Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles is a good relaxing puzzler that will appeal to those looking for a new head scratcher to enjoy on the sofa with a warm drink, in bed or in the bath. Just be careful you don’t drop your Switch in there. The slow pace won’t appeal to everyone and hunting for collectables proved more frustrating than fun for me. I enjoyed Lumote the most when I was taking my time solving the puzzles and taking in the calm vibes this game gave off with its cute noises and botanical appearance. If that sounds good to you then go pick it up.
I kinda liked Revita in the end. To begin with, I didn’t really warm to the use of health to obtain new abilities. But with time and further upgrading, it actually brought an enjoyable risky challenge to the experience. If you’re experienced with the genre it might take a bit of a grind for the formula to click. But if you’re new the accessibility features may make this quite an appealing jumping on point. If you’re hungry for a new roguelike challenge Revita is a train ride well worth taking.
I started out quite enjoying Lumberhill but as the game kept progressing the faults became just a little too apparent. The novelty of the same missions wears off pretty quickly. On top of that, the gameplay lacks a lot of polish. The game may be pick up and play but a lot of the mechanics just feel clunky. On top of that, this is another title that has inconsistent difficulty. With a bit of polish, a lot of these issues could be patched out. I still recommend the game if you’re looking to play with some friends locally or online. You may even have a laugh at some of the game’s glitches, just watch out for splinters.
So do I like this port and do I recommend it? I did have fun with this game but that did require putting up with some pretty rough edges. The combat often becomes a cluttered mess and enemies feel like inconsistent meat shields at times. But I can’t deny there were moments where I felt like an awesome Jedi. Star Wars fans will certainly love this game. I would also recommend this to lovers of the Wii console, a fan base I know exists out there. For everyone else, it’s a bit tricky, since this is a title that resides in the past with no modern quality of life improvements. It’s also hard to ignore that some will see this port as a downgrade from the Xbox 360/PS3 versions. But if you love your Star Wars or just want to play a game that’s a decent action-adventure this is not a bad pick up.
Nobody Saves the World is an excellent title from Drinkbox Studios. The studio has pretty much proved that they are capable of tackling any genre and turning it into an experience that is challenging, addictive and entertaining. Nobody Saves the World should not be compared to Diablo or Zelda because in my opinion it’s in a league of its own. One of the best games I’ve played this year. I highly recommend picking it up on Nintendo Switch.
Sockventure is one of the better hardcore platformers I have played. When I was in the flow of things and somehow magically weaving through all the hazards I was having a terrific time. But I really didn’t like the difficulty spike at the end of this game. It felt a bit like a washing machine cycle where everything is going so well only for the darn thing to break down at the end and leak onto the floor. Sockventure thankfully is not that disastrous and if you like your hard games this will absolutely gel with you. It’s a solid game that feels like a pair of socks I have worn before. But sometimes comfy is enough and Sockventure will certainly entertain.
I have to say I wasn’t quite sure how to rate tERRORbane. Since the game at its core really just has the player walking around searching for glitches and progressing the story. One could say this is a retro-looking walking simulator. This design most certainly won’t suit everybody, particularly if you’re looking for any form of challenge. At the end of the day, it did get a chuckle out of me now and then and the premises is most definitely different. So I guess I decided to settle on a solid recommendation. If you’re looking for something casual to enjoy you can’t go wrong here.
Pompom has the look and feels of a popular 16-bit 2D platformer. But with a unique take on the formula, it ends up as something really quite special. The developers took a risk having you protect the main protagonist rather than playing as them, leading to an experimental and enjoyable gameplay experience. This may even appeal to gamers that have never been fond of the 2D platform genre. Probably the best video game I have ever played starring a hamster protagonist. Be sure to give it a look.
Taito Milestones for me is an awesome collection of Taito arcade titles that showcase more of the company’s early work rather than their best. It’s a collection that will certainly turn the heads of the retro gamers that are looking to enjoy these titles on modern systems. There’s a pretty good variety of games which is welcome but some will click more than others. To me this milestone collection showcases originality and risk taking from the era where video games development was in its infancy. It’s just a shame we don’t see much of that innovation in modern gaming today. Taito Milestones may not be the best of Taitos past but it’s still a blast to play.
Flat Kingdom scores a positive pass for me mostly thanks to its original take on game design and appealing paper craft graphics which I have always been a sucker for. But the experience is crumpled with frustrating jumping controls and a pace that just went a little too slow and formulaic for me. Everything works here with no notable glitches. If you are looking for a new original platformer it’s worth a look, but for me it’s just a few pages short of greatness.
