Ashley Mercia

“All in all, it is one of those games that you can download, and have around for those brief moments when you want a puzzling distraction for a brief moment of time. With 150 different puzzles to choose from, there’s a lot of wordplays to keep your mind occupied. So if linguistic games like ladders are your kind of jam, then pick this one up! If you’re more into math puzzles, then this game is probably not the one for you. But hey, who says we can’t expand our horizons and try something new too, right?”

“Root Film lives up to the idea of mystery and suspense. As a visual novel alone it is worth the purchase, but to add icing to the cake this game has fantastic visuals and an amazing soundtrack to go with it. There are several chapters, and the different character’s stories and perspectives keep the game fresh. If you like a good murder mystery story full of suspense, then this is the visual novel for you!”

“A tale of self-discovery, forgiveness, and all the love, life, memories, and regrets that make us human. A philosophical journey that will have players thinking deeply about their own life and place in the world. This game is an amazing experience wrapped up in a charming artistic style. There is also the hint of a lesson in this game as well; the lesson being that humanity needs to do better. The way we treat our fellow living creatures we share this planet with is, quite usually, not all that great. As the intelligent beings we are, we can – and should – strive to do better. Just as Vivi discovers: perhaps we can’t change everyone, but we can try… and we can most certainly change ourselves. That’s all it takes to make the world a more kind and beautiful place. The game is short and sweet, and you’ll easily be able to finish it in one sitting. However, keep a box of tissues handy, as you’re probably going to need a whole box of them by the end of What Comes After.”

“AnShi felt like a disjointed, and frequently confusing, a story that was being told TO me, rather than WITH me. Even the idea of exploring the vast expanse is derailed by way too many invisible walls forcing you onto a straight path. There are some glimpses of the atmospheric game it was aspiring to be, and there were some nice feeling moments when I was riding my hoverboard over smooth desert terrain into a sunset. The music is divine, but unfortunately, it is simply not enough to save the rest of the game. The nugget of something good is there, but I feel that it needs a lot more work to become what it is striving to be.”

“NUTS is an adorable walk through a forest of tranquillity. The gameplay is fun and unique, and nicely paced. The game doesn’t feel too hectic or too slow, and the specific requests from Nina players must achieve for each level increase in difficulty and keep the game interesting. The story is fabulous, especially if you love (or even just like) squirrels. A small group of people trying to protect animal habitat from a huge mega-corporation that wants to tear it all down in the name of profit. It is a story that is, sadly, all too real in this day and age. You’ll be rooting for yourself, the forest, and the squirrels the entire time as you try to capture their adorable furry faces in your camera. Definitely pick up this game if you like: calm, relaxing games, squirrels, photography and unique art!”

“When the Past was Around is a poignant journey, and if point-and-click puzzles are your jam, then I would recommend this one for your Switch library. Cherish the time you have, for it is precious and fleeting.”

“All in all, it’s a story of two people coming together, getting to know each other, and then supporting and accepting one another unconditionally. Now, I don’t know about you, but that’s all I’ve ever wished for out of a loving relationship. If you are a reader, you’re going to want to pick this one up. It’s not that expensive, and if it’s ever on sale then consider yourself getting a very good deal.”

“If point-and-click adventures are your thing then this might be the next game for you, however I’d highly recommend you play in handheld mode and make use of the Switch’s touch screen capabilities. It’s not the cheapest game in the eShop (especially considering it is pretty old, having been out for PC for eight years already), but if it’s on sale for a reasonable amount that’s when I’d consider picking this one up.”

“The game is quite short, you could easily get through several runs in a day, but that shouldn’t be an issue for too long as (again, discovered via their Discord) they have already announced plans to add additional content. There is even a handy little form you can fill out on their Discord channel where you can suggest things and give your input on what you’d like to see eventually added into the game. I really like how interactive the developers are with their audience, and I really liked their game. After some quality of life and bug improvements for the Switch version, this will definitely be a game you don’t wanna miss out on.”

“There is a whole section of unlockable stories in Unlimited called Adonis. These are some “what if” side stories that allow you to see what could have happened if you had joined Adonis in the original game. It is things like this that would be so much richer if you play through Collar X Malice first. Handsome hunks and healing hearts, cracking crimes and courting cuties. Collar X Malice -Unlimited- will provide hours of enjoyment if you are a fan of the genre… just, play through Collar X Malice first.”

“The artwork is just as amazing as the story, and the music is cute and sets the mood for every single scene nicely. In common visual-novel-style, there are different choices you can make (do you want to make pancakes for Licia, or go buy her a crepe?), these choices will lead you to one of six different endings, making for plenty of replay value. On top of that, there are your standard artwork collectibles (which are all beautiful artistic creations) of the characters and your more-specific-to-this-game splendid drawings of food. I can feel how much love went into this game. The author clearly loves each character, and the artist clearly loves food! Ratalaika Games hits another home run for publishing this one, and the developer ebi-hime is an excellent author. Ebi-hime has other visual novels under their belt as well, and I am really looking forward to checking them out too. Strawberry Vinegar has such a modest price point that I would highly recommend it to any fan of visual novels. Also, I think it’s an excellent starting point for any young gamer looking to try out a visual novel.”

“If you have Guardian of Rebirth, first play through all of it until you’ve gone through Lupin’s story. Then, if you enjoyed the stories and the hunky men, definitely get Future Blessings. I would not recommend that you jump into Future Blessings without playing through the first game, as there are a lot of references to things that happened in the first game that characters are constantly talking about. Sure, there’s a bit of exposition, but I feel that it would be difficult to fully enjoy Future Blessings without Guardian of Rebirth. The game is fully voiced by the same amazing voice actors from the first game, so I’ll say it again: if you’re taking this time to study Japanese and want to immerse yourself in the language, then these games are definitely for you. Oh, and if you like romance and husky male voices telling you how much they cherish you… this is totally the game for you!”

“Even with the strange text glitches in the game, I found the story super engaging, spooky, heartwarming and heart wrenching. It tackles some pretty deep themes, and tells a story worthy of being read. I’d recommend it to any visual novel lover with some spare moolah burning a hole in their Nintendo-online-store-pocket.”

“It isn’t the cheapest game in the Switch eShop… especially if you live in Canada (look at that silly-billy conversion rate!!). But I am a firm believer that it is worth it to pay for good art, and those voice actors, animators, and artists deserve to be paid for all their hard work. If you love visual novels, but you’re strapped for cash, I would definitely get this when it goes on sale!”

“Code: Realize ~Guardian of Rebirth~ has you put your cute little feet into the shoes of Cardia. A young girl with a mysterious crystal embedded in her chest, replacing her heart… Oh, and, she is also poisonous. Her skin is constantly releasing a poison that is instantly fatal to anyone who touches her skin. Ya know, that kinda thing is going to make finding love a little tough.”