Some may find the lack of challenge from both the enemies and puzzles a bit of a shame, and it could perhaps have done with a bigger mansion to explore freely, but from start to finish, Luigi's Mansion 2 is nothing but pure enjoyment, full of that wonderful Nintendo charm and magic that has made so many of its games such a joy to play over the years.

No doubt about it, VVVVVV is one of the best games out on the 3DS eShop. It is a wonderful reminder that, in an age of super powerful consoles with HD and 3D graphics, old-school 2D games with simple concepts can still deliver some of the most addictive and downright fun entertainment.

The Angry Video Game Nerd: I & II Deluxe may actually have permanently damaged any further AVGN episodes by James Rolfe. By taking all those years of experience reviewing the worst of the worst, the game based on his visage has taken all those elements and crafted an incredibly fun pair of platformers. As a re-release there have been a number of welcome additions and compared to the original PC releases both are a lot more forgiving than previously. It's a must buy for any fan and an invitation for new players to revel in the unique humour while playing a tight, fun platformer at the same time. Not a whiff of Buffalo Diarrhoea to be found here.

For gamers who still pine for the days of polished shoot 'em ups that leave nothing to chance, Wild Guns Reloaded can't be missed. Sure, it doesn't take long to reach the end, but the fun is in overcoming the impossible and doing it with style. The scoring system, while not ridiculously complex, does require players to make a lot of difficult choices. However, if they are willing to put in the work, they will soon discover that this awesome game will never let them down.

Day of Crisis is truly a fantastic pastiche of all the disaster movies currently out there, mixing cliché after cliché together, yet managing to just about tie all of its differing gameplay elements together to make one hell of a satisfying package that Wii owners should really not be without.

Codemasters truly are the experts of their craft. DIRT 5 is a step in a different direction that will be met with some fans not enjoying the rather arcade-style gameplay, but it is absolute joy for those do like this type of fast-fluid party action. There is enough variation in track diversity thanks to the dynamic weather and track terrain conditions to help keep DIRT 5 fresh.

One again WWE 2K24 is a positive move in the right direction. With fun gameplay mechanics and new match types that leave the door wide open for hilarity, this remains a no-doubt purchase for fans not only enjoying what is being put out weekly by WWE, but also thanks to the focus of Showcase mode this year, those who love a bit of history too. Just about Aweeee-ssssome.

This mobile-to-console port is a resounding success as Snowman has been able to ensure The Alto Collection is successful in capturing the player and transporting them to varying worlds of simplistic beauty, as well as consistently presenting challenges that will keep the player guessing what's coming next. Through several obstacles, perilous chasms, and cleverly designed maps, each experience that this has to offer is guaranteed to be unique, fun, and a welcome addition to anyone's library.

Tales of the Abyss is a great addition to the series with a good story and excellent additions to gameplay. Fans of RPGs and especially fans of the Tales series will love the game, but so will newcomers; it's a great start to what may be a long line of excellent 3DS RPGs.

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.

Not much tweaking was necessary when bringing back this classic, but the addition of high-quality voice acting elevates Final Fantasy Tactics to another level entirely, with a narrative that engages from beginning to end. Coupled with some of the finest character customisation in the series, this is an essential play for fans that have fallen out of love with Final Fantasy following the latest numbered entries.

What Semispheres lacks in quantity it more than makes up for it with quality. It's entirely possible to get through every puzzle in just a few short hours, but a reasonably high skill threshold and thought-provoking design ensure the experience remains memorable from start to finish. By having each Joy-Con correspond with each sphere, multiplayer is incredibly natural and comfortable. For that alone, the Switch port comes off as the definitive version. With a truly meditative ambience and stellar puzzle design, Semispheres can be enjoyed in blissful solitude just as much as in the company of a good friend.

Blasphemous is an admirable piece of art. It does the whole metroidvania thing in a much less tedious way than most indie games do these days, and is bolstered by its distinct flavour and style. While fans who adore the character-building gameplay of most soulslikes will be found wanting, anyone who is nostalgic for Simon's Quest is going to find respite in finally playing what could be best described as the latter's best outcome. Maybe with a couple of tweaks and minor adjustments, and with a patch or two, this could be perfect. In its current state with slightly annoying quibbles, players are still going to be floored by its insane imagery and the penitent one's crusade for purification.

Mochi Mochi Boy is fun, stress-free, and a casual game to dip in and out of rather than one to play for hours at a time, unless one is immune to frustration and never needs a break from a tricky level, ever.

