WWE 2K26 is the third mainline WWE game on a Nintendo platform in nine years. 2K has been building on a foundation of the core game for many years, now, and the year-by-year refinements are paying off. Handheld gamers will be eating well knowing that they can continue their Universe progress on the go. For those who haven’t played a WWE game for a while, this will feel amazing given the plethora of modes, which can feel intimidating and overwhelming at times, but having that many content options is not a weakness but a strength to the longevity of WWE 2K26. Those who buy WWE annually may not feel enough of a big leap from year to year, but given Nintendo Switch owners have been largely starved of the franchise, then this shouldn’t be the case at all.

With flawless pacing and poignant voice acting, paired with a captivating story full of intrigue, The Drifter goes above and beyond all expectations. The novel twin-stick control scheme makes playing with a controller surprisingly comfortable, a first for a point-and-click adventure game, while purists can still enjoy mouse mode using the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con. The art is beautiful and stylish, the music appropriately brooding; The Drifter might be the most polished and expertly crafted adventure game of all time.

Repetition of enemy design and dungeon levels at a certain plot point make Crystar tough to endure. However, the way tears are used in terms of story and equipment is highly inventive. The macabre narration is sensitively handled, with the depiction of depression expressed exceptionally well. Desiring the sisters to be reunited is a constant theme, but even that has several twists, and finishing Rei's journey causes its own bittersweet feelings. Post-game content includes fighting previous bosses again, but replay value is high as the tale is so engaging.

While Devil Hunter Edition may not match the suite of technical features and bonus modes from the Special Edition, players will still find that this is an exceptional port of a great game that is unbelievably hard to put down. Vergil is here, and he is still the most important addition. Devil May Cry 5 is widely regarded as one of the best games Capcom released during its redemption arc, which kicked off with Resident Evil 7, and for good reason. It's jam-packed with polished action, thrills, and some of the most refined and ridiculous 3D combat ever designed.

If the good old days of PS2-era JRPGs are still being pined for, Xenoblade Chronicles will satisfy that craving and then some. There aren’t many games of this substance still being produced today, and there is no excuse to not give it a chance with Definitive Edition’s Switch 2 update. While it is disappointing that the 60fps target slips up in heavier situations, the vast majority of the time it delivers a smooth performance that greatly enhances the experience, and the 4K resolution upgrade brings out the best of this beautiful world. The addition of the Ether Jet positively serves to streamline slower parts of exploration and comes especially welcome for handheld questing.

Make no mistake, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is a beautiful game top to bottom. Combat is phenomenally varied, fluid and rewarding, alongside customisable perks and buffs for Elliot’s extensive arsenal of weapons. The world map is impressive to an extent, but there is a bit too much repetition across the various time periods, including having the same enemies. Nonetheless, puzzles, exploration and the wealth of combat options make this a must play for action RPG fans, and should certainly scratch the itch for those looking for a combination of HD-2D and old-school top-down Zelda games.

Toll Booth Simulator starts with an…interesting premise and every now and then hints at the sort of addictive routine that makes such games so enjoyable - but it quickly loses focus, burying its most promising ideas beneath a mountain of puddle-deep mechanics that aren’t even particularly entertaining. It’s a repetitive grind wrapped in an experience that feels unfinished and unpolished. Some players may appreciate the sheer variety on offer and enjoy the process of paying a large debt dollar by dollar. Just like in real life. Gee, thanks game.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 doesn't get everything right, but, much like the Spider-Men themselves, it puts its best foot forward and tries to be what the world wants it to be. Its enhancements to gameplay distinguish it from what came before it, and even if its story stumbles around, seeing characters like Miles Morales and Venom fully integrated into its universe has an undeniable allure that makes up for some of its faults. Insomniac Games has done it again, and with some further fine tuning, their next game is sure to be another crowd pleaser.

The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe is an absolute masterpiece of interactive storytelling that uses the medium of video games to interrogate the very nature of player agency and narrative design. By expanding upon the brilliance of the original release with an equally sharp, deeply philosophical layer of new content, this package achieves a level of creative brilliance that is secondary to none. It runs flawlessly on the Nintendo Switch hardware, delivering a beautifully polished, profoundly funny, and conceptually unmissable adventure that represents the absolute pinnacle of meta-fictional design.

Ember Lab has delivered an adventure that stands tall among the finest experiences available on Switch 2, shaped with care, overflowing with atmosphere and strengthened by a world that rewards curiosity at every turn. The blend of exploration, challenge and heartfelt storytelling creates something that lingers long after the credits roll, and the technical performance ensures that nothing distracts from the journey’s emotional pull. This is a standout release for the system, confidently crafted and easy to recommend to anyone seeking a rich, absorbing and beautifully realised action adventure.

Cities: Skylines – Race Day offers a more layered, involved, and on the whole fun experience than most of the game’s expansions, and it’s always nice to see old games still being supported. That support does come at a cost, and the price tag attached to this expansion might have felt a bit lighter if it had launched with a little more polish. Diehard fans of the city builder will love this DLC, and newcomers will start their cities off with a few new layers of depth and mechanics that feel natural and make cities pop with more life.

Forza Horizon 6 is an absolute tour-de-force that represents the definitive pinnacle of the open-world racing genre. By combining a breathtakingly beautiful, incredibly rewarding realisation of Japan with peerless handling mechanics and spectacular audio design, Playground Games has crafted a driving adventure that is secondary to none. It handles its massive scope with a level of polish and artistic mastery that is rarely seen in modern game development, delivering an addictive, joyful, and deeply immersive package that sets a magnificent new benchmark for the industry at large.

