While I don’t generally mind most types of puzzle games on the Switch, I can’t help but wish there were more in the action-oriented mold. There are some great ones out there, but it is one of the less represented flavors, for sure. Enter Pearls of Atlantis: The Cove, a title I was worried would be a bit too much like either Bust-A-Move or something like Zuma, but thankfully does things its own way and is refreshing.

While the other games in the space have you shooting colored balls at the ceiling, or long chains of other balls, hoping to make matches and clear the stage, in this case you’re firing down. Initially this doesn’t seem to be terribly interesting, as everything is on one level and relatively well contained, outside of the fun when the balls settle and you can get some matching action going. As you move into higher levels though, things open up and the formula proves to open the door to greater variety.

For one, there are opportunities to use the power of your shot to knock other balls around, somewhat like on a pool table. This can work to be disruptive and kick off potential chains, or simply to show some strategy and get certain colors into a better position. Where it gets even more fun is when you have multiple levels of platforms that are usually curved, and you can work to force certain colors down to an area below that may have more matching colors. It may not quite be a revolution, but I do like how it changes things up a bit and seems to make the most of it. While I could do without the pretty simple story and “connective” tissue away from the puzzles, this still proved to be a pretty good time.