Rabi-Ribi is a fantastic Metroidvania that injects a whole heap of originality into a genre that's arguably a bit overdone at this point. The bullet-hell boss battles are thrilling, the soundtrack is absolutely superb, and the RPG mechanics are really useful without being overwhelming. On the negative side, the storyline fails to excite, and we would have liked a bit more variety with the character design, but overall this is a great, 'feel good' game that deserves to be played if you're after a different flavour of Metroidvania.
It’s worth a go if you’re in need of a decent run-and-gun title after the intensely disappointing Contra: Rogue Corps.
Instead of being a brand new platformer, Ice Age: Scrat's Nutty Adventure feels like a remaster of a game from the early 2000s, and not a very good one either.
Tangle Tower is an exemplary addition to the point-and-click genre, providing superb puzzles and very well written dialogue, backed up by some of the finest voiceover work in recent memory. A few of the character interactions may drag on a bit too long in places as you try and uncover every piece of evidence available to you, and there's little reason to play through the game multiple times. But to be honest, these are very minor gripes considering just how much fun we had in the company of Detectives Grimoire and Sally.
Anthill may be several years old at this point, but it's still a fun little game that showcases Image & Form's talents before the Steamworld series gathered, er... steam. There's a decent amount of depth here as you explore various strategies to defend your anthill, and there's good replay value with the delightful Infinity mode. It falls down a bit on graphics, as it can look a bit overly simplistic at times, and we would have at least liked the option to play on the TV, perhaps with pointer controls.
As it is, it’s a perfectly serviceable port that serves as a nice reminder that Resident Evil’s so-called ‘action phase’ really isn’t as bad as some think.
If you’re after a straight-up action shooter, you could do a lot worse than Resident Evil 6, but if you’re looking for an experience similar to the earlier games in the series, then you definitely won’t find that here.
Headsnatchers is a cool premise let down by really poor controls. The multiplayer modes are pretty decent as a whole, with some of the more simplistic objectives providing the most frantic fun, for a little while. On the flip side, if you enjoy single-player experiences, avoid this one at all costs, because the one solo mode available is an absolute chore to play thanks to wonky movement and awful platforming mechanics.
Ultimately, Zumba Burn It Up! knows its audience, and thankfully there’s really nothing much to complain about with this new iteration; it’s a perfectly fine addition to a series that continues to truck along relatively painlessly. A bit more variation with the songs would have been nice, and whilst we appreciate that this is targeted to people who likely already have a certain degree of fitness, the game could do a much better job at easing in newcomers.
Overall, it lacks a lot of personality, and with nothing to really set it apart from its contemporaries, there’s very little to recommend here unless you’re a huge fan of the genre.
House of Golf is an entirely average addition to the ever-growing selection of mini-golf games, with good visuals but altogether uninspiring gameplay and level design.
Monkey Barrels is a great twin-stick shooter that perhaps plays it a little too safe at times.
What’s most baffling about Simulacra is why more wasn’t done to make it a more authentic mobile experience.
Riverbond isn’t the most in-depth game on the Switch this year, nor is it the best looking. It does, however, boast an interesting art style, and its gameplay is simple yet engaging enough that almost anyone of any skill level can give it a good crack.
Make no mistake, this is a very funny game, and you’ll soon be agonising over which of the delightful main characters is your favourite. Unfortunately, it’s not quite enough to hold up the entire game – some folks will automatically gravitate to what is admittedly a unique approach to the RPG genre, but a lot more will likely desire something a bit more hands-on.
If you’re after an alternative to Overcooked, then Tools Up offers up enough incentive to take the plunge, even if it doesn’t quite match up.
There’s a lot of potential within Space Pioneer that is unfortunately largely squandered by its repetitive nature.
It's remarkably refreshing to get a game that not only requires the strict cooperation of two players to beat, but actually encourages as much verbal communication as possible. You don't need an online connection to play, and you're not necessarily restricted to playing just on Switch, which makes it even more accessible. Those who prefer to game alone will get nothing out of this experience, but if you're up for a unique take on the puzzle genre – and have a likeminded friend to game with – then look no further than Tick Tock: A Tale for Two.
Whilst the game won’t compete with rally behemoths like Dirt Rally 2.0, Rush Rally 3 is a great alternative that won’t break the bank, yet offers an authentic take on the sport that newcomers will really appreciate.
Sadly a very mediocre racing game.