Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is an excellent adaptation of the Warhammer universe into a genre that some may expect not to work. A compelling RPG with a strong understanding of its original property, it’s a great example of the classic C-RPGs of the 1990s and early 2000s. Although it perhaps does nothing revolutionary, it provides an intriguing and exciting adventure, especially for fans of the tabletop game.
Spirittea is a fantastic cozy game. It sticks closely to the life sim template with the skeleton of its gameplay, but its main gameplay of bathhouse management and its spirit -finding progression system means that players will thoroughly enjoy what Spirittea has to offer. In addition, it's even better on Switch as something to be lazy with on the sofa or on a long journey.
Overall, EA Sports FC 24 on Switch still feels behind the game on other platforms. For players who have another platform available, the Switch version is definitely to be avoided, but for those who specifically want to play this soccer sim on the go, it's still likely the best option available right now. As such, it might be just escaping relegation in comparison to its predecessors, but EA Sports still owes more to Switch players than what this delivers.
Overall, Forza Motorsport is a triumph of virtual motor racing. Turn 10 Studios has brought the Forza franchise to a new generation with aplomb, and although not quite all the updates entirely land, it's a tremendous racing game that could be nearly perfect with just a handful of tweaks.
Overall, Cocoon is a fantastic puzzle game. Its core gimmick of world-jumping is implemented expertly, building a cohesive in-game logic that will keep players hooked to the end. It's a world full of secrets, many of then unknown, and it's all the better for it.
Under The Waves is a powerful story with wonderful atmosphere, but a lack of polish holds it back from achieving its true potential.
Sea of Stars is more than just an excellent turn-based RPG that pays homage to the greats. The gameplay choices it makes turns the game into a must-play for fans of the genre, while the story is suitably charming for RPG aficionados. This is far more than simply a prequel to The Messenger, and is a tremendous achievement in its own right.
Immortals of Aveum is not quite the must-have new IP that some would have hoped, but there are some genuine moments of brilliance here. It has absolutely fantastic minute-to-minute combat, and once the player is in sync with their powers it's a wonderfully fluid experience. Unfortunately its story and writing doesn't match its gameplay, and its visual design is a bit of a mixed bag, but with gameplay that ranks among the most enjoyable for shooters of this generation so far, those flaws may well be worth overlooking.
Overall, F1 Manager 2023 is a successful management sim. It understands the complexities of the sport of Formula One well, and replicates it with gameplay that is accessible for people without them getting lost in data. Although there's room for improvement, it's an excellent option for fans of F1 in general.
Dave the Diver is an absolute delight to play. Its core gameplay loop is wonderfully relaxing, but before too long players will be finding all the different options in its nooks and crannies. It’s surely one of the best games of the year so far, and players will love taking on the role of our goatee'd hero.
All in all, Killer Frequency is a clever slasher puzzler that is well worth the time. Horror fans will get a lot out of its knowledge of the genre as a whole, and its fresh take on telling a slasher story means that even within its tropes there's still something to find. It doesn't always land, and the Switch version does have the odd issue, but Killer Frequency is bloody good fun.
Above all else, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is an interesting game. A blend of visual novel and magical relationship adventure, it's an intriguing mix that for the most part works extremely well. It may start to struggle when its simple design approaches fail to match the intricacy of its plot threads, but overall it holds its own.
Overall, this leaves After Us as a flawed but intriguing 3D platformer. Its moments of brilliance are great to behold, such as its varied, dreadful locales and those moments where its platforming truly clicks. However, its lack of character and story development and its more frustrating sections do mean that it's not a perfect game - but at the very least its heart is in the right place.
Overall, Farming Simulator 23 scratches the same sort of itch as previous games in the series, but it's maybe not as effective has the more substantial home releases. There's enough here for a player to initially sink their teeth into, particularly when the game's portable focus is considered, but that depth does disappear relatively quickly. Even so, there's still something deeply satisfying about its farming gameplay loop, and those after a relaxing experience will find one here.
Overall, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is a wonderful selection of remakes of some hugely important games. Although the games to vary in quality - mainly due to their age and how much games developed over the course of their release - there's something magical about going back to even the earliest Final Fantasy game. And with Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, it's possibly the easiest way to do so.
Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a fantastic remake of the Game Boy Advance titles. Those who enjoyed the originals will no doubt appreciate seeing the games reworked in a faithful way, while new players will find a pair of turn-based tactics games that are a great choice for newcomers to the genre or those who want something bright and engaging on the go.
Overall, Terra Nil is a wonderfully relaxing strategy game. Its unique approach to the strategy genre is refreshing when compared to its peers, and although its scope is a little limited, players will still want to revisit to get the optimum outcome of each level.
Overall, Dredge is a fantastic horror-tinged adventure game. Flitting effortlessly between relaxing fishing in the day and a panic-laden rush to safety at night, its off-putting ambiance and varied mysteries help drive the player to the very end. A surprisingly thoughtful title that is dripping with atmosphere and salt water.
Overall, Kirby's Return To Dream Land Deluxe is absolutely wonderful. It might not be a game that changes the world, but it's some of the most fun available on the Nintendo Switch, particularly with other people. And at the end of the day, what's more successful from a Kirby game than that?
Hi-Fi RUSH is an absolute delight. A simple idea that could have been extremely difficult to correctly develop, Hi-Fi RUSH is a real joy to play. Here's hoping that there are many more brilliant surprises to come this year, as Hi-Fi RUSH sets a high bar.