Mortal Kombat 11 finally realised a true Mortal Kombat experience on Nintendo hardware, and with Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, Nintendo Switch players get to experience this full expansion in all its glory. The five-chapter-long Story mode isn't essential, but it does a nice job of weaving the non-third-party DLC characters into the narrative, with Shang Tsung still managing to steal the show. The three additions to the roster certainly won't set it alight, but Fujin alone does bring a few dimensions to the party. It's a fun expansion, but the asking price is still a little too high at launch.
What it lacks in hyperrealism and officially-licensed teams, Super Mega Baseball 3 more than makes up for with a carefully adjusted set of physics that are deep enough to cater to RBI Baseball players while offering up the welcome addition of some improved modes. Franchise mode alone feels like a proper extension of the brand, with its irreverent sense of humour lending a welcome nuance to an otherwise content-heavy sports simulation.
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Thanks to some welcome changes to its core systems – mainly the improved battle mechanics and the great onus on story content – Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto is the most accomplished and enjoyable instalment in the series yet. While it's certainly more for the hardcore Naruto crowd, it's nevertheless a meaty package with an impressively vast roster, a huge amount of unlockable content and the addition of the film-tie in for the Baruto storyline. If you love all things Naruto, this fourth instalment is a must-have addition to your ninja collection.
If you're looking for a retro shooter that isn't actually a 25-year-old port of a N64 game, then Ion Fury is the time-travelling love letter from the past you've been waiting for. While its weapons and boss fights won't leave much of an imprint on your memory, the speed and intensity of its gunfights and the intricacy of its level designs more than make up for it. If you want to be punished and rewarded by the shooter principles of old, this is the new/old FPS for you.
20 years before it was spiritually reawakened as SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy, the Neo Geo Pocket Color added another fine string to its bow with the enjoyable handheld combat of SNK Gals' Fighters. With a few extra changes for Nintendo Switch – namely support for far easier to set up local multiplayer and a handy rewind feature – this classic portable fighter is now in the rudest of health. It's not the deepest of fighting games, but with an already strong Neo Geo presence on the platform, this cutesy battler is a fine way to perfect your combos on the go.
Bullet-hell games aren't often known for melancholic narratives and exploration at a sedate-pace, but ITTA isn't your usual bullet-hell experience. This is a top-down adventure that will appeal to fans of Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition, Titan Souls and the like, one full of confident storytelling and very challenging bullet hell bosses. While its difficulty curve can wildly fluctuate, making it less than palatable to genre newbies, those with a taste for danger who want a new bullet-hell extravaganza might just find their new obsession.
The MotoGP series has been a bit of a mixed bag over the years, but with MotoGP 20 Milestone is finally beginning to realise its vision for a full-bodied racing simulation. The considerable Career mode offers a deep management experience, while the introduction of Historic Mode adds a fun way to earn rewards for daily challenges. But it's the changes to on-track performance and the deeper bike mechanics that make this a truly realistic, if not particularly penetrable, experience.
While it's not the best the series has been – many could argue Jedi Knight II or Jedi Outcast will perpetually battle for that title – Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is still a fun and lengthy trek across the (non-canon) Star Wars universe. The multiplayer doesn't live up to its former glories, but the sprawling and semi non-linear campaign certainly makes up for it with its lightning-fast lightsaber combat and that silly quintessentially silly approach to Star Wars that was still rife in the early 2000s. Don't expect Jedi: Fallen Order, but do expect a time capsule of an action-adventure.
While Saints Row the Third proved a more inconsistent port – mainly because it was a much older game – Saints Row IV: Re-Elected fares far better with better performance, minimal input lag and a refreshingly solid output in handheld mode. It's gunplay is always going to be messy and its unashamed sense of humour will undoubtedly offend some, but having such an activity rich experience running so well on your handheld console isn't to be sniffed at. And with so much extra content available in the Re-Elected package, Switch players have another long-term investment on their hands.
Fighting game aficionados will probably go elsewhere, but for those looking for a fun and mostly chaotic fighter will find an enjoyable experience here.
While it was already something of a relic when it launched on the N64 almost 25 years ago, Doom 64 remains a great example of just how refined a formula the series offers and just how good a job the late Midway did in the shadow of id Software. The lack of local multiplayer support still stings, even after all these years, but with support for motion controls on Switch – something Nightdive has already pulled off to a tee with its Turok ports – and the addition of a new DOOM Eternal-themed level, this is classic retro shooter that deserves a little more love.
Kitty Powers' Matchmaker is a cute and inclusive dating simulator that does a great job of normalising love, regardless of gender, sexuality or appearance.
Despite its shortcomings, this is a solid two-wheeled racer that retains all the usual modes and extras and runs like a treat in handheld mode. Just don't expect it to feel massively different from the previous instalment.
Games in the 'visual novel' corner of the industry can often leave you a little cold unless you're happy to watch an anime with a small amount of actual player interaction, but with its unique premise and interesting take on a fantasy world (think Netflix's Bright, but actually good), Coffee Talk serves up a refreshing brew of angst, introspection and coffee beans. Its hand-crafted story mode is a tad too short for our liking, but with Endless mode you'll have plenty of fun getting in touch with your inner barista.
If you're after a new addition to your social multiplayer pile, this is an easy sell. Sure, it's a little old considering its long history on myriad platforms, but it's hard to deny just how enjoyable and easy it is to pick up, even for younger Nintendo Switch owners. The support for local and online multiplayer is great, as is the ability to play through the story mode solo, but the intermittent issues with performance in handheld mode does put a few wrinkles in this hero's costume.
While utilising the ruleset of a more traditional CCG system might put off some players, the on-brand approach to turn-based combat in Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is still a positive addition to the world. Because with such an involved and intricately designed story – and such an interesting world to explore beyond the confines of Geralt – Thronebreaker offers the opportunity to lose yourself in the Continent like never before.
Despite being late to the war-torn party, the Nintendo Switch version of Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times is still a robust and enjoyable turn-based dungeon crawler that benefits from having its roots in mobile gaming. Years of updates mean new players have access to a lot of content, but tactically it becomes a little stale once you learn to exploit its easily-manipulated levelling system. Still, if you're a fan of the Warhammer universe then this game does manage to tickle an itch that only dungeon-based loot drops can scratch.
Overall, Blacksad: Under the Skin is both a faithful adaptation and a frustrating example of modern adventure game pitfalls. Fans of the original comics will enjoy seeing Blacksad himself brought to life so accurately, but some inconsistent performances in the voiceover department and some frustratingly unresponsive controls make it a far less enjoyable experience. There's a really intriguing mystery to unfold and solve, but with some technical problems and a little too much blurring for our liking, you'll have to grit your teeth if you really want to crack this case on the go.
Translating a set of revered gamebooks from the '80s into video game form was always going to be something of a challenge, and while the version that's made the jump to Nintendo Switch under a new name doesn't bring anything particularly different to the tabletop party, developer Asmodee has retained the evocative world-building of Ian Livingstone's books while adding in some helpful features. It's a little lacking in the looks department, but if you fancy taking a trip back in time to RPG questing of old, Deathtrap Dungeon Trilogy certainly offers plenty of retro adventures of its own.