Switchaboo's Reviews
If you and a friend are Little Nightmares fans, then this entry will revolutionise your world. The co-op mode is superb and it fits into the series like a glove. However, if you’re likely to be playing this single player, then perhaps basking in the first two games is a better way to spend your time. That being said, Little Nightmares remains the best in the business at what it does, and its hardcore fans will be rewarded regardless.
It's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2 with more; how can you not sing its praises to the stars above? Sure, the price tag hurts and not all control methods are optimal, but it's Super Mario Galaxy 1+2! These games are museum-worthy and will likely go down in history as some of the greatest games ever made, so there's no way I could give this collection any less than a perfect 10.
Strange Antiquities will delight fans of puzzles and dark, cosy games alike. The puzzles are challenging and varied, and you will certainly enjoy your time as shopkeeper. Some eventual repetition and lack of agency on your part does, however, mean it is probably best enjoyed in bite-sized sessions.
I’m not going to lie, being able to just rush to the end did irk me a bit but Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac plays so well that I kept playing just for the fun of it. I can really see why this is considered a fan favourite. If you’ve never played the original, I suggest giving this a shot, especially if you’re a fan of collectathons because, boy, does this game put all of its eggs in one basket.
I could gush about Sonic Racing: Crossworlds for hours; heck, this review was originally six pages long! This game is truly something special, not just for Sonic fans but for fans of kart racing as a whole. Of course people are going to ask me, “Is this better than Mario Kart World?” And if you are one of those people that is reading this review just for that, then let me make it clear: Sonic Racing: Crossworlds blows Mario Kart World out of the water. It is night and day; Sonic finally beat Mario at his own game. While Mario Kart may have fumbled slightly trying to reinvent the wheel, Sonic Racing: Crossworlds understood what they wanted to do: they wanted to take everything fans love about Sonic, stick it in a car and polish it to a mirror shine.
Honestly, I feel like I'm nitpicking details with my negatives, because I genuinely found myself having so much fun exploring and living life in Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar! The Story of Seasons franchise is an icon in the genre for a reason and you can absolutely see why it is beloved here, respecting the past release while modernising the title for a vastly expanded audience. Anyone who is a fan of cosy games that you can take at your own pace and play your own way, this is a must-buy for you.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion while fun, exploring around can feel very clunky to control with movement, melee hit ranges, and overall imprecise with aiming reticles. The story is serviceable, but the overall feel of running around in a powered mech suit fighting beasts, constructs, and other mech pilots is the real draw to this genre. If you're a diehard mecha fan, I can definitely recommend picking it up in the early stages; otherwise, it might be worth waiting for a sale if you're on the fence.
The best thing about Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is that it’s just more Kirby and the Forgotten Land. It has everything that made the main game great, just in a smaller package. They’ve tweaked the levels and the music to make it seem familiar, yet foreign. Aside from a few small problems – well, one small problem and one big problem – it would be a 10/10 game for me. Really, I’m just glad that they kept the heart and soul of the main game and managed to make the perfect farewell for the fans.
A delightful, if short and simple, adventure, you will not regret your time with the calicorns. Unfortunately, the graphics on the Switch can't quite match the majesty of the soundtrack, so you may be better placed playing Herdling elsewhere.
I have never had a bad time playing a Shantae game, and I am happy to report I did not start with this one. In a world of ever more complex games that leaves behind some of my favourite classics like Mega Man, Shantae always delivers the great platforming fun that I love. To me, Shantae games have become synonymous with fun, rock-solid platforming goodness. WayForward has never disappointed me, as even the worst Shantae game is still solid, with a respectable baseline of expectations, and I will always be looking forward to another adventure of my favourite half-genie.
Drag X Drive is fun enough to play for a 30-minute burst but ultimately lacks depth in its gameplay and content. It’s an excellent advert for the Switch 2’s Joy-Cons and also for game chat if you can round up the friends, but it is unlikely to become the go-to online multiplayer experience. While it should be applauded for trying something different, this feels destined to be remembered as ‘one of those Nintendo things’ when we look back at the Switch 2.
