Yasmine Hubbard
Life is Strange: Double Exposure might not have the same emotional impact as the original title, but it's still a worthwhile journey you shouldn't pass up on.
Slay the Princess: The Pristine Cut twists the traditional story of a hero rescuing a poor damsel in distress into an eerie horror experience that explores topics surrounding life and death, free will and the purpose of existence.
Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream's main campaign story is thoroughly entertaining, which hardcore fans are bound to adore. However, the half-baked multiplayer brings down the whole experience.
Magical Delicacy provides a tranquil and cozy cooking-themed Metroidvania experience but will not set any watermark for the genre.
The video game adaptation of Sand Land brings one of Akira Toriyama's lesser-known works into the spotlight. It follows the source material well and cleverly expands on the story, but the gameplay is lacking.
The first mainline game for Princess Peach in nearly two decades is a charming adventure with some solid ideas and excellent boss battles. Princess Peach: Showtime demonstrates that the heroine is worthy of being a leading protagonist on her own merit, despite a few performance issues.
Mario vs. Donkey Kong brings the classic GBA title back with new crisp graphics, but there has not been enough changes to the mechanics or controls to make this feel contemporary on the Switch.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth encaptures everything great about the franchise, from its political melodrama-esque plot, decent gameplay mechanics and bonkers side missions. This is one of the best Yakuza games yet and one that returning fans should not miss.
Raccoo Venture is highly inspired by the classic 3D platformers of yesteryear but does not implement enough unique ideas to stand out from the crowd. There are some fantastic environmental puzzles that are thoroughly fun to solve, but they are far too short. The uneven difficulty, annoying secondary character mechanics, and a few bugs ultimately dilute the experience.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 is a massive improvement in almost every aspect - from better presentation to a deeper battle system. It will not be dethroning the Super Smash Bros franchise anytime soon, but it's a fun and whimsical platform fighter to play with friends.
Sonic Superstars draws upon its classic roots and wears that inspiration on a sleeve. The cooperative play is superb, but the unimaginative zones and underwhelming battle mode prove the stage a superstar performs on matters.
Detective Pikachu Returns had the potential to appeal to everyone as most Nintendo and Pokemon games do, but instead falls in the bracket of being a milquetoast experience that will only occupy younger players.
Fading Afternoon takes the concept of time and creates a melancholic experience which explores heavy themes surrounding self-reflection and existentialism. However, occasional bugs and repetitive combat hold it back from its true potential.
Sea of Stars may pinch its influences from numerous 16-bit titles like Chrono Trigger, but the gameplay feels neither stale or old. The gorgeous 2D environments and bizarre cosmic-esque plot will hold players' attention for the whole 35-40-hour runtime.
Panic Porcupine is a parody game that will test your patience and ability to adapt to side-scrolling platforming action. But its heavy reliance on repetitive deathtraps, accompanied by devious camera movements, overall holds back the experience.
Disney Illusion Island is an excellent choice for anyone who classes themselves as a gigantic Disney aficionado or anyone looking for a family-friendly game. However, the enchantment of the experience may start to dwindle like a fading dream due to the over-simplistic gameplay.
The concept of a Crash Bandicoot MOBA game sounds appealing, but this fight for the precious Wumpa fruit has missed the mark. Crash Team Rumble lacks content at launch, and despite some decent gameplay mechanics, just isn't worthy of the franchise name.
LEGO 2K Drive feels like a modern spiritual successor to the 1999's Lego Racers that borrows several beats from powerhouse racing franchises like Forza Horizon and The Crew 2. However, unoriginal quests and shallow microtransactions prevent the experience from being special.
Hotel Renovator tries to convey the highs and lows of upscaling a hotel. However, anyone expecting it to be a luxury experience with chocolates left on their pillowcases will be sorely disappointed, as many minor issues lead to a subpar stay.
Wanted: Dead is a bloodthirsty romp with challenging gameplay, but it feels unduly harsh, and more frustrating than fun. Accompanied by an inconsistent narrative, poor presentation, and repetitive boss battles, it results in a mediocre experience overall.