GreyFenyx

So pumped. This is my most anticipated game in quite awhile. I have an embarrassing amount of hours in the first game (let's just say it's in the quadruple digits), and look forward to putting just as much time into the sequel. The 23rd can't come fast enough!

I'll definitely play the heck out of this, but what I want to know is if this is the big "roguelike mode" update that was promised. If I recall correctly, that one was called "Update the World," whereas this seems to have a different name. It's possible they just changed the name to something cooler sounding, but since this article doesn't mention anything about a roguelike mode (and the trailer's not in English) I'm a bit confused.

Either way, more content for this game is always welcome. I can't wait to dive in and explore it all.

That timing is hilarious. I love this game, so will definitely give it some more time now that it has a Switch 2 update. I get why they gave this game the title it has, but it kept too many fans of the franchise from finding it at launch. Too bad, as there's a good amount of fun to be had - even moreso now.

This is one of those games I've looked up every few months, hoping for a Switch announcement. Super excited to finally have one. I can't wait!

Mario Maker 3 makes the most sense to me. The Switch 2's mouse controls could really shine there. I'd also love a re-release of Mario 35 and 3D All Stars.

That said, the mention of DDR: Mario Mix caused an unexpected wave of nostalgia for me. I played the heck out of that game. So many memories.

I can't wait. I have well over 300 hours in this game, and still going strong. The mount improvements in particular are much appreciated.

I'm also looking forward to the upcoming roguelike mode. No idea whan it's releasing, but with this many hours in the base game, I can't imagine how many I'll put into it as a roguelike. Should be a fun time.

I'm surprised Super Maro Bros Wonder didn't do better. That game brought a breath of fresh air to 2D platformers. It absolutely nailed everything it tried to do, and became one of the very few games I've gotten to 100% completion on. The different abilities along with the way multiplayer was added in a helpful, fun, and no-pressure manner was sheer perfection imo. I'd love to see future 2D Mario games expand upon what Wonder did.

This game is super underrated. It truly is a top-tier roguelite, right up there with Hades, Dead Cells, etc (and I don't say that lightly!). Really glad to see it getting more attention now. Here's hoping more people check it out.

My biggest issue with this update is that it now makes playing online with a family member using one purchased copy of the game impossible. The way to do this before the update was a pain, but was official enough to be on the Nintendo website and involved changing the settings for which console was primary/secondary for your account. My spouse and I have played Monster Hunter, Mario Kart, etc together this way for years. This is no longer allowed.

The only way to play online with family now is to purchase two separate copies of the game, which we simply cannot afford. I believe the Switch 2's "game share" feature may address this for eligible games, but there's no word yet on how many games will enable this feature, and you cannot launch it from a Switch 1 (though you can "game share" from a Switch 2 to a Switch 1).

Tl;dr: I think the ability to "loan" digitally purchased games the same way you can with physical cartridges has potential. I just don't like the fact that - for the time being - I can no longer play multiplayer online with my spouse unless we purchase a second copy of the games in question. That really sucks.

Nice. I saw the news that this had dropped on other platforms and was disappointed it wasn't on the Switch. What do you know... Day one purchase for me - assuming it runs well. Here's hoping.

As a lifelong Tetris fan, I mostly agree with this list. The NES version came with the original console when I was a kid, and it was one of the first games I purchased for my Game Boy (likely the most played, too).

These days I find myself regularly dipping into Tetris Effect. The sheer variety of modes available ensures Tetris is there to meet whatever mood I'm in. If I want to relax, I play the endless variant of "Purify" mode (the neverending, chill downstacking really gets me in a zen state). For something more competitive there are a multutude of other modes, including several multiplayer options. Even the single player "Journey" mode was a far more emotional ride than I initially anticipated, and offers some serious challenge in the form of conquering it on higher difficulties.

Tetris will always hold a special place in my heart. As an added bonus, it also helps with pain/stress management (something we've seen recent studies support as well). As long as Tetris is available, it will always have space on my gaming console of choice..

I'm experiencing download issues as well. Games download just fine as long as the Switch is awake. But put it in sleep mode, and all downloads pause. This isn't a huge problem, but it is annoying to have to ensure I keep my Switch awake while downloading new games / updates. Here's hoping it gets fixed soon.

I'd like to get excited for this, but as someone who can't use motion controls, the minigames centered around them have me a bit concerned. I know this article says you can turn off motion controlled games if you're not into them, but I wonder if or how much that impacts the ability to enjoy the game.