Boy, oh boy, Indiesruption has done it again! Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus is an absolute masterpiece and I cannot sing its praises enough. The tension of each passing moment, the visceral grotesque presentation of its darker moments, and the themes of desperation and despair all culminate into a game that'll keep you hooked from beginning to end. For any fans of horror and/or point-and-click adventures, simply do not sleep on this one; or better yet, play all three of Indiesruption's titles—you will not be disappointed!
Indie games have come such a long way since 2008 and it's wonderful to look back at an early pioneer of the space and marvel at what it managed to achieve. Even after everything that has come since, I can still play OFF and enjoy a zany, often unsettling, game front to back, and its short runtime of approximately 4-5 hours means it doesn't overstay its welcome. For anyone looking to jump in for the first time blind like I did, you'll easily be able to appreciate what kind of an impact it had on the indie game scene's trajectory, paving the way for the likes of Undertale, OMORI and many other minimalist RPGs. But as a game to enjoy in a vacuum in 2025, it may leave a little to be desired.
Without sounding too much like Goldilocks, Turbo Kid is a metroidvania just the way I like it. Not too easy, not too hard and the exploration is challenging and not too hand-holdy. Is Turbo Kid the greatest metroidvania based on a Michael Ironside film? Of course it is, until a Top Gear or Starship Troopers metroidvania comes along (publishers and developers take note). But in all seriousness, Turbo Kid is very good in all the right places and is a must-play for any metroidvania fans!
Despite its convolution with the integration of the Upgrade Pack, at the end of the day, Super Mario Party Jamboree is arguably the best Mario Party entry ever, and the Upgrade Pack is exactly that, an Upgrade Pack that adds more. The base game is still here completely untouched, and now we have more; what could go wrong?! Well, Nintendo said, "Hold my beer," and made some odd omissions and convoluted integration choices. It's a wonderful expansion pack, but not without some growing pains.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba - The Hinokami Chronicles 2 is a title that is definitely for fans of the series and provides a new way to experience the story. While flaws exist, especially in the tutorial space that can lead to players not used to fighting games to just button mash their way through, there is still a lot of fun to be had at the core. If you're a fan of Demon Slayer and arena fighters, this is a very easy recommended purchase, but that's such a narrow field of appeal that I feel it's a missed opportunity to bring in new fans to the franchise.
Ritual of Raven is a cute, sweet, characterful farming sim with a novel twist on the traditional farming mechanics of the genre. Outside of the story and developing and optimising your farm, there is limited depth to the rest of the game, but it’s still enough to make this something fans of the genre should take a look at.
Time Flies is such a quirky afternoon killer that sticks its landing better than the Flies whose life timers hit zero. Its dark humour without dialogue and minimalist design captures so much with so little, and it had me enamoured for most of my playthrough. I do wish there was more here to sink my teeth into, despite that being part of its charm. Oh well, much like the average life of a fly itself, it's not designed to be a long adventure.
When I first started up Cottonville, I thought it was going to be a mish-mash of Story of Seasons and Style Boutique, but instead I found that it was a game that felt like it barely contained either. It all feels as threadbare as a cheap shirt. The worst thing is that I can see what it could have been with more time, effort, and funding, and it leaves me mourning for the game it was never able to be. Cottonville is here for a short time, much like a product that’s part of the fast fashion industry, which is ironic when the game is supposed to be the antithesis of that.
Donkey Kong Bananza is such a near-perfect game that hits so many marks with precision and gusto. It boasts the Nintendo game philosophy we’ve come to expect from the core development team. While I have some slight niggling complaints, there’s no doubt that Donkey Kong Bananza will be remembered fondly for decades to come, joining the same conversations that often feature the likes of Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.