A respectful and intelligently designed modernisation that surpasses the original in almost every measure, The 7th Guest Remake has better puzzles, better storytelling and better audio-visuals, especially when it comes to the vastly improved live-action scenes. The fact that it began its life as a VR game is evident in the annoying way some puzzles control, but in reality, the only big flaw here is that this otherwise fine puzzler lacks the strange, uncanny charm of the older title. A superior piece of software overall, but a less distinctive experience.

Switching between Patrick and SpongeBob, combined with the game’s smooth, polished playability, easily makes Titans of the Tide’s best features stand out. This is a breezy and enjoyable 3D platformer that will please fans of the cartoon and even fans of 3D platformers in general. It looks great and feels great, but there is no mistaking that it's a surprisingly light package that leaves users wanting.

Resident Evil 7 was the revitalisation the franchise needed, with everything suggesting that it may still be one of the best survival horror games in the series thanks to its first-person perspective that brings a sense of dread unlike anything felt before. Played in Switch 2’s handheld format, too, it is a whole other kind of nightmare that becomes the definitive horror pick for the system.

Even stripped of its explicit content, Sinisistar 2 remains an engaging dark fantasy adventure filled with memorable environments, satisfying combat, and an atmosphere few indies manage to achieve. Its unique doujin charm and willingness to embrace grotesque horror and erotica help it stand out, but all these are held back by extremely limited progression systems, simple gameplay mechanics, weak rewards, and a very short duration. Sinisistar 2’s cardinal sin is that it never quite develops its full potential.

Tales of Arise is a righteous action RPG and stands tall as one of the best Tales entries yet. While some story beats are a bit tired and cheesy, it has a lot of heart and unbelievably dazzling visuals. After a while, it's easy to overlook the tropey writing and dialogue because the world is immersive and the combat feels great, even at 30fps. Any game with fishing in it can't be all bad, but Arise is already so superb that non-fishing fans will still delight in it.

eFootball Kick-Off! is a reminder that football games do not need to be overloaded with features to be enjoyable. When the fundamentals are strong and the design is focused, the result can be just as compelling as any big‑budget alternative. With this release, Konami has successfully tapped into its roots, giving Switch 2 players a superb reason to hit the pitch. It is a confident and enjoyable revival of Konami’s classic football philosophy, built around tight controls, smooth animation, and a generous range of modes that suit both newcomers and long‑time fans. The limited licences and occasional commentary hiccups do little to diminish the strength of the on‑pitch action, and the absence of pay-to-win microtransactions makes the overall package even more appealing. This is a focused and highly entertaining football game that understands exactly what it wants to be and delivers it with clarity.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero on Switch 2 is once again a great testament as to the reliability of porting on Nintendo’s system. While some compromises have been made with frame rate and aspects of the visual presentation, the majority of the rest of the experience stands up strongly alongside the other consoles. Sparking! Zero is no doubt the premiere Dragon Ball experience for fans who want to fight it out with a huge roster of characters in some of the series’ most iconic match-ups. While this is more of a DB simulator than a straight-up fighter, the simple pick-up-and-play beginnings mask what is actually a surprisingly deep brawler. The lack of a traditional story mode for purists of the series will hurt some, but the what-if aspect of the campaign is a true delight and does a good job in renewing interest in once again going through the well-worn adventure.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is one of the best-looking games the game industry has ever produced. It's not even that it's realistic. The art does a lot of the heavy lifting in creating beautiful and atmospheric scenes. The core gameplay is rock solid and hard to put down when it’s allowed to shine, but it’s dragged down by a bloated narrative that takes five hours to tell ten minutes’ worth of story. As a long-time fan who grew up playing Final Fantasy VII back in 1997, Rebirth can be frustrating to experience because, amidst all the trite and misguided creative liberties, Final Fantasy VII is in there somewhere, screaming to break out. At the very least, players will get a lot of bang for their buck because the sheer density of content is so ridiculous that there's enough here for two games.

Ultimately, the Xbox Series X performs nearly identically to the base PlayStation 5. Both consoles share very similar AMD hardware architectures, and the graphical differences are nigh imperceptible to the naked eye. The fidelity mode runs at 30 fps, which is perfect for screenshots and frameable frames, but there is no denying that fluidity makes Rebirth feel better to play. There are two performance options on Xbox Series X: 60fps “Smooth” and 60fps “Sharp”. Both looked and felt almost the same. There was almost no reason for it at all.

Schrödinger's Call is a beautifully tragic portrayal of acceptance, human nature, and the end of the world. This is told in a unique way that combines words and visuals in a distinct visual novel style. It is a very ambitious task that Acrobatic Chirimenjako has taken on, which could have made it feel inaccessible to a wider player base. However, the choice of a visual art style with a familiar mood to classic gothic literature and melancholic fables makes it feel both familiar and fresh. This is an experience fans of literature and gaming should enjoy at least once, maybe even twice, as the story has so many layers that are unlikely to be fully unravelled during a first playthrough.

Starbites needed more time in the oven. Apart from the numerous technical and graphical shortcomings on the Nintendo Switch version, the writing could use some redrafting and editing to punch up the pacing. The RPG gameplay is on the simplistic side and rarely challenging to the point it becomes boring, but it's serviceable for younger gamers who crave a mecha JRPG fix.

