WoodenEconomics

I don’t normally play hidden-object games, so I came to 1912: Titanic Mystery with fairly low expectations. What carried me through was the setting. As something of a Titanic nerd, simply exploring the ship, recognising locations and uncovering a fictional mystery aboard one of history’s most famous vessels made this an enjoyable way to spend an evening. The story is perfectly serviceable. It isn’t going to surprise seasoned mystery fans, but it provides enough motivation to keep moving from scene to scene. The hidden-object sections become a little repetitive after a while, although they never became so tedious that I wanted to stop playing. I completed the game in around four hours, which felt about right—it doesn’t overstay its welcome. The biggest drawback is that this is very obviously a game designed to be played with a mouse. Using the Joy-Con to move a cursor and click on tiny objects is more fiddly than it should be, particularly when some items are small or blend into the scenery. The presentation doesn’t always help either, with text that can appear slightly soft and backgrounds that occasionally look washed out, making object hunting more difficult than intended. Despite those shortcomings, I genuinely enjoyed my time with it. At full price I’d probably hesitate, but I picked it up for just 89p, and at that price it’s an easy recommendation. If you enjoy hidden-object adventures, you’ll know exactly what you’re getting. If, like me, you’re fascinated by the Titanic, the setting adds enough charm to make the experience worthwhile even if this isn’t normally your genre. One final request: if this ever gets a Switch 2 update, please enable mouse controls. Spending four hours trying to find tiny objects with a Joy-Con felt like searching the Atlantic for the Titanic… before 1985.

Coming to Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition years after its original release, I was surprised by how well it holds up, particularly on Switch 2. This is not a traditional Tomb Raider game. Many of the series’ classic elements are scaled back, and Lara herself feels closer to a modern action-game protagonist than the confident adventurer of the original games. There are also clear influences from the Uncharted series in the cinematic presentation, traversal and action sequences. Purists may not appreciate that shift, but I found it worked well. The story is perfectly serviceable, though hardly the series’ strongest. That said, Tomb Raider has never always been known for coherent storytelling, and compared with some of the more convoluted plots in the franchise, this one keeps things moving at a good pace. The real strengths are the exploration, atmosphere and sense of progression. The island feels like a “closed open-world” – not truly open, but large enough to encourage exploration while maintaining a strong narrative drive. It creates a rugged and hostile environment that remains enjoyable to explore throughout the game. The optional tombs are well implemented. I actually left most of them until after completing the main story because I was so keen to see what happened next. While some players may have preferred more mandatory tomb-raiding, I appreciated having the choice. Performance on Switch 2 is impressive. There is some noticeable pop-in and the occasional shadow issue, but nothing that significantly detracts from the experience. Considering the scale of the game, it runs remarkably well on the system. It may not be the purest expression of what Tomb Raider once was, but taken on its own terms it is an excellent action-adventure game with a great setting, satisfying exploration and enough content to keep me aiming for 100% completion. Highly recommended.

Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles is a relaxing and surprisingly enjoyable exploration game that succeeds largely through its atmosphere and sense of gentle progression. Even though I do not usually enjoy cosy games, I found myself consistently drawn into its world and ended up fully completing it. The relaxing exploration and atmosphere are the game’s biggest strengths. The world feels peaceful and enjoyable to move around, with a strong sense of freedom and discovery that keeps exploration rewarding throughout. The side quests are also handled well and give the world enough structure and progression without making the experience feel stressful or repetitive. The lack of combat is both the game’s biggest strength and its biggest weakness. At times I felt the game could have benefited from some form of danger or combat to add more variety and tension. At the same time, removing combat entirely is also what gives the game its distinctive calming atmosphere. In the end, I think the game succeeds precisely because it fully commits to that approach, even if it occasionally leaves the gameplay feeling a little too gentle. Overall, I enjoyed my time with it far more than I expected. It is charming, relaxing and easy to become absorbed in, even if some of its systems are fairly simple underneath.

