Jemma Casson
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.
Crossy Road Castle is a chaotic, fun, and challenging platformer. With online play, countless collectibles, and varied levels, this is an easy title to recommend for anyone looking for multiplayer madness. Enjoy the cuteness and the challenge!
Yars Rising is a terrific platformer. It features satisfying puzzles, shooting elements, a fast-paced and humorus story, along with a clever integration of a classic Atari game. Apart from some annoying loading screens, this is absolutely a game worth checking out.
Volgarr The Viking II is a fun, but flawed, platformer. There's a lack of communication that leaves one guessing as to the terms of play. It's meant to be punishing, and the zombie option helps, but things could benefit from difficulty options or a better restart system.
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter is a classic title that, while imperfect, offers a fun, action-packed outing. The story is the game's selling point, recounting the untold tale of Jango Fett's entanglement with the galaxy's darker side. A true remaster that added features like save points and a map would have been appreciated, but this slightly improved in-situ version still mostly holds up.
Cat Quest III is a fantastic addition to a terrific series. with local co-op and a sea-faring theme, everything feels fresh yet familiar. A humorous story coupled with fast-paced action makes this one a fun time all round.
SNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS is a faithful port of the 2003 original, with a few extras thrown in for good measure. It's not the best 2D fighting game around, but fans of the original will appreciate the extra details.
Arranger is a creative outing with a perfectly balanced sense of adventure. The light-hearted tone is coupled with the unique sliding mechanic to present something different and, most importantly, fun. This is a title worth checking out.
Braid, Anniversary Edition is the definitive version of a terrific platformer. This classic title has been enhanced with improved graphics, along with a detailed commentary integrated into the game itself. A lot of effort has been put into building something special, from 2008 until today.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate brings a new way of playing to fans of the green, teen heroes. The story, visuals, and gameplay are all great, though a few bugs hamper the experience. The simple roguelike elements won’t be too jarring for fans of the typical side-scrolling style of gameplay.
Metal Slug Attack Reloaded is a massive disappointment. The bones of a fun game are there, but unfortunately, it's dragged down by brutal spikes in difficulty, creating a game that verges on unplayable and certainly unenjoyable.
There's No Dinosaurs 2 offers a cute hidden-object outing with enough extras to keep players engaged despite its simplicity.