Littlewood is so gosh darn cozy. From the charming characters to the low-stakes RPG fun, there's plenty to love in this interesting entry in the farm-sim genre. It may be the only game of its kind that is truly "pick up and play." Or, like me, you can sink in plenty of hours and get lost in all that cuteness.
Opinions on what the best 3D Mario titles are varied and polarizing. Is 3D World the best 3D Mario outing? For a game that came out nearly a decade ago, it still feels fairly new, which is not something that can be said of other recently released Mario ports. And while Bowser's Fury may not be a full-fledged game, I almost cried when it was done, aching for more open-world Mario goodness. With all due respect to Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is the definitive Mario experience available on the Switch right now.
Golden Force doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it does the nearly-impossible by offering a truly 16-bit experience, from sprite-based visuals to the tough-as-nails difficulty. If Gunstar Heroes copulated with Rocket Knight Adventures, Golden Force would be its beautiful brood. Just don't go digging for the easy mode, it simply doesn't exist.
In 1999, a portable arcade fighting game probably blew a few minds. Like many games of the era, time hasn't been too kind to Fatal Fury First Contact. You can't deny the charm, though, and its simplicity allows for a quick fighting game fix during breaks or right before bed. Serious fighting game fans may want to look elsewhere, but it's not altogether terrible.
While this pack contains two games, the conceit of both, a rhythm-based RPG is ultimately fairly shallow. In the end, just about every RPG element is an afterthought. Still, there's simply far too much charm here to overlook, especially if you're a fan of the long-running Taiko no Tatsujin series or rhythm games in general. Playing either title in docked mode with full volume, or in portable mode with good headphones is enough to get anyone in the groove.
Beat-em-ups are a dime a dozen, but 9 Monkeys of Shaolin is at the very least different from many of the other offerings on the Switch. From the complexity of the combat system which offers plenty of potential for variety in gameplay, to the inspired visual presentation, it's easy to recommend to any fan of the beat-em-up genre.
Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 is a fantastic game that even 16 years later remains one of the most entertaining simulation titles ever made. Playing the game without a mouse and keyboard leaves much to be desired, and even after getting over the learning curve, it's still a murky prospect indeed. But if you simply must have a portable Roller Coaster Tycoon 3, there's plenty of thrills to be had.
Tamiku is a modern arcade-style game with a rather charming presentation but ultimately the gameplay may be a bit too simple for some, especially given that the difficulty curve may scare away anyone who's never handled a joystick. If you're looking for an inexpensive and challenging arcade experience, Tamiku may scratch your particular itch.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, I'm happy to report, strips away the fat, leaving behind the sort of lean mean farming title fans crave. The new additions and streamlining made an already fantastic experience on the GBA into a near-perfect one on the Switch.
Spacejacked turns the tower defense genre upside down and also manages to toss quite a bit of challenge into the mix. If you're looking to get your butt kicked a few times, Spacejacked is for you.