If you're looking for more Picross on Switch that's more than just your standard issue Jupiter releases, Tents & Trees is amazing, making for a novel twist on a logic puzzle game staple. With the excellent style and the ample daily puzzles, this is one I'll be revisiting for a long time.
If you're looking for a DC superhero game that relies more on arcadey gameplay, whimsical callbacks, and a playful atmosphere, Justice League Cosmic Chaos is incredible. I had a great time playing through this, both by myself roaming around Happy Harbor trying to save the day while getting distracted by side quests and in co-op with my kid in the smart Instant Action mode. With the bar raised for future games from Outright Games, here's hoping that Cosmic Chaos is the start of a new era for kid-oriented licensed games.
It's a good thing the story of Meg's Monster is engaging because even if the gameplay cleverly ties into the narrative, it doesn't amount to much. As long as your expectations are managed and you're expecting something closer to a visual novel than a JRPG, Meg's Monster should be an enjoyable read as long you're ready for some bittersweet emotion.
However, if you really enjoyed Octopath Traveler and want a better, improved version of the combat and overall exploration, Octopath Traveler II will deliver that in spades. This is a strong RPG that I enjoyed my time with, but it's not a bold new step forward. Instead, it moderately iterates on an enjoyable formula to good success.
It's a creative attempt at mixing up the formula for the series. It's just an attempt that didn't land as well for me as I had hoped. Here's to Jupiter continuing to creatively iterate on Picross while also returning to the old style and giving us a new allotment of traditional puzzles every now and then.
This is a game with a lot of heart that I kept wanting to explore even with its messier aspects. If you're looking for a farm sim mixed with a JRPG or a JRPG mixed with a farm sim, this is perfect for you. And if you go into it with the right mindset, you'll enjoy the relaxing stroll of this world and its gameplay.
I'm happy to have experienced Romancing SaGa Minstrel Song Remastered. It's based off of a PlayStation 2 game I was always curious about and the fact it's now out on modern platforms is awesome. This might not be my favorite SaGa entry (I think that would go to Romancing SaGa 3 or Scarlet Grace?), but it's another fine entry in a franchise that is well represented on Switch. Whether you're hooting and hollering for Unlimited SaGa to make it to Switch next year or you're a newcomer to the legacy of producer Akitoshi Kawazu, Minstrel Song Remastered is an enjoyable adventure as long as you come prepared for some open-ended RPG escapades.
As an interactive timeline and a virtual exhibit, Atari 50 is unparalleled. No other historical collection comes close to how awesome this is as a context-rich story (the only ones that do are also from the same developer). I hope that this style of giving historical context and not just presenting a list of 40-year-old games without any explanation is the trend going forward for packages like this. Even if I'm not chomping at the bit to play some RealSports Football, I'm thrilled that I now know its place in the grand history of Atari.
It's a shame because the idea of The Pinball Wizard is neat, but the execution and longevity make it a game that faded away before it got truly interesting. Maybe it's worth it for the cute visuals, but even that doesn't stave off the lack of variety.
This game is straightforward in its execution and if you're hankering for the long-lost niche Nintendo franchise Kuru Kuru Kururin, this is likely the best you'll find (especially since the GBA version's only active appearance is on the Wii U Virtual Console, which will go away in 2023). I had a good time with Spinfrog, though it doesn't quite match up to the fun I had playing Kuru Kuru Kururin on Wii U a few years ago. Still, it's fun even if it's oft hard and frustrating.
The tone-setting music from Disasterpeace (Fez, Hyper Light Drifter) is tremendous, and the chunky 3D world is stylish and wondrous. A handful of mysterious in-game achievements encourage further exploration of the world beyond catching the bugs. Your time in this paradise might be short, but it's memorable and enjoyable.
I had a good time with this even if I felt like I was waiting too long between batches of mini-games. The overworld puzzles ended up being one of the cooler parts of this package. I just wish the mini-games erred more on the side of WarioWare excellence as opposed to the muddy middleground.
Despite the control issues, I've been enchanted by Dorfromantik because it's a zen-like relaxing game that keeps me engaged with bountiful variety and just-enough strategy. If you're seeking a level-based puzzle challenge or a boisterous multiplayer experience, Dorfromantik won't be for you, but if you're down for some low-key tile tinkering, this is a gem.
Dig is not a sequel, but even calling it a spin-off doesn't feel totally right. This is just the 2D side-scrolling adventures of Shovel Knight's origins displayed through a different vertical lens with a dash of arcade roguelike design tossed in. Through it all, the bountiful creativity that Yacht Club has made their staple is everywhere throughout the experience.
This is a very cool puzzle game that I recommend to anyone who wants to explore artwork in unique, ponderous ways. In lieu of going to a modern art museum or something, maybe just kick back with a glass of wine and bounce around these three puzzle types and soak in some art.
A modest Kickstarter success, this was never pitched to be a massive, huge game. Even still, it's not something I'd recommend to the majority of people. Unless you're really into the idea of a kaiju dating sim that is actually just a set of trial-and-error multiple choice quizzes with nice animation, there's no reason to take Gigachu on a world tour of destructive dates.
The playfulness of just rolling around in the free-roll mode is endearing, but the totality of the experience isn't gripping for more than a few fleeting moments. Dream Buffet is evocative of a mediocre dessert at a diner. You knew what you signed up for and you hoped maybe you'll land on the piece of pie that is out of this world, but at the end of the day it's just midnight at a diner, and you're wondering why you're still eating this passable apple pie.
You have a handful of modes that range from frictionless relaxation and sped-up brain-bending fury and a variety of color palette customization options. I appreciate the wide variety of accessibility features, both for difficulty and visuals, but aside from fine-tuning my scores across the modes, not much is there to pull me back in. Still, Mixolumia is a dynamite puzzle concept that I'd love to see further expanded on in the future.
Or maybe you just want to watch a playthrough of Hyperstone Heist just because. Cowabunga Collection presents so many ways to experience the Turtles games of the '80s and '90s, making it enjoyable for anyone who has any interest in the Turtles or their video game exploits. This truly is radical.
is a fun ride. Contrary to the aforementioned buzz, though, truth be told, it isn't quite at the same level of Metroid Dread (but what is?). This team is clearly onto something, though, and I wouldn't be surprised if their next effort in this space gives Samus a real run for her money.