By: Roberto Nieves
Kingdom Of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
It's a grand fantasy, re-told a decade later for a new generation of players. Ten years after relief, the classic action RPG has come to life again, and it has astounded me with its immersive world, customizable combat, and sheer immersivness, where a living, breathing world is at your feet. I started this one on a cold winter night at 3 am in January, and since then, the game has sunk its talons into me and refuses to let go until the game is finished. I've swung hammers to slay giants and sent the ground quaking with my magic. I conquered and ruled a house and made a villainous maid my wife. I've donned armor and robes and created powerful potions. It's a powerful game and a wonderful fantasy adventure. Please check out Fernando Da Costa's awesome review here if you want more details.
Grapple Dog
If you remember the 90s, you remember the colors, the sights, and the sound. One can recall a time of great adventure and amazing platformers. Grapple Dog is one such game. It's a boldly animated platformer, bursting with color, but has incredibly polished controls, making for the best grappling hook gameplay since the original Bionic Commando. Fun, approachable, and enjoyable, Grapple Dog is a solid title, and it's already a good contender for making the list of this year's best indie games.
Cruis'n Blast
Here's one for nostalgia. There was a time when every arcade, rest area, and movie theater had a Cruis'n Blast arcade cabinet. Now, it's back and better than ever. Cruis'n Blast is the port of the latest entry, from arcades to the Switch, and it's fantastic. Simple yet fast, understandable yet totally absurd, and over the top, Cruis'n Blast is great racing fun, especially for the families and kids out there. Cruis'n Blast is the kind of game where a Camaro, a unicorn, and a school bus race through an ice cavern and escape the yeti, all for first place and bragging rights.
Astral Chain
I know this one has been out for a while, but I finally decided to jump in. This mixture of action and investigative police is set within a wonderfully vivid sci-fi environment, where dimensional monsters corrupt the real world. As a special officer of task force Neuron, players use their special data warrior, a Legion, to shoot and fight their way through a mystery that crosses conspiracies and dimensions. My best friend has said that the gameplay is like Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventure meets God of War and Blade Runner, and so far, the adventure has been a thrill ride, with exceptional gameplay and strong characters. Astral Chain is a great game and a must-have for those with a Switch.
Warhammer: 40K Inquisitor - Martyr
This ARPG, in the spirit of Diablo, released in 2018 and continues to reward players with new updates and content. I've been playing since the game's launch, and recently, I managed to cut deeper into the game, exploring the secrets of Ulther Tiberius and the Dark Eldars. Warhammer: 40K Inquisitor - Martyr is an excellent action RPG, dripping with lore and great combat as well as a large assortment of characters and enemies from across the entire spectrum of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. I reviewed Warhammer: 40,000 Inquisitor - Martyr back in 2018, and even in its base form, I found the game unendingly completing and action-packed.