Switch eShop, Switch Game Reviews scoring 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6/10
Review Black The Fall (Switch eShop)
Escape the system
Inspired by Romanian communism and '90s sci-fi universes, Black The Fall is an atmospheric puzzle-platformer developed by Sand Sailor Studio – a Bucharest-based independent game company that was originally founded in 2014. The concept came about as a way to express rebellion against the mechanisms of a heavily corrupted system,...
Review Mom Hid My Game! (Switch eShop)
Mum's the word
This summer's Nindies showcase thrust a number of smaller, lesser known and previously unannounced titles into the Nintendo Switch buying publics consciousness, including Mom Hid My Game!. It's fair to say that it was met with a wide spectrum of reactions. Mostly somewhere between bewilderment and ridicule, the game didn't...
Pass the Joy-Con
The holidays are fast approaching and, if you’re anything like us, you’ll likely end up being thrown into some form of endearingly awkward family gathering wishing that there was something fun to do as everyone starts to fall asleep. Party Planet aims to shine in this very situation; a collection of mini-games that can be played...
Review Super Putty Squad (Switch)
Super name, average game
In 2013 an updated Putty Squad arrived on modern systems (3DS version in 2014) and this is now available on Switch, slightly re-titled as Super Putty Squad for reasons unknown. You control a stretchy blue blob and employ various abilities in this platformer as you navigate the stages collecting all the red blobs to...
Review ACORN Tactics (Switch eShop)
Not a tough nut to crack
Thanks to Fire Emblem, strategy role-playing games have found themselves in a position far-removed from the niches they once resided in. With consoles and handhelds in particular, there’s been an emphasis in keeping the complexity and deep thinking that’s involved intact, but introducing them to players in a way that...
Debuts don’t come more botched than this
Disclaimer: At the time of writing, developer Blind Squirrel has yet to patch the significant performance problems hampering WWE 2K18 on Switch, so we've published our review - and a score that reflects its current state - in full below. However, we do know that a patch is being worked on, so in the...
Review World Heroes (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Joan of Arc VS. Hulk Hogan. Round 1. Fight!
Many, many fighting games were released on the Neo Geo and these are slowly but surely filling up the Switch’s eShop. Compared to most of the options available World Heroes and its sequels offer a simpler experience with less depth, but the series can still entertain when its varied cast of fighters...
Review Arcade Archives Traverse USA (Switch eShop)
A basic but fun highscore chaser
The Switch may still lack a Virtual Console, but HAMSTER is keen to fill that void. Having released many Neo Geo titles (with more appearing regularly), the company has now started to bring other retro delights to the system. It's already released one of Nintendo's own games and now here’s the first offering from...
MU-NO
The Switch has been a bit of a sales sensation, leading to an inevitable glut of eShop releases ahead of Christmas. But while increased third-party support is never to be sniffed at, games like MUJO help no-one. If you've been following smartphone games over the past several years, MUJO may well feel familiar to you; it was released onto iOS...
Review Plague Road (Switch eShop)
The Long and Winding Road
Plague Road is a game that defies the constrictions of definition. It amalgamates so many disparate elements that it feels both familiar and refreshing. Set in a world ravaged by an indelible scourge, you play as the Doctor, a beak-masked hero who left the disease-ridden city and is now trying to make their way back to...
Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube767k Watch on YouTube Review Slain: Back From Hell (Switch eShop)
I'll be gone when the morning comes
Those of you old enough to have grown up during the "golden age" of heavy metal will no doubt feel a connection with Slain: Back from Hell the moment you boot it up. The moody, pixel-heavy visuals could have leapt straight from an Iron Maiden album cover, while the raucous, guitar-drenched soundtrack will have...
Review Red Game Without a Great Name (Switch eShop)
Flying low
The influx of mobile games on the Nintendo Switch since its launch has been met with mixed reactions. On the one hand it provides some approachable experiences, complimenting the other games on the eShop and indeed on store shelves. At their best, these mobile titles introduce new audiences to hidden gems with complete content packages...
Review Soccer Brawl (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Super violent kicks
Playing SNK’s Soccer Brawl feels a lot like playing SNK’s Super Sidekicks (also available on the eShop). Both take the game of football (soccer, if you prefer) and tweak it into a simple quick pick-up-and-play arcade experience that ditches the likes of formations, squad selections, half time and injury time. Soccer Brawl...
Review Snow Moto Racing Freedom (Switch)
Snow joke
Without the spectre of Wave Race lurking over its shoulder (unlike label-mate Aqua Moto Racing Utopia), Snow Moto Racing Freedom would seem to be free to carve out its own arcade racing niche on Switch. In this case developer Zordix shifts its attention from jet-ski to snowmobile racing, and the result is a slightly rough arcade racer...