Imp of the Sun is a shining beacon of light. The game feels like it has some limitations with its short length and repeated template to reach each boss. However, it feels like the developers took the budget they had and made sure not to waste any frame of this game. It plays well, sounds great and looks unique. Some gamers will expect more which is fine but to me, this title ticks all the right boxes for good game design. I very much look forward to the developers’ future work.
Take Off -The Flight Simulator was not for me, but I guess I want to conclude with some positives first. There are probably some gamers that will be able to look past this game’s faults and enjoy the experience for what it is. After all, there aren’t many flight simulators on Nintendo Switch. Though I would say this game sits more between arcade design and flight simulator. The game doesn’t feature any DLC and there is a decent variety of planes to fly. But despite all this, there are clearly better options if you have access to other consoles or PC. For me Take Off was not a flight worth taking.
Tunic left a very positive impression on me. I haven’t enjoyed an adventure game like this in quite some time. Tunic cleverly drops the player in its world and just lets them discover things for themselves without feeling overbearing or confusing. It’s a feeling I don’t think I have felt since the good old retro days. Most of all I left most sessions with a smile whether I made progress or not. If that sounds good to you, then I strongly suggest checking it out.
Onde ticks all the boxes for the relaxing video game experience. I wouldn’t say it’s the most memorable of these types of games I have played in recent memory and the bubble-like puzzle elements weren’t particularly enjoyable for me. Feeling just a bit too slow and tedious at times. Still, not all art speaks to everyone and everything Onde does it does well without notable glitches or hiccups. Onde is the video game equivalent of a nice warm bath that weaves the use of sounds into its gameplay. If you need to take some time out from the stress of the world this title certainly achieves that.
Wunderling DX really impressed me in the end. Going in I expected yet another run of the mill hard platformer but the concept here felt fresh and new and kept me hooked through the adventure. It’s also rare for me to feel compelled to return to previous levels to grab all the collectables. Also, high praise goes to the developers for not featuring a single buzzsaw. Readers of my work will know how much I love that tired troupe. Wunderling DX is just wonderful and you should give it a go. But if you still need convincing there is a free demo on eShop to try.
Time Loader is an enjoyable physics-based puzzle game that is short and sweet. Doesn’t break a lot of new ground but it’s a nice little robotic adventure that’s probably best suited to a nice Sunday afternoon or to play over a short few gaming sessions. Ideal for someone that hasn’t got a lot of game time on their hands or is looking for a casual and chilled out experience. For me, it was a pleasant trip back to the 90’s that was well worth the time. It reminded me to live for the now rather than in the past and the times I was present in this game I sure was content.
Move or Die Unleashed is a fun bite-size party game that will offer many laughs, many frustrations and possibly the odd naughty words now and then between friends and loved ones. A simple design that is easy to play for gamers of all skill levels. A package that’s easy to recommend if you’re looking for a title to enjoy a good game night in with. Time will tell if the online will keep the game going for those playing online. Provided there is the player base to back it up this could be a title worth considering for solo players. Something few party games can achieve. But as it stands, this is bite sized gaming fun at its best.
If you can adapt to the controls there is actually a pretty deep tower defence game to sink your teeth into here. It’s certainly more tailored to those looking for a challenge. If tower defence games have never been your thing this game most certainly won’t win you over. Not the best looking tower defence game I have played but probably one with some of the deepest mechanics I have seen in some time. PC may be the way to go with this title but if Nintendo Switch is your preferred option it does the job.
Moto Roader MC is a brilliant racer that I highly recommend if you’re looking for an arcade style fix. Racing games may have evolved a lot over the gaming years but I would probably pick Moto Roader MC over the competition. Sometimes simple still works just fine. An excellent game to enjoy in short bursts alone or with a bunch of friends. The game may be 30 years old this year but its fun core gameplay still holds up incredibly well. This port has converted very well to modern systems. It’s wonderful to see retro games continue to resurface and hopefully, the trend will continue.
I thoroughly enjoyed playing Hundred Days – Wine Making Simulator in short bursts. A low-level strategy game that is easy to pick up and play but has you as the player thinking about your next moves. Hundred Days does a very good job at educating the player and converting the wine production process into an enjoyable, management like game that is suitable for all audiences. Whether you like to drink wine or not, there is a lot to love here if you’re looking for a calming gaming experience. Is unlikely I’ll ever be able to retire from my job and go into the winemaking trade but this game will do just fine in its place.