Cool Boarders is a finnicky racer that limits its own appeal by lacking in multiplayer options. A large degree of skill is required to get the most out of it, but the small selection of stages with just the challenge of beating your own top records means there is only so much satisfaction that can be extracted before it is quickly moved on with. Nostalgia will play a big part in whether Cool Boarders sticks the landing.

Battlantis may not be the most memorable of the slew of '80s arcade hits, but it does well to honour its Space Invaders influence with something that feels both fresh and familiar. Hamster has produced an experience that feels very much like the arcade cabs of old, with a sprinkling of modern quality of life changes. Fixed-shooter fans will certainly find a home with the Arcade Archives 2 re-release of Battlantis!

The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest on Nintendo Switch is a meticulously built yet curiously lifeless micro-metroidvania, where, despite the controls being super-sharp and its pixel art vibrant, the adventure feels boxed in. Repetitive rooms, shallow exploration, and a brief runtime make it resemble a neat demo instead of the real deal. As for its constant meta commentary, it’s very amusing for about 30 minutes, but ultimately drains the world of its potential to immerse.

BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X is one of those rarities that hits all the key elements very well. The core experience is great, possessing incredible depth that adds to the urge to replay. For fans of either the source material or the roguelite genre, this is an easy recommendation. From the art to the fun of making overpowered builds, players will keep wanting to have just one more run.

Xenoblade Chronicles X is a very specific type of RPG that can be overwhelming in large parts, but rewards in spades if able to quickly adapt to its sweeping approach and quest-based structure. Locking down story missions to character levels can drastically halt momentum and be an issue for those looking to get caught up in the story, but its strengths lie in the exploration-based format across a beautiful world. It is one enhanced by resolution and framerate boosts on the TV, but the massive hit to handheld play with disturbingly bad visual upscaling is a cause for concern that is hoped can be addressed.

Who knew that arranging gems and collecting cards could be so cool! Anthem#9 is a stylish hybrid of puzzle mechanics and deckbuilding that manages to stand out in an oversaturated market. Combat is highly tactical and fast paced, and it’s super satisfying when abilities are chained together to cancel enemy attacks and trigger long combo streaks. It suffers a tiny bit in terms of balance and a lot more in replay value, yet its slick presentation and rewarding gameplay make it a fun, challenging experience overall.

On paper, the Tokyo Scramble concept isn’t bad. A survival horror game with post-apocalyptic vibes and dinosaurs? Sounds like a wild ride. There are moments of creativity and clever design, but these are overshadowed by monster maze monotony. Tokyo Scramble feels half baked. It's clunky and the story pay-off for patience is not worth the investment. Exercise your own patience, Jurassic Park it for now and wait for the game to go on sale.

Yakuza 3’s most ardent fans will find much to be disappointed about with this highly anticipated remake of a game that deserved better. It is difficult to ignore the wealth of cut content, and the Dark Ties side story fails to make up for it. Yakuza Kiwami 3 is still Yakuza, though, and for anyone that hasn’t played the game since the PS3 days – or at all – it will more than satisfy. There are few series that so successfully manage to mesh the serious with the outrageous, but Yakuza pulls it off every time. While much has been lost, plenty has been improved, making for a far smoother version of Yakuza 3 with incredibly fun combat. If Switch 2 is your only means of experiencing the game, don’t pass it up.

Grid Legends: Deluxe Edition arrives on Switch 2 as a well‑executed conversion of Codemasters’ racer, offering a broad set of visual presets, stable performance and a clear presentation that suits the hardware. Feral Interactive’s technical work results in smooth handling, faster loading and a flexible range of options that allow the game to run consistently in both docked and handheld play. The Deluxe Edition’s full suite of content, combined with cross‑platform online support and an accessible driving model, positions it as one of the strongest racing titles currently available on the system.

The Nintendo Switch 2 features go a long way to make the Subnautica games more playable and better looking, but the core foundation is still built on a grind of repetitive tasks.

