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

Puzzle-Platformer

Game	Genre	Grade
Animal Well	Metroidvania / Puzzle-Platformer	A
tl;dr Animal Well is a Metroidvania with strong Puzzle-Platforming elements where players take the role of a small blob in a series of caves and ruins teeming with a variety of fauna and flora that they must explore. This game is a masterpiece of graphical design, audio design, puzzle design, and gameplay design. While it falls just short of perfect due to a few minor annoyances, overall this is a game that should be considered a must-play for fans of either Metroidvanias or Puzzle-Platformers.
Braid, Anniversary Edition	Puzzle-Platformer	A
tl;dr Braid is a Puzzle-Platformer about a man trying to undo the problems of his past and reunite with his girlfriend, with this taking the form of a game about manipulating time. As in its original release, this game features some truly incredible puzzle design and a gorgeous presentation that looks even better in this release, and it’s joined by new levels and over 12 hours of commentary. All of this adds up to what is truly the definitive version of an absolute must-play Puzzle-Platformer.
Gris	Puzzle-Platformer	A
tl;dr Gris is a puzzle-platformer that seeks not to challenge the player, but guide them through an emotional journey of absolutely beautiful sights and sounds, looking into the soul of a young girl working through a dark time in her life. Don’t play this game if you want a great game, play it if you want an absolutely captivating experience.
Inside	Puzzle-Platformer	A
tl;dr Inside is a Puzzle-Platformer that is the spiritual successor to Limbo, and it improves upon the first game in nearly every way, with stunning and stylish visuals, clever and varied gameplay, and a fascinating and detailed world. The only complaint I have is that the game is tragically short – just 3 or 4 hours long. However, it’s an enthralling 3-4 hours, and if you don’t already have this game on another platform (and don’t mind the game’s gruesome violence), you should absolutely pick this one up.
Captain Toad Treasure Tracker	3D Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Captain Toad Treasure Tracker is a game where players guide the titular non-jumping character through numerous levels that are each like little puzzle boxes. The puzzles are clever, and the presentation is solid, and this is overall a fantastic puzzle game, although it’s not without a few annoyances.
Forgotton Anne	Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Forgotton Anne is a puzzle-platformer with a wonderful, unique story and a fantastic presentation that seems like it’s right out of a Studio Ghibli film. The puzzle design isn’t especially challenging, but you’ll want to play through the game to experience more of its story.
Limbo	Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Even eight years after its first release, Limbo is still a master class in efficient game design, with excellent Puzzle-Platformer gameplay using simple, straightforward mechanics, and an impressive, memorable presentation that somehow fits within 123MB of memory. While the game’s gruesome imagery may scare off some, and its repeated and often necessary deaths do get frustrating, overall this is still a fantastic entry in the genre well worth owning on the Switch if you don’t already have it on another platform.
Promenade	Platformer / Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Promenade is a Platformer with Puzzle-Platformer elements that takes the goal-oriented level design of some 3D Platformers and brings it into a 2D game with plenty of creativity and a solid presentation. This game is absolutely one that Platformer fans should play.
Toki Tori 2+: Nintendo Switch Edition	Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Toki Tori 2 is a Puzzle-Platformer that plays very differently from the first game, with players limited to only two basic abilities, and progressing through the game by learning how the various parts of the environment react to those abilities and each other. It’s a refreshing and streamlined approach that suits the game very well, making it a unique experience that’s bolstered by an excellent presentation, with some extremely clever puzzle design.
Toodee and Topdee	Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Toodee and Topdee is a family-friendly Puzzle-Platformer that has players swapping between two characters – one who controls like a Platformer, and one who controls like a Top-Down character-driven Puzzle Game character. This game’s fantastic level design makes wonderful use of the game’s central gameplay mechanic, and supplements it with a nice presentation and adorable characters. There are a few places where this game could have been improved, but overall this is a phenomenal Puzzle game that fans of the genre should definitely play.
Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince	Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Trine 4 returns the series to its classic 2D Puzzle-Platformer gameplay, and it is in absolutely fine form here, with jaw-droppingly gorgeous graphics, superb puzzles, and some of the best Co-Op you’re going to find in any game anywhere, with a focus on using the unique abilities of its three protagonists to get past puzzles and obstacles. It’s unfortunate that the combat is sub-standard, because otherwise everything about this game is an absolute triumph.
Unravel Two	Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Unravel Two is a family-friendly Puzzle-Platformer that has you playing as a pair of small yarn-creatures as they use their yarn to help each other get past various obstacles in a real world environment. The presentation, while not on par with other versions, is still fantastic, and the puzzles are superb, whether you’re playing solo or in co-op. The only thing holding this game back is its short length, but with its low price, this game is absolutely worth getting on Switch if you don’t already have it elsewhere.
