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You don't have to like fishing to enjoy it. So if you're hankerin' for a good catch to get you through the summer heat, Nice Day for Fishing is definitely worth checking out if you're a fan of 16-bit RPGs.
Driving for weeks now, I can better sum up my feelings on Mario Kart World post-honeymoon. It's a great game that looks (and sounds) as outstanding as it plays-speedy, sharp, and smooth on Switch 2. It's well worth the extra Bundle cost! Still, as a standalone $79.99 game, it's undeniably lacking compared to its predecessors' original tracks, overall number of tracks, and other features and polish. Doubtless, some free DLC will add needed content and give some existing content a tune-up. Mario Kart World is a game you don't want to miss, one that crosses the finish line with its head held high.
Tomb Raider fans will appreciate the effort here in terms of faithfulness to the classic games, with both clear and subtle nods. Like Pinball FX as a whole, I'd hesitate to recommend this on the Nintendo Switch. But if you have a Switch 2, you'll appreciate both of these pinball tables for different reasons.
No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is a wonderfully effective mashup of puzzle-based gaming styles held together by fun characters and a chaotic story. A knowledge of the series is useful, but this entry served as my introduction, and I still had a blast.
Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition does something very right with the series. It features the classic action we know and love and introduces an RPG-like story mode. It looks great, plays well, and even has a happy feel to it. When did fighting become to much fun? Ready? Fight!
Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden is the type of game that would've kept my friends and I entertained late into a 1980s Saturday night. Familiar arcade gameplay is supplemented by modern tower defense strategies and upgrades, providing more longevity than first expected.
While the Wild West theme is unique to this type of game, Cattle Country offers little you haven't seen elsewhere. A lack of originality isn't surprising for this genre, but it's still disappointing. The non-innovative approach would be less of an issue were this game refined, but multiple quirks and outright bugs show that's not the case. The game could use more polish, so genre fans might be best waiting for a sale.
Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition is still a game that will push strategy fans to (and beyond) their limits. You'll spend more time learning than playing. But the Joy-Con mouse functionality in this Switch 2-only release removes a major obstacle to the long-serving rewards awaiting those able to stick with it.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour probably should have been a pack-in release; not because it’s not worth the money, but because it’s turned into a PR nightmare. It also feels like the perfect game to include with a new system. At the end of the day, it wasn’t included; but it IS fun and interesting. So, if you like the sound of it, give it a go! If not, leave it alone. Someone at Nintendo worked hard to put this together, and I, for one, am glad I was able to experience it.
Klaus Lee – Thunderballs is an engaging homage to the TV and gaming action heroes of the '80s. It's not the deepest or most diverse platformer you'll play on the Switch, but its 100+ levels and built-in level designer provide plenty of staying power.
Leftovers KO! showcases some very fun art of foodstuffs dealing with a fierce blow. It's a fine little time-killer, but otherwise doesn't have much going for it to make it stand out from the crowd of other novelty fighting games.
This 15-year-old game has aged well, with new cutscenes and other enhancements contributing to an epic, movie-like quality to the action. This prequel makes the perfect first entry for the Switch 2.
Although TRON: Catalyst may feel like a paint-by-numbers entry in the Tron series, it's one of the better kits we've had. It stumbles over repetition and some awkward gameplay segments, but the solid story and franchise-familiar elements will carry fans through its somewhat short runtime.
The roguelike, deck-based dungeon builder Into the Restless Ruins may not be a big budget spectacle, but strategy game fans will find it a solid addition to their game library.
It took me a while to realize I wasn't having quite as much fun with Sonic X Shadow Generations as I expected, given the high praise of the 2011 console original. Such elevation likely reflects the quality of Sonic games declining over the past 20 years, as even the better new titles can't reach the peak of the '90s classics. Combine that with no upgrade for existing owners, and Sega has made it challenging to recommend this one on Switch 2. Many players would be better off with Sonic Mania or Origins. But if you're a diehard fan who hasn't played this yet, wishlist it and wait for a discount-you'll be safe knowing that, even though it's showing its age more than most would care to admit, you're sure to find some entertainment.
HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition is perhaps thus named because it literally requires your signature to play. Once you're past that and a few other technical and online issues, however, you'll get a ton of content with countless ways to work through it. Make room for the 60GB install file, because you'll want to keep this game around for a very long time.
If you're looking for a game to highlight how different the Switch 2 experience can be, look no further than Kunitsu-Gamin: Path of the Goddess. The unique combination of action and tower-defense strategy-enhanced by the stunning graphics and art direction-make this a game you'll use to show off your new system.
Overall, Not Not 2 – A Brain Challenge is exactly what it says on the box. It tickles the brain in a fun, interesting, and challenging way. With over 100 levels to master, daily and weekly challenges, and unlockables, this is a fun title with plenty of longevity.
Hidden Kittens: Kingdom of Cats is a chill, low-key hidden objects game with calm music and pleasant hand-drawn art.
Hidden Cat Outlaws is a clever hidden objects game with quirky music, lovely hand-drawn art, and enough of a challenge to keep you playing.