Despite the story shortcomings, there is a lot to like about Frontier Hunter: Erza’s Wheel of Fortune. The gameplay shines above the rest of its shortcomings, and the diverse upgrade paths for various characters through crafting, loot, and equippable skills really helps make the game feel fresh and exciting throughout a fairly lengthy adventure. Even a year or so after its release Frontier Hunter is worth checking out, despite the absolute deluge of other titles available in the genre.

A substantial lack of instructions and in game help, coupled with a poor story, makes Tamagotchi Plaza's value for money and enjoyment level on the low side. It has the potential to be quite innovative if it expands on the game's premise and uses all of the Nintendo Switch’s technology capabilities. Overall, Tamagotchi Plaza fails on a basic level that casts a large shadow on any future instalments. It is extremely different to the original egg-shaped Tamagotchi, and needs more substance to be worth more than a cursory glance considering the physical and digital price tag.

DLCs are often targeted at those wanting to expand the core game. Ashes of Elrant, though, is largely more of the same. Problems in Chained Echoes' main quest, like the grind of battle, lack of player progression or questionable ending, are not addressed in the slightest. Those looking for a story-adjacent experience will be interested, but anyone after something new is going to want to pass.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings the 2D series into the modern age with respect. A diverse range of levels constantly introduces fresh ideas to stave off repetition, and the focus on satisfying momentum-based gameplay that rewards mastering of abilities is the perfect match for ninja hack and slash platforming. Speedrun goals, collectibles and unlockable harder stages mean this is a game that will keep being returned to long after the main quest is over.

Shadow Labyrinth's strengths lie in its bold reinvention of Pac-Man as a cosmic horror tale, with tight combat and a richly detailed world. The UGSF connections are a treat for Namco fans, nostalgic callbacks without pandering. It’s a love letter to Namco’s arcade roots, twisted into a dark, ambitious epic that swings for the fences. For those craving a fresh take on a classic or just need a solid Metroidvania, it’s a haunting journey worth taking. While Bomberman's grimdark reinvention was a huge misfire, it's surprising just how much Shadow Labyrinth works as a strange and twisted take on such a cartoony concept.

Fast Fusion is without a doubt the perfect racing title for those looking for something as an alternative to Mario Kart World and the retro-fuelled F-Zero GX. It still doesn’t quite feel as feature-complete as Fast RMX yet, but Shin’en is doing a fantastic job of pumping out free extra content into this Nintendo Switch 2 futuristic, high-octane experience to keep fans coming back for more. For now, though, brace yourselves for stunning visuals, a pumping soundtrack, and some of the most edge-of-your-seat racing ever witnessed.

Dear Me, I Was… is a great showcase for how to present narrative games in a hand-drawn watercolour style. After letting the emotions felt from its story settle down, the immediate thought is that it is hoped that there will be an actual video game in this style from Arc System Works in the future (a Hotel Dusk remake perhaps). Dear Me, I Was… is a story that can be enjoyed in bed like a book, or watched during a lunch break instead of a YouTube video essay or Netflix TV episode. It’s not a video game, it’s a beautiful short story, and if that sounds like a great time then put some headphones on and give it a watch.

Misc. A Tiny Tale is a beautiful game with a charming cast of characters and lovingly crafted story. While it’s not as long or as in-depth gameplay-wise as some of its current contemporaries in the 3D platforming genre, it does not need to be. It just needs to be enjoyable and full of life, keeping players engaged through its many levels and objectives, and Misc. A Tiny Tale achieves this with flying colours. A must-play for platforming fans and those who enjoy emotional narratives.

Mortal Shell: Complete Edition is a competent soulslike with flashes of brilliance in its shell swapping and atmosphere. Its ambition is held back by shallow systems, inconsistent difficulty, and technical rough edges. It’s a worthy attempt for fans craving a grim challenge, but it falls short of the genre’s best. The technical performance was an utter disaster on the original Nintendo Switch, but fares much better on Nintendo Switch 2. It will still be a haggard-looking and rough game with subpar image detail, but at least it plays significantly smoother.

