If you're looking for a fun mechs-vs.aliens narrative to enjoy on your Switch, Megaton Musashi W: Wired absolutely rocks. But if you're here solely for robot combat, you're best looking elsewhere.
As someone who enjoyed Monster Hunter Stories when it came out on 3DS seven years ago, I'm happy it has a new home on Switch, even if it's not a full remake. It's well worth diving into if you missed it the first time around, especially since the relative simplicity makes it a decent entrypoint for a younger audience into this world and genre (especially since it has so much voice acting). If you are looking for something more complex, you can always try Monster Hunter Stories 2 or just go on hunts in one of the many other available Monster Hunters.
I wish I was more engaged in the story, because the potential of bouncing between 17 worlds and criss-crossing replayed stories sounds cool. It just doesn't coalesce into something all that fun. Maybe the SaGa series is something best left to ports and remakes.
Lasting in the ballpark of 8-10 hours, Tales of Kenzera is a well-paced Metroidvania that is a blast to play, featuring novel unlockable abilities, a good challenge, and most of all, an incredible story. Just be ready to shed a tear or two, especially if you're in my shoes of being a parent to a young kid because hoo boy - that whole father/son element is played to perfection. The story is a true triumph and the gameplay supports it perfectly.
In a world where the Switch is filthy with TMNT arcade games across the Cowabunga Collection and Shredder's Revenge, Wrath of the Mutants is a distant third place. It's fine in the sense that if you get three buddies to play through it with you, you'll probably have a good time. But beyond that camaraderie, this is a middling port of an okay game.
Picross Logiart Grimoire is not a full-on replacement for Jupiter's past Picross S games, but it's a wonderful addition to their library. If you've been put off by the presentation of Picross S, this might be the entry to bring you back to Jupiter's delightful world of nonogram magic. If you're like me, a loyal soldier who shows up for every single one of these Picross games no matter what, the new presentation might seem like it's just the same old with a new wizard hat, but this is one of the best Picross games that Jupiter has put out, largely because it feels new and has a nice sense of progression.
Even in the moments playing a character class I didn't enjoy as much, I still had a good time, especially since most runs are far less than an hour. This game seems to recognize its kitchen sink gameplay concept approach and lets you fiddle with whatever aspects work best for you. Here's hoping BUCK doesn't just stick to animation in the future because their game design is rather intriguing.
If you're into unique and creative takes on platforming, Pepper Grinder is well worth jumping (or rather, drilling) into. I'm not the biggest fan of the boss fights (especially the one that currently glitches out), but overall, this is a good grind from start to finish. I'd love to see more takes on drill-based platforming along these lines, though the tight package developer Ahr Ech has put together is a concentrated blast of fun.
Optimally it's best played in handheld, but no matter how you play it, the gameplay is rock solid. Additionally, the way it treats baseball history with the Storylines mode is incredible. Now if only the video wasn't so compressed and I didn't have to worry about the game or server crashing at any point.
The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered is a solid port of an interesting but flawed game. If you want to explore some dungeon-like areas, rock some SaGa-like combat, and listen to some beautiful music, then it's worth journeying through Avalon. Otherwise, this remains a game I think is neat but wouldn't necessarily emphatically recommend to most aside from the specific group I just described.
It's amazing that Sunsoft revisited Ufouria after multiple decades, especially because Ufouria: The Saga 2 feels like a full realization of the endearing game. It won't take you more than a few hours to save the day, but it stays fresh throughout that play time whether you're a newcomer to games or a well-worn Metroidvania veteran. I hope this isn't the last time we see Hebe and his friends.
Much like the last several entries in the Picross S series on Switch, Picross S+ isn't reinventing the wheel, but if you are hankering for more Picross, this is a great value and an excellent package. Jupiter remains the king of Picross, sitting on a throne filled with puzzles and a user interface that is evocative of the Switch's home menu: straight to the point with a hint of whimsy.
Even though this is more or less my third time playing through Pocket Card Jockey, the game is as enthralling as ever. The main thing holding it back is that it just doesn't flow as well if you primarily play Switch on a TV. As a portable game, especially since the races are relatively quick and easy to pick-up-and-play, it excels. One of the unsung heroes of the 3DS is now on Switch, and at a minimum it should win, place, or show in the pantheon of Switch greats.
Even if you're not dabbling in the worldwide mystery dungeon web, Shiren 6 is still a beefy game that holds a wealth of secrets. The main dungeon is only 30 floors, but by progressing through the game, you can unlock various shortcuts and side dungeons that usually come with a greater challenge and an even greater reward. This is a flavor of game that might not be for everyone, but if you're looking for a thoughtful, challenging game that constantly evolves and builds, Shiren's journey to the mysterious Serpentcoil Island might be perfect for you.
Even with Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi succeeding this game, they truly don't make them like this wacky, bizarre game anymore. The playful vibe fits so well with the slightly off-brand Mario world that makes this game, with the grimy Wario-like Booster, goofy Axem Rangers, and evil wedding cake, unforgettable. Your mileage may vary with how much the straightforward adventure and unique brand of basic RPG works for you, but I walked away from this remake feeling like Super Mario RPG is solidly one of my favorite games ever.
This is a game that is about optimizing your way through the mountains but also grapples with the reality that that level of optimization isn't feasible. That ethereal otherworldliness lingers throughout every engrossing hour, beckoning you to find the most efficient path to the lighthouse while also tying up every loose end. This is a beautiful, gorgeous game that shouldn't be missed.
It does a good enough job of capturing the look and feel of the animated series, and even after completing the four episodes, my kids keep going back to mess around in the world. There's a framework here that could make for some electric little kid gaming experiences and I hope to see the world of Bluey in video game form expand beyond this opening salvo. Bluey the Videogame is the kind of game Bandit would roll his eyes about but begrudgingly play with Bluey and Bingo anyway, and that's okay, because Bandit's the kind of dad that recognizes not everything is meant for him.
It's an enjoyable action RPG with a wealth of player choice and a lot of charming quirky aspects. If you've ever been curious about Star Ocean and have an affinity for old-school action RPGs, this is a must-play. Even beyond that, the beautiful presentation might be worth the price of admission by itself.
All of this allows every run to feel wildly different so Subpar Pool stays fresh over time, making it an ideal mobile game. On Switch, it's still super fun, but it truthfully isn't the ideal system for this game. I, for one, am now playing it on my phone after playing it on Switch. Not to say it's a bad experience on Switch, just that Subpar Pool is best made for cranking out a round or two on your phone as opposed to sitting down and spending hours at your TV. Subpar Pool absolutely rocks no matter where you play it, though.
The pressure put on Wild Card Football to be the one single NFL game on Nintendo Switch might be undue, but regardless, this opening kickoff for a potential sports franchise fades down the stretch after a promising start. Parts of the game are good, making for a decent multiplayer game and a lacking solo experience due to limited modes, a borderline worthless running game, and janky computer-controlled opponents. If you're hard up for playing as your favorite NFL players on your favorite Nintendo platform, this is an acceptable placebo, but here's hoping Nintendo gets a high first-round draft pick for their next console so they can pick a more well-rounded football game.