Arcade Archives 2: Scrambled Egg makes a stronger impression on Switch 2 than its modest premise suggests. Technos Japan’s 1983 maze‑puzzler gains real clarity from the sharper scaling and reduced latency, giving its egg‑pushing mechanics a smooth, readable flow even on large screens. The Pac‑Man‑era influence is unmistakable in the way pressure builds and enemy patterns loop, yet the game retains its own identity through its puzzle‑driven structure. Arcade Archives 2 adds the right conveniences, such as rewind, difficulty options, screen settings, rapid‑fire, save slots and online rankings, thus making it the most approachable and enjoyable version to date. It’s a simple game, but presented with enough polish to earn a second look.

Book of Korvald is a dark fantasy 2D action-RPG (with a little bit of metroidvania thrown in) that mixes Norse mythology, themes of Lovecraftian fantasy, and as the cherry on top, some thicc erotica, in a storyline that’s surprisingly good, complemented by a distinct, grim art direction and atmosphere. Clearly made with love, the moment you pick up the controller it also becomes clear that this could be so much better with some extra care, especially as this is a port of something that was around for some time. Try it out only if found at a very good price, or keep an eye out for the PC version if you want to try the complete NSFW (and then some) variant.

Arcade Archives 2: Bomb Bee on Switch 2 offers a tidy, well‑presented look at one of Namco’s earliest arcade experiments. The Arcade Archives 2 framework adds enough flexibility to make short sessions more enjoyable, and the sharper scaling and reduced latency help the simple paddle‑based design feel responsive. It remains a brief, straightforward game, yet this version treats it with care and gives it the structure it always needed.

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is a great summery, relaxing time, with an engaging story, decent visual and sound design, and a lot of heart. There is a lot of fun to be had, even with the slightly unbalanced elements like character voicing. For anyone looking for a somewhat nostalgic and cheeky adventure where they can switch off and have a blast, look no further.

Ys X: Proud Nordics delivers Falcom’s most confident and complete take on the adventure, refining the original release with sharper combat, cleaner presentation and a brighter sense of character. The Switch 2 version benefits from stronger performance, faster loading and a noticeably smoother flow during exploration and battles, although the dated engine and occasional stutters reveal the limits of the underlying technology. The added content and quality‑of‑life improvements give this re‑release genuine value, yet the full‑price model and lack of an upgrade path remain difficult to ignore. Even so, Proud Nordics stands as the definitive way to experience Adol’s latest journey, offering an energetic, polished and consistently engaging action RPG that plays to the series’ strengths.

A stark reminder of how tough games used to be, Ninja Gaiden II may be a challenge, but its distinct stages and unique storytelling help it to stand out, making it a platformer worth persevering through. That now becomes all the more possible with the save and rewind features of this Console Archives edition. If it hasn't been played before, it's very likely The Dark Sword of Chaos will pleasantly surprise, excelling as one of the very best NES games.

The flashy, “loud” and repetitive visuals hinder battlefield readability, while standard, unremarkable shmup gameplay fails in helping Shinorubi stand out in any way. Floaty controls, forgettable bosses, and weak scoring systems leave behind an experience that is dull. Bad? No. Just painfully average.

The industry owes a lot to Space Invaders, and it may not be any small stretch to say it could be a very different place if it wasn't for its existence. For that reason alone it is worth investing in this huge piece of video game history, where an appreciation can be developed for what Tomohiro Nishikado's shoot 'em up has achieved. There is no avoiding the simplicity and likelihood that it won't hold the attention for too long given the choice on offer nowadays, but the brief time spent with it delivers tension and reward in equal measure, especially when factoring in online leaderboard competition.

Mario Tennis Fever continues the series blend of fun, colourful and party-like tennis with a fresh entry on Nintendo Switch 2. Whilst there are glimpses of creativity and nods to past fan-favourites, the solo campaign feels over far too soon. There’s potential for Fever to have been a lengthy five setter, but the game doesn't quite reach those levels, unfortunately. DLC, if a future option, could well help. As a multiplayer romp, though, Mario Tennis Fever serves a good time overall for some hearty tennis action!

