Nintendo Enthusiast

Shinsekai: Into the Depths is a game worth playing. Its large world is addictive to explore, its oxygen mechanics are innovative and create dramatic gameplay moments, and its audio is a real delight. However, the flow of gameplay is regularly disrupted by weird annoyances like excessive fall damage, a helper robot who doesn’t help, and menus that are a little too cumbersome to navigate comfortably.

Nonetheless, Trancelation does do what it aims to — I did quickly find myself relearning or newly learning Spanish words, even though I was bored for all of it. If you’re looking for something to help with rote memorization of basic vocabulary of a new language, and for some reason Duolingo isn’t enough for you, this game is a decent option to spend a few minutes a day with in bed or on a train. But it’s likely to feel more like eating your vegetables than eating an ice cream sundae.

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a game that revels in the right kind of fan service. Its lightsaber combat is still a blast to play with, and its Force Powers provide a ton of options to make you feel like a Jedi Master. Its story and presentation haven’t aged as well, and the gameplay can be a little awkward if you’re at all used to modern action games. Yet, for Star Wars fans, Jedi Academy shouldn’t be missed.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons ultimately helped me better appreciate the importance of being able to spend time with others. With or without a pandemic, this is one of the best games to have graced Nintendo Switch yet. It’s the purest and most engaging form of Eguchi’s vision, and there’s an unparalleled belonging and meaning that’ll draw me back in for a long time to come.

I had an amazing time with In Other Waters. It’s a game I’d happily play over and over just for the overall combination of colors, sounds, and exploration. The story acts as a reminder of why we should treat our oceans, and each other, with more kindness. If you’re even remotely interested in marine biology, you’ll never put your Switch down.

Ultimately, Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition quenched my thirst for a retro, Chrono Trigger-like experience. With rock-solid presentation, smart writing, and a battle system that gets the job done, Ara Fell: Enhanced Edition should be a part of any classic RPG fan’s collection.

Fighting countless hordes of bad guys never got old and proved to be a fantastic way to relieve stress. One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is a game that’s worthy of being in anybody’s Switch collection. Step into the shoes of your favorite Straw Hat and enter the battlefield. Trust me — you won’t be disappointed.

The game falls down on the technical side, mostly due to what feels like dodgy aiming when too many enemies are around, but it’s still good fun. It bears repeating that there’s more than enough to justify the game’s cost here, and if you need something to soak up a few hours of your life, this game is ready and waiting to eagerly take any time you have to offer, and maybe try to eat your brains too.

Your first playthrough of The Complex is likely to be enrapturing because it takes repeated playthroughs to understand how restrictive the narrative actually is. The first time around, it is genuinely fun and exciting to see what the characters go through — up until whatever dissatisfying ending you receive. And considering the game costs the same price as a weeknight movie theater ticket in the first place, with the added benefit of some novel interactivity, I can’t help but still enjoy and appreciate The Complex.

Battlesloths is an unnecessarily limited experience with a whole host of hoops to jump through before you can enjoy its heated multiplayer mayhem. The numerous caveats and obstacles behind an otherwise great time are quite disappointing.