Kate Sanchez

“The gameplay is easy to learn but challenging to master, and in terms of bringing new audiences to Anno, I think this can do it, without overwhelming them with the systems. Still, that depth and challenge are there for those seeking it, especially for those among us with hundreds of hours in one save.”

“Path of Exile 2‘s difficulty, combat, art, and map designs are something that keep pulling you in. No matter how many times you die, or how many times you have to adjust your build, you just keep coming right back. This is a game that is firing on absolutely all cylinders and shows no signs of slowing down.”

“RKGK is an astounding debut game from Wabisabi Games. It is a platformer that wears its inspirations on its sleeves but never once feels like a derivative. Instead, RKGK shows the power of growing from the media you love and using it to create something special and unique.”

“Venture To The Vile is clearly a Metroidvania built with a deep knowledge of its genre. More importantly, it’s an indie game that embodies passion, creativity, and a special kind of whimsical weirdness that will stay with you past rolling credits.”

“In its sound, mechanics, visuals, and narrative, Howl captures a dark fairytale and creates a gorgeous folktale without losing its way.”

“Decarnation’s story is thrilling and unsettling, and every point the game gets is because of how well-crafted the winding nightmares are in relation to the overall progression of Gloria’s life.”

“Kukoos: Lost Pets is a fantastic 3D platformer that uses its environmental designs. Vibrant in style and fantastic in gameplay, Kukoos: Lost Pets is a joy I didn’t expect from 2022, and I wish I had played it while in Early Access.”

“Harmony’s Odyssey is simple, and if you’re looking for a difficult puzzle game that will take a lot of time to work through, this isn’t it. But, if you’re looking for a cozy puzzle game with visual beauty and wonder in spades, then this is it. With appeal for a wide range of ages, a great score, and a fantastic and intelligent method of visualizing instructions Harmony’s Odyssey is a great buy, especially on the Nintendo Switch. The perfect handheld puzzler, I’m so happy it came into my life.”

“If you had to pay for Roller Champions, I wouldn’t say “grab two friends and start a match” but it is free and man that makes the difference. While this one is going to rely on patches to fix stability post-launch, there is something there to love.”

“If you played the game on any other console, the Wii version of the game ported to the Switch isn’t the way to go when Xbox Game Pass has the game available on the Series X|S. While the story still hits, the gameplay is beyond dated and ultimately the motion elements remove any feeling of combos and replace them with constant wrist flicks and frantic waving.”

“Overall, Aztech Forgotten Gods is a really great time, even with its stumbles. It’s a beautiful world with a character you can see yourself in, especially if you’ve lost a loved one. Additionally, the design of the gods is a sight to behold. Truthfully, I can’t wait to see what other stories Lienzo tells next.”

“Overall, Backworlds is a short and sweet game that offers up ample amounts of wholesomeness and challenge in the best way. Painting your way through the world isn’t just a gimmick; it’s an integral part of the game, which is important for niche travel mechanics. Plus, there are a few surprises in-store, including teleportation. So if you’re looking for a game to play on the go and puzzles to keep you focused, then Backworlds is definitely for you. A port from the PC, this one takes full advantage of the way you play your Switch and just works.”

“Overall, Iris.Fall is a phenomenal game. It’s gorgeous, emotive, and not exhaustively long. It’s an immersive game that aims to blend a somber tone with an innovative design. While there are some tedious moments and less than ideal elements that don’t map to controllers well over a mouse, this isn’t enough to make it a game to pass on. Having found success on PC, I’m excited for fans of the genre to play Iris.Fall on their consoles. For the beautiful world and score alone, this is one game that I want more of.”

“Monster Camp is an accessible and fun dating sim that allows each player to create an experience that works for them while also providing a story and cast of characters that will pull anyone in. Monster Prom was a phenomenal dating adventure and Monster Camp hits that high benchmark as well.”

“Overall, Alpaca Ball: Allstars is absurd and fun. It’s a whole lot of chaos and nonsense that is just the game a lot of people are looking for to play on and off stream. Come for the cute alpacas, stay for the chaos, and make sure you pick it up for some wholesome animated joy.”

“Overall, Parkasaurus is a wonderful management simulator. There are intricacies to the management system that will delight hardcore sim players. That said, simplified building mechanics, specifically the grid feature and color-coding biome environment elements help to break down some of the more daunting characteristics of the game-type for newcomers. Plus, who doesn’t want an exhibit of T-Rexes in witch’s hats?”

“Overall, “Return to Jurassic Park” is a wonderful and expansive DLC. Instead of just dropping in nostalgic designs, this expansion goes above and beyond to craft a new gameplay experience for players. Which, at a $19.99 price, is the best thing about it.”

“The Wanderer leaves me wanting so much more. There is no difficulty in traversing the world of the game which doesn't work for my playstyle. That said, for those looking for a haunting story set to beautiful art The Wanderer: Frankenstein's Creature is for you.”