puzzle game where players try to uncover the 350+ hidden kittens within a medieval fantasy setting. There are some nice features here that overall make this a good take on this style of Puzzle game, but there’s nothing really exemplary or transformative that’s going to make this appeal to anyone who isn’t already looking for a hidden object game. But if you do like this sort of game, I think you’ll be pleased with what’s here.
Tiny Lands	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Tiny Lands is a family-friendly “spot the differences”-style Puzzle game where players scrutinize pairs of 3D dioramas looking for differences. The graphics are somewhat simple, but the sound design is wonderfully calm and relaxing. The camera is not as interactive as one would like, but it’s sufficient. Beyond that… this is a decent but largely unremarkable “spot the differences” game.
Under Leaves	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Under Leaves is a family-friendly “find the hidden object”-style game, and while its simplicity makes it a game best suited for young children, the wonderful presentation with soothing soundscapes is something I think people of any age can appreciate. Or at least, they can appreciate it as long as they don’t pay full price for this game – for a few bucks, this is a lovely, simple experience, but it’s not a game I’d say is worth the full $13.
A Building Full of Cats	Puzzle	C
tl;dr A Building Full of Cats is a Hidden Object-style Puzzle Game that has you searching line art of various rooms in a building for hidden cats. There’s some nice artwork and a few good gameplay ideas here, but the game is made far worse than it could have been due to an inadequate zoom feature and a broken hint system. It’s not terrible, but it definitely feels like it’s worse than it had to be.
A Castle Full of Cats	Puzzle	C
tl;dr A Castle Full of Cats is a Hidden Object-style Puzzle Game that has you searching line art of various rooms in a castle for cats that have been cursed to turn into other creatures. There’s some nice artwork and a few good gameplay ideas here, but the theming definitely feels less enticing than the previous game, and the choice to have players search for cats that aren’t quite cats leads to a lot of frustrating trial and error. It’s not a terrible Hidden Object game, but it’s far from a great one.
Cozy Hunt	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Cozy Hunt is a family-friendly “find the hidden objects”-style Puzzle game that’s clearly intended for young children. To that end, it gets the job done, but isn’t anything special or noteworthy.
Summer Paws	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Summer Paws is a hidden object-style Puzzle game where players are searching 3D islands for sleeping cats and seashells in among a growing population of cats. The presentation here is nice, and the amount of interactivity is wonderful, but the controls are absolutely terrible, and the zoom function is inadequate. The result is a game that’s far too frustrating to hit the “cozy” target it aims for.
Crime O’Clock	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Crime O’Clock is a Where’s Waldo-style “find the hidden object” Puzzle Game where players are tracking down events in the timeline of various crimes that happened in a section of a city. This game’s concept is great, but terrible gamepad controls and the poor way this game handles how it conveys information to players makes this one fall flat in its execution. I recommend checking out Crowded Mysteries instead – it has a similar premise, but a much better execution.
Hidden Paws	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Hidden Paws is a hidden object-style Puzzle game where players try to uncover the 120+ hidden cats within a snowy 3D setting. The presentation is lovely, but this game is absolutely ruined by terrible controls that make this game a real pain to play. You have plenty of other better options in this genre.
Hidden Bunny	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Hidden Bunny is a family-friendly “Hidden Object”-style Puzzle game where players search for all of the bunnies (or another designated object) within a set scene. Unfortunately, this game seems shoddily-constructed, and with only one location it will get old very quickly, even for the small children who are likely the only ones who will appreciate this game.
Hidden Folks	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Hidden Folks is a family-friendly hidden object-style Puzzle game where players try to uncover 300+ hidden objects within 32 different scenes. While the sound design here is adorable and the game has decent gamepad and touchscreen controls, just about everything else here is terrible. Ugly and unhelpful graphics, frustrating aimless game design, and a frequently useless hint system all add up to a gameplay experience that just is not fun and can’t compare to numerous other games in this style on Nintendo Switch.
Where is Drake?	Puzzle	D-
tl;dr Where is Drake? is a Where’s Waldo-style Puzzle game about finding an eyepatch-wearing pirate in various scenes, and it seems to want to be some sort of subversive Horror experience too, but it fails at just about everything. The game design is wildly inconsistent to the point where it doesn’t work as a Puzzle game, the controls are terrible, it’s not scary enough to be a Horror game, and while some may find its odd, offbeat nature appealing, most players are much better off staying away from this one.

Puzzle (Jigsaw)

Game	Genre	Grade
Puzzle Galaxy	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Puzzle Galaxy is a family-friendly free-to-play Jigsaw Puzzle game with some good art (the photographic stuff, at least), a calming soundtrack, good controls, and the monetization is really quite reasonable. There are a few flaws here and there, namely limitations that prevent you from playing the way you may want. However, for the free price tag, this is definitely worth a look, especially if you crave a decent Jigsaw Puzzle game on Nintendo Switch.
#womenUp, Super Puzzles Dream	Falling Block Puzzle	C+
tl;dr WomenUp is a Puzzle game that combines Falling Block Puzzles with jigsaw Puzzles to make for some pretty good gameplay. It’s a shame that the presentation is so lacking, and an even bigger shame that this game doesn’t capitalize on its full potential, but even with these flaws, this is still a decent inexpensive Puzzle game well worth a look.
Mosaic Chronicles Deluxe	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Mosaic Chronicles is a Jigsaw Puzzle-style game that has players piecing together stained glass-esque mosaics and unlocking more of that image’s story. The artwork here is wonderful, but this game balances out its good qualities with absolutely abysmal controls that will cause tons of unnecessary frustration. The result is a game I would have difficulty recommending.
Beautiful Ukraine	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Beautiful Ukraine is a family-friendly Jigsaw Puzzle game produced in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with all profits to be donated to charities to help the country’s displaced people. While this game may be worth getting to support a good cause, the game itself is lacking in a few key areas. The presentation and the puzzles’ photographs here are quite good, but the lack of options and the way the game essentially cheats in the player’s favor both left me disappointed.
Daylife in Japan – Pixel Art Jigsaw Puzzle	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Daylife in Japan is a Jigsaw Puzzle game that has players piecing together five animated pixel art images. It’s an interesting concept, but one that ultimately doesn’t work very well due to terrible controls and lacking options. Unless you are a die-hard Jigsaw Puzzle fan, this game is just going to frustrate you (and even then, I’d wager).
Glass Masquerade	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Glass Masquerade is a puzzle game that has you piecing together absolutely gorgeous stained glass clock faces much like you would work on a jigsaw puzzle. Unfortunately the controls are absolutely atrocious and ruin the whole experience.
Om Nom: Coloring, Toons & Puzzle	Compilation / Art Application / Jigsaw Puzzle / Misc.	C-
tl;dr Om Nom: Coloring, Toons & Puzzle is a game containing a coloring book Art Application, a Jigsaw Puzzle, a simple connect-the-dots game, and a collection of short videos, all featuring the Om Nom character from the Cut the Rope game franchise. Unfortunately, everything in this package skews heavily toward very young kids, which wouldn’t be so much a problem if the game wasn’t filled with some pretty gross microtransaction grabs for your wallet. The result is something that’s difficult for me to recommend, even for those wanting something for very young kids.
Glass Masquerade 2: Illusions	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Glass Masquerade 2, like its predecessor, is a Puzzle game that has you piecing together gorgeous stained glass artwork like a jigsaw puzzle. Unfortunately, like the first game, the controls are absolutely atrocious and ruin the whole experience, and this game makes things worse with dark and complex visuals that make the puzzles harder to see, and inane “story” that slows down the gameplay. Do not play this game unless you absolutely loved the first one and are desperate for more.
Glass Masquerade Double Pack	Compilation / Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Glass Masquerade Double Pack combines the two Glass Masquerade Puzzle games into one package, but does little to make buying them together all that worthwhile, especially given the major control issues both of these games have. It’s a shame too, because the presentation of the puzzles is excellent. However, if you’re curious to try them, you’re definitely better off just getting the first game on its own to try it, or snagging it in Indie Puzzle Bundle Vol. 1. Don’t bother with this bundle.
Jigsaw Fun: Piece It Together!	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Jigsaw Fun: Piece It Together! is a Jigsaw Puzzle game with plenty of nice-looking puzzles to work on, but it is utterly destroyed by terrible menu controls as well as terrible cursor controls that split the difference between playing using traditional gamepad controls and the touchscreen, resulting in neither of those working all that well. Play a different Jigsaw Puzzle game instead.
Jigsaw Fun: Amazing Animals	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Jigsaw Fun: Amazing Animals is a Jigsaw Puzzle game that has players piecing together 100 puzzles with an animal theme. Unfortunately, this game controls extremely poorly, and the zoom function is so broken that puzzles with higher numbers of pieces are nearly unplayable. If you want a fun Jigsaw Puzzle game, look elsewhere.
Puzzle Book	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Puzzle Book is a game that has you constructing one of 34 jigsaw puzzles. Unfortunately, this game is seriously lacking in options and severely limits the player to the point of killing any fun this sort of game can offer, and it is so content-poor that it’s not even worth its low price tag.
DreamGallery	Puzzle	D-
tl;dr DreamGallery is a Puzzle game that has you piecing together photographs of Chinese women in traditional dress, while in a Chinese garden. The photos themselves are very nice, though they lack variety. However, this game is flawed in countless other ways, including terrible controls, faulty menus, terribly lacking options, and a severe lack of content. And what’s more, the game’s default language is Chinese, forcing English-speaking players to muddle through until they can find the English-language option. For all but the most diehard fans of jigsaw puzzles and Chinese culture, this is a game not worth playing.
Jigsaw Finale	Puzzle	F
tl;dr Jigsaw Finale is a Jigsaw Puzzle game that is an absolute mess of a game, with no sound, amateurish menu design, controls that are horrible in bizarre ways like the creator never even played a videogame before, no touchscreen controls, gameplay that feels closer to a tile-swapping Puzzle than a Jigsaw Puzzle… there is so much wrong here, you should avoid this game at all costs.
Jigsaw Masterpieces	Puzzle	F
tl;dr Jigsaw Masterpieces is a Jigsaw Puzzle game that only comes with three puzzles, pushing players to spend more to get more puzzles, at a rate that’s far worse than competing titles, all in a game with terrible music and a lack of a zoom function. Don’t bother with this rip-off of a Jigsaw Puzzle game, there are plenty of better options for you in this genre on Nintendo Switch.

Puzzle (Numberlink)

Game	Genre	Grade
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.
Block-A-Pix Deluxe	Numberlink-style Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Block-A-Pix Deluxe is a nice, easygoing, bite-size puzzle game where you expand blocks to fill the screen and build a picture. It doesn’t do anything especially impressive, but it works as a nice time-waster.
Link-A-Pix Deluxe	Numberlink Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Link-A-Pix Deluxe is a Numberlink Puzzle game with the same retro-style presentation as other games in the ___-A-Pix series. If that sounds good to you, you’ll probably find this to be a solid entry in the genre, albeit one without any surprises, good or bad.
Lines Infinite	Numberlink Puzzle	C
tl;dr Lines Infinite is a Puzzle game that has you filling a grid by matching like-colored dots with lines. It has a nice, minimalist presentation, but is lacking options. It’s okay, but largely unspectacular.
Lines X	Numberlink Puzzle	C
tl;dr Lines X is a Puzzle game that has you filling a grid by matching like-colored dots with lines. It has a nice, minimalist presentation, but is lacking options. It’s okay, but largely unspectacular.
Lines XL	Numberlink Puzzle	C
tl;dr Lines XL is a Numberlink Puzzle game that has you filling a grid by matching like-colored dots with lines. It has a massive 500 puzzles to solve, topping all earlier games in the series combined (unless you count Lines Infinite’s infinite number of procedurally-generated puzzles), as well as a nice, minimalist presentation. However, it is lacking options, even more than prior entries in the series. It’s okay, but largely unspectacular.
Flowlines VS	Numberlink Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Flowlines VS is a Puzzle game that has you connecting dots of the same color with lines and trying to cover the entire field with them, and unlike the Piczle games, there’s even a multiplayer competitive mode. Unfortunately, the hexagon-based grid makes for problems when making moves, and overall the game just doesn’t work as well as the Piczle games. If you’re looking to try this sort of game, stick with one of those, not this one.
Colorfall	Numberlink Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Colorfall is a Numberlink Puzzle game that aims to present the dots you’re joining as waterfalls of color… though they look more like static pillars. It hardly matters though, because the gamepad controls here are so broken that the only viable way to play the game is using the touchscreen, and even then this is a sub-par entry in the genre. You have plenty of other Numberlink games on Nintendo Switch to choose from – get one of those instead.

Puzzle (Picross)

Game	Genre	Grade
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Picross S6	Picross Puzzle	B
tl;dr Picross S6 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.
Piczle Cross Adventure	Picross Puzzle	B
tl;dr Piczle Cross Adventure is a solid Picross Puzzle game that doesn’t do anything extraordinary for the genre, but nevertheless features well-crafted gameplay for the genre, with the only major flaw here being the lack of touchscreen support. Otherwise, this is an excellent entry in the genre.
Depixtion	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Depixtion is a Picross Puzzle game where players complete three puzzles for each picture, one for each primary color. This results in some nice looking pictures, as well as a few subtle gameplay benefits. It’s not perfect – the music gets repetitive and the controls feel a bit awkward, with no touchscreen support whatsoever. But overall, this is a solid Picross game.
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.
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.
Pic-A-Pix Deluxe	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Pic-A-Pix Deluxe is a nice, easygoing, bite-size puzzle game that’s basically Picross with multiple colors. It doesn’t do anything especially impressive, but it works as a nice time-waster.
Pic-A-Pix Pieces	Picross Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Pic-A-Pix Pieces is a nice, easygoing, bite-size puzzle game that’s basically Picross with multiple colors, with the puzzles combining to make a larger picture (as opposed to Pic-A-Pic Deluxe’s individual pictures). It doesn’t do anything especially impressive, but it works as a nice time-waster.
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	Picross 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.
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.