For example: are there achievements tied specifically to the motion controlled minigames that woud be impossible for those of us who can't utilize them to complete? When it comes to online games, can we choose to leave motion controlled minigames out of the mix when playing with randoms? Will the game only match people like me up with others who also want non-motion controlled games? And if so, how many people would that be (would I ever find a match)?

I know NL can't answer all of these, but I still can't help but wonder. I guess I'll have to wait and see what people say once the game drops. Fingers crossed for the ability to enjoy this game fully without motion control requirements.

Thanks for mentioning the controls. I very nearly bought this game, but the requirement for either motion or touch controls makes this a no-go for me. Too bad. I likely would have enjoyed it otherwise.

As a fidget addict, I want them all. Every. Last. One.

C'mon, Nintendo. Give the people what they want.

@anoyonmus It's definitely worth getting if you're into racing games. The graphics are decent, and I haven't had any issues with it running poorly. I'd say watch a few reviews first, and if you like what you see, go for it!

I love this game. 800+ hours into it, and I still play every day. It's perfect for pairing with a good podcast/audiobook/background video.

I would highly recommend this game to anyone with even the slightest interest. This is one of those games that tends to surprise people. I've read posts from many who tried the game as a gimmick, only to find themselves unable to stop playing. Good stuff.

@gcunit GRID is so good. It's by far my favorite of the more "realistic" racers on Switch. This game actually sounds pretty fun to me, but time will tell once I get my hands on it.

I played the heck out of Rocket Knight Adventures on the Genesis. To this day, I kick myself for giving it (and my Genesis) away during the phase of life where I was moving, starting my first career job, and feeling the pressure to "grow up" and stop playing video games (I'm so glad that latter part didn't last!).

Having this game on the Switch is a pure slice of nostalgia. It really deserves far more attention than it's gotten. I haven't jumped into the other two entries yet, but if they're anything like the first, I look forward to even more fun.

Terrific article. I spent many hours playing Tetris on my Game Boy during long car rides or while chilling in my room as a kid. I also played the game on NES, but there was something that just felt right about playing Tetris on a handheld device, even in the late 80s / early 90s.

To this day, I boot up Tetris Effect regularly. With so much variety in available modes, there's something to match any mood. Not only is Tetris endlessly replayable, there has also been encouraging research into its efficacy in helping mitigate the symptoms of certain medical conditions, distract from pain, etc. I can attest to the latter, as Tetris (and a few other games) are quite literally part of my own comprehensive treatment plan for difficult-to-treat chronic pain.

I also follow the competitive NES Tetris scene, and am amazed at the breakthroughs happening there in the past year alone. The community that has grown around this game is pretty great.

I'm so glad Tetris exists.

More Picross? That's always a "yes" from me.

That said, I really wish Jupiter would put out a 3D picross entry. The Switch has Voxelgram (also on mobile), which is okay, if a bit fiddly with the controls. Still, I'd love a more polished version, similar to the 3D picross we had on older systems. I put so much time into those...

@InTree Luminous has been hard to find in a lot of local stores across the country as well. It's actually selling fairly well - both digitally and physically. Seems like the demand was underestimated...

I've been really enjoying this game. Glad to see the big bug fixed, as I was finally able to complete the story. And the QOL changes are definitely welcome - especially continuing to show the location of UMLs even after other people scan them. Good stuff.

I'm around 50 hours in and enjoying the game so far. My game is one of the ones that has encountered this bug, and while I'm not in any rush to finish the story (which requires the bug fix to do), it's good to know the devs are on top of this and will be pushing a patch soon.

This game devoured countless hours of my childhood. I'm still kicking myself for the day I gave it (and my Sega Genesis) away. I look forward to the re-release.

You guys continue to show bias in your wording and carefully chosen (always negative) coverage of this game. The game is in tenth place overall for the past month as well, despite just releasing a few days ago. It's currently the number three best seller according to the US eshop "all games" listings. I've heard it's selling fairly well elsewhere, too.

A lot of people are enjoying Luminous for what it is. The game won't be for most people (and it definitely won't be for people like the NL reviewer who consistently compared it to Subnautica and blasted it for not being like a game from an entirely different genre). But for those looking for a completely chill collectathon, it serves its purpose.

You guys seriously have something against Endless Ocean: Luminous. This article reads like nothing more than you doubling down on your negative review, despite it being a lower score than most other reviewers, despite your reviewer consistently (and unfairly) comparing the game to one from an entirely different genre and complaining it's not the same, and despite a significant number of people enjoying Luminous for what it is.

