Zachary Miller
[W]hatever version you have access to, I can't recommend Shovel Knight any higher.
Dragon Quest VIII is a magnificent RPG that is an absolute highlight and showcase of the entire genre. It’s a long journey, but it’s one worth taking, especially if you’ve never played it before. I know that, after getting through this game, I need to reassess my personal favorite RPGs of all time. This game is that damn good.
Axiom Verge is otherwise essentially flawless and it's one of my favorite indie games. This Wii U version is arguably the best one, too, so even if you've played it before it may very well be worth the double dip. And man, what's up with that post-credits scene?!
200cc performs shockingly well online, although I feel like I'm having more dropped games overall than I had prior to the 2nd DLC wave. I will say that racing online in 200cc makes me feel a little better about myself as I watch other human players go through the exact same struggles I am. This second DLC pack is great—better than the first—and I highly recommend it.
If you already have Shovel Knight, you can play this for free today. For people who haven't already bought Shovel Knight on whatever platform you own, what's wrong with you? It's one of the best games I've ever played, and this massive content pack doubles its scope. Acquire it for shovelry!
This is an incredible game, and one of my favorite on the 3DS. You should at least play the demo. If it hooks you, the full version is well worth your time.
If you liked the original Theathrhythm, this is more of the same with plenty of bonus content. It sucks me in every time I turn it on, to the point where my wife is actually pulling the headphones out of my ears to get my attention. It's a wonderful game. You should totally play it.
[T]his is a wonderful game that I obviously can't stop playing, and I can't speak highly enough of. Endlessly charming and unusually engaging, Tomodachi Life is a fantastic diversion.
That is really my only criticism. You’ll be doing things in Specter of Torment that literally make you say “wow” out loud. It’s a smooth, expertly-crafted platformer filled with heart. Again, it’s a free update to your Wii U and 3DS versions so there’s no reason not to play it. For Switch users, it’s absolutely worth experiencing, as is the rest of the Treasure Trove.
Iconoclasts is one of the biggest surprises of the year. Despite occasionally suffering through the story sequences, I found that I couldn't stop playing (it's about 10 hours long). I can't recommend the game highly enough--go play it.
This is not something I usually do with racing games. I kind of wish online multiplayer was in here (it does have persistent global and friend leaderboards), but it's a small price to pay for this lovely package. Horizon Chase Turbo was a very pleasant surprise--go play it.
Even if you've played these games before, I'd say this collection is absolutely worth picking up. It's wonderful to have them all on Switch since they were spread between three platforms originally (3DS, Wii U, Steam), and the Mighty Switch Force games are just plain fun and full of personality. I would like to have seen a collection of concept art a la the SNK and Street Fighter collections because Digital Eclipse has spoiled me forever with that kind of bonus content, but that doesn't take away from the experience, and I will never, ever get sick of kicking that ugly baby.
Now if only I could catch more frogs...
Best part is that I don't have to try and find a working NGPC in good condition anymore.
What the Dub is a great little party game in the tradition of the Jackbox series, and it will definitely see a lot of play at my house thanks to my own predilections.
Turn the lights down and the sound up. Play this game on your TV, late at night. SIGNALIS is a wonderful, mind-bending experience and the passion of the developers can be seen in every pixel.
It feels great to be playing Super Meat Boy again, despite the soundtrack problem. I can't say enough good things about it, but you should know that the difficulty ramps up pretty steadily and somewhere during the third world, the gloves really come off. Enjoy the Warp Zone of World 5-7, kids! If you can find a similarly-experienced buddy, the two-player race is really quite fun.
*Hoard Mode is the name of any game mode that pits you against wave after wave of enemies. Resident Evil calls it Mercenaries.
Cave Story+ isn't the definitive version of Cave Story—I think that crown still belongs to the WiiWare version, but then again, that version isn't portable. I do miss the ability to switch graphical styles, but it's really the only regrettable absentee. The real takeaway here, though, is Cave Story is great and you should play it.
I enjoy figuring out how to get through any given stage, but making it happen is where the challenge is. It's a great feeling when you come to a stage and say “how in the world…” and then beat it a few minutes (and several dozen deaths) later. Personally, I love this game to death even if it does feel like beating my head against the wall sometimes.