Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have finally delivered on the promise of an open-world entry, but with all the technical issues and stripped-back features, it’s hard to not feel like the Nintendo Switch held these games back. But if this is what an open-world Pokémon game is now, it's tantalising to consider what is coming in the future.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet have finally delivered on the promise of an open-world entry, but with all the technical issues and stripped-back features, it’s hard to not feel like the Nintendo Switch held these games back. But if this is what an open-world Pokémon game is now, it's tantalising to consider what is coming in the future.

Harvestella is an incredible game. Everything about it just clicks, delivering a farm sim/JRPG hybrid experience that I hope never ends.

Sonic Frontiers is the best 3D Sonic in a long, long time. It’s bigger, faster, smarter, and I absolutely cannot fault its ambition. Unfortunately, it’s constantly derailed by the exact same things that have been holding back Sonic games for the last few decades. With a little more polish, I truly believe Sonic Frontiers could have been one of the greats. As it stands, it’s a frequently good time with occasional flashes of brilliance.

Broken Pieces is a compelling mystery title that’s guaranteed to pull you in if you have it within you to overlook the fact that the game is trying to tackle too many genres at once. It’s a testament to Broken Pieces’ ambition though. The time-management and combat mechanics had the potential to add real urgency to an already intriguing tale, but lacked the refinement to truly achieve that goal. Still, I pushed on - rooting for Broken Pieces. It may not be perfect, but Broken Pieces is a promising start for Elsewhere Experience that shows that this indie studio is one that’ll surely make a name for itself in the world of narrative games.

By the time the credits finally rolled on God of War Ragnarök, I was in bits. There’s so much I still want to tell you about, but I know that if I do I’ll be robbing you of the same joy I experienced. So I’ll leave you simply with this: Ragnarök is a fantastically impressive sequel that delivers in every conceivable way. It expands on and improves the formula established in 2018’s God of War hugely, offering up blistering action, gut-wrenching twists, and truly cinematic boss battles with real emotional heft behind them. This is a high-stakes, high-fantasy rollercoaster from start to finish, and an instant PlayStation classic.

Beautiful of presentation with loads of detail packed into those pixels, and sporting a winningly ‘90s-feeling dance beats soundtrack, Jack Move is a treat from start to finish that anyone with a taste for anything cyberpunk-y should be making an effort to experience.

Bayonetta 3 is a near-perfect game. I’ve never considered that the combat in Bayonetta or its sequel was missing anything in particular, but the third game’s new inclusions are so well refined that it may be difficult to return to the previous titles having experienced this one. Furthermore, the story, despite a few confusing points, has easily cemented itself as my favourite of the three. Not only is this one of the Switch’s best titles of the year, it’s truly one of its strongest to date.

While it’s not without some mild downsides, Gotham Knights is an outstanding title that deserves a space in any Batman fan’s game collection, especially if you want to see his protogés get some deserved spotlight for a change.

It’s an amazing example of how a game can balance both the light and the dark; the majesty and the horror of the world in this time period. The path that lies ahead for these two children who suffer with the weight of the world on their shoulders should sound like a done deal, but you’re chewing your nails to stubs while worrying over the fate of their few friends and praying that there is a life for them yet. In this game, Hugo and Amicia have become unforgettable characters in the medium, and I hope that everyone has the chance to come on this journey with them.

As a team-based and tactics-first game with no Goomba-splatting butt bouncing on show (although, stomping’s an option), and no 3D platforming to be ever so precise about, Sparks of Hope may still remain on the periphery of the radar for some Mario admirers. But for anyone who was on the fence about Kingdom Battle and ultimately didn’t pick it up, know this: you’ll be missing out on a really special Switch exclusive, a triumph of IP-twisting fun and frolics, if you let a little nonsensical genre bias get in the way.

I’m fairly confident Scorn is aimed specifically at fans of body horror and the darker sides of humanity, because suffering is a key theme here. But fans of dread-filled atmospheres and H. R. Giger-inspired aesthetics will not want to miss it, so long as you have the emotional resolve required.

Let’s Sing Presents ABBA is an injection of joy best enjoyed in small doses. Thanks to its mass appeal, it’s a game that I can see having longevity in my collection as I pull it out at parties for many years to come, even if it’s not one I’ll be running back to often as a solo player - much to the relief of my neighbours, I’m sure. I’d like to see the song selection expanded, but the game’s ‘difficulty’ is accessible enough to be enjoyed by seasoned sopranos and inebriated dancing queens alike.

There’s also humour here, sometimes laugh-aloud and sometimes deadpan in the face of absolutely awful situations, and an element of pathos that goes deeper than expected with a few characters. Sometimes it misses its mark - Luka has a few dreams that are only narrated where it’d have brought something more to his relationship with the town and his parents (and their associates, ssssh) to actually see these visions as he does, especially because there’s one sepia-hued flashback that we do get to play through (and multiple times, too) - but Beacon Pines is a consistently enthralling experience which you’ll really want to see through to its end.

