Those of you who are here for a good time and not for a long time will probably enjoy Midnight Swamp. It does all the basics pretty well and any point-and-click adventure fan would enjoy this; that being said, the length felt more akin to a demo and some more ambitious meta-game would have been welcome. A promising platform for Wild Omul to build upon and I, for one, am excited to see what they do next.
Mina the Hollower is perhaps one of the best-value Switch/Switch 2 games of recent times, which has to be applauded. I personally found it a bit too frustrating at times, but if you give it the patience it deserves, then the rewards are pretty handsome. The soundtrack, pixel art, level design and sheer breadth of gameplay make Mina the Hollower another hit from Yacht Club Games.
Constance is a fine metroidvania which is well-paced, well-designed and beautifully drawn. The combat is a bit meh; however, some will view that as being more accessible but some will view it as lacking ambition. Whichever way you view it, I would personally recommend Constance to any metroidvania fans who love a meaningful story and/or don’t want a massive time sink.
Shadows of the Afterland should be recognised as a top-tier point-and-click adventure on the Nintendo Switch. It was a fun (if at times moribund) experience which looks great and is faithful to its inspiration, but it will only appeal to fans of the genre and not a whole lot more.
Darwin’s Paradox is a respectable entry in the slew of games inspired by classics like Limbo and Inside, and while it shows glimpses of something special, it never quite reaches the same heights. And while the game is, for lack of a better term, good, the current state of the Nintendo Switch 2 version only highlights its foibles. Overall, a 7 feels apt; it does a lot right and is enjoyable for the most part, but its start-and-stop nature and unfortunate performance challenges on Switch 2 keep it from being elevated any further.
All in all, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an intoxicating adventure that I couldn’t put down. The heady mix of exploration, adventure, puzzle-solving and accessible but challenging combat is moulded together by Ember Lab fantastically well. The news that a sequel, Kena: Scars of Kosmora, is coming out shortly makes me incredibly excited!
Quite simply, no one does it better than Capcom. The sheer amount of care and thought that has gone into the game design and the level design in Resident Evil Requiem is staggering, and that’s before you mention the sound effects, the art, the music, etc. It’s just such a polished piece of entertainment and the move to the dual-genre approach is a bold one that will please most gamers. Don’t let this doddery old fool put you off; Resident Evil Requiem is the first true AAA sensation on the Nintendo Switch 2 and is the beginning of an exciting future for Nintendo players.
The French games industry is obviously on a high after Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and MIO: Memories in Orbit continues to carry the torch for our Gallic friends. MIO: Memories in Orbit is unlikely to win any awards for gameplay originality, but in 2026 it will take some beating on art direction and soundtrack. MIO: Memories in Orbit is a charming, ethereal journey that any adventure fan should embark upon.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is everything I hoped it would be; the introduction of Sol Valley is a brave and masterful touch, and the balletic combat and fun exploration are still front and centre in the experience. I really hope we don’t have to wait another 18 years for a masterpiece like this!
Spindle is a fun action RPG, which will keep you entertained for a weekend or a few days. The story is refreshing and meaningful, which ultimately elevates it above being labelled as ‘just another Zelda-like’.
If you and a friend are Little Nightmares fans, then this entry will revolutionise your world. The co-op mode is superb and it fits into the series like a glove. However, if you’re likely to be playing this single player, then perhaps basking in the first two games is a better way to spend your time. That being said, Little Nightmares remains the best in the business at what it does, and its hardcore fans will be rewarded regardless.
Without sounding too much like Goldilocks, Turbo Kid is a metroidvania just the way I like it. Not too easy, not too hard and the exploration is challenging and not too hand-holdy. Is Turbo Kid the greatest metroidvania based on a Michael Ironside film? Of course it is, until a Top Gear or Starship Troopers metroidvania comes along (publishers and developers take note). But in all seriousness, Turbo Kid is very good in all the right places and is a must-play for any metroidvania fans!
Shadow Labyrinth is an expansive and hearty adventure, and you will not feel shortchanged for the sheer amount of hours you will need to sink into it. There are, however, many other more cohesive metroidvanias available on the market at the moment. The combat is nice, as are the graphics, but many of the gameplay components feel a bit out of place, making Shadow Labyrinth feel like a missed opportunity.