While not perfect, Andro Dunos 2 is an excellent revival of Visco’s 16-bit shooter series that deserves your attention. With its killer retro-inspired presentation, driving music, and plenty of exhilarating boss battles to test your mettle, it’s a game that’s easy to recommend to anyone who has a passing interest in shoot-’em-ups. If nothing else, it makes me excited to see what else publisher PixelHeart has in the works for Visco’s other IP. If the upcoming Ganryu 2 is anywhere near as good, nostalgic Neo Geo fans should be in for a treat.

Monomals definitely isn’t for everyone. The platforming is challenging, and the MonoMaker is a bit tough to figure out. But if you’re willing to put in the time to master both aspects of the game, then you’ll find one of the most impressive and creative titles I’ve played on my Switch in years. Add in tons of replayability, including collecting all the coins in each stage and optional time trials, and you have something truly worthwhile. Picomy continues to make incredible and creative games, and I can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeves next time!

With its novel card-battler mechanics, the snappy and accessible combat system, and the refreshingly straightforward take on character and party progression, Mato Anomalies is an easy recommendation for both fans of the genre who want something a little different, and those who are on the lookout for a more newcomer friendly entry point to the genre.

Enriched lovingly with scenic qualities and bolstered by the delightful day/night contrast to which it excels at evoking a juicily contradictive atmosphere, Dredge may not look like a meaty steamboat-empowered expedition, but when you find yourself supplementing your vessel with new hulls and boosts, as well as interacting with the various personalities sequestered on each of the islands you visit, Dredge may look like shallow waters, but it’ll surprise at how quickly it can submerge you in its depths. No, Dredge did not need the horrors of the nighttime, and banging into suddenly-appearing rocks can prove a hassle, but Dredge is otherwise a splendid offering that’s certainly worth checking out.

Ghostwire: Tokyo ends up being a satisfying experience. With a wonderful world to explore, excellent combat that gets quite deep over time, and an interesting story, there’s a lot to recommend about it. Somehow it also ends up feeling a bit incomplete, though. There was room here for more gameplay variety and to really explore more with some of these characters, and doing so might have turned a good game into a great one. As is, the ending feels like it comes a bit out of nowhere, leaving me to wonder if the team's original vision was a bit larger. Still, if you’re looking for a creepy game where you strike fear into the creatures that go bump in the night, check out Ghostwire: Tokyo.

If you’re in the mood for an ’80s-inspired sci-fi adventure with solid combat and beautiful, voxel-based visuals, Echo Generation has exactly what you’re looking for.

The Silver Case 2425 may contain some of SUDA51’s oldest work, but that doesn’t stop it from feeling like a fun, fresh, and (appropriately) frightening experience for those who have yet to play it (and even those who already have!). If you haven’t delved into the world of SUDA51 and want to check this game out, just know that you’ll be getting into something wonderful and weird, and that it’s not going to be your fault if you find yourself not understanding everything at first. And if you DO know what SUDA51 is all about… well, then, enjoy.

While the Switch may not be the best place to play The Outer Wilds, it still offers an experience absolutely filled with wonder on Nintendo’s platform. Switch owners who still haven’t had a chance to explore its mysteries now have one less excuse not to do so.

At the end of the day, though, that’s not the vision the developers had for Adore and that’s fine, as what they have produced is a damn fine spin on the monster taming genre all the same. Look past the repetition, and you’ll find that early simplicity was a complete red herring, as the complexities of team synergy, hidden passives, and the real-time combat suck you in. The core of what’s here is excellent, and while the narrow scope of the moment-to-moment gameplay loops may feel a little limiting, they allow the excellent core combat and surprising depth to shine through. If, like me, you were a little tired of the genre rehashing the same formula for what feels like forever, then Adore, while not without its flaws, will likely feel like a total breath of fresh air.

