Ratcheteer DX

Ratcheteer felt really impressive when it debuted on the Playdate, and the DX version is just as enjoyable on the Switch. I do think it felt a little more special when bound to the limitations of Panic’s handheld. It still looks and runs quite well, and this short, top-down action-RPG can be a pleasant way to enjoy an afternoon.

With swanky gadgets and fun environments to explore, Ratcheteer DX is a retro throwback that I recommend to any fan of Game Boy classics.

It only took a couple sittings to finish the 3 to 5-hour experience, but Ratcheteer DX makes for a good time nearly the whole way through. It’s well paced and introduces new tools regularly, all with two different functions or uses. There are some points of frustration, but none soured the adventure for more than a few minutes. If you enjoyed games like Minit or Master Key, you’ve got no reason not to dive into the underground and become a full-fledged ratcheteer yourself. Bonus points if you choose the pea soup color palette for maximum Game Boy nostalgia.

Ratcheteer DX looks and feels just like the classic action-adventure titles you grew up playing. It's a challenging time!

Ratcheteer DX is an enjoyable little adventure while it lasts, falling shy of being something truly great thanks to its own constraints. There are some enjoyable ideas here and the gameplay is rock solid though, it does a lot more things well than it doesn't.

Ratcheteer DX is not a bad game, but it does have issues that stop it from being great. The story and the world that we see is well put together, but navigating that world can be a chore at times. It is a game that has moments of brilliance through its puzzling, yet I can’t look past some of the game’s more frustrating elements.

Ratcheteer DX taps into nostalgia for simpler times, but it largely fails to translate to a modern console experience. Beyond the low-res pixel graphics that come with a free helping of eye strain, the experience is weighed down by a shallow narrative, humdrum combat, and excessive backtracking.