Pictooi	Picross Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Pictooi is a Picross Puzzle game with 180 “Classic” Puzzles, as well as 120 “Diorama” Puzzles featuring images of other games by developer Atooi. While this is a competent Picross game, it is lacking in numerous areas when compared to other Picross games on the Nintendo Switch, like the Picross S series, with less content, fewer options and features, and a much greater demand for file space. As such, I can’t recommend this game – you have far too many better options on Nintendo Switch.
Picture Painting Puzzle 1000!	Picross Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Picture Painting Puzzle 1000! is a Picross Puzzle game that has, yes, 1000 puzzles. Beyond that, it has a nice, clear visual presentation and good controls… it’s just a shame the game lacks any way to check for mistakes, and the audio is atrocious. Still, if you can tolerate those flaws, there’s a lot of value in this package for picross fans.
Qube Qross	Picross-style Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Qube Qross is a Puzzle game that plays somewhat like 3D Picross, though it sadly isn’t as elegant and well-designed as Nintendo’s own Picross 3D franchise, and the game is overall far too easy. Still, this should make for a decent time-waster for puzzle fans looking for something easy and relaxed.
Travel Mosaics 4: Adventures in Rio	Picross Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Travel Mosaics 4, 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. In addition, this time around, it’s inexplicably more expensive despite containing the same amount of content. Don’t bother with this game unless you played Travel Mosaics 1-3 and don’t mind paying more money for more of the same.
Travel Mosaics 5: Waltzing Vienna	Picross Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Travel Mosaics 5, 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. In addition, this time around, it’s inexplicably more expensive despite containing the same amount of content. Don’t bother with this game unless you played Travel Mosaics 1-3 and don’t mind paying more money for more of the same.
Travel Mosaics 6: Christmas Around the World	Picross Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Travel Mosaics 6, 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. In addition, this time around, it’s inexplicably more expensive despite containing the same amount of content. Don’t bother with this game unless you played Travel Mosaics 1-3 and don’t mind paying more money for more of the same.
Indie Gems Bundle – Nonograms Edition	Compilation / Picross Puzzle	C
tl;dr Indie Gems Bundle – Nonograms Edition is a compilation of PictoQuest and Piczle Cross Adventure, two Picross Puzzle games. However, Piczle Cross Adventure is clearly the better game of the two, and you’re not saving much money by getting this bundle. I’d recommend just getting Piczle Cross Adventure on its own and skipping this bundle.
Picross: Lord of the Nazarick	Picross Puzzle	C
tl;dr Picross: Lord of the Nazarick is a Picross Puzzle game with the world and characters of the Overlord anime. Unfortunately, the game does a poor job acquainting those new to the Overlord franchise with its story, and the actual gameplay has numerous flaws. Unless you’re a fan of the anime, stick with one of the many other Picross games on the Switch.
Travel Mosaics 7: Fantastic Berlin	Picross Puzzle	C
tl;dr Travel Mosaics 7, 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. In addition, this time around, it’s nearly twice as expensive despite containing the same amount of content. Don’t bother with this game unless you played Travel Mosaics 1-3 and don’t mind paying more money for more of the same.
PictoQuest	Picross Puzzle	C-
tl;dr PictoQuest is a take on Picross that presents itself like an RPG. Unfortunately, the challenge level is wildly inconsistent, and with so many other Picross options on the Switch, it’s hard to recommend this one.
Nono Adventure	Picross Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Nono Adventure is a Picross Puzzle game with 300 puzzles as well as a “Random” mode that procedurally generates a potentially limitless number of puzzles for players to solve. Unfortunately, this game’s less than ideal controls, lacking features, and puzzle design that can punish players for answering correctly make for a game that just can’t compete with the numerous other entries in this genre on Nintendo Switch.
Nonograms Prophecy	Picross Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Nonograms Prophecy is a Picross Puzzle game with an Ancient Greek mythology theme. Unfortunately, this game is broken in numerous ways – the color picross puzzles are too difficult to see, the game is missing basic features that are standard for the genre, and some puzzles straight-up won’t let you finish them unless you can figure out the way the game wants them completed. Even with its low price tag, this game is not worth it, especially with so many better games in the genre on the Nintendo Switch.

Puzzle (Sudoku)

Game	Genre	Grade
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.
Kakuro Magic	Sudoku-style Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Kakuro Magic is a Puzzle game that combines elements of Sudoku and Picross. While it’s not quite as compelling as either of those types of puzzles, this game makes up for that somewhat with a fantastic presentation. It’s just a shame a few small flaws mar an otherwise excellent package. Still worth a look for fans of Puzzle games.
Number Place 10000	Sudoku Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Number Place 10000 is a Sudoku Puzzle game that has, yes, 10000 puzzles. This is an incredibly good value, and the presentation here is pretty good… but this game completely fails when it comes to players’ ability to make notes, which has some really poor controls here and is extremely limited in implementation. As a result, despite the value, it’s hard to give this game the glowing recommendation it would get without these flaws.
Sudoku Classic	Sudoku Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Sudoku Classic is a Sudoku game from G-Mode, the makers of the Sudoku Relax series. This game addresses many of the long-standing issues I had with that series, though it introduces multiple new ones – namely, a clunky and confusing menu interface and visuals that make the puzzles harder to see. On balance, it’s still better than the prior games, and one of the better Sudoku games on the Nintendo Switch, but it still has a lot of problems keeping it from being as good as it could be.
Sudoku Universe	Sudoku Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Sudoku Universe is a Sudoku Puzzle game with 200 traditional puzzles, 100 “Sudoku Jigsaw” puzzles, and 100 puzzles in the superb “Sudoku Killer” mode. This game has plenty of options, a good presentation, and would be the ideal Sudoku game if the controls weren’t so awkward and frustrating, and if the game wasn’t missing a “check” feature. If you can tolerate a little frustration, this may still be worth checking out though.
Sudoky	Sudoku Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Sudoky is a Sudoku Puzzle game with 300 built-in puzzles, as well as the ability to generate random puzzles in three difficulty levels. The basic mechanics here are mostly pretty good, and it’s hard to complain about the potentially infinite amount of content, but Sudoky is also bare-bones and feature-poor, lacking basic features like touchscreen support and time records. Still, for fans of sudoku puzzles, this is definitely a game you’ll want to play after you’ve finished the other more feature-rich sudoku games in your collection.
Sudoku Relax	Sudoku Puzzle	C
tl;dr Sudoku Relax, like the other games in the series, is a Sudoku Puzzle game with 300 unique puzzles and a slightly-different presentation (this game’s is green). This game has some of the best controls of any videogame Sudoku game I’ve played, but unfortunately it also automates so much of the process that it feels like playing the game with training wheels on. The result is a game that’s perfect for beginners, but veteran Sudoku players will feel like the game completely lacks a challenge.
Sudoku Relax 2: Summer Waves	Sudoku Puzzle	C
tl;dr Sudoku Relax 2, like the other games in the series, is a Sudoku Puzzle game with 300 unique puzzles and a slightly-different presentation (this game’s is blue). This game has some of the best controls of any videogame Sudoku game I’ve played, but unfortunately it also automates so much of the process that it feels like playing the game with training wheels on. The result is a game that’s perfect for beginners, but veteran Sudoku players will feel like the game completely lacks a challenge.
Sudoku Relax 3: Autumn Leaves	Sudoku Puzzle	C
tl;dr Sudoku Relax 3, like the other games in the series, is a Sudoku Puzzle game with 300 unique puzzles and a slightly-different presentation (this game’s is orange). This game has some of the best controls of any videogame Sudoku game I’ve played, but unfortunately it also automates so much of the process that it feels like playing the game with training wheels on. The result is a game that’s perfect for beginners, but veteran Sudoku players will feel like the game completely lacks a challenge.
Sudoku Relax 4: Winter Snow	Sudoku Puzzle	C
tl;dr Sudoku Relax 4, like the other games in the series, is a Sudoku Puzzle game with 300 unique puzzles and a slightly-different presentation (this game’s is light blue/violet). This game has some of the best controls of any videogame Sudoku game I’ve played, but unfortunately it also automates so much of the process that it feels like playing the game with training wheels on. The result is a game that’s perfect for beginners, but veteran Sudoku players will feel like the game completely lacks a challenge.
Sudoku Relax 5: Full Bloom	Sudoku Puzzle	C
tl;dr Sudoku Relax 5, like the other games in the series, is a Sudoku Puzzle game with 300 unique puzzles and a slightly-different presentation (this game’s is light pink/purple). This game has some of the best controls of any videogame Sudoku game I’ve played, but unfortunately it also automates so much of the process that it feels like playing the game with training wheels on. The result is a game that’s perfect for beginners, but veteran Sudoku players will feel like the game completely lacks a challenge.
Suguru Nature	Sudoku-Style Puzzle	C
tl;dr Suguru Nature is a Puzzle game that’s similar to Sudoku, but with different rules that has you focusing on ensuring no two adjacent squares have the same number. It’s a compelling puzzle game, but it’s sorely lacking features and overpriced. If you enjoy a Sudoku-style puzzle this game may be worth trying out, but don’t expect much.
#1 Sudokus	Sudoku Puzzle	C-
tl;dr #1 Sudokus is a Sudoku Puzzle game that may claim to be #1, offering 243 puzzles for $4 and including a few nice features like optional touchscreen controls. However, ultimately this game is not even a contender for best Sudoku game on the platform. With distracting visuals, lacking options, and gameplay that often feels like the game is solving the puzzles for you, this Sudoku game is simply a disappointment.
Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch	Puzzle / Sudoku Puzzle / Misc.	C-
tl;dr Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch is the latest game in the Brain Age series, and as of this writing it is not available in the United States. We’re not missing out on much. While the version of sudoku included here has possibly the best interface a videogame version of the game has ever had, it’s content-poor, feature-poor, and surrounded by a bunch of tedious grade school homework the game forces you to play through to unlock what little fun content there is here. There’s fun content buried in this package, but it’s not worth shoveling through the mountain of crap to get to it.
Sudoku Master	Sudoku Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Sudoku Master is a $3 Sudoku Puzzle game with randomly-generated puzzles making for potentially infinite gameplay to occupy your time on the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, this great value is severely hampered by the game only being playable in handheld mode, and a terrible presentation that makes the puzzles themselves even smaller than they need to be, with teenie-tiny text and minuscule on-screen buttons. If you have sharp eyes, tiny fingers, and a desire to only play in handheld mode, this version of Sudoku may entice you, but otherwise its flaws are far too severe to make it worth even its low price.
Grandmaster Sudoku	Sudoku Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Grandmaster Sudoku is a Sudoku Puzzle game that was clearly made using Unity Asset Store assets, and even if that doesn’t bother you, the bad button layout, the lacking presentation, the inability to play this game docked, and the lack of pretty standard options like a difficulty selection, all make for a game that’s a pretty bad take on the genre.
The Number Puzzle	Sudoku Puzzle	D+
tl;dr The Number Puzzle is a version of the classic puzzle game Sudoku. It has a few unique and interesting game modes, but it also unfortunately has a joyless presentation and messes up some of the basic fundamentals of the game. If you want Sudoku on the Nintendo Switch, you have multiple better options.
Word Sudoku by POWGI	Sudoku Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Word Sudoku is a Sudoku Puzzle game that swaps out the numbers for letters (though players can use numbers instead if they prefer). The game has 240 puzzles, and it suffers from frustrating and tedious controls, bland visuals, and terrible music you’ll want to mute. If you want Sudoku on the Switch, you have better options.

First-Person Puzzle

Game	Genre	Grade
Portal Companion Collection	Compilation / First-Person Platformer / Puzzle	A+
tl;dr Portal Companion Collection is a Compilation of the physics-based First-Person Platformer / Puzzle games Portal and Portal 2. These are two of the greatest games ever made, and this is a pretty comprehensive port with performance that makes it the best console release these games have ever seen. This is an outstanding package, and its outstanding price of $20 makes it a game that you should absolutely add to your collection if you don’t own it already… and perhaps even if you do.
The Talos Principle: Deluxe Edition	First-Person Puzzle	A
tl;dr The Talos Principle is a First-Person Puzzle that has players pointing jamming devices at electronic gates and gun turrets while contemplating the meaning of existence. While the quiet, contemplative, philosophical plot may not appeal to quite as many players as Portal’s humor and wit, those who can appreciate it will find this game’s story to be highly engrossing. And pretty much anyone who can enjoy a really good puzzle will find this game’s puzzles to be some of the best to be found in this sort of game. What’s more, this is a solid port to the Switch, and a game perfectly-suited to the platform. If you’re a fan of Puzzle games who doesn’t already own this game on another platform, consider this a must-have.
Manifold Garden	First-Person Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Manifold Garden is a beautifully sparse First-Person Puzzle game where players can re-orient gravity and fall through infinitely-repeating areas to reach their goals. It can be frustrating at times when it’s unclear just where those goals are, and the reality-warping nature of the game may confuse some players, but those looking for an inspired Puzzle game that will make you rethink how you perceive reality will find plenty to love here.
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 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.
The Spectrum Retreat	First-Person Puzzle	B+
tl;dr The Spectrum Retreat is a First-Person Puzzle game that has you searching for the truth behind a mysterious hotel you’re trapped in, with the game split into two sections with different types of puzzles in each. The puzzles here are good, but the best part of this game is its intriguing story, which keeps players interested even through some of the game’s more tedious parts. Definitely worth a look for fans of the genre.
The Turing Test	First-Person Puzzle	B
tl;dr The Turing Test is a First-Person Puzzle game that has players controlling an engineer investigating missing crew members on the moon of Europa, requiring her to solve puzzles about empowering various devices. This game doesn’t revolutionize the First-Person Puzzle genre, but it is a good entry in the genre nonetheless. It’s just a shame that the Nintendo Switch release has since been delisted.
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.
Bugsnax	First-Person Puzzle / Misc.	B-
tl;dr Bugsnax is an odd game with various elements I feel I can best describe as a First-Person Puzzle game about an island of muppet-like “grumpus” people who have become enamored with the titular “bugsnax”, critters that look like food and are purportedly delicious. This game is limited by its lack of stuff to do outside its core game structure, as well as issues with accomplishing the goals you’re given. However, it largely makes up for this with its adorable presentation and excellent story. The result is a game that feels like it could have been something much better, but is still worth playing for the stuff it gets right.
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.
