The arcade focus is fine, but this doesn't coalesce into a long-lasting, memorable experience. It treads mostly on its raunchiness and doesn't have the substance to match its gross style. Even on a system without Madden, Mutant Football League is too rough around the edges to be worthwhile.
As a wacky idea, I love Heavy Burger. It's such a goofy way to use old games in a new way. In execution, it's woefully scattershot. My fun with it lasted as long as the joke was still funny. Once that wore off, the multiplayer matches dried up fast. I wish this was a little better because I would love to see more things like it, but as it stands, Heavy Burger works better as a gag than a game.
The combat races and Arena matches are fun, but the straight-on racing is subpar. The courses are detailed and varied, but they're hard to make sense of when going fast. While it's certainly nice to see a throwback to old racing games, especially one with local split-screen, I wish it could have been a game I'd want to break out with friends more often.
Maybe it's because my affection for horror movies is more broad and not specific, but whatever the case, I wish there was more than just Jason present in the sequences and puzzles. That being said, Killer Puzzle has staying power and longevity, mostly thanks to the daily puzzles. I might prefer Slayaway Camp in a direct comparison, but both games are well made and fun.
It's a smartly-made stealth game that oozes style while being packed with gameplay variety and depth. Playing this 2012 release today made me wary that it might show its age, but the amazing thing is that in 2018, this game feels extremely fresh. This ninja has been hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike on Switch, and the results are fantastic.
I wish there was more to it, or at the very least that it was a little more forgiving. The style of Black Bird is masterful as the mixture of the peculiar soundtrack, dour pixel art, and elegantly simple gameplay makes for a fun yet fleeting experience. It's just over too soon for everyone except shoot-'em-up savants.
If you're looking for something better for lighter concentration, Jackbox 5 doesn't have the variety of some of the earlier bundles. I came away impressed by the five games here; I don't think any of them are even close to being a dud. You just need to make sure everyone's up for the long haul with these games.
While the fact that there is a game called Crayola Scoot is still funny to me (just say it aloud; you'll probably smile or grimace), it's no joke that this game is actually good. This isn't a trashy cash-in or a poor licensed title. No, Crayola Scoot is a totally fine kid-centric extreme sports video game peppered with some nice touches, like the Splatoon-esque combo system or the gentle progression nestled within a harder series of challenges.
This world is a joy to get lost in and thanks to the unique take on procedural design, it offers a multitude of ways to re-experience the game even after completion. Aside from some minor issues with the ho-hum traversal upgrades, Chasm is an inspired take on a well-worn genre. If you long for the days of annual Igavanias, Chasm's one of the better modern stabs at that glory.
It's deliriously silly in a way that matches Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime in tone and style. This is built for four friends messing around and trolling each other trying to progress through difficult platforming challenges together. It falters a little bit in longevity and as a solo experience, but those elements are more secondary to the raucous fun in multiplayer.
However, Marble It Up as it is right now is an excellent marble puzzle platformer with not a lot of meat on its bones. It's hard to recommend in its current form because it's so threadbare, but it's something worth keeping an eye on as updates are made.
TowerFall is best as a competitive local multiplayer game and if you're commonly in the situation of having friends around to shoot some arrows at, it's a must-play. If you're not, it's a harder sell.
A variety of ways to play mix well with the layers of strategy and charming presentation to make an impressive addition to the Switch multiplayer library. This is a grand, polished experience that is fun by yourself and even better online. It's shame about the lack of local play, but it makes up for it by being so good otherwise.
The style of Ultimate Chicken Horse is great and when it all comes together, it is a special brand of silly party gaming. Unfortunately, unless you find that perfect situation, the quality of the fun can vary wildly. So much of the amusement here is dependent on having the right people to play with. Find that setup and this is a madcap party game.
Thankfully, that local multiplayer is great, whether you have two, three, or four people to play. Even with less players, the involvement of the guards when wanted levels rise helps keep the board more perilous and populated. The board game segments are the draw of Light Fingers, and as long as you don't venture off that path, you'll likely have a fantastic time.
While the repetition of decisions can slow the fun at times, the quest system gives you something to constantly be trying to figure out. The story goes to enough offbeat places and as long as you're progressing through the quests, adds in enough small bits of gameplay to stay fresh. Reigns is much more experiential than gamey, but it's an experience worth checking out.
You can do pretty much whatever you want, whether it's play every game with your favorite team, sim seasons and be a manager, invent your own team, bring in legends to the modern NBA, or play through cinematic stories. It's a lot to take in and sift through, but if you have a passing affinity for basketball, a mode is likely here for you. NBA 2K19 is a top-tier sports game, even on the Switch. It's just a shame the microtransactions are ever present.
The fun here makes for a good time, but I can't help but wish it was backed up by the actual soundtracks from the games it was referencing instead of chiptune artists calling back to better songs.
My time with Broforce followed an arc of first loving the concept, then being exhausted by it before coming back around and loving the blend of nonsense bro jokes and amusing gunplay and levels. This all works best with a bros playing locally, but even if you're playing solo (brolo?), Broforce is still a fun romp.
While the difficulty and lack of hand holding might hold it back for some, Hyper Light Drifter is an alluring and contemplative 2D Zelda-esque experience. It's so easy to get lost in this world and stumble upon new paths and items to make your exploration justified. Putting in the time to learn the intricacies of this mysterious game is worthwhile because when Hyper Light Drifter all comes together, it's poetic and brilliant.