This week’s playlist features a healthy dose of almost everything! We’re playing RPGs, party games, DLC, and classic titles via the Switch Online and other systems.
Where to start? If you’re into RPGs, it’s a good time to be a Switch player. Sea of Stars is a wonderful title that’s set to bring even more action via future DLC. Persona 5 Royale is another RPG ready to devour your time. Meanwhile, if you’re after a dose of classic RPG action, you can’t go wrong with the recently added Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age in the Switch Online collection of Game Boy Advance titles.
Pokémon is always popular with the team, and a few of us have been checking out the latest DLC for Scarlet and Violet. There are two packs: The Teal Mask and The Indigo Disk, with loads of new pocket monsters to collect. How many have you caught?
Meanwhile, there’s always room for Mario! We’re still enjoying our time with Super Mario RPG. Plus, this time of year has meant a few rounds of Mario Party Superstars, a holiday staple. And then there’s Jemma’s obsession with Mario Kart Tour.
Check out our latest playlist below to see the games we’re playing this week. How have you kicked off 2024? Let us know the games you’ve been playing recently.
Kirk
- Growth (Switch) – Reviewing this peaceful puzzler from Assemble Entertainment. The goal is to expand the animal population across randomly generated maps of hexagonal grids by connecting clusters of wildlife. It’s confounding at first, but compelling once you settle in.
- Sea of Stars (Switch) – I took too long to purchase this award-winning adventure RPG despite it being an obvious match for my personal tastes. But now I’m loving it, and I’m hoping to push through before the recently announced DLC drops…whenever that may be.
- Persona 5 Royal (Switch) – Having started but not completed this game on the PS4, I decided to give the Switch version a go during a dry spell of games late last year. I should’ve known it would push well into 2024. Over 120 hours and there are still hearts to steal!
Rachel
- Pan’orama (Switch) – I’m reviewing this board game-like title and it’s been a delight. It’s a calm puzzle where you fit hexagonal shapes together based upon their element to earn points. It took a handful of hours to complete and I enjoyed every moment of it.
- Super Mario RPG (Switch) – I’m still working my way through the remake of this classic. Everything about it has been so much fun – from the music to the adorable graphics and the nostalgia as a whole.
- Pokémon Violet DLC (Switch) – I finally beat the first DLC, The Teal Mask, and completed its Pokédex. Now I’m headed into the second DLC, The Indigo Disk. I’m looking forward to seeing which new (and old) Pokémon there are.
Trev
- Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic (Switch) – Playing this upcoming sequel to a game that several members of the PN team enjoyed. It’s a fun follow-up (if a smidge unpolished), but stay tuned for my review to learn more about the pros and cons.
- NES (Switch online) – Various games, as usual, are in my rotation, but Tecmo Bowl especially. What can I say; it’s NFL Playoff season, and this is my favorite retro football game.
- Skylanders Superchargers (3DS) – One of my wild cards for our 2024 predictions podcast was the return of the Skylanders in one form or another. So I booted up this oldie but goodie for some handheld fun.
Justin
- Pokémon Scarlet DLC (Switch) – Mine is very similar to Rachel. I just finished up the Teal Mask over New Year’s and started the Indigo Disk a week or so ago — just got into the large bio-dome area and beat one of the ‘Elite Four’ so far. It’s fun just flying around catching some of the new Pokemon! Performance is still not great, but I do still just love catching Pokemon so I’m trucking on.
Jemma
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Switch) – I reviewed this new entry into the long-running series, and wow – I was super impressed! This is fun action-platformer full of great visuals, hidden treasures, and an excellent mapping system. This is the first must-play title of the year.
- Knights of the Rogue Dungeon (Switch) –
- Suika Game (Switch) – This is one addictive little game! It also happened to be the most-downloaded title on the eShop in Japan in 2023. So I’m not the only one enjoying this relaxing fruit-merging puzzle game.
- Mario Kart Tour (mobile) – Yes, I’m still playing this one every day. I mean, you have to; they give you a green pipe for doing the daily race, and that means coins, rubies, tickets, or character upgrades! Ahem.
- Mario Party Superstars (Switch) – It’s summer in Australia, which means school holidays. And one of our favorite family games is Mario Party. Superstars is always fun, and it feels a little more balanced when it comes to the AI. The boards are all so well-designed, it’s a fun time all around.
- Eastward (Switch) – I tried this 2021 title during a recent game trial in Australia. It was not at all on my radar! It’s a fun and quirky little RPG set deep underground in a mining community.
- Golden Sun: The Lost Age (Switch Online) – I played the original Golden Age many moons ago on the actual Game Boy Advance, so I thought I’d give the sequel a go on the Switch Online collection. So far, it’s a fun adventure that picks up right where the first game left off.
Enjoying our playlist? Check out our Pure Nintendo magazine and our weekly podcast for news, reviews, and much more!