Yoshi and the Mysterious Book's pages are bursting with life and creativity. Every stage contains completely original characters and gameplay ideas that ensure a unique experience from beginning to end, and it is impossible to deny the utterly delightful visual style and adorableness of Yoshi and his animations. It is just unfortunate that, although this is a great recommendation for younger gamers, the low stakes and lack of challenging platforming feel like core elements that are difficult to ignore the absence of.

It is so easy to want to fall in love with Kamikaze Empire. It has some truly interesting ideas, such as dying being an optimal strategy, and intriguing challenges that change how one interacts with stages. However, the base gameplay is repetitive and lacks refinement. To make matters worse, the visuals are uninspired and the audio is dull. This makes it difficult for anyone but hardcore gamers to progress past the halfway point of the brief story mode. Unless craving a punishing challenge, it’s best to look elsewhere.

The expectations were so high, but fundamentally, Crimson Desert is a beautifully boring mess. If there is no other intention than exploration and looking at the pretty rocks, this will satisfy in spades. However, for anybody easily frustrated by frankly ridiculous controls, busywork, and a main character giving less conversation than a mute Hylian, it is probably worth a miss.

Is Bubsy finally great? Not really, but he is finally enjoyable. Bubsy 4D can look a bit ostentatious, most of the jokes fall flat, and it has an absurdly short run time, but this is the best the Bubster has ever been. Most people have never taken Bubsy seriously, but maybe they should, as 4D proves there’s real potential in the character if it just had a bit more of that X-factor.

While Mina the Hollower might not play like the games it's clearly inspired by, Yacht Club Games has instead taken bits and pieces from all of its inspiration and combined it with its years of experience on Shovel Knight to create a masterpiece. The demo may not have sold the game's full potential, but the final product surpasses expectations. Going for a full 100% run is a ton of fun, and it’s taking all sorts of strength to not go back and play another full game.

Shadows of Adam comes close to being great. It is hampered by its excessive influences from Final Fantasy VI and requires its own voice to convey a more original and profound story. The combat system is also too restrictive due to the small party size and lack of customisation for most of the game. All the elements are present for an incredible RPG: the art, music, and a fun, easy-to-pick-up battle system. It just needs more of an X-factor and a bit of fearlessness from the developers.

Pillars of Dust isn't a bad game; it's just not good enough to play. For very young gamers who are learning to read and getting to grips with turn-based gameplay, it's a fine choice. For anyone else, there are far better and more worthwhile retro-inspired RPGs out there - from the same developer, no less.

Despite its appealing premise and relaxing facade, Outbound struggles to justify the time (and price) it demands. The slow pacing, repetitive resource gathering, lifeless world design, and lack of meaningful progression drain the experience of excitement as well as comfort. The campervan customisation and eco-friendly concept attached show promise, yet the gameplay loop quickly turns into a mind-numbing chore rather than a therapeutic past time.

Super Meat Boy 3D does some really cool stuff fantastically well, and it's incredibly satisfying, but unfortunately, the game is very unbalanced in this regard. It's a real shame, as with a bit of polishing, this title could easily be one of the best speed-based, skill challenge-style 3D platformers. For fans of Meat Boy, this game is a no-brainer; for others, it might be a little undercooked.

Anyone who's already played the prior versions of Dementium: The Ward won't find any new content or substantial features to warrant this upgrade. An extra chapter would have been appreciated since the game ends rather abruptly, and there are no new modes or levels. This is still a perfectly competent and polished horror game and sometimes still manages to be creepy despite how sparse it is. Hopefully, the sequel can get an equally polished redux and there can finally be a proverbial Dementium 3.

ReSetna is drenched in a unique kind of post-apocalyptic melancholy. Its greatest strength clearly lies in atmosphere, blending cyberpunk decay with cryptic, soulslike storytelling. Exploration is competent, if conventional, while combat demands precision, timing, and discipline. Beneath it all, however, problems emerge. Inputs falter, hit detection feels unreliable, and many battles become tedious wars of attrition rather than tests of skill. Despite patches and admirable ambition, ReSetna never quite transcends its technical shortcomings, leaving behind the frustration of unrealised potential.

Despite a couple of minor issues, Origament manages to be a perfect stress reliever. Its slow pace combined with very smooth controls and relaxing surroundings create a dreamlike experience. However, just as with dreams, the logic does not always make sense, which sadly translates into some very weird invisible walls and difficulty separating what is meant to be explored from what is not. All in all, it is a great game to play through in an otherwise stressful evening, or to just let one's child play as one of their first video game experiences.

Hunt the Night wants to stand beside the gothic greats it so clearly worships, and visually it often succeeds. That said, its haunting pixel art and oppressive atmosphere can’t hide its many rough edges, as beneath the beautiful darkness lies combat that’s stiff and exhausting instead of satisfying, exploration that rarely excites, and technical issues that constantly chip away at immersion. The creation of Moonlight Games is not without merit, but for every moment that captures the spirit of its inspirations, two more remind the player of why these became classics in the first place.