Relicta	First-Person Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Relicta is a First-Person Puzzle game that has players in the role of a researcher on a terraformed moon trying to work their way to resolve the worsening situation in their facility by… solving gravity and magnetism block and button puzzles. There’s definitely some disconnect between the gameplay and story, and the gameplay also has some design issues and could have used a bit more polish, but overall I think this is a game that genre fans will enjoy.
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 Entropy Centre	First-Person Puzzle	B-
tl;dr The Entropy Centre is a First-Person Puzzle that seems to want to copy the Portal series even more so than games in this genre often do. This game takes much of what Portal does, replaces the portal gun with a time-rewinding gun, and then does just about everything a bit worse than Portal… which is to say this is still a good Puzzle game, but it’s hard to play it without constantly thinking how Portal does everything better.
Discolored	First-Person Graphic Adventure / Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Discolored is a First-Person game with elements of Graphic Adventure and Puzzle games. It’s short, and its interesting world lacks a proper story to explain it and the unusual color-manipulating technology within it, but there’s some good atmosphere here and some clever puzzles. Players looking to solve interesting puzzles for a few hours may want to give this game some consideration.
Neverout	First-Person Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Neverout is a First-Person Puzzle game that has players trapped in a series of cube-shaped rooms and shifting gravity to reach the exit. It’s a decent Puzzle game, even if it’s a bit short. Fans of the genre may want to give it a try.
Palindrome Syndrome: Escape Room	First-Person Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Palindrome Syndrome is a First-Person Puzzle game that aims to recreate the experience of an escape room, and it largely succeeds, with this game featuring a theme that has players waking up in a biomedical research lab trying to regain their memory and figure out what’s going on. It’s not without its flaws, and the lack of any sort of help function means that players who get stuck may have to resort to seeking out an online guide, but overall this game is worth a look for Puzzle fans looking for a videogame version of an escape room experience.
Q.U.B.E. 10th Anniversary	First-Person Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Q.U.B.E. is a First-Person Puzzle game that has players in the role of an amnesiac solving puzzles inside a structure made of different kinds of cubes. The puzzle design here is good, but the pacing is slow and plodding, the story isn’t great, and the presentation is bland and uninteresting. This isn’t a terrible entry in the genre, but it’s far from a great one.
Between Time: Escape Room	First-Person Puzzle	C
tl;dr Between Time is the follow-up to Palindrome Syndrome and Tested On Humans, and also 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 sneaking into a secret government time travel machine and going to different time periods, which makes for more variety than the prior games, but also makes for a much sillier tone. This game has even more mechanical issues than the previous games, and as a result it’s probably the worst game in the series so far, but still probably worth a look for fans of this sort of game.
The House of Da Vinci 2	First-Person Puzzle	C
tl;dr The House of Da Vinci 2 is a First-Person Puzzle game that has you fiddling with beautifully intricate, deviously-designed devices much as the first game had you doing. Unfortunately, the control issues from the first game are not only still present, they’re actually much worse thanks to some terrible framerate and freezing problems, and a new time travel mechanic that showed promise ultimately just makes it harder to solve some of the game’s puzzles due to uncertainty when it should be used. Fans of the first game may still find some good in this one, but it’s an overall worse experience.
Suicide Guy Collection	Compilation / First-Person Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr Suicide Guy Collection is a Compilation containing the First-Person Puzzle-Platformers Suicide Guy and Suicide Guy: Sleepin’ Deeply. As a bundle, this is a much better deal than getting the games individually, and these games do have some clever ideas and a lot of personality. Unfortunately, they’re also highly unpolished, feature performance issues, and suffer from absolutely terrible Platforming. You have better options for this sort of game.
Dreamo	First-Person Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Dreamo is a First-Person Puzzle game that has you wandering a man’s subconscious solving puzzles involving placing spinning cogs on boxes. The core Puzzle gameplay is decent, but the presentation is terrible in a way that makes the gameplay worse, and overall this game seems to take numerous steps to needlessly complicate that core gameplay. The result is a game that’s more frustrating than fun.
Suicide Guy	First-Person Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Suicide Guy is a First-Person Puzzle-Platformer where players take the role of a guy trying to wake himself by committing suicide in his various dreams. There are some fun puzzle ideas here and a good amount of personality, but unfortunately the game suffers from massive performance issues, and has some absolutely miserable platforming. There are multiple better options in this genre, so go for one of those instead.
Suicide Guy: Sleepin’ Deeply	First-Person Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Suicide Guy: Sleepin’ Deeply, like the first game in the series, is a First-Person Puzzle-Platformer where players take the role of a guy trying to wake himself by committing suicide in his various dreams. As with the prior game, there are some fun puzzle ideas here and a good amount of personality, but unfortunately the game suffers from massive performance issues, and has some absolutely miserable platforming. There are multiple better options in this genre, so go for one of those instead.
Suicide Guy: Lost Dreams	First-Person Puzzle-Platformer	D+
tl;dr Suicide Guy: Lost Dreams, like the previous games in the series, is a First-Person Puzzle-Platformer where players take the role of a guy trying to wake himself by committing suicide in his various dreams. As with the prior games, there are some fun puzzle ideas here and a good amount of personality, but unfortunately the game suffers from massive performance issues, has some absolutely miserable platforming, and the puzzle design is frustratingly unclear. There are multiple better options in this genre, so go for one of those instead.
Find Room 96	First-Person Puzzle	D
tl;dr Find Room 96 is a First-Person Puzzle game where players are trying to see if the floor they’re on matches the floor they started in, basically playing like an alternate take on “spot the difference”. It’s not a bad concept, but the way the game refuses to show you what you got wrong when you get something wrong and have to start over keeps players from improving and makes this a game you’ll tire of quickly and won’t want to return to.
Half Dead	First-Person Puzzle	D
tl;dr Half Dead is a First-Person Puzzle game that plays like the cerebral horror film Cube, except this game isn’t scary, doesn’t feel smart, and is nowhere near as enjoyable as that cult classic. Skip this one.

Puzzle (Other)

Game	Genre	Grade
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons	Puzzle	A
tl;dr Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a story-driven character-based Puzzle game where players control a pair of brothers, with each one assigned to a single analog stick and trigger button. The game uses these mechanics in creative ways, and this inventive gameplay and the gorgeous presentation work together to tell a moving story, one strong enough that the game’s $15 price tag for a 3-4 hour game doesn’t seem so unreasonable. If you haven’t played this game yet, you should absolutely give it a try.
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.
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.
Cocoon	Isometric Action-RPG / Puzzle	A-
tl;dr Cocoon is an Isometric Action-RPG with a strong emphasis on the game’s mind-bending puzzle design, where players control an alien insect and figure out how to use strange technology, including spheres containing their own worlds. The puzzle design here is outstanding, the boss battles are wonderful, and while this game has a few minor annoyances, overall this is a wonderful experience well worth playing, especially for puzzle fans.
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.
Islanders	Management Sim / Puzzle	A-
tl;dr Islanders is a family-friendly Management Sim-style game with Puzzle elements that has players placing buildings on procedurally-generated islands. This is a game that boils down the Management Sim genre to an elegant simplicity that makes for a truly compelling experience, and one that is absolutely worth the tiny $5 price tag, even if it could stand to have a little more depth.
Islanders: New Shores	Management Simulation / Puzzle	A-
tl;dr Islanders: New Shores is a Management Simulation and Puzzle game that is a follow-up to the original Islanders, and it takes the gameplay of the original game and adds multiple new elements for deeper gameplay, as well as some welcome new options. It’s hard to say whether this deeper gameplay is superior to the more simple and straightforward original game, but overall this is still a great game and an excellent sequel well worth playing for anyone looking for a relaxing game in this combination of genres.
Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes	Puzzle / Party Game	A-
tl;dr Keep Talking and No One Explodes is a cooperative puzzle game where one player is defusing a bomb that others can’t see, and the others are relaying instructions from a manual that the bomb defuser can’t see. It’s a really inventive, fun, and unique game that’s sure to be a blast at parties.
Mini Metro	Puzzle / Simulation	A-
tl;dr Mini Metro is a superb puzzle/sim game that has you drawing the map for a subway/lightrail as more stops and more passengers demand to be delivered swiftly to their destination. Add in a clean, simple graphical interface perfectly suited for the game, and a soothing soundtrack, and you have a real winner here. The only thing that’s keeping this from puzzle perfection is a lack of options and stiff controls.
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, where you build towers and bridges to get cute little goo balls to a pipe at the exit.
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.
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.
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Arranger is a Puzzle Game where players don’t move their character but instead move the entire row or column their character is on. It’s an interesting mechanic and this game finds numerous clever ways to make use of it, all within a great presentation with likeable characters in an interesting story. Puzzle fans should absolutely consider picking this one up.
Art of Balance	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Art of Balance is a physics-based Puzzle game where you stack blocks and try to keep them from tipping over or falling. This version has a decent amount of content and some multiplayer modes, and the core gameplay here is still as solid as ever.
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.
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.
Draknek and Friends Puzzle Bundle (6 Games)	Compilation / Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Draknek and Friends Puzzle Bundle (6 Games) is a Compilation of six family-friendly Puzzle games – four of them are different takes on Sokoban-style “block pushing puzzles”, but despite this these games all remain distinct in their own right. The savings over buying the games separately is pretty good, and the overall quality of this bundle is pretty high. This package is definitely worth a look 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.
Figment 2: Creed Valley	Puzzle / Top-Down Action	B+
tl;dr Figment 2 is a family-friendly Puzzle game with Top-Down Action elements set in a metaphorical world inside a man’s mind, that improves on the original Figment in multiple ways, particularly in its puzzle design and music, though the combat is still uninspired. Still, despite this issue this is a great sequel that’s well worth playing for Puzzle fans looking for a trip back into this series’ creative world.
Figment 1 + 2	Compilation / Top-Down Action / Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Figment 1 + 2 is a Compilation containing the two named games, both family-friendly games that combine Action, Puzzle, and Graphic Adventure elements in an imaginative world set inside the mind. The games are both good, the price is okay, and the sale price is excellent. This is definitely worth getting if you’re a Puzzle game fan, especially if you catch it on sale.
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.
Freshly Frosted	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Freshly Frosted is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players place conveyor belts to guide donuts from their ovens to the display shelf. The puzzle mechanics here are simple but good, and the presentation is absolutely delightful, with a wonderfully upbeat and calming atmosphere that makes this game a joy to play. Puzzle fans will definitely want to give this one a look.
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!
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.
Hexologic	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Hexologic is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has players placing dots in hexagonal tiles to add up to line totals surrounding the tiles. The gameplay is simple but compelling, and the presentation is excellent with a wonderful calming soundtrack. For the low asking price of $3, this game is an excellent addition to any Puzzle gamer’s collection.
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.
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.
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.
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.
LEGO Bricktales	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr LEGO Bricktales is a Puzzle game where players solve puzzles by building structures using LEGO blocks. The controls have a few issues, but otherwise this is a solid puzzle game that fans of the genre should find well worth playing.
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.
Monument Valley	Isometric Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Monument Valley is a family-friendly character-based Isometric Puzzle game where players need to navigate M.C. Escher-like structures by making use of perspective to form pathways. The presentation and puzzle design here is fantastic, though the game is a bit short, the gamepad controls are far from ideal, and touchscreen controls aren’t supported on Nintendo Switch. Despite these issues, this is still well worth a look for Puzzle game fans on Nintendo Switch.
Monument Valley 2	Isometric Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Monument Valley 2 is a family-friendly character-based Isometric Puzzle game much like the first game, where players need to navigate M.C. Escher-like structures by making use of perspective to form pathways, but this time they’re joined by their character’s daughter, whose movements they must also keep in mind. The presentation and puzzle design here is once again fantastic, though the game is still short, the gamepad controls are far from ideal, and touchscreen controls aren’t supported on Nintendo Switch. Despite these issues, this is still well worth a look for Puzzle game fans on Nintendo Switch.
Monument Valley 1&2 Bundle	Compilation / Isometric Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Monument Valley 1&2 Bundle is a Compilation containing the two named games, both character-based Isometric Puzzle games with levels seemingly inspired by M.C. Escher art. The games themselves are excellent, even if they’re a bit short and the controls on Nintendo Switch are less than ideal. And this bundle is reasonably-priced, even if it doesn’t offer much in savings. Overall, this is a good choice for Puzzle fans.
Outer Wilds	First-Person Puzzle / Action-RPG	B+
tl;dr Outer Wilds is a First-Person Puzzle game with Action-RPG elements that has players stuck in a time loop and searching their strange solar system for answers in the twenty minutes before your sun goes supernova. The puzzles in this game are mind-bendingly creative, with some astounding sights to see. This game also has its fair share of frustrations, and the Nintendo Switch version has some ugly performance issues. However, if the Nintendo Switch is your only gaming platform, I still highly recommend you get this game. It is a unique and incredible experience that should not be missed, despite its flaws.
Patrick’s Parabox	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Patrick’s Parabox is a family-friendly Sokoban-style Puzzle game with an extremely simple presentation and gameplay built around one clever mechanic, that the boxes you’re tasked with pushing around can themselves house Sokoban-style Puzzles. It’s a clever idea that this game makes use of extraordinarily well, with some truly excellent puzzle design. Don’t be discouraged by this game’s simple visuals – this is a game that Puzzle game fans will absolutely want to get ahold of.
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.
Pix the Cat	Puzzle / Arcade	B+
tl;dr Pix the Cat is a game with Puzzle and Arcade elements that combines the gameplay of Pac-Man and Snake with a really good presentation and a lot of variety across the game’s four modes. It’s a bit on the difficult side, and I feel like a few additions could have made for a huge improvement, but overall this is an excellent game well worth giving a look.
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.
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.
Radical Rabbit Stew	Arcade / Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Radical Rabbit Stew is a family-friendly top-down Arcade-style game with Puzzle elements where players need to knock rabbits into cooking pot-shaped spaceships. It’s a fun and refreshingly unique game with some great old-school sensibilities, and the competitive multiplayer here is a lot of fun too. Unfortunately, that multiplayer is lacking in content, and the limited use of a stage builder feels like a huge missed opportunity too. This is still overall an excellent game, but it feels like a bit of added content here would have made it an absolute must-have.
Rain on Your Parade	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Rain on Your Parade is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players use a mischievous raincloud to wreak havoc on the lives of “hoomans”. This adorable game has a great sense of humor, makes all sorts of clever cultural references, and has a lot of variety. It’s not especially challenging, but it’s still plenty of fun, especially for players who glee at being the cause of chaos.
The Gardens Between	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr The Gardens Between is a Puzzle game that has you manipulating time as two children walk through islands that represent their memories together. The game’s presentation is wonderful, and its puzzle design is excellent, although the game is far too short, and overly interested in its less-than-stellar story.
The Last Campfire	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr The Last Campfire is a family-friendly character-based Puzzle game that has players exploring a small but beautiful world filled with interesting characters. It’ doesn’t do anything to truly shake up the genre, and it has a frustrating issue with dropped frames, but it’s otherwise well-made and well worth playing.
Time Flies	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Time Flies is a character-based Puzzle game where players take the role of a fly looking to cross items off of its bucket list. There’s some really clever puzzle design here as you try to figure out what each bucket list item means, though there’s added frustration here due to arbitrary time constraints However, this game’s charm and clever puzzles make it well worth checking out, especially if you crave something out of the ordinary.
Untitled Goose Game	Stealth / Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Untitled Goose Game is an odd combination of Stealth/Puzzle/Sandbox that delivers on its promise of making you a terrible goose who loves making people miserable. The game has a few issues with its controls, but on the whole it’s an all-around enjoyable experience
Wilmot’s Warehouse	Puzzle	B+
tl;dr Wilmot’s Warehouse is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has players sorting boxes as they see fit, and then looking for specific boxes to fill customer orders. It’s a simple game with compelling puzzle gameplay that lets players decide the best way to go about doing things, and it’s even better in co-op. I wish the game had more gameplay modes that didn’t rush the player, but overall this is a solid entry in the genre, especially if you have a friend to play with.
Archaica: The Path of Light	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Archaica is a Puzzle game that has players using mirrors and other devices to redirect shafts of light. The core gameplay here isn’t very original, but the puzzles are well-crafted, the presentation is excellent, and the game’s approach to a hint system is quite novel. If you’re a fan of the genre, this is definitely a game worth trying.
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.
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.
Colorgrid	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Colorgrid is a chill, relaxing easy-to-play Puzzle game that’s over pretty quick, but for the low asking price of $1, it’s a solid distraction that’s well worth that price.
Death Squared	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Death Squared is a character-based Puzzle game where players control cube-shaped robots to try to coordinate to solve puzzles. This game is simple yet fiendishly clever, with some superb puzzle design and excellent co-op play. It’s biggest issue is a tendency towards springing surprise traps on the player resulting in a lot of deaths and trial-and-error gameplay. Still, for those who crave a challenge, Death Squared should prove to be an excellent choice within the genre.
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.
Gloomy Eyes	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Gloomy Eyes is a character-based Puzzle game where players swap between the small boy zombie Gloomy and the human girl Nena as they work together to try to solve the mystery of why the sun went missing. This game’s light and darkness puzzle mechanics and twisted level design are really creative, and while it can get frustrating to get stuck trying to figure out what to do or where to go, this game’s world is so enchanting it’s easy enough to overlook these issues for what is overall a charming and enjoyable game.
Gorogoa	Graphic Puzzle	B
tl;dr Gorogoa is a graphic puzzle game that delivers with some incredible puzzles and an absolutely gorgeous presentation. At times, it can be a bit confusing what you’re supposed to do next, though.
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.
Howl	Puzzle / Turn-Based Strategy-RPG	B
tl;dr Howl is a Puzzle game with some Strategy-RPG elements where players must plan their movements through areas stalked by dangerous beasts. The gameplay has a bit of a learning curve, but once you get the hang of it there’s an excellent mix of elements here, and the game’s somber atmosphere is absolutely wonderful. Puzzle and Strategy-RPG fans will definitely want to give this a look.
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.
Inbento	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Inbento is a Puzzle game that has players placing items in a bento box to recreate a photo of a finished layout. This game doesn’t do anything particularly extraordinary to push the genre forward, but what it does do it does very well, with well-designed puzzles and a great presentation. Puzzle fans will find this game well worth its low asking price.
Induction	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Induction is a block-pushing Puzzle game that’s seemingly mundane on its surface, but takes on a whole new dimension with its time-repeating reality-hopping mechanic, with puzzles that make excellent use of this mechanic and really get the player to think through their actions. It’s just a shame that the visuals are so bland they actually interfere with the gameplay. However, if you’re a Puzzle game fan who doesn’t care about visuals if the gameplay is good, you should absolutely play this game.
LEGO Builder’s Journey	Puzzle	B
tl;dr LEGO Builder’s Journey is a character-based Puzzle game that differs from the usual LEGO videogame, instead presenting a thoughtful, almost zen-like experience. It’s a short game, and the controls have some issues, but overall this is a wonderfully unique take on these popular toys that’s well worth a look for Puzzle fans.
Letter Quest Remastered	Puzzle / Turn-Based RPG	B
tl;dr Letter Quest Remastered is a game that combines a Turn-Based RPG with a spelling-based Puzzle game like Boggle or Scrabble. It’s a decent pairing of the two, but it doesn’t really meet its full potential, with too much grind and not enough depth. Still worth playing for genre fans, but nothing truly great.
Locomotion	3D Puzzle	B
tl;dr Locomotion is a family-friendly 3D Puzzle game that has players navigating self-contained 3D stages using a locomotive, looking over how each stage works and determining the best path and order to approach its challenges. The presentation here is absolutely adorable, and the puzzles themselves are often very clever, though the game could do with more control options. Fans of Puzzle games and Captain Toad in particular will definitely want to give this game 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.
Mekorama	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Mekorama is a character-based Puzzle game where players guide a robot to a button in diorama-like levels. The simple presentation is nice, the levels feature good puzzle design, and there’s a good amount of content here for the game’s low $5 price. It’s just a shame that the gamepad controls aren’t anywhere near as good as the touchscreen controls, and the included level builder offers no way to share content. However, for what it is, this is well worth getting for anyone looking for an inexpensive Puzzle game to add to their collection.
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.
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.
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.
Persephone	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Persephone is a family-friendly character-based Puzzle game where players must use the bodies from their previous deaths to solve the game’s puzzles. It’s a clever gimmick that’s used well here, and although this game doesn’t do anything truly extraordinary, it’s a solid entry in its genre that’s well worth playing.
Piczle Cells	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Piczle Cells is a block-sliding Puzzle game where players combine microscopic blobs to make bigger blobs. The gameplay is decent but nothing revolutionary. However, the presentation is good and there’s a healthy amount of content here for the low $5 price tag. Puzzle game fans looking to pad out their collection should find this a worthwhile addition to their Nintendo Switch library.
Please Fix the Road	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Please Fix the Road is a Puzzle game about destroying disconnected parts of roads and then connecting them using specific pieces. This game has some issues with perspective and piece height, but overall this is a surprisingly fresh take on this type of puzzle with a good presentation. Gamers looking for a relaxed puzzle experience will want to check this out.
Please, Touch the Artwork	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Please, Touch the Artwork is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players solve puzzles in three distinct styles with a presentation inspired by abstract art and framed as an interactive art gallery. The puzzles here are decent, and the game’s $8 or 160 puzzles is a pretty good value, but the classy presentation elevates this game, making it a solid choice for Puzzle fans, and an especially good choice for art lovers.
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.
She Remembered Caterpillars	Puzzle	B
tl;dr She Remembered Caterpillars is a Puzzle game about moving color-coded creatures through a maze of color-coded gates and bridges. There’s nothing terribly exciting here, but this game does provide a nice, chill puzzle experience that fans of the genre should enjoy.
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.
Tempopo	Puzzle	B
tl;dr Tempopo is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has you placing commands for the titular walking flower creatures, the tempopo, to follow, with the goal of getting them to bring every flower in each of the game’s levels to that level’s exit. It’s a solid Puzzle game, though a bit limited because it doesn’t give players the freedom to find their own solutions. However, the outstanding presentation with beautiful animation and wonderful music really help to elevate this and make it a solid Puzzle game that’s well worth trying out.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cyber Protocol	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Cyber Protocol is a sliding Puzzle game where your movements through levels and avoiding hazards simulates a cyberpunk hacker breaking into a computer system. The gameplay doesn’t do anything especially new or different, but the audiovisual presentation is outstanding. Puzzle fans should certainly give this game a look.
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.
Donut County	Puzzle / Misc.	B-
tl;dr Donut County is an odd family-friendly game whose closest genre is Puzzle games, but the game it most resembles is Katamari Damacy, with a main mechanic that has you sucking up random objects into a hole to make the hole gradually bigger in size. The gameplay here is fun, but the game is too linear and limited, and it’s really short for it price tag. Still, it’s fun while it lasts and the story and presentation are really endearing. Worth a look if you can get a good deal on it.
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.
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.
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.
Layton’s Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire’s Conspiracy – Deluxe Edition	Puzzle / Graphic Adventure	B-
tl;dr Layton’s Mystery Journey is a port of the family-friendly 2017 3DS and mobile Puzzle game with Graphic Adventure elements about Katrielle, the daughter of series protagonist Hershel Layton. This game brings the visuals up to HD quality, packs in all of the original game’s DLC, adds more puzzles and features, and provides players with a plethora of control options. That said, the flaws of the original game remain – the story is lacking, the puzzles have no connection to what’s going on, and the puzzles are at times confusing despite being over-explained. That said, the game still has the series’ signature charm, and the puzzles themselves are still engaging. Puzzle game fans looking for something lighthearted should definitely give this game a look.
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.
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.
Mousecraft	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Mousecraft is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has players placing Tetris-like blocks to help Lemmings-esque mice work their way through a side-scrolling maze. This game incorporates its disparate elements well, and the visuals look good, but it’s also pretty repetitive, and is nowhere near as inspired as the games that influenced it. Puzzle game fans will like this game, but probably won’t love it.
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.
Party Bundle: Ludomania & Flowlines VS & 2048 Battles	Compilation / Puzzle / Board Game	B-
tl;dr Party Bundle: Ludomania & Flowlines VS & 2048 Battles is a Compilation of the three named titles, which are mostly pretty good (though Flowlines VS’s control issues are frustrating). There are better games in the style of each of these titles on Nintendo Switch, but what’s here is still pretty good. Oh, and while the $13 price of this bundle saves you a few bucks off the individual prices of these games, you’ll definitely want to pick this up on sale for $2 instead, since it goes on sale every two weeks.
Puzzle Bundle: Inbento + Golf Peaks	Compilation / Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Puzzle Bundle: Inbento + Golf Peaks is a Compilation containing the two named Puzzle games, and while Inbento is definitely the better game between the two, both are enjoyable in their own right. This bundle also offers a decent value, saving you $2 off the cost of buying both budget-priced games separately. If you’re a Puzzle Game fan on Nintendo Switch looking to add a few inexpensive games to your collection, this package is worth looking into.
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.
Railbound	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Railbound is a Puzzle game that has players laying down tracks with to get train cars to a locomotive in numerical order. It’s a simple premise done well with excellent puzzle design, and while this game’s $13 price seems a tad high for what’s on offer, it is still a superb Puzzle game well worth a look.
Ringo’s Roundup	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Ringo’s Roundup is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players place down arrows to control the path of a car that needs to collect a bunch of mail before delivering it to a mailbox. This game doesn’t do anything truly unique or original, but what it does is polished, well-designed, and with a good presentation. The standard price is a bit high for what’s on offer, but if you can get it on sale this is definitely worth picking up for Puzzle game fans.
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.
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.
Stacks on Stacks (On Stacks)	Arcade / Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Stacks on Stacks (On Stacks) takes a simple family-friendly Arcade-style Puzzle premise of stacking various blocks without any of them falling off-stage, loses some points for its poor presentation and lacking controls… but gains back a lot of points due to its sheer variety and creativity. This game certainly has its flaws, but it nevertheless manages to be a thoroughly entertaining experience despite these flaws.
Steamroll: Rustless Edition	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Steamroll is a Puzzle game that has you moving around a spherical vehicle and slotting it into emplacements to fire smaller spheres with its turret, solving each level’s puzzles to reach an exit. There’s some clever game design here, and some fun and unique gameplay, but in addition to a few issues with the controls, the Nintendo Switch version of the game suffers from some pretty nasty performance issues. This is still an excellent game, but if you have the choice you’re better off going with a different version of the game.
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.
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.
Tin Hearts	Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Tin Hearts is a Puzzle game that has players manipulating toy blocks to create a path for toy soldiers to reach an exit. Once the game gets going it has a great gameplay premise with some good puzzles, but the pacing and controls are pretty terrible, and the presentation is overly-pretentious and is clearly downgraded on Nintendo Switch. However, despite these issues I do still think the gameplay is strong enough to be worth a look as long as you’re prepared for these other issues.
Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop	Simulation / Puzzle	B-
tl;dr Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop combines Puzzle and Simulation gameplay with some Roguelike elements in a game where players take the role of a new employee at an intergalactic spaceship repair station. The basic gameplay of trying to figure out odd ship systems and decide how to fix them using an instruction manual is clever and fun, but the more you do it, the more it feels like busywork. Still, this game is unique enough that I think it’s worth a look.
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.
3 in 1 – Logical Bundle	Compilation / Puzzle / Card Game (Blackjack)	C+
tl;dr 3 in 1 – Logical Bundle is a Compilation of History 2048, Just Black Jack, and Miniature – The Story Puzzle. Just Black Jack is a terrible version of the Card Game, but the other two games are decent Puzzle games that are reasonably enjoyable, though both have their flaws too. This bundle is a decent deal too, though it’s even more so if you get it on sale. At the low price of $2, it should be worth overlooking the flawed parts of this bundle to enjoy the decent Puzzle games within.
Amaze!	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Amaze! is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players slide a ball around a maze, trying to cover every square of the maze with paint. It’s a simple game, but one that works well enough. It’s just a shame that the game’s publisher hacked this game to pieces to try to sell it as bundles and DLC. Puzzle fans wanting something simple may still want to give this a look, but just be aware of the DLC shenanigans going on here.
Birds and Blocks	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Birds and Blocks is a physics-based Puzzle game that’s not going to win any points for originality or presentation, but its gameplay is decent and it makes for a nice time-waster, so long as you keep in mind that the game only works in handheld mode using the touchscreen.
