Please, Touch the Artwork 2 is delightful. Its beautiful paintings, quirky characters, and lovely music combine to create a playful outing that provides a true form of escape. This short but sweet outing will stick with you after the credits roll.
Mirage Ignis Fatuus is a clever little puzzle outing. The story and graphics go a long way to making this stand out. Some extra incentive to replay, however, or a hint system to help with the more frustrating situations, would be a welcome addition.
On Your Tail is a charming title that suffers from terrible performance issues. It's a pity; there's a lovely tale, interesting characters, and fun gameplay on offer. Perhaps playing on the Switch 2 will deliver an experience closer to what the developers were trying to deliver.
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is a sequel to a game I hadn’t heard of from systems I never played. While it has traded in its weapon choice, the dark style remains intact. This sequel, 35 years in the making, may not necessarily appeal to fans of the original, but Castlevania fans should find enjoyment here.
Ultros is an ambitious metroidvania with starkly contrasting visuals and interesting gameplay elements. It's almost too much for itself with some ideas that don't always resonate. It's not for everyone, but if you're in the mood for something way off the beaten path, you'll find it here.
Which Way Up: Galaxy Games is a super-fun and well-designed party title. The dreamy aesthetics and music coupled with the gravity-based mechanics help create a unique experience for all players.
Overall, Turbo Overkill is a decent first-person shooter that oozes personality. It might be a little rough around the edges, but the action, music, and creepy AI-based story is enough to whet the appetite of genre fans.
The Hungry Lamb is an engaging tale of right and wrong set in a bygone era. The unique story will keep you invested as you navigate the pathways to one of many conclusions. With lovely visuals and plentiful options, this is a visual novel that truly stands out.
Luck be a Landlord makes slot machines, well, fun. It takes a pinch of strategy crossed with a bit of luck as you work your way through run after run to defeat your greedy landlord. There's a huge number of cute icons to discover, excellent music, and a simple retro aesthetic, It all adds to an addictive game without the gambling side effects.
Ravenswatch combines cool characters and satisfying combat with challenging boss fights to provide a unique roguelite outing. The dark tone and twist on classic characters adds value and replayability; if only it had local co-op!
Stray is a post-apocalyptic story told from a feline's perspective. It couples creepiness with tenderness, featuring many interesting characters and puzzles as you unravel the mystery of this dying world. The visuals and audio are delightful, and the story is satisfying to see through to completion. Well done!
Police Simulator: Patrol Officers: Nintendo Switch Edition is a unique experience that feels like you're living the life of a cop on the city streets. The gameplay loop is enjoyable, though some bugs do mar the experience. If you like simulation games and thrive on law and order, you might get a kick out of this.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the first brand-new top-down adventure in almost a decade. Fans might be used to long pauses between outings, but Echoes was worth the wait. It not only introduces Zelda's first canonical solo adventure, but merges familiar and new to create an incredibly creative and beautiful experience. Despite some graphical load issues, let's just say Zelda's first adventure presents a strong contender for 2024's Switch game of the year.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed is a colorful follow-up to the successful 2023 film. With engaging characters and excellent voicework, things look and sound pretty great. Unfortunately, pacing issues and frustrating combat mar the experience.
The Meating featuers a quirky story, though the platforming is less than perfect. I apprecite the NES-isms, but perhaps the Switch version could benefit from a few enhancements to separate it from the NES take on things.
Nekograms is an adorable puzzle game about helping cats take a nap. This cute premise is coupled with a stgrong puzzle element, bringing over 100 levels to conquer. This relaxing and well-designed puzzle outing is sure to please genre fans.
The Plucky Squire is a breath of fresh air. It takes a storybook setting and tips everything on its head, with lush environments, fun puzzles, and humorous dialogue. Apart from a few technical glitches, this is a game that captures the imagination and is worth checking out.
Hot Lap Racing is a decent racer in a genre that's underrepresented on the Switch. It has its issues, but if you can make it through those, it provides enjoyment to burn rubber on the go.
Monopoly brings the classic board game to life on the Nintendo Switch. The game remains intact, with easy-to-use controls, optional rules, and modes for faster games. If you're a fan looking for an interactive electronic version of the game, this could be the one for you.
Grapple Dogs: Cosmic Chaos expands on Pablo's adventures with interdimensional travel, a new canine companion, exhilarating boss fights, collectibles, and super-satisfying platforming. This is a worthy successor and a must-play for genre fans.