Blood: Refreshed Supply on Nintendo Switch 2 is the most complete and polished way to experience Caleb’s macabre revenge story today. It tastefully modernises the gameplay with quality-of-life features while preserving the dark atmosphere, challenging difficulty, and pitch-black humour that made the original so beloved. This is the ultimate Blood experience that's jam-packed with features and content that will please newcomers and veterans alike, and taps into every gamer's inner goth kid.

The nicest thing that can be said about Mixtape is that it has imaginative visuals and that the animation quality is pretty good. Adventure game fans won't find much intrigue or excitement because the experience is suffocatingly automated, and all the set-pieces offer no challenge. The biggest sin Mixtape commits is that it's ultimately insufferably boring and pretentious.

The Great Circle is, by far, the best Indiana Jones media since The Last Crusade. While its story plays things a bit too safe, it's probably for the best after the last two contentious films (Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Dial of Destiny). Indy works best when he's a young escapist character that men wish they could be. He shouldn't ever be depicted as old and tired, which has been a trend with many legacy characters lately. While Gina sucks as a deuteragonist, the overall adventure is so wonderful that it's easy to forget she spoils the puzzles. The gameplay is tight and well polished, offering classic action-adventure fun packed with puzzles, stealth, and battles to keep things fresh, all wrapped up in some of the cleanest, slickest production values out there. It's an absolute technical marvel on Nintendo Switch 2, and the gyro-aim options make it more enjoyable to play than on other consoles.

Gear.Club Unlimited 3 offers solid handling, a generous car roster, and welcome two‑player split‑screen support, yet the overall experience struggles to rise above average. Technical inconsistency across both visual modes, dated presentation, rubber‑banding AI, and a repetitive progression loop limit the game’s impact, while the absence of online multiplayer reduces its long‑term appeal. There are enjoyable moments, particularly in short sessions, but the Switch 2 debut of the series falls short of the standard set by Eden Games’ earlier work.

For its modest price, Easy Delivery Co. uhh... delivers on its promise and then some. It's a fine blend of relaxing and eerie mystique that drives the intrigue forward while having a simplistic yet addictive loop. The handling and driving mechanics, combined with the object physics, add a nice layer of depth. After all, it’s cool as hell and satisfying to drift with a stack of boxes in the trunk. There really isn't a single aspect to point to that doesn't work. It's the perfect kind of game to wind down to after work on a rainy night.

Vampire Crawlers oozes charm both in its visual presentation and gameplay loop. It truly hits that ‘one more round’ feeling and knocks it out of the park. Whether the game will shape a new genre quite the way its spin-off predecessor did is probably unlikely. However, when it comes to card battling games – and that’s a very competitive field these days – Crawlers has already launched itself right into being one of the most impressive ones on the market. Playing it on the go with the Switch 2 is a bonus as it is the perfect match for taking a quick 15-minute break from work, or as a time sink on a plane or bus journey. Priced at a tenner, the guys at Poncle have also taken on board the benefits of a competitive price point at attracting both fans and casual gamers alike.

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a bold and captivating puzzle game that stands out for its dedication to truly challenging the player. Not everything works; the story is pretentious and hard to care about, with the constant stream of puzzles to work on. It doesn’t help that the big reveal is pretty mundane, not particularly engaging, and veers toward cliché. What makes Lorelei and the Laser Eyes so cool is its distinctive audio-visual style, the open-ended nature of its puzzles, the dreamlike atmosphere, and the sheer boldness of some of its more obtuse puzzle designs that demand admiration.

Jupiter understands very well how to turn a simple puzzle game into something that provides not only hours of playtime, but also changes things up to make them interesting and fun. Couple this with a good dose of nostalgia via Konami retro titles, and there it is: the perfect, (mostly) relaxing, nostalgia-inducing puzzle game to fill your evenings!

For those looking for the tightest combat system that encourages the player to use every tool in their toolkit, Akuma Rise is a fantastic title. For those looking for more than turn-based combat, it is better to go elsewhere. While Akuma Rise encourages world exploration, it just feels cheap and hollow beyond the mechanical aspects. The story is unengaging, and the women in the party are quickly reduced to little more than love interests. Their interactions beyond the honeymoon dialogue are constantly marked by bickering and jealousy. It removes what initially makes them likeable and haves them fit a tight, boring mould seen far too often in the genre. Great traditional combat saves what is otherwise an eye-rolling experience - but it really does carry it well, as it sadly has to.

OneShot: World Machine Edition is an unbelievable triumph of video game storytelling and adventure game design. It's simple enough that anyone can pick it up and figure it out, but it has enough depth to keep it interesting. Its strength lies in its atmosphere, storytelling, and the emotional connection players have with the characters, especially Niko. It’s an incredible experience that takes around five hours to complete, with even more time for those who explore the alternate endings, all for just a few dollars and often available on sale.

Lethal Honor: Order of the Apocalypse stands out in the market in more ways than one. It has a beautiful art style that is not just a pretty artistic choice, but it is breathed throughout the entire game. It dares to be really dark, and most importantly, has some extremely solid hack and slash gameplay to go with the rogue-lite elements. However, "lite" is sadly the best way to describe the rogue elements. This, mixed with the steep difficulty increase after the tutorial, makes this a title that is difficult to recommend to the vast majority of gamers. However, for hardcore fans of the genre, there is probably nothing better to spend the money on this season, despite harsh competition!

