Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews

While its setup does make it look like one of those soulless endless runners that fill mobile app stores, The VideoKid overcomes that hollow association by offering up a nostalgic love letter to the characters that defined a decade. The random layout means you’ll never get the same run twice, but once you’ve played each section of its celebrity-filled suburbia a few times, you will start to notice plenty of bits being recycled as you head to your final destination. Still, with high-scores to chase and new character skins and tricks to unlock, this modern Paperboy has earned its pay packet.

As a thoroughly irresponsible teenager, we take to our skateboard to deliver tapes, cause mischief, and avoid oncoming obstacles. This is our Videokid review.

The VideoKid is a short visit, not an extended vacation, into a quirky nostalgia-packed arcade run. I enjoyed my brief stay, but for you it might depend on your fondness for The California Raisins or The Thundercats.

The VideoKid doesn’t pretend to be anything grander than what it is, a different take on the Paperboy formula with a 80/90s pop culture theme. It improves along the original formula and makes it more playable in this day and age. It really is a game that is best in short bursts. It is quite shallow and when you buy all the tricks and characters within, there is only score to try and beat. If you’re after a cheap arcadey run based game that embraces the pop culture a lot of us grew up with, then there isn’t much to lose here.

The VideoKid clearly loves the 1980s, and it hopes you do too. But strip away the nostalgia and you're left with a pretty basic experience. Unless you REALLY enjoyed Paperboy, you're better off looking elsewhere.

Simple yet fun arcade game that may not be entertaining for long, but as it lasts is a good comeback from the 80's.

The VideoKid, though bearing noticeable similarities to popular mobile titles and with its fair share of faults and issues, is an affordable and entertaining drop-in indie title that you can pick up and play anytime. Challenging, yet charming, and with plenty of nods to 80s pop culture, this is a game that you will be retrying for hours in the hope of reaching your precious Jessica.

The VideoKid is a mostly safe play on Paperboy that excels when going wild with its garish visuals and legally-questionable references.

For a title on Switch, it’s great — do a run or two while waiting in line for the bus or commuting on a subway and then set it down. On console or PC, I’m not sure it would be worth the pricetag.

Observing all the retro references in The VideoKid is only exciting for a few minutes. Once the novelty wears off, you're left with a shallow and repetitive take on a classic arcade game that doesn't hold up well for today's standards.