So to sum it all up, if you’re looking for a zany and fun multiplayer experience on the Switch (or your platform of choice), then Worms W.M.D. is a solid choice. Just don’t expect any revolutionary new features if you’re an old veteran of wormy warfare.
Mages of Mystralia is a game that is right up my alley. It features solid gameplay, upgradable abilities, engaging puzzles, a fantastic musical score, and an interesting story. It takes elements from classic Zelda games, but gives them a fresh new spin with its brilliantly-designed spell-crafting system. Despite a few performance issues, I'm confident that this game is going to be on my year-end list as one of the best things I've played this year. I sincerely hope the fine folks at Borealys Games will continue Zia's saga in a future installment.
If you're looking for a unique, surreal adventure with puzzle-solving and emotional storytelling, then Rime is a game that I can heartily recommend. Although there are some very noticeable frame rate issues, I still found myself immersed in the story being told and engaged by the puzzles. Rime takes cues from some of my favorite titles of recent years, and it also features some very clear influence from the films of Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle). If that's not enough to convince you, then I don't know what will.
Embers of Mirrim is still a very interesting game that brings some cool ideas to the table. Even though there was some frustrating moments with some of the glyphs and the waterfall section, many of the puzzles and secrets kept me engaged and made me want to see what was next. The developers did a great job of teaching the player the mechanics of the game, as well as steadily infusing new things into the mix so as to keep the proceedings from becoming stale. The story is sparse with zero dialogue, but the game world is unique and beautiful with awesome backgrounds and impressive lighting effects. Finally, the fully orchestrated soundtrack is fantastic throughout. If you're looking for a good game with an attainable Platinum trophy, and you're able to resist the urge to throw your controller at your TV a few times, then Embers of Mirrim is worth a look.
Although GNOG is a brief experience — it can be completed in less than 3 hours, by my count — it still is a very enjoyable one. The soundtrack is great, the presentation is unique, and the puzzles kept me engaged throughout. It's definitely a game worth considering if you love music as much as I do — especially if you also have access to PlayStation VR.
Yooka-Laylee is a great first effort from Playtonic Games. The characters and environments are quirky and unique, the collectibles all have a purpose, and the unlockable abilities are fun to use. Despite a few performance issues and some baffling ease-of-use omissions, I enjoyed my time with this game. It takes over 30 hours to complete the game with 100% of the collectibles, which is plenty of content to keep you busy, especially considering the $40 price tag.
Although it's a very brief experience, I enjoyed my time with Psychonauts in The Rhombus of Ruin. The game has a good sense of humor, some interesting puzzles, and it made me excited for the prospects of what a fully-fledged point-and-click adventure game could be like in virtual reality.