Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an incredible experience and is, without a doubt, my favorite in the whole series. The formula is familiar for returning fans, yet still manages to feel like an enormous breath of fresh air. It truly is a distinctive, positive, and rewarding simulation that lets you become fully immersed in a fun, colorful, stress-free environment. While it still has its confusing moments, especially for new players, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was definitely worth the seven-year wait and is better than I could have ever hoped for.
Overall, Persona 5 Royal is an incredible deluxe version of what was, in my mind, already one of the greatest JRPGs of all time. The new characters, gameplay features, and more efficient mechanics make Persona 5 Royal worth the time sink for returning fans who have already plugged 100+ hours into the original while making the adventure more accessible and fun for new players.
Overall, I loved Slay the Spire and it definitely deserves the nomination for Fresh Indie Game at the Game Awards, which airs on December 12th. Historically, I’m not a fan of roguelike games, but Slay the Spire made me reconsider my position
Paper Mario: The Origami King is an absolutely phenomenal game. It simultaneously makes a return to what made the original games so great, namely the exploration and humor, while still progressing forward with new, creative battle systems and ideas. I had a blast playing through the game, finding collectibles, rescuing Toads, and saving the Mushroom Kingdom in a beautiful, paper world that always kept me laughing.
Adventures of Pip is a joyful experience that translated well to the Nintendo Switch. Everything runs smoothly and the game itself is an absolute blast to play. The level design was clever, as well as the general premise and game mechanics.
Bugsnax has me thoroughly impressed. I have truly, madly, and deeply fallen in love with Snaktooth Island and its entertaining cast of characters. Chasing after Strabbys and Buffalocusts, bonding with the Grumpuses, and uncovering the mystery of Elizabert Megafig is an experience like no other. Not only is Bugsnax a brilliant launch title for the PlayStation 5, but a brilliant game in general that I cannot recommend enough. They’re kind of bug and kind of snack. What’s not to love?
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury is a game that every Switch owner needs to get their hands on, especially if they’ve been a longtime Mario and Nintendo fan. Pairing the base game with the new Bowser’s Fury expansion creates a phenomenal blend of 2D platforming from a 3D perspective. It allows the player to further explore these mechanics in a more open-world environment while portraying Bowser in a new light.
Overall, Pathway is a game for fans of the adventure genre and stands out thanks to its archeological spin. The story is a bit cheesy, but not in a way that feels generic and unoriginal, and traveling through the desert fighting Nazis and cultists while rationing gasoline and supplies is a fun challenge that's not too overwhelming. While it's disappointing that the game suffers from technical issues on occasion, in general, it runs well docked, and offers engaging gameplay that doesn't overstay its welcome on Nintendo Switch.
Overall, however, Startup Panic is a smart, fun game that’s almost dangerously engaging. When business is booming, it’s difficult to pull away, especially as the revenue starts to creep up. When business is bad, there’s that “one more game” mentality as the player endlessly crafts more features, completes contracts and makes marketing decisions to boost revenue and user numbers. It’s not a one-to-one comparison of what it’s like to be the CEO of a new tech company by any means, but it is a glimpse into that lifestyle - just pixelated and much, much less stressful.
If you’re looking for some tough fights and cute gameplay, then Little Town Hero is definitely what you’re looking for and I highly recommend it, especially if you need a shorter and more relaxing game this fall.
The music is reminiscent of all the 1990s SNES games I loved as a kid, the pixelated art style is well-done and great to look at, and the game feels exactly how I want a 2D top-down RPG to feel in 2020. It takes cues from games like A Link to the Past while updating the gameplay for modern audiences and controllers, all without losing its artistic charm and still paying tribute to beloved retro titles.
AVICII Invector is not only a rhythm game that nails the genre almost flawlessly, but also pays tribute to an incredibly talented musician that we lost much too soon.
Overall, Amnesia: Rebirth is a fantastic, terrifying experience. The story grapples with not just fear of the supernatural, but fear of failure, survival’s guilt, and a plethora of other challenging emotions… Amnesia: Rebirth delivered on every level, cementing itself as a must-play for horror game fans.
Planet Coaster was a pleasant surprise, making the transition from PC to PlayStation 5 seamlessly. The control scheme is, by far, the most efficient and easy to use experience I’ve ever had with a controller in a simulation game. Everything about the game looks sleek and shiny, making your parks pleasant to look at and fun to build. Along with that, the customization options, like build-your-own rollercoasters and scenery or pre-made models, allow players to essentially pick their difficulty level, offering complex and simple solutions depending on the player’s preference. Planet Coaster is my new addiction, joining RollerCoaster Tycoon as one of my favorite simulation games.
Astro’s Playroom took me by surprise. I was expecting a short tech demo that would impress me because of the new controller, but instead, I was greeted with a full-blown, short and fun 3D platformer.
Overall, I had a great time playing through Scarlet Grace, though it does have its flaws. The worldbuilding was some of the best I’ve ever seen in a video game, but the story suffered as a result.
Maneater is a pretty fun experience, especially if you’re a fan of shark movies like I am, even though it does have its problems. It felt like being placed in Jaws and being told to just go at it and I loved that. I even ended up getting the platinum trophy since I spent so much time exploring the ocean and digging into the collectibles I could find. However, it has its downsides, too.
Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is a fun blast to the past if you’re full of nostalgia for the original game like I am. Unfortunately, if you’re lacking that nostalgia, it may be a little underwhelming, especially if you’re comparing it to more modern farming simulators and the repetition of farming on such a small map can get monotonous after a while. However, if you’re willing to look past that, Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town is a fun, cute, and charming experience that will take you straight back to 2003 in the best possible way.
Overall, Destroy All Humans! is a fantastic remake that I’m sure will please returning fans of the series but might frustrate new audiences. Everything about the game looks great and runs well but since nothing about the core gameplay has changed, it feels stuck in the early 2000s.
Metamorphosis is a creative, albeit short, video game interpretation of Franz Kafka’s novella. The game absolutely nails the creepy, absurd vibe of the story all about turning into a cockroach and trying to work as a bug. Metamorphosis is a fun, narrative experience, especially for those who are fans of classic literature.