Having transformed considerably since its early bug-filled days, Disney Dreamlight Valley provides dozens of hours of enjoyable play on Nintendo Switch. Regular events and a rotating shop of cosmetic additions mean there is always something new around the corner. Being able to fish with Donald and take walks with Minnie and Ariel in human form brings an immeasurable amount of joy, and looks set to do so for the foreseeable future.

The cloud version of Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind on Nintendo Switch cripples its combat mechanics with input lag, unstable framerates, server disconnects, and visual compression, turning a kinetic, spectacle-driven system into a sluggish, frustrating experience. The issues are compounded by the inability to play offline, which clashes with the Nintendo Switch’s portability and the game’s reliance on precise, fast-paced inputs. While the core game remains engaging when it works, the cloud infrastructure’s unreliability makes it near-unplayable for many, especially in combat-heavy scenarios. For the best experience, Kingdom Hearts III is better played on anything else where native versions deliver the intended fluidity without these technical barriers. When it works, it almost works, but lag, stuttering, and connectivity issues make fighting Heartless feel like battling the servers instead.

PC gamers may have been enjoying System Shock 2 for decades, but now it's time for console owners to get in on the fun. There is no escaping the fact that this is a true PC experience. The UI and menu system are intertwined with using a mouse, and try as they might, Nightdive Studios' method works as best as it possibly can. There was a very good reason why BioShock had to streamline a lot of the features from its progenitors. These developers are wizards for making it work at all. Some of the early game may feel a bit floaty and could put off some players, but sticking with it is unbelievably rewarding as the protagonist becomes a cybernetic monstrosity. Sometimes it's better to become one with the machine than to fight it.

Worms Armageddon may not be as compelling on the content front as sequel Worms WMD, and it is a missed opportunity to not make use of the touch screen for map creation, but this is still classic Worms at its finest. The range of customisation options and trademark humour go hand in hand to ensure this is always going to be a game to come back to when pining for wriggly multiplayer warfare.

To a T is a mixed bag. It’s a nice little cosy game that doesn’t ask a lot of the player, but it has control issues that take away from the fun. The story is okay and, depending on your sense of humour, you may even find it funny, but at the same time, it can be a bit too simple and hard to judge who it is designed for. At the very least, you will remember the opening theme, even if the game itself isn’t in perfect shape.

Covenant of Solitude has the relaxing feel attributed to most KEMCO titles, alongside the usual twists and at times quite dark events. The customisable main party members adds an enjoyable change to the standard stereotypical lineup. It may lack additional features of newer titles, but that doesn’t diminish the intriguing plot or the joy of exploring the varied dungeons.

Kudzu is a throwback to adventure games on the Game Boy, and can be played on an actual Game Boy. It does not do a whole lot original within the genre, and in some places is a little dated, but as a homage to the '90s it succeeds.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii offers a fresh, naval-themed take on the well-established series template, with some enjoyable new additions and some of the series’ greatest hits when it comes to side activities. It’s a pleasure to play as Goro Majima again, even if the story here isn’t as compelling as mainline entries. It’s a must-play for those who already enjoy the series, and offers something different enough to encourage a look from those who don’t (yet).

Capcom’s decision to finally localise Prosecutor's Gambit is a tacit acknowledgment of fan dedication and an unspoken apology for its decade-long absence. The result is a collection that completes a vital piece of the Ace Attorney canon, proving that the wait was ultimately worth it. This superb duology is a must-own for any adventure game enthusiast or for anyone who enjoys tense stories about battles of wits and cunning. Sometimes, the most epic showdowns are two people outsmarting each other in a courtroom.

Black Myth: Wukong surpasses all of its predecessors and leads the genre with fantastic boss battles, beautiful visuals and an engaging lore to base its game around. Veterans will gasp at their precious Elden Ring being toppled, but this, in all respects, is the true (monkey) king.

Final Fantasy XVI represents another step toward the event horizon of the branding's identity utterly collapsing. It isn't a bad game, but it fails to connect on a deeper and emotional level than what its past successes achieved. This is largely due to a weak supporting cast that lacks presence and a melodramatic lead who rarely gets chances to have any fun. For all of its faults, Final Fantasy XV attempted to throw whatever it could at players to create a varied experience. Final Fantasy XVI has a few tricks, and they're action and cinematic set-pieces. After about 20 hours, it becomes tiring, and after that the next 20 hours become utterly mind-numbing. It wouldn't be so bad if the fighting were deeper and the level design more fun.

There are better rhythm games out there, but people who like the genre are going to find a solid title here; people who like Avicii’s work are going to find a solid title here; and people who like to see a lot of colours, lights and sounds while cruising a spaceship to music—at breakneck speed or as casually as they want—will want to check this one out, too.

Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition is a titan of a game to get to grips with on Switch 2, in both overall complexity and controls. That scale is both a blessing and a curse. For fans of the genre it has everything expected, and the historical depth of the Sengoku period means it brings a wealth of fun for those invested in this point in history. The strategic chops it boasts are well designed and do the job expected of putting the player into the shoes of developing and expanding their land. With that depth, however, the learning curve can be overwhelming, and frankly if this was released on the original Switch it would be hard to recommend simply due to the difficulty of actually navigating the controls. While not all those complications are inherently solved by mouse controls on Switch 2, the addition of them transforms this tricky console adaptation into something that at least rivals its PC counterpart and thus becomes a much more enticing proposition.

