I appreciate Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure and what it sets out to do, as the concept is great and some puzzles are thought-provoking.
I like the concept behind SCHiM and the artistic direction, but certain elements of it frustrated me.
Times & Galaxy feels like it blends what you’d expect from adventure games with a sort of newspaper management simulation.
Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge is a letdown, as it doesn’t feel compelling or rewarding to collect frogs, acquire money, or build up the frog sanctuary.
The idea behind Umbraclaw and its character designs is amazing, but know going in it can be challenging and demand perfection.
1000xResist is provocative in such a way that its characters, events, and lore keep tickling your brain and urging you to continue.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is both the best Paper Mario entry and a Switch game everyone should own and play.
Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is worth the wait. As you play through it, you can see why it took Midboss so much time to craft the adventure, its characters, and its world.
If the idea of being plopped in a foreign place that is ominous with no explanation and residents that may or may not want you there sounds appealing, Animal Well will prove an interesting trip.
Little Kitty, Big City feels like a more innocent approach to the Untitled Goose Game formula and is an absolute delight.
Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes is designed to bring players a modern take on a classic JRPG experience. Get ready to lead 100+ playable characters through a war-torn world only you can save. Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes. On a PC, I imagine Eiyuden Chronicle might generally be fine, but on the Switch it is a mess.
This jam-packed collection features Touch Detective 3, the biggest and best point-and-click adventure of junior detective Mackenzie and her faithful sidekick Funghi, playable in English for the first time. Touch Detective 3 + The Complete Case Files also includes the entire original Touch Detective and Touch Detective 2½ games, plus two bonus cases starring Funghi and an extensive museum of artwork and music from the entire Touch Detective series. Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes. It’s great to finally get Touch Detective 3 in the west and the collection makes it easy to enjoy all three games, but it doesn’t feel fully optimized for the Switch.
Slap your way to the top of high society! Grace and glamour give way to open-handed duels across five games of aristocratic absurdity - Rose & Camellia 1, 2, 3, & 4, plus Rose & Camellia vs. La-Mulana - in which you'll slap, dodge, feint, and counter your way through a series of one-on-one smackdowns. Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes. Rose & Camellia Collection is a gimmick game that 100% commits to the bit in a delightful way, though the control options may frustrate some.
Open Roads is a game that relies heavily on a lo-fi aesthetic, but all that ambiance is surface level and doesn’t offer actual substance.
Pepper Grinder is an action-packed 2D adventure blending traditional platforming with an alternate drilling mode that allows you to dive in and out of the earth like a dolphin swims through water. Switch version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes. Pepper Grinder is a game with a good idea that generally works well.
The poker roguelike. Balatro is a hypnotically satisfying deckbuilder where you play illegal poker hands, discover game-changing jokers, and trigger adrenaline-pumping, outrageous combos. Switch version reviewed. Everything comes together beautifully and seamlessly in Balatro, and it is now one of my favorite deck-building games ever.
Piczle Cross: Story of Seasons is a nonogram puzzle game spin-off inspired by the series and, while not elaborate, is fine for fans.
Bandle Tale isn't for everyone, due to the grind and time it demands, but those who "get" it will have a great time reuniting the Yordle community.
It may only be February, but I'm confident Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is going to be 2024's Game of the Year.
The idea of choosing between your personal and professional life in Sympathy Kiss is interesting, but there are elements that remind me of mobile otome games.