The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Bros. Wonder proves that even masterpieces can be improved upon, adding worthwhile content to an already premium package without changing what made the game so great in the first place. Whether you’re taking down the Koopalings as the lovely Princess Rosalina in thrilling new boss battles, powering your way through the many Toad Brigade training courses, or gathering friends in Attraction Central for hours of competitive and/or cooperative fun, the Meetup in Bellabel Park expansion makes Super Mario Bros. Wonder a stellar Switch 2 Edition that's worth the upgrade.

Mario Tennis Fever has a lot to love; easily being the best in the series both mechanically and visually. Adventure Mode is fun while it lasts, but is only about half the length it should have been, feeling more like a fleshed out tutorial than a challenging campaign. What makes up for it is the plenty of other modes and unlockables for you to spend your time with, the impressive and diverse character roster, and the new Fever Racket mechanic that finds the best balance between a Mario game and an actual tennis match we’ve seen thus far. The ball is in your court exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 when Mario Tennis Fever launches 12th February 2026.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a stunning showcase for the Switch 2 and a consistently entertaining action-adventure game that delivers a polished experience, but dedicated fans may find it doesn’t live up to the wait and the series name attached to it. For steps taken forward in specs, production, and quality-of-life, there are others taken backward through strange quirks in story and gameplay. Despite its failure to meet the moment, however, it remains to be one of the most exciting games to grace the system so far, and a worthy addition to any Switch 2 library.

While there’s no discernible reason that DK Island shouldn’t have been included as a bonus layer at the end of the base game, especially with the DLC releasing so soon after launch, Emerald Rush nonetheless adds worthwhile replayability to Donkey Kong Bananza with an engaging new mode that encourages you to take full advantage of the game mechanics. If you’ve already completed the main story and are looking to prolong the game further with a more challenging roguelike twist on Banandium destruction, Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island & Emerald Rush is paid DLC that is worth your consideration.

Well over a decade later, Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 are still two of the greatest 3D platformers of all time, and the Nintendo Switch remasters enhance them even further with an updated UI, higher resolution, and new content, including an assist mode and a fitting continuation of Rosalina’s storybook. I can’t wait for a new generation of gamers to play these legendary intergalactic adventures, and if you haven’t played one (or either) of them, or you just wanna re-experience the magic before The Super Mario Galaxy Movie hits theatres next year, now is the perfect time to do so. Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2 launches for Switch on 2nd October 2025 along with a free Switch 2 update that includes some of the features mentioned in this review.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World is a nearly perfect package for newcomers, improving upon an already excellent 3D platformer by polishing it up with improved graphics and doubling the framerate for an even smoother visual experience. Even though the Star-Crossed World campaign is relatively short and the gameplay feels like more of the same, the newly added content maintains the same level of quality and charm as the base game, offering a good enough reason for veterans to revisit one of the best titles on Switch, while saving development time for a new game.

Drag x Drive tries too hard to reinvent the wheel, putting more focus on the unique (yet intuitive) mouse controls of the Nintendo Switch 2 than having enough gameplay content to give you the drive necessary to play more than a few times. Priced accordingly, shooting some hoops online with friends can be a real ball, and rolling around a skate park-like arena in a wheelchair is even more fun than it looks, but Drag x Drive doesn’t reach its full potential and is far from being a slam dunk.

While the base game of Super Mario Party Jamboree remains a must-have, the Jamboree TV expansion for Switch 2 is take it or leave it. For the price, the new Carnival Coaster mode and mouse minigames are a fun time, and the new rulesets for Mario Party are a welcome inclusion. Alas, Bowser Live struggles to make good use of the camera and microphone, CameraPlay is only worth it if you have friends or family to play with online, and the increased resolution is not supported with any of the original side modes. Just one new game board would have added so much value, but Jamboree TV doesn’t even have that.

Donkey Kong Bananza is a dream come true for fans of 3D-platforming collectathon sandboxes. While the ambitious visuals can cause some noticeable framerate issues, the gameplay loop of exploration and destruction is more than satisfying enough to make up for it. With a fun cast of characters, wholesome narrative, surprisingly deep worldbuilding, and vast open areas bursting with creativity (and plenty of bananas), if you enjoyed Super Mario Odyssey, Donkey Kong Bananza is sure to make you sing your heart out.

