The collection of mystery games available on the Switch is slowly rising as the years pass. It can be very hard to find a good mystery game. A good mystery needs to hook you in. Keeps you guessing while also encouraging you to press on, and satisfy you with its ending as everything is tied together. While there can still be a few lingering questions, the major ones had better be answered. And if you are going the route of incorporating gameplay, it needs to be interactive and engaging enough. With The First Cases, this is a mystery game done very well. The storytelling is tight, doesn’t overstay its welcome, and has a nice mix of twists while also keeping everything believable.
LoveChoice is a delightful little anthology that I absolutely got a kick out of. It had strong stories, interesting mechanics, beautiful art and music, and some real-life truths about relationships. It also had plenty of moments that made me go “aww”. There were only a few small drawbacks in the controls and slightly awkward writing. Overall, LoveChoice is a wholesome, but honest examination of relationships. I highly recommend it!
Love Colors is a good game for those times when you don’t feel like doing difficult battles or go on an epic quest. Love Colors offers relaxing gameplay by filling the squares of a grey and white image and turning it into a bright and lovely image. Be aware there is no real gameplay in this, nonetheless, it’s very soothing to do after a very busy day. And if you want to play it together with friends or family you can do so too. Tackle the 150+ images in the base game, or go for the more intricate images in the DLC. It’ll keep you painting by numbers for quite some time.
All things considered, this is a brilliant first game from developer Playbae. It has some problems, but most of those can be ignored while platforming. The puzzle aspect of In My Shadow is solid, and the story has a lot of heart and thought in it. That being said, there were a few problems with gameplay that made some of the puzzles less enjoyable. Also, the puzzles are very difficult, which makes this game a little less accessible for those who aren’t especially good at platforming. If you plan to pick up this title, prepare for some feels.
Gas Station Simulator ends up as one of the better ‘simulator’ games out there. Tasks get repetitive and there are moments where I did think to myself ‘why am I spending so much time playing this.’ But ultimately it held my attention and I enjoyed running my station even if it did have a few rough edges. I guess like running a real Gas Station this game is filled with financial challenges. The stress of juggling customers and employees and after a long gaming session you feel like you need a good sit down with a good coffee. But despite all this, it makes for a pretty fun video game. But I can’t guarantee running a Gas Station in real life would be this much fun.
Spacebase Startopia is a pretty complex space base builder that’s marred by poor tutorials. If you can manage without the tutorial and dive right in you might get on fine. Overall, Spacebase Startopia is an enjoyable game once you give it time and get into it. One thing in particular I enjoyed doing was watching the visitors go about their business and having a great time on the fun deck. Kinda made me wish I could join them!
Teacup is a very relaxing and wholesome game to play. Going on Teacup’s adventure with her is a delightful experience. You’ll meet a charming cast of animals to interact with, and live a sweet story about tea and friends. The whole game gives off whimsical vibes and is a pleasure to play. Go on, treat yourself to a warm hug by playing Teacup!
Is The Banner Saga for you? Could be, if you’re into SRPGs, stories with tough choices and real consequences, or Viking stuff. The combat isn’t what I’d call super addictive or mind-blowing fun, but it’s nevertheless unique and engaging. I like that it’s fairly simple yet quite challenging (unless you play on Easy difficulty). I love that the visual novel element is very, very substantial. It’s half the game’s weight, even if not half the game’s length. Combat isn’t merely broken up by cutscenes where you’re passively watching. Here, you’re directing the story. Or at least the details, if not the overall plot. Most notably, you decide if major characters live or die. The Banner Saga trilogy is an all-rounder. Despite an initially confusing plunge into the deep end, I came out gasping at its beauty, most of all the landscapes and hand-drawn combat animations. Both story- and combat-wise, expect a meaty game lasting 30 to 40 hours or more.
I must confess at first I just couldn’t find my stride in the game, for which the controls were mainly to blame. But Chef’s Tail tells a sweet story about the after life, making it a green lush place and cooking dishes to relaxing back ground music. If you like simulation games with questing, gathering and interacting with the spirits that populate the after life, then this may be a game for you. I do feel some bugs need to be repaired. What would make this nice game a great game is changing the controls on the Switch.
Armed Emeth on the surface looks like another pixel turn-based RPG. But while not the biggest looker, this title has many features going for it to make it stand out from the crowd. A compelling story and world with interesting golem customization and a memorable soundtrack. The combat lacks some depth and the difficulty feels a little all over the place at times. But if you need a good RPG to sink some time into Armed Emeth is well worth your time. This is a wasteland full of surprises.