Something I've been meaning to do is make a mini review of every Switch game for which I have both taken a screenshot and played enough to have formed an opinion. Finally I decided to go ahead and do it! I think I'm going to do 10 games per post and work from oldest to newest.
Scores are based on my tastes rather than any so-called objective measure of quality. Because I tend to play games I think I'll like, most scores will probably be in the C or B range. All scores are subject to future adjustments (in case my scale finds itself shifting as I use it more).
It's a good Tetris game and a good Puyo game. It has a small variety of different modes for both games, including endless modes for single player fun. The crossover mode is silly, though the balance works well enough when playing at a low level. For more serious players, though... there's a reason that "the Tetris player is at a slight disadvantage" is a meme in the Puyo Puyo Tetris community. The single player story mode is pretty decent and has the typical goofy dialogue that you'd expect from Puyo Puyo.
They made a second one but I haven't played it yet.
Disgaea is a funny anime Tacticslike where half of the game is the story mode and the other half of the game is figuring out how to most efficiently grind to beat the post-game challenges. The gameplay is pretty simplistic compared to something like Final Fantasy Tactics - most of the classes feel kind of samey - but they do have some cool stuff going on, like "geo panels" which add various effects to regions of the field. Most Disgaea games play about the same, except they add quality of life tweaks and more ways to grind as the series goes on.
I've only played 1, 2, and 5, and I would say that gameplay-wise, this is the best of them. The story is weak though and the main cast except Red Magnus are kinda lousy. It's a decent time overall if you're up for a chill grinding game.
It's an enhanced version of the best Mario Kart game. Recent updates in 2022 have only further improved it. It has the best controls and the most tracks and 200cc built in from the start. Really nothing bad to say about this one... maybe add some more battle courses, Nintendo?
While I've had my fill of this series and skipped out on Splatoon 3, this game was still a good time. The single player story mode and the Octo Expansion DLC were both great. The core gameplay is nice. The Salmon Run is cool but they only made it available on certain days.
At least they fixed that in the third game from what I hear.
Probably the best 2D Sonic game. A pretty nice who's who of good levels throughout the series's history, plus a few neat original levels. I'm surprised they haven't made a second one.
Ubisoft had a chance to make a Mario and Rabbids game, so they did the obvious thing and made... XCOM. How did this game end up being good? It's still a little hard to believe. If you're in the mood for a simple but satisfying tactics game, give this a shot. Because Ubisoft made it, it goes on hyper sale all the time.
They made a sequel recently. I might check it out sometime.
I never played the first one of these but this one looked neat so I gave it a try. It's kind of a Metroidvania where you dig a lot. I don't remember too much about it but I remember it being pretty fun and having ways to blow yourself up.
This was a decent puzzle adventure game for a few bucks. Lots of walking around though if I recall, and I also remember it feeling kind of bland.
This was basically the story mode we've been missing from Nintendo's Mario Golf games lately. Decent golf gameplay (including frisbee golf!) and great dialogue all around.
There's a sequel out now called Sports Story but I am a little less interested in that one because golf is the only sports game I'm really into...
Finally, another Mario64like after so many years! This game was a delight the first time through. Mario's controls are great and Cappy is a great addition. It does start to feel repetitive if you try to 100% each level though because there are so many moons everywhere. I think that's this game's biggest problem: very few of the challenges to find moons feel special or memorable because there were 20, 30, even more per level and a lot of them were super simple. Like half of the moons are "post-game" (after the final Bowser fight) as well for some reason. It gives the game such a checklisty feel (especially when the game actually gives you a checklist).
My favorite part was the opening to New Donk City at nighttime. This game needed more stuff like that - stuff that felt a little bigger, like with the stars from Mario 64 or shines from Mario Sunshine.
It was a fabulous first trip but I can't bring myself to play through it again - I've tried.
Scores are based on my tastes rather than any so-called objective measure of quality. Because I tend to play games I think I'll like, most scores will probably be in the C or B range. All scores are subject to future adjustments (in case my scale finds itself shifting as I use it more).
Puyo Puyo Tetris
It's a good Tetris game and a good Puyo game. It has a small variety of different modes for both games, including endless modes for single player fun. The crossover mode is silly, though the balance works well enough when playing at a low level. For more serious players, though... there's a reason that "the Tetris player is at a slight disadvantage" is a meme in the Puyo Puyo Tetris community. The single player story mode is pretty decent and has the typical goofy dialogue that you'd expect from Puyo Puyo.
They made a second one but I haven't played it yet.
Disgaea 5
Disgaea is a funny anime Tacticslike where half of the game is the story mode and the other half of the game is figuring out how to most efficiently grind to beat the post-game challenges. The gameplay is pretty simplistic compared to something like Final Fantasy Tactics - most of the classes feel kind of samey - but they do have some cool stuff going on, like "geo panels" which add various effects to regions of the field. Most Disgaea games play about the same, except they add quality of life tweaks and more ways to grind as the series goes on.
I've only played 1, 2, and 5, and I would say that gameplay-wise, this is the best of them. The story is weak though and the main cast except Red Magnus are kinda lousy. It's a decent time overall if you're up for a chill grinding game.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
It's an enhanced version of the best Mario Kart game. Recent updates in 2022 have only further improved it. It has the best controls and the most tracks and 200cc built in from the start. Really nothing bad to say about this one... maybe add some more battle courses, Nintendo?
Splatoon 2
While I've had my fill of this series and skipped out on Splatoon 3, this game was still a good time. The single player story mode and the Octo Expansion DLC were both great. The core gameplay is nice. The Salmon Run is cool but they only made it available on certain days.
At least they fixed that in the third game from what I hear.Sonic Mania
Probably the best 2D Sonic game. A pretty nice who's who of good levels throughout the series's history, plus a few neat original levels. I'm surprised they haven't made a second one.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Ubisoft had a chance to make a Mario and Rabbids game, so they did the obvious thing and made... XCOM. How did this game end up being good? It's still a little hard to believe. If you're in the mood for a simple but satisfying tactics game, give this a shot. Because Ubisoft made it, it goes on hyper sale all the time.
They made a sequel recently. I might check it out sometime.
SteamWorld Dig 2
I never played the first one of these but this one looked neat so I gave it a try. It's kind of a Metroidvania where you dig a lot. I don't remember too much about it but I remember it being pretty fun and having ways to blow yourself up.
Pan-Pan: A Tiny Big Adventure
This was a decent puzzle adventure game for a few bucks. Lots of walking around though if I recall, and I also remember it feeling kind of bland.
Golf Story
This was basically the story mode we've been missing from Nintendo's Mario Golf games lately. Decent golf gameplay (including frisbee golf!) and great dialogue all around.
There's a sequel out now called Sports Story but I am a little less interested in that one because golf is the only sports game I'm really into...
Super Mario Odyssey
Finally, another Mario64like after so many years! This game was a delight the first time through. Mario's controls are great and Cappy is a great addition. It does start to feel repetitive if you try to 100% each level though because there are so many moons everywhere. I think that's this game's biggest problem: very few of the challenges to find moons feel special or memorable because there were 20, 30, even more per level and a lot of them were super simple. Like half of the moons are "post-game" (after the final Bowser fight) as well for some reason. It gives the game such a checklisty feel (especially when the game actually gives you a checklist).
My favorite part was the opening to New Donk City at nighttime. This game needed more stuff like that - stuff that felt a little bigger, like with the stars from Mario 64 or shines from Mario Sunshine.
It was a fabulous first trip but I can't bring myself to play through it again - I've tried.
Last edited: