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SteamWorld Heist II is a splash of unique colour for tactical shooters that generally aim for a more gritty tone. Plenty of light-hearted humour, player agency given complete control, and the musical talents of Steam Powered Giraffe add so much character and charm that you can't help but love the down times as well as the tactical action. Thunderful Games has kept the heart of the SteamWorld series and released an almost flawless entry that I can't help but recommend to any fan of turn-based combat, robots, or the steampunk aesthetic.
Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona is a truly great effort. Expansive, fun exploration and hard as nails boss fights will please most metroidvania fans. Sure there are some presentation issues which make it a little rough around the edges, and this means it’s not in the same echelons as other gothic metroidvanias such as Blasphemous or The Last Faith, but it’s priced at less than 15 quid which represents great value for what’s on offer!
While Darkest Dungeon II is a fantastic game at its core, everytime I sat down to play it, I kept catching myself thinking "Boy, I wish I was playing the other Darkest Dungeon”. There's nothing really wrong with the game (outside of the freezing problem, which could be fixed by the time this comes out); it's just that its change of direction into a more Slay The Spire roguelike style didn’t really sit well with me. But that's ok, as stated prior, Red Hook Studios didn’t want this to replace the original and I think they’ve succeeded in that; they just now have to deal with a divided fanbase.
Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is a fun new way to revisit some of the NES’ classic library. Playing speedrunner is a good time no matter your usual play style, and the scale of challenge is there for the hardcore who want to take it on. It’s slightly limited online functionality and the restrictions of what you can’t access in these retro games do cast a shadow, as well as some doubts on its longevity.
The 3DS had limitations on performance, and this has come to negatively impact the remake of Luigi's Mansion 2 HD, especially in consideration of having their younger brother on the same system. While it's only showing up in how the levels are played and ghost designs, it's just enough to hold it back from an exceptional level. However, in saying that, there's still a really fun game here to explore, with a solid foundation of gameplay mechanics that were expanded on in Luigi's Mansion 3. I can't help but recommend picking up Luigi's Mansion 2 HD if you enjoy the franchise, even more so if this title would be the entry point for you.
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure scratches an itch that many won't know they had. It perfectly encapsulates the dreaded word "unique" in a market where we see every third game incorrectly use the word. Making a game where your sole form of movement is akin to a pseudo-sokoban style is risky, but it's paid off in spades. Get ready for Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure to grace many top indie games on Switch lists.
At the end of it all, I’ll look back on SCHiM fondly—not for its puzzles, but for its satisfying shadow platforming and unique presentation. I’m happy to have been given the chance to experience it, but once the credits roll, I can’t see myself ever wanting to go back to it. It’s a quick, one-and-done romp that’ll have you smiling for the majority of its time, and rolling your eyes in frustration in between.
If it weren't for the extra battle modes and decent replayability, I probably would've gone with a six, but it's that which keeps its head above water and carries it through. The core gameplay is classic Super Monkey Ball fun through-and-through, and fans of the series will revel in that. I had good mindless fun with this one; it was easy to get lost in the fun and before long, I found I had been playing for a few hours without realising it. It's just... nothing special, you know?
Paper Trail is an adorable story that unfolds into being about making your own path in life and seeing things in a new light. Every little detail leads into adorable environmental storytelling that slowly unravels Paige's backstory in-between each area. While I am not usually a fan of puzzle games, Paper Trail enamoured me with its humorous characters and accessibility, providing the folds you have to do without giving you everything.
Intelligent Systems has knocked it out of the ballpark with their quality of life changes, updated music for each chapter, incredible humour, and an all-around perfect experience for Mario RPG fans. Truly, this is the definitive edition of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and an exceptional entry point for younger gamers to explore the world of RPGs while providing enough ways for experienced gamers to give themselves a challenge. I can't recommend Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door any more than this and it’s a must have for any switch owner or RPG fan.
I'm enjoying Biomutant on the Nintendo Switch, but there’s still so much I've not touched upon, like the vehicle sections, mounts, and challenging boss encounters. However, while Biomutant does stumble in some areas, it’s still an enjoyable adventure, even with its shortcomings.
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a fun little quirky time that can fill a single evening with ear-to-ear smiling joy. Admittedly, having a series of individual cases would've provided it with more longevity; perhaps in a sequel. And what a sequel that would be; this game made me smile more than any game has managed to do this year, and that is worth the price of admission many times over.
The strange combination of cosy fishing game and untold horrors make DREDGE an atmospheric and ultimately fun experience that can draw you in for hours. Some minor pacing issues and overly-linear progression don’t stop this from being a worthy addition to your switch collection. Just make sure to keep an eye on the depths
Endless Ocean: Luminous is a very niche title; some will love it while others won't, although, in my opinion, it's a decent diving experience on the Switch. There's definitely some fun to be had with others online, which is the best part of the whole game. Although the magic from the original hasn't made the cut here, leaving Endless Ocean: Luminous adrift at sea.
Wrath: Aeon of Ruin is faithful to many of the 1990s classics. Fans of Duke Nukem 3D, Quake, Doom and especially Turok: Dinosaur Hunter will love this game. You can tell KillPixel knows their stuff!. There will, of course, always be a market for a good old homage because I think we all want to be reminded of simpler times. Wrath: Aeon of Ruin certainly does that and is one of the best boomer-shooter throwbacks I’ve played.
Stitch. is a lovely little puzzler on the Nintendo Switch. There's enough content to keep you playing with its daily challenges, weekly puzzlers, unlockable content and possible DLC offerings in future. Its gameplay is easy to understand and addictive once you get into it. If you haven't already realised, stitch. is worth your time and money and will be a favourite for anyone who loves puzzlers. I wholeheartedly recommend this one!
All in all, CorpoNation: The Sorting Process is a beautifully dreary dystopian narrative game. If you like the dystopian genre, customisation, pixel art style, and gameplay reminiscent of Papers, Please, you will love this game. Even though it is challenging at times, and the sorting controls may fight you, if you give Ringo 110%, then you will succeed. Well, I’m off to play some state sanctioned video games... Work hard!
On reflection, I now realise how original Another Crab’s Treasure actually is. It’s quite bold to take a genre known for a certain tone (gloomy, gothic moodiness) and overlay a completely polar opposite tone on top of it. That takes some cojones! But Another Crab’s Treasure pulls it off, and Aggro Crab must be applauded for presenting a challenging, meaningful and, at times, riotous gameplay experience.
Regardless of its issues, I'm loving ArcRunner on the Nintendo Switch; it's a very addictive roguelike, gameplay loop. I especially love the online mode, the selection of weapons, and the perks. Though I wish there were a few more characters to play as, that's just a personal gripe. ArcRunner is a fast paced shooter and if you love roguelikes, this is a no-brainer!
When I saw the trailer, I was captivated by the art and its presentation. However, it appears I fell victim to shallow marketing efforts. Aside from Maliki: Poison of the Past’s stellar 2D artwork, every aspect feels clunky and lacking in any form of satisfaction. I don’t revel in being this negative, especially when, behind this game, I know it’d have a team of passionate developers’ hard work behind it, but I just can’t see this game as something to recommend. The trailer made the game show promise, but I’m afraid it talked the talk when it couldn’t walk the walk.