The Trail: Frontier Challenge

The Trail: Frontier Challenge is too much of a barebones experience for us to give it anywhere near a solid recommendation. The act of getting about is minimal when it comes to interaction, and the performance issues turn the game into far too much of a slog. The skill tree and the art style itself are two brief high points, but they're not enough to make us recall this trip through the countryside with any degree of fondness.

If you're looking for a colorful and charming simulation/RPG with streamlined gameplay mechanics and a relaxing pace, then you might dig The Trail: Frontier Challenge on Nintendo Switch. It's not without its issues, but the overall experience, the challenges to complete and the skill tree for progress make for a fun release.

I like some aspects of The Trail, such as the calm setting and the sense of fulfillment when finally crafting that recipe that you had been working on forever. But the negatives -- the framerate, controls, and uninteresting story -- do hamper the experience. They are manageable, and The Trail isn't necessarily a bad game. It has its moments, but technical limitations do put a damper on things.

If the core gameplay mechanics becomes quickly repetitive and boring, The Trail: Frontier Challenge is still an original game from 22cans and Kongregate. I would advise you to try it on mobile devices first, before jumping the gun and get this console version especially with a $15 price tag.

Overall, The Trail: Frontier Challenge is a rather pleasant and subdued adventure that scratches the itch for having a progressive system with an enticing premise.