Sayonara Wild Hearts is a beautiful-looking and sonically dazzling work of art, yes...but like most arty games, it lacks a compelling hook. The very bare mechanics can be generously called "gameplay", in that there is moving a character on a screen and pressing button prompts, but there's no substance at all. Doing a perfect run and not making mistakes for a flawless music video should be a reward. It shouldn't have been given away to just anyone. Overcoming a "broken heart" is not easy in real life, and that should have been reflected in the gameplay.

InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories has one rule and one rule alone: stress is illegal. Because of the liberating approach to life this management sim has…it turns out there’s not much managing to do. You’re not running a store, you’re vibing in it, restocking shelves just because it feels good to do so, while also helping the insane number of one customer find a can of [insert favourite Asian food]. There’s zero pressure, zero chaos, and honestly, barely a game. Everyone’s nice, nothing goes wrong, and problems probably took the week off. It’s a super-relaxing and charming vacation in a calm Japanese store. A very good one, but probably not for everyone.

Playing this excellent port of Resident Evil Village - Gold Edition in handheld is transformative. The whole experience is here with all of its fingers intact, though the same can't be said of the protagonist. For Nintendo fans who haven't had a chance to play this Resident Evil instalment, this is a fantastic entry point. With a few performance patches, it could well be one of the best ways to play bar none. Successfully following RE7, Village is a good jump off point for people looking for a less concentrated experience than RE: Requiem. Highly recommended horror gaming!

An adaptation of Lovecraft’s popular short story, The Nameless City focuses on exploration and foreboding atmosphere rather than action, while its mundane-yet-otherworldly visuals create effective tension during the hero’s descent into ruins he shouldn’t descend into. There are a few problems that make it a hard sell, however. Some, like a couple of visual flaws, are minor. Others, like the lack of depth when it comes to the gameplay, are a bit harder to stomach. Its brief runtime also leaves ideas underdeveloped despite occasional moments of genuine cosmic horror.

The final part of the original trilogy looks and plays better than its previous two entries, but the cheap difficulty that was introduced sucks the fun out of Ninja Gaiden III. That said, the extra challenging US edition is now more beatable than ever thanks to save states and the rewind feature. By including the original Japanese version, too, there is every chance of getting through Ryu’s third NES adventure without the need to utilise the benefits of this Console Archives release.

While an interesting concept, Magin: The Rat Project Stories just falls short in every department after the beginning. The writing is so filled with profanities that it comes off as immature rather than adult. What is worse, though, is that the card-based combat system becomes repetitive because the game punishes the player for experimenting. Great concept on paper, but poorly executed.

Rogue Incursion can be an excellent Nintendo Switch 2 game if it gets a patch or two to address its technical hiccups. Mouse mode is completely broken and unusable, but the gyro-aim is effective and plays into the game's VR roots. Alien: Rogue Incursion - Evolved Edition is a pretty solid horror game despite its hang-ups and lack of originality. For its modest price, you can expect about five hours of thrills, and it’s solid enough to inspire hope for part two whenever that releases. If anything, a semi-episodic model like this, where a game is released in cheaper yet substantial chunks, shows that the approach can work, letting players enjoy a mostly complete experience without waiting years for a sequel.

A calming, creative experience built around the joy of arranging and personalising small spaces, the simple but cute look and relaxing atmosphere of MakeRoom make it easy to lose track of time while experimenting with ideas. It thrives when you let your own imagination free, as it's more focused on offering a gentle, low-pressure escape rather than gamey, structured goals. Sadly, the clunky controls, its somewhat cumbersome interface, and the lack of placement precision can interrupt the flow, making the experience feel less smooth than it could be.

Does Huntdown pass the test of capturing the spirit of the ‘80s, or is it just another neon-coated imposter? It passes - with flying colours, and probably a slow-motion explosion behind it. It has all the necessary ingredients: the excess, the attitude, the willingness to be completely ridiculous while still delivering something genuinely entertaining beyond the wonderful pixel art that dresses it all. It won’t eat up more than a week of your life (and that’s being generous), but some action games are just better as snacks rather than full meals.

For a low-budget indie 3D platformer on the original Nintendo Switch, Crosak impresses with its visuals and style. If it were a real Nintendo 64 platformer, its controls and gameplay would fall short of classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Super Mario 64, but it would still outperform most of the weaker 3D platformers on the system. It's less of a hassle to play than the vanilla release of Yooka-Laylee, but not as polished as Replaylee. It’s way better than Tail of the Sun, and when it comes to caveman 3D platformers, nothing tops Crosak.

Absolum earns its place as one of the best beat ‘em ups available, with its tight combat and beautiful visuals, and the roguelite elements add enough variety to keep things engaging, even if they aren’t as varied as they could be. No, Absolum doesn’t push boundaries or redefine expectations. It simply delivers a rock-solid, highly polished take on a classic formula that’s consistently fun, especially with a friend - whether that’s an elf or a dwarf.

Starfield combines Bethesda’s signature storytelling, full of rich dialogue, moral dilemmas and intricate side quests, with sci-fi elements like exploration, the mysteries of the unknown, questions of legacy, and the search for humanity’s place in the vast cosmos. It’s more grounded and personal than many epic space operas like Warhammer 40K, focusing instead on the industrialisation of humanity and the commodification of life. There's no escaping Bethesda's signature jank. It's still here, and some NPCs can look like they crawled out of a Walmart on a Friday night, but for the most part...it just works!