If you’ve been salivating for a new old-school RPG on modern consoles, Live A Live is a proper treat. The selection of stories you play are lovely and varied, the beautifully upscaled look of the game brings details to vibrant new life, and there is a lot of retro arcadey goodness in here to bask in. Furthermore, the shortness of each individual story makes each of them easy to play without feeling overloaded or that you’re missing something. Live A Live can get tricky, its grid-based battle system is a little passe, and it isn’t the most awe-inspiring remake you ever saw, but it’s a lovingly crafted revitalization that will please anybody with a fondness for old-school JRPGs.

World’s End Club feels a lot like the child of extremely talented parents. Where the Zero Escape and Danganronpa series aggressively delivered their respective themes and elements that hooked players, World’s End Club inherited their genes but not their experience. The framework is there and shines as strongly as ever, but if you’ve already played its predecessors, it feels less like an equal and more like both franchises dialed down in volume. There’s an exact audience for World’s End Club: teenagers who want to experience what Zero Escape and Danganronpa have to offer but aren’t ready for heavy technical reading or the mental anguish of executing classmates. It’s good, it’s sweet, but it’s immature. And honestly? That’s just fine.

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores may be more Horizon, but if that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ll be very happy with this new content. With an excellent story, interesting new characters, awesome new weapons, and enemies, as well as some of the most exciting sequences in the entire game, Burning Shores makes Forbidden West an even stronger experience than it already was.

Steelrising is yet another feather in Spiders’ cap that clearly shows how far the developer has come. Not content with putting out a steady stream of sprawling Western RPGs, the plucky French studio has made a largely seamless transition to the souls-like genre. Hitbox frustrations aside, Steelrising’s challenging combat and deep world-building feel like the work of a team who have been churning out souls-likes for years, rather than a studio stepping into uncharted territory, and they’ve successfully created a world that I hope we see a lot more of in the coming years.

NEO: The World Ends With You does a lot right. It provides incredible style and a solid combat system. The story is entertaining, and the characters almost feel like old friends after how much we’ve been through together. Its many systems may seem daunting at first, but they provide a lot for you to chip away at. While I wish it did a better job of respecting the player’s time and that certain elements offered a bit more variety, any fan of the original will want to beat a quick trip to Shibuya. New players will still find a lot to like, but may be better served checking out the original first, or at least watching the anime adaptation released earlier this year.

Honestly, I struggle to find criticism for Haven Park. Is it the most stunning, groundbreaking game you’ll ever play? No, but it doesn’t need to be. While it feels like it draws some inspiration from the Animal Crossing series, it remains its own separate entity with its own identity. For a game about walking and fixing up campsites, it’s short, sweet, beautiful, and even at times, moving. It left me wishing for more, but in the best way possible.

On one hand, Starlight Legacy might not blow the world away with any huge innovation or captivating ideas. But everything here is rock solid and well made, and this is easily the best game I’ve played from eastasiasoft in years. I’m also happy to see there might be potential sequels in the works. If you’re a fan of retro JRPGs and want something fun and inexpensive, this is the game for you.

While I’m a little disappointed that the Switch version of Guild of Dungeoneering Ultimate Edition falls short of its potential, it still offers a ton of fun for fans of challenging deck-based mayhem. Especially if you want to try your luck with Hardcore Mode. But if you enjoy funny and diverse adventures that you can play from the comfort of your couch (or comfiest chair), you absolutely still need to buy this on Nintendo Switch.

Ultimately, The Legend of Tianding is a great game that is only slightly held back by the scope of its ambition. While the historical setting and focus on Taiwan is undoubtedly unique, it never quite did enough to come into its own. It also probably doesn’t help that the ending I got wrapped things up on such a somber note, showing the often painful cost of rebellion. That said, it’s a very well balanced and enjoyable game that can be beaten in a few short hours. Combined with the affordable price point, this is an easy one to recommend, especially since it’s a really impressive first outing by the developer. Here’s hoping it’s not the last such historical adventure by Creative Games and Computer Graphics Corporation and Neon Doctrine.

Loop Hero is a fascinating roguelike that will excite fans of the genre and entice those burned out by it to come back and fall in love all over again. Its beautiful art style and addictive core loop will cause players to lose track of time, not realizing hours have passed between loops as they slay the day away. Loop Hero could use a few tweaks to make certain aspects more understandable, but in its current state, it is absolutely worth your time and money. Still unconvinced? Download the Loop Hero demo from the game's Steam page. Don't make me keep talking in circles -- be sure to check out Loop Hero as soon as possible.

