Outriders is the type of game where players get what they put in. For those who want a pick-up and put-down RPG with an emphasis on story, Outriders has that covered. For those who want hundreds of hours of gameplay in tense and adrenaline-pumping combat with powerful builds, Outriders has that covered too. Ultimately, the strength of Outriders is how it connects to its players and what they want out of the game, meaning everyone walks away feeling different about it, and that can only be a good thing.
Even though the difficulty isn't what die-hard fans might be looking for, there's no denying that Monster Hunter Rise is the most accessible title in the series to date. Its systems and mechanics will be confusing for brand-new players at first, but once they really get into it and learn what everything is about, players can look forward to a thrilling and exciting hunting experience with so much content to offer. And with free title updates coming soon from Capcom, there will be even more quests to partake in and monsters to hunt. This isn't the ultimate package that World and Iceborne was, but the compact nature of Monster Hunter Rise feels perfect on the Switch and will definitely serve as a blueprint for future entries.
Hazelight Studios' It Takes Two is one of the best co-op gaming experiences there is and an absolute joy to play from start to finish.
Though Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town looks impressive on the surface, its mindless gameplay feels both empty and unoriginal.
The Outer Worlds: Murder on Eridanos is a 'whodunit' story that will impress players, but its technical issues can't be overlooked.
The next-gen upgrade for Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time makes an already fantastic and content-rich platforming game even better.
Bravely Default 2 invites players to reacquaint themselves with its unique Brave and Default battle system in this brand new sequel to the original.
Flow Weaver is a virtual reality escape room experience with a dull story that doesn't understand what makes escape rooms fun.
Bowser's Fury is great while it lasts, but it is admittedly short, and so Super Mario 3D World's high price tag on Switch may be hard to swallow for those that have already played through the game on Wii U. Double-dipping makes more sense for someone who is wanting to take advantage of Super Mario 3D World's online co-op functionality, but other returning players may want to wait for a sale. However, anyone that hasn't played Super Mario 3D World on the Wii U should go out and buy Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury on Switch immediately, as it is a fantastic Super Mario 3D platforming experience with enough content to keep fans busy for weeks.
Serving as a sequel to the original Persona 5 story, the Phantom Thieves summer vacation in Persona 5 Strikers is a worthy follow-up adventure.