For JRPG fans who are looking to dip their toes into the vast deckbuilding roguelike genre, Kazuma Kaneko's Tsukuyomi is a fantastic first step. It has plenty of familiar elements and gameplay loops, in part because of its common roots in the DRPG genre, and because of many deliberate design choices. It is not a two-way street, though, and fans of pure deckbuilders might be annoyed that they can handpick their deck each run. It does, however, make Tsukuyomi stand out in an oversaturated genre, and this more than makes up for its repetitive nature. It is a refreshing mix of old and new: a monster-collecting JRPG and a deckbuilder. This blend creates a highly unique experience; one that's easy to recommend.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream feels like the return of a very Nintendo kind of magic, and a difficult concept to explain without giving it a go. This is the Japanese gaming gurus at their most expressive and charming, with a sequel that still embraces the absurdity. Expanded customisation and Mii gender/relationships options are a welcome change, as is the ability to have more direct interactions to keep the chaos flowing. However, the lack of content sharing and some 3DS modes are a notable miss, something that Nintendo should consider including as a future update. Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is an experience that is truly its own thing - ridiculously bonkers, unpredictable and uncensored. Try the demo if unsure.

For fans of classic, turn-based RPGs or newcomers seeking a beautifully crafted adventure, Sea of Stars is an easy recommendation. Its transition to iOS is expertly handled, ensuring that its sincere homage to the past remains as captivating as ever—now with the added convenience of being playable in between calls or internet browsing sessions.

If Breath of Fire IV had better timing for its release, it probably could have given Final Fantasy a run for its money. This was the last installment to truly capture the feel of a classic JRPG, as later games took more experimental and polarising directions. The original PlayStation era delivered some of the finest examples of the genre, and even now, it’s hard to top what was available then. The fact that Breath of Fire IV still holds up is unsurprising, but it also deserved a bit more care put into its Steam debut.

Though Pragmata is clearly a game that is going to polarise certain players, it is hard to deny the success it is in execution. The compelling story, well rounded characters and curious combat system make this a thoroughly enjoyable and unique sci-fi game. Pragmata can hold its head high with Capcom’s other banger titles. The studio has once again pulled it out the hat, keeping up a recent momentum and signature quality titles.

Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is jam packed full of fan service, from the quippy one-liners and music to the broad selection of courses and characters. The gameplay is frantic, fresh and most importantly fun. There are a unique mix of challenges and customisation that are absent from other kart racers, such as gadgets that modify kart setups, that keep Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds infinitely replayable. All of these elements combine to make the best Sonic racing game that Sega has ever created and should be considered the premier karting experience on Nintendo Switch 2.

Pokémon Champions, at launch, is a solid start to the new Pokémon battling experience on Nintendo Switch. Robust, flexible mechanics for newcomers to enter the battle scene and customisation for more seasoned players. As a free-to-play game, there is a surprising amount on offer - full battle modes and rental Pokémon, with paid content primarily reserved for cosmetics/time savers and storage. Pokémon Champions isn't without its choppy performance in areas and missing content, but it is a strong start that's bound to... evolve over time.

Oh, joy. Legacy of Kain: Ascendance is the miraculous return no one asked for, adding a heroine nobody wanted, and turning a beloved, dark saga into an uninspired, rough-around-the-edges side-scrolling platformer that few if any will enjoy. As for the story and writing, if past titles were Shakespearean poetry in video game form, this resembles a confused school play project. Vae victis? More like vae playeris - woe to the player forced to endure this mess.

Tears Revolude is a frustrating title to play through. It has a lot of potential, but it is wasted due to a lack of polish. The combat system is solid, and there are some nice options to optimise characters; however, there are never any challenges that make good use of them. The skeletons of the characters’ personalities are neat with a lot of sweet backstory, but they are never fleshed out, and the laughable expressions further add to the feeling of soullessness. This is what happens when great people are given too little time to deliver a title on schedule, no matter the end result. For the first few hours, Tears Revolude promises a great JRPG experience, but it never delivers.

It is very rare to see a video game that gets everything right from start to finish, but People of Note definitely falls into this category. It starts off by hooking with flashy musical numbers and never lets go. Whenever Groove is being farmed to buy that latest guitar or triangulation puzzles are being solved, it is always optional and engaging. People of Note is the RPG that players need it to be. Some want a title that constantly makes them think, others want to enjoy a great story, and some want it all. This is one of those gems that will please almost every RPG fan. To add to this, it also has some of the most positive and inclusive writing seen in a video game. Every single element combines into a beautiful harmony, and, just as with music, one can enjoy it either by letting it flow or by analysing its depths.

A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home - Season 1 is the game players wished licensed titles bought back in the 90s-2000s were going to be. It feels like a full Pixar movie to play and participate in. The production value is through the roof across every single area, and no compromises were made to tell the best story in video games in a long time. A Rat’s Quest: The Way Back Home - Season 1 is definitely a must-buy for those who love 3D platformers and great narrative experiences.

Despite initial reservations, Dragon Spira's innovative method of raising party members' stats through minigames became a favourite activity. Coupled with the expected humorous tale, the retro style soundtrack, and interesting outfit and job changes, it nestles comfortably as one of the most interesting KEMCO titles released later on in the Nintendo Switch's life, small niggles aside.

