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Smelter is a clever mashup of genres with a cute style and fun action. The jolt between action and strategy sections can take some getting used to, but it's worth sticking with until you get the hang of the rhythm.
Flowing Lights has smooth controls with great physics mechanics, but the levels become repetitive after a while with little replay value.
Miitopia surpassed my expectations! There's a surprising amount of content here, given the initial appearance and cutesy graphics. If you prefer the light-hearted side of RPGs, there's a lot of fun to be had, with a lengthy game on offer. And it is loads of fun creating Miis of your family and friends (or teddies and pets) along the way.
The Colonists is a solid game with a less-than-solid feeling port. However, it still is good fun on Switch.
Saviors of Sapphire Wings / Stranger of Sword City Revisited carry aspects of their age with them, but this bundle of two somewhat obscure RPGs still provides a deep, detailed, dungeon-crawling experience that is well-suited to the Switch handheld.
Unlike many remakes glutting the market, the existence of Wonder Boy: Asha in Monster World makes complete sense. After all, many gamers in the west never got to delight in what is likely the best entry in the Wonder Boy/Monster World series. How does this fancy remake play? Imagine for a second that Zelda II: Return of Link was good. That'll get you pretty close.
Rise Eterna is good enough to give tactical RPG fans something to enjoy while they await big studio releases, but its lack of difficulty and unfortunate UI issues will prevent other gamers from playing through to its unsatisfying ending.
Layers of Fear 2 is a fun horror game that doesn't rely on gore or violence. It focuses more on psychological terror, while also providing numerous jumpscares and haunting imagery. Once you start, it's a hard game to quit playing.
Despite a fun premise overall, SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off is tough to recommend. Apart from its high price tag, it also lacks the touchscreen controls that made the original so fun. It’s missing some of the heart of the series, which could have been addressed with some simple audio cues. I actually enjoyed my time with this game, but it would be a better purchase if picked up on sale. A big sale.
Maneater certainly gives players a different point-of-view on the action/RPG genre. Taking a shark from its violent beginnings to an inevitable battle for vengeance makes for a unique gaming journey. Unfortunately, its nice visuals and sly sense of humor aren't enough to break up the monotony of undersea survival.
Ladders by POWGI certainly isn't bad for a few minutes at a time, especially if you have a second player to bounce word suggestions off of. Still, I didn't find it addictive enough to carry a standalone release.
Space Commander: War and Trade can be enjoyable for genre enthusiasts and people who really like some commerce mixed into their space-sim adventures. For the more action-oriented player, however, this one can become a bit of a grind. Good effort, but not what I would call a must-have game.
The Nintendo Switch eShop is rife with countless "pick up and play" games, and would you know it, most of them aren't very good. Plenty more are cheap knockoffs of better games. Mom Hid My Game 2 is chock full of something few games have anymore: surprises. If you're looking for a new and unique puzzle experience, My Mom Hid My Game 2 is a fun little time sink.
Subnautica: Below Zero expands on an already very successful and proven formula, delivering an enjoyable and satisfying experience. It may suffer from a few technical hiccups on the Switch, but nothing too bad to ruin the experience.
Emily Archer and the Curse of Tutankhamun could've been a solid game for genre fans, even with its age. But with so many bugs, there's no way I can recommend this Switch version in its current state. It's a weak port of a game best left on the Nintendo DS.
Heal: Console Edition is an immersive puzzle game that's short and bittersweet. It will surely make you think and put you through an emotional roller coaster.
Admittedly, the Game Boy emulation will probably turn off many potential players. That said, there's fun to be had under the dated surface. I don't think Save me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition is a great adventure, but the refinements have cemented it as a good one.
Tinker Racers is a fun racing game that lacks in the components of the main campaign but shines in the various other modes that this title has to offer. The level design is also fun and brings back the childlike excitement of playing with toy cars around the house.
New Pokémon Snap is a delightful revision of an N64 icon. The new region is beautiful and invites you to engage with Pokémon you know and love in different ways, with a unique type of challenge.
If crafting is your thing, you probably won't be disappointed with Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack. In the end, I still enjoy this series as a JRPG fan, even though there are grind issues.