Nintendo Connect

Our favorite plumber shows the ape who’s boss once again. Especially in multiplayer, we had a great time with the game, and now it’s all about beating each other’s best times! Even though this is ‘just’ a remake, it’s a great way to kick off 2024, as the title is cleanly executed while also being meaningfully expanded.

Review in German | Read full review

Another Code: Recollection is recommendable if you have never played the original Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii titles — or if it has been a very long time since your last encounter with them. In particular, the game benefits from its unified experience on a single console, helpful quality-of-life features, and new additions such as a well-executed voice acting performance. It is an emotional yet also engaging adventure.

Review in German | Read full review

Terra Nil is an unusual game that follows a completely different concept from other strategy titles. It achieves this through small, self-contained areas that serve as your playground for restoring flora and fauna. However, with only four regions available, the enjoyment can fade quickly for long-time strategy fans. Even after completing the game, Terra Nil offers limited replay value for those looking to fully complete everything.

Review in German | Read full review

The gameplay loop of breeding and improving your own monster army is highly addictive. Combined with the lighthearted style of Dragon Quest, it creates a very appealing overall package, and I hope the series will continue to be expanded in the future — and, most importantly, keep making its way to the West!

Review in German | Read full review

Nintendo has taken the core foundation and adapted the game as sensibly as possible to modern RPG standards, without sacrificing too much of its nostalgia. This balancing act has been successfully achieved, and the remake—previously not available in German—renders the original obsolete. Players who are not familiar with the title in the first place will not even realize that it was originally a SNES game.

Review in German | Read full review

Players who have never played a tactical game before are gradually introduced to the mechanics, and minor mistakes are not discouraging. The lowest difficulty even makes it impossible to truly lose. Successfully completing a mission—and even optional side objectives like ‘finish the mission in x turns’—provides an extra dopamine boost, especially when the characters stylishly line up for the results screen.

Review in German | Read full review

As I had already thoroughly played the title during the PlayStation 1 era, I can confidently say that Square Enix has delivered a fantastic remake. Separate difficulty modes for subsequent playthroughs, two entirely distinct story paths, and numerous new late-game features round out the overall experience. Claude would put it like this: a solid 9 out of 10.

Review in German | Read full review

WarioWare: Move It! is another excellent entry in this long-running franchise. It brings back motion-controlled chaos, offers a variety of fun modes, and features over 200 wildly absurd microgames that are as colorful and delightfully silly as ever.

Review in German | Read full review

Anyone who can overlook the textures and loading screens will have a great time with Fate/Samurai Remnant on Nintendo Switch, and will likely spend many hours immersed in the game—especially during the darker autumn and winter months.

Review in German | Read full review

Players looking for a challenge will also get their money’s worth, either through badges that increase the difficulty or once the game’s difficulty spikes significantly later on. However, the latter can sometimes feel like hitting a wall. While you may breeze through a four-star level on your first try, a five-star stage can easily cost you 20 lives just to reach the checkpoint. There are also levels where players are deliberately unable to place helpful markers, even if they would want to.

Review in German | Read full review

The combat system is, as always, highly compelling. Generics make a return, and several mechanics have been revised in ways that range from sensible to genuinely excellent. Once you become immersed in the moment-to-moment gameplay, the experience continues to grip you even after the main story, drawing you into its overall momentum. Not least, the PvP mode further adds to this effect.

Review in German | Read full review

Even though the game is clearly aimed at a younger audience in terms of difficulty, adult Pokémon fans will still find plenty to enjoy, as we all remain a bit like children at heart and continue to love Pokémon.

Review in German | Read full review

From a gameplay perspective, Baten Kaitos I & II are exceptionally strong. The combat system is distinctive, challenging, and fun—if somewhat reliant on chance. Most importantly, the games have aged very well and are still completely playable today.

Review in German | Read full review

The controls feel intuitive right from the start, but the game is relatively easy in terms of difficulty and can be completed 100% within just a few hours. The online mode works without issues and adds some replay value. Anyone who enjoys arcade racers will definitely not go wrong with Horizon Chase 2. However, fans of Mario Kart may want to steer clear of this title.

Review in German | Read full review

Relaxation and coziness are the cornerstones of Fae Farm, allowing players to experience the game entirely at their own pace and preference. Anyone looking for a comforting, feel-good game that can keep them entertained for hundreds of hours can safely pick up Fae Farm without hesitation. Inclusion is clearly a major focus at Phoenix Labs. Not only can players customize their pronouns, equip their character with a headscarf, and freely choose their skin tone, but the game also features a wheelchair-using NPC. Aspen, the town’s carpenter and construction advisor, is presented while seated—something rarely seen in video games and highly commendable.

Review in German | Read full review

Fun is guaranteed, and with friends, nothing should stand in the way of a long party night. Just keep in mind that this game also works perfectly as a complement to your existing party game collection, helping to offer your guests as much variety as possible.

Review in German | Read full review

A challenging platformer with a retro aesthetic—something that anyone considering the title should be aware of. However, the game feels very well optimized overall and runs smoothly on Nintendo Switch. Chris Hülsbeck also contributes a fantastic soundtrack, which for me alone would almost have been a reason to buy the game. Tiny Thor is a small hidden gem for all fans of classic-style platformers.

Review in German | Read full review

Technically speaking, Bakugan: Champions of Vestroia isn’t exactly a showcase title for the Nintendo Switch. In addition to the lack of a minimap, there’s no save function or even the slightest hint of autosave. You just have to trust the game and quit it if you’ve had enough for the time being. The story unfolds as you progress through the game and I actually enjoyed it, though you shouldn’t expect a Hollywood blockbuster here. The battles are sometimes very easy, but at other times extremely challenging—especially when the opponent frequently switches out their Bakugan for no apparent reason or uses multiple attacks in a row, which slows down the action since you’re immobilized during the animation.

Review in German | Read full review

Thanks to its short but intense matches, Windjammers is perfect for game night when you want to play something different from the usual suspects.

Review in German | Read full review

Luigi’s Mansion has proven to be a thoroughly worthy port for the Nintendo 3DS. Just like in the past, you’ll have a lot of fun hunting ghosts, exploring the mansion, and, of course, discovering the little features you come across along the way. A minor drawback remains the clunky controls when vacuuming with the Vacuum 08/16. A second drawback is the short playtime. I finished the main story in just a few hours. But then there’s the hidden mansion with a higher difficulty level, which makes it tempting to play Luigi’s Mansion again. The changes to the graphics and the Game Boy horror are almost entirely positive and well-executed. I highly recommend the Nintendo 3DS port both to those who have already played the game on the GameCube and are in the mood for it again, as well as to those who are still unfamiliar with Luigi’s Mansion—and, of course, to all fans of the plumber in green.

Review in German | Read full review