For long-time fans of the franchise, this is an easy recommendation. For newcomers, it’s perhaps best approached with measured expectations and a bit of patience. Either way, Mega Man Star Force: Legacy Collection stands as a worthwhile addition to the Nintendo Switch library and a fitting second life for a trilogy that never got the attention it deserved.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park is an overall fun package for those who want additional challenges and multiplayer features. There's a surprising amount to see and do, alongside the existing campaign - especially the solo training stages. It is a shame, though, that the new minigame portion is strictly limited to multiplayer, with a lack of bots or public online lobbies. For newcomers and existing players, it might well be worth experiencing the standard Super Mario Bros. Wonder release first and consider upgrading only if you crave a second helping.

Pokémon LeafGreen is a showcase of what made and still makes Pokémon games so appealing thirty years later. Timeless critters in a colourful Game Boy Advance palette, the joy of catching and battling, plus a sense of adventure that’s woven throughout. It is a shame that the port lacks additional quality-of-life updates or online play, though. The Nintendo Switch re-release is ideal way for both newcomers and seasoned Poké-veterans to get their Kanto fix, with the benefit of being able to experience FireRed and LeafGreen on the big screen.

Aether & Iron is a very promising title that tells a highly compelling story of power and class, and is crowned with one of the most clever SRPG battle systems on the market. However, it is full of disruptive glitches and bugs that rear their heads far too frequently, which prevent the mind from fully engaging with the wonderful story. Signs indicate that the developers are quick to fix issues as they arise, so there is reason to believe they will get fixed over time. However, at the moment of writing, the flaws are too numerous to overlook. This makes it difficult to fully recommend the game to a wider audience than hardcore SRPG and aetherpunk dystopia fans. For those that love these aspects, though, there are few titles on the market that will scratch that itch as well as Aether & Iron.

A revival of a classic comes to Switch 2 looking slightly worse for wear, although the hit to visual quality is a sacrifice worth having to ensure a smooth docked and portable experience for Virtua Fighter 5 REVO World Stage. The new solo mode is on the grindy side and unfortunately doesn’t add any story scenes that would appeal to offline players, but it serves as a solid alternative to the arcade, and unlocking cosmetics along the way keeps reasons to persist with it high. The focus is on the online portion, which has great long-term potential with rollback and crossplay at the core.

Monster Hunter Stories 3 is a monstrously huge JRPG packed with epic scenes and powerful emotional moments. There's so much to explore and experience in a stunning world set to inspiring music. Missing multiplayer is definitely a blow, and for some, a potential dealbreaker, but what’s here is an outstanding, incredibly fun experience that feels like the start of a lasting legacy. Capcom should take note of what this team has pulled off; the future looks bright, and Twisted Reflection sends a clear message: this spin-off could potentially supplant the main series.

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse is a confident, atmospheric sequel that builds on the strengths of the original while introducing a chilling new legend to unravel. Its blend of branching choices, investigative depth, interactive flashbacks, and understated supernatural tension creates an experience that feels both familiar and freshly refined for Switch 2. It is a tightly woven mystery that leaves a lasting impression.

Off has always been a strange, atmospheric, and undeniably influential RPG - one that’s ultimately more compelling for its ideas than for its gameplay. This remaster is easily the best way to experience it, thanks to its various QoL improvements, even if the new soundtrack may prove divisive among long-time fans. Combat and pacing issues prevent it from standing shoulder to shoulder with the genre’s greats, but its bizarre world, cryptic storytelling, and historical importance still make it a fascinating curiosity for lovers of unconventional indies. You may not end up liking it that much, but it’s the kind of game that’s worth experiencing at least once.

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun and Aiko's Choice are exceptional strategy games held back by some unusual design choices. They're both still solid without any RPG mechanics, but being able to exploit the quick-save in a way that trivialises the experience was a mistake. It would have been nice to have bespoke checkpoints, though that might have impacted the large-scale, open-ended maps. The foundation for engrossing tactical planning and execution is top-notch, yet the story and character motivations end up being the most gripping aspect of the entire package between Blades of the Shogun and Aiko's Choice.

No Sleep for Kaname Date may not offer the gravitas of the two series entries it’s set between, but it confidently provides more of the same enjoyable gameplay and entertaining cast of characters. Far from just being a Greatest Hits album, it also introduces some classic escape room gameplay sections that are thoroughly enjoyable and successfully broaden the scope of the series despite this entry’s shorter length. All told, this is a great prospect for established fans, but probably not the best place to start for newcomers.

Blue Prince is a quietly captivating mystery that rewards patience, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. Its shifting mansion, step‑based progression, and intricate room‑specific rules create an experience that feels both unpredictable and purposeful, offering a rare blend of surreal atmosphere and thoughtful design. It is a game that lingers in the mind long after the day has been reset, inviting players to return again and again in search of the truths hidden within its walls.

Although not all Legend of Zelda elements make the transition where it may have helped, Minishoot Adventures is a creative and successful blend of top-down adventuring and twin-stick shooter gameplay. Plenty to discover, collect and challenge yourself with makes for a thoroughly rewarding experience that, despite feeling like a bit more could be extracted from this genre mashup, will greatly satisfy both classic Zelda and shoot ‘em up fans.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake is a masterful return to one of horror’s most enduring tales, revitalising its atmosphere and emotional weight without losing sight of what made it special. It stands as a reminder that true fear comes not from spectacle, but from the quiet moments where imagination fills the gaps, and in that regard, this new interpretation succeeds with chilling confidence.