That said, aside from the fact that Luminous really should be on this list (to argue it provides a worse or more shallow underwater experience than many of the single levels listed here is beyond ridiculous), there are a few other other diving-focused games on Switch that are missing. One is called "Deep Diving Adventures," and was my go-to game for scratching the Endless Ocean itch prior to the new Luminous game dropping. The ability to turn off damage for a more relaxing experience when wanted is an added plus.

I'd also add Beyond Blue to this list. It's a shorter experience than most, but since, you included single levels, an entire game - albeit a short one - should count too. Beyond Blue is focused more on telling an educational story than anything, but it has some decent graphics and was a great experience overall when I played it at launch.

ETA: I do get that this list is mostly focused on individual levels, but the opening makes it clear this is in response to Luminous. Plus, the inclusion of Abzu opens the door to other diving focused games, and it would be easy to choose single levels/areas in the games I mentioned, too.

@chefgon Check metacritic. There are a pretty wide variety of critic reviews there, and some of the higher ones are from long time fans of the series (ie, the target audience for this game).

To answer your questions based on what I've read: If what you enjoyed most about the first two games was the relaxing experience of swimming through different environments, discovering cool new species, being surprised or in awe when running into a huge whale or other large creature, etc, you'll love this game. If you need a super strong story that you can play through all at once (rather than in shorter bursts), or if you need above ground interactions or the adrenaline rush of aggressive creatures, the fear of running out of air, etc, this won't be for you.

I think most fans of the series play it for the relaxing aspects I mentioned first, and that's what this game delivers. A lot of video game reviewers can't stand a game that doesn't offer more action or an adrenaline rush of some sort, which is why you're seeing the more negative reviews from people who can't help but compare this to Subnautica despite the two games belonging to very different genres.

That said, even the negative reviews like this one almost always include a bit about how people looking for a relaxing experience will enjoy this game, so if that's you then you likely have your answer. If not... maybe wait and watch some gameplay footage after release?

@demacho I agree. I've read quite a few reviews today, and I think while the game could be better, it's far from being bad. As a fan of the series since the original, the only thing I think I'll miss is some of the out-of-water stuff, and the dolphin training thing we saw in EO2. I know the latter was a gimmick, but it was a gimmick I enjoyed and wouldn't have minded seeing again. I'd also love to see a customizable aquarium feature, but it's really not a big deal (plus, we never know what might be added later).

As far as the maps go, it sounds like the story maps are hand-crafted. The free dive maps (solo and community) are the only ones that are randomly generated, and even for those we have the ability to re-enter the same map over and over again if we want to explore the whole thing. We also get the ability to share codes for any really cool maps we find, or maps that have a particularly rare creature or piece of treasure, which could be fun and should make hunting down those last few things much easier. I'm kind of glad the random maps exist, since I feel like it extends the playtime (alongside community events). That said, I also wouldn't mind having more hand-crafted levels. Those are always great.

The other thing I hear a lot of people complaining about is the amount of grinding it takes to unlock the final part of the story. But the second game included something similar, where you needed to put in quite a bit if time/effort to fully unlock the final area. Maybe the devs could have handled it a bit better this time around - perhaps labeling it as an "extended ending" or "unlockable extra story chapter" would have made people less upset - but either way the end result requires lots of effort to see it all. I'm just glad to see so much to work towards in the game.

@Sraosha It might actually be accurate. I don't know for sure, but I've read in other reviews that you can scan groups of creatures quickly. So if that 2,000 is a cumulative number of animals scanned over multiple dives, I don't actually think it would take as long as it sounds. Especially if you find a few coral reefs with lots of little animals hanging out in the crevices.

But hey, I could be wrong. I'm still excited for the game, but I also know it won't be for everyone. I'd still recommend reading some of the other reviews out there atm. Some of the ones I found via Metacritic gave way more information.

This reviewer completely missed the point, as evidenced by the repeated comparing and contrasting of an Endless Ocean game with Subnautica, which belongs to an entirely different genre. Also, he left out important details and features.

I highly recommend people check out the range of other reviews on Metacritic. As is the case for many chill, relaxing games, the reviews are split between those who enjoy those types of games (and are the target audience) versus those who can't stand anything that lacks action/scares (who aren't the target audience).

In the end, after reading quite a few reviews, my takeaway is that this game is exactly as advertised. The game centers around incredibly relaxing exploration, scanning fish, completing mini-missions that give a bit of structure to each dive, participating in online dives and special events, and leveling up your rank to unlock some visual customizations, emotes, and more diving companions. If you want a relaxing experience and enjoy underwater environments or chill "collectathons," you'll probably like this game. If you need action, adrenaline, and a super long list of missions (or if your favorite part of the previous EO game was the disruption of your relaxation by the occasional aggressive animal), this won't be for you.