New Super Lucky’s Tale is a charming and enjoyable 3D platformer that feels heavily inspired by classic mascot platformers without ever quite reaching the same level as the genre’s best games. The platforming is consistently fun, the worlds are creative enough to stay engaging, and the overall tone is light-hearted and genuinely likeable throughout. The game’s biggest strength is probably its charm. The colourful presentation, simple humour, and relaxed atmosphere make it very easy to enjoy, and it works particularly well as a comfortable “pick up and play” platformer. Difficulty is also handled fairly well, with some levels offering a decent challenge without the game ever becoming frustrating. The main issue is that it rarely feels especially original or memorable. Some sections feel a little repetitive, the gameplay ideas are not always fully developed, and there is a lingering sense that better platformers have done most of this before. The camera can also occasionally become awkward in tighter areas, although it is rarely serious enough to ruin the experience. Still, I enjoyed my time with it. It knows exactly what type of game it wants to be, does not overstay its welcome, and delivers a charming platforming adventure that is easy to recommend to fans of classic 3D platformers.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a decent spin-off that succeeds more through its world and characters than its gameplay. The story and town-building elements are engaging, and the game does a good job of making you interested in the wider world of Eiyuden Chronicle. The main problem is that the gameplay never quite matches the quality of the setting. Combat is perfectly serviceable but very repetitive, and some mechanics feel a little too simplistic for an RPG built around constant questing and progression. Thankfully, the side quests are handled well enough that the game rarely becomes outright tedious. I still enjoyed my time with it overall. The atmosphere is strong, the pacing is good, and there are flashes of something much better underneath it all. But while parts of the game are excellent, the overall experience averages out as fairly ordinary.

Stick It to The Man! is one of those wonderfully strange indie games built around a genuinely clever idea and, more importantly, one that fully commits to it. The central mechanic of reading minds and pulling objects from people’s thoughts is not just original, it is consistently entertaining and integrated surprisingly well into both the puzzles and storytelling. The humour is a major strength throughout. The game manages to balance absurdity, quirky characters, and genuinely funny writing without becoming irritating, helped enormously by very strong voice acting that gives the entire world a lot of personality. The comic-book visual style also works extremely well, making everything feel like a bizarre interactive cartoon. Mechanically, the game does a good job of keeping its core idea fresh for the entire runtime. The puzzles are generally enjoyable, and using thoughts to solve problems gives the gameplay a unique rhythm that helps it stand out from similar indie platform adventures. Importantly, the game also knows when to stop, ending at about the right point before the concept begins to wear thin. The platforming itself is solid enough too, even if the puzzle-solving is clearly the main attraction. Some puzzles can occasionally feel a little illogical or reliant on odd leaps in logic (something other players have criticised as well) but these moments are not common enough to derail the experience. Ultimately, Stick It to The Man! succeeds because it feels confident in its own weirdness. Funny, inventive, stylish, and packed with charm, it is an easy game to recommend to anyone looking for something a little different on the Switch.

80 Days is one of the best examples of modern interactive fiction on the Switch, combining excellent writing with a genuinely clever gameplay structure that makes every journey feel different. The central concept, racing around the world while managing time, money, and relationships, is immediately engaging and remains compelling even after multiple playthroughs. The standout feature is undoubtedly the writing. The game’s alternative-history steampunk world is packed with memorable locations, interesting characters, and constant small story moments that make travelling feel exciting rather than repetitive. It captures the spirit of classic “choose your own adventure” books remarkably well, while adding meaningful strategy on top through route planning and resource management. The choice system works brilliantly because decisions genuinely matter. Different routes, encounters, and risks can dramatically alter how a playthrough unfolds, giving the game excellent replayability. Completing the adventure once barely scratches the surface, and experimenting with different paths becomes part of the fun. Few narrative-driven games encourage repeated runs as naturally as this does. The resource management systems add tension without becoming overwhelming. Balancing finances, timing, rest, and travel options creates a satisfying layer of strategy underneath the storytelling, helping the experience feel more interactive than a standard visual **** main thing missing is voice acting. The writing is strong enough to carry the experience on its own, but full voice performances could have elevated the atmosphere and emotional impact even further. Ultimately, 80 Days feels much more like an interactive novel than a traditional game, but that is entirely its strength. Smart, atmospheric, and hugely replayable, it remains one of the most distinctive narrative experiences available on the Switch.

