[REVIEW] Stardew Valley (Switch)

Stardew Valley

Played on: Switch
Genre: Life simulation, RPG
Developer: ConcernedApe
Publisher: Chucklefish

Our hobby is home to a few truisms, but this is at its core: games are meant to be fun. It's a simple assertion, but the job of turning ideas and lines of code into memorable moments is everything but 'simple'. This is something I often come to when thinking about creativity, and it gets exponentially more fascinating whenever a video game manages to transcend the confines of what it apparently should be. Stardew Valley, a life simulation game inexplicably designed by a single person, gave me a lot of fun. But also so much more.

[REVIEW] Steamworld Dig 2 (Switch)

Steamworld Dig 2
Played on: Switch
Genre: Action-adventure platformer, metroidvania
Developer / Publisher: Image & Form

I may be wrong, but i think the original Steamworld Dig was my first indie purchase on my 3DS. So, in a way, it's the precursor to the love for downloadable titles that has defined my gaming habits this decade. I guess one can only wonder how much stronger that effect would have been if that game was Steamworld Dig 2 instead, as this sequel takes an already addictive formula and goes completely nuts with it. In a good way, if you can't already tell.

[REVIEW] Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle (Switch)

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Played on: Switch
Genre: Turn-based tactical RPG
Developer / Publisher: Ubisoft

I have to hand it to Ubisoft: the marketing strategy for Mario + Rabbids has to be the best in recent gaming years. In hindsight, it's so simple: 1) leak a rumor for a Mario & Rabbids crossover; 2) let people make fun of the concept for months on end; 3) have a big reveal at E3, after the joke has already died down, and show to your unsuspecting audience that the game actually (gasp) looks quite promising.

[REVIEW] Splatoon 2 (Switch)

Splatoon 2
Played on: Switch
Genre: Third-person shooter
Developer / Publisher: Nintendo

In 2015, Nintendo struck gold when it decided to put its quirky spin on the online shooter genre. The result was Splatoon, which is bound to go down in history as one of the company's main victories in the underappreciated Wii U console. A couple years later, we get a sequel on Switch that manages to one-up the original by pretty much every metric (one which, thankfully, isn't called Spla2n, no matter what kids these days think they want).

[REVIEW] Lego Worlds (Switch)

Lego Worlds
Played on: Switch
Genre: Sandbox adventure
Developer: Traveller's Tales
Publisher: Warner Bros.

Ah, Lego. One of the absolute joys of my childhood, unfortunately, hasn't really managed to impress me in the realm of video games, aside from the underrated former Wii U exclusive Lego City Undercover. Lego Worlds, however, had my attention. I mean, we live in a world where Lego-inspired Minecraft is one of gaming's biggest franchises, so taking the Danish toy and building a compelling open-ended survival game around it should be fine and easy, right?

[REVIEW] Gonner (Switch)

Gonner
Played on: Switch
Genre: Action platformer
Developer: Art in Heart
Publisher: Raw Fury

Handheld devices (or, in the case of the Switch, hybrid ones) lend themselves pretty well to twitchy, arcade-like games. As far as the Switch's rapidly growing library goes, few games will manage to scratch that quick gameplay itch as formidably as Gonner, a tough but fair platformer with a super stylish presentation.

[REVIEW] Sonic Mania (Switch)

Sonic Mania
Played on: Switch
Genre: Action platformer
Developer: PagodaWest, Headcannon
Publisher: SEGA

When I got back to being a big console gaming geek around 2009, one of my cravings was to see just how Sonic was doing. I used to be a fan during the Master System days, but I knew from word of mouth that his games had taken a dive in quality (which yeah, was true). Sonic Mania, then, is a return to form of sorts; although it's fair to question just what kind of a form that one was to being with.

[REVIEW] Disgaea 5 Complete (Switch)

Disgaea 5 Complete
Played on: Switch
Genre: Turn-based RPG
Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
Publisher: NIS America

Making its debut on Nintendo platforms, Nippon Ichi's premier franchise is beloved for its turn-based gameplay and its pretty much infinite replayability, thanks to some of the very neat ideas it has on display. It can also border on the obnoxious by just never knowing when to stop and take a breather, and the complete version of PS4 original Disgaea 5 is no different.