Swapping J-horror for maritime mystery, The Mermaid’s Curse remains a cerebral treat with its clever encyclopedia-led puzzles and atmospheric 1980s setting. While clunky docked navigation and the loss of its predecessor’s chilling edge dampen the experience, the intriguing lore ensures this budget-friendly visual novel still hooks its audience.
Mario Tennis Fever serves a content-rich ace on Switch 2, revitalizing the franchise with inventive "Fever Rackets" and a charming, albeit brief, "Baby" campaign. While online netcode remains a double fault, the polished visuals and mechanical depth ensure this is the series' most robust baseline to date.
Suda 51’s latest is a gloriously absurd, mid-budget fever dream that prioritizes stylistic madness over mechanical depth. While the spectacle-heavy boss fights charm, repetitive combat and catastrophic PC performance leave this cybernetic Romeo DOA. It’s a cult classic in the making—if it can actually maintain a stable frame rate.
Tarsier Studios masterfully replicates their signature dread, bolstered by a welcome co-op focus and grotesque art direction. However, the puzzles lack teeth and the blueprint feels increasingly familiar. It's a polished, if slightly repetitive, descent into atmospheric horror that proves two orphans are better than one.
Reimagined successfully amputates the original's legendary bloat, offering a brisk, orchestrated delight. However, the divisive "puppet" visuals and aggressive hand-holding treat players like children. It’s a polished, whimsical gateway for newcomers that may leave purists mourning the loss of the series' more difficult, unrefined edges.
While Tomba’s floaty physics and obtuse objectives remain as stubborn as an evil swine, this Special Edition triumphs through generous QoL features and curated extras. It’s a nostalgic pig-pile of content that, despite its clunky combat, offers a definitive, legally sanctioned homecoming for our pink-haired hero.
Victory Road is a content-rich tactical triumph, blending emotional storytelling with sleek MAPPA-animated flair. While 60 FPS performance impresses, the experience is hampered by a glacial, grind-heavy opening and tutorials more confusing than a penalty shootout. It’s the ultimate fan service, provided you survive the repetitive minigames.
The Rogue Prince of Persia successfully marries the franchise's acrobatic roots with the addictive loops of Dead Cells. While the narrative lacks the charisma of Hades and the procedural maps can feel repetitive, the kinetic joy of wall-running into combat makes this a polished, if slightly quiet, prince of the roguelite genre.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond ends the eight-year wait with a technically stunning, 120 FPS showcase on Switch 2. While the narrative falls flat and new mechanics like psychic abilities feel awkward, the core loop of atmospheric exploration remains masterful. It is a polished, safe return that satisfies despite excessive hand-holding.
Kirby Air Riders surprises with deceptively simple one-button controls that hide a deep, high-speed racing experience. While the lack of difficulty options may alienate younger players and City Trials feels weaker than the stellar Air Ride mode, the robust content, slick visuals, and addictive "just one more run" gameplay make this a spin-off worth boosting into.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion revitalizes the beat ’em up genre with a brilliant tag-team system and distinct hero mechanics that elevate its classic arcade roots. While the stunning pixel art and co-op chaos are delightful, the experience is slightly held back by repetitive enemy encounters and an unsatisfying, shallow progression system.
Yakuza Kiwami 1 on Switch 2 exorcises the technical ghosts of the past, trading stuttering frame rates for a buttery 60 FPS. While the narrative sits in Yakuza 0’s shadow and the lack of an upgrade path is criminal, this polished port finally gives Kiryu the handheld performance he deserves.
Yakuza Kiwami 2 impresses with Dragon Engine visuals and a compelling villain, effectively utilizing the Switch 2’s hardware for fidelity. However, the experience is marred by inconsistent frame pacing and a jarring drop to 30 FPS, making it a beautiful but technically uneven sequel to its smoother predecessors.
This polished isometric stealth sequel delivers an engaging story and Aardman's trademark wit, making it a good fit for fans of the series. However, the clunky controls and awkward camera angles work against the core stealth mechanics, which already feel too simplified. It is a short and easy experience, but it still offers solid replay value despite its flaws.
An ideal entry point for newcomers, this Deluxe Pack delivers the best versions of the trilogy with useful quality of life improvements, sharper visuals, and all included DLC. At the same time, the lack of an upgrade option or save transfer makes the steep price hard to justify for returning players, and playing all three games back to back can lead to story fatigue.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is a stunning technical showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2, delivering smooth 60 FPS performance and exciting combat that skillfully blends Zonai abilities with mechanics inspired by Tears of the Kingdom. However, its storytelling loses some impact due to repetitive, linear mission design and pacing issues caused by an overabundance of lengthy, though beautifully cinematic, cutscenes.
A lively and charming party game that captures the spirit of Mario Party while adding its own signature LEGO humor and impressive customization options. However, the small number of boards at launch, uneven Golden Brick balance that lessens late-game excitement, and repetitive minigame selection hold it back from reaching true party game greatness.
A solid and smooth port of a defining JRPG, Tales of Xillia Remastered delivers an enjoyable experience with its engaging co-op battle system and thoughtful quality-of-life improvements. The charming cast and vibrant world remain as captivating as ever, but the dated user interface and a handful of minor bugs hold it back from feeling truly modern.
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake successfully modernizes two foundational, aged RPGs with a unified, speedier battle system and essential quality-of-life upgrades, making them finally palatable for modern players. The package, which shines on the Switch 2 with its HD-2D visuals, delivers a definitive, streamlined experience, though the core narrative of the short first game remains simplistic.
Once Upon a Katamari successfully delivers the series' signature, quirky charm through its inventive time-travel theme, deep customization, and chaotic new multiplayer mode. While it retains the core, addictive fun, the familiar, clunky camera controls and the King's interruptions persist, making the nostalgic experience feel polished but not entirely modernized.