Bleep Bloop	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Bleep Bloop is a character-based sliding block Puzzle game that doesn’t do anything particularly new or exciting for the genre, but it still manages to provide a nice, relaxed experience for those looking for something light to play.
Catch a Duck	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Catch a Duck is a character-based Puzzle game where you navigate mazes while evading predators to catch the duck in each level. It’s not a very original or noteworthy game, save for its amusing presentation.
CATch the Stars	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr CATch the Stars is a Puzzle Game that has you guiding stars along paths while trying to avoid them colliding. It’s nothing truly remarkable, but the puzzle design is good and it has a nice, relaxing atmosphere that makes it well worth the small $3 price tag.
Chess Ace	Puzzle / Board Game	C+
tl;dr Chess Ace is a Puzzle game that uses the rules of chess, with players trying to move to capture pieces in a limited number of turns. It’s a decent Puzzle game, but it’s lacking in options, has a bare-bones presentation, and its normal price is far too high for such a minimal experience. Still, it’s not a bad time waster if you can catch it on sale.
Chinese Parents	Simulation / RPG / Puzzle / Misc.	C+
tl;dr Chinese Parents is an unusual Simulation game with a mishmesh of various elements that has you guiding the development of a child of Chinese parents. It’s a really original concept, and there are some interesting gameplay ideas here, but they’re marred by a poor localization and control interface issues. This game may still be worth a look, but only if you have the patience to look past its problems.
Chip’s Challenge	Top-Down Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Chip’s Challenge on Nintendo Switch is a port of the original Lynx version of the game, which is still to this day a superb Top-Down Puzzle game with excellent level design. The problem is that the presentation in this game is absolutely terrible, and I would argue painful to look at in docked mode. Thankfully, the game is more tolerable in handheld mode, and you can mute the awful sound, and for only $3, I would say it’s still worth the price of entry.
Circuits	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Circuits is a puzzle game where players must piece together a song clip part-by-part using only sound as their guide. It’s a great concept, but is sorely lacking the features and levels it needs to make this feel like a full game.
Cramped Room of Death	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Cramped Room of Death is a Puzzle game with Dungeon Crawler elements where players venture into a dungeon with their spear, which requires careful maneuvering to use in the claustrophobic corridors and rooms. It’s a clever idea done well, but unfortunately it all feels like a lot of work just to do things we do without thinking in other games. For me, the result just didn’t seem fun, though others might still appreciate this game’s ingenuity.
Demolition Inc HD	Arcade / Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Demolition Inc blends Arcade and Puzzle elements, with players flying a UFO and dropping hazards to create as much destruction as possible. Unfortunately, the game’s rigid goals and focus on its more limited Puzzle elements really makes it hard to enjoy the delightful destruction that is this game’s best quality. This game still has some great chaotic fun, but it forces you to work to get to it.
Double Shot Gals	Puzzle / Shmup	C+
tl;dr Double Shot Gals is a blend of Puzzle game and Shmup where players shoot red and blue shots at a lowering wall of blocks, being careful not to hit blocks with the wrong color. It is also an ‘ecchi game” with pandering female nudity. These “ecchi” elements aren’t very good and do little to benefit the game, but the gameplay itself is surprisingly good, albeit sorely lacking in gameplay modes and options. It definitely feels like less time here should have been spent on the lackluster porn-y elements and more spent on shoring up the good core gameplay, but this is nevertheless a fun and unique blending of the Puzzle and Shmup genres that may be worth a look for those who don’t mind the objectifying and nudity.
Dusk ’82	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Dusk ’82 is an extremely retro-style character-based Puzzle game that tasks players of clearing levels of enemies that move when you do. It’s decent enough that fans of retro-style games might get a kick out of this, and the $5 price tag seems fair, but this game does little to set itself apart from countless other games like it.
Fill-A-Pix: Phil’s Epic Adventure	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Fill-A-Pix is a Puzzle game similar to Minesweeper, with players using numbers on a grid to determine how many squares around each number are filled in. It’s decent but not terribly engaging, and the attempt to add character by making it about the titular Phil only detracts from the game. What’s left is still a decent, but not great, Puzzle game.
Finger Cuts	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Finger Cuts is a physics-based Puzzle game that has you cutting pieces off blocks to try to get them to fall on like-colored stars. There’s nothing truly original here, the presentation is extremely bland, and the gameplay doesn’t always work right, but for only $1 I think this game is enjoyable enough to be worth getting for Puzzle game fans.
Football Killer	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Football Killer is a loosely soccer-themed physics-based Puzzle game where players are trying to aim a ball to hit a goal and/or slam into other people on-screen. This is pretty enjoyable, but easy and simple, and the $7 price tag seems a bit high for what’s on offer. However, if you don’t mind easy and catch this on a sale, it may be worth a look.
Fracter	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Fracter is a character-based Puzzle game with some light Stealth elements, where players push blocks and use mirrors to redirect light in a black-and-white world. The game is a bit buggy, and the puzzles here aren’t especially original, but those puzzles are well-designed, and those along with the stylish presentation make this a game that’s worth a look for fans of the genre.
Framed Collection	Graphic Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Framed Collection is a pair of puzzle games where you’re moving around frames of a comic to make sure the hero survives the story. It’s a great concept with an amazing presentation, but the gameplay makes it frequently frustrating and tedious.
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Ghost Trick is a remaster of a Nintendo DS game that has players taking the role of a dead man’s spirit possessing objects to save innocent lives from assassins while also investigating his own untimely demise. The premise is still fresh even a decade later, and the puzzles are cleverly-crafted, but more casual players may find them to be too clever, as the complex solutions are not always made evident by the game’s inadequate hint system. More skilled puzzlers may adore this game, but I expect that most players will be frustrated by it.
Gnomdom	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Gnomdom is a Puzzle game where players solve puzzles to try to gather together missing gnomes for a birthday party. The presentation here is very nice, and some of the puzzles are clever, but others just reuse traditional puzzle types. Plus, without guides, hotspot indicators, or a help system, players who get stuck will likely stay stuck for a while. At only $3 for maybe an hour of play time, this is a decent time-waster, but it does feel like a mixed bag.
Hex Cats	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Hex Cats is a family-friendly hex-based tile-spinning Puzzle game that tasks players with rearranging hexagonal tiles to make the lines of colored yarn on the tiles match up. This is a perfectly decent Puzzle game that has the unfortunate problem of looking like a second-rate copycat of Kittens and Yarn, a game with similar theming and gameplay, and that is all-around better. If you don’t have that game, get that instead. If you do, this may suffice as a decent follow-up game in a similar style.
Infini	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Infini is a Puzzle game that has you guiding a character down repeating screens, trying to reach the exit in each. The puzzle design here is excellent, making good use of this game’s unique gameplay elements, but the presentation is like something out of a hellish fever dream, and will definitely put off some players. But if you enjoy Puzzle games and don’t mind dealing with something that’s truly bizarre, Infini may be worth a look.
Ink Cipher	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Ink Cipher is a Puzzle Game that has players filling in Crossword-like Puzzles using number assignments and contextual deduction rather than by using trivia questions. This is a solid setup for a Puzzle game with a hefty 220 puzzles considering the tiny $2 price tag. However, the obscure language the game uses in its puzzles right from the start makes this only a game for the most dedicated fans of the English language.
Inside Her (Bedroom)	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Inside Her (Bedroom) is a character-based Puzzle game with strong ecchi elements. Players control a character whose movements are mirrored by a monster girl, with players guiding both to collect lingerie and reach a bed safely without either one running into hazards. The gameplay here is simple but surprisingly decent. The presentation could do with some work though, which is kinda’ surprising for a game where nude artwork of sexy monster girls is the “reward” for solving the game’s puzzles. In any case, 120 levels for a mere $3 is a pretty decent deal. If you’re a Puzzle game fan who doesn’t mind shameless perviness, you may find this game to your liking.
Instant Farmer	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Instant Farmer is a Puzzle game that has players rearranging plots of land to make sure all farmland is near a water source. The game makes good use of the premise, and at $3 for 50 Puzzles, this is a decent value. The gamepad controls are a bit frustrating, but if you’re playing with the touchscreen this game works well enough. All told, this is a decent Puzzle game, albeit nothing truly outstanding.
Jade Order	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Jade Order is a character-based Puzzle game where players must move their character into enemies only from the back or sides. It’s an absolutely gorgeous game, but not an especially noteworthy one, and the movement controls are unnecessarily frustrating. Not a bad entry in the genre, but far from an essential one.
Lanternium	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Lanternium is a family-friendly character-based Puzzle game where players control chasing a fox to get back his cookies, and to do so must use a magic lantern to change color to open up walkable paths. There’s nothing truly revolutionary here, but it’s a solid game that does a good job being accessible to any audience. If you’re wanting another character-based Puzzle game to add to your Nintendo Switch library, Lanternium will likely satisfy that craving.
Link the Cubes	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Link the Cubes is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players move cubes through a maze to an exit, linking and unlinking them to move them where you want. It’s a decent premise and there’s some good puzzle design here, though there’s nothing truly impressive in this game. However, for only $5, this is a nice relaxed game that Puzzle fans may want to try if they’re looking for an inexpensive time-waster.
Long Ago: A Puzzle Tale	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Long Ago: A Puzzle Tale is a Puzzle game where players must roll a ball to collect all feathers or coins in a level. The gameplay here is mostly a traditional “sliding block Puzzle”, but this game is noteworthy for having some superb graphics. There are other elements that detract from the experience, but overall this is a decent Puzzle game worth a look for fans of the genre.
Loop	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Loop is a family-friendly character-driven Puzzle game that’s similar to 3D Exploration games like Journey and Sky: Children of the Light, but it lacks the exploration and ingenuity of those games. Furthermore, Loop’s puzzles are too simple to be engaging, but still slow down the game’s pacing. However, this game’s pleasant aesthetic still makes this an enjoyable experience, even if it can’t compare with the games that clearly inspired it.
Miniature: The Story Puzzle	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Miniature is a Puzzle game that challenges players to take a series of dioramas and place them in order to tell a story. It’s a good concept with a fantastic presentation, but terrible, confusing controls make it difficult to fully enjoy.
OmoTomO	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr OmoTomO is a Puzzle game that has you guiding vines to wells in a zen garden. It has a nice, peaceful presentation, and gameplay that’s easy to pick up and play, although not in any way innovative or outstanding.
Paper Trail	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Paper Trail is a character-based Puzzle game where players fold the world to reveal passageways that can get them past obstacles. This is a clever gimmick, but it’s not used consistently, which makes this more frustrating and restrictive than I believe is preferable. It’s still a game Puzzle game fans may want to try, but it doesn’t live up to its potential.
Pudding Monsters	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Pudding Monsters is a family-friendly block-sliding Puzzle (or slime-sliding, as it were) that can only be played in handheld mode using the touchscreen. The $5 price is decent for the amount of content here, and the puzzles are well-designed, albeit not very original. However, it definitely feels like very little effort has been made to transition this game from its original smartphone version, making one ask whether it might not be better to simply play that version of the game instead.
Pushy and Pully in Blockland	Top-Down Arcade / Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Pushy and Pully is a Top-Down Arcade-style game with Puzzle elements that’s reminiscent of genre classics like the Lolo games and Kickle Cubicle. The presentation here is excellent, the co-op play is wonderful, and the core mechanics are sound, though some stiff gameplay and a lack of options mar the experience. Overall, this is a decent entry in the genre worth checking out.
Railway Islands – Puzzle	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Railway Islands – Puzzle has players rearranging hex-shaped tiles to create a contiguous train track to ensure a train hits all of its stops. There’s some really good puzzle design here, and even a nice feature to create and share your own puzzles. Unfortunately, this game suffers from some frustrating control issues and clunky menus. As a result, what could have been a great budget Puzzle game ends up only being a decent one.
Red Ronin	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Red Ronin is a character-based Puzzle game comparable to Slayaway Camp, where players slide their katana-wielding character through hordes of enemies to reach each room’s exit. This game has a great visceral presentation, but it’s extremely focused design highly limits’ player creativity, resulting in a game where you’re looking for the solution the game wants you to make, not coming up with your own. It’s still a decent entry in the genre, but one that fails to live up to its great potential.
Rubix Roller	Puzzle / Arcade	C+
tl;dr Rubix Roller is a game with Puzzle and Arcade elements that has you rolling a Rubix Cube along a grid of colored tiles, trying not to move your cube on the wrong color. While it has some frustrations, it’s a decent game for its low $4 price, and its 2-player competitive mode is a nice inclusion. If the premise of this game interests you, I’d say it’s worth a try.
Shape Suitable	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Shape Suitable is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has players drawing shapes using either the gamepad or touchscreen to accomplish various tasks. Completing these tasks with minimal ink can be tricky, but there’s an easy cheat that can let you breeze through the game. Either way, this is a decent Puzzle game, but not an especially great one.
Shikaku Shapes	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Shikaku Shapes is a Puzzle game in the Shikaku style, which is similar to a Numberlink puzzle. Players fill a grid with rectangles, trying to match the size of each rectangle to numbers on the grid. The gameplay here is compelling, though not as much as some of the true greats of the genre. If you’re a Puzzle game fan, this should be worth a look.
SlabWell: The Quest For Kaktun’s Alpaca	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr SlabWell is a character-based Puzzle game where players take the role of a treasure hunter raiding a tomb for treasure, trying to step on every tile only once. The simple gameplay is given depth and variety by new mechanics added throughout the game, but SlabWell never quite becomes a truly compelling experience, and there are some issues with the controls and camera as well. Overall, this isn’t a bad Puzzle game, but it’s far from a great one.
Slither Loop	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Slither Loop is a Puzzle game where you’re trying to draw a continuous loop so that all numbers are adjacent to the correct number of lines. The gameplay here is compelling, though not as much as some of the true greats of the genre. If you’re a Puzzle game fan, this should be worth a look.
Soap Dodgem	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Soap Dodgem is a simple puzzle game where you slide around a cute soap bar to clean up mold scum. It’s simple and has an adorable presentation, as well as the ability to make and share puzzles. Nothing fantastic, but a decent time-waster.
