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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse is a great game in the series and will definitely keep you glued to your console. Fans of the genre should definitely check it out. The puzzles are well-designed and logical, and sometimes require a lot of thought. If you've never played a point-and-click adventure before, you might want to watch a few videos about the game first.

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YO-KAI WATCH BLASTERS features the Nintendo 3DS’s 3D mode; unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test it on my New Nintendo 2DS XL, but I still had a lot of fun with the game. I was a bit confused every time I had to tap “Get Ready!” during a mission, even though the instructions said to “head out” on the mission. These kinds of incorrect descriptions aren’t uncommon; they’re annoying and could have been avoided. The real-time combat system is fun and shows me that the YO-KAI WATCH series isn’t standing still but is constantly striving to evolve. The cutscenes also look as if they were taken straight from the anime, which makes the anticipation for YO-KAI WATCH 4 grow immeasurably. The game’s scope is enormous, which is why the single-player mode offers a solid 15 to 20 hours of entertainment—a duration that can be extended indefinitely through the multiplayer component. Fans of the series can jump right in without hesitation; everyone else should start by getting a feel for the universe with the first YO-KAI WATCH game.

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Although the games are quite old and seem a bit unfair in some places, they’re still three very entertaining games even today. The presentation has been updated to suit modern technology, allowing Crash Bandicoot to shine in a whole new light. And especially for the very reasonable price, you get a lot of content here and can also enjoy the game on the go.

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Well-thought-out ideas executed well. The Adventure Mode is essentially a long tutorial, but it’s still well-designed and fun to play. The tournament mode is also a blast and gets pretty challenging after a while, but I don’t see the incentive to play through it with all the characters when you don’t get anything for it in the end. It’s a real shame that Nintendo decided not to call out the characters’ names—like Mario, Luigi, and so on—during matches, as they did in Mario Power Tennis, for example—you can do better than that, Nintendo.

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The graphics, sound, and gameplay are truly impressive. However, the difficulty level and length of the game are certainly open to criticism. Milan offers a very interesting atmosphere and invites you to play. If you're looking for a short but solid action game, you should definitely give Milanoir a try. Even though it's so short, you'll still have a lot of fun with it. You're also welcome to take on the higher difficulty levels.

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The blend of Dynasty Warriors and The Legend of Zelda still exudes an interesting and enjoyable atmosphere. However, the big question is: Is it worth buying? If you’ve missed out on the adventure so far and can imagine diving into sometimes monotonous mass battles with characters from the Zelda franchise, then you can confidently shell out the money and pick up Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition. However, if you’ve already had a chance to enjoy the game, we recommend waiting until it becomes more affordable. After all, two new costumes aren’t a good enough reason to spend another 60 euros on the same game, even if it does serve as a solid introduction to the Musou genre.

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Even though Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was developed by a different studio than the first games in the series, you’d think there had never been a change in developers. The game feels like a cohesive whole: exciting platforming action, interesting gameplay twists, and a challenging difficulty level ensure that boredom never sets in. On top of that, there’s plenty to discover in the levels, so you’ll certainly want to play through the game more than once. For players who haven’t yet had the pleasure of experiencing this title and who enjoy platformers even just a little, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a must-buy.

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All in all, Detective Pikachu is a great Pokémon spin-off for Pikachu fans and lovers of thrilling detective stories. One negative aspect I noticed is that Pikachu’s interactions aren’t always easy to interpret. For example, right after talking to a witness, Pikachu wants to speak with you to give you a clue. Sometimes, though, it’s just a new cutscene that doesn’t really move the story forward. The ending isn’t really satisfying either. It remains unclear whether the story will continue in a sequel or the announced movie adaptation.

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Kirby has always had his own way of captivating players. While other platformers focus on fast-paced jumping action, Masahiro Sakurai’s creation has always emphasized the feel-good factor. That’s also the case with Kirby Star Allies. If you’re expecting a game so intense it’ll make you break a sweat, you’re better off waiting for Dark Souls, because the adventure of Kirby and his friends is perfect for unwinding after a stressful day or playing a round of co-op with your girlfriend. If you dive into the adventure, you’ll get a technically polished game that will keep you entertained for hours. Thanks to the ability to combine different skills, the game also offers plenty of new ways to experiment. We certainly had a lot of fun during our playthrough and can wholeheartedly recommend this title to every Kirby fan.

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