Craig Majaski's Reviews
Thanks to its superb writing and zany cast of characters, West of Loathing is a must-play turn-based RPG for the Switch. What it lacks in graphical special effects, it totally makes up for in the humor department. It is yet another great addition to your Switch library!
Ys VIII combines fun combat with an intriguing story to create an unforgettable adventure. Exploring the island is made even more entertaining by constantly finding new people to expand your camp and make your characters even stronger. Don’t miss out this excellent action/RPG.
If you’ve got room in your Switch collection for one more Metroidvania, be sure to make it Iconoclasts. This gorgeous game combines fun gameplay with a unique story to create an exciting world to explore.
If you like adventure games that put an emphasis on combat and feature unique visuals, great tunes, and a one of a kind story, then Mulaka is made for you. It’s a surprisingly fresh take on a well-established genre.
Hexologic is a wonderful puzzle game that really scratches that part of your brain that yearns to be tested. It’s easy enough for anyone to learn and it really does a fantastic job of introducing new gameplay elements as the game progresses. If you like Picross or Sudoku, then this one is a no-brainer.
Overcooked 2 takes everything the first game did right and expands on it. You get bigger and crazier kitchens, more cooks, better controls, and more multiplayer options. This one’s best played with friends locally so you can hoot and holler at each other while trying to crank out as many pancakes as possible.
When it comes to The Jackbox Party Packs, this ranks as one of the best. Nearly all of the games are fun and exciting to play and 4 of the 5 supports up to 8 players, which is fantastic for parties!
GREAT - Leave it to Nintendo to think of a new way to bring Battle Royale to the masses. Tetris 99 is a perfect mix of approachable gameplay and highly competitive stakes. The game is highly addicting, instantly fun, and a perfect fit for the Switch. The experience is limited with only one game mode, but even so expect to lose hours of your life to it.
GREAT - SteamWorld Quest is a wonderful card-battling RPG that features slick graphics, wonderful music, and easy to understand combat mechanics. Even if you typically avoid these types of games you should give this one a shot. Its charming characters and fun strategic gameplay are sure to keep you coming back for more.
GREAT - Picross S3 is the best so far on the Switch. It adds in color for some of the puzzles and the Clip Picross mode is a genius way to keep players engaged in unlocking new panels. Whether you’re new to the series or a veteran, this one’s a keeper!
GREAT - Fans of the Castlevania series will surely fall in love with this collection. It chronicles the early days of the series (the first ten years) and features some amazing classics. Just the inclusion of Kid Dracula is worth checking this one out and Super Castlevania IV makes it a must-own.
GREAT - The wait for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was completely worth it. The Switch version is still plenty of fun to play but is marred with some technical issues at the time of this writing, which holds back its overall score from being even higher. Those that can overlook these issues will find a compelling adventure game filled with secrets and content that should give most gamers over 20 hours of playtime.
GREAT - Developed by the studio that brought us Snipperclips, Tangle Tower is a highly entertaining whodunit murder mystery that’s sort of a cross between an interactive graphic novel and a point and click adventure game. It features fantastic art and animation combined with a truly amazing soundtrack and superb voice acting to really make the experience memorable. By the end I was yearning for more – and hopefully I’ll get it in the future!
GREAT - Luigi’s Mansion 3 features stellar graphics and amazing music, creating a charmingly spooky experience that’s dying to be explored. Each floor features unique environments and stylish ghosts that are fun to interact with. Awkward controls that may take some getting used to and weak rewards for solving puzzles (money that serves little purpose) drag down what is otherwise an excellent candidate for Switch game of the year.
GREAT - Rune Factory 4 Special is one of the most addictive games I’ve played on the Switch so far. There’s always something to do, whether it’s growing more crops, crafting new gear, forging new relationships, fighting off monsters, or exploring new realms. Average graphics and slight control issues aside, this is a pleasant surprise and one of my favorite games of the year.
The Banner Saga expertly weaves a compelling story and a fun combat system into a memorable experience. The tactical battle system is engaging and the characters are interesting to interact with. Check this one out if you haven’t already!
Do you like the 2D Zelda games? If so, Blossom Tales is the perfect substitute until the real thing eventually comes along for the Switch. The story is entertaining and the world is fun to explore. It might be a little too close of a copycat for some, but it’s charming enough to stand on its own.
You don’t have to be a hardcore fan of Portal or Bridge Constructor to like this mashup. It’s highly entertaining and fun to build structures and then see if they can hold up to the crushing reality of gravity and weight. It’s perfect to play in short bursts and funny to boot! The game’s difficulty might be a bit on the high end for some.
Dandara is an enjoyable Metroidvania with unique gameplay mechanics that feel fresh and fun – when they work. Sometimes the game’s controls can be a bit fussy, which can lead to unfortunate deaths. The game can sometimes be more frustrating than it needs to be, but underneath is a fun world to explore with some great visuals. Yet another great game for the Switch!
The Longest Five Minutes looks and plays like an RPG from yesteryear. However, it’s superb soundtrack, entertaining writing, and unique plot progression makes it a great game to check out. It is on the very easy side though – you won’t find much depth or strategy in the combat system. It’s great for RPG beginners.