Breakout: Recharged

Breakout: Recharged features a standard brick-breaking concept that still resonates today, and the addition of power-ups is a nice touch. However, those changes only bring it on par with what others did in the space decades ago, and when compared to a few of the other brick-breaking games on the Switch alone, this feels rather bare-bones. You can give it a shot if the name Breakout strikes a chord, but don't be surprised if it doesn't draw you in like the other modern brick-breaking games.

The developer knew to keep the focus on the fundamentals - multiple game modes to keep things fresh, a way to play with friends, leaderboards, and a clean look. If you're not a fan of brick breakers, then this won't convert you. But if the last one you played was Arkanoid, then you're in for a fun revisit.

Breakout: Recharged is a fun spin on the classic formula but one that isn’t as memorable as some other games in recent years. It plays good and it’s nice that you can play pretty much all the modes with a friend locally. Fans of Arkanoid and Breakout games will enjoy it so long as they aren’t looking for something that changes up the formula drastically.

Breakout: Recharged is a safe game. Definitely not the biggest innovation in the “block breaker” genre. Much of what it offers has been seen in the past, and some gameplay issues end up getting in the way. However, the title is still a competent arcade release, with strategic gameplay, plenty of replayability and challenges that, when not based on luck, entertain while they last.

Breakout: Recharged is a simple affair, but it’s a wonderful recreation of a classic game. A great job has been done in modernising Breakout, and the new challenge mode makes it a worthwhile investment. It may be available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox too, but it feels particularly at home on Switch, where the handheld format makes it perfect to pick up and play in short bursts.

The problem with Breakout: Recharged is being asked to pay the thick end of a tenner for something that doesn't re-invent the wheel, and can be experienced better elsewhere. Sadly it just represents poor value.

Atari's Recharged series has produced some fantastic remakes of classic arcade hits, but that series' latest entry, Breakout Recharged, is definitely its weakest so far. That's less the fault of the dev teams or the work they've put into these releases, and more the core game itself, as the original Breakout could only receive so much modernization before becoming a totally different game. The result is that Breakout Recharged will satisfy a specific segment of players who can enjoy its more simplistic gameplay, while leaving most everyone else wishing there'd be more to see and break here.

Among the Atari retro reduxes I’ll admit that Breakout was one of the titles I was most excited to see enhanced...

While there is fun to be had with Breakout Recharged, I really can't suggest you go out and buy it at lunch. At $10 the game is simply overpriced and not worth your time. When the game is finally on sale, that would be the best time to experience this version of Breakout. Otherwise there's a really good Atari Flashback Collection on Switch, which is a much better investment to enjoy these classic games.

It’s not perfect, but for the five hours of core single-player gaming you’ll get out of its challenge mode–and many more that casuals and die-hards alike will glean from its simple arcade mode and online leaderboards–it’s a sound casual investment.