On its own, Steel Empire is a fine shmup. As a remake, however, it's a bit lacking. The level design and mechanics were left mostly unchanged, and the lack of difficulty will leave veterans feeling empty. An overhaul of the scoring system, one that promoted riskier play, would help this title stand out in an excessively-crowded market. That said, it does a fine job of occupying one's time. Also, it will surely appeal to those out there who haven't yet developed a taste for one-hit-kills, and thousands of tiny neon bullets.

Boasting the largest amount of content to date, Wario's latest entry is a masterclass in reinvention, breathing life into old games and somehow making the same three-second long mini-games fans have been playing for years feel new exciting. Just as fresh for series fanatics as it is for those who haven't yet delved into WarioWare's absurdist world, Gold is far more than just a collection of the series' best moments; it's an entirely new game, and a great one at that.

At its best, The Lost Child knows how to engage its audience with a creative take on the monster catching format without leaning too heavily into its Shin Megami Tensei influences. Unfortunately, at its worst, and it is more often at its worst, The Lost Child drags the audience along with an incohesive story, lacklustre dungeon design, and a repetitive battle system. The title isn't entirely without merit as everything does tend to mesh well enough in small doses, but longer play sessions reveal the monotony of it all. The Lost Child is an interesting experience, but perhaps one best experienced at a severely reduced price.

Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition is a must-own for anyone who enjoys a quality action title. Fans of 2D Zelda games will adore this for how it pays lip-service without being derivative. Heart Machine has triumphed by focusing on what people loved about action-adventures, while refining combat and challenge. In the beginning, some might be overwhelmed by the lack of direction; but those who dare to actually play will be greatly rewarded. The Switch Special Edition extras are neat, but the meat and potatoes that make up the sum of Hyper Light Drifter is still what makes it so great in the first place.

Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 03: Vehicle Kit is the most challenging and intriguing to piece together so far, and the set that has the most longevity - their software/adventure pieces may not be the most in-depth RPG/open-world fest, but it's fun and puts the kit to good use. The wheel and joystick, in particular, are what's likely to carry momentum going forward - the Toy-Con that could easily be applied to future games and concepts.

Much like how Boruto has failed to live up to its progenitor, Boruto to Naruto: Shinobi Striker cannot live up to the Ultimate Ninja Storm games. Like most of its type, it gives a huge advantage to those who can play with friends, a guild, or a clan, but even with this, the broken matchmaking leads to crushing defeats on a regular basis. This, combined with the constant delays thanks to unskippable results screens and huge load times, really puts a dampener on the whole experience. It's a shame because there are a lot of good elements here, plus a crazy and addictive combat system. It, sadly, just all feels rather unfinished.

Decent. That's the only thing that comes to mind when thinking about Blade Strangers. Besides the novelty of being able to choose amongst indie game characters from Studio Sanzensen and Nicalis, there's nothing special about this fighter, other than the fact that it's built in such a way that it makes it a perfect entry for genre greenhorns.

Endearingly minimalistic and simple enough without compromising potential depth, Bad North works surprisingly well with its premise, but is ultimately held back by from reaching the greatness it easily could have attained. A roguelike RTT is an interesting concept, but the title does suffer from a lack of traditional level design once the difficulty curve begins to spike. On top of that, freezing can occur when returning to the world map after a mission. Autosave ensures progress is never lost, but it's nonetheless frustrating. Bad North is not a bad RTS by any means, offering a fairly strong first half, but a lack of cohesion between difficulty and level design makes its back half less palatable.

Morphie's Law is not without its good points. The game does run pretty well and the cosmetic customisation options do offer enough flexibility to make a unique dummy. What is worse than having to endure matches of Morphie's Law, though, is how its balanced since having to buy anything with the in-game currency takes an absurd amount of time to accrue. Just stick to Splatoon 2 and its DLC.

