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.
GUNVOLT RECORDS: Cychronicle feels like a budget title that samples a handful of notable Gunvolt series tracks, but I wish there was more to it.
Mario vs Donkey Kong is totally fine on the Switch, with levels and modes for players of all difficulty levels.
While I miss the female protagonist and the dungeon-crawling element may feel a bit dated, Persona 3 Reload is a joy to play and offers everything I could want from it.
Lil Guardsman absolutely surprised me with its detail, depth, humor, and heart.
While the puzzles are a bit easy, Another Code: Recollection is a well-executed remake and it's great to see both games worldwide.
Metro Quester is one of the most unique KEMCO RPGs I've played, and it really challenges people to put together a party and survive.
Koumajou Remilia Ⅱ: Stranger's Requiem is one of the better Touhou fan games and looks great, but it's a very basic Castlevania-like.
While the Iron's Hot is an interesting take on a blacksmith simulator, but it feels like the game can be a tedious chore sometimes.
Asgard's Wrath 2 feels like the Super Mario Bros / Duck Hunt of Quest VR games, due to its range, and way it invites people to play.
A Highland Song, though occasionally a little frustrating, invites you to learn more about its heroine, her uncle, and the hills.