On its own, Spellspire is an enjoyable word RPG, somewhat in the same vein as a Puzzle Quest. The replayable nature makes it a nice game to have on hand as a complement to the Switch's other games. It's a focused and fun twist on a known formula, well worth checking out if you need a break from Mario.
Even with all those issues, Rime is enjoyable, but the Switch version makes it a lesser overall experience. I can't speak to specifics, but if the framerate and graphics are better elsewhere, seek those versions out in lieu of this release. The allure of portability doesn't make Rime a better game, especially with the compromised graphics.
This is a game that is aware of its goofy setup and relishes in a sea of cat puns and insanity. It's not a terribly long game - I rolled credits within a few hours - but it's a fun romp with a straightforward and entertaining action RPG style. Cat Quest is a game that likely won't stick with me for too long, but it was a pleasant time basking in cat gags and beating up on foes with swords and magic.
Battle Chef Brigade is an absolute feast of a game on Switch, with a highly polished story and a brilliant fusion of match-three and action. It might be coming out in a busy time of year, but this is a game not to be missed.
Nine Parchments has its problems, but for the most part, it is still an entertaining dungeon crawler.
Outside of some convoluted details and a somewhat shorter length, this is a very rad rhythm game that stands out amongst others because of its gorgeous artwork and inventive take on breakdancing gameplay.
Seeing your mild-mannered business associate argue with aliens is very funny, until it starts getting old. When that happens, the smile-worthy sheen of the blending of shoot-'em-up and clicker starts to fade, revealing that Vostok Inc. doesn't really do either that well. Charm can only go so far, and unfortunately, the charm here doesn't hide the repetitive, stale gameplay.
Pinball FX3 is an incredible platform for pinball tables, and while a lot of the focus is still on high score chasing, the variety of modes and options makes this deeper than the typical pinball game. The future of this game will depend on how much Zen Studios supports it with new tables, but with 30 out there to start (with one free forever and two free for the first week), the diversity is there on day one. If the craft of each table matches the presentation in the platform, this should be a regular staple of any pinball-enjoying Switch owner.
It distills the fun of stealth into an accessible analog stick or touch screen-controlled experience. The main drawback is that it leans too heavily on repeating similar experiences. As long as you can focus more on the critical path, it's still a worthy game, but the charm and ingenuity start to fade when you see the same environment and setup for the nth time.
No deep experience hides in Mom Hid My Game, but it's an absolutely joyous romp. This is absurdist video game comedy and that's awesome and unique.
It's unfortunately bogged down by a dearth of single-player material and ultimately, this game is doomed by the fact that it stakes so much in online play that doesn't run well. If the online was workable, Brawlout would be much better. As it stands, it's not, and this is a highly flawed experience.
While the short length is somewhat disappointing, Gorogoa is still a breathtaking experience. The gorgeous art and engaging puzzles fuse together for something otherworldly. I don't know if I'll revisit Gorogoa, except to maybe show friends, but the focused, impressive design will stick with me for a long time.
While I'm ultimately coming away from World to the West more disappointed than I expected, I admire the expanse and ambition. It's a gorgeous game with some delightful, puzzling moments. This is still a cool game, just one with some flaws that hold it back from being exemplary.
It's a brilliant take on the tower defense genre and the awesome music is still in my head.
Azkend 2 is a perfectly satisfactory match-three puzzle game that adds enough of a twist to be better than the average puzzle game. The hidden object portion isn't that great, but spending a few hours completing objectives and collecting items while matching like tiles is a totally fine time.
Even while wading through some minor issues, Darkest Dungeon is enthralling. Even if I crave sunshine and rainbows after spending too much time in this world, it sticks in the back of my mind and I idly think about what team I'll put together to try to mount my next dungeon crawl. It's a dark and gloomy game, but the overall blend of combat, exploration, and town management adds up to a fantastic gameplay loop that sucks away time as you try to outwit the deadly creatures and obstructions all around the darkest dungeon.
What separates it from the pack and makes it more of a platformer pinnacle are the other parts of the whole: the layers of accessibility, the engaging story, and the charming presentation. All of those pieces gelled together in a spectacular way, in a way that led to me adoring this game much more than I thought. Celeste is magical and beautiful, mostly thanks to its brilliantly designed levels, but it becomes transcendent thanks to everything else.
The original DS game isn't exactly dated, but the additions here are interesting and fun, even if a little unneeded. The new content mostly just seems more like the result of a development team revisiting an old project than anything else. The core game here is already so strong and so engrossing that more content is good no matter how necessary it might be. I'm thrilled Radiant Historia is back on a modern system, especially since the new release is now the best, definitive way to experience a masterful RPG.
While a few consistent problems weigh it down, Dandara is still an engrossing adventure. As many times as the in-game map bugged me or the difficulty got me down, I kept at it, working my way through the peculiar world, seeking out new items and upgrades and figuring out how to move around delicately to attack or avoid foes. It might not be for the faint of heart, but Dandara is a wonderfully idiosyncratic game.
Dripping with a fanciful charm, Aegis Defenders is a joyous blend of puzzle platforming and tower defense. While it starts slow, it's an artful fusion of two somewhat disparate genres that comes together as a beautiful whole near the end, making it well worth a look in the crowded Switch eShop.