Disappointing is the word that perfectly describes Kvark, the very enjoyable Soviet-flavoured FPS that’s like the less charismatic offspring of Half-Life and Hrot. Sadly, it has numerous problems, and while some, like its linear structure and repetitive gameplay, are easy to accept due to its deeply atmospheric world and enjoyable combat and exploration, there’s an irritating lack of polish, making it a hard recommendation to anyone but those few passionate indie game aficionados that can appreciate a hidden gem even if it happens to be placed inside a rusted, stinky, cracked box. Again, disappointing.

Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV shakes up the Mario Party formula with additional mini-games, enjoyable camera support and the return of team play. The good is undermined, however, by splitting the game between the untouched original release and the improved Jamboree TV portion. It is a shame as Jamboree TV could be the definitive release with better considered UX. As a result of this, it comes down to whether you feel the additional mini-games and modes are worth the upgrade price or if the feature-packed original release will suffice.

Wild Hearts S' deft art direction carries it through the down-porting process onto lower spec hardware. Despite some minor complaints, the main game offers a robust 30-40 hours of content, with seamless four-player co-op adding replayability. Hunting with friends is always fun, as coordinating Karakuri setups and weapon synergies elevates the chaos to new heights and offers a lot of bang for one's buck.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a worthy successor to the sublime Super Mario Odyssey and a very impressive new entry in the DK series, in general. It’s jam-packed with creativity that will keep players coming back for more, and a huge supply of fantastic nods to past entries that make the whole experience a thorough delight. Despite the moderately disappointing soundtrack, framerate issues faced, and craziness of the camera at times, there is enough tantalising adventuring, hidden discoveries, and even intriguing RPG elements within to cover any cracks.

Please, Touch The Artwork 2 has a few original concepts, like making many paintings feel connected, but the gameplay is uninteresting, slow and sometimes annoying. It may be a game for art lovers, but gamers are probably better off looking elsewhere.

Dragon Breed easily stands as the crown jewel in this collection. Its innovative dragon-riding mechanics and striking post-apocalyptic visuals craft a near-masterpiece that rivals R-Type’s ingenuity. Mystic Riders follows with its vibrant fantasy aesthetic and local co-op, a rare treat that injects accessibility and fun, though its simpler patterns and repetitive enemies pale next to Dragon Breed’s depth. Mr. Heli, the weakest link, offers lite exploration and chunky-yet-cute visuals but stumbles with its punishing design, feeling like a relic even with modern tweaks.

Despite a few questionable design choices, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined delivers a thrilling and satisfying experience. The blend of nostalgia and modern polish makes every stage a visual and mechanical extravaganza. New characters and stages keep replays fresh, while the core gameplay loop of dodging, shooting, and surviving remains as addictive as ever. It’s not quite as refined as it could be, and the difficulty spikes and locked modes may alienate newcomers. However, for those who relish a challenge and adore retro shooters with a unique cultural twist, this is a worthy revival of a beloved classic.

A remarkably competent first game from another hugely promising Eastern developer, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers has charm and grit in spades. It creatively reinvents the genre’s character progression template and serves up some extremely accomplished high-octane action gameplay that’s rich in flashy skills, impactful magic and dance-like precision. The scope of what’s on offer is made all the more appealing by the low price point: one that does a disservice to the breadth of content offered by this immaculate experience. For fans of action RPGs, this is a no-brainer.

Filled with a blend of quirkiness and near-constant humour, Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy is a breath of fresh air compared to the myriad of doom-and-gloom-themed RPGs on PS5. The minimal issues teamed with a jaunty soundtrack compliment the entertaining personalities whose journey is a pleasure to follow. The future of Mado Monogatari games looks extremely promising with unpredictable story twists and fun battle mechanics.

Soma's legacy lies in its bold exploration of consciousness and identity, its refined survival horror mechanics, and its lasting emotional and philosophical impact on players. It solidified the influence of Frictional Games in the indie horror space, which inspired community engagement, and set a high bar for narrative-driven titles. The Switch port is an excellent way to play it for the first time, or for fans who need an excuse to revisit it. Despite it technically having no replay value and thin gameplay, it's a compelling experience to return to for its engrossing and deep story. Its setting is dense with so much detail that even after replaying it multiple times, there are still ingeniously placed pieces of foreshadowing and clues hidden in plain sight. Soma on Nintendo Switch is a solid port, if a bit bare bones. There was a missed opportunity to include some exclusive features like gyro controls, but even without them, this is still one of the most haunting experiences of all time.