Yakuza 0 was already regarded as one of the best entries in the series, and the Director’s Cut more than lives up to this lofty legacy. Although the story retcons from the new cutscenes may prevent it from being the definitive experience for some long-time fans, Red Light Raid fulfils some idle daydreams of playing as some of the series’ better known characters, and the English dub is a welcome addition for those who may have started with more recent titles. For newcomers, there couldn’t be a better entry point to the franchise. Whether you’re spending hours indulging in minigames, helping citizens with their highly improbable dilemmas, or beating up random delinquents and Yakuza members who accost you on the street for no easily identifiable reason, there is always a good time to be had in the streets of Kamurocho and Sotenbori.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom not only feels right at home on Switch 2, it now feels like the game it was always meant to be. Already a fantastic game in its own right when it released in 2023, it has finally been freed from the shackles of outdated hardware to show what it is truly capable of, and even if you disliked it the first time around – especially if you did, in fact – it is more than worth checking out a second time on Nintendo’s new hardware.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour fulfils its intended function admirably, quite literally taking you on a tour across the Switch 2. It explains how each part was made in a way that is easy to understand and fairly engaging, and then lets you try it out for yourself with some minigames and tech demos that are fun (or at least sufficiently demonstrative) for a few minutes, and there is quite a substantial amount of content here. However, it lacks the replayability or thematic cohesion of past titles that demonstrated the capabilities of new hardware, such as Wii Sports or Nintendo Land. If you’re at all curious about the technical aspects of the Switch 2, this is more than worth the cost of admission, but otherwise, there is very little reason to take this tour.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was one of the most defining games of the Nintendo Switch’s lifespan, but on the Nintendo Switch 2 it finally realises its full potential, as all performance issues have been removed by the more powerful hardware. Some slightly aged visuals do nothing to detract from the captivating open world design, which has been made all the more accessible by the Zelda Notes app. Whether you’ve played Breath of the Wild before now or not, this is undeniably the best way to experience one of the most influential video games of the last decade.

Already off to a promising start, Mario Kart World is a game that could become nearly perfect with possible post-launch support filling out some of the gaps in its roster and track list. As it stands though, fantastic multiplayer options, new traversal mechanics which invites veterans to approach classic tracks in new and creative ways without excluding newcomers, and the kind of stellar presentation we’ve come to expect from first-party Nintendo titles, makes this an excellent choice as a launch title for Nintendo Switch 2. An innovative and exciting step forward for the series, Mario Kart World is a gold shell of a good time.

Xenoblade Chronicles X has always stood apart from the main trilogy as a markedly different experience, and the Definitive Edition does a fantastic job at bringing it up to par from a gameplay perspective, with the numerous quality-of-life changes addressing some of its more glaring flaws and making it a much more comfortable title to play. Occasional performance dips and obtuse gameplay mechanics notwithstanding, whether you’re as familiar with the streets of New LA as your hometown or this is your first time upon Mira, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is an out of this world experience you won’t want to miss.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is the definitive way to play the still phenomenal predecessor to Tropical Freeze. While the full retail price point and lack of new content might make it hard to justify a double-dip for those that already played it on Wii/3DS, the resolution bump and visual enhancements makes one of the best Wii platformers feel fresh for a new generation, as long as you can look past the increased load times.

Fantasian manages to hold its own amongst the Switch’s heavyweights in the RPG genre thanks to some inventive and enjoyable gameplay innovations that break up the traditional grind, making its otherwise by-the-numbers turn-based combat a more tactical and engaging experience. Its diorama-style visuals are delightfully refreshing, and highly nostalgic if you’ve ever played a PS1-era Final Fantasy title. Although not quite an entirely new dimension of fun, Fantasian is a welcome breath of fresh air that is more than worth your time.

