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MEDIOCRE - Type:Rider is a fun, but unremarkable game that might be worth playing at least once for the history lessons. Those into typography and art should get a kick out of the simplistic premise. Everyone else can probably pass.
MEDIOCRE - The lesson learned here is that there are plenty of great games that do not need remakes. I’d love to see the game designers make a true sequel that plays and looks like the original. In a better world, Super Nintendo owners would have gotten a direct sequel to Shadowgate and this series and others like it would live on today.
MEDIOCRE - Empire of Sin wants you to be the Mob Boss in all of Chicago. From managing relationships, to hostile takeovers, running an underground economy, and with an X-Com inspired combat system layered on top for action moments, this game has all the right makings for a top-notch prohibition management game. However, the menus are cluttered, heavy, and an unnecessary time sink, and the combat is just too light with clunky opponents, making the whole experience a bit awkward for me to really love.
MEDIOCRE - John Wick Hex had some major potential to be one of the best action games of all time, but instead the developers opted for a strategy game. With stilted animations, boring graphics, and middling gameplay, there’s not much here for those looking for a game based on the hit movies. Hardcore strategy game fans will find some enjoyment, but everyone else should probably pass.
MEDIOCRE - It pains me to score The Jackbox Party Pack 6 so low because I’m truly a huge fan of the series. Normally at least two or three of the five included games are a blast, but this time around only one (Trivia Murder Party 2) really delivered the goods. Some may find a few more of the included games worth their time, but overall I can’t help but be disappointed.
MEDIOCRE - Boreal Blade nails the combat and has some fun ideas but they’re overshadowed by poor online connectivity. Lacking a single player mode means the game is entirely reliant on servers and unfortunately lag and constant kicking from matches mars the entire experience. Download the demo first to see if the online issues have been resolved before purchasing the full version.
MEDIOCRE - On the surface Dragon Marked For Death ticked all the right boxes: beautiful sprites, colorful graphics, co-op action/adventure, RPG elements, and compelling story. After playing it became obvious the game offers a very shallow gameplay experience with repetitive combat, difficulty spikes, and bosses that just won’t die. The bottom line is that this one just isn’t all that fun to play.
MEDIOCRE - Asterix & Obelix XXL 2 fits the bill if you're looking for a casual beat-em-up with some light puzzle solving elements. Unfortunately the repetitive combat and high price make it hard to stand out from other great Switch titles.
I admire the team that finally got this game finished after nine years. Obviously there are Toki fans out there, but after waiting so long I fear most of them will be disappointed, mostly by the game's length and lack of features. For the classic or casual gamer looking for a great 2D platform/adventure title, there are simply far superior choices at a better value.
Jumping Joe & Friends is a simple phone game ported to the Switch. It controls well and can be fun in short bursts. Given that the Switch can be a portable system this can be a good fit depending on how you feel about these style of games. Just know that the $4.99 price point may be too high if you are looking for something with any substance to it.
MEDIOCRE - Xenon Valkyrie+ is a bit of a mixed bag. It has plenty of cute visuals and fun gameplay, but it falls short in more important aspects like its level designs and replayability. If you just want some short fun then this would be worth considering. Everyone else should probably pass.
Hardcore strategy RPG fans might find something to like here, but chances are you own a PC and have already checked out Wasteland 2. A frustratingly unfair combat system and gaudy graphics leave much to be desired.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 improves on its predecessor and delivers an engaging arcade monster truck experience for all ages. With a solid progression system, loads of trucks (fan favorites and more to unlock), and fictional environments to toy around in, there’s plenty of truck hopping fun to be had. You’ll have to navigate some minor to moderate grievances that may potentially effect hardcore players more so than younger kids, but we’re still talking about an enjoyable Monster Jam experience here.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Cultist Simulator brings a card-based roguelike to the table, with a great thematic setting and deep lore. The core game mechanics are simple to interact with, however the game struggles deeply to gain traction because of an intentional design decision to avoid any tutorials or context to what’s happening on screen, leaving me mostly stabbing at the dark to play the game. Some will enjoy the variable experimentation, but not all will drink the Kool-Aid.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Wartile brings diorama-based table top gaming to the Nintendo Switch with a Vikings and Norse mythology fictional theme. While the game excels at making a highly creative and unique artistic presentation, many of the game's features felt somewhat incomplete, marred further by a lack of clear game progression and a missed opportunity for stronger miniature character leveling up. Still, gameplay is fairly fluid once you get used to it, and the thematic settings are great. If you’re craving a digital table top micro-experience, Wartile might be something you’ll want to check out despite its shortcomings.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Mini Motor Racing X is a fast-paced arcade racer with a ton of content to keep you occupied for quite a few hours. Type X mode introduces power-ups & weapons refreshing the title a fair bit from just the standard racing element. Despite the visuals looking a fair bit aged, there’s still fun to be had here, and in particular with friends or Multiplayer for a reasonable $20 price tag. If you like kart or arcade racing games, this one finds a reasonable home on the Nintendo Switch, however there’s quite a few competing games already on the platform, so your mileage may vary.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Overall, the story is worth playing through. It is touching and has an ending that is quite good. The manga panel presentation of the story telling is very cool, and the music is absolutely wonderful. However, with all the unnecessary padding, inability to destroy or at least incapacitate enemies, and the insanely idiotic control scheme that is enough to drive you crazy, it may not be worth the initial price tag of $30.
WORTH CONSIDERING - One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 lets you live out your wildest One Piece fever dream of crushing enemies as God Usopp, but the action grows stale after short time and after awhile you realize you’d much rather just be watching the anime again for the third time.
WORTH CONSIDERING - This is a game that everybody should get some enjoyment out of, but odds are you’ll spend much more time playing the included arcade port. One day I hope to see the quality sequel diehard fans deserve, but for now I am happy to be able to get my Bubble Bobble fix on the Switch. I still had a good time playing through it, and was satisfied completing it, but the original is still light years ahead of this.
WORTH CONSIDERING - Music Racer is a quite reasonable addition to the rhythm game genre. It delivers a visually striking experience, with significantly non-challenging gameplay if desired. The music included is all typical EDM, but many of the songs are quite catchy and what should be expected in this genre. There’s a ton of visual unlocks, but otherwise the progression is pretty lackluster, so don’t expect to be playing this game for countless hours. That being said, for a $6.99 price point, it’s not going to break the bank to have a little fun.