Decarnation is a unique horror puzzler that tries to make sense of the main character's emotional breakdown in ways that don't make sense. It effectively keeps players off balance throughout, but also in ways that knock the gameplay off balance, unfortunately.
Afterimage is a Metroidvania with attractive 2D visuals and crisp combat, and it really wants to make sure you've earned any victories you get. The action is tricky, especially with the numerous bosses that are smarter than what you may be used to. But if you're up to the challenge, you'll find the game's rewards.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed is an absolutely essential component of the Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy. Combat and exploration are tightly refined to keep things moving along, so there's never a dull moment unless you choose to take a breather. The story relies heavily on nostalgia for its emotional moments, but fans will be pleased that some of the loose ends are finally tied together, albeit with knots they likely didn't expect.
Tin Hearts offers puzzle gamers a touching story and plenty of challenges across its 40+ levels, some of which are quite lengthy and rewarding. However, user interface issues, inconsistent graphics, and a few odd development decisions make toy time a little less fun than it could have been.
Bayonetta Origins: Cereza & the Lost Demon is a charming action/puzzle game. Hardcore Bayonetta fans may not have much interest in seeing their heroine during her formative early years, but their loss is the gain of anyone seeking a wonderfully presented and consistently clever adventure.
Kana Quest is a cute, friendly game that aims to teach you kana character recognition as you work through its numerous match-em puzzles. Some may be put off by the unfamiliar Japanese alphabet, but those who are willing to learn (or just want an additional challenge) should have fun picking up the basics of kana recognition and pronunciation.
There's a great game waiting to be checked out from The Library of Babel, but it's currently buried under platforming puzzles that are too annoying to be fun. It's a beautiful game with a compelling story, but it needs some difficulty adjustments to let the fun parts save the day.
Ninja JaJaMaru: The Great Yokai Battle +Hell is simultaneously new and nostalgic. The arcade gameplay will be familiar to fans of NES-era titles, but the game's modern features and obvious love for the source material elevate it above your typical 8- or 16-bit throwbacks.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key adjusts the JRPG series' gameplay formula in numerous ways-some subtle and some dramatic. Not all of the changes work, but the end result is still a very fun and satisfying conclusion to Ryza's summer adventures.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a great turn-based JRPG that holds up exceptionally well against its modern competitors. The story and combat system are equally deep, allowing the game's bigger moments to carry players through a fair amount of combat repetition and prolonged narrative dumps.
The Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse remaster is a constantly creepy, often infuriating survival horror game that has the misfortune of following the superior Maiden of Black Water on the Switch. Fans of the series and Japanese horror in general should be glad they finally get to play it, but those with low patience thresholds will do better to not step foot on Rogetsu Isle.
Mosaic Chronicles Deluxe uses virtual puzzles to serve two fables by fantasy author Olga Gromyko. The puzzle gameplay is not as tight as in competing games on the Switch, but the stories provide enough incentive to compel players through the game's 50 levels.
Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is a complex and confusing dungeon crawler that provides numerous rewards for those willing to brave its mission. There's always a new combat mechanic to learn, a new plot element to unravel, and a new level to explore, and the process of working through it all is incredibly addictive.
Fire Emblem: Engage will be welcomed by longtime fans who've felt disenfranchised by the direction of recent Fire Emblem games. The battlefields are clever and challenging, the visuals are outstanding, and the social stuff-although mostly unnecessary-isn't so invasive as to bog down gameplay. The story may be perfunctory, but it's hard to care when you're having so much fun unleashing Twin Strike on your enemies.
Wonderland Nights: White Rabbit's Diary is a beautifully illustrated but poorly voiced and structured visual novel that centers around the politics of Wonderland. As the White Rabbit, it's your job to match up characters to shape these politics, but it's not quite a job worth taking.
Terror of Hemasaurus is a fantastic time, a wild homage to Rampage that tops its predecessor in nearly every way. It's definitely meant to be played in multiplayer couch co-op. And maybe it'll help you understand that if our planet can't be destroyed by daikaiju, then maybe we just shouldn't destroy it at all.
The platforming action of Onion Assault is betrayed by its imprecise controls, but there's more than enough action and fun to help players get around them. The upbeat vibe and general wackiness of combat and characters make this a good (albeit frustrating) way to kill an evening or weekend.
Children of Silentown is yet another story centered around a mysterious town with a disturbing past (and present), but it's handled with a sense of tenderness and youthful optimism that's often missing from modern games. It's one of the most cohesive and engaging puzzle adventures I've played in quite a while, and it's well worth your time.
Don't look at Chained Echoes as a throwback to the 16-bit JRPGs of yesteryear, just look at it as an amazing game with an engaging battle system and wonderfully paced story. You can also look at it as one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2022.
Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered offers a trip back to when JRPGs didn't just offer multiple playthroughs, they counted on them. This game expects you to miss numerous events and items, and to want to try again. Because of its complexity and general aimlessness, however, I'm not sure many will want to.