BAKERU is worth a look if you want a bright, brisk action-platformer that keeps changing its activities. Good-Feel’s game pairs taiko-drum combat and character transformations with racing, aerial action, and collectible hunting. Its main cautions are that the challenge is low and a published Switch review reported performance problems; the available evidence does not establish how Switch compares technically with PC.
What kind of game is Bakeru?
BAKERU is a single-player action game developed by Good-Feel and published by Spike Chunsoft. Its story sends Bakeru, a tanuki hero, through a fairy-tale version of Japan to confront Oracle Saitaro and the Festival Troops. Bakeru fights with a taiko drum, while transformation licenses let him use abilities associated with other characters.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Minecraft - Nintendo Switch | $29.83 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch | $52.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate - US Version | $52.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Puyo Puyo Tetris - Nintendo Switch | $18.98 | Buy on Amazon |
The publisher calls its genre “Japan-esque Wild Action,” a marketing description rather than a standardized genre label. In practice, expect 3D action-platforming with frequent shifts in how a stage plays. The Steam listing describes more than 50 stages; Spike Chunsoft frames the journey as travel through all 47 prefectures. Those figures describe different things: stages and prefectures, respectively.
What do reviews say about Bakeru?
What works well
Nintendo Life’s published Switch review praises the colorful presentation, characters, combat, collectibles, and variety. The frequent changes of activity help the adventure feel lively rather than like a sequence of identical platforming levels. This is a paraphrase of that review, not a new hands-on assessment.
#1 Best Overall
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
What may not work for you
The same review finds the game easy and flags performance problems on Switch. Those are the reviewer’s assessments, not results from a controlled technical test. The review page says its original coverage was of the Japanese import and was updated for western-release context. Read the Nintendo Life review for its full platform-specific discussion.
Is Bakeru worth playing?
It is a reasonable choice for players who value cheerful art, brisk combat, collectibles, and a steady stream of gameplay variations more than a demanding challenge. If you want a tough platformer, difficulty is the clearest reservation in the published review. If Switch performance is a deciding factor, treat the review’s warning as a reason to investigate further, not as proof of how the game runs on every setup.
Rank #2
- Explore each stage and then find even more secrets by making your way through the stage backwards on the flip side
- Overcome varied enemies and obstacles, like Zombie Guys, Skelesaurus, Ukiki, and Monty Mole as you seek out hidden collectables; ESRB Content: Mild Cartoon Violence; Genre: Action, Platformer
- Pass a Joy Con controller to a friend for 2 player cooperative exploration
- Clad Yoshi in collectable, protective, handicraft costumes as he makes his way through each stage
Where can you play Bakeru, and is there a physical edition?
The western Nintendo Switch and Steam releases both launched on September 3, 2024. Spike Chunsoft confirms that a physical Nintendo Switch edition released in North America and Europe on February 25, 2025. Steam offers a digital option. Check your region, current retailer stock, and price before buying; availability and pricing can change.
Spike Chunsoft lists English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese text, with Japanese voice. The Steam listing also describes added Hurricane and Spinning Top attacks, a combined move, and a Lantern Boss. Spike Chunsoft says new attacks and an enemy were added to western, Asian, and Steam versions; that does not establish identical content across every regional SKU, so confirm the specific edition you plan to buy.
Rank #3
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
Switch or Steam: how should you choose?
| Consideration | Nintendo Switch | Steam |
|---|---|---|
| Release | Western release: September 3, 2024; physical edition released in North America and Europe on February 25, 2025, according to Spike Chunsoft. | Released September 3, 2024, according to the Steam listing. |
| Format | Digital and physical editions; check regional stock and seller. | Digital listing. |
| Listed text and voice | Spike Chunsoft lists English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese text, with Japanese voice. | Steam lists English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese text, with Japanese voice. |
| Performance evidence | Nintendo Life’s review flags performance problems; it is a reviewer assessment, not a controlled benchmark. | No controlled Switch-versus-PC performance comparison is established by the available sources. |
Choose Switch if a physical copy or playing on the console is important to you. Choose Steam if you prefer a digital PC purchase, but do not assume it performs better than Switch based on the sources cited here. Compare the current price and confirm that the listing matches your region and language needs.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Ferocious Competition - At the heart of Puyo Puyo Tetris is the fighting spirit of players competing against each other to be most clever, cunning, and quick-witted one to set up devastating attacks on opponents. It's the classic easy-to-learn puzzles mashed up into a multiplayer battle like no other!
- Adventure Mode - The game also has a single player mode with ten unique acts, eatch with ten stages. They feature different characters from the Puyo Puyo or Tetris universes and have unique challenges to learn and master game mechanics that players must overcome!
- Arcade Modes - Online play has Puzzle League, which tracks players' ratings, players can save replays to upload and share, and more.
- There's also an in-game shop players can use their points to unlock different Puyo and Tetrimino skins, background music, stages, and more.
Sources
- BAKERU product information, Spike Chunsoft.
- BAKERU on Steam, including its listing and release details.
- BAKERU, Spike Chunsoft.
- BAKERU Review (Switch), Nintendo Life.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
