Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival

Since it was launched without as much fanfare as other Nintendo games, you might not have heard of this spin-off that adds a board-game twist to the popular town-simulation franchise, but you're not missing much. Sure, those Animal Crossing characters are so darn cute, and the integration with amiibo figures and cards work very well, but there's just not that much meat here. Roll the die, move down the board, watch an animation play out, and then it's someone else's turn. It never feels thrilling or competitive like a game of Monopoly or chess, which reduces the fun of playing with a friend or a family member.

The highlight of amiibo Festival is called Desert Island Escape. This is a one player mini-game that lets you control a team of three characters, each with different powers, but they all have to work together to gather materials and get off the island. Some of the eight mini-games are fun, but most are straightforward and unexciting. Plus, unlike other Nintendo board/party games such as Mario Party, you can't play mini-games while playing the main board game -- you'll have to wait your turn before you get a chance to influence the game. The result is a game that falls short of the elements that made Animal Crossing such an enjoyable experience.