Either way, definitely check out some other reviews. This one just leaves too much out.

So excited for this game. I played the heck out of the first two, and this is looking even better, with more content to boot.

FYI, for anyone looking for something somewhat similar in the meanwhile, Abzu is the best option (if a bit short). Second to Abzu, there's also "Deep Diving Adventures," which I've replayed a couple times. With the latter, keep in mind there is an option to turn off damage from animals / the environment, which can make it more relaxing if you prefer.

Still, nothing really compares to Endless Ocean. I can't wait.

I'll probably give it a shot, but why can't we get a single truly good (non-arcadey, non- boat based) fishing sim on Switch? There are a few options on the platform atm, but most are buggy or have less than ideal graphics - even for the Switch.

I know these types of games are fairly niche, but the the Switch is an ideal way to play them. Curled up on the sofa or in bed, getting in a spot of fishing... man. At one point "Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2" had a Switch release date of 2022, but it never actually dropped. I'd pay good money for that game.

I've been enjoying this one quite a bit. It feels a bit more challenging than Snowrunner (quite a bit, at times), although that makes it even more rewarding to complete some of the harder missions. There are some bugs that definitely need worked out, but I'm having fun and am excited to see where development goes from here. Should be an exciting - if occasionally bumpy - ride.

@FantasiaWHT Fwiw, lots of people already have hundreds of hours in this game on PC, just from the demo. The Switch port may be new, but this game has already proven its staying power via the throngs who got addicted to the early access demo, put loads of hours into that, then came back and are putting hundreds more into the full game.

Re: straights, while I agree they're harder to make early game, later on there are decks and additional jokers you unlock that make them much more viable. For example, there are jokers that allow you to skip numbers in your straights, or make them with just four cards instead of five, etc. A deck you unlock, the "abandoned deck," has no face cards, which means you have far fewer cards in your deck. Combining those two things makes it easy to cycle through your entire deck rather quickly and reliably get straights - or even straight flushes. It's not hard to build for at all, and is a rather reliable way to win.

I get that the game might not have clicked for you, and I've little doubt the dev will continue to balance things more as they get more feedback, but you can't argue its success or staying power when considering the sheer number of hours put into this game by so many over the course of many months. Just because a game doesn't work for you doesn't mean it's not a great game. It just means it's not for you.

Thank you! You're the first major Switch games review site I've seen cover this game, which utterly baffles me because Balatro is amazing. It has so much hype on other platforms, I have no idea why it went under the radar on Switch. Hopefully your coverage will help correct that mistake, and more and more people can experience the thrill of this ultimate "numbers go up, brain gets happy" gem.

Glad to see an update, although it doesn't fix the glitch that nearly ended my game. For me it was the next to last "known issue" above, where Sargon got stuck in a room after fighting a mimic. Literally nothing would allow me to get out.

After searching the net for hours, unsuccessfully trying various glitch-based solutions which seemed to work for some but not for others, I ultimately resorted to turning off automatic cloud save backups with the game in sleep mode, then closing the game completely and downloading my old save from the cloud. I lost an entire day's worth of progress (around ten hours or so), including the completion of one of the game's hardest platforming challenges, but it was better than being stuck forever. As much as I love this game, I wouldn't have had the heart to start over from scratch at that point, as I was very near the end.

Hopefully Ubisoft will continue to release patches, because some of these known bugs - like the one I encountered which remains unfixed - are literally game breaking. My advice to anyone still playing is to frequently quit the game and upload your save to the cloud so that if you do get stuck, you never lose more than a few hours of progress. It's a great game, but buggy as heck.

That trailer is creepy. Might have to give this a shot.

I love Celeste. Learning the story behind it made me love it even more. I haven't even come close to completing the game (I'm not that good at challenging platformers), but I hop into it from time to time and get hooked all over again. It's super addictive.

I finished the game yesterday. Having never played it before, I was coming at this with fresh eyes and no nostalgia. I'd give it a six and a half if possible, but settled for a seven in this poll

For reference, I enjoy a pretty wide variety of genres, often playing multiple types on the same day. One of those genres is visual novels, which is what I would classify this game as being. The Switch has several truly top notch games within this genre. This is not one of those. The plot was fairly predictable, the puzzles were so-so, and the few (required) implementations of motion controls were incredibly annoying and often inaccurate. That said, the story wasn't horrible. It wasn't super memorable, and as mentioned, felt rather predictable, but it might work for a slightly younger audience. The visuals were also well done.

Overall, I'm glad I bought the game, though a sale price might have been more fitting. I enjoyed parts of the story (the first moreso than the sequel), but it won't stick in my mind. It's good, but not great, so a seven seems fair.

