Jemma Casson
Puzzle & Dragons Nintendo Switch Edition brings the popular mobile game to the Nintendo Switch. It comes at a low enough price to give puzzle fans something to play for a few hours. Making your own levels and downloading others is a fun distraction, but overall there's nothing new on offer here.
Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space is a great point-and-click game with clever writing and puzzles; I was hooked from the beginning. At only $9.99, it's easy to recommend this title to genre fans.
Move or Die: Unleashed is a fast and furious multiplayer game that's so fun, it hurts. There are many crazy minigames to try, each with the overarching goal of moving or dying. It's sure to have you laughing and cursing in equal measure.
Gem Wizards Tactics has some fun tactical battles going on with cute-looking characters. While the design elements can make it harder to enjoy, if you're in the mood for a simple version of Fire Emblem and can grab it on special, it could be worth a go.
Infernax is a truly retro experience that takes the best elements of the past to create a fun time in the present. It's tough but fair and a blast to play. Highly recommended for fans of action-adventure platformers like Castlevania.
JankBrain is a fun platformer plays like every other platformer, yet a unique character and visual style help it stand out. There's plenty of running and collecting to do, and platformer fans should find enough entertainment here, if you can get past the weird-looking giant alien brain.
Super Onion Boy 2 is an enjoyable platformer. The fact that it's a blatant love letter to Mario's adventures works in its favor. It may not be hard, and it's over fairly quickly, but this budget title will provide a couple of hours of fun for genre fans.
Vagante is a moody RPG/platforming roguelike looks neat, if dark and gloomy, and plays well. It's not groundbreaking, but there's enough to keep genre fans busy with the copious amount of items to try out. It's a little on the tough side, but that's also the idea.
Kansei: The Second Turn HD is well presented, providing an interesting mystery to solve. Although I didn't find myself becoming overly attached to the characters, it provides an entertaining way to spend a few hours if you're into visual novels.
I Love Finding Cats! features multiple puzzle types and various objects to find – it's not just about cats! There's plenty to do in this relaxing puzzle experience, although some of the controls are a little clumsy.
6Souls is a challenging platformer with great graphics, music, and gameplay. It can border on frustrating, but if you're a glutton for punishment, have a high level of patience, and/or love a challenge, this one might be worth checking out.
A Year of Springs is the heartfelt story of three young women in Japan, facing issues with love, friendship, and gender. This visual novel is cute yet compelling, and highly recommended.
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a fun way to exercise your mind, with short and sweet activities presented in a cute and cartoony way. It plays similarly to previous entries, but it's still enjoyable, especially for new audiences. Or even if you've just missed Dr. Lobe's style of brain training.
Creepy Tale 2 retains the dark and foreboding style of the original, with a longer story and mostly more intuitive puzzles to solve. If you're a fan of point-and-click games with horror elements, check it out.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is an enjoyable mash-up of every single Marvel character you can think of in a unique LEGO environment. It's not my favorite LEGO game, however the sheer amount of Marvel characters makes it fun for any fan. Keep in mind this is an eight-year-old game, so maybe watch for a sale on this one.
HIX: Puzzle Islands is a surprisingly fun game. The fun puzzles strike a perfect balance between tricky and satisfying, with a truly relaxing ambience set amid a cute and well-designed world. It easily earns its E rating, as this is a title that can be enjoyed by everyone. HIX: Puzzle Islands is a surprisingly fun game. The fun puzzles strike a perfect balance between tricky and satisfying, with a truly relaxing ambience set amid a cute and well-designed world. It easily earns its E rating, as this is a title that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Where's Samantha is a charming title about true love between two scraps of fabric. The clever puzzles will keep you busy as you enjoy a journey through a cloth-based world.
Barry the Bunny provides an addictive platforming experience, complete with cute critters. A few issues prevent it from being perfect, but platforming enthusiasts should consider giving it a go.
Together is a unique platformer, offering fun and laughs in co-op mode. The gimmick wears off if you're not super into platformers or you don't have a strong partner. The difficulty could put off casual players, but If you're looking for something challenging that's a little different, check it out.
Apple Slash is incredibly fun but over way too soon. The visuals and soundtrack are a treat, while the short story has humor and heart. It's absolutely worth playing but doesn't quite justify the price. If you see it on sale for a dollar or two, grab it quickly, though.