Mitch Vogel
For those of you looking for something to fill the void while you wait for the Link’s Awakening remake later this year, The Swords of Ditto: Mormo’s Curse is a solid recommendation. It isn’t perfect, but this is a charming, deep, and entertaining roguelike adventure, and it’s a lot more than meets the eye.
At the end of the day, you probably already know if you’re going to pick up this game or not; Picross S3 hasn’t changed much from its predecessor and the same will likely be said about the inevitable Picross S4.
Having both of these incredible games in one package, with all the international content thrown in, and with prettied up graphics and audio makes picking up this release a no-brainer. Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster successfully does justice to these two RPG classics as it brings them to a new age of players; we can’t recommend it highly enough.
If you haven’t gleaned it already from reading up to this point, Katana Zero is unmistakably a game that you need to add to your Switch collection at earliest opportunity.
If you’re a rabid Mega Man fan, have already played all the main games to death, and are desperate for something to fill that void, Metagal is maybe worth your five bucks. Otherwise, we’d encourage you to save your money and put it towards something that’s more worth your time.
If you’re a fan of Enter the Gungeon, roguelikes, or difficult games in general, Nuclear Throne is going to be right up your alley; we’d give this one a high recommendation.
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy! easily proves to be the best version of Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon, and we would even go so far as to say it’s in the running of being the best Mystery Dungeon game in general.
Final Fantasy VII is the sort of game that speaks for itself, a touchstone of game design that played a large role in setting the standard of RPGs for years to come.
Whether you’re a long-time fan of the series or are just getting into it for the first time, Blaster Master Zero 2 is a stellar and enjoyable experience from stem to stern, and just goes to further cement Inti Creates’ legacy as one of the best developers in the retro gaming business.
Fate/Extella Link is well worth your time; we’d recommend you add it to your Switch collection at some point.
At worst, Deltarune Chapter 1 is just a smaller and shallower version of Undertale; at best, it’s a promising glimpse into a much more ambitious project that will hopefully grow to escape the shadow of its forerunner.
Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn is a fantastic and standout addition to the deep software library of the 3DS; we’d highly encourage you to give it a go.
The real-time strategy genre is one that doesn't have very much representation on the Switch eShop now, but Swords and Soldiers II shows how it can be done well on the platform. Deep, but not confusing gameplay, great multiplayer, plenty of challenge, and a silly premise make this one an easy recommendation for anybody that's looking for more of a thinking man's game for their Switch. If you want something that's a bit livelier and more hands-on than Wargroove, but still ultimately concerned with planning and executing sound strategies, this is the game for you.
The Nintendo eShop would be a considerably more exciting and interesting place if it were packed full of games like Ape Out, it's a refreshingly original experience that more than deserves a place in any Switch owner's library. Difficult, frenetic gameplay, a strong art direction, and an even stronger jazz drum soundtrack make this the sort of memorable game that you'll likely keep coming back to over and over for another few runs at the arcade mode. We'd give Ape Out a strong recommendation to anyone looking for a distinct and unforgettable game for their Switch collection; it's a bit of an acquired taste, but this is well worth your time.
RemiLore is the sort of game that's meant to soothe and delight while offering occasional moments of legitimate excitement, and it achieves this goal to a wonderful degree. With that being said, there's also very little here that you haven't seen before; the hack ‘n' slash action, roguelite elements, and RPG mechanics rarely stray beyond well-trodden tropes, making for a very ‘safe' gameplay experience. If you're looking to buy a game that has a decent amount of depth and doesn't require much from the player in terms of skill or time, RemiLore is a fantastic recommendation. On the other hand, if you're looking for a game to replace your Diablo addiction, you'll likely be disappointed by what's on offer. Either way, RemiLore proves itself to be a well-made and inoffensive loot grind of an RPG; consider giving this one a look.
Warts and all, Final Fantasy IX remains a great RPG to this day; you likely won't regret picking this one up.
Away: Journey to the Unexpected is the sort of game that's disappointing because of how good it could have been if more thought had been invested into certain systems. There's a good game buried in here somewhere, but it's so mired in confusing or irritating game design elements that it becomes incredibly difficult to recommend. If you're really into roguelikes and want to try out an okay one in first-person, Away: Journey to the Unexpected is perhaps worth a punt, but even then, we'd highly suggest that you take a pass. There are far better roguelikes available on the eShop for a comparable price; you're sure to get much more out of those.
Tikipod has done it again with Iron Crypticle, successfully reviving an old-school arcade concept and infusing it with some modern ideas. Iron Crypticle may not do a ton of innovative or new things with that twin-stick concept, but it nonetheless hits all the right notes in recreating that gameplay that made Smash TV such a smash hit. If you've ever been into twin-stick shooters or want another game for local co-op, Iron Crypticle is a great choice; fun gameplay, high replayability, and decent presentation make this one easy to recommend.
Given that the Etrian Odyssey series depends so heavily on the dual-screen design of Nintendo's departing family of handhelds, it's not entirely clear what form (if any) the series will take going forward. Even so, if Etrian Odyssey Nexus is to be the final entry in this much-beloved series, we can't think of a better way for it to go out. Staggering amounts of character customization, a beautifully arranged soundtrack, dozens of hours of content, and excellent usage of stereoscopic 3D all combine to make this the definitive Etrian Odyssey experience. We'd recommend Etrian Odyssey Nexus to both longtime fans and newcomers looking to see what all the fuss is about; this is one of the deepest and most involved RPGs you're likely to find on the 3DS, and it stands as a compelling reason to dust off Nintendo's handheld once more.
The ever-expanding Switch eShop has no shortage of excellent platformers under its belt, and while Unruly Heroes may not be the absolute best of the best, this is still one of the finest platformers we've played in a long time. Stunningly beautiful art direction coupled with diverse level design and well-paced gameplay makes this one an easy recommendation for both longtime platformer fans and for new players looking for an easier game to get into. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but Unruly Heroes hits all the notes that it needs to, and it's more than deserving of a spot in your games library.