Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews

Namco Museum is a worthwhile release and the inclusion of Splatterhouse was a win-win for me. For $30 I think it’s worth the price to revisit some of Namco’s classic games and have the option to play them anywhere.

The latest incarnation of the Namco Museum does a great job of replicating every game in it – it’s just a shame there aren’t more games included. What’s here is largely good, with games like Splatterhouse and the Rolling Thunder games getting a showcase that they haven’t had in quite some time. If you already have existing collections, then the regulars like Galaga, Pac-Man, and Dig Dug won’t sell you on it, but if you’re missing out on the lesser-seen games, this is a great way to get them at a solid price point.

Namco Museum is a testament to just how far along handheld games have come since the days of overpriced Game Boy Color ports. With challenge modes, online leaderboards, a unique use of the Switch hardware and the most accessible versions of Splatterhouse and Pac-Man Vs. ever, Namco Museum is a surprisingly strong package. It might not offer enough incentive for fans that have revisited these games ad nauseam, and some offerings holdup a lot better than others, but the compilation offers perhaps the best way for passionate fans to revisit a handful of classics.

This latest Namco Museum features enough fantastic games to delight both long-time gamers and the retro-curious. After all these years, it's great to see Namco still putting together incredible compilations and digging up a few buried treasures in the process.

Namco Museum does a great job of highlighting the illustrious lineage of one of video gaming's most famous arcade companies; not only is it packed with addictive games that will keep you glued to your Switch for many weeks to come, but it boasts excellent emulation, a host of options, online leaderboards, a special challenge mode for each game and a new version of Pac-Man VS. which is sure to become the go-to party title for many Switch players. While there are a couple of titles that we'd have swapped out for other, more worthy offerings from Namco's past, you're still getting an excellent selection of games for a reasonable price here.

The arcade ports are proper versions of the included games and the addition of Pac-Man Vs. and the ability to get the full multiplayer experience over two Switches with just one copy of Namco Museum is nice.

Namco Museum is a fantastic self-contained package with an interesting offering of games that arcade fans will enjoy tearing into. It's found a suitable home on the Nintendo Switch. While it isn't rife with the "virtual museum" content previous games in the series back on the original PlayStation offered, it is a solid and feature-rich compilation title that's worth its asking price.

And the inclusion of Pac-Man Vs. is an absolute masterstroke of brilliance. That is a rare retro game, and finally having it readily available on a modern console is something that anyone who enjoys local multiplayer should get excited about.

Namco Museum doesn't have a new hidden gem to offer or gimmicks to reinvent classic titles, but what it does offer is an experience that brings the arcade home. Quality of life features like save states and hints have been added to negate archaic design frustrations, and an option to rotate the screen to look like an arcade cabinet is an ingenious addition bursting with charm. Pac-Man Vs.'s lack of online does stand out as a disappointment, but the collection's roster is strong enough to make up for it. With so many unique ways to interact with the Nintendo Switch, the arcade hasn't felt this alive in years.

Overall, Bandai Namco Entertainment’s Namco Museum for the Nintendo Switch is a well thought through collection that touches the older gamers’ heartstrings and those 90s/2000s gamers who believe they grew up in the best video game times. In other words, it’s got a bit of everything, nearly all good, for every type of gamer out there. It’s a welcomed addition to the Nintendo Switch.