Jemma Casson
Teslagrad is a unique platforming adventure, with a hero who uses magnetic powers to solve some tricky puzzles. With beautiful graphics set in an eerie, industrial world, this is one game to consider over the holidays.
One More Dungeon's retro style will appeal to fans of '90s first-person shooters like Doom or Wolfenstein 3D. There is some further depth to experience if you can get past the super-pixelated design and average controls.
Brawl takes an existing concept and adds a B-grade horror theme to give it a unique twist. It's not as fun as its source material, but horror fans may get a kick out of its dark, twisted humor.
Puzzle Puppers delivers a relaxing puzzle experience featuring cute puppies that stretch to their food bowls. It's a simple yet addictive premise, with both easy and more challenging levels to give you several hours of fun. Worth checking it!
Despite a bumpy start, Dustoff Heli Rescue II is a decent little game for the Switch. I found more enjoyment here than I expected, and it's also tougher than it seems at first glance. Despite some flaws, which keep the game from being great, there is definitely fun to be had here.
Black Hole is a fun and challenging shooter that puts its own stamp on the genre. It's great value and, with a key feedback system, will hopefully get even better through updates. As it is, it looks great and plays well, and is definitely worth checking out.
Super Toy Cars looks cute on the surface, and is fun for a short time, but frustrating collision detection and lack of content stop this from being great. Stick to the classics.
Combining the first two Midnight games into one package makes this a much more worthwhile purchase, given its 70 levels. There's not much else apart from that, but it's fun while it lasts.
Paper Wars: Cannon Fodder is a strangely addictive experience. It's a simple game with a few minor issues, but is also a guilty pleasure that's fun to play.
Overall, Clustertruck is a fun, addictive game with plenty of content. It's also quite challenging and, although it won't suit everyone, there's enough to keep interested players busy.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a brilliant platformer that's fun, challenging, humorous, and looks great. If you haven't already checked this out, I highly recommend that you give it a go!
Regalia is a fun tactical RPG with a strong narrative element. It's not without it's issues – mainly loading times – but it's a well-designed and content-rich game nonetheless.
Rocket of Whispers is a beautiful journey into a bleak world. There's a great story to be told here, and it's a pleasure to uncover. This simple, story-driven game is well made and enjoyable while it lasts.
I really enjoyed my time with Another Lost Phone, which turns your Switch into a giant smartphone to provide a unique puzzle experience.
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.
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, InkSplosion is disappointing.
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.
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.
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.