Mitchell Parton
You'll want to check out Rad for its unique concept, addicting gameplay and beautiful style, you just may want to consider it on a different console. The Switch version has too many aesthetical issues for me to feel confident that it represents its true potential. Don't be discouraged if you don't — it still plays great and personally, I'm going to keep perfecting my runs to, maybe eventually, become rad.
The only downside of Vectronom is that it should only take a few hours to complete. Each beat of this experience is so jam-packed and the gameplay concepts switch up so frequently that I would love each one to be explored more. Don't let that stop you from exploring what's here, though — this gem is a design feat and one of the most delightful platforming games I've ever played.
Team Sonic Racing is the perfect addition to the Switch's kart racing lineup. It's a fast and exciting roller coaster of a racer with the style and spunk you'd expect from the Sonic series. While it doesn't perform on the Switch as well as on other consoles, that doesn't change the fun of speeding through this iconic universe.
All in all, Venture Kid is a retro platformer that plays fairly well, but lacks the excitement or inspiration of the Mega Man series it tried to model. With such a wide spectrum of games in this genre that push the limits of what an action-platformer is capable of, something so vanilla is going to get lost and overlooked. Unless this is the first such game you've ever played, you've likely seen everything offered here somewhere else.
Super Treasure Arena has all the elements of a great arena shooter: fast and tight gameplay, intuitive controls, and clear objectives and challenges. To make this a worthwhile download though, it absolutely needs to be an online experience. It works locally because of how solid the overall experience is, but that should be a secondary option, not the primary way to play.
If you’re an Undertale fan, you already know exactly what you’re getting into with Deltarune. It doesn’t significantly change up the formula this time around, but I’m fine with that.
A learning curve can be a barrier initially, but once you learn the ropes, you'll just want to keep skating forever. Although the second game is the better of the two, the difference isn't stark enough to warrant skipping out on the first. These both fit the textbook definition of perfect on-the-go games – while not the most visually impressive games out there, they are perfect for both quick bursts of fun or hours of intense focus and mastery.
All in all, Beholder will certainly capture your attention for quite a while with its dark premise and complex relationships. Keep in mind, though, some of the controls don't work as intuitively as you'd expect, and some of the actions you have to do can be a bore. If you can see past that, this is a fantastically-designed management-sim with layers of art and complexity.
If you've never played Katamari before, there's no reason not to pick this up over the original release on the PS2. The game is still a delight, and while it may make you dizzy, picking up objects and watching your katamari grow with all sorts of random objects will always be a delight. If you've played this before, though, there's really nothing new here that's worth trying out.
Since the base game is so in-depth, I wouldn't even feel a need to buy the DLC content if I didn't have to. All the DLC provides is new themes and slightly varied scenarios, so I do think this game would be a better value without it. Project Highrise is here for those craving the deepest management simulator the Switch has to offer, but if you're not already a fan of the genre, I wouldn't recommend it.
Polished, fun and incredibly weird at times, Taiko no Tatsujin is nothing short of a blast to play on the Switch. The translation isn't great and the motion controls don't quite work, but everything else here is a pure delight. The core gameplay is simple yet addicting, and the party games make this a title you can enjoy with just about anyone.
I'm happy that Overcooked 2 got the DLC it deserved. Even though it's just 12 levels, they present quite a bit of challenge. I still consider Overcooked 2 one of the best local multiplayer games on the Switch, so more of it is definitely not a bad thing.
Tricky Towers is an incredibly creative and unique take on the puzzle genre. I just wish there was more to unlock and explore as it does have incredible potential. Nevertheless, I do recommend this brick-stacker to anyone looking for a fun local and online multiplayer experience.
Wandersong is definitely worth checking out on the basis of how different and unique it is. From the fun, new interaction method to the hand-crafted art style, this is something completely fresh.
The addition of the newer dash moves brings it closer to the more recent Sonic games in feel, but if you want speed, Sonic Mania would be a better pick. Still, M2 did phenomenal work on bringing this game to the Switch in a way that doesn't feel stale. If you want to see where Sonic came from and are interested in how the new features enhance this classic game, there's no reason to stay away.
I don't recommend Hover: Revolt of Gamers on the Switch at all. Even after five years of development, it feels incredibly undercooked. The user interface is not intuitive, and the gameplay and camera together make it feel like a bad VR game. Maybe it's more fun on a powerful desktop PC, but it just doesn't feel at home here.
The Switch release plays just as smoothly as any modern game. No frame drops are present and it works beautifully in handheld mode. While there is no new content with this release, it still feels right at home on the Switch. If you've played Bastion in the past or if you've missed out on the previous releases, I wholeheartedly recommend Bastion for anyone looking for a fantastic action RPG.
Any fan of platforming will be more than satisfied with the joy of speeding around the long levels and the derivative gameplay of the different characters. Those who have played this game on Wii U or other platforms will be disappointed though as there is no new content included in this release. Nevertheless, this is not a game to glance over and is nothing short of a thrill ride.
If you just want more Overcooked though and aren't expecting a revolution, you'll be satisfied with the amount of new content. New players to the series will enjoy this on its own and since online is now available, this opens up multiplayer play to just about everyone whether you have friends next to you or not. Whichever way you play, this is a fun and frantic experience that everyone deserves to enjoy.
I feel like this genre is better suited for PCs or even tablets rather than portable gaming systems because it feels too cluttered for the Switch's screen and not comfortable on any television. The core gameplay definitely works how you'd expect and you'll find plenty of tasks to accomplish. Maybe this would be a good one to jump in and out of while making some potato salad. Yum.