BlazBlue: Entropy Effect X is a superb side-scrolling action game. The sheer amount of content on offer is enticing enough, but the animations and combat feedback are on-point throughout.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties is an exceptional entry in the Yakuza series, with a strong story, great combat, plenty to do, and gorgeous visuals.

The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest isn't going to light the world on fire, but if you're looking for a platformer without any frills you may enjoy it.

Mewgenics is one of the densest and most entertaining tactics games ever made, and I'll be discovering new stuff in it for years to come.

My Hero Academia: All's Justice is the perfect way to say goodbye to an anime titan, with so much content and flashy as hell combat.

Nioh 3 moves beautifully with smooth, glowing, brutal combat and a huge array of special abilities to equip and call upon.

Hermit and Pig is a unique and charming RPG, with engaging and fast paced combat, cozy vibes, and plenty of scrumptious mushrooms.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a comfy blanket of JRPG nostalgia, and despite having some pacing issues I never wanted it to end.

Cairn is a deceptively brutal climbing game at times, but the beautiful visuals, varied story threads and tactile mechanics ensure it's a climb worth making.

I Hate This Place has some great visual flair and interesting lore but unfortunately it's bogged down in an obtuse and often uninspired survival stealth adventure.

Don't Stop, Girlypop! is a pretty pink FPS full of diamonds and flip phones, and it also has the fastest gunplay you could ever handle.

Steel Century Groove is a wonderful blend of rhythm game and RPG, with all those wonderful hooks and a killer dance battle system.

The Switch 2 is now my console of choice for playing Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, and it's still one of the best RPGs of all time.

Grid Legends: Deluxe Edition is a standout among a relatively small roster of Nintendo Switch 2 racing games.

There's a lot going on in Code Vein 2, so much that it arguably loses some of the charm of its predecessor, and yet it's still quite a fun experience.

Escape from Ever After is the Paper Mario style game I've been waiting for since the GameCube, with a seriously charming fairytale setting.

Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven adds a whole host of new wintery content to one of 2022’s best games, and is a great reason to go back.

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is a unique approach to the zombie genre, and while it can become repetitive, I still had a lot of fun playing.

Videoverse is a ridiculously charming coming of age narrative game, with an early internet setting that slaps you hard with nostalgia.

Cozy Caravan is real low stakes stuff, but if you can put up with the slow tempo then you’ll find yourself enjoying this warm and whimsical world.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a stunning metroidvania with satisfying gameplay, set in an interesting science fiction setting.

BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW is far and away the most ambitious title in this series, and despite some faults it tells an engaging story.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is still my favourite Musou game, and getting to play it in handheld mode with few concessions is amazing.

Evocreo is a perfectly competent monster collecting game, but its lack of charm and derivative nature make it tough to recommend.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road is wonderful alternative to normal person football games, with all the anime nonsense you could ever want.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - From the Ashes is a solid, good-looking, well-paced standalone story that's well worth playing through for fans of the main game.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a hugely entertaining experience with a gorgeous atmospheric world, but it just doesn't quite feel enough like Metroid.

While maybe not as spectacular as the main story, Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimensions adds loads of content and Pokémon to the game.

Dunjungle is a fun and familiar Roguelike with smooth combat, plenty of punishment, and loads of content for those who want to play forever.

Storm Lancers is far from a bad game, but when held up against the titans of the genre it’s just not able to hang. If you’ve completely exhausted your Roguelike backlog (which admittedly I struggle to imagine is possible) then perhaps this sci-fi romp will excite you. For the rest of us though it’ll just make us dream of playing better games, and that’s a real shame.

Death Howl is a tough game that rewards your perseverance with more challenge, and for fans of iron-tough soulslikes and deceptively complex tactics games, it’s a definite gem.

If you’re into Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord, then War Sails is a no-brainer purchase.

Romancing SaGa -Minstrel Song- Remastered International adds new language options to an interesting if somewhat flawed JRPG.

Octopath Traveller 0 can't quite live up to the peaks of the previous two games, but is a fantastic RPG in its own right.

Skate Story is a fantastic entry into the skating genre, not only by virtue of being unlike anything else we’ve seen before, but also because mechanically it’s just a very good skateboarding game.

Once again, as a package, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 provides plenty of throwaway fun and multiplayer mayhem.