Wandersong	Puzzle-Platformer	A-
tl;dr Wandersong is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players in the role of a bard looking to save the world by singing different musical notes to solve puzzles. Despite its simple, unimpressive graphics and lack of challenging gameplay, this game has an absolutely charming presentation, a wonderful story, excellent music, and is overall a fantastic experience for all ages.
Arise: A Simple Story – Definitive Edition	3D Platformer / Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Arise is a 3D Platformer with Puzzle-Platformer elements where players can fast forward and rewind the flow of time to solve puzzles. The platforming isn’t very good, and the puzzles aren’t especially difficult, but that’s also not really the point – this game is all about delivering a beautiful audiovisual experience that takes you through a journey of an old man looking back on the events of his life. In that regard, this is a wonderful, moving experience that should not be missed.
FAR: Lone Sails	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr FAR: Lone Sails is a Platform-Puzzle game where players control a character who can pilot a large vehicle by interacting with various machines, not least of which is the vehicle itself. The game mechanics and challenge level are fantastic, and the presentation is superb, but the game is too short and the ending is anticlimactic. Still, if you don’t mind a smaller experience, this game is excellent while it lasts.
Farewell North	3D Platformer / Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Farewell North is a 3D Platformer and Puzzle-Platformer that has players moving through an emotional story of a woman and her dog visiting Scottish islands after the death of a beloved family member. The gameplay here is fine but nothing special, but this gameplay isn’t really the point. This is more about the moving story and beautiful presentation, and in that regard this game absolutely succeeds.
Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition	Puzzle-Platformer / Platformer / Party Game	B+
tl;dr Home Sheep Home is a family-friendly co-op Puzzle-Platformer and Party Game based on the Shaun the Sheep animated series and films. This game manages to do a great job with all of its disparate elements – the license is scaled-down somewhat, but what’s here does justice to the franchise. The Puzzle-Platformer content is smartly well-crafted, and the Party Game content is fun and varied enough to keep players entertained for a good while. I have some issues with the core Platformer mechanics here, but overall this is an excellent package that does its best to please everyone, and largely succeeds.
Lost Words: Beyond the Page	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Lost Words is a Puzzle-Platformer about a young girl writing in her diary while she struggles while a loved one is suffering from an illness, and also about the story she is writing that has metaphorical ties to her current situation. The story is well-written, well-told, and well-voice acted. The Puzzle-Platformer gameplay is also good, making some inventive use of words, though perhaps not as inventive as I would have liked. Still, the gameplay is good, and the story content is compelling enough that it more than makes up for any lack of ambition in the gameplay.
Maggie the Magnet	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Maggie the Magnet is a family-friendly physics-based Puzzle-Platformer where players control a magnet by turning on and off its magnetism. The simple one-button gameplay is well-crafted, and combines with excellent level design to make for a thoroughly enjoyable Puzzle game, with a surprisingly hefty amount of content for its small $5 price tag. If you’re a fan of Puzzle games, Maggie the Magnet is well worth picking up.
Mighty Switch Force! Collection	Compilation / Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Mighty Switch Force! Collection is a Compilation of four family-friendly games in the Mighty Switch Force! Series (well, three games plus one remake), and while each of these games on its own would be a bit too short, together they make for a solid collection with great level design that’s well worth playing.
Mosa Lina	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Mosa Lina is a physics-based Puzzle-Platformer that spits in the face of genre conventions, giving players a simple task to perform and outfitting them with tools that may be wholly incapable of completing that task. it’s up to players to experiment and find unique ways to use their randomized set of tools. And sometimes players need to admit they can’t do it, give up, and try something different. This won’t be a game for everyone – some players will surely despise the high difficulty and the game’s absolute refusal to present something well thought-out and polished. But others will be absolutely delighted by the variety, wild creativity, and the bold decision to teach players the hard way that they need to be willing to admit defeat. At the very least, players craving something different in a Puzzle-Platformer should absolutely consider Mosa Lina a must-have.
Reventure	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Reventure is a Puzzle-Platformer where you’re basically trying to find all the different ways to get your character killed. It’s clever, delightfully funny, and has a unique approach to puzzles that really makes you think through how to do things differently after each death. It’s not without some frustrating issues, but on the whole this is a wildly original game well worth playing.
Snipperclips – Cut It Out Together!	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Snipperclips is a Puzzle-Platformer where up to four players control anthropomorphized Joycon controllers snipping off parts of one another to get into shape to solve puzzles. It’s a fun concept that’s well-executed, with a lot of great all-ages Co-Op gameplay. It’s nothing revolutionary or impressive, and there are a few rough edges, but overall this is a solid game worth playing.
Teslagrad	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Teslagrad is a Puzzle-Platformer that puts you in the role of a young boy being hunted by a murderous dictator, finding himself in a tower full of technological marvels. This game has a beautiful presentation and some really creative puzzles. It has a few issues with confusing world design and frustrating difficulty spikes, but overall this is an excellent entry in the genre well worth trying.
