Every now and then, a game comes along that captures our hearts and reminds us why we love the medium in the first place. Forager is the latest in a line of stellar independent games to grace the Switch, featuring wonderfully designed crafting mechanics, addictive progression systems and more charm than you can possibly handle.
The Forbidden Arts feels like a game from the early GameCube era, but not a particularly good one. Whilst the dungeons are vast and varied, and the platforming mechanics competent enough, the combat really brings the whole experience to its knees thanks to poor enemy AI and half baked elemental mechanics that make the entire experience feel very repetitive. Add to that the lacklustre graphics and empty overworld, and this is a game that only the most ardent of fantasy enthusiasts will enjoy.
There's a lot of potential in the game's premise and presentation that could well be capitalised on for any future games, but here it feels like a bit of a wasted opportunity. Add to this the lengthy load times and technical issues, and this is game you'd be best off avoiding.
It's not quite fluid enough to stand toe-to-toe with Super Meat Boy, but Never Give Up is nevertheless a solid platformer that offers up highly inventive, ludicrously challenging levels along with a smattering of dry humour that's well suited to the style of the game.
Exception is, by and large, a great game that introduces a unique and compelling twist to the platforming genre with its transforming levels.
Ittle Dew is a lovely, endearing title that will undoubtedly appeal to Zelda fans thanks to its birds-eye view and heavy focus on item-based puzzles.
When you consider its low price, Gravity Duck is a genuinely fun little game with a simple premise that works, and works well. It won’t last long, and you may want to pop some of your own tunes on whilst playing it, but taken on its own merits as an addictive little time sink, this is definitely one to keep an eye on.
It's not a game for everyone, that much is obvious. But what it does, it actually does quite well.
It genuinely feels like there's something for everyone here, whether you prefer to go it alone with the puzzle rooms in single-player or take on your friends in the superb multiplayer.
Heave Ho doesn't quite reach the lofty heights of Snipperclips, but it's still one of the best couch co-op titles to hit the Switch.
It’s a shame, because the game looks quite nice, and with tighter controls and a bit more thought into the puzzle design, it could have been a decent alternative to the Zelda games. As it is, it’s merely a poor imitation.
Considering its reasonable price, A Duel Hand Disaster: Trackher is a decent arcade title that introduces a unique spin on the genre. It’s got a good amount of depth, looks the part, and has a pretty funky soundtrack to boot. We can’t stress this enough, though – if you’re thinking of picking it up, do yourself a favour and watch the tutorial first.
Sydney Hunter and the Curse of the Mayan is a decent platformer that more than justifies its asking price with impressive longevity and smooth, compelling gameplay.
It’s quite frankly a bit boring, and should you decide to control your character directly, there’s little more to the game than just moving around and automatically swiping your sword at enemies.
Paper Dolls Original borrows every horror trope under the sun, but fails to implement them in any meaningful way.
It’s a perfectly fine platformer that will quite easily keep you occupied throughout its relatively short length. It’s not going to win any awards and it probably won’t become your favourite game of the year, but if you’ve exhausted all other stellar platformers available on Switch, you could do a lot worse than this.
It's not going to be to everyone's tastes, but if you're a fan of Jules Verne, travelling, or culture, then you really need to check this out.
This is a genuinely enjoyable platformer with a wonderfully mysterious atmosphere.
It's such a shame Mable & The Wood can't back up its interesting premise and impressive visuals with engaging gameplay. It's a unique take on the shapeshifting concept, to be sure, but navigating the environment is more frustrating than it is fun. There's a nice variety of boss encounters that keep the experience feeling relatively fresh, but overall, this is one Metroidvania that fails to live up to the hype.
Neo Cab has its fair share of awkward encounters as you explore the futuristic city of Los Ojos, but more often than not, these will develop into genuinely meaningful conversations that - despite the game’s limited graphical capabilities - make its citizens feel real.