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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.
The Wandering Village is a good-but-not-great city-builder, helped by being on the back of a giant creature. The presence of Onbu adds some interest and excitement to the proceedings and makes it a worthwhile time for genre fans. However, with a cramped UI, fiddly controls and a slow pace, you will find better games of its type elsewhere on the Switch.
While I'm baffled at the lack of an upgrade path for previous owners of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2, it doesn't take away from the fact that Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is a fantastic puzzle game that blends two classic puzzle games in one. Not only that, but the additions are mostly complementary to a base product that was already bursting at the seams with content. However, considering the base version has been discounted as low as AU$10.99, you'd be better off simply buying that and then buying this new version when it's inevitably discounted in a couple of years time.
Shadow Labyrinth is an expansive and hearty adventure, and you will not feel shortchanged for the sheer amount of hours you will need to sink into it. There are, however, many other more cohesive metroidvanias available on the market at the moment. The combat is nice, as are the graphics, but many of the gameplay components feel a bit out of place, making Shadow Labyrinth feel like a missed opportunity.
Patapon 1+2 Replay is a really interesting game wrapped in a joyously ridiculous package. Those who enjoyed it in its original release won’t find much extra here, but remastered visuals and quality-of-life enhancements mean this is the best place for newcomers to have a blast chanting with their Patapon pals. Pata Pata Pata Pon!
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered delivers exactly what it promises and is a faithful remaster through and through. It's difficult to review games from both edges of two millenniums as I can only judge it based on how it holds up today and how I imagine those who have an emotional attachment to it from years past, but it's certainly a hard one to recommend in 2025. If anything, I feel as though there are plenty of talented indie developers who grew up with these games and are using modern engines to create smoother experiences today. So, if I were you, I'd look into those first, but if you're looking to play a game from your childhood, then this collection will absolutely provide that for you.
I honestly could have wrapped up this review in one word: “Okay”. When I thought about my time with Tamagotchi Plaza, I felt such a middling indifference that the Saitama “okay” meme came to mind. It’s all I can think of because it describes my experience so perfectly. Tamagotchi Plaza isn’t a terrible game, but it’s not a great one either. Had I not been reviewing it, I probably would have played once and lost interest completely. This could be because I feel no attachment to the Tamagotchi brand, as I never grew up with one. Maybe not. Maybe it just is “Okay”.