Fitness Boxing 3: Your Personal Trainer pulls the punches in providing an accessible workout experience that encourages a more active and healthy lifestyle. The charismatic personal trainers excel at properly motivating you to reach your goals with the help of fun, albeit finicky, motion-controlled rhythm-based boxing exercises. While the game doesn’t do quite enough to differentiate itself from its predecessors for those that have them, it’s still a fairly good fitness regime for those who are looking to get an early start on their New Year’s resolutions.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake does an excellent job at preserving the spirit of the original game, cultivating a satisfying sense of adventure in a richly detailed and culturally diverse world that is teeming with hidden secrets to discover, and challenges that will test the skills (and often the patience) of newcomers and veterans alike. The HD-2D visuals more than live up to the name and add a new level of depth and detail to the world that make it a joy to explore, elevating the remake far beyond its previous mobile port. Although more could certainly have been done to make this more accessible to a wider audience, it remains an adventure that you’ll not soon forget.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is an exceptional adventure that’s just as much about the journey as it is the destination. Whether you’re new to the series or have played every Mario & Luigi game up to this point, the captivating narrative with well-written and comedic characters is sure to keep you thoroughly engaged as you travel from island to island to help reconnect the land of Concordia. From the brain-stimulating puzzles to the extensive RPG battle mechanics, there is a boatload of fun to be had around every turn.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is a consistent and polished experience that reflects the love Sonic Team has for their series and that could absolutely be called a game “made by Sonic fans, for Sonic fans.” But even though Shadow Generations shows players a glimpse into the future, it falls short of being the future itself by being tied to the past through Sonic Generations. It’s a step in the right direction for sure, but with one foot forward and the other backward, it’s difficult to, in good faith, see Sonic x Shadow Generations as a “revival” or a full-on “evolution.” So, though it may provide diehard fans with the time of their life and the disillusioned with just enough hope to keep on going, it doesn’t quite reach the peak needed for it to be a defining moment for the series.

With an overabundance of content, infinitely replayable minigames, and enough charm to fill a piñata, Super Mario Party Jamboree is easily the best Mario Party on Switch. While not necessarily a replacement for Superstars due to that game being more of a series celebration rather than a brand new entry, Jamboree improves upon the original Super Mario Party in almost every way, and is absolutely worth the upgrade. Although the single-player mode wasn't as fleshed out as it could have been, and there are a few strange development decisions here and there, Jamboree has more than a little something for everyone.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom feels like the perfect compromise between old and new. It incorporates some of the best elements of open-world design from the more recent 3D titles into the solid linear structures of the classic 2D instalments to create something that feels familiar without being too stale, and structured without being restrictive. No matter what your history with the series is, you’d be wise to check this one out. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom launches for Nintendo Switch on 26 September 2024.

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club is one of the most engaging and emotional visual novels I’ve ever played. The well-written, unpredictable story, multi-dimensional characters, and beautiful anime-style visuals makes the newest entry in the Famicom Detective Club series a must-have for anyone that loves murder mystery and psychological horror.

For a game that’s all about speedrunning, it’s ironic that Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition feels rushed. Although I certainly had a great time going for an S-tier rank in all the challenges presented, the obvious omissions makes the game feel more like a missed opportunity rather than a complete package. If you’re interested in learning the basics of speedrunning or wanna take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition is sure to provide many hours of fun, but otherwise, the larger library of NES titles offered to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers is probably enough to suffice.

Although it’s a pretty barebones remaster, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is still frighteningly brilliant, taking the 3DS classic to new heights with its improved graphics and quality-of-life changes. While it might be a tough sell for those who played the original due to its lack of new content, it’s also a must-have for Switch owners that enjoyed Luigi’s Mansion 3 and have yet to experience its predecessor. With a terrific single-player campaign and the resurgence of the supernaturally addictive online co-op ScareScraper mode, the sequel to Luigi’s Mansion is now better than ever on Switch and lives up to my expectations.

With an excellent Adventure Mode, a highly replayable Battle Mode, and a plethora of online and local multiplayer options, Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is easily the best Super Monkey Ball title available on Nintendo Switch, but unfortunately not without a few major caveats. As long as you can deal with the omission of 3-4 split-screen multiplayer in Battle Mode, the notable absence of the fan-favourite Monkey Target mode, some occasional framerate hiccups, and less than adequate pricing of the DLC, there is still much fun to be had in this brand new Switch-exclusive entry in the Super Monkey Ball series.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door for Nintendo Switch improves upon the GameCube classic in almost every way; not just with its impressive graphical overhaul, but with plenty of quality-of-life changes and additional content too.