Overly slow character movement may not appeal to some, but this is a gorgeous title that should be experience by all. A truly joyous piece of gaming art!

ACA NeoGeo: Shock Troopers is an ideal game to add to anyone's Nintendo Switch library for playing while commuting, dropping into tabletop mode for some local co-operative action at a friend's house, or even diving into at home on the big screen to try and top the online leaderboards for that strong feeling of satisfaction. It may have a short playtime, but it is extremely enjoyable to go back to it again and again - a truly excellent dose of arcade fun.

The vast, beautiful world delivered through complex geometry and loads of lighting effects is truly compelling and the relaxed pace of the exploration is nicely complemented by the quirkiness of the dialogue. Character models are a bit on the weak side but this just adds to the quirkiness of the in-game universe.

A very good game with loads of content to it. It can last you ages if you're the imaginative type who likes to play around with words and, quite simply, play god, and that imagination will be stretched by the game's demands for unique items. Super Scribblenauts is a sure bet if you're after a different sort of puzzle game.

Runbow is simply a pleasant and enjoyable game.

Endlessly delightful, with a keen eye for creative puzzle design and brisk pacing, ibb & obb is a must play for all co-op lovers out there. A strictly two-player adventure, each stage manages to pair natural teamwork with momentum-paced puzzle-solving, and thought provoking platforming segments that frequently make great use of the title's unique center of gravity. The rising difficulty curve in the second half can be potentially discouraging, but the core controls are simple enough where quite literally anyone can pick the puzzle-platformer up for the first time and quickly understand how to interact with the world. Complete with an online mode, plenty of levels, and excellent presentation, ibb & obb belongs on every Switch owner's console.

Even when taking into account that some of these games are not very different from one another, the content on offer in Street Fighter II 30th Anniversary Collection presents arguably the best value for money in that specific genre on Nintendo Switch and the bonus features, like museum and sprite viewer, are actually well worth checking out for lovers of the series. However, one of the main components, the online mode, is not really enjoyable in its current state so, unless a fix is on the way, this removes some of the fun that there would otherwise be in playing this on Nintendo Switch.

At the end of the day, Cave Story 3D will most likely appeal primarily to fans of the original willing to experience one of their favourite games in its new form, or collectors of physical copies who wouldn't pass a chance to get their hands on the only retail version of the masterpiece that Cave Story is.

The first Dragon Quest Builders was an amazing surprise, taking all the things its progenitor did and improving on them by adding its own flair and style, now Dragon Quest Builders 2 feels bigger in every way, but only better in some. The core mechanics have been polished, the world shines, and, generally, this is an absolute joy to chill out with. It's a shame that the whole thing doesn't feel this way, with the sections that experiment elsewhere feeling a step backward and detracting from the whole experience. It's clear the developers are still experimenting, and it's very exciting to imagine what the third entry could look like.

It isn't without its faults in presentation, control and the opening few hours, but does offer one of the most comprehensive experiences to date - great for newcomers and series veterans alike.

Coming as a complete surprise, the quality of the art and characters deserves tremendous praise. A single story is interesting, avoiding typical RPG tropes, and engaging from start to finish, which makes it more insane is that there are six stories in this game. Frequently Brigandine will surprise you with moments of extra quality, like the frequency of the artwork screens depicting what's happening. The only thing holding back this title from being a truly phenomenal experience is the repetitive music, some small graphical issues battle-wise, and how much time the actual warfare can take.

City Interactive already impressed with its hidden object adventure Vampire Moon: Mystery of the Hidden Sun last year, but with Murder in Venice it has taken the already successful formula and honed it to perfection, whilst mixing in a considerable visual overhaul and a large batch of highly engaging mini-games to add even more value for money. Highly recommended.

There are plenty of flaws, but they mostly come down to the ambition being a little too high, and the mechanics not quite fitting right. Yet… for all these flaws, this Kakarot manages to hype the fans in the audience like the source material has done for all the years. Key moments from the series are showcased absolutely perfectly. Just like how filler can be abided to see and experience the fan-favourite arcs, the missteps here can be forgiven. At least by the hardcore Dragon Ball fans. This is a series that deserves to continue, let CyberConnect2 perfect its creation. There are still the OG sagas to cover, along with the many movies, and even better, the recent stories of Super.

CastleStorm succeeds at blending together the tower defence and 2D physics-based destruction genres to create a unique and very fun game that doesn't shy away from being a goofy, good time for the player with its dry sense of humour.