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Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World breathes new life into this fantastic platformer. Whether you enjoyed the original outing or missed it the first time around, do yourself a favor and check out this game.
Overall, Time Flies is a unique adventure full of surprises. Don't let the simple aesthetics and short runtime put you off; this is one of the most creative outings of the year.
You'll surely enjoy Pinball FX – Williams Pinball Volume 9, though some may want to wait for a sale that matches the FX3 volume pricing. In either case, those with "crazy flipper fingers" can expect a good time.
Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is a series callback not just with its familiar characters, but in the simplified exploration, synthesis, and turn-based combat, too. Fans of older Atelier games may welcome the change, but it may have simplified too much for those seeking a challenge worthy of its price tag.
Misc: A Tiny Tale is a very cute game with a surprisingly profound and impactful story that transforms cleaning up the world around you into an adventure.
KEMCO's very old-school dungeon crawler, Dragon Ruins, is available in the eShop for a mere $8.99. If you need a little dungeon-crawler distraction and don't mind exploring deeper than many retro fans will be brave enough to attempt, this game is a good, unique option.
Set aside your notions of how a modern RPG should look and play, and you're going to have a great time with The Nameless: Slay Dragon. Its focus on the characters and story and how your decisions affect them compensates for its more basic approach to how its world is displayed and navigated.
So, maybe Garten of Banban 0 isn’t the best place to start. I’d recommend this odd outing to series fans who would benefit from an origin story for these quirky characters. It delivers chills in its short runtime, and it comes at a cheap price, so fans might find enjoyment. The basic graphics and subpar control scheme, along with a lack of clear direction at times, make it a little more frustrating than fun for someone not invested.
Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution is a well-made, quality game that'll prove mostly entertaining for fans well-versed in the series. But it reflects plenty of choices here that are tough to wrap one's head around, especially when other Shantae games surpass this one in both pace and polish. The restrictive 4-player mode disappointingly fails to live up to the hype. And the inexplicable lack of a map (or any typical hint system) makes this game feel antiquated next to its other entries. Thus, what should be a great game is just a good one. Wait for a sale, and make this Shantae your Half-Price Hero.
VARLET doesn't do anything wrong as far as JRPGs go, but it also doesn't do enough that's interesting. The game puts its engaging characters in a typical high school setting and gives them the standard tasks to complete with little challenge to interfere. It's an OK game to chill with, but it doesn't leave an impression.
The Bubsy games have become unpopular as time has passed, but his collection does its best to make them more playable than they've ever been. You can relive the nostalgia of the first two 16-bit games, roll your eyes at that Jaguar entry, and experience the refurbished version of Bubsy 3D that makes the original no longer relevant, all with modern updates and extras. I'm happy to see Atari and Limited Run compile these games and make them available on modern hardware, even if they fall short of their titular "Purrfect" designation. Subjectively, their individual appeal might be narrow (one's trash is another treasure), and some might not be convinced to join Bubsy's small fandom. But collectively, this release does plenty right, and those with appreciative mindsets will find value here. It's better than the sum of its parts.
As someone with limited experience with games of this nature, Wild Hearts S has proved surprisingly addictive. Check out the demo if you're curious, but I really believe it'll be a game that grows on you. Even though I feel like there are certain respects where I've only scratched the surface (dozens of hours in, no less), the game is intuitive in the areas it needs to be. Such approachable depth that avoids the overwhelming trappings makes this game a winner and a keeper.
It's been so long since a Madden game has been playable on a Nintendo device that pretty much anything would've satisfied NFL fans. Thankfully, Madden NFL 26 happens to be a good game that offers a massive playbook of depth and content. Just be prepared to spend time on the practice squad while you get up to speed.
Overall, Herdling is a wonderful adventure. It's a little rough around the edges in terms of framerates and hit detection, but it presents a unique outing that captures the loneliness of a child and the herd he inherits and protects. If you're after a sweet journey set among lavish landscapes, this one is worth checking out.
Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion will thrill fans of mech-based combat. There's no shortage of customization options or enemies to pound down with your optimized loadouts. Those looking for a more narrative adventure, however, may eventually tire of the explore, fight, rejuvenate/optimize loop.
As management sims go, Discounty has the perfect balance of job tasks to make the game challenging and downtime to keep the game relaxing and cozy. The style is adorable, your character is customizable, the dialogue is funny, and the story is entertaining.
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo stands out with its papercraft-inspired art, looping time mechanic, and inventive quiz-style boss fights. Paired with heartfelt storytelling, it delivers a unique and emotional experience that's definitely worth playing.
Space Adventure Cobra – Awakening combines the style of its early '80s anime source material with the complexity of modern action-platformers to create a game full of…well, style and complexity. It's not without its hardships, but those up for the challenge will be entertained.
Shuten Order is so all over the place that its eShop listing doesn't even provide a genre. But don't take that as a lack of focus; this game knows what it wants to accomplish, and does so effectively. Players seeking a text-heavy adventure with uncomfortable choices to make are in for a wild (albeit occasionally overlong) time.
Overall, STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar is a faithful remake with great music and fun gameplay. This Nintendo Switch 2 Edition addresses stuttering seen on the original Switch when things are too busy on screen, and the framerate improvements make the game run much better and smoother. It's like going from a DVD to Blu-ray, albeit at $10 more, as it's priced at $59.99 on Switch 2. I'd still recommend this game (on either platform) to all STORY OF SEASONS fans, and highly recommend it to fans of Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar, as it is a well-done remake that carries the spirit of the original.