Flashback remains a fascinating and atmospheric cinematic platformer that still manages to impress decades later, particularly for anyone with nostalgia for the original release. Having first played it on the Commodore Amiga, there is something genuinely satisfying about returning to its distinctive sci-fi world and methodical gameplay. The presentation still holds up surprisingly well. The rotoscoped animations remain impressive, giving movement a cinematic feel that helped the game stand out in the early 1990s and still gives it a unique identity today. The atmosphere is excellent throughout, with the alien environments and lonely tone creating a strong sense of tension and mystery. Gameplay has aged better than expected too. Exploration, puzzle solving, and careful platforming remain enjoyable, even if the controls feel a little clunky by modern standards. The deliberate movement style is clearly part of the game’s design philosophy, though it can occasionally make already difficult sections even more demanding. Many of the frustrations from the original game are still present here. Some sections can become frustratingly unforgiving, and the difficulty regularly borders on punishing. There is also a fair amount of trial and error involved, particularly in some of the more obscure sequences, although fans of the original will probably expect that going in. Despite those rough edges, Flashback remains an absorbing and rewarding experience that is easy to appreciate both as a classic piece of gaming history and as a genuinely enjoyable adventure in its own right. It may feel dated in places, but the atmosphere, presentation, and sense of accomplishment still shine through.

Mario Golf: Super Rush is an enjoyable but ultimately fairly average Mario sports game that never quite reaches the heights of the series’ best entries. The core golf gameplay is still fun, easy to pick up, and backed by reliable controls, making it a good fit for quick sessions with friends or relaxed solo play. It is nice to see Mario Golf finally arrive on the Switch, and the arcade-style approach keeps matches moving at a good pace. Shot mechanics feel solid, and multiplayer works particularly well when playing casually with others. Speed Golf is entertaining enough for a while, though it feels more like a novelty mode than a game-changing addition. The Adventure mode at least gives solo players something more substantial to work through. While it drags a little in places, it adds some welcome structure and progression beyond standard matches, even if it never becomes especially memorable. The main issue is that the overall package feels a little thin and lacking in personality. The courses are decent without being particularly standout, and there is a lingering sense that older Mario Golf games offered more charm, depth, and long-term appeal. Once the initial excitement wore off, there was little reason to keep returning regularly. Mario Golf: Super Rush is perfectly enjoyable for a week or two of concentrated play, especially in multiplayer, but it never quite captured the magic or depth of the older Mario Golf titles. A competent and accessible sports game, though one that struggles to rise above “good enough.”

Goblin Sword is a very solid retro-style platformer with enjoyable old-school gameplay and a strong pixel-art presentation. The responsive retro platforming makes it very easy to pick up and play, and I found it strangely addictive despite how straightforward it is mechanically. The simplicity actually works in the game’s favour. Rather than trying to overcomplicate things, it focuses on short levels, satisfying movement and a steady gameplay loop that works particularly well on Switch. It does not do much that feels especially new, but the core gameplay remains enjoyable throughout and the retro presentation is consistently charming. Overall, I thought it was excellent value for money (£0.89) and an easy recommendation for anyone who enjoys classic-style action platformers.

Limbo is a very good indie game that still stands up well thanks to its atmosphere and visual design. The monochrome presentation works brilliantly and gives the whole game a constant sense of tension and unease without needing much dialogue or explanation. The environmental storytelling and ambiguity also work really well. The game never fully explains itself, but that mystery is part of what makes it memorable. The puzzles are satisfying overall, although some rely a little too heavily on trial and error. The repeated deaths can become frustrating at times, but they also feel like part of the experience rather than simply bad design. Overall, I thought it was a strong puzzle-platformer with a distinctive style and a good sense of pacing. The relatively short runtime also felt about right for the type of game it is.

The Bug Catcher ended up being a bit of a hidden gem for me. I really enjoyed my time with it and found it worked especially well as a relaxed “loading game” that I could dip into for short sessions.Despite initially looking like more of a puzzle game, it is really more of a straightforward blaster, and a surprisingly enjoyable one at that. The simple but satisfying shooting gameplay keeps things moving nicely, while the presentation is polished enough to make the whole experience feel far more premium than its low price **** gameplay itself does not evolve massively over time, but the core loop remains enjoyable throughout and the difficulty felt well balanced.Overall, I thought it was a very solid little indie game and definitely one of the better low-cost discoveries I have made on the eShop.