Thomas Was Alone	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Thomas Was Alone is a family-friendly Puzzle-Platformer that uses simple visuals, simple gameplay, and outstanding writing and narration to tell a delightful story with wonderful characters. This game isn’t going to impress anyone with its graphics or wow them with some new gameplay mechanic, but it is a master class at telling a story using narration and mechanics in a videogame. If you have not yet played it on another platform, I highly recommend it.
Trine 2: Complete Story	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Trine 2 is one of the highlights of its series, and of Puzzle-Platformer games in general, with its wonderful focus on using each of its three characters’ unique abilities to solve puzzles becoming even better in Co-Op play. It still suffers from sub-standard combat, and its stunning visuals have aged a bit in the time since it was first released nearly a decade ago, but make no mistake, this is a must-have game for fans of the genre, as well as those looking for an amazing Co-Op experience.
Trine Ultimate Collection	Compilation / Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Trine Ultimate Collection is a Compilation that includes all four games in the Puzzle-Platformer series about three characters with different abilities using their unique talents to fight enemies and solve puzzles. This is a treasure trove for anyone who enjoys the genre or is looking for a top-notch Co-Op collection for their Switch, with most of these game being visually-stunning as well.
Zombie Night Terror	Puzzle-Platformer	B+
tl;dr Zombie Night Terror is a Puzzle-Platformer in the vein of Lemmings, where players indirectly control a zombie horde rampaging through the game’s levels. Level goals could be a bit more clear, and this release is missing the PC version’s level builder, but otherwise this game is an absolute delight that makes fantastic use of the Nintendo Switch’s unique features, has a great presentation, and gives players a truly inspired twist on a classic of the genre.
BoxBoy + BoxGirl!	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr BoxBoy + BoxGirl is a Puzzle-Platformer with the simple and straightforward premise that you play as a box-shaped character that can spawn off additional boxes to solve puzzles. The game’s premise and presentation don’t do anything particularly new and exciting, but this is still a solid game for fans of the genre.
Catherine: Full Body	Puzzle-Platformer / Visual Novel	B
tl;dr Catherine is a Platform-Puzzle game with Visual Novel elements that puts you in the role of a man who wakes up after a night of drinking with a woman other than his girlfriend in his bed, and meanwhile suffers nightmares every evening that have him shifting blocks to climb a tower to escape a monstrous woman. Both halves of this game have some solid elements and a great presentation, but there’s also some frustrating controls and plot elements that seem excessive. This is still a solid Puzzle game worth trying though, especially if you’re enticed by the game’s mature themes.
FAR: Changing Tides	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr FAR: Changing Tides is a Puzzle-Platformer and successor to FAR: Lone Sails with a similar premise of moving in and around a large vehicle to try to operate it to get you across a large distance, with this game’s vehicle being a watercraft. This is still much the same great experience, and thankfully a longer one as well, though I think the platforming is clunky and your main vehicle isn’t as responsive as I would like. Even with these flaws I still think this is a solid sequel, though on balance I prefer the first game.
Fez	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Fez is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players changing perspective in 3D to solve its 2D Platforming puzzles. The presentation is great, the puzzles are clever, and there’s stuff here to cater to those of varying skill levels. It can be a bit too easy to get lost thanks to all the perspective-changing and an inadequate map, but overall this is a solid game that every fan of the genre should play.
Helheim Hassle	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Helheim Hassle is a Puzzle-Platformer about a resurrected Viking who is sick of Valhalla and looking to get a spot in Helheim instead, and to do so he must solve puzzles by detaching his body parts. it’s a silly game that does a good job delivering on its humor and makes good use of its central game mechanic with excellent puzzle design. This one isn’t likely to make any waves in the genre, but it’s a solid Puzzle-Platformer all the same, and worth checking out.
Hue	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Hue is a Platform-Puzzler that has players changing the color of the background to make colorful objects blend into it to solve puzzles. It’s not a new or revolutionary idea, but it’s done very well here, with an excellent presentation that makes good use of contrast to emphasize its colorful presentation. Definitely a worthwhile game for fans of the genre, so long as you don’t mind its short length.
Ibb & Obb	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Ibb & Obb is a co-op focused Puzzle-Platformer that requires two players to play. However, if you do have a friend to play with, this is a solid entry in the genre that makes good use of its simple mechanics to deliver some great co-op gameplay.
It’s a Wrap!	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr It’s a Wrap! is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players running through various movie scenes and also timing the scenes’ special effects to make each stage passable. The trial-and-error back-and-forth nature of the gameplay won’t please everyone, but otherwise I think this is a fun and original entry in the genre.