Steamburg	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Steamburg is a character-based Puzzle game that has you luring giant robots to Tesla towers to be destroyed. It’s a game with a great theme and good puzzle ideas, but it’s undone by numerous problems that make it a tedious slog to play.
Terracotta	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Terracotta is a character-based Puzzle game where players jump between two versions of the world to solve puzzles and fend off enemies in a story set in ancient China with the focus on China’s famed terracotta warriors. The presentation and puzzle design here is excellent, but this game does far too job indicating what the player needs to do and how to do it. As a result, I think players are just as likely to be exasperated by this game as they are to be delighted by it.
Waffle Kitty	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Waffle Kitty is a Puzzle game that has players trying to fit sweets onto waffles. This is a Puzzle game that plays like countless other similar games, and its one noteworthy feature is its nice presentation. If you want a time-waster, this should suffice, though don’t expect much more than that.
Waking Violet	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Waking Violet is a character-driven Puzzle game where players try to escape the nightmares of the titular child, Violet. This game has some good puzzle design, but much of the game’s fun is sabotaged by the game’s incredibly slow pacing. Patient fans of puzzle games may still want to give this a look, but everyone else should move on.
Warlock’s Tower	Puzzle	C+
tl;dr Warlock’s Tower is a family-friendly character-based Puzzle game where players take the role of a mailman delivering a letter to a warlock at the top of a tower where every step brings you closer to death. The game’s simple concept and Game Boy-styled presentation work very well, and though this game doesn’t do anything truly extraordinary, Puzzle game fans will likely find this to be well worth the $5 price tag.
#1 Anagrams	Puzzle	C
tl;dr #1 Anagrams is a Puzzle game that has players creating as many words as they can using a selection of a few letters. The presentation isn’t great and the controls are clunky, but overall this is a decent Puzzle game, albeit one that’s widely available on mobile devices. However, if you want a version of the game on Nintendo Switch, this works.
#1 Anagrams Sudokus Bundle	Compilation / Puzzle	C
tl;dr #1 Anagrams Sudokus Bundle is a Compilation containing two Puzzle games: #1 Anagrams and #1 Sudoku. Neither of these games is especially great, and while this bundle does offer some decent savings over the price of getting these games separately, I don’t know that $6 for two sub-par games really sounds all that much better than $8 for two sub-par games.
11111Game	Puzzle	C
tl;dr 11111Game is a Puzzle game where players slide tiles in a grid to try to combine them to add up their numbers to match the current target with shifting base and character amounts. This game’s rules are poorly-explained, and even once you understand them, there’s little here that’s compelling for anyone but math nerds. The one exception is a very good soundtrack, but even that isn’t enough to make me recommend this game to most people.
A Little to the Left	Puzzle	C
tl;dr A Little to the Left is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players must “tidy up” screens of varied objects. What exactly “tidy up” means is somewhat open to interpretation, and it’s frustrating when it’s not clear what the game wants… and it’s boring and tedious when it’s too obvious. The result is a game that never really managed to be fun for me.
Among Pipes	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Among Pipes is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has players rotating pipes to direct the flow of a liquid. It’s a decent game with a lot of content, but it’s not nearly as compelling as the classic game Pipe Dream. Fans of the genre may find this to be a decent time-waster, but not much more than that.
Awe	Puzzle / Simulation	C
tl;dr Awe is a game that’s part Puzzle and part Simulation, with a bit of Music-Rhythm as well. It is only playable using the touchscreen in handheld mode. It is a calm, relaxing game about interacting with a planet in ways that the player is meant to figure out on their own. However, once you figure out how to play it, doesn’t really offer any added depth or challenge. Some players enjoy Awe, but most will get bored with it very quickly.
Blind Postman	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Blind Postman is a character-based Puzzle game that has players sliding around the game’s levels until something stops them. This style of Puzzle game is a dime a dozen, but I suppose this one plays decent enough, and the $4 price tag isn’t bad. Just don’t expect anything especially noteworthy of extraordinary about this game.
Bonfire Peaks	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Bonfire Peaks is a family-friendly character-driven Puzzle game about setting fire to your belongings. It’s a decent entry in the genre, but nothing special, and certainly nothing that makes it worth the $20 price.
Booomshine Plus	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Boomshine Plus is a Puzzle game where players place an explosion on a screen full of bouncing dots to create a chain reaction that hits as many dots as possible. For $2 this is an okay time-waster, but there’s not enough depth here to hold your interest for too long.
BQM -BlockQuest Maker-	Content Creation Application / Puzzle / Action-RPG	C
tl;dr BlockQuest Maker is a Content Creation Application that lets players create and share their own character-based Puzzles with light Action-RPG elements. The presentation here is primitive with a terrible camera, and the Puzzle gameplay isn’t anything revolutionary, but the creation and sharing tools are decent, and players looking to create puzzles to share with others should find this to be worth a look.
Bunny Adventure	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Bunny Adventure is a family-friendly Puzzle Game that has you moving islands to form a path for a bunny to reach an exit. It’s a decent game for young kids, but older players will quickly find themselves wanting for something more substantial.
Burnstar	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Burnstar is a puzzle game where you are bombing and burning your way through puzzles. It does nothing especially bad or especially noteworthy. It’s okay.
Colorful Colore	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Colorful Colore is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has you sliding a block around a maze toward an exit, only touching walls of the same color. It’s a decent but unoriginal and forgettable Puzzle game, a short $3 distraction that’s probably worth the price, but not much more than that.
Colsword	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Colsword is a family-friendly Puzzle game that has players trying to recreate a pattern by using color-coded swords to draw lines on a tile grid. It’s a decent Puzzle game, but not a noteworthy one.
CrossKrush	Arcade / Puzzle	C
tl;dr CrossKrush is an Arcade-style game where players take the role of an elderly couple blowing up cars trying to drive in front of their house. This amusing premise unfortunately makes for somewhat tedious gameplay that is constantly making the player wait before they can take action. As a result, while CrossKrush isn’t a terrible game, it’s not an especially fun game either.
Dude, Stop	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Dude, Stop is a Puzzle game where players are given a series of simple tasks and charged with completing a certain percent of those tasks correctly… or incorrectly. The game absolutely relies on its sense of humor which is kinda’ hit or miss, and some elements of the gameplay are frustrating as well. In the end, it’s an interesting idea, but the execution is lacking.
Factotum 90	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Factotum 90 is a Puzzle game where players guide drones to solve puzzles. It’s a fairly rudimentary but largely competent game, although the visuals are unimpressive and the slow movement speed makes the game’s pace drag. Fans of the genre still may find it worthwhile though.
Fairune Collection	Compilation / Puzzle / Action-RPG / Shmup	C
tl;dr Fairune Collection is a compilation of 4 games… although if we’re being honest it’s more like 2 games with some extras. Fairune 1 & 2 are Action-RPG Puzzle games, Fairune Origins is a 15-minute distraction in the same vein, and Fairune Blast is an unlockable Shmup that takes 3 minutes to complete. So clearly Fairune 1 & 2 are the meat of this collection, with gameplay that’s a little like 2D Zelda games with a focus on exploration and puzzle-solving. When it works, it’s really fun, but these games all have a slew of problems that lead to a lot of frustration. In the end, I’d still recommend it to fans of the classic Zelda series, but only if you’re prepared for this game’s numerous issues.
Fire Tonight	Isometric Puzzle	C
tl;dr Fire Tonight is a character-driven Isometric Puzzle about a couple trying to reunite in the midst of a raging fire… that honestly no one in the game seems especially concerned about. The character designs and soundtrack here are great, but beyond that there’s just not anything especially compelling in this game’s 1-hour playtime to make it worth recommending.
Fluffy Milo	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Fluffy Milo is a family-friendly character-based Puzzle game in the Sokoban style. This game has a cute presentation, but doesn’t really do anything else out of the norm for the genre.
Girabox	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Girabox is an okay but forgettable family-friendly Puzzle game that has you shifting gravity to move a box to a goal. It’s a serviceable entry in the genre, but not especially noteworthy or memorable, and the presentation is extraordinarily bland. Unless you’re a fan of the genre looking for a brief distraction, this one isn’t worth your time.
Golf Peaks	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Golf Peaks is a Puzzle game where you’re trying to make the right movements to get your ball across varied terrain to the hole. It works well enough, and it has a good presentation, but there’s nothing especially compelling here.
Grab Lab	Puzzle / Arcade	C
tl;dr Grab Lab is a Puzzle game with Arcade sensibilities where your character keeps walking forward until you use a grappling hook to rappel to the opposite side of the room. As a puzzle game, it works okay, but doesn’t really do anything especially novel or interesting.
Hitori Logic	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Hitori Logic is a Puzzle game similar to games like Sudoku and Picross, where players are removing numbers from a grid instead of adding them. It’s a decent time-waster, but not especially compelling.
Indie Puzzle Bundle Vol. 1	Compilation / Puzzle	C
tl;dr Indie Puzzle Bundle Vol. 1 is a collection of four Puzzle games that are all in the average-to-decent range, and all provide a good amount of variety. Having said that, there’s no truly stand-out games here, and even saving $10 on the cost of buying these games separately still makes for a steep price. If you’re a fan of the genre and this game has a good sale it may be worth getting, but otherwise steer clear.
Inhabit	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Inhabit is a family-friendly character-based Puzzle game that has players in different types of puzzles representing different household tasks. The presentation here is adorable, and the puzzles are nicely varied, but none of them is particularly new or exciting, and the game’s 1 hour length and unambitious design makes the $5 price tag seem a tad high. Puzzle fans may find this a decent distraction, but not a particularly memorable or long one.
Island Maze	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Island Maze is a Puzzle game where players roll a cube around various islands, trying to get the sides to align properly to pass obstacles to get to an exit. The presentation here is good, but I found the act of getting the cube to move how I wanted a frustrating affair, and one not worth spending my time on when there are far better Puzzle games on the Switch.
Kitty Powers’ Matchmaker: Deluxe Edition	Simulation / Puzzle / Misc.	C
tl;dr Kitty Powers’ Matchmaker is a Dating Sim with strong Puzzle elements that takes a whimsical approach to the genre, but it’s a bit shallow for its price, and the lacking options make its puzzle elements less than satisfying. It’s not bad, but you should only get it if the topic matter really appeals to you.
Knight’s Retreat	Puzzle / Board Game	C
tl;dr Knight’s Retreat is a Puzzle game using Chess rules where players must move knight pieces to an exit. The visuals are unimpressive, and this game doesn’t do anything especially noteworthy, but it’s a decent game for those who enjoy Chess-themed Puzzle games.
Lyne	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Lyne is a Puzzle Game that has you using lines to connect dots. It’s a simple but decent Puzzle game that works well enough, but the $10 price tag seems like far too much an ask for what’s on offer here, especially when it’s over three times the price it’s listed for on other platforms. Skip it.
Magic Code	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Magic Code is a Puzzle Game where players direct a wizard to light up energy points. It’s built on a genuinely good concept of solving puzzles using programming instructions, but unfortunately the execution here feels cheap and poorly-made in a few ways. If you can get it on sale, it may be worth playing, but otherwise skip it.
Minesweeper Genius	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Minesweeper Genius is a puzzle game that is not Minesweeper, but rather, a character-based puzzle game loosely based on Minesweeper. It’s a decent puzzle game, but it lacks the addictive quality that the original Minesweeper had.
Mom Hid My Game!	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Mom Hid My Game is a puzzle game about a boy searching for his hidden game machine in increasingly bizarre and silly situations. It’s amusingly silly, but it’s not very deep and won’t be much more than a minor distraction.
NecroBoy: Path to Evilship	Puzzle	C
tl;dr NecroBoy is a Puzzle game where you command undead minions to do your bidding, which mainly comes in the form of hitting switches to solve puzzles. There are some cleverly-designed puzzles here, but the overall game is extremely tedious, and the loads of text to convey the story just isn’t as clever or interesting as the game seems to think. This game isn’t without its good qualities, but I think most will find it’s not worth their time.
NecroWorm	Arcade / Puzzle	C
tl;dr NecroWorm is an Arcade-style Puzzle game that has you trying to collect all the pickups in each level without trapping yourself with your own body. It’s a fairly standard, predictable Puzzle game with an intentionally off-putting presentation. If that sounds appealing to you, you’ll probably be satisfied with this game.
One Line Coloring	Puzzle	C
tl;dr One Line Coloring is a pretty simple family-friendly Puzzle game that has you tracing lines on a puzzle and trying to complete it without using the same line twice. It’s a decent relaxed experience, but it’s largely devoid of challenge. This one’s for casual players only.
Pipe Push Paradise	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Pipe Push Paradise is a puzzle game where you push pipes to reconnect the water supply. It’s okay, but it lacks anything to really set it apart or make you want to play it for any great length of time.
Professor Lupo and His Horrible Pets	Top-Down Puzzle	C
tl;dr Professor Lupo and His Horrible Pets is a character-based Top-Down Puzzle game where players take the role of an intern on a space station trying to escape from hostile alien creatures. The theme and presentation here are great, and the puzzles are well-designed, but everything is brought to a screeching halt due to how agonizingly slow your character’s movements are, killing the pacing and making this game almost unbearable to play unless you’re an especially patient and forgiving player.
ReactorX	Puzzle	C
tl;dr ReactorX is a family-friendly character-based Puzzle game where players fix a spaceship’s engines by pushing reactor core blocks into the right positions on color-coded pathways. There’s nothing inventive or original here, but for an inexpensive Puzzle game, this is a decent distraction.
Slayaway Camp: Butcher’s Cut	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Slayaway Camp: Butcher’s Cut is a sliding block puzzle game disguised as a slasher film tribute, and although it gets repetitive before long, it’s still likely to make fans of slasher films crack a smile.
Sokodice	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Sokodice is a Puzzle game that has players moving dice around to match numbers on tiles. It’s a decent, relaxed Puzzle game, but nothing particularly exciting or original.
Spellworm	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Spellworm is a Puzzle game that has you moving a worm through word search puzzles, spelling out words. This game has a boring presentation and predictable gameplay, but it doesn’t do anything especially bad either, outside of being pretty forgettable. If you’re looking for an inexpensive Puzzle game to kill some time, you could do worse.