Figment 2: Creed Valley is a worthwhile sequel that builds sensibly on the ideas from the original game, even if it inevitably loses some of the originality and surprise that made the first Figment stand out. The story and themes still land well, the musical elements remain enjoyable, and overall it feels like a slightly fuller game. The sequel develops the mechanics and narrative enough to justify its existence, although I also came away feeling that it perhaps did not push the concept quite as far as it could have done. Visually, it retains the same imaginative style and atmosphere as the first game, although I would not say it feels like a massive leap forward overall. My biggest issue was again technical. Playing on the original Switch, I actually found the performance problems more noticeable than in the first game, which was disappointing given that this should have been the more polished release (it does however play better on Switch 2). Overall though, I still enjoyed my time with it. It is a creative and thoughtful indie adventure that expands on the original in sensible ways, even if it never quite recaptures the freshness of the first game.

Figment is a creative little adventure game with an interesting story that I thought was handled surprisingly well. The themes around fear, memory and the mind could easily have become heavy-handed, but the game keeps things imaginative enough that they land emotionally without losing their sense of fun. The art style is the standout feature and gives the whole game a distinctive dreamlike quality. The musical elements and boss songs also work far better than I expected and help give the game its own personality rather than feeling like a gimmick. The puzzles are fairly light overall, but still satisfying enough to keep the game moving at a good pace, and I thought the combat added just enough variety without becoming intrusive. My main criticism is that on the original Switch the game can stutter noticeably in places, although it runs much better on Switch 2 where those issues are far less distracting. Overall, I thought it was a well-made and imaginative indie game. The five-hour runtime also felt about right for the ideas it was working with.

Simon the Sorcerer Origins was an enjoyable return to a series I have a lot of nostalgia for, having originally played Simon the Sorcerer on the Amiga CD32 with Chris Barrie voicing Simon. The original is still the stronger game overall, but Origins does a good job of capturing the humour and general feel of the series. If anything, it also made me want proper modern re-releases of the original games with updated controls. The voice acting is probably the standout element for me and the writing remains genuinely funny throughout. The puzzles were also enjoyable, with the spell and hat-changing mechanics adding a nice bit of variety without becoming overly complicated. Visually, the game looks good, and I enjoyed my time with it consistently across its runtime. The overall length also felt about right. My biggest annoyance was the way the game handles moving between screens. When walking to the edge of an area, the screen doesn't transition automatically, which became surprisingly irritating over time. Overall, I thought it was a solid modern revival of the series. Not quite as memorable as the originals, but still a very enjoyable point-and-click adventure in its own right.

The Way Remastered successfully captures the feel of older cinematic platformers and immediately brought to mind games like Another World and Flashback. The sense of old-school sci-fi adventure is easily the game’s strongest element and gives it a distinctive atmosphere throughout. The puzzles were satisfying for the most part, although some rely on fairly illogical solutions. The controls and movement also feel dated by modern standards, which occasionally makes the platforming and traversal more frustrating than they probably needed to be. The pacing drags a little in the later sections and the storytelling never becomes quite as interesting as the setting itself, but there were still enough good ideas and atmospheric moments to keep me playing through to the end. Overall, I enjoyed it more for the atmosphere and nostalgia than the gameplay itself, but I still thought it was a worthwhile experience.

Candle: The Power of the Flame is a distinctive puzzle-platformer with a strong identity and one of the more memorable visual styles I have seen in an indie game. The hand-painted visual style gives the whole game a unique atmosphere and helps it stand out immediately. The stealth mechanics work surprisingly well alongside the environmental puzzles, and the game generally keeps introducing enough new ideas to stay engaging throughout. The puzzles themselves were satisfying and the overall length felt about **** pacing does slow in places, but I still enjoyed the experience consistently from start to finish. Overall, I thought it was a very solid indie puzzle adventure with a genuinely distinctive style.

Down in Bermuda is a polished little puzzle adventure that suited handheld play particularly well. It worked especially nicely as a 'loading game'; something relaxing to dip into for short sessions without needing to fully commit to it. The colourful visual style gives the game a lot of charm and helps keep the light puzzle-solving enjoyable throughout. It also deserves credit for how well it was ported to Switch, because it never really felt like a mobile game awkwardly moved onto console. The main thing holding it back slightly is that some later sections start to feel a bit similar mechanically, although the game did not overstay its welcome. Overall, I enjoyed my time with it and would definitely recommend picking it up when it is on sale if you enjoy relaxed puzzle games.