A Pizza Delivery is a great concept that needed much longer in the oven. As it stands the game is half-baked, full of bugs and doesn't hit the emotional notes it's aiming for.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows on Switch 2 is an impressive port, and a very smooth handheld experience. It's a great way to play the game whether you're a first-timer or just looking for a portable replay.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion offers loads of variety in its stages and playable heroes, and is another stellar entry into the beat 'em up genre.

If you really don’t like spiders and all you want to do is squish them in a variety of silly ways in some bizarre locations, you could do a lot worse than Kill it with Fire 2.

Kirby Air Riders shakes up the kart racing genre in a massively refreshing way, and has a ridiculous amount of content to explore.

R-Type Delta: HD Boosted may be a fairly bare bones remaster, but this shmup is still a blast in 2025 regardless.

Monsters are Coming! Rock and Road is your next new Survivors obsession, with a clever tower defence twist and that “just one more run" hook.

The Berlin Apartment tells some wonderful little stories that’ll make you feel emotions from both ends of the spectrum, and it gives a heartfelt glimpse into life in Berlin at key moments in its history.

Although it never really does anything we haven’t seen before, Constance is well-made enough to be worthy of your time, and does enough to earn its place in a crowded genre.

While not quite the replacement for The Binding of Isaac I wanted, Morsels has a lot of depth and plenty of challenge for those seeking it.

A twisting, turning tale told over a repeating 47-minute timeloop, Rue Valley unfortunately crumbles under the weight of its narrative ambition.

Satisfactory is a superb example of the factory sim, delivering a deep, comprehensive experience where it really feels like the devs have thought of everything.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is an amazing Musou game, and one of the best Switch 2 games available currently.

Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl is a big game. The world is not only huge but stuffed to the gills with things to find and places to explore.

Despite some framerate jitters, Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault feels very polished for an early access title, and offers a ton of content to get stuck into already – with more promised. This is a massive improvement on the original, which delivers a ton more features, story, and gameplay while retaining the same core premise. If this is the level of quality straight out of the early access gate, I can’t wait to see what Digital Sun sells us when it’s ready to hit 1.0. [Early Access Review]

Extra extra - News Tower is an entertaining tycoon game that puts you in charge of a newspaper, and it's a whole lot of fun.

SpongeBob Squarepants: Titan of Tides is a fantastic platformer, with tight controls, lots of variety, and plenty of Bikini Bottom residents.

Tales of Xillia Remastered doesn’t feel like an entirely new RPG in 2025, but it’s a wonderful way to preserve a well-loved title in a great series. Its fantastic combat and old school charm will appeal to all lovers of JRPGs, and fans of the Tales series will likely already have bought it now.

Chicken Run Eggstraction might not be the most revolutionary stealth game, but there's more than a nugget of fun to find in this charming package.

Yakuza Kiwami feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch 2, spinning a compelling tale of backstabbing and brotherhood that you can now take on the go with you.

Once Upon a Katamari is the new high point of this bizarre ball rolling series, will expertly crafted stages and loads of silly objects to roll up.

With smart, witty writing delivered by top tier talent, Dispatch tells a gripping story that will have you laughing out loud and gawping at the consequences of your decisions in equal measure.

Million Depth is a Roguelike that plays by none of the rules, and it does so while telling an engaging story and featuring seriously clever combat.

The Seance of Blake Manor is an essential game for fans of detective games, making complex investigation gameplay feel accessible for all with comprehensive mindmaps and timetables so you plan your sleuthing hour-by-hour.

Forestrike is a fantastic martial arts Roguelike that rewards reflexes, with the incredibly clever ability to practice each fight before committing.

Possessor(s) lacks the unique pizazz of some recent Metroidvanias, but delivers a solid adventure in its own right.

Lumines Arise takes a block building classic, adds a splash of psychedelic firework paint and an absolute banger of a soundtrack, leaving us with a game destined to become an all-timer.

Arc Raiders will continue to grow with new content and updates, but this is a competent and complete experience at launch.

Dragon Front Adventures is a seriously engaging Roguelike deck builder, with clever combat and enough content to keep you happy for years.

Bounty Star is a fun time-killer if you want something straightforward and entertaining with an emotional core that doesn't ask all that much of you.