Mario Vs. Donkey Kong	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Mario Vs. Donkey Kong is a remake of a Game Boy Advance Puzzle-Platformer that not only completely recreates the visuals and sound from scratch, but adds multiple new features and a bunch of new levels as well. This is an all-around solid remake of a solid game, which is why it’s disappointing that the price seems overly high for what’s on offer here. Still, if you’re a fan of Puzzle-Platformers this is a game you’d be advised to give it a chance if you can snag it on sale.
Max: The Curse of Brotherhood	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Max: The Curse of Brotherhood is a family-friendly Puzzle-Platformer that has you playing a young kid on a quest to rescue his brother after unwittingly wishing him away. The presentation here is good, despite an unlikeable protagonist, and the gameplay here is solid, if a bit limited. There definitely are areas here where the game feels lacking, but overall this is a worthwhile entry in the genre.
Mr. Driller DrillLand	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Mr. Driller DrillLand is an HD remaster of the GameCube entry in the long-running Puzzle-Platformer series, releasing in the West for the first time. It takes the series’ solid gameplay and adds a good amount of variations to keep things interesting. I would have liked to see more done with the multiplayer, but overall this is a good entry in the series that should please fans of the genre.
Pinstripe	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Pinstripe is a Puzzle-Platformer with some good puzzles, but the focus is very clearly on it’s Nightmare Before Christmas-esque presentation and its symbolism-filled story. While the game has its share of frustrations, its positive qualities make it worth experiencing.
Pode	3D Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Pode is a nice little co-op Platforming-Puzzle game with endearing characters, pleasant music, and a challenge level that seems like it would be great for parents to play with their kids, or perhaps for a hardcore gamer to play with a casual gamer significant other.
Semblance	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Semblance is a Puzzle-Platformer that has you deforming the scenery to solve puzzles. The gameplay is fantastic, with some excellent puzzle design, but the presentation is far too simplistic for the 2.9GB, and the game is over far too quickly. It’s still worth playing for as long as it lasts, but this game is more of a brief distraction than a full experience.
The Fall of Elena Temple	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr The Fall of Elena Temple is a Puzzle-Platformer about the titular tomb-robbing Indiana Jones-style adventurer, and a sequel that simplifies both the visuals and gameplay of the previous game, reducing the gameplay down to the parts that worked best while getting rid of the excess. The result is a game that may not look like much, but is cleverly crafted in a way that Puzzle game fans should absolutely give a try, especially with the game’s low $3 price tag.
Valiant Hearts: The Great War	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a Puzzle-Platformer with a heavy focus on its story, which uses the personal experience of one group of friends to explore the greater conflict during World War I. The puzzle-platforming here is decent, but nothing special. Rather, the real draw here is the story, which brings us into The Great War with likeable characters caught up in the action. If that story sounds appealing to you, this game is well worth trying.
112th Seed	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr 112th Seed is a Puzzle-Platform game where players control an anthropomorphic seed in a post-apocalyptic research facility. While this game is relatively short and doesn’t reinvent the genre, the puzzles here are well-crafted and the game’s $5 price tag makes this game a worthwhile choice for fans of the genre.
Arise + What Lies in the Multiverse Bundle	Compilation / 3D Platformer / Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Arise + What Lies in the Multiverse Bundle is a Compilation of the two titular games, both very different kinds of Puzzle-Platformers, but both quite good in their own way. Really, the problem with this bundle isn’t the quality of the content, but the price – at $35, it’s technically slightly more expensive than buying both games separately. With this being the case, while I do recommend both games, I recommend buying them separately, at least unless you get this bundle on sale at a good price.
Clocker	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Clocker is a Puzzle-Platformer where players take the role of a clockmaker with a magical stopwatch that can rewind or move forward time for people and objects in an otherwise frozen world. The premise is good, but the execution is inconsistent in its logic, and the presentation feels tonally at odds with some of that gameplay. It’s still a decent game, and well worth the $4 asking price, but it could have been much better.
Dros	3D Platformer / Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Dros is a 3D Platformer and Puzzle-platformer where players take the role of a duo of characters forced to depend on each other to survive – an armored bounty hunter named Captain, and a symbiotic inky slime creature called a dros. These are excellent characters, the presentation is great, and the dual-character puzzle design here is excellent. Unfortunately, this is one of the most unstable games I have played on Nintendo Switch, frequently crashing on me. Unless you have the patience to put up with that, you may want to consider trying this game on another platform.
Little Nightmares Complete Edition	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Little Nightmares is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players taking the role of a young child escaping a nightmarish prison ship filled with grotesque monsters. There’s some really great atmosphere here, and some solid puzzles, but the 3D platforming and fixed camera perspective makes the platforming needlessly frustrating, and the long loading times exacerbate that frustration. Overall it’s still good, but only if you have the patience to work through those flaws.