Isoland is a very enjoyable little surreal puzzle game with a strange atmosphere that kept me engaged throughout. The puzzles are the main strength and generally strike a good balance between being clever and challenging without becoming frustrating. The strange atmosphere and surreal world design help give the game a distinctive identity, and because I played this before the sequel, the abstract tone felt particularly fresh the first time around. Overall, I thought it was a good length and enjoyed my time with it throughout. If you enjoy slower puzzle games with a surreal edge, this is well worth playing.

Isoland 2: Ashes of Time is an enjoyable surreal puzzle adventure that kept me engaged throughout. I liked the first game as well, so it was easy to settle back into its strange atmosphere and abstract world design. It is also slightly disappointing that the third and forth game never made it to Switch (availible on iOS). The puzzles were the main highlight for me. They struck a very good balance between being clever and obscure without becoming frustrating, which is not always easy for this type of game to get right. The unusual art style also works well and helps give the game its own identity. Overall, I thought it was a good length, enjoyed my time with it throughout, and would recommend it to anyone who likes slower point-and-click style puzzle games with a surreal edge.

Gunman Clive HD Collection is a solid little run-and-gun platformer collection that works particularly well on the Switch. The sketchbook art style gives it a distinctive identity and helps it stand out from other indies. That visual style was widely praised in other reviews as well, and is probably the game’s biggest strength. The gameplay is simple but responsive, and there is enough difference between the two games to stop the collection from feeling completely repetitive. The main thing holding it back for me is that there is not a huge amount of depth to it. I enjoyed my time with it, but it does feel slightly lightweight. I also suspect some of the affection for it comes from people who played the originals on earlier handheld systems, whereas I came to it much later on Switch. Overall, I liked it, not a lot more.

The Gardens Between is a relaxing little puzzle game with a strong visual style and an interesting central mechanic. The art direction is excellent throughout and the gameplay works especially well in short bursts rather than long sessions. The story is told with very little dialogue, but it still manages to land without becoming overly sentimental. The main issue is that the core mechanic does not really develop all that much over the course of the game. The puzzles remain enjoyable, but later stages can start to feel a little iterative once you have fully understood the central idea. Because of that, the game ends at about the right point, although it occasionally feels like it is bordering on too long for the amount of mechanical variety it offers. I paid just over £4 for it and thought that was fair value. I would definitely recommend picking it up on sale if you enjoy slower, more atmospheric puzzle games.

Tardy kept me interested throughout thanks to its setting and mystery. It has a nice isolated sci-fi atmosphere and the pixel art presentation gives the whole game a distinctive look without feeling like it is relying purely on nostalgia. The puzzles are occasionally obscure and a few are unclear bordering on unfair, which seems to be a fairly common criticism from other players and reviewers as well. Good indie game with rough edges here and there, but the atmosphere carries it through. I picked it up for well under £1 and at that price - an easy recommendation if you like these types of game.

Rad Rodgers: Radical Edition really reminded me of old Amiga-era platformers like Ruff ‘n’ Tumble. It has that same energetic run-and-gun feel with colourful visuals, fast movement and a slightly chaotic arcade style. The combat feels fluid throughout and the game is consistently enjoyable while it lasts. Unfortunately, 'while it lasts' is the key phrase here. I finished it in under five hours and it did feel a bit too short by the end, especially because the core gameplay loop was strong enough that I would happily have played more of it. I bought the physical version and that has more than held its value over time. If you have nostalgia for older action-platformers, there is a lot to like here.

Trivial Pursuit Live! is a decent party trivia game with a presentation style that works well in video game form and feels more lively than a straight digital board game conversion. I've put 25 hours into it so far without seeing excessive repeat questions. It's one of those games that now comes back out on holidays and family gatherings because it is easy for almost anyone to join in with. One feature that got a lot of use was the inclusion of both children’s and adult questions while still letting everyone play together in the same game. That made it work well as a casual family party game. The online experience is a bit mixed; sometimes there are other players in the lobby, sometimes not. Overall, I thought it was decent value at £6.40 (bought on sale).