The Plucky Squire is a great little adventure game. It has a fun, if slightly cliché, story but executes it in a very unique way. Gameplay is always chill, the writing and art style are charming, and it's a really solid package. It stumbles a little on the clarity and iffy stealth, but it's not enough to detract from the charming animation work and fun puzzles. A fun pickup for fans of older-style Legend of Zelda titles and crafty-looking games.

The nicest thing that can be said about Steel Worker is that it is, in fact, a video game. Not a bad game by any means, but one that meets the broadest definition of a video game and delivers exactly what it promises. In a way, it brought some innovation to Lemmings-style gameplay, but could generously be described as a proof of concept.

There are several high points of Code Vein II, ranging from graphics, different environments, and the character creator. The major complaints that detract from higher praise are bad pacing issues and a story that often takes a back seat. Combat is faster and more fun than the first game, and the much more open world is a needed change from the endless alleys of before. Despite a lot of positive points, though, there is a sense that the entire thing doesn't mesh together to make a better experience.

The wild absurdity and sharp controls make every session a joy, especially in multiplayer, where the competition gets downright savage and sweaty. You can play it solo, but it’s kind of like singing karaoke by yourself. Mach Breakers is a cult gem that refuses to play it safe, leaning into over-the-top antics that few arcade games attempt.

A slick, approachable blend of classic Puzzle Bobble/Bust-A-Move gameplay and rhythm mechanics, QQQbeats!!! is tons of fun, and said fun is elevated by a very good soundtrack and charming presentation. Its simplicity makes it a title that’s easy to pick up and play, yet it’s surprisingly hard to master, so be prepared to lose 10 (or more) consecutive matches against a teenager from abroad. The somewhat low mechanical variety and limited number of modes curb its long-term appeal, however, so approach cautiously.

Arcade Archives: Karate Blazers offers the retro-loving community a ‘90s beat ’em up that does the unthinkable: it’s even more generic and repetitive than the rest of its ilk. A charmless imitation of Final Fight, while functional and initially enjoyable, its overly long and repetitive levels quickly drain what little fun there is to be had here. Aside from the four-player co-op appeal, it remains an unoriginal, merely “okay” arcade relic mainly suited to devoted old-school collectors - and even they can find better pieces of software to spend their money on.

REANIMAL on Nintendo Switch 2 marks a striking reinvention for Tarsier Studios, taking the studio’s talent for intimate horror and expanding it into a richer, more confident adventure. Tight controls, a smartly reactive camera and impressive AI make every escape and puzzle feel fair, while the island’s layered design blends openness with subtle guidance to create a world that rewards curiosity without losing momentum. It’s a bold step beyond the Little Nightmares formula and a clear statement of what Tarsier can achieve on its own terms.

This is an impressive port of a game that absolutely scratches that itch for a portable action-adventure game. Tomb Raider may warrant complaints for its poor writing, dated mechanics, and not evoking the feeling of being an entry in the 30-year-old series, but if all of that can be set aside - which is probably easier for those that have no attachment to the games prior to this one than longtime fans - then you've got a solid third-person shooter with plenty of enjoyable combat, platforming, and puzzle segments in your pocket.

Like a sharp set of kitty claws, Mewgenics perfectly scratches the itch of ‘just one more round’ with an intriguing level of strategic depth, but one that never feels overwhelming. The randomised nature of things means it’s the kind of experience that always stays fresh, and yet at the same time is super easy to pick up and play, before realising several hours have passed. Add to that a killer art style that pays homage to McMillen’s previous entries, but has its own unique flavour thanks to the collection of cats, and a kick-ass soundtrack that makes those brutal boss battles worth playing again and again for the battle theme alone, and it is far from an outrageous bet to expect Mewgenics to sweep up a raft of awards and plaudits over the coming year and beyond.