Whether interest lies in the survival horror genre or the first-person action adventure, this is a title that delivers an amazing and heart-pounding 25+ hours. It's also noteworthy that a sandbox mode is coming to the game, but as of release it is not an available option. Hopefully, that means a lot of content post release.

There are flashier and more intricate fighting games out there, but SNK Heroines is different - and certainly in a good way.

F1 2018 will likely test the patience of the sim-racing side of its audience, who have increasingly high standards. Ultimately, whilst being drip-fed improvements in incremental fashion, it seems unlikely that Codemaster's F1 franchise will make any grand leaps towards meeting the lofty standards set by dedicated racing simulators.

Hollow Knight in its original PC form was exemplary, but now it has landed on Nintendo Switch, complete with all the bells and whistles that have been laden upon the gorgeous adventure since launch, as well as fresh post-release content. This proves to be the perfect antidote for those suffering from Super Metroid withdrawal symptoms. Team Cherry's ode to Nintendo's great may well have edged past its original inspiration. It truly is the game that just keeps on giving; absolutely sublime, in every sense of the word.

Even though Earthfall is, in most respects, mechanically sound and competently designed, it's still a hard game to recommend. This co-operative FPS never successfully manages to step out of the shadow of its inspiration. The ability to set up defensive measures, including turrets and barricades, is pretty neat. However, that's not enough, particularly when every other moment feels overly familiar and sometimes worse. All in all, this rendition of humanity's last stand won't hold anyone's attention for very long.

It takes a certain level of mastery to avoid falling victim to the problems that follow rogue-likes with randomly generated content. With Polygod's repetitive nature and overall simplistic gameplay, though, it shows that this simply isn't at that level.

Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition is absolutely phenomenal; almost perfect in every way and easily one of the greatest RPGs of not just recent years but all time - easily able to stand alongside the greats not just in this style, like Knights of the Old Republic, but alongside any RPG. It puts Bioware's recent efforts to shame. It's fantastic that it's coming to console and that more people will have an opportunity to play this magnificent masterpiece.

The Cities: Skylines - Mass Transit DLC is unfortunately not the most essential DLC for those who are wanting to add more to their city. The additional vehicles, hubs, and depth of control are not so much a welcome addition but just a pleasant distraction. However, what this DLC has done is prompted Colossal Order and Paradox Interactive to update the user interface on the PlayStation 4, now making Cities: Skylines a must have recommendation for any simulation fan, even more so than it was before.

Sabotage Studio proves its worth by delivering an title that pays homage to Ninja Gaiden but is actually better than its source material; one that nails both the 8-bit, and 16-bit aesthetic. The problem is that, although definitely a fun title, the way it is torn between being a pure action-platformer and a metroidvania really hurts what could otherwise be one of the year's best indies.

The concept of Dimension Drive offers a unique style of gameplay that would melt most brains with the frantic on-screen action, particularly as players have to navigate two different set of maps at the same time on the same screen. From the outset, this particular feature will overwhelm many who aren't familiar with shoot 'em ups, yet with dedication and time, Dimension Drive can offer a gratifying experience once the powers and abilities have all been mastered.

What little flaws there are, are down to the inexperience and budget of the team, something that makes the upcoming sequel very exciting. Imagine what can be offered now. This new release on Switch gives another platform of players the opportunity to see what it has to offer and reminds those who experienced it the first time why Freedom Planet 2 should be on their radar.

It's a rather spiffing package, all told, that manages to find the perfect blend of rip-roaring adventure, explosive gunplay, treacherous traps, fiendish puzzling, and crate-loads of loot. Whether tackling it solo or with a group of chums, it's a title very much geared towards repeated playthroughs, which should be enough to give fellow relic hunters, Nathan Drake and Lara Croft, a run for their money. Indiana who?

