No matter how you cut it, Snipperclips is a gem of the Switch eShop, presenting a fresh puzzle experience that is daring and delightfully peculiar. If we’re all lucky, Snipperclips will take off and become the next Pushmo or BoxBoy from Nintendo, showing up every year or so with new puzzles and wrinkles. If you’re looking for a game to compliment Breath of the Wild, this is a grand one.
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.
Each game in Jackbox Party Pack 4 is a winner - something I've never said about a Jackbox pack before. These games don't have convoluted rules and are super easy to jump right into, with each one being a great time even if you're flailing and not scoring any of the requisite points required to win. The variety also makes it versatile for different groups, and if you're searching for a solid party game on Switch, this might just be the one to break out during the holidays.
Okami is as polished as a Zelda-like experience as they come and the Switch port is close to its best realization. If you've played it through before, there's nothing new here for you other than the soft warmness of a pleasant visual presentation and a smartly made adventure that stands up to the test of time. Okami HD is wonderful.
It takes a basic concept and never lingers too long on one idea, continually adding new and novel twists. For the several hours it will take you to finish, Slayaway Camp stays fresh, avoiding the common problems of the horror movies it draws influence from. Even when mimicking the absurdity of later Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street movies, it stays inventive and fun.
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.
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.
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.
The Swords of Ditto is a smart and colorful game that draws from 2D Zelda but then twists it into its own distinct roguelite premise. The Switch debut is this adventure at its best and most refined, though a few minor drawbacks still remain. The thrill of discovery, the joy of exploring, and the fun of the combat and puzzles help to make this an outstandingly great time.
A digital board game that lives up to the real deal.
I never knew I wanted a bullet-less shoot-'em-up that was dripping with rhythm game style, but that's exactly what Just Shapes & Beats is. It's a thoroughly unique game with a myriad of options that can be played in a variety of ways. It's awesome.
World of Light maybe overstays its welcome, but it's an enjoyable ride through an array of matches. The oodles of extra modes are great alternative ways to mess with the characters and history. But the core of what matters with Smash Bros. is the local multiplayer, and it is still one of the best party games out there, bar none. Ultimate's inclusion of all the playable characters from the series history—as well as several dynamic new characters—along with most of the stages and music makes it a must-have multiplayer game for the Switch.
The end result might not be the modern classic so many hoped for, but Octopath Traveler is an excellent RPG that's only major sin is a loose story structure.
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.
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.
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.
SNK isn't Nintendo or Sega, but they carved a unique path through the industry that has helped them stick around for 40 years. This celebration might only be focused on the first dozen or so years, but it's a lovingly crafted and curated virtual exhibit that sets the standard for retro collections for the future. SNK 40th Anniversary Collection shined a light on a company I didn't know much about, and I'm thrilled it will now be easy for others to learn about them the same way I did.
The references don't hinder the fun and this game stands on its own strongly. Etrian Odyssey Nexus is an elegant farewell to a series and a system. If this is the last we see of the Etrian series, this is a high note to go out on.
But all of those bothersome traits wash away the moment you solve a tough task. Logic puzzles don't come more clever or rewarding than Baba Is You, and with that in mind, this is one of the best of its kind in recent memory. It just might stump you a lot.
It's the absurdity and wonder of some Eurovision performances made playable. Like a good record from a band I like, I'll spin this game often. That makes the secrets beneath the surface more appealing as Sayonara Wild Hearts might be one of my favorite music albums of the year in addition to being a killer video game experience.