Brent Middleton
If you're a hardcore Strategy-RPG fan and have a Switch, Disgaea 5 Complete is a godsend. The amount of content here is incredible and frankly a bit intimidating. The depth series veterans cut their teeth on is fully intact, and the game works perfectly as a portable experience. This is immediately one of the strongest titles for the Switch and sets the standard for what third party support for the system should look like going forward.
Iconoclasts is a game that you can't help but smile while playing. The meticulous attention to detail in every facet of the game save its storytelling (which is good, just not great) is remarkable. Failure to capitalize on the Switch's HD Rumble is a bit disappointing, but it's a minor blemish on an otherwise excellent experience.
Liar-soft has succeeded in crafting a cozy VN with a lovable cast of characters and heartwarming story that's well worth experiencing.
The Banner Saga is a marvel as a personalized adventure game. The experience of leading a caravan and constantly making impactful choices that directly decide their fates is one that I'll never forget (and one that I look forward to continuing in Banner Saga 2). However, though its SRPG elements are generally good fun, they're not quite as polished (or balanced) as the rest of the package.
There are some games that aren't meant to be taken seriously. Miitopia is one of those games. It's consistently fun, lighthearted and silly. Focused on character creation and interactivity instead of deep gameplay mechanics, Miitopia stands out as an easygoing alternative to the traditional RPG.
Sushi Striker wears its 3DS roots on its sleeve, but the core gameplay is addicting and the production values (minus the overworld) are top notch. Though it might appear like a high-end mobile game, this is the full-fledged real deal. If you don't mind dealing with a few pacing issues, this is easy to recommend to anyone who enjoys deep puzzle games.
Death Road to Canada is an addictive and fresh take on the undeniably stale zombie genre. The game's sharp writing and ridiculous events filled with personality inspire multiple runs just out of want to experiment with the different outcomes. Though the game fails to utilize a couple key features of the Switch that would've truly enhanced the player experience, it's still great fun to be had here.
Chess Ultra is ultimately a triumph as an atmospheric, streamlined chess game that both newcomers and experts can enjoy. What the game lacks in environments and chess sets it makes up for with high production values and plenty of extra features. Cross-play with the Xbox One and PC versions is a welcome bonus.
Just Shapes & Beats isn't bursting with content, but the execution, level of polish and number of options here makes it well worth picking up.
Wandersong is a charming-as-heck musical adventure that manages to live up to both parts of its name.
SpiritSphere DX is a good game. Its colorful cast of characters and catchy, earworm soundtrack are all-around inviting and pleasant. The core gameplay (and, for my money, the addicting Squash Mode) is fun alone or with a friend. However, the general lack of single player content and a few disappointing design decisions keep it from being a must-have.
Sea of Thieves is a fun game that feels incomplete. It succeeds in delivering a vast and polished pirate sandbox to enjoy with your friends, but its appeal wears thin due to a lack of content. Without an overarching narrative or any kind of player progression beyond earning better quests that offer more gold for skins, there's little reason to come back to Sea of Thieves outside of having fun with a group of friends.
Shu is a fun yet unremarkable 2.5D platformer. Its focus on pretty art and music over reliable mechanics and tight level design comes as a serious detriment to the game's overall playability.
If you're in search of something aesthetically pleasing, I think you'll find a lot to like here. From the voice work to the visuals and especially the score, Petals' presentation shines. If you're looking for a more hard-hitting game in the same genre, however, there are certainly better options out there.
Little Dragons Cafe delivers on a soothing and charming experience for fans of slow games, but manages to be too slow to be worth playing for very long.
The original JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle dropped on the PlayStation 3 in 2013 at the tail end of CyberConnect2’s golden era. Released just a few months after Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3, All-Star Battle benefited from the wealth of arena fighting game experience CC2 had accumulated throughout the 2000s. Now almost a decade later, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle R retains all of its old-school charm and heaps of content while looking better than ever before.
From its beautiful art direction to its addicting loot system that respects its players’ time, Young Souls is yet another triumph for the beat ’em up genre.
The King of Fighters XV is a love letter to fans of the series in just about every way.
With New Pokémon Snap, Bandai Namco has not only made the best-looking Pokémon game in years, but also one of the most delightful.
Despite its age, Ys Origin proves that a captivating story and intuitive dungeon design still hold up against the gaming titans of 2020.