Lucid is one of the most... mediocre, and forgettable Match-3 games ever, which really does say so much about it, as the vast majority of Match-3 puzzlers are already quite mediocre, and forgettable.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire's first DLC is mainly focused on dungeon crawling, rather than the things that made the core game so awesome, and yet Beast of Winter is far from a boring addition, especially for those who see themselves as scholars of Eora's lore.

Dig or Die attempts to make up for its shortcomings with a simple-yet-engaging experience, where remaining active, steadily building, and fighting back, is a must.

In the end, Mushroom Wars 2 is a beautiful, polished title that lacks balance or diversity—but doesn't necessarily lack fun.

Switching between Kamurocho and Sotenbori with there being so much to do means the action never gets stale, and the new content offers some variety that will spice things up even for people who know Yakuza 2 inside out. That said, the features that have been cut from the original are greatly missed, and the new songs just don't have the same impact as the old ones do, most of the time. It's still definitely worth a play-through if a fan of the series (or even if only recently getting into it), but it's difficult to call it the definitive version of Yakuza 2.

Very basic but highly approachable, with an addictive gameplay hook and cheap entry fee, Jumping Joe & Friends is a strong candidate for impulse purchasing on Nintendo Switch eShop, and offers more depth than its basic aesthetic would suggest. Online connectivity would have done wonders for potential replay value, but for pick-up-and-play Switch gaming, this one is hard to beat.

Marking its first outing on a handheld device, Okami HD retains all of the elegance and charisma from even its non-HD days, packing it all into an epic adventure with a budget price and intuitive control inputs. There is a degree of repetition involved with certain battles and events, but even this takes little away from the tale that unfolds.

No Man's Sky: Next can be impressive at times. It is dense with features and the sensation of lift off and breaking/entering a planet's atmosphere is genuinely magical. It is a mixed bag of mostly good things, but has some really low lows.

Featuring some of the most engaging platforming, combat, and exploration this generation, Guacamelee! 2 excels as a videogame, full stop. Its visuals are at times mesmerising, rooting its aesthetic in traditional Mexican art; the core gameplay loop has a low skill floor and a high skill ceiling, encouraging mastery of the mechanics; and the script irons out the kinks of the first game's story in order to offer a more compelling narrative with a stronger comedic identity. Guacamelee! 2 is without a doubt one of the strongest Metroidvanias in recent memory.

A free-running joy at home or on the go, N++'s tricky yet gratifying array of platformer puzzle levels ensures a worthwhile purchase, and the online options only extend its already considerable lifespan. With single- and multiplayer options fitting the Switch's form factor and detachable controller attributes like a glove, N++ is a strong consideration for top indie game on the eShop.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season - Episode 1: Done Running lays down a strong foundation for upcoming events of the season, although it focuses strongly on re-establishing past events and linking them to current ones. It ends on a strong cliffhanger that is going to make the wait until next month's release really hard. The story delivery is the strongest seen so far, with improved presentation and voice acting being as good as ever.

Sure, it's possible to receive an especially rare and powerful demon through summoning, but not everyone is going to have the patience for a less than .01% chance. Those who take the time to learn the many intricacies will discover that the results are quite rewarding. A well-equipped and balanced party will overcome the most improbable of challenges. The automated features are especially convenient, and gamers can dedicate as much or as little of their time as desired.

WadjetEye Games has done it again! Unavowed does not disappoint at all, relying on the tried-and-tested formula that has worked so well in the past, but now taking that and polishing it beyond belief, and then expertly blending in themes from popular titles, sprinkling a whole host of fresh ideas into the pot to make for one of the most engaging experiences of the year.

Even the most linear of adventures cannot completely ignore the player's implied sense of possibility and wonder, without seriously affecting the immersion. For this reason, it's hard to feel engaged in State of Mind, despite its highly compelling story content. It might even be more enjoyable to watch a streamer play through it, than do it for oneself. Ouch.

At the end of the day, the whole of The Journey Down is well worth the interest from anyone who is even remotely a fan of old-school point-and-click adventures.

