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Homebody is a horror puzzle/adventure in which you must escape a house filled not only with old friends and awkward conversations, but also a murderer. The combination of puzzle solving and detection avoidance combine for a tense but accessible-and surprisingly emotional-experience.
Road Builder had the potential to be a great game. However, the main mode was broken, and there wasn't much else to do with a limited custom mode and lack of online play.
Fitness Circuit offers a convenient, flexible, and thorough way to get in some guided exercise. The visuals look like an anime adventure, the audio is well done, and the controls are easy to use. Kudos to the developers, as Fitness Circuit is an easy recommendation for your Switch library.
Overall, ProtoCorgi is a fun shooter that's deceptively difficult. The builder mode adds some longevity, especially at its budget price. The retro cartoony design is also great, creating an overall enjoyable shooter that stands out from the crowd.
Garlic is difficult retro platformer that manages to be accessible to those normally put off by "difficult," "retro," and "platformer." Copious checkpoints and a fun mix of styles, visuals, and mini-games should push even the more casual gamers through. Give Garlic a try; the taste may surprise you.
For those familiar with this long-time simulation/strategy series, Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening may feel like a warm welcome home. But as a newcomer, I found the game a confusing mess, and the Switch version frustrated my every attempt to enjoy playing it.
Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg is an effectively updated version of the original Atelier game from Gust. Beneath its modern sheen is a short, retro adventure that forgoes the intricate combat and crafting of the modern Atelier games. Instead, it focuses on a time management loop that's open enough to warrant multiple playthroughs for those seeking a cute and gentle journey.
Skye Tales is a cute and cozy adventure puzzle game, short enough to enjoy over a weekend. Yet, it's also long enough that a player might lose interest halfway through as the way to solve puzzles becomes quite repetitive.
I know I've spent a lot of time discussing my qualms with this new formula for Zelda games but I did still enjoy myself. Don't get me wrong, everyone should play Tears of the Kingdom. The new outfits to find are fun and varied, the caves are really interesting and Ultrahand has some fun uses. It is an incredible achievement but it's just not what I'm looking for in Zelda games. That's a shame for those of us that want those classic elements back. I don't think the Zelda 'formulas' are mutually exclusive. I think there's a better balance they can strike but they're not there yet. I can only hope Nintendo takes stock of the sincere critiques of these two Zelda games and find ways to accommodate all Zelda fans moving forward.
Speed Crew is a fun game to play with the family or a group of friends, but I don't recommend playing by yourself. If you're a fan of co-op games like Overcooked or Moving out, Speed Crew will be a game you enjoy. However, if you're looking for something to play alone, I'd skip this one.
Bleak Sword DX is a tough sword-slashing adventure that stands out thanks to its interesting visuals and standalone levels. Although this exciting outing feels fresh and looks great, the difficulty level may be too high for some players.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the gift that keeps on giving. Who knows what the future holds for the franchise? For now, this latest wave provides more fun and excitement to tide us over until the final round of tracks heads away later this year.
Fans of All Elite Wrestling should feel quite comfortable within the sometimes goofy but always engaging AEW: Fight Forever. Technically, there's room for improvement, but the game nails the AEW tone and arcade gameplay that are the reasons many wrestling game fans have been seeking for quite some time.
Etrian Odyssey II HD follows a nearly identical path to its prequel while boasting some features that embellish the fun of the original. It pairs a very similar storyline and gameplay with equally refreshed graphics and music to celebrate its port to the Switch.
Atlus gave DS series fans more of what they enjoyed with this entry. Now, thanks to SEGA's publishing, additional players can experience what all the fuss was about. It's unnecessary for me to extend this review any further with nostalgic gushing or flirts with spoilers. To conclude, while newcomers might prefer starting with the first game to determine if its repetition becomes addictive, existing fans might find Etrian Odyssey III HD is the installment they want.
Ray'z Arcade Chronology does what it should as a shmup. Lots of things shoot at you and you shoot at lots of things as you learn the required patterns. There's desperation and frustration to overcome as you deal with the copious dying. And it all leads to the thrill of finally taking out the boss. While not every aspect of the game is stellar for what it contributes, this is a fun collection that's worthy of a spot in your Switch library.
Although the two games that compose the Lara Croft collection are actually Tomb Raider spin-offs, they provide a local multiplayer experience that will entertain arcade-action fans and achievement-seekers alike. They're also a reminder of what we used to love about the Tomb Raider games.
A lower learning curve gives Garden Simulator accessibility the genre isn't known for. The lack of touchscreen support is a negative worth noting, but the overall title (quirks and all) evens out as something worth digging a little deeper into.
If you're looking for something that's creepy without being violent are gory, the puzzle game Smile for Me is for you. It effectively uses its low-fi graphics and video to create a point-and-click adventure that unnerves you without resorting to jump scares and violence.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Into Reverie works best as a thank-you gift for fans of the series. It contains (and often enhances) everything turn-based JRPG fans loved about the previous games, but it's unfortunately presented in a disjointed manner that may put off those who'd just like to continue with the story. And if you haven't played a previous entry, do not start here.