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GREAT - The wait for Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was completely worth it. The Switch version is still plenty of fun to play but is marred with some technical issues at the time of this writing, which holds back its overall score from being even higher. Those that can overlook these issues will find a compelling adventure game filled with secrets and content that should give most gamers over 20 hours of playtime.
AWFUL - PixARK is a Minecraft clone that should be avoided. This game offers a lot of content that is tedious to play through. Everything that should be a simple feature is made far more complex than it needs to be. When just walking around feels like a chore, then you know you’re in for a bad time. This feels like an unpolished early access experience and not a finished $40 game.
GOOD - Graveyard Keeper is the dark and twisted humorous companion to games like Stardew Valley. It boasts many similarities but delves particularly deep into crafting, exploration, and story intertwinement. For a more casual player, this game can easily feel overwhelming, somewhat confusing and definitely complicated though. Tending a cemetery ends up being far more enjoyable that one might expect with Graveyard Keeper and it’s a very reasonable to give this game a go for $20 on the Nintendo eShop.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Verlet Swing combines a unique art style with platform swinging mechanics in a progressively challenging game that’ll test your skills to the max. For someone thinking this may be similar to an artistic walking simulator like Abzu or Firewatch, you’ll be sorely amiss. Sticking with the game and overcoming its challenges will reward you with new unique environments to play through, but swinging around is anything but easy.
GOOD - Slender: The Arrival is a unique take on the Slenderman story that has stood the test of time. The game feels as fresh as it did six years ago, and it has been perfectly ported to the Switch with no setbacks whatsoever. It’s perfect for a first-time experience – though if you have already played this game then we’re not sure that this game offers enough to warrant another playthrough.
WORTH CONSIDERING - The Last Remnant Remastered is available now for the Nintendo Switch. It’s not a particularly good game but there are a few good ideas throughout, albeit far and few between. With so many other great JRPGs available on the Switch it’s hard to justify why anyone would want this game over any others.
GREAT - The Mana games are still great, even over 25 years later. The opportunity to finally play Trials of Mana, even with the remake coming out next year, is worth owning this collection. Whether you’re playing solo or with friends, these adventure games are worth your time!
GREAT - Picture this: backflip in slow motion onto a skateboard while shooting a frying pan to ricochet bullets to kill the bad guys all to appease your friend Pedro – a sentient banana. If that’s not enough for you then I don’t know what to tell you.
GREAT - The originator of the 2-player run-and-gun genre still holds up today. With more Contra than anyone asked for, there’s plenty of aliens to keep you busy for days on end. Be sure to hand a Joy-Con to a friend for maximum enjoyment!
GOOD - Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland is a massive improvement over the other entries of the Atelier series on the Switch. The colorful visuals, exceptional crafting system, and gameplay enhancements make this a fun and rewarding experience in its own right. However, the overly simplistic story, uninspired level designs, and other minor issues keep it from reaching greatness. This is the perfect introduction to the Atelier series and a good place to jump in.
EXCELLENT - Slay the Spire combines deck building with turn-based combat in a roguelike form like none other. Satisfying gameplay with so many player-driven actions makes for a completely fulfilling experience every run you take at the Spire – even when you perish. This is the type of game that will stay on my Switch for years to come.
GOOD - It’s so wonderful to see Nintendo allowing a very adult title on their system. There is no shortage of adventure titles on the Switch, and this is certainly one of the most entertaining. This game should take well over 10 hours to complete and offers a healthy and fair challenge. The major deterrent for buyers is going to be the $39.99 price point, which seems pretty high compared to other games in this genre. Wet Dreams Don’t Dry is filled with laughs, quirky characters, and plenty of humor making fun of the present day world as well as Larry’s past adventures.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Chime Sharp brings puzzle placing action into the music genre after a long hiatus from other platforms. It delivers a more refined experience than its predecessor from long ago, and certainly should whet the appetites for longtime fans. There’s a bit of a learning curve, and not everything is explained very clearly to new users, but it shouldn’t hold anyone back for too long. For fans of puzzle games, it’s a solid game to have in your library, but may be a bit niche for everyone else.
GOOD - Crystal Crisis is a fun puzzler featuring various Nicalis characters and other cameos. You’ll be battling it out against the CPU or friends to see who comes out on top.
Gato Roboto combines cats and mechs both blended into a Metroid-like adventure that is sure to please cat lovers and gamers alike. Kiki is the best and I’ll fight anyone to protect her.
Thief Simulator gives you the skills to turn you into a burglar – something that’s quite unique on the Switch. The game is easy to pick up and play, requiring some patience and skill to master.
GOOD - Anarcute brings a whimsical, colorful and (dare I say?) joyful experience to the act of rioting. With a Katamari-esque feel to collecting fellow rioters and grabbing environmental items to throw around, it’s a blast to cause mayhem and take down the corporations brainwashing folks. Accessible gameplay and challenging missions kept me coming back for more, although the game could have used more satisfying unlockable elements.
GREAT - It’s Final Fantasy VII. I love this game so much I went to a concert in Tokyo to watch “A One Winged Angel” performed live. If you’re even a remote fan of turn-based JRPGs you should probably pick this one up. At long last you can play it anywhere at anytime!
WORTH CONSIDERING - Time limits and ridiculously repetitive gameplay are the bane of Lapis x Labyrinth. The redeeming qualities are the explosive Fever episodes and the totem pole like party formation. After the first area, the game’s difficulty spikes and can make for some frustrating failures. Proceed with caution, but for the right type of player it can be a fun and rewarding experience.
GOOD - Team Sonic Racing is a fun alternative to other competitive racers on the Switch. It features bright and detailed graphics, easy to learn controls, and a cool team-based approach to racing not seen in other titles. It seems a little sparse on tracks and characters, but perhaps we’re just spoiled by MK8 Deluxe. It’s well worth the $40 asking price!