GOOD - Out There Ω The Alliance offers plenty of new content for its Switch release. Small text in handheld mode is a bit problematic, but I still had a fun time. Easy to learn resource management should engage most players, but the RNG will usually get the best of you so don’t be surprised to start over a lot. This one will allow you to explore the dire and bleak adventure of solitary space travel and the mental impact that follows.
GOOD - RAD is a pretty typical rogue-like that’s bound to be familiar for fans of the genre. It splices up things by mutating your character as you progress and explore the ‘80s neo post-post-apocalyptic wastelands giving you a dynamic experience that both can feel great but also land on the unbalanced side frequently. Double Fine has brought their style and quality here from everything in the visual identity of the game, to the humor and just overall class. There’re some nagging performance problems on the Switch you’ll have to contend with, but thankfully it didn’t cripple the game in any way.
GOOD - Eight-Minute Empire is a perfect bite sized strategy board game adaptation brought to a befit on-the go platform with the Nintendo Switch. Easy to learn game mechanics without sacrificing strategy, combined with games that can be played easily on a 15-minute break or less is good fun. I wish the game had a custom match offering, as I think players would be able to really get a lot of bang for the buck then, but what is offered isn’t too thin thankfully.
GOOD - Taking on the role of a DJ, you’ll be mixing licensed music tracks from plenty of genres to please your venue’s crowds, and also your pals at home. There’s a real skillset to master once you get going in the game, and it’s a lot of fun hearing your creations come to life. Sadly, none of the game’s multiplayer modes worked at all for me on the Nintendo platform, which is a big miss given the full $60 price point, and therefore forced me to play in solo venues only. If dreaming of being a DJ is your thing, you can fake it to make it here with Fuser and feel great as the crowd’s cheer.
GOOD - Rise of the Slime is a very personable deck-building roguelike game. Robust gameplay mechanics with just the right blend of randomization and skill, as well as high replayability that makes it the perfect game on-the-go. The visuals are charming, but a bit lifeless, however the game is accessible through use of both the Touch and Joy-Con controls. With a competitive price point of $14.99, if you’re of a fan of games like Slay the Spire, Rise of the Slime will be good company in your library.
GOOD - Holy Potatoes! We’re in Space?! brings an easy to learn, but difficult to master turn-based strategy space game to the Nintendo Switch. It includes a quirky cast of vegetable-themed characters and plenty of puns to go with it. Gameplay can get repetitive as there isn’t a ton of depth, but this is mitigated by a slew of customization and upgrade options along with well-planned missions to create a solid experience.
GOOD - Graveyard Keeper is the dark and twisted humorous companion to games like Stardew Valley. It boasts many similarities but delves particularly deep into crafting, exploration, and story intertwinement. For a more casual player, this game can easily feel overwhelming, somewhat confusing and definitely complicated though. Tending a cemetery ends up being far more enjoyable that one might expect with Graveyard Keeper and it’s a very reasonable to give this game a go for $20 on the Nintendo eShop.
Numizmatic has delivered a good entry into this genre with Light Fingers. They’ve managed to hit a sweet spot for a more medium-core digital table top game focused on local multiplayer, but I can’t help but feel there was a strong missed opportunity for a solo mode in the Board Campaign. Beyond that, the game has some areas that could use additional polish or more depth, but the Nintendo Switch is the perfect system for what they have created.
GOOD - Cinders is an interactive novel that retells the classic Cinderella story from a more mature perspective of each of the four women involved. Seemingly countless decisions, a variety of endings and a well-written story make up a solid foundation. Couple that with beautifully made 2D art scenes and well-planned mechanics in the game and Cinders comes out as strong game in this genre.
GOOD - Felix The Reaper brings a tragic comedy in the form of a challenging puzzle game to the Nintendo Switch. With a catchy soundtrack, vibrant visuals, and a reasonably fun storyline narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart, there’s a good game play here for only $24.99 on the eShop.
GOOD - Dread Nautical is a tactical turn-based RPG with some roguelike elements. Mixing these elements with a compelling story, interesting characters, and the classic risk and reward systems works well. Ultimately it reminded me of the board game Clue come to life mixed with a little bit of XCOM. The repetitive layout of the ship and enemies put a damper on what otherwise is a great concept for a game.
GOOD - Urban Flow is a challenging stoplight/traffic management game that utilizes the Switch platform nicely. You can tackle the campaign levels solo which was my preference, or sync up 3 other players and turn the game into a sort of ‘party’ style game. There’s a lot of layered challenges this game will offer over it’s 100 levels, but the difficulty curve may turn some players off before they get to see everything that is offered. For $14.99 you’re getting a polished experience, but there are plenty of free or very cheap games in this genre on mobile platforms as well that may satisfy your traffic light switching urges.
GOOD - Ring of Pain is an artistic blend of casual card combat, procedural dungeon running, with some roguelike mechanics. Its strengths are in the short play sessions, and dynamic outcomes that can be had, along with the more advanced strategy that’s possible. Shortcomings include a heavily RNG based system, where sometimes the cards just won’t be in your favor. Additionally, a lack of really any meta unlockable carry-thru content was a strong disappointment for me. Still, I can see myself jamming on a run or two over a lunch break for the foreseeable future without feeling burned out, which says a lot for this genre.
GOOD - The much-anticipated Torchlight III has arrived on Nintendo Switch. The familiar art style and fantasy driven themes are back and as enjoyable as ever, however diehard fans of the series may be disappointed with the game’s back steps of previously deeper gameplay and strategy. This comes as a result of the game’s development changing drastically over the years. Still, the game offers all of the expected bullet points of an action-RPG styled game, and there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had with hacking and slashing in multiplayer with a friend.
Party Hard is a controversial stealth slasher game that aesthetically shadows much of Hotline Miami. It finds some of its own identity in places, and tries hard not to take itself very seriously. You’ll get the gist of gameplay in the first couple of levels, and then it starts to feel like a monotonous grind.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Chime Sharp brings puzzle placing action into the music genre after a long hiatus from other platforms. It delivers a more refined experience than its predecessor from long ago, and certainly should whet the appetites for longtime fans. There’s a bit of a learning curve, and not everything is explained very clearly to new users, but it shouldn’t hold anyone back for too long. For fans of puzzle games, it’s a solid game to have in your library, but may be a bit niche for everyone else.
If you’re up for a slick local play arena shooter for your Switch, Varion comes to the table with prominent visuals and easy controls. However the core game mechanic of ricochet-only kills will definitely turn off some players, as it feels more luck-based than skill.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Lost Orbit: Terminal Velocity is a clever narrative journey of a space repairman stuck in a predicament and he just wants to find his way home. Gameplay feels familiar to other genres, while finding its own unique mechanics to create a pretty enjoyable experience. It’s not a particularly deep game, but the voiced story is what keeps players engaged more so than the core gameplay.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Curious Expedition is a game for those that enjoy Roguelike strategy titles with some choose your own adventure thrown in for good measure. The graphics aren’t that great, but I had a fun time trying to nab some treasure without dying. If you don’t like having to start over from scratch after you die, then this one’s not for you.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Turmoil is in fact a quite charming game, with a soothing soundtrack and a really clean 2d art style. The gameplay is casual, but addictive and at no time did I ever feel overwhelmed by any of the sim management aspects. It was a fun time for me hopping into the year 1899 and drilling for black gold.