Ball x Pit: Nintendo Switch: Review

Developed by Kenny Sun
Published by Devolver Digital
Platform: Nintendo Switch

To say that Ball x Pit is addictive is an understatement.

The roguelite brick-breaking base-building game launched last year and pretty much surprised everyone by how playable it was and how well it handled multiple balls flying around the screen with no drop in fidelity.

With new updates launched this year that included new balls and new characters, the game's going from strength to strength - even if there is a lack of new levels being launched. (Which in of itself would be hard to see happen, given the game plays to completion and is about clearing levels before progressing.) This review won't cover the base game or its new levels, given the extensive launch review did exactly that, discussing the strong mechanics, smart playability and "one more game" mentality that's riddled all through it.

And it's expanded out to other platforms too, with a mobile version taking up hours of time as well. But while the console version's been extremely fun to play, thanks to short levels (unless you want to extend your expedition past the end of level boss), the new wave of portability adds another addictive element to the game. 

The Nintendo Switch version of the game plays just as well as the console - even if the screen's a little smaller. Yet size doesn't matter too much in the game, given how compressed the action turns out to be. However, that's both a good and a bad thing as once the chaos really ramps up with balls and enemies flying everywhere, the screen feels a little too cluttered at times. 

It's something which the Switch as a handheld generally suffers from, but in indie games such as this, it's here that it starts to make a case for a larger screen to cope with the speed and amount of action taking place. Which goes to directly contrast the portability nature of it.

And yet, the Nintendo Switch version of Ball X Pit retains the brilliance of the console game and proves to be a welcome boon for those on the go. It's certainly going to make commuting more bearable, and with even more content on the way, it makes a case for once again being extremely addictive and being part of any gamer's collection.