I'd never heard of this game before, but as someone who enjoys games based on religious/folk mythology I'm eager to give it a shot. Thanks for publishing this interview (typos and all, lol).

Dang, that's frustrating. This was my most anticipated game for the month. That said, I'd much rather the devs delay the game in order to release it in top notch condition than release a broken / lower quality game. I just hope they do, in fact, release it at some point.

@antisumo Agreed. Islanders is definitely more complex and challenging than Dorfromantik, even when high score chasing in the latter. I'd swap those two, to be sure.

By far the most underrated Switch game of 2023 for me was Astral Ascent. It's a roguelite that reviewers repeatedly (and rightly) placed alongside the greats like Dead Cells / Hades. Combat is smooth and responsive, with just the right level of challenge and progress. The different characters actually play quite differently, and have interesting backstories and varied dialogue with the various NPCs as you progress.

I think the fact that Astral Ascent was a stealth drop during a busy time caused it to be overlooked by most, but man... that game is good. Fans of the genre should absolutely not miss out.

Also, while not quite as top tier as Astral Ascent, Backpack Hero is a solid game that deserved more attention than it got. This one is for the Slay the Spire fans, since its gameplay scratches a similar itch. Great stuff, all around.

@echoplex I actually love the challenges in Dorfromantik, and generally focus on getting a high score in the game (as much as the Switch version allows, anyway). It's just that for me, it doesn't feel as tricky or complex as something like, say, Islanders (which I've heard is relaxing for many people, but stresses me out).

I always find it interesting how the same game can feel so different to different people - even if they play using similar tactics/strategies. That's one reason why I gave the comparison between Islanders and Dorfromantik in my original comment, so people who've played those games can get an idea of what a third game whose complexity falls pretty evenly between the two might feel like for them. Some may find it stressful, others relaxing. Some find it easier than Dorfromantik, while I find it a tad more complex. Gotta love the variety in how people interpret games, lol.

I've been playing this a bit since it dropped yesterday. It's definitely similar in some ways to Dorfromantik, but it does quite a bit to feel different.

Compared to Dorfromantik, this game feels less like working towards just one end goal, and more like fulfilling a series of mini-quests in order to eventually finish a larger quest. You're constantly earning special buildings that require specific tiles and which, once completed, give some sort of bonus to the area around them (either increasing the value of a certain type of tile, or auto-placing a bunch of that tile type nearby). You eventually want to build at least one of every type of building, so there is an end goal to work towards, whereas in Dorfromantik you're simply trying to get the highest score possible.

Most people who play both games claim this one is easier. Personally, I find Dorfromantik a bit easier / more relaxing. This one actually makes me think more, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but does feel different from Dorfromantik where I tend to create zones for each type of tile and simply place similar tiles together. I still do the zone thing in this game, but the special buildings add an extra layer of strategy on top.

This game feels like it falls in between Dorfromantik and another game called Islanders, with aspects of both and a complexity level that's right in the middle. Basically, if you like Dorfromantik you'll probably like this. If you like Islanders you'll probably like this. If Dorfromantik felt too simple and/or Islanders felt too complex, you'll probably love this. Fans of relaxing puzzlers should probably give it a shot.

Note: I did experience a crash last night. Performance isn't perfect once the maps get large, but it's not horrible either. I need to play more to see if more crashes occur, but it does seem my progress was saved when I returned. Ymmv.

This is amazing. I spend way too much time playing Picross, and also enjoy life sim games. This will likely become one of my most played games, thanks to the fact that I never remember the solution to picross puzzles after completing them. Poor memory has its benefits.

I've been looking forward to this one for awhile. Glad it finally has a solid release date.

That said, if people are looking for similar games on the Switch, "Session: Skate Sim" is much closer in nature than the ones mentioned in this article. Skateboard simulators play quite differently than more arcadey games like Tony Hawk and OlliOlli. I love both types of games, but they're really not comparable.

So many great games on here. Tetris Effect is one of the few games that never leaves my Switch. It's absolutely perfect, whether I want to play the surprisingly emotional "Journey" mode, chill out in one of the "Effect" modes, or give myself an ego check in one of several PVP modes.

As someone who has been playing Tetris since it released on the NES, this really does feel like the ultimate version. It even includes a carefully reproduced "classic" mode so I can see just how much better kid me was at that tough-as-nails NES version of Tetris. How did I get so much worse with age??

I've been loving this port. Glad to see patches coming out. Hopefully this fixes the crashes I'd been experiencing, which were my only real complaint.