If you have ever been turned off Metroidvanias for their tendency to prove too confusing or challenging, or pined for a larger focus on plot, Iconoclasts is the answer. By relegating the heavy exploration side of the popular genre in favour of driving a captivating narrative and characters to the forefront, Joakim Sandberg has crafted a 2D adventure that comes out as one of the most entertaining of the year, and certainly in the genre as a whole. Don't sleep on this.

Unlike most Minecraft clones, Portal Knights delivers an experience wholly its own and for the most part it succeeds. Playing through the main story is a highly enjoyable experience and for those who are looking for a new sandbox to build in. The home worlds allow the freedom to craft to your heart's content. It's even better with friends, too. The inclusion of co-op was a very wise choice and gives yet another element to elevate it above its competitors.

Dead Cells surpasses expectations regarding gameplay and destroys the developmental cap for pixel art games. It not only reinvents a genre that has seen little diversity in the last decade, it does so in a way that encourages everyone to invest time to improve and progress. The balance between permanent upgrades and complete wipe-out upon death is perfect, as it will never feel too discouraging to reset due to the optimism that the next run will see a further dive into the world.

Overcooked 2 is a fantastic combination of excellent music and vibrant visuals, with gameplay that is as addictive as it is dizzying. While it's not a huge leap beyond the original menu, it brings plenty to the table.

Xenon Valkyrie+ is by no means a bad game, just one that needed a little bit more time in development to better polish the gameplay. The individual elements are interesting, but when put together, things don't gel right. The level design doesn't take advantage of the characters' skills; instead, it puts them through similar-looking cave and industrial levels littered with easily destructible scenery.

Masters of Anima is a great indie title that could have been incredible had it had some more work put in the story to break it away from cliché fantasy stories seen so often. The interest regarding cut-scenes and voice acting wane quickly; the constant grading of performance and time taken to complete fights and missions also break overall immersion at times, making the game as a whole feel more stage-based rather than one grand adventure. What is here, though, is impressively polished and easy to learn. The uniqueness of the gameplay makes it worthwhile for most people to try out.

Suicide Guy is a game where the purpose is to kill yourself, and while this could actually offer a disturbingly entertaining time, the end result is nothing but a simplistic physics puzzler of no importance.

Co-op alien-blasting shooter, Earthfall, is a decent clone of Left 4 Dead... and that's the problem with it, as it should be much, much more than that. Simply put, the foundation is great, but the structure on top of it is not worth the rent.

Zombie-shooter Crimson Earth might not be a part of the worst videogames ever made (that honour belongs to the thousands of sex-themed Steam titles), but it's definitely scraping the bottom of the barrel to find its place amongst them, mainly because its developer didn't even bother to complete it.

Q.U.B.E. 2 is an interesting puzzler with tight mechanics that do a great job at challenging gamers, especially later on. It consistently introduces new elements that add a new aspect of strategy, and these elements cohesively build on top of each other, making for some delightfully satisfying and varied levels. It's a shame that the first half of the game is a bit of a slog, but even then this is still a very solid puzzler that any fan of this genre should consider.

Hours of Darkness is a solid DLC entry for an already great title. It certainly presents a diverse style of stealth oriented gameplay, alongside a different setting to the main story. Seeing the background context of a previously acknowledged Far Cry 5 NPC is also a neat bonus. However, there are issues with the lack of content and having just one main objective in a relatively straight and linear path means that the realistic timeframe of a play-through is going to be somewhere in the region of one to three hours depending on how incentivised the player is to complete side objectives and collect items.

Unlike other racing titles, which have a low barrier-to-entry for newcomers for their more general sense of play, Assetto Corsa is made by professionals, for professionals who truly appreciate the display of the vehicles, while paying great respect to the tracks and the challenge ahead.

With City of the Shroud, the premise is far better than the execution. The five different sides of the story is by far one of the best parts but is buried far too often in meaningless fetch quests and mediocre writing. The combat system would be better served if it was turn-based and deeper, as spamming is simply far more effective and not particularly fun.