Minimal Move	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Minimal Move is a Family-Friendly Puzzle-Platformer where players controlling a pair of alien investigators exploring a strange section of space with altered states of gravity, with players using one character to move blocks left-right or up-down, and the other character to rotate them. These mechanics make for some good gameplay thanks to solid level design, though this is hampered somewhat thanks to controls that do a poor job adapting to the changes in gravity you’ll be dealing with frequently. Still, for Puzzle-Platformer fans, this is well worth checking out.
Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty is a remake of the first game in the Oddworld series, the stealth-focused Puzzle-Platformer Abe’s Oddysee. The presentation here is great, and the world and its characters still have a fantastic personality with a lot of dark humor. However, the gameplay is hampered by stiff, laggy controls. Overall it’s still worth a look if you find the world of the game or the stealth elements appealing, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
Out of Line	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Out of Line is a Puzzle-Platformer where players use a magic spear to create platforms and solve puzzles, and must work with helper characters they meet along the way. It’s a solid entry in the genre with a good presentation, but it’s not very original, overpriced for its short 1-2 hour length, and has some issues with its controls and platforming. It’s not a spectacular entry entry in the genre, but it’s still worth a look if you’re a fan of Puzzle-Platformers.
Planet Alpha	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Planet Alpha is a Puzzle-Platformer where the main draw is exploring its lush, beautiful world, although doing so will mean putting up with all sorts of frustrations caused by all that detail, especially in the game’s maddening stealth encounters.
SuperDuck!	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr SuperDuck! Is a family-friendly Puzzle-Platformer that’s clearly directly inspired by the classic game Krusty’s Fun House (which in turn was inspired by Lemmings). Players must navigate levels, moving around blocks to clear a path for a flock of ducklings to reach an exit. This game doesn’t bring anything new to the table, but it is nevertheless a solid take on the classic formula, with some good level design. Definitely worth a look for Puzzle-Platformer fans.
Sweet Witches	Puzzle-Platformer / Arcade	B-
tl;dr Sweet Witches is an Arcade-y Puzzle-Platformer in the same vein as Lode Runner and Burgertime, where you’re trying to plant flowers throughout the entire level while avoiding enemies. It’s a solid game with some good multiplayer co-op and competitive options, but it could have used a bit more work getting the sound in line with the energy the rest of the game has.
The Adventures of Elena Temple	Puzzle-Platformer	B
tl;dr The Adventures of Elena Temple is a Puzzle-Platformer about the titular tomb-robbing Indiana Jones-style adventurer. The platforming here is pretty poor, and the Metroidvania-style level design without the improving abilities of a Metroidvania is just wasting players’ time. But despite this, the decent Puzzle design and overall charm of this game make it well worth its budget price tag.
The Bridge	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr The Bridge is a Puzzle-Platformer where players rotate the world around to change gravity and solve M.C. Escher-esque puzzles. It’s a good concept with good puzzles, but the gameplay can be slow-paced and tedious, which is made worse by the somber, depressing presentation. However, it’s still a good game if you’re patient enough to put up with these issues.
Toki Tori	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Toki Tori is a Puzzle-Platformer that has been remade multiple times over the years, and its release on the Nintendo Switch has it getting gorgeous graphics, terrible sound, and missing features like touchscreen that were in earlier versions of the game. This is still a decent game, but its flaws definitely mar the experience.
Trine 3: The Artifacts of Power	3D Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Trine 3 takes the Puzzle-Platformer series into 3D, retaining the series formula of using three characters with distinct abilities to get past obstacles. However, this change has mixed results – the combat is better, but the platforming is much worse. It’s still a decent game, but it’s not as good as the second and fourth titles in the series.
Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr Trine 5 is a physics-based Puzzle-Platformer that has a lot of great potential with good puzzles, great co-op, and beautiful (at times) graphics, but this potential is heavily marred by some severe bugs and graphical issues in the Nintendo Switch version. This game should not have been released in this state, and while what’s here is in many ways excellent, I highly recommend that you wait to get it until these problems are fixed with a patch.
What Lies in the Multiverse	Puzzle-Platformer	B-
tl;dr What Lies in the Multiverse is a Puzzle-Platformer where players shift between multiple realities to get past obstacles and solve puzzles. The platforming here isn’t great, but the puzzle design is excellent, and the characters and story are wonderful, giving off a Rick and Morty vibe. If you’re a fan of Puzzle-Platformers, this one is well worth getting.
Wuppo: Definitive Edition	Puzzle-Platformer / Metroidvania	B-
tl;dr Wuppo is a Platform-Puzzler with Metroidvania map structure. It’s not impressive to look at, and it’s easy to get stuck and unsure where to go next, but its witty writing makes it worth playing through.
