Pure Nintendo
HomepageOverall, Stunt Kite Party is a very polished looking title but with a bit of an underwhelming premise to it. There isn't a whole lot you can do with kites and they did the best they could do with the concept, but I just feel like, in the end, this game left me empty.
I haven't much cared for Pang Adventures when playing alone, so I can only recommend it for co-op play. Even then, I'd wait for a sale to bring the game in line closer to what you'd pay on PC or mobile. The game is okay, subpar looks and all, but as a Switch port, it is vanilla.
It won't ever be known for its depth of plot or skill, but Avenger Bird is a fair enough game that adds a touch of nostalgia to the basic platformer structure.
The HD port to the Nintendo Switch certainly was a great idea to move, it would be great to see more Gunman Clive games in the future.
Samsara: Deluxe Edition takes symmetry puzzles to a whole new level. The puzzles are a good workout for the brain since there are limited pieces to work with and you need to think upside down sometimes, but with very little help from the game itself, it's easy to rage-quit and stop playing for a long time.
There's certainly some roguelike fun to be had in Airheart – Tales of Broken Wings, especially for fans of twin-stick shooters and classic arcade action. Unfortunately, the elements outside of skyfishing and dogfighting are more of an interference than an enhancement, and they may put you off this game before you're able to get to the good stuff.
Nidhogg 2 is fun to play for a few rounds at a party, but it's not exactly the next EVO hit. It's a pick-up-and-play game with the potential for intense matches between friends, but that's about all it's good for. The game works, and none of its few weapons feel more powerful than its peer. The problem is that there's no reason to keep playing. Arcade mode isn't varied enough to make it worthy of more than a single playthrough. The base game doesn't have a ton of nuance either, so it's not really fun to go back and practice against the AI or online players. Nidhogg 2 is good, but I only recommend it for a party.
Pikuniku is an entertaining distraction, a wonderful game world to romp around in. And when you've finished the entire story in a day or three of casual play, you can look forward to restarting it with your inventory intact and exploring all the nooks and crannies to find what you missed before, and going back to finding Ernie, and kick, kick, kicking him back up through the tunnels and back to safety. Tell him I said, “Hi.”
Apocalipsis is an interesting adventure that sports a uniquely melancholic aesthetic. The setting and mood won't be to everyone's tastes, but if you're looking for something different and have the patience for the point-and-click style, this one is worth checking out.
The King's Bird is a beautiful game. It's easy to learn, with movements that make for a unique take on the classic 2D platformer, set against a bold and stunning backdrop.
Piczle Colors has too many issues to be worth playing to me, but if you're a younger or inexperienced gamer you may find a smidge of enjoyment here. Definitely check out the demo before spending anything.
Necrosphere Deluxe is game filled with some unique ideas, but the challenge comes from struggling with the controls more than the actual level design.
If you're looking for a simple game about jet combat, Sky Gamblers – Afterburner will almost certainly scratch that itch. You don't have to worry about anything other than lining up your shot and not crashing into mountains. I suspect it'll really appeal to those who want to enjoy the multiplayer element where they can take on their friends rather than the simple AI villains who make this game mindless fun.
JackQuest: The Tale of the Sword is an addictive combination of Mario's platforming design with the exploration and sword-slashing of a metroidvania. It's a ton of fun that's quick and easy to pick up and play in shorts bursts – which have a habit of becoming longer play sessions. Where does the time go? Platformer fans should consider picking this one up.
Super Hero Fight Club: Reloaded is fast-paced and funny and will definitely entertain you enough to justify the modest price.
This 2009 classic is definitely worth playing. It's comical, quite varied, generally well-paced, and, most of all, fun!
While certainly unique, Screencheat Unplugged just never quite hit that level of fun to keep me coming back for more. The fact that most modes and weapons are behind a slow grind to unlock means that most folks won't see much of the game's content. Ideally these types of games “hook” you in the first few rounds but I didn't experience that in my play sessions with friends. Screencheat Unplugged has a lot of polish to it, but there isn't a lot of incentive to keep players coming back.
NAIRI: Tower of Shirin is solid, but it lacks that certain something that dialogue-heavy games need. That said there is a charm with the characters and presentation, music especially. Fans of visual novels with puzzles might want to look into it further. Just beware of certain things – backtracking, the duration, pacing issues, potential puzzle frustration, and an unsatisfying story arc – when deciding if it's worth the reasonable ten dollar cost.
I have never been too into survival horror games, but have played and really enjoyed some over the years. I was hoping that Uncanny Valley would be one of the good ones. For me, it failed to do so–it wasn't terrible but the lack of a linear storyline made it more confusing than enjoyable for me. Fans of horror survival games may enjoy it more; however, casual players of the genre may want to wait for a price slash.
Odium to the Core is an interesting single-button, music-based challenge. The controls gave the game a solid difficulty level, though while the art and music were fun and unique, I was only able to take it in small doses.