If this really is the end of BOXBOY!, then it's an excellent high to go out on. Qbby's puzzling adventures in BYE-BYE BOXBOY! make for just as much of an addictive, brain-tickling masterpiece as they did in 2015. The amount of new material in the game is laudable, and it's all employed successfully: this is a finale worth checking out, be it by newcomers or veterans, alike.
It's not ground-breaking or genre-defining, but Electronic Super Joy masters the retro-style platformer. It's stunning visually and sonically, and the presentation is tied in directly to the arresting gameplay that's complemented perfectly by tight controls and super smart level design. Hardcore platforming fans will be completely at home here.
A heavily stylised game based on programming is hardly destined for universal appeal, but those who do fall into its niche will find plenty to love about Human Resource Machine. Whether you are unfamiliar entirely with computing, or a professional in the field, the charm on the game's surface is such that it's impossible not to fall in love with the cute characters and hilarious dialogue, even if it's all over a little too soon.
Bento Studio and Moving Players have come together to make the most infuriating experience on Wii U eShop, and a certain type of player will absolutely adore its challenge. Its difficulty and lack of content may turn away some, but Cosmophony remains a stylish, addictive game that is sure to satisfy the resilient.
Boasting the largest amount of content to date, Wario's latest entry is a masterclass in reinvention, breathing life into old games and somehow making the same three-second long mini-games fans have been playing for years feel new exciting. Just as fresh for series fanatics as it is for those who haven't yet delved into WarioWare's absurdist world, Gold is far more than just a collection of the series' best moments; it's an entirely new game, and a great one at that.
Two years ago, Cubed3 described Gunman Clive as "a stunning masterpiece of a platform game". Gunman Clive 2 is no different. The scale may have expanded, but the gameplay remains pure and focused. New mechanics are all fantastic and the platforming itself is tight, solid and satisfying. It may be short, but it means that all the fat has been trimmed to produce an unmatched experience that can (and should) be enjoyed by every 3DS owner.
BOXBOY! is a real winner for the eShop. Its simple design and perfectly-balanced difficulty level mean that it's sure to resonate with players of all skill levels, and whether it's being chipped away at during morning commutes or digested in its entirety over a weekend, Qbby's tale shows that a minimalistic game can be just as satisfying as a triple-A title.
Although in some regards a missed opportunity to celebrate the series with new content, Gunman Clive HD Collection is well worth its minuscule asking price, bringing together not only one, but two already classic-status titles from the portable world into one tasty -and delightfully gorgeous HD - package on Wii U eShop. It's one of the best 2D platformers currently on the market and a fantastic example of an indie hit.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is undoubtedly the most ambitious project to come from Nintendo since Super Mario 64 revitalised the platformer, more than two decades ago. Its first attempt to bring Zelda into the open-world era isn't just a formidable attempt, it's one that ticks all the right boxes and shows other, more genre-seasoned, developers how it should be done. If it really is the last major title that the Wii U ever sees, then it's a fantastic way to bow out - The Legend of Zelda has never been so perfect.