Kirk Hiner

“Shuten Order is so all over the place that its eShop listing doesn't even provide a genre. But don't take that as a lack of focus; this game knows what it wants to accomplish, and does so effectively. Players seeking a text-heavy adventure with uncomfortable choices to make are in for a wild (albeit occasionally overlong) time.”

“Shadow Labyrinth moves Pac-Man from his traditional mazes to the caverns of a dying planet, and will likely lose classic arcade fans along the way. But although it makes some gameplay and design mistakes that should have been avoidable, it's weird enough to provide some fun for fans of 2D platformers.”

“No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is a wonderfully effective mashup of puzzle-based gaming styles held together by fun characters and a chaotic story. A knowledge of the series is useful, but this entry served as my introduction, and I still had a blast.”

“Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden is the type of game that would've kept my friends and I entertained late into a 1980s Saturday night. Familiar arcade gameplay is supplemented by modern tower defense strategies and upgrades, providing more longevity than first expected.”

“Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition is still a game that will push strategy fans to (and beyond) their limits. You'll spend more time learning than playing. But the Joy-Con mouse functionality in this Switch 2-only release removes a major obstacle to the long-serving rewards awaiting those able to stick with it.”

“Klaus Lee – Thunderballs is an engaging homage to the TV and gaming action heroes of the '80s. It's not the deepest or most diverse platformer you'll play on the Switch, but its 100+ levels and built-in level designer provide plenty of staying power.”

“Although TRON: Catalyst may feel like a paint-by-numbers entry in the Tron series, it's one of the better kits we've had. It stumbles over repetition and some awkward gameplay segments, but the solid story and franchise-familiar elements will carry fans through its somewhat short runtime.”

“HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition is perhaps thus named because it literally requires your signature to play. Once you're past that and a few other technical and online issues, however, you'll get a ton of content with countless ways to work through it. Make room for the 60GB install file, because you'll want to keep this game around for a very long time.”

“1f y0u're a gh0st ca11 me here! is one of the more unique games I've played on the Nintendo Switch. It does get repetitive after a while, but the striking visuals, compelling story, and frantic "call center" gameplay will be enough to get most new gr1ms through the workday.”

“Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma's greatest accomplishment is its ability to pile so many gameplay elements into one big adventure, and to make all of them feel integral and organic. Whether you're farming, fighting, exploring, or romancing, every task-like the game itself-feels like it's worth completing.”

“Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade offers great visuals and slick combat that will initially appeal to fans of roguelites and action RPGs. But unless you're into the slow grind of repetitive battles, you'll likely sheath this blade earlier than expected.”

“The Hundred Line: The Last Defense Academy is a must-play game for anyone who enjoys TRPG gameplay and compelling, often surprising sci-fi storytelling. Despite its dark themes and disturbing imagery, it's a total joy to play.”

“Everhood 2 is an RPG broken down to its core elements-visually and procedurally-then remixed as a rhythm-based action game. It baffles at the start, continues to challenge and surprise, and ends before you've had the chance to really figure out what was going on. It'll captivate players who are willing to let it.”

“Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a wonder to behold on the Switch. It looks stunning and features fantastic gameplay. The choppy, largely uninteresting story continues to be a significant drawback, and there are still some lingering issues with general repetitiveness and party management minutiae, but it otherwise shines like a Mira sunrise.”

“Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land takes the series in a direction that will appeal to fans of open world JRPGs, but may leave fans of previous Atelier games scratching their head. It also has numerous technical issues on the Switch. It’s still a fun adventure, it just leaves room to improve in its inevitable sequels.”

“On the surface, Ever 17 – The Out of Infinity tells a compelling story about a group of people in a race to survive an underwater theme park disaster. Dive deeper, though, and you'll find plenty more to discover in this sci-fi visual novel that starts strong and doesn't let up until the end(ings).”

“WARRIORS: Abyss provides an interesting roguelite twist to the standard Musou gameplay of the Warriors series, but it's only interesting for so long. Repetitive action and graphics eventually overwhelm the slick, quick combat.”

“Freddy Farmer provides a couple unique twists to classic arcade platformer action. They may not be enough to hold the attention of today's gamer, but NES-era fans looking for something new will find a lot to enjoy.”

“X-Out: Resurfaced is a quality remake of a shoot 'em up originally released for the Commodore 64. The original's underwater setting and submarine customization options are now supported by improved graphics, UI fixes, and a co-op mode that should help it appeal to more than just those seeking their retro fix.”

“ROBOBEAT combines first-person shooters with rhythm gameplay, but never really defines its reason for doing so. Although the action does become engaging once you get the hang of it, awkward controls and drab level design will chase most dancers off the floor before the party can really kick in.”