There's no tutorial to be found in this puzzle game that will likely be hard to grasp for most. Once you get the grip of the color-changing mechanics, it can easily become a rewarding puzzle experience. If you're a casual puzzle fan, look elsewhere: this is one of the toughest puzzling experiences out there. Tease your brain in a handful of dimensions.
Pang fans will feel very at home with Pirate Pop which is a charming homage to the Buster Bros. of old. There aren't many frills here, but in some cases, it's what makes the game sing. As far as pick-up-and-play action-puzzlers on the Nintendo Switch eShop are concerned, Pirate Pop Plus is a total treasure.
The Nintendo Switch eShop is rife with countless "pick up and play" games, and would you know it, most of them aren't very good. Plenty more are cheap knockoffs of better games. Mom Hid My Game 2 is chock full of something few games have anymore: surprises. If you're looking for a new and unique puzzle experience, My Mom Hid My Game 2 is a fun little time sink.
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.
Kevin Smith built a career on fan service, and Jay and Silent Bob: Mall Brawl is as fan service-y as it gets. On its face, it's a typical arcade beat-'em-up, but with a shiny View Askew coat of paint. If you're looking for a solid brawler that harkens to the NES days or you're an aficionado of Smith's filmography, it's easy to recommend this charming title.
BE-A Walker may be a "walking simulator" but it's nowhere near as humdrum as the genre suggests. The easy to pick up, difficult to master controls make the Joy-Cons work in tandem, in near-perfect harmony. The difficulty curve may be too much for some to handle, but if you're looking for a satisfying challenge, this may just be it.
To succeed as a Metroidvania, a game has to set itself apart from the rest. SuperEpic’s second-screen mini-game approach is not only an innovative concept, it helps underline the satirical conceit the game’s story lays out. Even with its shallow combo-based combat system, there’s plenty here for fans of the genre to enjoy.
HAUNTED: Halloween '86 is a follow-up to a technically revolutionary concept made real, and unlike many daunting modern titles, it actually pays off in what it's trying to accomplish. Considering that it's made within the technical confines of the NES while retaining modern gaming sensibilities, it's hard not to recommend this charming beat 'em up. I can even overlook the dismal concept of candy corn restoring health.
Daggerhood isn't a platformer built with everyone in mind. In fact, even a few die-hards may find it to be a little too difficult. If you're looking for a platformer that's far-flung from the easier titles the genre is known for, it's not a bad place to start. It may be the only Nintendo Switch eShop title under $5 that not only gives you more bang for your buck but has an incredible amount of polish.
Omega Strike isn't breaking any new ground, but who cares? Unlike some metroidvanias, it's engrossing, engaging, and never lets up. For those hungry for the adventures of Samus and Simon Belmont, Omega Strike will surely satisfy.
Classic NES platforming fans, rejoice. Venture Kid succeeds where even Mega Man’s creator failed when trying to capture that classic Blue Bomber feel. Even with minor flaws, Venture Kid will scratch the itch for Mega Man, and if you’re lucky, scrub the memory of Might No. 9 from your brain.
Much like a deep dish pizza, Way of the Passive Fist isn't what it seems on the surface. And like the heavy alternative to the NY slice, it's not something I can recommend to everyone. However, it's a totally inventive, gorgeous, and well-executed spin on rhythm-based games, where the action never lets up.
Does Kirby Star Allies do anything radically new? No, not really. But it is a full-fledged console Kirby title, something many of us have sorely longed for. It's a good single player experience to be sure, but truly comes into its own as a multi-player title. Like most things, Kirby Star Allies is just plain better with friends.
If you're looking for a solid arcade action rhythm game, you could certainly do worse than SUPERBEAT: XONiC. Not only can you manage the difficulty to your personal play style, it's sensory overload will get your heart pumping like you were on your feet. This is a compliment: It's like Bop It on acid.
Like a hybrid car, Manual Samuel starts slow, but once it kicks into high gear, there's far too much charm to not enjoy yourself. Controlling Samuel is a daunting, but incredibly rewarding task for anyone who can master the button-mashing physics this game relies on. If there's room for PC adventure games in your heart, you'll be right at home with Manual Samuel.
Summary: There's a scarcity of places to save your game, but it's not enough to pass on Xeodrifter. It's minimalism proves that there's still a place for simplicity, even on modern powerhouse consoles. It's like the first Metroid game only, you know, playable.
Gato Roboto accomplishes so much with so little. Even those it looks like a game that would be on the Atari 2600 or the big brick Gameboy, every aspect of Kiki's world glows as bright as one of the best of the Metroidvania genre. Plus, it's a cat in a mech suit, does a game get any more charming than that?
If you're looking for a title that relieves tension instead of building it, My Time at Portia is as soothing as gaming gets. The craft-heavy life sim offers new spins on mainstays like farming, mining, and even fishing. It's the closest gaming equivalent to a warm cup of cocoa: soothing and satisfying. If Harvest Moon and Breath of the Wild had a baby, I'm positive their beautiful brood would feel like My Time at Portia.
Unlike many remakes glutting the market, the existence of Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World makes complete sense. After all, many gamers in the west never got to delight in what is likely the best entry in the Wonder Boy/Monster World series. How does this fancy remake play? Imagine for a second that Zelda II: Return of Link was good. That'll get you pretty close.
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.