GRIS is a powerful and exceedingly worthwhile title that deserves to be played by everyone in total immersion. Set aside a few hours, turn off the lights, put on your headphones. And then lose yourself in this world.
It's as addictive as it is satisfying, and the hours I've spent with it have melted away like the cares of my newly-cured patients. Whether you've been in a simulation game coma like me or living it up as your tycoon of choice, Two Point Hospital more than lives up to its forebears. Let's add eight more points to that title.
At times it wears its SNES inspirations on its sleeves (and proudly), but it evolves the combat to a level of perfection. Every aspect of the game is fun, or emotional, or tantalizingly brain-teasing, and I haven't been able to put it down even after rolling credits a dozen hours of playtime earlier. You'll smile, laugh, and maybe even cry as you help Valere and Zale complete their mission, but there's one thing for certain: you'll never forget it.
Wargroove offers a robust and content-laden package that turn-based strategy fans will adore.
The small tasks on each island can feel like chores after a while, but then suddenly they won't. The neighbors you've been helping all this time will pitch in and divide up larger projects so the burden doesn't fall squarely on your shoulders. You might think striving for the title of Master Builder is all about the monuments and landscape you leave behind, but it's actually just as much about the friends you make along the way.
If you can get friends together, local or otherwise, you're guaranteed an awesome time. Dynamite with a laser beam, indeed. My mind's already blown.
If you've never played a Trails game, this release has everything you need to catch up and dive right in, and stay tuned for the finale of the tetralogy, Trails of Cold Steel 4, coming to Switch in 2021. If two roads diverge in a yellow wood, you better take the trail of cold steel. That will make all the difference.
Fair warning, some of the lighting effects can put a strain on the eyes, especially during a longer play session. Another proofreading of the script would have helped, too, but the ways in which Everhood builds on and calls back to past titles like Undertale and Earthbound help it rise above its niggling flaws. It's a game of few answers and many questions, chief among them being "What did I just play?" and "What is even happening right now?" Of course, I mean these as compliments, not strictly statements of bafflement but more of wonder and amazement. The meaning of its title didn't strike me until some time after reaching the end of the story; what struck with regularity, however, is the relentless delight of Everhood.
To say that I'm in love with LOVE 3 would be an understatement. Anyone who wants an incredible collection of platforming stages without the bells and whistles should look no further. This game is a gift to the genre.
The grid-style, turn-based combat lives up to the best of its predecessors, and while it may lack the customizability of a job system, the cavalcade of recruitable party members is a worthy replacement. Whether you're in it for the story, the gameplay, or the aesthetics, the total package is one for the ages, and from any angle the strategy is clear: add Triangle Strategy to your Switch library. Maybe tell friends and family to end their turn; you're going to be busy for a while.
Firewatch has an affective and engaging story that draws you in, and I couldn't put the game down after the halfway point. What initially seems like more of a relaxing walking simulator becomes something more consequential and dire. Anyone interested in great stories—not just those told through video games—needs to pick up Firewatch. Like Celeste and GRIS, Firewatch is a triumph of artistic and thought-provoking game design, and it can remind you of summer as you bundle up for the cold winter ahead.
The Fullbright Company knows how to tell a story and they succeed at making the player feel that he or she is part of that story. If you want a narrative experience that demonstrates what the video game medium is truly capable of, play this game, but do so slowly. Gone Home is not a game to hurry through, but one to savor and remember.
Undoubtedly, one of the best features of the game is unlocking new mechs and creating your own squads, and it is that element that will keep me coming back to the game. Hop into a breach and pick up this game yesterday, soldier. It's Vek-hunting season.
Regardless, Parallel Circles has created a true winner here, and I look forward to going back to Survival mode to keep my name on the leaderboards (Mother3, naturally). I also plan to return to the Campaign Heroes stages, but I'll give my heart a little break first. Flat Heroes isn't the first game to feature a small square as the main character, and it won't be the last, but in the case of this game, Huey Lewis and the News had it right: It's hip to be square.
One interesting wrinkle that Lightening Force brings to the table is that you can also stretch the screen vertically and explore the space above and below your ship to find different enemies, avoid fire, or discover hidden power-ups. When you beat the game, you also open up a new ship with different weapons, which adds replay value. There is a lot to like about this initial offering in the Sega Ages series, and growing up without ever owning a Sega console, I'm eager to see more of these titles, especially given the obvious TLC being put into them.
You might not want to play more than 20 hours of Diablo III: Eternal Collection, but the time you do put in will be unbelievably entertaining. If you want more of this game, the Seasonal options are there for you, and if you have a few buddies who also pick it up, the more is definitely the merrier. And because I can't stop thinking it, even though Diablo started out as a computer game, it feels better as a console one.
The final stages of the game are an absolute trip, and for much of my time with it I simply could not put Octahedron down. A free demo on the eShop leaves no excuse for ignoring this one. You don't need to get dressed up or shell out for expensive drinks to feel like you're at the club. Just play Octahedron.
Outside of the Colosseum challenges and the three difficulty modes (Squire, Knight, and Legend), I don't see much of a reason to return after completing the game, but I found the length to be just right. My time with SteamWorld Quest was thoroughly satisfying, and in between playing lengthy Final Fantasy ports, I was glad to have a more compact experience close at hand. Rather than running out of steam, Hand of Gilgamech plays its cards rather perfectly.
Better still, it's impossible not to be captivated by the Bergson family's struggle for survival and togetherness against a formidable evil. A two-player co-op option is the cherry on top of this exquisitely-crafted experience. However you choose to go through it, Children of Morta is an absolute must-play.
Understanding the experimental and purposeful design of 198X goes a long way toward appreciating it. Rather than a fun, traditional game experience, it's best viewed as a bold and thought-provoking work that reminds us of a time before wireless controllers and console wars. Back when all you really needed was a quarter and some courage.