Bulb Boy stood out more than I expected. There are a lot of indie puzzle adventures on the Switch, but this one at least had its own identity. The creepy cartoon presentation works surprisingly well and gives the whole game a strange charm without trying too hard to be edgy. The puzzles were mostly logical and the short runtime helped keep things moving, although a few sections drag slightly in the middle. Gameplay itself is fairly simple, but the atmosphere and visual style do enough to carry it through. Not something I’d recommend at full price, but definitely worth picking up on sale if you like odd little adventure games with a darker sense of humour.

Pocket Mini Golf isn’t going to become anyone’s favourite sports game, but for the price, I got more out of it than I expected. It turned into a good 'loading game'; something to throw on for 10 minutes while deciding what I actually wanted to play properly. The controls can be a little too sensitive at times, particularly with softer shots, but the simple visual style works well and makes the courses pleasant to play through. The Fairway DLC adds some extra longevity, even if it doesn’t transform the experience. Nothing groundbreaking here, but for under a pound, it felt like decent value.

As a Sherlock Holmes fan, I probably enjoyed this more than someone coming to it purely as a modern adventure game. There are some nice Holmesian touches and references throughout, and the overall atmosphere feels appropriately Victorian and sinister. The plot works well, the investigations are engaging, and the game generally succeeds in making you feel like you are actually solving cases rather than simply clicking through scenes. I also enjoyed the darker tone, which suits the story surprisingly well. That said, the game definitely shows its age. Compared to later Frogwares titles like Sherlock Holmes: Crime and Punishments and Sherlock Holmes: The Devil’s Daughter, the deduction systems feel less developed and polished, even if the foundations are clearly there. The biggest issue with the Switch version is the controls. Several puzzles became frustrating not because the logic was overly difficult, but because the controls were awkward compared to using a mouse. The presentation is acceptable for its age. Graphically it is fine, and some of the audio is genuinely excellent, although the constant crunching leaves sound effect while walking eventually became strangely irritating. The voice acting is mostly strong too. Holmes works well, though Watson occasionally has odd emphasis or delivery in certain scenes. At around 12 hours, the game felt the right length and didn’t overstay its welcome. I would not strongly recommend it to non-Holmes fans, but for Holmesians there is a lot to enjoy here, especially if bought cheaply in a sale or bundle.

An inventive and charming mash-up of metroidvania exploration and pinball that works far better than it has any right to. Not flawless, but original, enjoyable and easy to recommend.

This never quite gets beyond feeling like a lesser version of better games. It’s clearly drawing from the same style as Limbo and similar titles, but without the same level of atmosphere, polish or originality. It plays well enough and doesn’t outstay its welcome, but there’s very little here that stands out. The puzzles are straightforward and the presentation is serviceable. Not bad, just outclassed.

I went into this hoping for something closer to Tradewinds by Sandlot, which I’ve always liked. Unfortunately, this doesn’t quite reach that level. The underlying systems feel underdeveloped and and there isn’t enough sense of progression to keep things interesting. It also feels very much designed around mouse input, which doesn’t translate especially well on the Switch and I wouldn’t hold out for a Switch 2 mouse-mode update to fix that! There are glimpses of something better underneath, but it never quite surfaces.

This is a quietly effective and well-judged game that gets a lot right along the way. It’s clearly aiming for something emotional and I appreciated the restraint; it doesn’t over do it or push too hard. There are moments where it genuinely works, even if it feels a bit slight overall and doesn’t fully deliver the impact it’s building towards. The gameplay is minimal, but the tone and delivery carry it well. Worth a look.

Not much here. Feels unfinished, offers very little and isn’t worth your time even at a very, very low price.

This is a perfectly decent game that doesn’t quite do enough to really stand out. It’s easy to pick up, plays smoothly and has a nice, relaxed feel throughout. Nothing really drags, but equally nothing really elevates it either. I enjoyed my time with it without ever being particularly fully engaged. A solid, low-key experience, but one that’s quite easy to forget once you’ve finished it.

This is a decent Sherlock Holmes game without ever feeling like an especially good one. There are enough deductions, investigations and Holmes-style moments to keep it engaging if you’re already a fan of the character and I liked the nod to A Case of Identity. But the whole thing feels rougher than it should. The controls are awkward, the visuals are dated and it lacks the polish to really pull you in. I didn’t dislike it, but I was never fully convinced by it either. Worth a look on a sale for Holmes fans, but hard to recommend much beyond that.