Nintendo’s Switch has experienced enormous support ever since its release earlier this year. One major area of support is in the indie scene, which Nintendo now refers to as ‘Nindies’, and the company seems to have their arms open to anyone with a creative concept for fun. This has, of course, created a title wave of titles that have seemingly come out of nowhere, and can now officially call the Switch it’s official home.

This brings us to The End is Nigh, an indie title that saw critical success on home consoles and because of that has now found its way on Nintendo’s hybrid console. Anyone seeking a challenge will certainly find The End is Nigh to be a stimulating endeavor, as every obstacle you encounter is increasingly more difficult than the last and your limits are tested every time. Its simple aesthetic is what gives it a stunning aura since there isn’t much you need to do other than cleverly solve each puzzle that you come across. That, however, is where the complexity comes into play because while the puzzles are certainly challenging, they do require some creative thought in order to successfully make it to the next world. Just a fair warning, there’s a great deal of swearing in the game so if you’re not a fan of excessive cursing then just be careful. We all know there are children out there!

Anyone who has dabbled with titles like The Binding of Isaac and Super Meat Boy will know that games of this nature will take an enormous toll on you mentally, and so laser like focus is imperative when approaching new obstacles. The same can be said for The End is Nigh, which doesn’t hold your hand in any way and really gives you a run for your money once you find yourself midway through the game.

600+ levels lay waiting for you and because of the sheer difficulty of some stages that appear, hours are spent trying to constantly refine your approach to avoid an early demise. This game is a speedrunner’s heaven as it not only requires focus but also dexterity and speed, since some levels move so fast that you don’t have time to really calculate things. You see the objective in front of you and immediately jump over gaps as swiftly as possible, praying an enemy doesn’t hit you along the way. The replay value is exceptionally high since deaths will be very common throughout your time playing. The deaths you experience are tallied and in a way, it motivates you to keep trying in order to move forward.

The End is Nigh is a 2D puzzle platformer and so, like any other 2D platformer your goal is to successfully get to the other side as efficiently as possible. As stated earlier, that isn’t as easy as it sounds since every stage comes with different enemies, all of whom behave in unique ways and so you’ll have to pay close attention to them. As you progress through each part of the map, items known as tumors will be floating around and it’s your goal to try and collect all of them. With 12 chapters to jump into, there’s a plethora of things to discover, not just the tumors but also game cartridges as well!

Easier said than done, of course, since some of these things are placed in the most hard to reach areas, and so you’ll need to time every jump correctly in order to secure them. There are also bonus tumors that are randomly scattered throughout each world and they too encourage some form of effort, perhaps more so than the normal tumors themselves. That’s the super fun part about The End is Nigh though, is the constant effort you need to exert in order to collect ever tumor you see. Without the tumors being a part of the game, much of the fun factor would be taken out to be quite honest, and would feel like any other typical platformer. The crude humor and snarky remarks from some of the corpses you encounter also give the game more vibe, since that interaction will be always be different every time.

If you’re not passionate about 2D puzzle platformers, we will be honest and say that, due to the repetitive nature of having to hop over obstacles it can grow tiresome for some. So with that in mind, unless you’re really looking for a new fresh approach with a very rewarding appeal, then The End is Nigh may not be for everyone. Those that do fancy this style of play will find themselves right at home since there’s always a new route to discover, tumors to collect and a ton of crude remarks to look forward to.

In closing, we had a blast playing The End is Nigh and for a ported title, it runs exceptionally well on the Switch. In fact, if we had to choose which version was best, we’d have to go with the Switch because, for some reason, games of this nature compliment the handheld hybrid so well. You can take the challenge with you on the go and grind your way through every stage on the way to work, or even on the toilet. There will be a lot of frustrating moments while playing but it’s those moments that reignite your senses and give you more reason to come back to beat your score. There’s never a shortage of ideas to come up with and the game only truly becomes a bore if you make it so. With its vibrant colors, responsive controls and seemingly endless replay value, The End is Nigh is a holiday item worth putting under the Christmas tree.

The End is Nigh is definitely one game that we recommend for anyone who wants to test their skills, and see just how far they take can them without dying. We managed to die over 600 times in the game and that was simply from trying to experiment with new strategies and approaches to level layouts. We do plan on going back in to of course lower our death count, now that we have a more concrete understanding of how each level is mapped out. The trial and error appeal of The End is Nigh is what will keep you hungry for more, and in the long run urging you to grab every single tumor in the fastest possible time. Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Twitch to know when we go live with all the latest games, of course when fresh news appears! Let us know what you think of The End is Nigh down below, and we’ll see you again next time.

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