The original Hand of Fate had a Vita port planned, which sadly never came to fruition. Hand of Fate 2 on Nintendo Switch shows just how good that port could have been. It's so absurdly addictive and utterly unique. It improves on the original in every way and is a truly unique experience. It takes elements of so many different types of games and mashes them together; a process that usually results in a metaphorical goopy mess, but here it's somehow turned into gold.

ThroughLine Games made the right call in keeping the anima puzzles and platforming elements relatively simple, as well as not allowing Anne to die. These decisions ensure a steady and progressive flow, keeping the spotlight on the game's greatest strengths. With that said, considering how gorgeous the animation work is, it's a shame that the platforming itself feels somewhat cumbersome, and not particularly fluid. Regardless, this is an excellent side-scrolling adventure.

As for Call of Duty: WWII - United Front: DLC Pack 3, it's hardly going to set the gaming world alight, but it does exactly what it sets out to do, with both Operation Supercharge and Monte Cassino being particularly strong highlights.

The Journey Down: Chapter Two offers more and better story content than Chapter One did, exactly like was hoped. Things bode well for the finale and this chapter elevates the overall feel of the trilogy so far from a status of good point-and-click adventure to something more special than the first chapter taken on its own merits may have led some to expect.

Youropa is a fantastic puzzle platformer that is fresh, unique, and delightfully challenging from beginning to end. It constantly throws in new mechanics and upgrades, while still making sure players have mastered each one before moving onto the next and making things more complicated. Its dreamlike atmosphere is inviting, and although the game isn't long, if you don't plan on going for collectibles or using the level editor, every minute of it is a joy to play.

There is definitely a lot of potential here and a base to build on for future titles. Where it slips is simply a lack of content and imagination on the narrative front, with a lot of stereotypes employed within the setting. However, the gameplay fundamentals here are solid, with a fine shooting system and some impressive graphics. A bit more scale in terms of expanding from simply a linear on rails with only 180 degrees of movement stops Naked Sun from really excelling over some of the competition which have done this genre a bit better.

The Journey Down: Chapter One limits itself to simply laying down the premise of a promising narrative but, unfortunately, limits itself to just that and is altogether over fairly quickly. It does nothing else wrong in terms of gameplay or presentation, though, even if the choice of character art is a bit out of left field and hard to adjust to, at first. Player interactions with the humorous plot and colourful cast of NPCs are what build the sympathy towards Bwana, the protagonist, and his companions.

Sonic Mania's Encore pack gets away with having not much to offer because of its almost irresistible price. Super fans will lap this up in an instant, appreciating the addition of two new characters with unique abilities and slightly adjusted zones to put them to use in, but this isn't enough to entice the less hardcore Sonic Mania owner. Completely fresh zones would have really changed that. Guess that's a job for Sonic Mania 2.

It's not clear why Code of Princess on 3DS was ever a cult hit; maybe because it was the only action RPG on the 3DS at the time? Organising a local multiplayer session ends up taking up more time than the time spent playing together since the core gameplay of Code of Princess EX is very shallow and very tedious. Battles just drag on for an eternity as heroes constantly wail on goons, making everyone who is playing feel only regret. What a waste of excellent character designs that they have to be used in such a milquetoast beat 'em up.

This is the Police 2 is presented well, featuring a great visual style, accompanied by an equally great score, but a poorly penned script, coupled with gameplay that is not engaging, keeps it from realising its full potential.

From its story, to its aesthetic, to its gameplay, War Tech Fighters feels like a traditional mecha anime brought to life. It's by no means perfect, often falling into the tedium of repetitive as far as its combat is concerned, but its presentation and novelty are more than enough to keep it a memorable experience all throughout. It perhaps also could have benefited from a story that felt more appropriate and in sync with the genre it's paying tribute to, but, as is, War Tech Fighters is a charming take on the giant robot niche with plenty of love to give around.

