Reminiscent of Link to the Past but with enough charm and ingenuity to boldly stand out, Under the Island is a gorgeous and imaginative action-adventure that tasks you with saving your home island. It's utterly joyous, and even the odd spike in combat difficulty isn't enough to spoil your fun.

It's short, and rather basic in terms of features, but Aerial_Knight's DropShot gameplay loop of shooting enemies with a finger gun as you fall out of a plane is fun while it lasts.

It may be let down by its lack of original sountrack and the fact that four of the five games here are practically identical. But the museum content makes Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition a worthwhile purchase for fans – and there's no denying that Rayman still stands the test of time as one of the best platformers from the 90s.

Paranormasight is back, and The Mermaid's Curse has another supernatural tale to tell that's full of twists, turns and horrifying events. The non-linear format here makes piecing together the story ever so rewarding, and once again it's a title that's not afraid of breaking the fourth wall to great effect.

Styx, the Master of Stealth, is back, and in his latest adventure he has more freedom than ever as he hunts down valuable Quartz. The openness of the levels is perhaps the highlight of Styx: Blades of Greed, though the new tools and skills available to Styx are also welcome. It's just a shame there are no maps to help with your navigation, and the combat remains something that will frustrate.

With no overly complex mechanics, Stormbridge feels like a more accessible city building game than most. But with a storm that's constantly brewing and set to repeatedly undo your hard work, it's a challenging game to beat. The roguelike nature may get a bit too tiresome and repetitive for some, but there's still a lot to like if you're a fan of growing settlements and working against the odds.

While it lacks online multiplayer, you might want to pick up Gear.Club Unlimited 3 if you like the idea of developing your HQ in Japan, competing in races to unlock new features and put together an impressive garage of cars. You'll have to put up with a handling model that isn't all that impressive, however, and some will rue the lack of assist and difficulty options.

Inspired by German folklore, Heart of the Forest follows four amateur hikers as they get lost in the sprawling Black Forest. This horror FMV is a decent romp, and although it isn't particularly scary it does at least feature some suitably unsettling imagery, and a smattering of decisions means you have a genuine impact on how the narrative unfolds.

Its fast-paced combat system is one of the best in the genre, and BlazBlue fans will love the large number of playable characters. Throw in some truly eye-catching visuals and BlazBlue Entropy Effect X is a must-play for action roguelike fans.

It feels like we've been waiting for it for a long time, but Little Nightmares dev Tarsier Studios has finally delivered its next game. Unsurprisingly, Reanimal feels very much like Little Nightmares in all but name. While it doesn't have the strongest narrative, stellar visuals, an eerie atmosphere and excellent environmental puzzles all more than make up for it.

A first-person survival horror game with a story steeped in Spanish history, folklore and religion, Crisol: Theater of Idols may borrow from the likes of Resident Evil but it manages to stand out thanks to its creepy enemies and clever blood bullet mechanic.

Go along with its absurd story, and chances are you'll have lots of fun with Romeo is a Dead Man, even if its combat can be scrappy in places. This is Grasshopper Manufacture's most polished game yet, and as ever it's full of amusing quirks and gameplay features.

RIDE 6 is quite easily the best entry in the series yet, with an engaging campaign that spans multiple racing disciplines and a phenomenal collection of bikes to acquire and upgrade. Thanks to an optional new Arcade racing style, it's also more accessible than ever.

One of the best FMV games to date, The Run is expertly filmed, set in the gorgeous Italian countryside. Not only does it look stunning, but it's a genuine joy to play, thanks to solid acting, faultless pacing and an intriguing storyline. FMV games may be an acquired taste, but when they're made as well as this, they deserve to be played.

My Hero Academia: All's Justice truly is a treat for fans of the franchise, offering multiple substantial game modes and a huge roster of playable heroes and villains. It's not very welcoming to newcomers, however, and its Team Up Mission mode isn't always all that exciting to play through.

With its new open field format, Nioh 3 is undoubtedly the best entry in the series yet, giving players more freedom to explore and making the experience feel more seamless. Add on top of that additional new features, such as the ability to switch between samurai and ninja styles on the fly and being able to freely respec, and you have a stellar example of just how good the Soulslike genre can be. This is an early game of the year contender, without a doubt.

An open world arcade racer, JDM: Japanese Drift Master may not be as pretty or expansive as its peers, but those who love getting sideways will still find lots to love about it. The drifting focus here makes the game feel relatively unique, and while there are no multiplayer options, its campaign should keep players entertained for a considerable amount of time.

A rich psychological horror, Pathologic 3 is a tad more forgiving but no less demanding than its predecessors. With a complex but never impenetrable timey-wimey story, it puts the weight of the world on your shoulders and you'll be grateful for it.

Already one of the best JRPGs available, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is truly impressive on Switch 2. The visuals are astounding whether you play handheld or docked, and while it's not flawless, performance is solid. Throw in new Streamlined Progression features which make the game more accessible than ever, and you have a must-play, especially for newcomers.

Frustrating and relaxing in equal measure, there's something quite special about Cairn, a game all about climbing a mountain. It perfectly captures the tension and peril of every hand and foot movement while also weaving in some light-hearted story sequences along the way. While every misplaced foot might make you swear, the elation of reaching each incremental goal is quite unlike anything else.

With its comic book visual style, isometric viewpoint and focus on crafting, I Hate This Place is a unique entry in the survival horror genre. It's just a shame that it's let down by gameplay that feels rough around the edges and a lacklustre story.

Hilarious and unabashedly silly, Earth Must Die is undoubtedly the best game yet from Size Five Games. Brilliantly written, beautifully animated and with an enviable voice cast, there's so much to love here if you're a fan of point-and-click adventure games.

It's a shame that GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition has no multiplayer modes, but it's an absolute treat for those happy to race against the CPU. With two meaty modes for players to sink their teeth into, attractive visuals and plenty of options to tweak, this is easily one of the best racing games available on Switch 2.

Taking inspiration from Elden Ring, Code Vein 2 is an ambitious sequel which presents players with a vast open world to explore. It can feel a bit lifeless at times, but it's rewarding to venture into its nooks and crannies nonetheless. And everything you do helps build your character, an endeavour which proves to be a highlight of the game, along with manipulating time to build bonds with your companions.

Taxi Chaos 2 can be fun in small doses, but its story mode in particular can quickly feel like a drag. Add in issues such as poor physics and a dire soundtrack, and you've got a game that fails to capture of the magic of the the arcade series it's obviously inspired by.

Massive Monster has nailed the concept of DLC with Woolhaven: it gives fans of Cult of the Lamb more of what they love, but with enough of a refresh that it feels notably different. This is a substantial expansion, adding dozens of hours worth of new content, and with not only new dungeons to overcome but new ways to interact and grow your cult, it's a must-play for anyone who enjoyed the base game.

Beautifully presented and intelligently put together, TR-49 is a masterclass in puzzle games done right – although coming from the developer of Heaven's Vault, that's not at all surprising. This delve into curious and forgotten literature is far more compelling than it has any right to be, and it's a must-play for any puzzle fan.

While Apartment No 129 does a good job of creating an unsettling atmosphere, unfortunately it's a bit of a mess. Terrible combat, awkward controls, localisation issues and more suck the fun out of what otherwise could be a fairly effective horror experience.