With the extensive add-on collection and new visual features and routes, Dovetail Games have created the most comprehensive and detailed rail sim yet. Train Sim World 3 is here to stay, and I can’t wait to see what add-ons are introduced down the line. If you loved Train Sim World 2, and are aching for more train sim action, then you should definitely consider the latest instalment. Whilst Train Sim World 3 doesn’t change the game completely, it remains true to the series and is certifiably the best addition yet.

While the negative side of FIFA is still present, from the way world-class-difficulty AI opponents never miss a shot, to how pace is still a potentially game-breaking attribute, it’s fair to say the good easily outweighs the bad. As EA’s time on this series comes to a close, FIFA 23 is a reminder of why this series is so huge, in more good ways than bad.

Thirty-one years on from LeChuck’s Revenge, and Return to Monkey Island is confident about what it is, why it is, and who it’s for. This is swashbuckling point-and-click shenanigans of a most splendiferously convivial complexion that everyone who ever stuck a cue-tip in a stone monkey’s lughole or took a ride around Big Whoop, delighted in asking about Loom or half-inched a hairpiece to fashion a voodoo doll, will adore. It’s fan service that doesn’t forget to make itself half-approachable to beginners, and while its 20th century roots are showing there won’t be many rookies who’ll fail to step in time with its distinctive rhythms. While its puns might sometimes elicit a groan, so cordial is this game’s atmosphere, so genial its eccentric cast, that Return to Monkey Island can’t be received as anything less than a wholesome triumph for wannabe me-hearties everywhere.

NBA 2K23 is a solid basketball game that drops the ball with too much emphasis on microtransactions and poorly-thought out design in its main mode.

The interwoven relationship between gameplay and music in Metal: Hellsinger really is a masterclass in intuitive game design. You can feel the passion that has been poured into the project and I’m happy to conclude by saying that The Outsiders have made a bonafide banger.

This is without a doubt the definitive way to experience the Splatoon series going forward, especially with the promise of new updates for the next two years. The fast-paced gameplay is as fluid and compelling as ever, and the various loveable residents of Splatsville are going to become fan favourites, fast.

Ooblets takes elements of Stardew Valley, the Animal Crossing series and the Pokémon franchise, and stirs them together for a first-rate life sim adventure with hours of playability that feels perfect for the Switch. It’s not flawless, but the good easily outweighs the bad. If you’re looking for a new chill-out game, Ooblets has got you covered.

When the credits rolled on both The Last of Us Part I and Left Behind , I was left with a burning desire to jump straight into Part II - which tells me that Part I succeeded in exactly what it set out to do. I became completely reinvested in the franchise. Fans will find no better way to experience this story, and first-time players are likely to discover a new all-time favourite.

As a game, Immortality is tailor-made for those who like to call movies "films" because it makes them feel superior. Those who exit the theatre and step into the bright light of the halls, instantly initiating a one-sided discussion of how they expected more from that actor given his pedigree, failing to notice crusty popcorn stuck to the back of their trousers. It's for the know-it-alls that realise, diving into these three lost films from Marissa Marcel, they might not know that much about cinema after all.

I’ve not played every game here to its end, so I can’t say with absolutely, unfaltering, bet-the-farm-on-it certainty that the emulation is flawless throughout, but everything I have witnessed in The Cowabunga Collection has played smoothly, responded promptly, and been free of bugs or crashes. If you’re planning to pick this up after Shredder’s Revenge expecting more of the same, please, allow me to pause your purchase for a second - these are bare bones indeed after that moreish delight, so buy knowing that you’re getting improved-feature-set versions of much older games, with save-anytime (one slot per game) functionality a real plus, but they are still much older games. Then again, if you’ve the truest Turtle power in your veins, you already know what this is all about and you pre-ordered it ages ago.

Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed is sure to be a nostalgic blast from the past for any fans of the original game and series, although given its buggy state, it might be worth waiting to see if a patch can add some much-needed fixes before you dive in - it’s not currently the love letter it aims to be.

In short, Saints Row is a very good game. It’s got highs and lows, with some flaws hopefully set to be patched out by its release date. While it may not blow players away, it’s an enjoyable open-world title with lots to do. Side characters are charming, there are plenty of funny moments, and it’s a perfect game for simply messing around in.

For those who savour competition and putting their skills to the test, there’s a lot to love here in Midnight Fight Express. Its pounding electric soundtrack pulls you straight into the red mist of the action and it even creates a gif of your most successful combos at the end of the level to share on social media. You might find though, once you return to the main menu, blood and bruises smoothed away, you’re as exhausted as Babyface feels.

It’s an incredible sport and action game, with fun lore pieces to ponder while you’re not catching air, grinding lips and shotgunning opponents. To put it simply, don’t miss out on Rollerdrome.