In terms of looks alone, One Piece: Burning Blood has great presentation, as it feels like it came right out of a manga. In terms of gameplay, though, it's just a decent, and relatively unpolished, fighter of no importance.

The fan outcry for a physical version of Sonic Mania was enormous, and while it did take a year for SEGA to act, it has ultimately delivered a package that is simply outstanding. After so many bad outings in the series, Sonic's legacy was beginning to turn to dust. Many mistakes have been made in trying to emulate, yet evolve the 2D adventures of yesteryear, with failed projects, such as Sonic 4. Sonic Mania Plus, however, restores the series back to the gold standard. It will be revered for decades with the community who will no doubt set this as the benchmark for any future sequel to the series.

Madmind Studios has successfully created the definitive version of videogame Hell: humdrum, uninspiring gameplay, frustrating level design, stuttering frame-rates, soft locks and crashes galore, unpolished textures, ugly character modelling, sudden inexplicable deaths, and irritating glitches. It is a painful experience from beginning to end, with the only real highlight being the uninstall. An absolute stinker; Agony is most definitely Hell!

In spite of all the odds against Yoko Taro's career, he has finally delivered a true masterpiece that finally delivers on all fronts, including gameplay. Environmental detail aesthetics lacking aside, Nier: Automata is an unbelievable game and one that just might make even the most stone cold hearted gamers well up into a weepy emotional mess. This is a landmark in storytelling that is one that embraces the fact it is a videogame and does not try to imitate film like the way most story-driven titles do.

This is adventure gaming distilled down to its most essential elements, compounded with a healthy challenge and atmosphere like no other.

Overall, this is a great product with a low price tag and high replay value, and deserves attention. Some more bosses and maybe a mode where aliens are playable would really go a long way for the longevity, though. The lack of any character progression means if the gameplay alone is not enticing enough for some, replaying will not be a worthwhile experience.

While Tetris purists may shirk at this block-matching alternative that messes with the formula a little, Lumines is worth a try. Whether it's high scores on the leaderboards, completing strategic challenges, or just filling the void for a couch-multiplayer title, Lumines Remastered has something for all lovers of arcade-type puzzle games.

A few steps above decent, and a few steps below very good, Episode 3: Ripples is another chapter of The Council that is enjoyable, but at the same time a bit disappointing, as it doesn't seem to know what its strengths are. On the bright side, the story finally decides to move a bit faster, making players eager for the next one in line.

There's literally not reason to try out Kingdom Come: Deliverance - From the Ashes. It's pretty weak DLC that, instead of breathing new life into the core game, just adds a short, and not that engaging (or rewarding), quest line.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana does have some light, frustrating moments that await the pure completionists out there, but that comes with the territory. It is a fully realised artistic masterpiece, both visually and even more so in the audio department, and deserves a place in any serious Switch player's collection. To crown it all, everything is tightly packed into one cohesive package that, at retail, requires no additional download and even comes with some neat little bonuses.

There's a surprisingly vast amount of content to discover and unlock in what many may assume could have been a shallow selection. It's a refined package that, whilst still harks back to the Wii era, feels more in-line with the Nintendo Switch offering for the most part. There are some odd control decisions for solo Joy-Con users, and some odd mini-games in the pot, but Go Vacation is a solid destination to visit.

This is one of the best strategy games in years, with engrossing combat and a fantastic story. The difficulty is almost perfect, making the battles rewarding without being trivial and players may find themselves actively seeking out more fights. It is entertaining from top to bottom.

Shelter Generations is a considerable disappointment. This whole package seemed filled with promise but each and every element is terribly flawed in its execution. Shelter 2 feels like an empty world, meaning it regularly begins to feel dull, and even when the world has enough content, there isn't enough development in the story or the core gameplay to keep things interesting.