Mario Kart World makes some strange choices in leaving its open world a bit empty and the way it links tracks, but the core racing is better than ever and there’s a ton of content to keep players busy until Nintendo further expands the game. Knockout Tour is perhaps my favorite online mode a game has offered in years, even if I do wish it were easier to enjoy with friends. Ultimately, if you’re buying a Nintendo Switch 2 at the moment, you’ll want to buy this game.

While I do have some concerns around balance, and the huge grinds that the progression systems represent may not be for me, those are relatively minor blemishes on what is an otherwise fantastic package at launch. It’s authentic, bloody, and terrifying – quite frankly, it’s everything that I wanted the Texas Chainsaw Massacre to be. Now, if you don’t mind me, I’m just about ready to get back to spilling so.

Triangle Strategy is another resounding success by Square Enix in its quest to bring turn-based pixel art masterpieces into the realm of modern gaming. Its bigger mechanics force players to make tactical decisions on and off the battlefield, while its more nuanced ones give players a sense of joy in discovery at even the smallest turn. Each of Triangle Strategy’s components are elegantly refined down to the smallest detail, but when blended, make for a slightly, yet strangely, imbalanced experience. If you don’t mind a tactics game that focuses more on story with battles largely used to further exposition, Triangle Strategy is an absolute must-play.

Despite those issues though, Humanity is never less than an engaging puzzle game. Wrapping my brain around these levels was a joy, and the fact that players can make their own levels means I’ll be checking back in periodically to see what new ways players have found to twist my mind into pretzels. Humanity might be a second-tier game from Enhance, but that still puts it far ahead of most of the puzzle genre.

Kentucky Route Zero TV Edition is like a Michelin meal — rich, decadent, experimental, yet still somehow recognizable but best enjoyed in small portions. I can easily see how the critically-acclaimed Kentucky Route Zero could become someone’s favorite game, so it stands to reason that Kentucky Route Zero TV Edition would be another success after the episodic original’s completion. Although I suspect Kentucky Route Zero is best experienced on the PC, Kentucky Route Zero TV Edition is still a must-play even if you’ve already enjoyed the original. And if you haven’t yet played this digital masterpiece, well… consider getting lost in Kentucky Route Zero TV Edition.

It’s not often that you find a platformer with a lot of heart. Wonderful artwork, challenging and unique puzzle and level design, and a surprisingly moving story will keep you hooked and playing. If you need something short and sweet, give Macrotis: A Mother’s Journey a try.

Cloud Gardens is a hypnotizingly meditative experience and perhaps one of the best chill games I’ve played all year. Its soothing soundtrack and peaceful dioramas are made more pleasant and calming with each careful move made by a contemplative player. Cloud Gardens reminds us that the apocalypse isn’t bad news for the Earth — just humanity. Life will continue to flourish and thrive long after we’re gone; Cloud Gardens showcases that bittersweet beauty of a world without us.

Despite some issues, it’s fantastic to see HITMAN World of Assassination available on the Switch 2. This release would simply not have been possible on the original Switch and is an excellent example of what its successor can offer. These are wonderful games and while this may not be the best version of them, their flaws are easily overlooked if this is the only way you have to play these games or if you really want to play them on a portable. That said, if the plan is to play mostly on your TV, I’d consider any of the other systems you can play these games on first.

It Takes Two takes the tried and true action/adventure-puzzler genre and turns it into possibly the most collaborative split-screen co-op game ever created. Coupled with the presented marital issues between the main characters that make for fantastic springboards to discuss with your own Player 2, It Takes Two will strongly resonate with just about anyone who picks up a controller. Although character development was a bit lacking and the story somewhat sluggish, these issues do not diminish the incredibly imaginative level design and supremely enjoyable boss battles. If you’re looking for a case study in co-op puzzle games that deserves to define the genre going forward, grab a partner and pick up It Takes Two.