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.

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.

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.

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

A colourful, accessible spin-off that distils the heart of Monster Hunter into a breezy JRPG. Beneath the anime charm lies surprising depth, even if repetition and grind occasionally dull the hunt.

A hand-painted, emotionally rich puzzle-platformer blending cinematic storytelling, inventive puzzles, and a meaningful companion dynamic, Planet of Lana 2 expands on everything loved about the original but no more.

Blending brutal third-person action with intimate first-person horror, resetting the series with stunning visuals, smarter enemies, and bold narrative ambition, Resident Evil Requiem may be familiar, but it's executed with confidence, polish, and genuine dread.

A stylish, tightly focused horror game with bold ideas and striking art direction, Crisol: Theater of Idols may not push every theme far enough, but its cohesion, world design, and confidence impress.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 is the best remake so far in Sega's crime epic. As the entry that excelled at showing a different side to Kiryu, it's been greatly expanded with new, meaningful actions and activities. Even if some of it is familiar and repackaged, it's still full of heart.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is a high bar not just for remaking but for reimagining a beloved gaming classic. It feels just as great to play on Switch 2 without compromises, even if this port doesn't fix some of its existing flaws.

This beautifully realised adventure earns every step you take through its hand-drawn world, and makes Metroidvania feel accessible.

Big Hops is one of the most original non-Nintendo 3D platformers you'll play that makes the most of its tongue and veggie-based mechanics, leaping just short of greatness to the genre's highest bar.

A clever retro-inspired adventure with deep, endlessly absorbing combat and a superb story. Octopath Traveler 0's music and charm shine through, even if some poor side-missions and a basic village builder hold it back.

A confident sequel that finally gives the series its own identity, but The Outer Worlds 2 feels like an evolution of ideas rather than something new.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is beautifully made, blisteringly fast and defiantly old-school in its approach to combat and design. No rules are broken or rewritten, but fans and newcomers will find joy in the game's aggressive, approachable gameplay.

Not just Lizardcube's most visually accomplished game to date but a fantastic revival of another long dormant Sega franchise that doesn't stand to toe-to-toe with this summer's other major 2D ninja platformer but even tops it with its stylish and satisfying combo-based combat, killer finishes and Metroidvania-lite upgrades. Shinobi is truly back with a vengeance and it's never looked better.

If you want to drop into the arcades of the 1980s on your Switch, Operation Night Strikers is a collection that demands attention. More than simply letting you replay the games as you remember them, it revitalises that love for snappy, uncomplicated arcade shooters.

The best 2D Ninja Gaiden game that pays homage before surpassing the original as a thoroughly modern pixel art action game, from its gorgeous and gory visuals to a delicious suite of cool mechanics with room for changing up your playstyle, with plenty to keep you coming back. The next 3D title in the franchise this autumn, as well as Sega's own Shinobi, has got its work cut out because the bar has just gotten higher.

A surprisingly fast and aggressive Soulslike with enough creativity to excite, but fundamentally, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers doesn't subvert the genre or offer enough to break free of its inspirations.

With layers upon layers of delightfully executed ideas that also pay tribute to the classics, this isn't just by far the best Switch 2 exclusive but probably the best game you'll play this year. Move over Astro Bot, the top banana is here.

Tracks new and old look gorgeous, items boast high visual impact, and I'm not yet bored of scooping up costumes, but the top level gameplay changes are not easy to ignore. Perhaps my biggest gripes will be addressed in a patch down the track, but for now I'm not sure World is yet ready to replace my party game mainstay or its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

If you want to showcase what Switch 2 can do, plug in Fast Fusion and let rip – beautiful, fast and innovative. The only drawback is a lack of online multiplayer.

It’s ambitious, can be occasionally ambiguous, but Blades of Fire is relentlessly original and delivers a fantasy world unlike anything else you've experienced. Blades of Fire is a glorious oddity.

This retro game collection features some all time greats and offers a lesson in bold design. The great – SF Alpha 3, Capcom Vs SNK, Project Justice, Power Stone – remain great, but a couple of filler entries hold back Capcom Fighting Collection 2.