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.

LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias is simply a marvel to play through, with Frontier taking the high quality of the original outing and building upon that strong foundation considerably.

Kirby's Epic Yarn starts off slow and may even lead to fans of traditional Kirby adventures giving it the cold shoulder. However, the sheer amount of thought, creativity and extra little touches poured into the adventure help to make this one journey that grows on the player considerably the further into proceedings they get.

There's a fair bit to like about Diablo IV — best-in-class sound design, intriguing character classes, fantastic graphics and occasionally addictive gameplay all feel like the series in its prime. However, even the best parts are let down by an undercurrent of frustrating design choices: the cynical inclusion of a Battle Pass, a bloated open world, repetitive mission structure and progression that too often feels meaningless cast a long shadow that let the latest Diablo title down. Future Seasons may refine what's here, but many of its issues sadly feel baked into the core experience. All but the most die-hard fans may wish to wait for a substantial sale on this one.

Rocket League is showing no signs of slowing down, and why should it? Psyonix's RC car-footie combo is an esports favourite, and now even more players can see what the fuss is all about on Nintendo Switch. A visual downgrade is acceptable given that this plays exactly the same as the other versions, with cross-play to ensure the pool of opponents remains large online. A strong recommendation for any Switch owner - even for those who have it on another platform! After all, what Rocket League fan wouldn't want to train and match up on the go?

By far the most polished and interesting Ace Attorney title to date. It perfects the formula and offers a compelling narrative that bridges not just one but two games. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a masterpiece of "Courtroom drama" and one in which fans and non-fans will find a stunning experience. Heartily recommended to not only Switch owners but to anyone who owns a console on which the collection will release!

Wave 4 has continued to deliver, and as each and every wave before it, the courses lifted from Mario Kart Tour are fun additions, particularly with branching paths, alternative routes and reversed laps. It is particularly exciting to see new characters returning and having Birdo on the roster is certainly warmly welcomed. Yoshi's Island stands out in Wave 4, not only for being a new and original track but also for unique musical themes and being such a varied course overall. Subtle changes to DKs Snowboard Cross, Waluigi Stadium and Mario Circuit all make improvements on their original counterparts and Riverside Park looks fantastic. This is an enjoyable set of tracks and adds to what is an already fantastic package from other waves of the Booster Course Pass.

A few niggling control issues and glitches aside, it is highly recommended to check out Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty before Soulstorm arrives this year. There is a lot to love about Abe's tough adventure, with stealth, puzzles, and plenty of other mechanics all at play in determining whether he saves his 299 Mudokon buddies or not. A one-of-a-kind side-scroller that still stands the test of time.

Minds Beneath Us is a truly interesting and cerebral adventure told with heart and, at times, prosaic writing. It is full of intimate character moments that make the people feel alive and fully rounded. It can be a little slow at times and sometimes quick time events come from nowhere but it's so satisfying and the story has some very well executed moments that really let it shine. If narrative adventure sounds like a delightful time then this game is the one, in a word; Recommended.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is a great game. Although its difficulty can be frustrating and some lengthy sequences are tedious, the world design is crisp and filled with humour, the levels overflow with creativity and most importantly, completing a level is satisfying. The plot is thin, but the cartoony vibes provoke a great mix of nostalgia and charm. The PlayStation 5 upgrade significantly improves load times and takes the game's visuals to another level. Crash fans have much to love in this long-awaited sequel. Although newcomers to the series may be turned off by how punishing the game can be, this title is an adventure worth embarking on.

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.

Bash Party may become repetitive for some over time, but it does prove to be a far better package overall, offering a wealth of gameplay for those that get hooked by the formula.

Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes is, despite its cutesy appearance, a surprisingly deep strategy-puzzle game.

Codemasters has delivered a masterful racing experience with F1 2020. Despite the heavy jargon-filled opening, there are plenty of helpful tutorials that break down everything to make this easy-to-understand for those who may not necessarily be car enthusiasts. For those who are after a deep and engrossing racing experience, the My Team Career mode is a joy to play through, with plenty of features to deep-dive into that extends across many hours. Whether playing online or offline, the developer has put forth one of the best racing experiences that can be enjoyed by F1 fans or newcomers alike.

Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom is not on the budget side of the indie spectrum, but what Game Atelier and FDG Entertainment have released is far from a cheap experience. The beautifully hand drawn art style, rocking soundtrack, rewarding boss battles, excellent progression system, and thrilling adventure, offers the very best of what makes a great action-adventure platformer, and turns it into a must own for anyone interested in the genre.

Need for Speed: Most Wanted is the multiplatform title that Wii U owners deserve: one that has been given time and dedication by a developer with excellent technical skills, which shows the Wii U is more than just a late entry into last generation hardware.

A return to form for Street Fighter and, by extent, an excellent return to Nintendo platforms with the latest in Capcom’s fighting series. Street Fighter 6 comes with tons of modes that will satisfy the hardcore crowd and is equally the perfect entry for the casual fan or newbie, too, with a laidback RPG-lite mode that is ideal for handheld play, although may become tedious for others. Plenty of unique characters both old and new, featuring brilliant designs and styles, make this one of the most appealing entries in years, despite the lack of unlockable costumes. Street Fighter 6 may have some performance issues at times, but there are far more pros than cons with this portable edition of a top tier fighting game.

Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate offers the most complete experience in the series to date.

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.

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.

The atmosphere created here; a plot that pulls the player in with compellingly designed and voiced characters; an addictive and highly polished gameplay loop; and a fantastically realised visual world. These are some of the reasons why Death Stranding is such a joy to play. In many ways, this is more than a game. Gameplay here is built to service the atmosphere rather than the other way around and it makes sense that there are some who find this a step too far. It is also why the act of being a deliveryman and keeping BB safe is more of a focus than the passable combat or the, sometimes, fiddly controls. Running like a dream on PC and looking incredible, this was the way Hideo Kojima's vision was meant to be played.

With Picross 3D: Round 2, there's nothing here to set the world on fire, but it's still an extremely solid, addictive, and enjoyable puzzle title that will keep players engaged for plenty of time and they will have lots of fun while doing so.

Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 Remake is an interesting game. It successfully freshens up the presentation of the original story while tastefully expanding the gameplay through a modern gaming frame. Their handling of boss fights, monster behaviours and puzzles makes this title a fun time through and through, despite the depressing nature of the atmosphere and story. The new takes on characters offer increased depth through new facial capture and the voice actors successfully revise some of the more complex, awkward dialogue exchanges in a manner befitting of the original title. Akira Yamoaka slays with a fantastic remix of the soundtrack and Ito does some masterful redesigning of the horrific creatures. If there was a way to remake Silent Hill 2 this was it.

Besides Some technical limitations, Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition offers the same experience as other modern home console versions do, with the added benefit of being both playable anywhere, anytime. This is the key deciding factor that should determine whether one should pick this version or not over others, as this lets you play and build the same world, both at home and on the go, without any major compromises. The Wii U offered that comfort already with off-TV mode whenever someone else would want to use the TV for something else, but the Switch does way with the limitations of being away from the system hooked to the TV since the system here is completely portable, and this the best version possible outside of the realm of PC.

While Shantae and the Pirate's Curse may fall on the simple side when it comes to Metroidvanias, its simplicity winds up being one of its biggest strengths. With little-to-no padding, and a constant feeling of progression, the main adventure flies by at an incredibly comfortable pace. Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is creative, charming, and one of the most cleverly designed Metroidvanias on the market.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is a real delight to play, holding its appeal even several years after its original Wii U release. Switch owners have already been treated to a fantastic rendition of the Kirby series, and now the more veteran of gamers out there can get some platforming goodness with the higher difficulty and variety offered in Retro Studios' effort.

Does Mario Kart World bring something new to the series? A resounding yes. A reinvigorated setup with connected tracks within a bustling, vibrant, next-generation Super Mario Bros world. Mario Kart World is vibrant, playful, and truly feels alive. A compelling solo mode, knockout competition, and strong online play make it an essential Nintendo Switch 2 title.

Nioh 3 modifies the series formula, producing mixed results. The game features a more varied action combat system for fights and challenges. As far as action goes, it still features some of the best mechanics in the genre, even if it's on the easier side, and regular enemies are exploitable. Storytelling and worldbuilding lack depth, but the headliner has always been getting lost and fighting for survival in these types of games. At worst, this is just another decent soulslike action RPG that doesn't break the mould. The big open world is welcome, but it does not deliver on its full potential due to uninspired level design.