Glover was an ambitious and unique concept back in 1998. Ultimately, it's where the game should remain. It is a shame – with improved controls and tweaks to the design, it could have shown the concept in its best possible light. The badge of a "remaster" really does not qualify as the Nintendo Switch edition feels very much a cash-grab that's building on Nintendo nostalgia. Unless you've got a fondness for Glover, it's difficult to recommend diving into this Nintendo 64 gem in 2025.

Whilst some of the fundamentals that make a Wadjet Eye Game so special are included here, and there is a level of enjoyment to be had, Old Skies fails to hit the mark in more ways than expected. Long-term fans will likely persevere to the end because there is indeed enough of a hook and there are plenty of little in-jokes/references included. Old Skies should have been the most open escapade yet from the team. However - convoluted gameplay, unsatisfactory puzzle mechanics, frustrating new inclusions, a plot with unnecessary elements, and a surprising amount of linearity all leave this feeling rather anticlimactic overall. Bring back the days of Blackwell.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a good time but comes off as a bland cozy anime game. It’s got heart, a likeable cast, and a world to get lost in for a while. It’s not the series’ best, nor does it outshine its contemporaries like Harvestella. It’s a game that swings big by leaning into combat, lands some hits, and stumbles on others. Azuma is a Rune Factory side game that is seemingly made for those who don't care for the farm life and want to wail on yokai with a sword.

Dragon is Dead doesn’t exactly revolutionise the side-scrolling platformer, but between the vast skill trees, plethora of items and their effects, and different player classes, every run feels unique. Even different styles of the same character can feel like playing a completely different game, and the roguelite structure ensures players can pour countless hours into honing a playstyle they really like—or throw caution to the wind and let the RNG give them whatever it wants. A few visual bugs mar an otherwise beautiful game, and the core level design could stand to be less formulaic, but players will likely be too addicted to the gameplay loop to notice.

It is hoped a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Pinball FX is in the works because Tomb Raider Pinball suffers from the graphical downgrade when compared to its other system counterparts. Sadly, the tables themselves are disappointing, with Adventures of Lara Croft being a hugely frustrating pinball experience that can be difficult to get to grips with. Secrets of Croft Manor fares more positively, but for such an iconic franchise, this pack should have been much more than what it is.

One thing Blade Assault does right is that by the end players will feel sufficiently powerful with lightning and projectiles flying off of them at all sides. This alone would be redeeming, except powers are so limited that every run is going to end up nearly exactly the same. The general repetition in levels, power and challenge kill any long term enjoyment. It is fun for a quick romp, but hardly recommended in the growing field of roguelike games.

7 Days to Die previously needed a lot of work. It is now in a playable and downright fun state, with a strong crafting and scavenging element that often makes sense and keeps immersion in the survival setting. Zombies become more dangerous as time goes on, but so does the player, as long as they balance their survival with scavenging for better equipment and learning new skills, and 7 Days to Die does a better job staving off the difficulty plateau many survival games eventually succumb to. Following updates, the gameplay is sturdy and solid, built off of an already fun foundation.

Survival Kids is a charming co-op romp where players work together to escape island after island. Colourful, gentle and not at all punishing. It's an ideal adventure for a wide range of players, young and old. Survival Kids is a wholesome party tale that can whisk away friends/family for an afternoon of fun on these remote islands.

Simultaneously acting as a spiritual successor to Gone Home and a creative leap away from its past legacy (under the Fullbright name), Open Roads can’t avoid being a hodgepodge of conflicted identities. It’s a "walking sim" template with artificially-constrictive interactivity woven into a mother-daughter relationship that’s strapped of gripping drama. Improved production values can only paper over what is otherwise this team’s weakest outing to date.

While its story rings a bit hollow, the extravagant imagery and art direction carries the emotional investment. The mouse-style controls are a fun and new way to play this underappreciated and novel title and improve the experience, though it does come at the cost of a spotty frame rate. It's disappointing that it couldn't have been locked down, especially in such a unique game that features a ton of action and quick thinking.

The original Front Mission games were hard to get into, and when the third game came around, it marked a shift to make them user friendly. Front Mission 3: Remake is very faithful to its source material and improves a few gameplay mechanics subtly, which makes it a smoother experience. It's not the best strategy RPG since the RNG and the small party size can seem restrictive, and it also isn't the best remake, but it is the best Front Mission game so far.

Ruffy and the Riverside is an unbelievably fun and imaginative 3D adventure-puzzler. In some ways, it feels like it could have been a third Tomba! game due to its playful visual style that goes against the grain. Not everything works as intended, and it could use an extra pass of polish, but pound for pound, this is one of the more ingenious 3D platformers out there. If the developers can iron out some of the irregularities, Ruffy and the Riverside could be all it can be.

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.

Level-5 hits hard with Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time. What the developer has created is a love story to the first game and its concept, but with a fantastic new narrative and world to explore. The breadth of content is staggering and mastering lives will provide hours of entertainment. This is a diamond in the rough that is well worth acquiring for any Nintendo Switch collection.

Upscaled graphics, quality of life gameplay improvements, and finally being able to enjoy the beautiful soundtrack in HD, Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster scratches the itch so many fans have felt since the last 3DS title. The additional minigames may not add much to the story or gameplay, but come as a little extra to a remaster that deserves the hype.