Swim Out	Puzzle	C
tl;dr Swim Out is a Puzzle game where you’re trying to move a swimmer to an exit without colliding with anyone, and every move you make causes the others in the pool to move as well. It’s a simple premise with a nice presentation, but there’s nothing especially compelling here.
The Stretchers	Puzzle	C
tl;dr The Stretchers is a family-friendly character-based Puzzle game that has you moving around a pair of emergency responders picking up injured people and moving objects in the environment. It’s a clever concept that’s used in a variety of ways, but unfortunately it’s hard to appreciate it due to the game often having difficulty registering objects for you to grab, as well as arbitrary button assignments that will fight against muscle memory for many players. This game still has moments of fun, but you have to struggle with these frustrations to get to them.
The Vampires	Puzzle	C
tl;dr The Vampires is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle game where players try to remove blocks to get a cartoony vampire head to roll into each level’s cartoony human heads. This game evokes some classic mobile Puzzle games, and it’s not especially original. Additionally, it lacks the touchscreen controls that this game seems like it would have been designed for. However, for only $5, it still may make for a decent time-waster.
Windosill	Interactive Toybox / Puzzle	C
tl;dr Windosill is a family-friendly Puzzle Game and Interactive Toybox that has you fiddling with odd objects and strange machines to try to keep your toy vehicle moving on to the next room. This is a wonderfully imaginative game with some excellent Puzzle design, and it’s a solid port to Nintendo Switch with good controls. Unfortunately, the game’s extremely short 30 minute length is made even more unreasonable due to its absurd $10 price tag, over three times what this game costs on other platforms. If this game were priced more reasonably, it would be a truly great game despite its brevity. As-is, it’s an insult to Nintendo Switch owners.
Zombillie	Arcade / Puzzle	C
tl;dr Zombillie is an Arcade-style Puzzle game that has you munching your way through mazes while avoiding your own growing body. It’s a decent but unspectacular entry in the genre, with some good presentation elements but sluggish controls. Not bad, but not great.
#1 Crosswords Bundle	Compilation / Puzzle	C-
tl;dr #1 Crosswords Bundle is a Compilation containing two Puzzle games: #1 Anagrams and #1 Crosswords. Neither of these games is especially great, and while this bundle does offer some decent savings over the price of getting these games separately, I don’t know that $6 for two sub-par games really sounds all that much better than $8 for two sub-par games.
#1 Pastime Bundle	Compilation / Puzzle	C-
tl;dr #1 Pastime Bundle is a Compilation containing three Puzzle games: #1 Anagrams, #1 Crosswords, and #1 Sudokus. None of these games is especially great, and while this bundle does offer some decent savings over the price of getting these games separately, I don’t know that $8 for three sub-par games really sounds all that much better than $12 for three sub-par games.
Bundle: Memory – The Original Matching Game from Ravensburger + Rush Hour Deluxe – The Ultimate Traffic Jam Game!	Compilation / Puzzle	C-
tl;dr This bundle, whose absurdly long name I won’t repeat here, includes the two named games, both solid takes on classic games that were woefully overpriced in their individual releases… and this bundle does little to improve that, still being absurdly overpriced. Do yourself a favor and just get Clubhouse Games instead of this.
Chess Knights: Viking Lands	Puzzle / Board Game	C-
tl;dr Chess Knights: Viking Lands is a Puzzle game using Chess rules where players must move a knight piece to an exit. This game doesn’t have many of the issues that plagues Chess Knights: Shinobi, but it still has problems with its camera and a few other small issues, and that is on top of a pretty unexciting game with a worn-out gameplay formula. If you’re a fan of Chess and Puzzle games, this may be of interest to you, but otherwise it’s not worth your time.
Contraptions	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Contraptions is a Puzzle game that has you using various objects to create a Rube Goldberg machine to complete a goal, much like The Incredible Machine. Unfortunately, the game does a poor job telling you what to do and how to do it that it ends up being more frustrating than fun.
Cubic Light	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Cubic Light is a family-friendly Puzzle game where players place light projectors on a grid to fill the entire grid in with the appropriate color of light, presented with a vector-style “spacey” theme. I suppose this game works, but it does nothing interesting or memorable, and the presentation lacks polish. Overall, this is an okay Puzzle game, but far from a great one.
Doubles Hard	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Doubles Hard is a character-based Puzzle game that takes the gameplay of Lode Runner and brings it into the third dimension with cube-shaped levels that can be spun around. This simple concept is complicated by poor controls and a lack of information provided to the player, and the presentation is underwhelming.
Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch	Puzzle / Sudoku Puzzle / Misc.	C-
tl;dr Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for Nintendo Switch is the latest game in the Brain Age series, and as of this writing it is not available in the United States. We’re not missing out on much. While the version of sudoku included here has possibly the best interface a videogame version of the game has ever had, it’s content-poor, feature-poor, and surrounded by a bunch of tedious grade school homework the game forces you to play through to unlock what little fun content there is here. There’s fun content buried in this package, but it’s not worth shoveling through the mountain of crap to get to it.
Energy Balance	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Energy Balance is a math puzzle game about moving around numbers to fit the puzzle’s requirements. It’s a decent, albeit niche, premise, but it’s one that has all the joy sapped out of it by a dour and unappealing presentation.
Energy Cycle	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Energy Cycle is a straightforward no-frills Puzzle game where you change the colors of dots to try to get them to all be the same color. It’s not especially compelling in any way, nor is it all that memorable.
FruitFall Crush	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr FruitFall Crush is a Puzzle game where players rotate the game board to try to get fruit to fall into position to match. It’s not a terrible Puzzle game but it is a highly disposable one, and $15 seems far too much to ask for a game this simple and forgettable.
G-Mode Archives25 Topolon	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Topolon is a Puzzle game where players are trying to clear a network of viruses by selecting nodes to clear the viruses that are adjacent. It’s a solid concept that builds on a classic Puzzle design, but unfortunately inconsistent rules and a dated presentation make this one hard to get into.
Grab the Bottle	Arcade / Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Grab the Bottle is an Arcade-style Puzzle game where you guide a hand through an obstacle course of objects to grab collectables and then, as the title states, a bottle. It’s an odd, original premise, but it’s held back by frustrating, tedious gameplay that’s just not fun to play.
Gradiently	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Gradiently is a Puzzle game that has players sorting colored squares to create a gradient. This is almost less of a game and more of a simple task of sorting, and players looking for a compelling Puzzle game won’t find it here. However, if you’re looking for simple, easygoing busywork as a time-waster, Gradiently is decent enough at that.
Grid Mania	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Grid Mania is a puzzle game where you move rows or columns of colored balls until all of them are in their proper locations. There’s a lot of content here, but the experience is marred by the difficult challenge level and the cold, anesthetic presentation.
Henry the Hamster Handler	Puzzle / Arcade	C-
tl;dr Henry the Hamster Handler has you pressing buttons at prompts much like Simon Says, to keep hamsters safe as they pass through various death traps. There was potential here for something really interesting, but that potential is never realized, with this game just being a tedious slog with a terrible presentation.
Hexa Maze	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Hexa Maze is a Puzzle game that’s similar to tangram-style puzzles, having players fit shapes made of hexagrams into a larger shape. This game does little to reinvent the gameplay, and the presentation just does not work well here. This isn’t a terrible Puzzle game, but even for the low $5 price of this game I think you have better options on Nintendo Switch.
Infectra	Puzzle / Real-Time Strategy	C-
tl;dr Infectra is a Puzzle game with Real-Time Strategy elements that has you evacuating people during an epidemic. Unfortunately, nothing here is especially compelling – the presentation is dull, the satire misses the mark, and the gameplay is too limited to be all that interesting. No matter what you’re looking for in this game, you’ll likely find something elsewhere that better satisfies what you want.
Land of Mushrooms	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Land of Mushrooms is a Puzzle Game that has you dropping Mushrooms into a pot in hopes of combining similar mushrooms into larger ones. In other words, this is basically Suika Game but with mushrooms. Unfortunately, it has numerous issues that make it artificially difficult, and it just can’t compare with the game it’s shamelessly copying. Get Suika Game instead, if you’re going to get either of them.
Line Time	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Line Time is a Puzzle Game where players swap in and out a series of instructions to balls of light on a grid to ensure that all of them arrive at goal squares. The gameplay starts simple but quickly gets overly complicated, and all the memory space this game uses for its space station setting is wasted on gameplay focused on looking at a plain screen. Skip this one.
Little Inferno	Puzzle / Misc.	C-
tl;dr Little Inferno is an interactive toy with Puzzle elements that has you setting fire to various objects to watch them burn. It’s amusing but shallow, and while you may enjoy this game for a little bit, it’s not likely to be a game you’ll spend much time with before moving on.
Lockstone	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Lockstone is a Puzzle game where you select tiles on a grid to change their color. This game does nothing that hasn’t been done in countless other Puzzle games, but if you’re looking for something inexpensive to kill time, I suppose it will suffice.
Mars Power Industries	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Mars Power Industries is a Puzzle game that has you placing power stations of Mars to power local terraforming bases. It’s a fun concept with an inviting presentation, but it’s so minimalist that it does a poor job of conveying what you’re supposed to be doing or the rules the game is imposing on players. The result is a game that’s unnecessarily frustrating, and even once you’re past that frustration the game underneath isn’t terribly compelling.
Minefield	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Minefield is a mostly-decent version of the classic Puzzle game Minesweeper, but it lacks a few basic features like quick-clearing around a cel and touchscreen, and the presentation is not only distracting, it actually makes it more difficult to see the gameplay. For $1, it’s not terrible, but it’s definitely not without its problems.
Molecats	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Molecats is a family-friendly Puzzle game where you guide creatures through caves to an exit by spinning rooms around. While this game has a decent and interesting presentation, the gameplay is slow-paced and gives the player only a limited ability to interact with the creatures or their environment. Not a terrible Puzzle game, but you have better options on the Nintendo Switch.
Not Not – A Brain Buster	Mental Exercise	C-
tl;dr Not Not is a Mental Exercise game where you’re following commands as a timer ticks down. It’s not really fun or especially noteworthy in any way.
Professor Lupo: Ocean	Top-Down Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Professor Lupo: Ocean is a character-based Top-Down Puzzle game and sequel/epilogue to the previous Professor Lupo game. This time, players take the role of a clone trying to escape from a crashed space station underwater trying to escape from hostile alien creatures and other dangers. Fans of the original game may find this to be a satisfying follow-up, but everyone else needn’t bother. Not only is the story directly tied to the first game, but your character’s movements are still agonizingly slow, killing the pacing and making this game almost unbearable to play unless you’re an especially patient and forgiving player.
Puzzle Herder	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Puzzle Herder is a character-based Puzzle game in the Sokoban style that has you moving the same kinds of animals into groups before pushing them to an exit. It’s a premise that works, but there is otherwise nothing of interest going on here, and the game is overall clunky and unpolished. It’s not horrible, but you have countless other better choices on Nintendo Switch.
Rush Hour Deluxe – The Ultimate Traffic Jam Game!	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Rush Hour Deluxe is a videogame version of the classic Puzzle Game that has players sliding vehicles around a grid to try to make room for a red car to exit. While the game itself is fine, the $20 price tag is absurd, and I cannot recommend it for that price, especially when you have numerous other less-expensive ways to play this game.
Snap Together	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Snap Together is a Puzzle Game where players must reassemble 3D objects by manipulating each of their pieces. This gameplay is very similar to what we saw in The Shape of Things, only with worse controls, less originality, a far worse presentation, and a higher price tag. To its credit, it does have a multiplayer mode the other game lacks, but unless that feature specifically is what interests you, you’re much better off going with The Shape of Things.
Solitaire TriPeaks Flowers	Card Game (Solitaire – Misc.) / Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Solitaire TriPeaks Flowers is a Card Game with Puzzle elements that’s best described as “inspired” by TriPeaks, with each of the game’s stages acting as a pre-crafted puzzle to solve. For what it is, it’s not bad, but the lack of features and ugly remnants of this game’s mobile roots mar the experience somewhat.
Super Puzzle Pack	Compilation / Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Super Puzzle Pack is a Compilation of five family-friendly Puzzle games: Candy 2048 Challenge, Gems of Magic: Lost Family, Jigsaw Fun: Piece It Together!, Match Three: Pirates! Heir to Davy Jones, and Yum Yum Line. Most of these are uninspired knockoffs of well-worn Puzzle game types, and there’s little here to justify this package’s price, even when on sale. This isn’t the worst collection of Puzzle games, but you can do better on Nintendo Switch.
Tell Me Your Story	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Tell Me Your Story is a family-friendly Puzzle game following a young girl visiting her grandmother and fantasizing about traveling the world. This game has a lovely presentation and a good premise of giving younger players a variety of kid-friendly puzzles. Unfortunately, terrible signposting makes these otherwise very easy puzzles unnecessarily confusing, and being published by RedDeer.Games means there’s all sorts of sleazy tactics going on here to try to inflate sales. The result is a game I cannot recommend, despite its positive qualities.
Tell Me Your Story Games Collection	Compilation / Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Tell Me Your Story Games Collection is a Compilation of Amelia’s Garden, Cook For Love, and Tell Me Your Story, three family-friendly games with a lovely presentation but dull, tedious, and unnecessarily confusing gameplay. If you catch this bundle on sale it’s a much better deal than getting any of the included games on their own, but even so it’s hard to recommend this bundle when the included games are all mediocre at best.
Totes the Goat	Arcade / Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Totes the Goat is an Arcade/Puzzle game that has you jumping from one platform to the next to change their color. Basically, this is a copy of the old game QBert, and it does little to distinguish itself. It’s fine, but nothing great.
Zen Chess Collection	Puzzle / Board Game / Collection	C-
tl;dr Zen Chess Collection contains four “games” that are all variations of “Mate the opponent in X moves”. It has a nice presentation, but the lack of variety and options here is really disappointing.
Zodiacats	Puzzle	C-
tl;dr Zodiacats is a family-friendly tile-swapping puzzle game with cartoony cats and a focus on zodiac signs. Unfortunately, the gameplay is bland and unoriginal, and while the presentation is decent, the puzzles themselves are sepia-tone and not much to look at. Unless you absolutely love both cats and zodiac stuff, and don’t mind playing the most basic and simple sort of puzzles, skip this game.
