Arashi Gaiden is a great bite-sized turn-based action game set within the confines of a puzzle game. While it might be more difficult than others may expect, it will prove satisfying for those who enjoy solving puzzles with flair.
Everdeep Aurora is more than a cozy digging metroidvania. It's a glimpse of what simplistic platforming can and should be, thoughtfully interwoven into a gameplay loop where discovery is the win condition. Its presentation might lack directness, but I would prefer a world where I can enjoy what I've dug up rather than being pointed to the next objective where I can surmise the outcome.
ATLUS has outdone itself with RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army. Middling story and wonky camera angles aside, it hits the sweet spot of monster taming and action combat without compromising on the complexities that make JRPGs captivating. Here's to hoping that ATLUS reinvents and reinvigorates the RAIDOU series, as it's a breath of fresh air for this Persona fan!
On its own, Yakuza 0 is a great, albeit dated, entry in the overarching Yakuza franchise. Yakuza 0: Director's Cut might not feature enough content that Yakuza fans may enjoy, but it's an excellent port for a Nintendo Switch 2 owner and an even better entry into the Yakuza series for those who have not yet played a game from Ryu Ga Gotoku.
I've spent several hours playing Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S and I just love it. Barring the unnecessary complexities of its Skill Battles and attempting to learn its nuances, the additional modes and Versus setup makes for satisfying, frenetic, and highly replayable puzzle gameplay. It's an excellent game to take on the road and play with friends.
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo is a marvel of a little game that wins at being a "yoyovania." The yoyo combat and progression are superb, its level design utilizing novel traversal elements without repetitious fluff, and its charm is off the charts. It's no walk in the park, but it's worth the payoff if you want a game that is a nostalgia bomb of classic Zelda fused with a yoyo thematic.
Dragon is Dead has quite a bit of potential now that it has left its early access period. Its novel approach to character building, loot management, and skill trees makes for a complex and satisfying roguelike experience. On the other hand, some of its endgame combat may prove too frustrating, especially when compounded by the traditional difficulty curve that comes with the roguelike gameplay loop. Its pixel art is gorgeous, though!
Draknek and Friends' The Electrifying Incident: A Monster Mini-Expedition lives up to its name as a bite-sized thinky game. While it strikes the sweet spot of puzzle solving without giving too much away, it may be seen as too difficult. Don't give up, though – it's worth it for the hour-or-so it'll take to reach the end.
Capcom's decision to delay Street Fighter 6 to the Nintendo Switch 2 should be celebrated, as they succeeded in packing a big punch despite the Switch 2's small package. It runs like a dream and lacks the graphical compromises that many Switch owners may be accustomed to seeing from AAA games. If you've been patiently waiting for a next-gen fighting title to take on the go, Street Fighter 6 is the breakout fighting game for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch.
Crashlands 2 has been worth the wait, especially for those who want a simple crafting and farming game that can be played on an iPhone or PC. Its tongue-in-cheek charm, dubstep silliness, and approachability make it worth playing for hours on end…so long as you get past its initial learning sluggishness.
If I was to call MainFrames a proof of concept, I would be grossly overlooking its stellar presentation of byte-sized platforming as a little floppy disk. Yes, it's difficult at times, but just about anyone can reach its end credits within a few hours. Developer Assoupi has nailed the platforming formula to a T; I can't wait for more!
Rome was not built in a day. The wonders in Civilization VII take a good many turns to be built and come at the cost of food, happiness, and a city's production. With the new 1.1.0 update to Civilization VII, it's clear that Firaxis understands what needs to be fixed for the future of the game and is already on track to improve UI, AI, and more of what makes the Civ series so great.
Overall, I'm torn about Everhood 2. Its rhythm-based battles are unlike any RPG I've played before. Its soundtrack is incredible. Walking through emptiness and seeing delayed payoffs from the worldbuilding side, though, makes the game feel less fun than it should be. I enjoyed Everhood 2, but I wish that I spent more time in the rhythm battles than exploring.
I loved Star of Providence to the point of having trouble putting it down because of its fast-paced shmup gameplay, punishing bullet hell patterns, and replayability. Defeating its astoundingly difficult boss battles is satisfying and encourages the player to improve mechanically and thoughtfully. If you make it to the Hard mode, you'll be treated to bullet patterns that will test your dexterity like few others have done before.
As a longtime Yakuza fan, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is the Goro Majima game I've always dreamed of and somehow more unhinged than ever before. Ryu Ga Gotoku has outdone themselves once again and I'm so excited for players to get their hands on the helm to take Yakuza's version of a naval RPG for a spin.
Momodora: Moonlit Farewell is beautifully simple, perhaps to a fault. Switch owners who take the chance on this 8-hour metroidvania will enjoy its fluid combat, glittery spritework, and mild platforming. I'm sad to see the Momodora series conclude, but I have hopes that developers Bombservice continue to design gorgeous metroidvanias.
Arc System Works' -Guilty Gear Strive- is an excellent Switch game and definitely the best bang-for-your-buck if you haven't yet gone down the Guilty Gear rabbit hole. It is one of the most accessible fighting games on the market, making it a satisfying pick for casual and competitive Switch owners wanting to join the fray.
In some ways, Threefold Recital does an excellent job in telling a thoughtful tale of beastlings bound to Daoist philosophy. In other ways, I was a smidge disappointed in the driving forces behind that storytelling and the simplicity of the platforming. It's not the most memorable platformer outright, but if you're in the mood for a compelling narrative with some light platforming and other minigames, look no further than Threefold Recital.
I have faith that more can, and will, be done with Attack on Titan VR: Unbreakable. Despite it leaving Early Access tomorrow, there's a heavy focus on an arcade-styled Titan-slaying experience with mind-blowingly exhilarating movement…and little else. This is a game that I can see myself playing and replaying with friends so long as they're fine with Unbreakable's quirks.
At the end of the day, Rita's Rewind wins me over on the nostalgia bomb of Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers content. It's the complete audio-visual package of 90s aesthetic with a welcome evolution of the MMPR gameplay loop. Some of this gameplay loop may be frustrating and unforgiving, but it's still a hell of a lot of fun.