Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a fantastic addition to the 3DS, and easily one of the best games on the system. Everything is well crafted and highly polished, and there is enough new content and variations that even if you played the PS2 version to death, you will still find lots of surprises and nuances. With high presentation value, a charming story, tons of depth, and a traditional-yet-fun JRPG battle system, Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King is a must-own for 3DS RPG lovers, and easily an early contender for 2017 game of the year.

If you love classic Paper Mario games, Bug Fables is an absolute must-have. It eases you in with everything you know and love from the Nintendo RPGs, then consistently impresses with new tweaks and innovations. It may lack the built-in charm of the Mario brand, but I fell in love with the characters and story just the same. I can confidently say it has earned a spot alongside the games that inspired its creation.

All in all, I enjoyed The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ a lot more than I should have. I’ve gotten a lot of playtime from the game and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon, so the $39.99 price point (although higher than the competition) doesn’t bother me to have a nice physical copy and manual. Plus, the Switch version has some exclusive DLC not available on other platforms (yet), so it’s really the best version of Isaac to get. If you are looking for a stroll in hell with dark humor and fun top-down twin stick shooting, The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ is a solid addition to the Switch.

Tadpole Treble isn’t the most complex eShop game, but it deserves to be one of the most popular.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a loving recreation of the cult classic skateboarding games, while also being an impressive iteration on where the series could go next. On Nintendo Switch, the game maintains its best features, including a fantastic variety of well-designed maps, cleverly modernized skating gameplay, endless customization, and a rocking soundtrack. Lower-resolution character models and a lower, albeit stable, frame rate of 30 FPS are meager speed bumps on the road to experiencing one of the best remakes of recent times.

Doki Doki Literature Club Plus! is nothing short of a masterpiece and highly recommended to anyone who can handle darker content. It navigates the jump from PC to console well overall, with new mechanics developed to handle gameplay situations that would normally be impossible outside of PC. The extra content, especially the Side Stories, is terrific as well, though it may not be enough to justify a $15 price tag given that the original game is still free on PC.

Pikmin has not taken off to the extent that it deserves, but Pikmin 3 Deluxe just might change that when paired with Nintendo Switch’s software momentum. It’s the perfect entry point for the series with a wonderfully balanced campaign that is structured to the player’s liking. Challenges are tons of fun, this time slightly bolstered by the additional content from Olimar’s Assignment, and Bingo Battle makes for some deceptively fun competitive multiplayer. Pikmin 3 Deluxe is a reminder that this game (and trilogy) succeeds at just about everything it tries. If you have not played Pikmin 3, you really, really should, and Pikmin 3 Deluxe is the perfect opportunity.

West of Loathing is a great value for its price and definitely entertaining for what it is. Unfortunately, the actual mechanics lack a lot of depth that keep it from being an experience for everyone. A deep RPG experience this is not. However, if you’re looking for a few hours to kill on a game with funny writing and creative environments, this one is for you.

Overall, Mutant Mudds Collection is well worth its budget price tag. It is a killer title to have if you’re a retro-fan like myself, but it’s also worth the buy for its array of gameplay options. The collection as a whole was obviously given care, and the fact is made obvious by its sleek presentation. Its visuals are incredibly gorgeous, the unique chiptune sounds will have you jamming in no time, and the gameplay is perfect – Mutant Mudds Collection is a stand-out title on the Nintendo Switch eShop.

The game runs at a smooth 60FPS, and the sprite work and character art are all very well done. Faces are animated, movements are fluid, and everything just has a high level of detail.

The Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster collection is an incredible package, and it comes to the Switch with virtually the same quality and improvements as every other release before it. The lack of speed-up options for battles and no Japanese language audio is a huge blow, but regardless, the ability to have this massive collection of JRPG goodness on the go is a treat that far outweighs those missing features.

Perfect Chronology’s additions are substantial enough that those who are craving a return to Radiant Historia will be more than satisfied, thanks to the Sub-History timeline’s exploration of entertaining what-if scenarios and the expansion of the game’s lore. JRPG enthusiasts who never played the original Radiant Historia owe it to themselves to check this one out, and even those who already enjoyed the original should strongly consider a return to Vanqueur.