#1 Crosswords Sudokus Bundle	Compilation / Puzzle	D+
tl;dr #1 Crosswords Sudokus Bundle is a Compilation containing two Puzzle games: #1 Crosswords, and #1 Sudokus. Neither of these games is especially great, and while this bundle does offer some decent savings over the price of getting these games separately, I don’t know that $6 for two sub-par games really sounds all that much better than $8 for two sub-par games.
Amazing Machines	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Amazing Machines is a Puzzle game where players must use various contraptions to get all aliens off the screen. It’s clearly trying to copy the classic formula of The Incredible Machine games, and it is generally doing a poor job of it, with a terrible presentation, extremely poorly-designed menus, a lack of anything original to contribute, and an insultingly bloated $20 price tag. There may be some fun to have here, but you’re far better off spending your money elsewhere.
Amelia’s Garden	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Amelia’s Garden is a family-friendly has players repairing pottery in gameplay that’s roughly like a Jigsaw Puzzle, and then fills up space by forcing players through a series of tedious tasks. As a result, there’s very little actual gameplay here. I recommend you skip this game.
Cubic Figures	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Cubic Figures is a family-friendly Puzzle game in the “Pentomino” style, where players must arrange puzzle pieces into designated shapes, with a vector-style “spacey” theme. I suppose this game works, but it does nothing interesting or memorable, the presentation lacks polish, and there’s a terrible lack of options. Puzzle game fans looking for something inexpensive can do better than this.
CubicBan	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr CubicBan is a family-friendly Puzzle game in the “Sokoban” style, where players must push boxes into designated squares, with a vector-style “spacey” theme. I suppose this game works, but it does nothing interesting or memorable, the presentation lacks polish, and there’s a terrible lack of options. Puzzle game fans looking for something inexpensive can do better than this.
Impossible Mission	Puzzle / Platformer	D+
tl;dr Impossible Mission is a Platforming game with Puzzle elements that’s often seen as one of the classics of the Commodore 64 platform, but sadly it has not aged well, and while this release does add a few graphical enhancements and quality-of-life features, these additions do not justify the absurd $15 price tag for a 40 year-old game. Unless you’re wearing nostalgia goggles that can blind you to how poorly-aged and overpriced this game is, skip it.
MetaDude	Visual Novel / Puzzle	D+
tl;dr MetaDude is a Visual Novel presented as a digital superhero comic book, and while the artwork is excellent, the story is pretty scatterbrained and at times incoherent. In addition, the puzzles that start each of the “issues” of the comic aren’t interesting in any way, and only serve to slow things down. Skip this one.
Mini Words Collection	Compilation / Puzzle / Educational	D+
tl;dr Mini Words Collection is nominally a Compilation of three Puzzle games with an Educational component, but all three games play nearly-identically, having players use a small jumble of letters to spell out words. However, all three games have terrible controls and boring gameplay, and all but one of the three games has a drab and lifeless presentation. Even at a low $4, I cannot recommend this snoozefest of a game.
Monster Dynamite	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Monster Dynamite is a physics-based Puzzle game that has players placing and detonating bombs to try to knock monsters off of platforms while keeping benign creatures in place. The gameplay here is very similar to the Angry Birds games, and this game’s gameplay doesn’t add much to that formula, and in fact makes things worse with a sub-par presentation and bad level design, all with an absurdly high price tag. Skip this.
Monster Puzzle	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Monster Puzzle is a character-based Puzzle game that does nothing especially interesting, looks terrible, and has frustratingly slow gameplay. There are numerous other games just like this that have much more to offer you.
Velone	Puzzle	D+
tl;dr Velone is a Puzzle game where players place stones on a hexagonal grid to build an automated alien machine. The gameplay and mechanics are clearly copied from the acclaimed game Opus Magnum, but an absolutely abysmal tutorial that confuses players more than it teaches them means that the highly-complex gameplay here is rendered virtually-unplayable. Skip this one.
#1 Crosswords	Crossword Puzzle	D
tl;dr #1 Crosswords is a Crossword Puzzle game that does just about everything wrong. Bad presentation, bad controls, bad menus, bad puzzle design, bad game design. You don’t have many good choices for Crossword Puzzles on Nintendo Switch, but even so, fans of these sorts of puzzles should avoid this game.
0x0 Minimalist	Puzzle	D
tl;dr 0x0 Minimalist is a block-pushing Puzzle game where you move an X on a grid, pushing O blocks onto highlighted squares. The graphics are boring and there is no sound or music. There is no level select and no options. This game is technically functional, but offers nothing you can’t find in countless other games that do this gameplay better.
Angry Bunnies: Colossal Carrot Crusade	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Angry Bunnies: Colossal Carrot Crusade is a physics-based Puzzle game like Angry Birds, except it has a worse presentation, worse gameplay, and is more aggressive about pushing its microtransactions. If you want this sort of game, just get Angry Birds on your Smartphone and skip this.
Color.Motif Deluxe	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Color.Motif Deluxe is a Puzzle game that has you moving shapes in a kaleidoscopic image to recreate a geometric shape. Unfortunately, this game offers absolutely zero challenge, and even above and beyond that the progression and lack of touchscreen controls sap any remaining fun out of this experience.
Cubic Parking	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Cubic Parking is a family-friendly Puzzle game in the “Rush Hour” style, where players must blocks to allow the passage of a “car”, with a vector-style “spacey” theme. The puzzle design here is terrible, and this game does nothing interesting or memorable, the presentation lacks polish, and there’s a terrible lack of options. Puzzle game fans looking for something inexpensive can do better than this.
Dungeon Solver	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Dungeon Solver is a character-based Puzzle game where you move tiles representing medieval fantasy characters through a mazelike dungeon, taking out enemies with gameplay loosely similar to chess. Unfortunately, the presentation is dull and boring, the controls are stiff, and the gameplay is tedious and more about wasting time than actually solving puzzles. My recommendation is that you not waste your time with this game.
Harem Girl Isabella	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Harem Girl Isabella is nominally a Puzzle Game, and as the title makes clear this is also an ecchi game with artwork of scantily-clad and topless girls in compromising poses, though there’s not really anything truly raunchy here. What’s more, the tile-swapping gameplay is really rudimentary and not especially interesting, and while the artwork is nice, it’s nothing compelling enough to sit through this boring gameplay just so you can ogle it. Trust me, if you want porn, just look for porn. If you want a Puzzle game, you have plenty of better options. There’s just no reason to get this game.
Hentai Uni	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Hentai Uni is nominally a Puzzle Game, and as the title makes clear this is also an ecchi game with artwork of scantily-clad and topless girls in compromising poses. Unfortunately, the tile-swapping gameplay is more brain-dead than a children’s game, and while the artwork is nice, it’s nothing interesting enough to sit through this boring gameplay just so you can ogle it. Trust me, if you want porn, just look for porn. If you want an actual game, get something else.
Hentai: Make Love Not War	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Hentai: Make Love Not War is nominally a Puzzle Game, and as the title makes clear this is also an ecchi game with artwork of scantily-clad and topless girls in compromising poses. Unfortunately, the tile-swapping gameplay is more brain-dead than a children’s game, and while the artwork is nice, it’s nothing interesting enough to sit through this boring gameplay just so you can ogle it. Trust me, if you want porn, just look for porn. If you want an actual game, get something else.
Make It Fly!	Puzzle / Simulation	D
tl;dr Make It Fly! is a game with Puzzle and Simulation elements that has players piecing together parts to custom-built their own airplane or car, with the goal of getting that vehicle to a goal at the end of a path. Unfortunately, this game does a poor job conveying information to the player, the physics are inconsistent and unreliable, and even if you’re doing everything right you’ll still likely have to fail at levels countless times just to grind. With all of this being the case, you’re better off skipping this game.
nBlocks – Unblock Your Creativity	Puzzle	D
tl;dr nBlocks is a Puzzle game where players try to recreate pictures using LEGO-like blocks. Unfortunately, the Puzzle gameplay is far too easy for most players, the controls far too complex for the extremely young players who might still enjoy those puzzles, and while the creative mode was a good idea in theory, it’s undermined by how limited this game truly is as a creative tool. As a result, I strain to think of anyone who would find this game anything more than a frustrating disappointment.
The Answer is 42	Puzzle / Educational	D
tl;dr The Answer is 42 is a family-friendly Educational Puzzle game where players connect different numbers to add them to equal 42. While this premise isn’t devoid of potential, this game doesn’t really do anything interesting with it, meaning that mostly all you’re doing here is just adding numbers together. As a result, playing this game is about as fun as doing your math homework.
Theme Park Jam	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Theme Park Jam is a Puzzle game about sorting color-coded passengers into roller coaster carts, and while it works as a functional Puzzle game, it is bereft of any joy or fun thanks to a poor presentation and a frustrating interface. Even at $1 I don’t think this game is worth bothering with.
Twist & Match	Puzzle	D
tl;dr Twist & Match is a Puzzle game about spinning around 3D objects until they match a silhouette. The objects aren’t particularly detailed or interesting, and the gameplay gets old and repetitive very, very quickly. Don’t bother with this one.
Koi DX	Puzzle / Misc. Game	D-
tl;dr Koi DX is an odd game that has you swimming as a fish in a pond and solving “puzzles” that aren’t really puzzling. The gameplay is boring, uninventive, and slow, the graphics are basic and uninteresting, and the game constantly slows things down even more whenever anything of note happens. Don’t bother with this one.
Marble Flow	Puzzle	D-
tl;dr Marble Flow is a Puzzle game where players tap on sections of half-pipe to create a path for marbles to reach an exit. This game is almost completely devoid of any sort of challenge or personality, and levels start repeating shortly after you start playing. Even at $1, this game feels like a rip-off.
Pool Puzzles	Puzzle	D-
tl;dr Pool Puzzles is a sliding-block Puzzle game with a Pool motif. The Puzzle gameplay is decent enough, albeit completely unoriginal. However, it’s trapped in a package that’s poorly put-together and inexplicably refuses to let players play the game in docked mode, even though the game doesn’t make any use of the touchscreen. If you’re looking for a budget Puzzle game, you have plenty of better options than this.
Rogue Bit	Puzzle / Maze Game	D-
tl;dr Rogue Bit is a puzzle/maze game that has you guiding a single bit of a computer program as it navigates through the program to escape. Unfortunately, this clever conceit quickly leads to puzzles that will only be solved by the most observant and most tech-savvy of players. For everyone else, it just becomes incomprehensible.
Tiny Derby	Arcade / Racing (Misc.) / Puzzle	D-
tl;dr Tiny Derby is a mobile-style Arcade game with Racing and Puzzle elements that has players trying to help their yellow square win a foot race against other squares by placing power-up and power-down items on the track. It’s an interesting idea made mediocre by a lack of depth and variety, then made outright bad due to terrible game design and controls. Don’t bother with this one.
Word Puzzles by POWGI	Puzzle	D-
tl;dr Word Puzzles by Powgi is a collection of letter puzzles that has a sparse and unappealing presentation, music that will annoy the hell out of anyone older than six, and a vocabulary selection that oddly spans from “baby’s first words” to “turmeric” and “macaque”. Skip it.
890B	Puzzle	F
tl;dr 890B is nominally a Puzzle game, but this release crashed 10 minutes into the game and refused to let me past that point. What I got to play was all tedious fetch quests and poorly-written dialogue, followed by even more tedious interactions with a computer that had zero respect for players’ time. Whoever released this terrible game in this horrible state on Nintendo Switch deserves to be shamed for this, and you absolutely should not buy it.
Chess Knights: Shinobi	Puzzle / Board Game	F
tl;dr Chess Knights: Shinobi is a Puzzle game using Chess rules where players must move a knight piece to an exit. Unfortunately, this game is loaded with problems, with the most major one being arbitrary and inconsistent game design. Simply put, this game is broken. Do not pay for it.
Hentai Games Collection	Compilation / Puzzle	F
tl;dr Hentai Games Collection is a Compilation containing Hentai Girls, Hentai Golf, Hentai Stars, and Hentai World, four games that are all absolutely terrible and try to entice you into buying them with sexy anime-style girls. Do yourself a favor and just look for that sorta’ thing on a search engine. Even at the sale price of $2, these games aren’t worth it.
Hentai Girls	Puzzle	F
tl;dr Hentai Girls is nominally a Puzzle Game, and as the title makes clear this is also an ecchi game with artwork of scantily-clad and topless girls in compromising poses. Unfortunately, the tile-sliding gameplay is more brain-dead than a children’s game, with terrible controls and some poor game design choices, and while the artwork is nice, it’s nothing interesting enough to sit through this boring gameplay just so you can ogle it. Besides, with only six unique images, there’s not much to ogle in the first place. Trust me, if you want porn, just look for porn. Don’t give this horribly shameless cash grab your money.
Hentai Stars	Puzzle	F
tl;dr Hentai Stars is nominally a Puzzle Game, and as the title makes clear this is also an ecchi game with artwork of scantily-clad and topless girls in compromising poses. Unfortunately, the tile-sliding gameplay is more brain-dead than a children’s game, with terrible controls and some poor game design choices, and while the artwork is nice, it’s nothing interesting enough to sit through this boring gameplay just so you can ogle it. Besides, with only six unique images, there’s not much to ogle in the first place. Trust me, if you want porn, just look for porn. Don’t give this horribly shameless cash grab your money.
Hentai World	Puzzle	F
tl;dr Hentai World is nominally a Puzzle Game, and as the title makes clear this is also an ecchi game with artwork of scantily-clad and topless girls in compromising poses. Unfortunately, the tile-sliding gameplay is more brain-dead than a children’s game, with terrible controls and some poor game design choices, and while the artwork is nice, it’s nothing interesting enough to sit through this boring gameplay just so you can ogle it. Trust me, if you want porn, just look for porn. If you want an actual game, get something else. If you can, that is – the way this game was released multiple times just to flood the eShop is particularly gross. Don’t reward this trashy practice with any of your money.
Sorry, James	Puzzle	F
tl;dr Sorry, James is a Puzzle game that has players solving puzzles to decrypt a lurid conversation. The story is compelling, but the gameplay is so ill-conceived and outright broken that I would not recommend anyone to force themselves to struggle through it. Do not get this game.

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