Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen arrives on Nintendo's portable console, warts and all. It's more than worth playing, if only for the combat alone, and it's one of the best mediocre games ever made. If you long for the feelings of adventure that often only come when imagining a good Dungeons and Dragons campaign, this should be up your alley.
Katana Zero is a singular piece of art, with an earnest intensity rarely seen in gaming. Moving, exciting, and beautiful, it's something best left played rather than explained.
Assault Android Cactus+ is the baked potato of twin-stick shooters. A perfectly cooked center, loaded with all the extra goods, and a dollop of charm for good measure. It's a perfect fit on Switch with its drop-in multiplayer and bite-sized levels, especially for those with score-chasing in mind.
A character action game with three characters, all of which are unique and fun in their own right, is a crowning achievement in design. Beautiful, stylish, and with depth that I feel compelled to conquer, Devil May Cry 5 gives back what you put in.
Anthem is two core ideas clashing violently, making for an abrasive and dull experience. On top of feeling incomplete and low on content, it struggles to achieve even a mildly addicting gameplay loop: a death knell for games of its kind.
Ape Out delivers a deliciously impactful take on the frenetic twin-stick formula. It uses the closeness of its melee encounters and excellent sound design to create an atmosphere of pure, unstoppable tempo. Its style is undeniable, and the craft on display is well worth the short time it takes to play through each of the game's four acts.
Through an embrace of more traditional game design, Ashen's take on the Souls formula ends up feeling welcome, even after countless imitators. A solid quest structure and top-notch world design make this beautiful low-fi title a worthy homage to a quickly aging series.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate does well to live up to its name, at least where offline content is concerned. It's with the backward, early-2000's era online experience that I take issue. The inability to easily match up with friends, or even those with similar rule preferences, severely hinders an otherwise fantastic fighting game.
GRIS is not only a perfectly designed puzzle-platformer, it's a title that whisks the player away on a journey of colorful catharsis. Surprises are waiting around every corner of this ever-evolving world, and its stride remains strong, from the onset until the very end.
Low on content and rough around the edges, Battlefield V feels like it was butchered for the sake of future "free" updates. What's here is fun, but it isn't a full-fledged experience, and it feels like an investment in an incomplete game.
Tetris Effect is a fantastic culmination of every modern nicety the titles have been known for, save for a disappointing lack of multiplayer. A simple puzzle game which turns out to be a triumphant exploration of human culture and progress.
Watching any number of people scream at the insanity on screen in a Lethal League Blaze match is one of life's finer pleasures. No words can express the feeling of hitting a ball that's broken the time-space continuum, and I strongly urge anyone looking for a new party or fighting game to give this a try. It's hard to look back.
As charming as it may appear, Save me Mr. Tako never convinced me it was being genuine. Barebones level design, poor writing, and frustrating design choices make this overly-sweet experience nauseating.
Newcomers, don't hesitate: these are two fantastic titles, and ultimately there's nothing wrong with them. Long-time fans should probably think twice, however, due to little-to-no extras and some questionable alterations.
The game equivalent of a fortune cookie after a filling meal, The Heist is simply more of the same in a bite-sized package. There are few new ideas here, and a weak ending and overly short experience should make fans wary.
Distance delivers an unparalleled blend of arcade-racer and environmental experience. Brimming with content, both pre-packaged and fan-made, it's bound to satisfy anyone interested enough to pick it up.
A changing world and opportunities to find or build your perfect rides make Forza Horizon 4 near endlessly enjoyable. While a safe follow-up to Horizon 3, the core "casual simulation" formula doesn't need much tuning.
Those burned by Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9 are bound to find solace in Mega Man 11's charming grace. New twists and quality-of-life mechanics make this one of the series' best offerings to date.
Death's Gambit never quite sheds its skin as simply a Dark Souls-inspired side scroller, and is done no favors by gutless, awkward combat. There's plenty to love in its visuals and designs, but ultimately it's a title that struggles to find footing in a saturated genre.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition may be the best representation of a CRPG on consoles to date, and is by far one of the best role-playing experiences currently available on any platform. Larian have outdone themselves yet again, and their love shines through every outmatched encounter, every failed persuasion, and every dead Magister.