Review Xenoraid (Switch eShop)
Four's company
Another week, another indie shooter drops on the Nintendo eShop. While it would be rude to complain about the number of games coming to Nintendo's newest console, the roguelike shooter has been more than popular among developers and publishers on the machine. With that in mind, there is a balance to find between tapping into a beloved...
Review Aqua Moto Racing Utopia (Switch)
Just wave as it races past
From one perspective Nintendo's Switch is slowly striking the N64 classics off its hit list - in the nicest possible way. Over the past year the likes of Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time have passed the torch to the likes of Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 De
Review Spellspire (Switch eShop)
Worth its weight in words
Put down those pens; when it comes to traversing dangerous towers it's the wand that's mightier than the sword. Blending together Scrabble and sorcery, Spellspire is the latest title from prolific indie developer 10tons. Light on story and setup, it relies on its central concept to hook the player in for...
Review Crimsonland (Switch eShop)
Hopefully not doomed...
It was once said that imitation is the highest form of flattery, and with the icon / box art being a homage to a certain hellish current-gen first-person shooter, 10tons' most recent port - Crimsonland - tries to establish its similarly savage tone and style right from the off. It's such a brazen reference that you'll feel...
Review Ginger: Beyond the Crystal (Switch)
Beyond redemption
The resurgence of collectathon 3D platformer is something the gaming community has seen in recent months, with the acclaimed release of Super Mario Odyssey and the high profile releases Yooka-Laylee and A Hat in Time. Even smaller indie titles like Poi have made their mark in this new 3D platforming renaissance. However,
Review Green Game: TimeSwapper (Switch eShop)
Tick, tock, flock
The Nintendo Switch hardware has provided developers with a range of different inputs to utilise; we've seen games previously released on mobile taking advantage of traditional sticks and buttons, while the touchscreen has also been put to work. There have been some interesting examples - the wonderfully kooky touch-only adventure...
Belly up
The Nintendo Switch has enjoyed one of the most exceptional launch years for any console, going from strength to strength with its software and building up plenty of hype. Even so, it’s inevitable that not every game on the eShop is going to turn out great, and Koi DX is a perfect example of this. What we have here is essentially a...
Review Karnov's Revenge (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)
Yes it's another Neo Geo one-on-one fighter...
Hamster has done a good job of providing a variety of genres with its ACA Neo Geo series, but SNK's machine had a lot of one-on-one brawlers and consequently Switch owners are not exactly short of options when browsing the eShop. Here's another one, this time from the Fighter's History series...
Not bad Ben, but it ain't a 10
Licensed games are a slippery slope. You’d like to believe that developers and publishers are going about them from a good place; obviously there’s something there that people love, so why not make an interactive experience of it? A devil’s advocate would say they’re nothing but a shill, a way to prey on...
Review Maria The Witch (Switch eShop)
Return to sender
Bayonetta. Twinrova. Gruntilda Winkybunion. There have been some truly terrific witches on Nintendo consoles over the years. Whether friend or foe, ally or adversary, these spell casting sorceresses have entertained, antagonised and tormented audiences for decades. In addition, the notion of video game phenomena has been...
Review Sparkle 2 EVO (Switch eShop)
Falling off a DNA ladder
In a shocking turn of events, arcade-styled games starring evolutionary entities searching through petri dish detritus for food are not in fact a dime a dozen. Sparkle 2 EVO is a game by which you experience a world not unlike what you’d find under a microscope in biology class, in order to climb the chain of...
RiME or reason?
Since this review was originally published, patches have reportedly addressed or improved one or more of the issues cited. While we unfortunately cannot revisit games on an individual basis, it should still be noted that the updated game may offer an improved experience over the one detailed below. After what feels like forever,...
Review Tallowmere (Switch eShop)
A rogue release
One genre that has seen a big resurgence in recent years - particularly in indie games - is the roguelike, and some have been popping up on the Switch eShop as a result. Crafting lengthy, well-designed games takes countless man-hours of good work, something that smaller developers will struggle with given limited resources and...
Review Revenant Saga (Switch eShop)
Irreverent
Few systems have been blessed with the sheer number of RPGs of Nintendo’s plucky little 3DS, and perhaps no publisher has been as persistent in its contribution to that collection as KEMCO. It's brought more than a dozen titles — most of them mobile ports — to the 3DS’ eShop, alongside a smaller number to the Wii U, and now that...
Review Perception (Switch eShop)
Far from pleasant
What is it about the horror genre that makes it so timeless? Despite the often formulaic approaches and clichés that help define these games, it’s normally the exploration and discovery of the unknown that keeps both audiences and players alike on the edge of their seats. Audience engagement with this specific genre can be...
Review Octodad: Dadliest Catch (Switch eShop)
The Suburban Life Aquatic
Originally starting out as a Windows freeware title made by a group of Delaware University students, the original Octodad made a splash on the indie scene back in 2010. Many of the group would go on to form developer Young Horses and make its sequel, subtitled 'Dadliest Catch', appearing first on PS4 and PC in 2014 and...
