Jemma Casson
Rock Boshers is retro done right. It balances familiarity and freshness, with excellent visuals and soundtrack. The high difficulty may put off some players, but if you're a glutton for punishment, there's plenty to keep you going for hours.
Double Cross is a fun ride – it's a tough platformer with interesting characters that blends the futuristic feel of Mega Man with some of the classic elements of a great Mario game. Solving the mystery behind an attack on your base gives the game its own edge that makes it fun and engaging. Check it out!
A dark game with a satirical edge, this is an addictive, fun and challenging game. The concept is unique with only a few frustrations, like a steep learning curve and sometimes fiddly controls, that stop this from being truly great. Worth checking out!
Shadow of Loot Box is meant to be a parody of everything that's annoying about gaming tropes. Unfortunately, the humor is little more than sprinkling every single undesirable gaming element into one game, missing the mark and creating something less than fun.
I Am The Hero is love letter to classic brawlers, though it's not as good as those of yesteryear. It lacks a story and it's over too quickly, but it could scratch that fighter itch if you're looking to kill a few hours.
Rival Megagun successfully blends the tried-and-true shmup formula with a competitive fighter. The single-player is fun though a little short, but the multiplayer mode offers plenty of options for all-out shooter battles with your friends.
Forgotten Anne is an anime brought to life, where you play the role of the heroine through a Studio Ghibli-esque world full of mystery and wonder. The puzzles will scratch that itch in your brain, but the visuals and soundtrack will blow your mind.
SkyScrappers is a neat idea that just needs fleshing out. It's a fun game at its core, and with more characters, levels and modes, it could be something great.
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots is a kooky ride through feudal Japan in search of carrots. It's fast, it's fun, and it's great with two players. Give it a go if you're looking for some cartoon-y action with a friend.
There are many shooters out there, but this budget title is a “blast” for some quick alien-blasting fun on the go. With a few more options and levels, it could be fantastic, but it's worth having a go if your trigger fingers are itching for some old-fashioned blasting action.
SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy is a mixed bag – some fun twists make this a great fighting game for quick bouts, particularly for novice fighters. Unfortunately, the lack of depth makes it a short-lived experience. And the less said about the girls' appearances, the better.
There are some clear pros and cons to Survive! Mr. Cube. It has potential, and the good (just) outweighs the bad. I had to force myself to play at first, though I enjoyed it more as I progressed further. It's limited in some respects, and would be easier to recommend if it came with a lower price tag.
2064: Read Only Memories INTEGRAL is a deeply engaging story that will entertain you for hours, as long as you're happy to spend some time reading. There's a mystery to unravel, involving interesting characters and multiple endings, wrapped in a neo-lit future. Check it out.
Go Vacation is a particularly fun game that's designed for almost everyone: single players will relish the exploration and collecting aspects; groups will have fun discovering minigames. The massive open-world nature and daily incentives provide even more to do, making this a game that encourages repeat plays. Go Vacation is definitely worth adding to your Switch collection.
20XX is an action game that harkens back to the glory days of retro platforming. Its strong Mega Man influence is countered by its own flavor of procedurally generated levels, keeping things fresh at first, though there is some repetition after awhile. With interesting bosses and a great co-op mode, platforming fans should find something to enjoy here.
Samurai Defender is a neat tower defence game, with a simple yet addictive concept involving Japanese warriors attacking your castle. There's plenty to upgrade, with hundreds of levels to conquer, giving this game the potential to keep you busy for hours. If you're a fan of the genre, I'd recommend giving this one a try.
Just Shapes & Beats is a unique combination of rhythm and arcade games that's fun and accessible. There's a lot of visual and audio stimulation, but it works well and makes for a fun party game.
Overall, InkSplosion is disappointing.
Shantae: Half-Genie Hero – Ultimate Edition really is the definitive version of this already fantastic game. The DLC, while not as strong as the main game, is a nice bonus, with some very creative use of Shantae and her friends. If you haven't already tried this game, the answer is easy: play this now!
Overall, Dragon Blaze offers classic arcade shooting with plenty of action and a high level of difficulty to test even the most adept players. The dragon aspect adds a new spin on the genre, and, despite the short play time, there's plenty of score chasing to do if you're looking to scratch that shooter itch. Check it out.