Jordan Brewer
GOOD - Rain World is one part cute, one part creepy, and another part frustrating survival game. The controls are not easy to master, and some will no doubt find the punishment of death in this game unforgiving. Still, those that like a challenge are sure to find something to like!
GOOD - Claybook lives up to the creative freedom that it promises, but lacks some polish that it really needed. The creative mode goes above and beyond what you expect from it, with the well-needed community feature. However, the mixed visual quality, lack of music variety, and other small issues should be well noted before you delve into its artistic world.
GOOD - Treasure Stack is a fun puzzle game that plays it safe and doesn’t draw outside the lines. It’s great to see another developer run with the Wario’s Woods concept, but unfortunately it fails to outdo that game, which Switch Online members can play right now via the NES app for free.
GOOD - Puyo Puyo Champions is Puyo Puyo, plain and simple. It offers half the content of its predecessor, with a price that is definitely fair for what’s being offered. If you’re looking for the Puyo Puyo experience and want to save on money, then this is the game for you. But if you have the money, then it might be best to spring for Puyo Puyo Tetris.
GOOD - Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle Is a great addition to an amazing representation of the anime. The DLC offers a ton of additional content, which will definitely add on hours to the overall playtime. There are some lackluster aspects of the DLC, and it’s overpriced for those that own the original game, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had here.
GOOD - Whipseey and the Lost Atlas is a budget platformer that delivers a fun experience in a small package. It’s a very short game, but it provides a quality experience throughout the duration of it. There are some minor issues, like the stock music and lack of extra content. However, what you do get is well worth the price asked for this game.
WORTH CONSIDERING - #Killallzombies is a fresh take on the Zombie survival genre. The fun twin-stick gameplay mixed with the random quirky style makes for a memorable experience. However, difficulty spikes and a lack of game modes hold it back from being a truly great game.
WORTH CONSIDERING - FutureGrind has a fair amount of effort in some places but comes up short in others. The gameplay is simple yet creative, the tracks are challenging, and the backgrounds and music really draw you into the game’s world. On the other hand, there’s a severe lack of content and the game never goes far enough with its premise.
WORTH CONSIDERING - As a piece of visual art, Mind: Path to Thalamus is an experience that will have you in awe. The game side of things isn’t as rosy, with trial and error gameplay and a very weak and tacked on story. If those aren’t important to you then this one is definitely one to consider.
MEDIOCRE - Xenon Valkyrie+ is a bit of a mixed bag. It has plenty of cute visuals and fun gameplay, but it falls short in more important aspects like its level designs and replayability. If you just want some short fun then this would be worth considering. Everyone else should probably pass.
MEDIOCRE - Boreal Blade nails the combat and has some fun ideas but they’re overshadowed by poor online connectivity. Lacking a single player mode means the game is entirely reliant on servers and unfortunately lag and constant kicking from matches mars the entire experience. Download the demo first to see if the online issues have been resolved before purchasing the full version.
Brawlhalla is a decent attempt at a free-to-play fighting game, though it leaves much to be desired. There’s some fun to be had with the offline modes, but nothing stands out enough that would make you want to spend actual money on the game.
recommend this game to anyone, yet at the price of five bucks I can’t say that you’re not getting your money’s worth. Sometimes you really do get what you paid for.
MEDIOCRE - Blood Waves might satisfy some zombie aficionados, but most gamers have seen and played better games in this genre. The lack of polish, tedious grinding, and high difficulty make this game an easy one to pass up. For the $10 price it’s not horrible, but with so many other great games near the same price point, it’s hard to recommend this one.
Tied Together offers such a neat gimmick, but fails in its execution. There are over 60 levels that will put you and your friends to the test, but anyone expecting some nice variety of replay value will be sorely disappointed. While I had some fun playing this game, that’s due to the people I played with rather than the quality of the game. Save your $15 for something else.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers had so much potential, but in the end, it turned out to be yet another Shovelware failure. While the game has a lot more tracks than you’d expect, the overall package is a disappointment for both diehard Nickelodeon fans, and for casual players. If you or your kids are huge fans of the IP then it might be worth waiting for a price cut.
MEDIOCRE - Gear.Club Unlimited 2 attempted to make a console sequel from a mobile game but didn’t put in enough effort to do so. The game looks beautiful, and there is a hefty amount of content to unlock. But the heavy controls, unbearable loading times, and overall mobile feel of the game ruin what could have been an amazing experience. Oh, and it’s way too expensive for what you get.
MEDIOCRE - Undead’s Building is a neat and quirky concept that just wasn’t taken far enough. The gameplay gets stale fast, and the lack of content doesn’t help that. There are some charming aspects, but this one needed more development time to become something truly special.
MEDIOCRE - BurgerTime Party is a mediocre introduction of the series to a new generation. The core gameplay remains the same, but everything else just hurts the experience. Lackluster level designs, content stretched to the point of tedium, undercooked multiplayer modes, and terribly unappealing aesthetics contribute to its downfall. As a budget title, this wouldn’t be so bad, but at the asking price of $20 you’re best off playing the original game.
BAD - Awesome Pea is an action-platformer that lacks any form of passion. Zero creativity, poor music, and forgettable level designs make this one an easy “NO” for most gamers.