A Ch’ti Bundle	Puzzle-Platformer / Platformer / Music-Rhythm	C+
tl;dr This bundle contains Ethan: Meteor Hunter and Inside My Radio. Ethan: Meteor Hunter is a mediocre Puzzle-Platformer, but Inside My Radio is a decent Platformer with Music-Rhythm elements. However, since you can get Inside My Radio separately, you’re probably better off just doing that.
Aspire: Ina’s Tale	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Aspire: Ina’s Tale is a Puzzle-Platformer about a girl trying to escape a machine-filled tower by absorbing “spirits” that allow her to influence the environment in different ways. The puzzles here are very good, but the game ends just when it feels like it’s starting to really get going, and what’s here is brought down somewhat by poor platforming and slow movement. Still, despite these issues, this is an overall pleasant experience that fans of Puzzle-Platformers should find to be well worth trying.
Binaries	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Binaries is a puzzle-platformer that has you moving two balls through a maze at the same time. It’s minimalist, streamlined, and does a competent job of what it sets out to do, even if it’s not ambitious in any way.
Dokuro	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Dokuro is a Puzzle-Platformer where you play as a skeleton minion rescuing a princess from a castle filled with traps and enemies. Your character in this game has a decent selection of abilities and some good puzzle design, though the movement is a bit stiff and awkward and the presentation will not appeal to everyone, nor will the prospect of the game being one big escort quest. Still, there’s enough originality and fun gameplay here to be worth a look for fans of Puzzle-Platformers.
Flip It	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Flip It is a Puzzle-Platformer where players guide a square to an exit flag by swapping the direction of gravity. The basic presentation and simple gameplay is enjoyable enough thanks to some good level design, but the game is so simple and short that it’s not likely to be memorable. Still, I suppose it’s entertaining enough while it lasts.
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.
Human: Fall Flat	3D Platformer / Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Human: Fall Flat is a 3D Platformer and physics-based Puzzle-Platfomer where players must make use of the game’s heavily physics-based nature to reach the end of each level. These sandbox-style elements are absolutely delightful and make for some truly joyous moments, but that joy is heavily marred by this game’s poor and frustrating controls. This is a divisive game, and more than most games I can’t tell you whether you’re likely to enjoy it. Just know that this game has some really rewarding gameplay, but you have to put up with a lot of frustration to get to it.
Little Nightmares I & II Bundle	Compilation / Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Little Nightmares I & II Bundle is a Compilation that includes the two titular Puzzle-Platformers. Both games feature some solid puzzles and some wonderfully dark atmosphere, but the gameplay here isn’t quite on par with the likes of Limbo and Inside. However, if you’re looking to get into this series, this is a decent bundle that gives you a bit of a discount, and may be worth it for fans of the genre who have already played those other two great games.
Membrane	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Membrane is a physics-based Puzzle-Platformer where your character shoots streams of sticky blocks to get past obstacles. Unfortunately, the great ideas this game has are marred by a shoddy execution.
Ministry of Broadcast	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Ministry of Broadcast is a challenging Puzzle-Platformer in the vein of games like the original Prince of Persia and the first two Oddworld games. In this game, players take the role of a man trying to survive through a series of deathtraps set up by an authoritarian regime as a part of a deadly game show of sorts. While this game doesn’t do anything to elevate beyond its genre, it is a great example of it, and the dark atmosphere is excellent. This won’t be a game for everyone, but players who enjoy this style of game will definitely want to check it out.
Monospaced Lovers	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Monospaced Lovers is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players taking the role of Clara, a young woman who awakens to find her phone has been swapped with someone else’s, starting her and the owner of the phone on a quest to figure out what’s going on. This is a game with some really beautiful and clever elements, but they’re somewhat ruined by some poor design choices, questionable editing decisions, poor signposting, and nasty difficulty spikes. If you’re a skilled and patient fan of this genre, you may find what’s good to outweigh what’s bad, but otherwise this may not be for you.
Neversong	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Neversong is a Puzzle-Platformer where players take the role of a young boy recovering from a coma and trying to find his kidnapped friend. This game’s story is wonderfully dark, and its puzzles are good. Unfortunately, the pacing is dreadfully slow, and this is made worse by some nasty loading screens. If you’re a fan of the genre and can take the bad with the good, this game is still worth looking into.
Pikuniku	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Pikuniku is a Puzzle-Platformer that has you as a bean-shaped character with legs facing down an evil corporation. This game’s graphics and sound are lazy and uninteresting, and its gameplay is nothing special, but the hilarious writing makes this game worth playing through.
Qbik	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Qbik is a Puzzle-Platformer where players control a blue square looking to eat all of the yellow squares in each level. The gameplay here is simple but challenging, but the depressing presentation and the lack of any ability to share custom levels really limits the appeal of this game. Puzzle fans may still enjoy it, but most players will find other entries in the genre far more enticing.
