Brian Stasiukaitis
With an expansive main campaign that takes far too long to get started and quite a few underdeveloped mechanics, this Sword Art game is a tough sell for anyone but the most dedicated fans.
Little more than a shiny exhibition of new-generation graphics, Godfall only succeeds in creating interesting combat systems without giving any thought to the world and story around it.
Noita relies far too heavily on random numbers to create any kind of enjoyment, and though it might make some fun stories, players will be left craving an actual roguelike rather than this RNG simulator.
Pathologic 2 does a fine job of capturing the feelings of a town under distress, though it can feel like a painful chore to play with technical glitches and loading times hindering the experience overall.
Despite the beautiful pixel art and inspired soundtrack, Summer Catchers drops the ball with its RNG-heavy gameplay and monotonous quests.
Warparty may be a decent game for simple multiplayer matches, but its lack of creativity and rough mechanics keep it feeling older than the timeframe it's based upon.
Despite featuring an interesting gimmick, Spellbreak is hindered by a weak setting and repetitive combat that feels too standard for such a crowded genre.
Daemon X Machina works as you’d expect from the first entry into a new IP, taking few chances on story or combat, but delivering a relatively solid, if uninspired, twitch-heavy action game.
Indivisible initially impresses with a tight package that visually stuns but after hours of repetition and ease, I'd rather take some time apart.
Little Big Workshop is a factory simulator built for the masses. It gets the little details right while setting up big goals for those new to the genre, even if the little workers can cause headaches at times.
Divinity: Original Sin II on the Switch does a wonderful job of staying true to the original PC and console versions with no major drawbacks, despite the Switch's hardware downgrade, even if the menus can be their own mini-boss.
A roguelike with exceptional storytelling, Hades brings heart and soul to a genre known for its emphasis on combat. With the continuing evolution of characters and challenges, the Underworld will keep bringing you back long after you've escaped.
Streets of Rogue has the heart and complexity rivaling any major release, even without a story to back it up. If you've got the hard drive space, there's no reason not to pick it up immediately.