Bomb Chicken isn't going to be breaking any molds. What it does, countless others have done before, and better. That doesn't mean it isn't a ton of fun, though, if a little brief. It is an ideal new title for speed-runners to stream, and all-in-all a fun, addictive, crazy, little arcade experience. Based on this, Nitrome is one to watch; it certainly has a promising future ahead.

To its credit, The Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker does work far better than it should given how much the randomness holds it back, but it could have been significantly better with a more focused storyline.

MOTHERGUNSHIP is tons of fun to play, but it's also that kind of FPS that doesn't really evolve the more you play. The ability to create weapon cocktails is simply awesome, but the action itself is way too repetitive to let that shine.

A mixed bag of emotions and gameplay sum up Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. A lot in the way of graphical fidelity has been hacked away at in order to get this on Nintendo Switch, but it is quite clear those who are interested in this FPS know exactly what to expect on that front. Despite the obvious visual downgrade, coupled with the pacing and storyline issues, there is still a solid arcade game here that can sit alongside DOOM (or maybe the next shelf down).

Octopath Traveler is an extremely satisfying storytelling experience vastly different from other traditional JRPGs out there. The eight stories followed over the course of the game are all compelling in different ways, and each is engrossing in different ways. The combat is simple, yet nuanced, and building party compositions never stops being a fun exercise as the adventure presents each new challenge. The pacing does have some small missteps here and there, especially as the world opens up between each major act, but it's a tiny hurdle in an otherwise magnificent experience.

There is nothing so innovative about Super Destronaut DX that it becomes a recommendable title to friends, but it makes for a good half an hour break from more interesting games. The challenge mode is worth a playthrough and a few may be excited to try and secure a place on the global leaderboards in the classic game mode. If only there was more visual clarity that made the game feel a bit more skill-based and not visual-ability-based. The very worst case scenario is that players will listen to a really cool soundtrack while changing up the gaming session for a few minutes.

Ultimately, I Hate Running Backwards is a fun, worthwhile experience. At the same time, though, it is largely a fleeting sort of fun. For some reason, it feels eerily reminiscent of those mobile games that people play in brief spurts while waiting for something better to do. It is that same kind of hectic, fast-paced fun that sadly doesn't really last and is forgotten about almost as soon as it gets turned off. It is sort of the videogame equivalent of being chased by a bear.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle - Donkey Kong Adventure turns out to be much less focused on strategy this time around but more on the actual enjoyment of the story and universe with more laid back battles that are easier to approach than the rest of the full package, in no small part due to how powerful Donkey Kong and Rabbid Cranky are in battle. The base game had lots of charm with its colourful and humorous universe and this is all intact here, if not even more pleasant than ever before.

Yes, combat wise, The Banner Saga does nothing new, but it does the basics very well, and the difficulty is well-judged for the most part. Clunky and poorly-explained HUD aside, this is a worthy addition to most Switch libraries, and fans don't have long to wait until The Banner Saga 3 is also released.

Fortnite on Nintendo Switch is a well done port despite its graphical downgrades. It contains the same great Battle Royale gameplay the title is known for, and it's just as addictive and exciting as ever. Collecting materials, swapping out guns, and building forts never gets old, even though you are going to be dying a lot. If you have never played the game before, then this is the perfect time to give it a shot, especially since it's free to play.

Koihime Enbu RyoRaiRai is a solid fighting game that feels satisfying to play, while being accompanied by a great soundtrack and pleasing graphics. It may not have many modes, but what's on offer is enjoyable enough to be worth recommending to fighter fans, even to those who aren't necessarily experts. The removal of Scenario Mode is unfortunate, but the rest of the new features still make it superior compared to Koihime Enbu.

A mobile-esque, generic, repetitive, and mind-numbingly easy shooter, with subpar audio-visuals, Assault Gunners HD Edition is a waste of time and money, even for the most passionate of Mech fans.

