Dedicated fans of the genre will find exactly what they were looking for here. While its pacing doesn’t treat players’ time as well it could, Tales of Arise is an enjoyable, memorable action RPG.

Even if you’ve played them many times in the past, there’s something about this Switch port that feels fresh, providing a welcome reminder of just how brilliant both games are in their own distinctive ways.

Although it is a hell of a lot of fun and you will no doubt have a great time with it if you enjoyed the rest of the series, it’s hard not to feel that Borderlands 3 has been left behind somewhat.

While a lack of online modes may limit the game’s shelf life, the excellent faction variety and snappy pace give Hero’s Hour an undeniable charm.

The conclusion to Artyom’s journey has the best gameplay and most compelling story of the series, on top of incredible visual and audio presentation. It retains the series’ simplistic stealth system and falters with control, writing and dialogue issues, but even so, Metro Exodus is an odyssey worth undertaking.

Subnautica: Below Zero makes you feel like arctic explorers as you traverse the icy climate of planet 4546B. If you are able to stick with it and continue to move forward to find ways to dive deeper, Below Zero has plenty of discoveries to uncover.

Even if you’re not the biggest fan of Avicii, Invector offers incredible gameplay, and hey: it might even make an Avicii fan out of you.

There is a lot to love about Death Stranding, it’s just whether players are willing to slog through the strains of fetch quests and collect-a-thons in the process to get to moments of genuine satisfaction.

Vectronom is an incredibly fun and unique puzzler with a fantastic soundtrack, making it a perfect fit for the Switch.

Simply put, Devil May Cry 3 is not just an outstanding port, but also an utterly essential Switch game.

Little Nightmares 2 is a stellar game in its own right and a testament to the power of horror storytelling that lets you find the fear for yourself.

The wolf brothers have faced a lot since they left Seattle, but “Faith” ups the ante in one of the best episodes so far, even if it could do with just a bit more gameplay.

eFootball PES 2020 is a near-perfect football sim that deserves your attention.

Lost in Play provides a delightful gaming experience for kids and adults alike, boasting charming characters, fun puzzles, and an irresistible sense of childhood magic.

The Messenger is a retro-styled old school challenge that starts off easy but will soon test any player’s hidden ninja skills. This is a multi-genre homage to some real classics that manages to feel like a long-lost gem.

The strategy is deep and challenging, leaving little room for error while also feeling fair and balanced even in the worst situations. The story will leave you wishing for something with actual depth, but the gameplay more than makes up for those deficits with meaningful choices and beautiful design.

Despite its meandering dialogue and laughable French accents, if you are looking for a rewarding single-player driven campaign, A Plague Tale: Innocence is the game for you.

Umurangi Generation: Special Edition is a thrilling dive into a world on the brink of collapse, and a singular gaming experience that will stick with you long after you put it down, made only better by the included DLC and quality of life upgrades on the Switch.

Though Intermission reuses assets from the base game, it offers enough new and exciting material to more than justify the price of admission for Final Fantasy fans.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is a polished and enjoyable park builder which makes excellent use of the Jurassic World licence. It is also a game that plays it safe, and may not be deep enough for some tycoon fans.

Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan is a fun and wholesome platformer-RPG with a charming aesthetic and engaging nonviolent gameplay for gamers of all ages.

Despite having many of the same issues as its predecessor, Jurassic World Evolution 2 is still an enjoyable dino simulator that’s easy to jump into.

When it sinks its fangs into you, Mordhau has dozens of hours worth of head chopping, arrow shooting, character customizing, build testing, and lute playing to offer.

Although short, it is a hoot from start to finish and easily one of the most fun games you will play this year.

Hunt: Showdown is an incredibly intense and sometimes nerve-racking game that will require a lot from you. In return, it delivers an experience and a world you will have a hard time finding anywhere else.

Though Life is Strange: True Colors isn’t as action-heavy as previous games, its relaxed atmosphere, witty writing, and visual upgrades easily put it on par with the best of the franchise.

Icewind Dale and Planescape: Torment are undeniably great games but even with updated graphics and improvements to control schemes, they show their age and are not well suited to home consoles.

An interesting game that makes mashing together different songs almost effortless, Fuser lacks a gameplay hook to keep you coming back.

A potential GOTY contender already, Sifu is martial arts excellence that’ll challenge and delight in equal measure.

With a new love interest, a new ending, hours of new content and a gameplay system that’s unlike anything out there, Catherine: Full Body is a brilliant remaster of a cult hit.