Angry Video Game Nerd 8-bit should have been more than a Mega Man knock-off with fewer features. It aims unbearably low and is content to dangle member berries to past episodes of a YouTube series that has become past due. A true successor to The Angry Video Game Nerd: I & II Deluxe should have been bolder and mixed genres or even gone full 3D. The only claim to fame 8-bit will ever have is that it's functionally a lost episode to the series due to the original footage used for the FMVs.

While Khaos Reigns extends the experience of the enjoyable Mortal Kombat 1, the story expansion itself is nothing to write home about. The six new fighters are the meat of the experience, with some fun returning characters from past games and three well-realised guest characters, some of which have shaken up the meta in a positive way. Regardless, this bundle is difficult to recommend as a package, so fans who are only interested in a select few Kombat Pack 2 fighters would be better off purchasing them individually.

For an indie game, the boss fights are really, really good. It's fun having the boss go "movie mode" on the player when they catch them in an attack, and the parrying feels really enjoyable. The fighting to get there, though, is average at best, and the platforming borders on horrendous for how often buttons don't prompt on a teleport-jump, or the dash falls slightly short, leading to unnecessary frustration. At the current price point, Homura Hime is a bit tough to recommend, but will be worth it on a sale.

Pokémon Pokopia could well be the Animal Crossing of Nintendo Switch 2. A familiar world that needs rejuvenation, brimming with potential and a cast of colourful favourites to join the ride. Pokopia has a surprising amount of depth, encouraging both exploration and more structured missions to keep the fun flowing. With almost boundless craft and customisation, the game highlights the strength of the hardware - a technical showcase of a world that rarely stutters, if at all. As a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, Pokémon Pokopia has the potential to become a system seller; a cosy essential with a sprinkling of Pokémon nostalgia.

Japanese Drift Master is an enjoyable single‑player experience with a few rough edges. Fans of Japanese car culture and drifting‑focused gameplay will find plenty to enjoy. It may not reach the heights of Need for Speed or Midnight Club, but JDM delivers a stylish and entertaining ride nonetheless.

God of War: Sons of Sparta is a tedious and garden-variety metroidvania that brings nothing interesting to show to the class. This prequel stretches over 20 hours, filled with unnecessary padding and the least interesting iteration of Kratos yet, relying on trite game design and utterly soulless execution. Young Kratos, stripped of his signature rage, is an utter dullard preaching honour amidst joyless obedience. There’s no fury, no peril, just persistent boredom, proving that some origins are best left as a mystery.

Super Bomberman Collection is the most complete and confident celebration of Bomberman’s early years to date. It blends preservation with modern polish, offers a wealth of content across seven games, and captures the joyful chaos that made the series iconic. Minor technical quirks and limited online features hold it back slightly, but they do little to diminish the overall achievement. This is Bomberman at its most generous, its most accessible, and its most enduring.

An excellent platformer that was one of the most important titles in the early days of PlayStation, beautifully presented here. With tons of interesting additional content, this is an essential purchase for fans of the original. Hopefully in the future, whatever is holding back the faithfully recreated soundtrack will be resolved.

It is easy to see what Fortuna Magus was aiming to do. It tried to be a short and sweet JRPG, something that is always appreciated, since the biggest flaw in the genre is that games sometimes feel padded. However, it maintains the same ratio between padding and the actual story as in longer games in the genre. Worst of all, it does not give important plot points and characterisation the space they need. Combined with a poorly implemented currency that makes characters way more powerful than they should be, it removes the spotlight from the wonderful combat system. Fortuna Magus is sadly a hard pass, except for those who feel the need to play any retro JRPGs on the market. Although there are many great ones published by Kemco alone, one should never have to dive this deep into the barrel for something new to play.

The Legacy of Kain series has sadly been one whose gameplay shortcomings have always kept it down, never truly escaping the confines of the world of cult classics. The same happened with the culmination of the franchise, which once again offered a story worth paying attention to…while everything else occasionally felt like an afterthought. Bad? Not even close. It was a thoroughly enjoyable action-adventure - just one that never quite reached its towering potential. That said, Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered does a fine job at giving it a striking visual upgrade, as well as some much-needed tweaks and refinements, making it the best way to experience the finale(?) of Kain and Raziel’s dark saga.

Madison is a great VR horror game. With a constant biting tension and excellent puzzle design, utilising the camera mechanic throughout, players should be thrilled. It is highly recommended for the install base of PS VR2 owners who are into horror content. Bring a spare pair of underwear and strap in for some very cool spooks.

“A cold-case detective thriller without genuine detecting” sounds more like a strange joke than proper description for this game. Combine that alongside poor storytelling and shoddy presentation, and it’s sad to say John Morley’s final case ends with a pitiful whimper rather than a bang.

If you can get over the fact that Video Hustler isn’t a traditional pool game, there is brief appeal to its unique score-based stylings. Unfortunately, the wonky control method and air hockey-like physics make it difficult to play for even short sessions.

Resident Evil Requiem easily establishes itself as one of the best in the series. The bombastic action and terrifyingly intimate horror are at a fever pitch throughout, with a masterful switching between the two without ever feeling disjointed. This sort of experience can only be achieved through decades of trial, error and triumph, and Requiem shows a keen understanding of what has made the series great over the years - and what can take it to the next level. Polished, enjoyable and sure to put a cheesy grin on every face and shiver up every spine, this is a must-play survival horror title that never misses a step.