Frozen Synapse 2 keeps the core gameplay fairly consistent and adds a new campaign mode which is a bit flawed but interesting nonetheless. The sequel also manages to refine the terrific tactical gameplay of the original Frozen Synapse to create a tighter squad combat game.
With a new world to discover, Assassin's Creed Odyssey continues on the path set by Origins, giving more choice to the players, with a bigger focus on RPG and the comeback of naval warfare. A definitive evolution of the series, and shouldn't be missed.
Forza Horizon 4 is an excellent blend of arcade racing and racing sims, and it’s probably the best installment of the Horizon series thus far. It offers a breathtaking open world to drive through and some very accessible racing for mainstream fans, along with a bit of tinkering for people that like their racers a bit more technical.
Transference is an example of a first-person narrative driven game done right. From its tech singularity premise to its balance of story and gameplay, the game manages to craft an experience that's immersive and interactive without feeling like another walking simulator.
Dragon Quest XI is very much a classic J-RPG, and while a lot of the ideas here have been done before, they haven’t been done this well. It’s a great example of a game that doesn’t innovate, but definitely enhances the classic formula and improves on it
The Low Road is a light romp through corporate espionage that features a great cast and top-notch writing, as well as some very compelling moments. Its puzzles are a bit lackluster at times, but it’s still a great way to pretend you’re a 70’s spy.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 totally revitalizes an underrated gaming classic and applies the lessons Sega learned throughout the series’ evolution. It’s still unique and even weird at times, and it can still be a little rough around the edges, but few series manage to take you deep into a criminal underworld and tell such compelling stories.
Aggelos sticks pretty rigidly to the classics script, and while that means getting bogged down by questionable design choices, it also makes for a great modern classic that relies on good level design instead of randomly generated levels
INK is a decent little platformer that has a fun concept at the start but doesn’t really do enough with it. It’s good for a few little bursts, but more serious aficionados of the platforming genre won’t enjoy it as much.
Pode is a heartwarming experience about friendship and working together, and it’s best enjoyed with a friend. It can be a little tricky at times, but overall it’s fairly smooth and enjoyable.
While there’s plenty of the classic Gundam customization here and decent combat to let you try out your creations, New Gundam Breaker’s cookie cutter plot and serious performance issues hold it back.
Gray Dawn takes on the familiar territory of religion and the supernatural, but it does so with a surprising amount of maturity and dedication. The story will have you scratching your head, but its multiple endings each offer some emotional payoff.
Moonlighter expertly mixes a game about being a merchant with a game about being a warrior, and it presents this mix with heaps of charm. It may end a little quickly for some, but the experience is well worth a look
Vampyr is a fun action RPG that dives deep into horror lore to put you in the shoes of a brooding newly minted vampire who explores the dismal streets of Victorian London. You can build up an impressive array of abilities throughout, and by the end, you’re one tough undead fellow.
Runner3 is an amazingly crafted arcade experience that’s perfect for short bursts of hair-pulling runny goodness. It sticks to the Runner formula and it doesn’t do that much to change things up, but it does push all the dials up to 11, and the result is a really layered arcade title.
Death Road to Canada manages to breathe life into the zombie genre and create a fun, engaging experience that’s perfect for the pick-up-and-play nature of the Nintendo Switch. It looks simple, but its pixelated veneer hides a surprisingly complex survival game that’ll grab you like a horde of zombies
Bombslinger offers a fun, engaging take on the Bomberman formula that turns it into a challenging dungeon crawler. It feels a bit familiar at times, but on the whole, it manages to stand up and do its own thing. A great addition to any Switch library
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire manages to tell an exciting tale in a totally new setting, and it takes some fun new chances with the fantasy genre. It learns many lessons from its predecessors, and it’s more accessible to casual fans, but this is still very much a cRPG, so expect to bust out your reading glasses.
The Swords of Ditto is a charming, beautifully illustrated dungeon crawler with goofy but loveable characters and fun combat, but its roguelike design makes it feel grindy at times. It’s still enjoyable, but it certainly needs some tweaking to improve balance.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is the kind of sequel that ups the ante on its predecessor’s brutal monster hunting and creates a smooth, fluid multiplayer hack’n’slash. It can still adjust some balancing issues and maybe tweak the challenge, but it’s a great way to team up with some friends and unleash hell