Not exactly a huge advancement on last year, but WWE 2K23 didn’t need to be, instead offering smart improvements on an already great formula.

Ultimately, Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters is a perfectly solid hybrid strategy and tactics game that puts the Space Marines in their element and makes them feel special again.

A crystalized version of everything good about its genre, Littlewood succeeds by giving the player all the tools they need early and still finds ways to surprise and delight over years of play, both in-game, and likely in real life too.

Chivalry 2’s approach to medieval combat is equal parts satisfying and silly, creating a raucous multiplayer experience that begs to be played with friends.

Those going in not caring that it might not feel exactly like Resident Evil or who understand that sometimes the cracks will show are going to have the most enjoyment from the game. Finish it, enjoy the Mercenaries mode, unlock bonuses, and play it again. That’s exactly what I’ll be doing.

Despite the odd issue, Planet Zoo is easily the best modern zoo management title available today.

Even with an underwhelming final third and a paper-thin plot holding it back, My Friend Pedro is a fruity and exhilarating ride.

PHOGS! is possibly one of the best co-op games ever made and the perfect remedy for a hellish 12 months.

Genesis Noir shines with impeccable visual and musical style that its mechanics and narrative can’t quite match, but don’t ruin either.

Company of Heroes 3 doesn't nail absolutely everything and sometimes gets in its own way, but there's no denying just how good it is when firing on all cylinders.

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy has a personality all its own with fun crafting and flashy combat, but falls into common RPG pitfalls such as constant backtracking and tedious questing.

The depth of Planetfall's decision-making, presentation, unique features and overall high quality of polish alone warrant a look.

One or two nitpicks aside, Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is a ridiculously good time and one of the standout titles of 2020.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a mixed bag. A fantastic returning campaign, some decent multiplayer and terrible co-op makes MW an interesting entry.

On the overall spectrum of FF titles, while not the worst, FF8 is neatly placed in the middle — some great ideas, but at the cost of a confusing tale.

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is a polished version of an already almost perfect trilogy filled with more quirky characters and complex murder plots than you can fit in a courtroom.

While the game has interesting concepts and ideas, some odd design choices and an atrocious tutorial hamper Old World’s ambition.

It’s not perfect, and is slightly hobbled by a slightly imperfect port to the Switch, but it is an indie darling if ever I saw one, and it is one that’ll have a huge fan following.

Fire Emblem Engage does away with intricate relationships systems and in-depth downtime between battles, choosing to focus on a well-rounded tactical turn-based combat system that will be hard to beat this year.

Alan Wake Remastered mostly improves on an already excellent horror shooter experience, introducing a genre icon to a brand new audience.

Tarsier's most ambitious and grand horror-adventure yet is a thrilling, baffling ride that will have you fully invested — for as long as it lasts.

Card Shark is a clever and charming game whose engaging plot and gameplay focus on being a great cheat over being a master player gives it a unique personality.

PSVR's newest killer app, Blood & Truth is a superbly silly shooter that will make you feel like someone straight out of a John Woo movie with a cockney twist.

There is something special and fun about Going Under that should not be slept on.

Crown Trick is slow to start and can’t always get out of its own way, but patience is rewarded by a brain-twisting action RPG with a killer look.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a spectacular, albeit lengthy adventure with enjoyable mechanics and a surprisingly deeper story than what is on the surface.

Small but perfectly formed, if you get any joy at all out of smashing things to smithereens, there’s hours of fun to be had with Teardown.

While there may not be much content on show, Windjammers 2 totally makes up for it with intense and unique gameplay that will have you asking "just one more match?".

Project Aces throws a bit too much at their long-awaited return to the franchise and not all of it sticks, but Ace Combat 7 delivers the heart-pounding air combat the series is best at and looks and sounds stellar doing it.

Trine 4 is a love letter to fans, providing a fully-realized puzzle game rife with experimentation, quality-of-life features, and utterly breathtaking visuals, all but guaranteeing a bright and beautiful future for the franchise.

While the story is lacking and does ultimately feel unnecessary, it’s not enough to take away from what is a super fun and replayable game.

Resident Evil on Switch is a familiar experience with some excellent gameplay that can be enjoyed in handheld mode. The few flaws it has shouldn’t detract, but the price might.

Dandy Ace is a fun roguelike with a memorable cast of characters and a unique combat system, but it lacks enough evolution between difficulties to offer motivation beyond just the challenge of completing it.

RiffTrax: The Game proves how good a party game can be when just about everyone can play.