Sally’s Law	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Sally’s Law is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players playing as different characters with different abilities cooperating to reach the end of the stage. There are some interesting gameplay ideas here, but they’re buried under some sluggish pacing and an overall lack of challenge.
Shift Happens	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Shift Happens has you controlling two characters (on your own or in co-op) to solve puzzles by switching on the fly which one of them is the light one and which is the heavy one. It does a good job with its concept, but there’s nothing truly memorable or compelling about it.
Tetra’s Escape	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Tetra’s Escape is a puzzle-platformer that has you transforming characters into Tetris-style blocks to get one of those characters to an exit. Unfortunately, some poor design choices make this game far more frustrating than it needs to be.
The Missing: J.J. Macfield and the Island of Memories	Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr The Missing is a Puzzle-Platformer by Swery of Deadly Premonition fame, and he brings the same sort of energy to this story about a young woman exploring a strange island that requires her to repeatedly painfully mutilate herself to proceed. That is to say, it’s extremely awkward, and treats its very delicate topic matter with callous disregard. Having said that, and despite some stiff gameplay, there are some extremely clever game mechanics here that make this a unique experience, and fans of the genre may want to check it out in spite of its flaws… or if you’re a Swery fan, perhaps because of them.
Trine Series 1-3	Compilation / Puzzle-Platformer	C+
tl;dr Trine Series 1-3 is a compilation of the first three games in the series on one physical cartridge. However, since Trine Ultimate Collection contains the first four games, the only people who will benefit from buying this game now are collectors and players who absolutely need to get physical copies of their games. For those players, this is a decent trilogy of games… but for most it’s going to be a far better idea to skip this and get the Ultimate Collection.
Crash Puzzle Hammer-San	Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr Crash Puzzle Hammer-San is a Puzzle-Platformer where you play a character armed with a hammer who must destroy every green block and enemy in a stage before getting to the exit. There’s nothing especially good or bad about this game (except the terrible sound that you’ll want to mute), and while it more or less works, there’s not really any reason for me to recommend it. I suggest getting a better game instead.
Debtor	Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr Debtor is a Puzzle-Platformer that’s a fairly unoriginal and largely uninteresting take on the genre. It’s decent enough to serve as a brief distraction for fans of the genre, but not much more than that.
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.
Inmost	Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr Inmost is a Puzzle-Platformer with a gorgeous, moody pixel art presentation, with a story focusing on three different characters – a young girl, an old man, and a villainous knight. Unfortunately, while this game looks and sounds great, it isn’t very fun to play, with sluggish movement and unclear goals. Fans of the genre may still find it worth a look, but most are better off simply watching a playthrough of the game online.
Little Nightmares II	Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr Little Nightmares II is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players taking the role of a young child moving through a dangerous world filled with grotesque monsters and deadly traps, this time with an AI-controlled friend to work alongside. Like the first game, there’s some good atmosphere here, but the flaws are harder to look past this time, as they have an even greater effect on both the gameplay and presentation. Fans of the first game may still enjoy this, but most are better off sticking to games like Limbo, Inside, and Unravel Two that formed the inspiration for this game.
Live Factory	Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr Live Factory is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players controlling a robot in an underground factory. This is a decent entry in the genre with a good presentation and decent level design, but the Platforming is pretty bad and overall the game just doesn’t seem to do much that’s truly original or memorable. If you’re a fan of the genre, this may be worth a look, but otherwise it’s not going to be a game that’s likely to interest you.
Lumo	Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr Lumo is a Puzzle-Platform game that has players taking the role of a short wizard exploring a labyrinth of dungeons. Unfortunately, the limited camera makes for terrible Platforming, and the repetitive labyrinthine dungeons make it easy to get lost. The Puzzle design here is good, and players patient enough to tolerate the game’s issues may find this to be an enjoyable take on the genre. But this is definitely not a game for everyone.
Macrotis: A Mother’s Journey	Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr Macrotis: A Mother’s Journey is a family-friendly Puzzle-Platformer that has players taking the role of a Nimh-esque rodent trying to find her way home to her children after a terrible flood separates them. While this game does have a few good qualities that might’ve made it an above-average entry in the genre, it’s brought back down again by overly-saccharine voice acting, graphics that occasionally don’t work well with the gameplay, and some absolutely atrocious input lag. If you’re a fan of Puzzle-Platformers you may still enjoy this, but most are better off avoiding it.
Millie and Molly	Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr Millie and Molly is a Puzzle-Platformer with a retro art style that’s pretty standard and not really noteworthy in any significant way outside of its curious Commodore 64 origins. However, those are hardly a reason to buy this game instead of multiple other better games on the Nintendo Switch.
