Ultimately, Sniper Elite 4 not only carries on a tradition of excellence for the franchise, but elevates it to new heights. The focus on stealth and long-range combat provides for a rather unique experience among shooters. Larger levels and multi-use items provide even more freedom over past entries to tackle missions in whatever way you want. The biggest complaint is that finding an online multiplayer match may be difficult without friends, but if you can find one, it works well. If you're looking for a new shooter to dive into, Sniper Elite 4 should be at the top of your list.
Evolution Board Game is one of the overall best digital board game experiences I’ve had, out of the many I've played. Evolution's strategic gameplay is easy to pick up and fun to master, earning itself a guaranteed place in future game nights.
Though I still think it's a bit strange to put Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory on Nintendo Switch, given that there are currently no plans to bring others in the franchise over, there's almost no better home for it. The short bursts of gameplay mesh well with the pick-up-and-play nature of Switch. No matter whether you're a longtime fan of Kingdom Hearts or a newcomer looking to get in before the next main game, you'll find a lot to enjoy in Melody of Memory. It may not be the Kingdom Hearts game we wanted, but this is one love letter that definitely deserves to be read.
That said, Disc Room is a fantastic game. When I was playing, I got completely absorbed into the experience, so much so that the night I started I put four straight hours into it without realizing. It can be a little on the difficult side (rarely unfairly so), but this really added to the sense of accomplishment and progression that kept me locked into the game. I'm completely blown away that, for a game with such a simple concept, there's so much variety in design and so much content to discover. The team behind Disc Room obviously put a lot of love and effort into making it, and it shows. If you're even the slightest bit interested in it, you should give Disc Room a try.
Despite being largely well-made, Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia gets stale and repetitive after the first few hours. Everything outside of the main story is incredibly tedious and feels like it was added solely to pad the game's length. Younger Bakugan fans will likely enjoy the game, but for older fans or those not already interested in Bakugan, it's a much tougher sell.
All in all, I think The Crown Tundra is the better of Pokémon Sword and Shield's two expansions. It's yet another step forward over improving the Wild Area, so much so that I think it could serve as a really good foundation for creating a full open-world Pokémon title. It's not without its faults, but I haven't been able to stop playing since I started it and don't see myself voluntarily letting up any time soon.
It's not often that I review a game in which I want to dive right back in after I finish with it, but Ys Origin is one of those rare exceptions. With the exceptional boss fights, the copious amount of unlockables, and the short runtime, I can already hear the game calling to me to return. However, if there's one thing that really stands out to me about how good this game is, it's that it makes me want to check out the rest of the series.
All in all, Witcheye is a cute little platformer. Its movement mechanic can be a little annoying at times, but overall it is a nice change of pace from what you would expect from others in the genre. Though short and simple due to its mobile origins, there's a lot of extra content to unlock to add to the replayability if you feel inclined to keep going. Even if you don't though, for the price, Witcheye could certainly do a lot worse.
As someone who has grown tired of the ever increasing emphasis on competitive multiplayer games, I really wasn’t expecting to like Spellbreak. However, I was pleasantly surprised after I tried it. The combat is simple, yet provides enough depth for on-the-fly strategy changes. Despite the unique concept, much of Spellbreak is rooted in traditional battle royale mechanics, so ultimately the game's success will rely heavily on future content updates. For now though, Spellbreak is definitely worth a try.
Monster Prom: XXL may seem pretty strange, but it's precisely this strangeness that elevates it to greatness. It was clearly designed with multiplayer in mind, as this mode stands as the strongest experience in the game. Even in single-player though, Monster Prom is sure to capture you with its quick wit and charming art style. There's a lot to love here, and I hope that there's a place in your heart for that special monster.
If you’re familiar with Curse of the Moon, you’ll feel right at home with its sequel. It’s more or less the same great experience you’ve come to expect, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure. We may not have needed Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2, but now that it’s here, it’s sure to become a staple of my library.
For someone who generally shies away from more casual games such as Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town, it really did a lot to win me over.
Catherine: Full Body has aged like a fine wine thanks to its new offerings. Not only do these add to an already great experience, but they made the game feel fresh. Rin's introduction to the storyline added a whole new dimension to the already twisted love triangle, while Remix mode did the same for the puzzles. If you haven't played Catherine before, now's a great chance to jump on the train. If you have, Catherine: Full Body is certainly worthy of the encore.
Ultimately, SpongeBob fanatics and hardcore platforming fans won't want to miss this release, but otherwise, you need not rush out to get it.
If you’re looking for a great turn-based strategy title, XCOM 2 Collection is a fantastic option. However, it’s a little hard for me to fully recommend the Switch version due to the numerous performance issues I encountered.
All in all, Minecraft Dungeons is a lot fun. Coming from more of a Diablo background, I wasn't sure how well the simplified mechanics would jive with me, but I was pleasantly surprised. Everything about Minecraft Dungeons, from the enemies to the environments to the increased emphasis on higher-quality items, oozes a charming Minecraft feel. A few minor performance issues hold it back slightly, but not enough to keep me from coming back for a lot more.
Ion Fury is nothing short of a giant love letter to the classic shooters of the 1990s. From the cheesy one-liners to the secret-filled stages, the game oozes style in spades. Though it doesn't improve much over its predecessors, Ion Fury really doesn't need to. Fans of classic shooters will definitely not want to miss this, while fans of modern shooters looking for a change will find an experience not too far outside of their comfort zone.
Stone is a weird game by every stretch of the imagination. What’s present isn’t bad — it just could have been a lot better.
Given the entire package, my time with Dogurai still proved to be enjoyable, if only for a few hours.
Despite a few missing features, Murder by Numbers is still a delightful twist on a classic puzzle game. Fans of Ace Attorney or Picross will not want to let this one fly under their radar. This is a universe begging for a sequel.