Joshua Broadwell
At the end of the day, Daemon X Machina doesn't live up to its full potential, and that's a shame because it has a lot going for it.
With a host of enhancements that more than make it worth playing for newcomers and old fans alike, The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remains a brilliant example of impeccable design.
Trails of Cold Steel 3 is a masterclass in storytelling that improves nearly everything in the franchise's history.
A Knight's Quest has a good foundation, but it relies too heavily on a borrowed identity and suffers from technical issues and a bit of tedium.
Doraemon: Story of Seasons borrows from both franchises while managing to be a stand-out farm-sim game in its own right.
Atelier Ryza is the best Atelier game to date, with some much-needed improvements that make for a more compelling package on the whole.
Luigi's Mansion 3 is almost non-stop fun and is another must-have for the Switch's library.
Pokemon Sword and Shield breathe a joyous breath of life back into the series, with great improvements and a stellar batch of new 'mon.
Heroland offers a hilarious take on working life, RPGs, and fan culture, wrapped in a clever combat system.
Though Atelier Shallie falls short in some ways, the entire Atelier Dusk Trilogy is a solid package with compelling crafting and combat systems.
Atelier Ayesha DX is a solid entry starting off the Dusk trilogy, with compelling crafting and gameplay loops, as well as plenty of loveable characters.
Atelier Escha & Logy DX refines the formula Ayesha laid out and other new features that make it not just the best in the Dusk trilogy, but one of the best Atelier games in general.
TMS #FE Encore is a solid enough RPG that doesn't play to its strengths and ultimately falls short of greatness.
The combat is the best Fire Emblem combat in years, and you get some very good carryovers into the main game that make it worth going back yet again to re-shape the world.
Snack World works as a tasty, but not entirely satisfying, appetizer, with too much filler and some strange balancing choices.
Rune Factory 4 is an abundant RPG, full of fun characters, things to do, and a compelling network of interlocking systems.
Mystery Dungeon DX gets the story right, but ultimately fails to deliver on everything else.
Persona 5 Royal improves on the original in almost countless ways, big and small, to deliver a top-notch RPG for new and old fans alike.
The latest Animal Crossing is also the best, full of life, charm, and near-endless ways to make your very own island paradise.
Sakura Wars' unique LIPS system, thoroughly charming cast of characters, and great writing more than make up for its less than stellar combat.