My Diggy Dog 2	Puzzle-Platformer	C
tl;dr My Diggy Dog 2 is a family-friendly Puzzle-Platformer that has you playing a dog in small self-contained levels where you jump and dig through dirt to reach an exit. It’s polished in its presentation but pretty simple and basic in its gameplay. This one’s more for the kids than for veterans of the genre.
Blindy	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Blindy is a puzzle-platformer where your character only sees terrain and obstacles after touching them. It’s an interesting concept, but it’s ruined by tedious gameplay and and underwhelming presentation.
Candle: The Power of the Flame	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Candle: The Power of the Flame is a Puzzle-Platformer where you play as a tribal villager using, among other things, his ability to carry flame in his hands to solve puzzles and trek to save his village. This game has absolutely amazing hand-drawn visuals, but unfortunately those visuals also make it damn difficult to see what you need to do to get past the puzzles in a given area, making this a really frustrating experience.
Ethan: Meteor Hunter	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Ethan: Meteor Hunter is a Puzzle-Platformer where you can freeze time and move parts of the environment around to solve puzzles. It’s a good concept, but the game is stingy with your use of the central mechanic, and everything else about the game is mediocre. Only the most diehard fans of puzzle-platformer should bother with this one.
Flood of Light	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Flood of Light is an atmospheric Puzzle-Platformer that has players moving a girl through a city and redirecting power to make the flooding waters recede. This game has a wonderful atmosphere, but it’s controls are far too tedious and frustrating, and its puzzle design too poorly-communicated and inconsistent. Unless you have a wealth of patience, this game should be avoided.
Hoggy2	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Hoggy2 is a Puzzle-Platformer that has you swapping gravity to solve its puzzles. Unfortunately, the slow character movement and the lacking presentation make it really difficult to enjoy this game.
Never Alone: Arctic Collection	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Never Alone is a Puzzle-Platformer where players play as a young indigenous Northern Alaskan Iñupiat girl who sets out with a white arctic fox companion in search of the source of a blizzard threatening her people. The presentation and cultural elements of this game are very good, but this is largely ruined by gameplay with terrible, unreliable controls, as well as multiple other issues that make this game far too frustrating to play. Unless you’re extremely enthusiastic about the topic matter, skip this one.
Pathfinders: Memories	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Pathfinders: Memories is a Puzzle-Platformer that has players memorizing stages’ layouts, and charting a character’s path after all the stage’s features are removed from your view. It’s a decent premise, but one that the game doesn’t build on in any way that makes it interesting or memorable, and sub-par controls make even this mediocre experience less enjoyable. This isn’t a terrible game, but it’s far from anything particularly good.
Portal Dogs	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Portal Dogs is a Puzzle-Platformer that has you guiding green “dogs” to portals. It’s not terrible, but a lot of things about this game feel sloppy and not very well-designed, and the puzzles aren’t compelling.
Puzzlement	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Puzzlement is a Puzzle-Platformer that has you moving a two-dimensional character through 3D space, and trying to collect all of the red dots in a level. It’s an interesting idea, but this idea is ruined by stiff, slow-paced platforming and terrible control issues that make the game dreadfully tedious.
QUByte Classics – The Humans by PIKO	Compilation / Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr The Humans is a Compilation of the versions of this Puzzle-Platformer that originally released on Super Nintendo and Game Boy. Unfortunately, poor controls and absolutely terrible pacing issues make this game torturous to play. Skip it.
Trine: Enchanted Edition	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Trine is a classic Puzzle-Platformer that has aged somewhat since its release over a decade ago. It features solid gameplay focused on using its three central characters’ abilities to get past obstacles, but the game is unfortunately bogged down by awkward controls and frequent, terrible combat. There’s some good gameplay to be had here, but you have to struggle to enjoy it.
Vigour	Puzzle-Platformer	C-
tl;dr Vigour is a Puzzle-Platformer where players move a blue pig to different boxes to light and darken them. The puzzle design here is good, but the controls have issues, and the 20-minute game length means even the low $4 price tag seems a bit much.
Safety First	Puzzle-Platformer / Misc.	D+
tl;dr Safety First! is an odd game where you’re using the two control sticks to control the two legs of a robot to make it pee on electrical cords. It’s an interesting concept, but between the bare bones presentation and the broken gameplay, it feels like a game that needed more time in development.
Seeders Puzzle Reboot	Puzzle-Platformer	D
tl;dr Seeders is a physics-based Puzzle-Platformer about a skateboarder investigating a construction site. This game is poorly-made, looks ugly, and brings nothing new or original to the genre. Skip it.
Silent World	Puzzle-Platformer / Horror	D-
tl;dr Silent World is a Puzzle-Platformer with Horror elements that doesn’t do the Platforming well, doesn’t have interesting Puzzles, and isn’t scary. More than anything, this is an agonizingly slow game that is not worth bothering with.

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