The remaster’s quality-of-life improvements, like streamlined menus and faster load times, are appreciated, but they can’t fully mask the game’s age. The story, while interesting with its mix of occult conspiracies and historical intrigue, unfolds at a sluggish pace, and the cast, outside of Raidou and Gouto, lacks depth to carry emotional weight. Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a solid effort to revive a niche gem, and its unique setting and demon-collecting hooks still shine. The repetitive and stiff combat and uneven pacing keep it from greatness, but it's still come a long way from its PlayStation 2 origins. It’s a nostalgic trip worth taking for Shin Megami Tensei fans or those curious about its lesser-known corners, but it’s not quite the rousing action game it could be.

The biggest complaint could simply be that the developers didn't update the character sprites in a similar fashion to the rest of the game. In a landscape where remakes sometimes stray too far or cling too tightly to nostalgia, Star Ocean: The Second Story R finds an impressive balance. It stands as a definitive way to experience a JRPG classic—approachable for first-timers while packed with secrets and satisfying systems for veterans. With its blend of modern polish and heartfelt homage to the original, this is one adventure that shouldn’t be missed by fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

The remaster shines technically, but Dream Drop Distance’s narrative and 0.2’s brevity hold it back. χ Back Cover feels like bonus content stretched to justify the package and probably would have been better if it were axed in exchange for a proper port of 358/2 Days. The dreaded cloud streaming is an unfortunate reality fans will have to endure and is as unreliable as it ever was in every other cloud port on the console. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue is a distraction that may please diehards and is at best supplemental material for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 Remix.

Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army not only brings back a classic but reverently improves on it. The updated graphics and voice work create a more in-depth story from the original, and thankfully the Switch 2 can handle every aspect with little to no frame drops. With a fancy new move set and an extra battle partner to boot, solving the Capital’s supernatural threats is more refined than ever before. Set your pace with any difficulty and join Raidou Kuzunoha XIV and his trusty black cat to solve the case!

No Sleep for Kaname Date is a side-game that does not provide a lot new in terms of gameplay, instead acting as an additional, enjoyable bonus story for existing fans. As long as a player goes into this not expecting the next chapter in the AI: The Somnium Files story, but an addendum to the first two games, then they’ll have a good time hanging out with Date and Aiba once again.

Starlight Legacy is aptly named, considering the legacy past RPGs have on today's adventures. It is accessible for both veterans and new fans who may be intrigued by older titles but don’t want to have infrequent saves. The use of quality of life improvements elevates the classic look of retro RPGs and creates a captivating humorous tale so good a sequel is hoped for.

Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom - Prince’s Edition is a marvellous JRPG achievement, boasting a gorgeous Ghibli-fied visual style, compelling story and engaging real-time combat. The transition from turn-based battles to a real-time action-RPG is a welcome one that pays off marvellously, culminating in a unique sense of style that’s as enjoyable as it is refreshing. For Switch 2 players, the excellent performance is another great reason to pick this one up, with a steady 60 frames per second serving to make this charming adventure all the more engrossing.

As is very common in video games, what the press hailed as one of "The Best Games of the Year!!1" was forgotten a few months after its release. No, Divine Divinity is far from one of the best the ARPG genre has to offer. The good news? If you can stomach its flaws, you’ll receive a 70+ hour, immersive and occasionally funny experience. An old-school classic, though? Nope.

Hitman: World of Assassination delivers easily some of the most entertaining gameplay of all titles released on Nintendo Switch 2 during its launch window. For all its ridiculously hilarious possibilities that go almost as far as imagination will allow for, this may well be the ideal recommendation for those after a solo game that will provide dozens of hours of enjoyment up until the next big release on the system. The one big caveat, however, is the online requirement that causes halts and crashes, and locks out a large chunk of content. It is a huge blemish on what is a cracker of a package.