One of the smartest, funniest, darkest and most refined pixel art adventures comes to Switch 2, and it feels made for Nintendo's handheld.

A traditional Zelda alternative with good-feeling weapons-based combat. The Adventures of Elliot's world and characters might grate over time, but it does feel like a good evolution of Square Enix's HD-2D aesthetic.

A lean PS1-era horror revival, but Hollowbody reanimates the fun and the flaws of 90s gaming.

Revives the golden age of arcade racing with blistering speed, couch multiplayer fun, and modern tech – but 4PGP's retro purity also limits long-term depth.

It sometimes exhausts Switch 2's capabilities, but there's still a lot to like in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, from the attention lavished on its memorable cast to a kinetic battle system. Treat it as a Final Fantasy theme park, and you'll have a blast.

A visually unforgettable horror adventure packed with atmosphere, but simple, repetitive puzzles weaken the experience.

Nailing its GBC aesthetic, Mina the Hollower doesn't just ape the past; there are many more modern mechanics and sensibilities at work under the hood.

A slow-burning and brutally elegant blend of Hitman and Batman: Arkham…First Light's Arkham-Hitman mashup evolves into a stylish, inventive and mature take on James Bond that feels meaningful and earned.

A surprisingly likeable but messy, simple platformer, Bubsy 4D is held back by fiddly controls, basic visual design, and repetitive levels. Better than expected, but not purr-fect.

Luna Abyss review: an ambitious indie bullet hell shooter with Doom Eternal energy and Yoko Taro-like design. Bold first-person bullet hell with great atmosphere and combat ideas, but let down by clunky platforming, cluttered late-game fights, and rough edges.

Every kind of racing game imaginable, all under one breezy blue sky, Forza Horizon 6 is a celebration of gaming in its purest form, transforming Japan into a spectacular racing playground.

A clever and pulpy cosmic mystery, Call of the Elder Gods is at its best when the focus is on puzzles, because its world never feels quite as deep as the ideas driving it.

The game delivers believable virtual actors and a sci-fi horror that's at once familiar and fresh, but Directive 8020's focus on lacklustre survival-horror gameplay over a meaningful, choice-driven narrative dilutes what originally made the studio's brand of cinematic horror stand out.

A wonderfully realised, stylised world ripe for exploration, but what you find in Outbound's vibrant wilderness rarely surprises.

TomorrowHead Studio's debut is technically impressive in its use of UE5's lighting. Will: Follow The Light's execution may be bumpier in other areas, while the story might not linger in the memory for long, but it still makes for a stunning and unforgettable trip to the north in all its desolate beauty.

Very much 'Vibes the Video Game', but what a vibe it is. Mixtape expertly captures the joys of youth, where creative flights of fancy turn the mundane into surreal and snappy acts of teenage rebellion. Through its eclectic soundtrack and handmade aesthetic, it's a loving ode to an analogue past you can still reach out and feel.

A fun puzzler wrapped in music culture and its own well-observed lore, where repetition creeps in, but strong writing, wonderful art, and a curated atmosphere keep Wax Heads spinning.

A game that weaves in Yoko Taro and Fumito Ueda influences, and still feels unique, only the occasional camera friction can dampen Motorslice's brilliance.

A little more forgiving but still just as hostile and relentless, Saros is a worthy companion piece to Returnal and another terrific first-party showcase for PS5. It successfully builds on Housemarque's unique talent for beautiful bullet patterns, creepy tentacles and pulse-pounding action that makes you feel in danger while being the danger at the same time.

An ambitious, visually striking cosmic detective adventure that blends smart scanning mechanics with rewarding puzzles. While it rarely threatens, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is soaked in immersive detail that even rises above its bugs.

A bit uneven, but when it’s in motion, swinging, flipping, doing its weird alien thing, it’s hard not to like ChainStaff.

Crimson Desert can feel messy and overstuffed, but it’s also a fascinating, visually impressive, sprawling, and often brilliant sandbox that rewards patience and curiosity in equal measure.

This pixel art throwback nails pick-up-and-play fun, but Basketball Claissics' rough edges, shallow modes, and inconsistent mechanics leave me wanting just a bit more.

Ember Lab's visually enchanting debut showcases its animation expertise that translates well to Switch 2, even if its Pixar comparisons are superficial at best, wrapped in a competent but safe 3D action-adventure title.

A relentlessly nostalgic, often rewarding showcase of '90s games, Marvel MaXimum Collection relies on its arcade classics and hidden gems to paper over the cracks made by its duo of Spider-Man & Venom releases.

A racing reboot dripping in anime style, with unrelenting (but adjustable) speed and an exhilarating system between speed and combat on the race track. Even with an unevenly paced campaign, Screamer nonetheless succeeds in reigniting action-packed racers I thought had burnt out decades ago.

An inventive revival that elevates a forgotten series with deep combat and personality, but uneven pacing, thin content, and inconsistent visuals hold Rushing Beat X back.

While it's flawed and limited, Project Songbird is also a personal, distinctive, and engaging horror game that bends familiar ideas to its tune.