For those who carry a nostalgic torch for the franchise, Simon the Sorcerer Origins is as close as you'll get to the original in 2025.

Dog Witch is an entertaining Roguelike that's refreshingly easy to pick up, and will leave your tail wagging thanks to its clever dice combat.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. World Stage is the definitive version of this beloved game, thanks to the titular new mode and Rollback Netcode.

Superball is a fun cyberpunk football game that you can try for free, but its bland heroes and confusing currencies are a drag.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a wonderful collection of Slimy goodness, packed full of charm and quality of life improvements.

MotionRec is an expertly made puzzle platformer, with a seriously clever central mechanic and a whole lot of charm packed into its short runtime.

The Lonesome Guild is an adorable action RPG with a nice message, but repetitive combat and a lack of difficulty make it a tad tedious.

With a vast, open landscape full of creative potential, Wreckreation will unleash your inner child, looping custom courses throughout the world like digital Hot Wheels tracks.

Despite performance hiccups and slightly confusing controls, I think the Nintendo Switch 2 is a great place to play an incredible management sim.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A mega evolves the series in an exciting new direction, and is one of the best games I've played on the Switch 2.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a deceptively smart Looter-shooter RPG with colourful worlds and entertaining characters, and some really satisfying, malleable combat.

Whether you’re new to the series or returning after a long hiatus, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a game that’s going to suck you in with its hypnotic soundtrack and addictive action.

With a beautiful, minimalist artstyle and some great encounter music, there’s a lot to keep you coming back to Godbreakers.

Powerwash Simulator 2 is an easy sell to those who have never tried the original, and an even easier sell to those who loved it. Relaxing and hypnotic, you’ll lose hours to this game every time you pick up the controller, and you’ll come back time after time for more.

Whilst this by no means a bad collection, The Jackbox Party Pack 11 feels like one of the weaker releases when compared to earlier games in the series.

Jurassic World Evolution 3 is by far the best the series has been, with new attractions that help creativity to blossom, even if familiar issues appear.

Battle Suit Aces blends together everything from Gundam and Mass Effect to Yu-Gi-Oh, to create an RPG that absolutely must be played.

There will be those that aren't fans of its pace, but Keeper is a stunning game both visually and in the poignant story it tells.

While somewhat of a disappointing port, Persona 3 Reload on Switch is still one of the very best RPGs you could play in 2025.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a prime example of how to offer varied combat and keep it evolving over the course of a game, with some stunning set pieces and endless brutality.

Yooka-Replaylee revitalizes the 2017 platformer with the care it always deserved. The remaster enhances visuals, refines controls, and introduces quality-of-life improvements that finally make exploration a joy. Its world is colorful, dense with secrets, and full of charming NPCs, though the main duo still lacks charisma. Some frame drops on PS5 keep it from perfection, but the smoother gameplay, cleaner camera, and added features make this the definitive version and a strong reminder of why 3D platformers still matter.

Fading Serenades is a cute and cosy delivery game, but the repetitive gameplay and constant back and forth across the map made me want to return it to sender.

Lumo 2 has some retro appeal and plenty of collectibles to gather scattered throughout its puzzle rooms, but the platforming just isn't great.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will certainly appeal to the die-hard fans of its world, thanks to the story. Unfortunately though, it commits the cardinal sin of simply not being fun enough to play, and that's a difficult coffin to clamber back out of.

Ball x Pit is a game that I never want to stop playing, thanks to its clever fusion of Breakout bouncing and Roguelike randomness.

Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 brings two absolute classics to the Switch 2, with improved visuals and a whole lot of creative stages to play.

If you want a game you can jump into for an hour of stress-free grinding, you could do worse than Out of Time.

Katanaut is fast-paced, good-looking, and pretty fun despite its overall sci-fi horror tone.

Little Nightmares 3 is more of the same, but there’s still plenty of heart and some stunning visuals that keeps you wanting to see what comes next.

Battlefield 6 is a return to its roots in many ways: an explosive warfare experience that puts you bang in the middle of the action with unique opportunities every moment and a seemingly never ending amount of customisation.

Absolum is a confident side-scroller with satisfying, punchy combat and a good spread of characters and skills.

Full of heart, a cute cast, a seemingly endless array of goodies to grab and new ideas at every turn, Yooka-Replaylee is a must buy for any fan of the platforming genre.