Volume 1 of the Battle Network Collection has become the definitive experience for new and returning players. Battle Network 2 and 3 are some of the Blue Bomber’s best titles, and online play will make mastering them together the best they’ve ever been.

Volume 2 of the Battle Network Legacy Collection is the definitive experience for new and returning players. BN6’s excellent combat design and PvP finally have the online component to make them shine, and BN5 is a worthy entry in its own right.

With a fantastic style and superlative gameplay, supported by the best netcode in the business, Skullgirls: 2nd Encore is right at home on the Nintendo Switch.

Though this Souls-like wears its heart on its sleeve in its love for the genre, Lies of P misses the mark on what makes these kinds of games tick. All the same, hardcore denizens seeking a challenge may find something to appreciate here.

Though some flawed level designs and weak narrative hamper the overall experience, Superliminal is a mostly sublime puzzle adventure.

While mechanically flawed, Judgment bridges the gap between new and old Yakuza fans marvellously and points towards a confident future for a new franchise.

While there are gameplay hiccups and under-utilized systems, Scarlet Nexus has enough exciting combat and brain-twisting story to find its audience, and deliver major fun for those who enjoy its acquired taste.

King Of Fighters XV is the franchise’s biggest stage yet, and when the lights are on brightest, this game shines.

The attention to detail and fundamentally solid gameplay makes it the best Star Wars game in over a decade.

Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons is such a natural fit for the Switch that it’s easy to look past its age and just enjoy the experience as the story sweeps you away.

Terra Nil is a charming and deceptively deep strategy game with a lovely aesthetic that flips conventions in a compelling way.

Kaze and the Wild Masks is almost the perfect 90s sidescroller throwback, and a perfect way to fulfill your 5 a day.

DNF Duel offers fun and action-packed anime-style combat that's simple enough for new players to jump into without sacrificing too much depth that veterans love. Unfortunately, repetitive single player content with a lack of meaningful unlockables makes the game one that will only retain those who it charms with its flashy fighting.

With its entertaining puzzles and wonderful soundtrack, TOEM is a super charming, short game that provides a relaxed yet still impactful experience.

Blazing Chrome isn’t some grand reinvention of the shoot ‘em up genre at large, but for the most part, it does a masterful job of utilising the genre’s best conventions.

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty’s engaging combat, satisfying parries and decent level design help this Soulslike become a truly entertaining package.

The issue is that it is trying to nail something that started to feel stale almost 20 years ago when a little game called Half-Life came out and changed everything.

Pacer’s lacklustre career mode and some dodgy event types might be turn-offs, but the core racing gameplay makes up for it.

Intricate mechanics, accessible controls and amazing graphics help make Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves an easy fighting game to recommend.

Life is Strange 2: Episode 2 is easily one of the best episodes in the franchise, a beautiful continuation of the story and an improvement on the first episode in almost every way.

Pacific Drive is a rare experience in the space of roguelikes that combines unique mechanics with a deep story that not very many games in the genre offer.

Though River City Girls may be called a side story in this universe, it has become one of my favorite games of the year.

A sophomore cyberpunk slasher, Ghostrunner 2 successfully builds on the foundation of the original game with new abilities and gimmicks.

Like A Dragon: Ishin is a competent remake of a previously Japan-only release, but series veterans might find more issues to nitpick over.

While still Borderlands at its core, Wonderlands stands on its own as a great entry that’s worth trying.

Indivisible initially impresses with a tight package that visually stuns but after hours of repetition and ease, I’d rather take some time apart.

While the combat leaves something to be desired, particularly when it comes to variety, Hell Is Us’ exploration of the cycles of violence and combat carries the whole experience.

Granblue Fantasy Versus is a fun and addictive new challenger to the fighting game throne.

SUPERHOT: MIND CONTROL DELETE takes the bullet time brilliance of its predecessor and adds many new toys to its violent chessboard to even more thrilling effect.

Although Football Manager 21 isn’t as in-depth on Xbox Series X as it is on PC, it manages to provide a fun and engaging management simulator that has been sorely missing from consoles for some time.

Like A Dragon Gaiden should tide fans over until Infinite Wealth drops as a shorter yet still enjoyable romp, but this is hardly a series highlight.

Life is Strange 2's third episode is the shortest so far, but that doesn't mean it doesn't still pack a punch.

Green Hell wants to put you through hell and back in an uncompromising and original survival experience with one of the best narratives the genre has ever provided to boot.

Though not a flawless reinvention, WWE 2K22 is a monumentally large step in the right direction for the series.