Switch is becoming the new Vita, stuffed to bursting with indie darling ports from PC, giving a whole new audience the chance to experience them. However, it's also meant an influx of mobile ports that are not quite as memorable. Tiny Troopers: Joint Ops XL falls somewhere in the middle. There's a ton of content here for the low price of £9.99, but these games are sadly artificially inflated with repetitive, boring gameplay that really shows its age.

Puzzle games for handheld devices have been a staple since Tetris on the original Game Boy, and while Nintendo Switch is hardly lacking in them, especially with Lumines Remastered hitting recently, it's always good to have more, especially when they do anything to stand out against their competition, like Azkend 2: The World Beneath does. The story mode and equippable tiles give something unique, while the extra modes give the same type of replayability that makes these types of puzzle titles so popular.

Aside from a few minor grievances, this port of Groove Coaster is more than suitable for fans of rhythm and music games. The included songs are all great and will definitely put up a stiff challenge. As for the user-interface, it's minimalistic and easy to navigate. The support for various control schemes is really appreciated. Given enough time and dedication, players will find a style that works for them. The Non-Stop Mix mode is a really fun addition, as well.

There is not much to Clustertruck, yet for a game with that kind of title, it is far more enjoyable than it would suggest. This is a silly, arcade-style guilty pleasure that manages to delivers a satisfying laugh and not much else. There is not much substance here, but there is enough that does put it above most Youtube-bait schlock, since it does have a thoughtful rising challenge and unlockable abilities that can offset the unpredictability of the physics engine.

A Rite from the Stars is worth playing through at least once, if only to appreciate how rich Makoan culture is, but it fails to improve upon the point-and-click genre in any substantial way.

Despite all its exterior polish, TurtlePop: Journey to Freedom is a bit of a mess. It's trying to pull elements from multiple different genres, but it does it in a chaotic way that leaves the player little time to process what's happening on-screen. It's a constant battle with the controls to switch between the various turtles you need to control, and to also manage the genie, all while various on-screen hazards endanger the player's shot at a perfect score. The co-op mode slightly alleviates some of these issues, but it doesn't do enough to fix the fundamental issues with this quirky puzzle-platformer.

As Rifter is in some dire need of some polishing here and there, it falls under the category of those titles that are very good, but also hard to recommend to just anyone. Those who can handle its flaws, however, will get to enjoy a tough, and surprisingly fast, platformer that's built for those who love speed-running.

The asking price of £8 for Animated Jigsaws: Beautiful Japanese Scenery is simply far too high for this. The fundamentals are heavily flawed; the puzzles are far too limited; the animated features are completely underwhelming; basically, there are far too few positive aspects here. The scenery is nice, at least, but not worth buying this game for. It feels like a free phone title.

While MXGP Pro is mostly an attractive, enjoyable experience, that represents the sport quite well, even avid fans should ponder long and hard over its longstanding flaws before indulging.

It's an astonishing feat to have fully translated this complex console game to a handheld with all the bells and whistles intact, and despite a handful of technical shortcomings, it's still just as adorable and joyous as it was three years ago. The home consoles may offer a more convenient, well-polished version, but 3DS owners could do a lot worse than to delve into the captain's trials in handheld form.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is an absolute joy to behold, from its cute visual styling and delicious soundtrack and audio utterances from the main characters, to the expertly crafted self-contained stages, jam-packed with smart puzzles to solve and a plethora of goodies to uncover. This was one of those Wii U gems that thoroughly deserved another shot at the limelight, and with its excellent new additions now, it is indeed time to shine bright.

MUSYNX is an excellent entry point for anyone looking to get into rhythm games, but the difficulty can ramp up early on, despite the fine-tuning and customisable controls that are available. With over 90 tracks here, it certainly isn't light on content, but there really needs to be improvements made to the presentation to make it a little bit more accessible.

Story expansions are fun for most titles but this completely separate rogue-like experience is a refreshing way to revisit the Prey universe and is a justifiable purchase for all survival simulation fans.