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a game worth picking up if you have someone you can play with locally. The game is not only fun and fulfilling, but I genuinely think it improved communication between my partner and me. Although I wish the latter levels introduced new modules, the game still does a good job introducing new hazards and variations to keep adrenaline running until the end of the game. At 15 dollars, the game is well worth a purchase for a few nights of wonderful bomb disposal.

Lonely Mountains: Downhill is a fantastic game. You don’t need to be into bikes, mountains, or sports to enjoy it. The simplicity of riding down a mountain trail, even when you’re trying to beat your personal best time, is an oddly relaxing experience that you can zone out to wherever you’re playing. The short trails are perfect for quick sessions on a commute or while you’re out and about, but there’s definitely potential to sit and play for hours at a time.

Freedom Planet may have started out as an attempt to recreate Sonic, but it stands on its own as a great platformer.

Shin Megami Tensei V on Nintendo Switch retains all the strategic combat elements that the Atlus RPG franchise is known for, but it radically revolutionizes its world design to create an adventure that is completely addicting and flawlessly complements the battle system. It’s a truly remarkable achievement, resulting in easily one of the best games of 2021 and one of the best games on Nintendo Switch in general.

The Dust Switch port is great. Now that the sound bug present at launch has been taken care of, the game runs smoothly all around. Thanks to the plethora of side quests and shorter objectives, the game can be picked up for short bursts of play, meaning it fits perfectly on a portable, though it is still, of course, an engrossing experience that can eat up hours of your time. The game itself is a few years old now, but it holds up perfectly fine. If you have not played Dust: An Elysian Tale yet, or if you just feel like revisiting it, the Switch port is a perfect destination.

Bayonetta gets a welcome reissue on Switch. The game’s fluid gameplay and tough as nails difficulty remain firmly intact. There’s a nice nod to the ecosystem the game now finds itself on with some cool costumes based on Nintendo royalty. Otherwise, it’s the same game as before. The graphics may not have been improved but with the game only being eight years old, they hold up quite well. The framerate allows for some super smooth action in both docked and handheld mode. If you’re a fan of hack-and-slash games then this is a must-buy. If you have even a passing interest in the genre then you should seriously consider adding it to your collection, just be prepared to take some deep breaths and try again.

With Mega Man X Legacy Collection 1, you’re paying $19.99 for some of the greatest action platformers ever. That in itself justifies the purchase, even if X Challenge is a bit underwhelming. Anyone who has never played Mega Man X should absolutely buy this collection and change that. And for those who have played these games before, it’s probably worth their time and money to play them again.

While in some aspects the Switch version shows its age with dated graphics and stiff animations, it’s so easy to look past when there’s a vast world in your view with the sense of discovery around every corner.

Mushihimesama was ahead of the pack when it came out two decades ago, and that hasn't changed at all in 2021. This is still a remarkable shmup and a must-play for hardcore fans, but thanks to the wealth of difficulty options it provides, it's the perfect way for newcomers to dip their feet into the genre too.

Head to toe, Wargroove is packed to the brim with quality content. Single player offerings are lengthy and varied, although some punishing mission design led to more frustration than I would have liked. Combined with the beefy multiplayer and the jaw-dropping customization tools, Wargroove is one of the most impressive strategy games I’ve seen in years. Fans of Advance Wars will be right at home with Wargroove, but don’t be surprised if you end up becoming an even bigger Wargroove fan.

Superhot is a wild ride. It’s exhilarating when, against all odds, you shatter every combatant into pieces and make it through a stage unscathed. While the game’s length is disappointing and its gyroscope controls are hard to perfect, it’s such a fresh idea that it’s hard not to recommend. Give it a download even if you’re not into the FPS genre. Above all, Superhot is a title that is about quick thinking and adapting to any situation, even when it goes south.

Having access to BioShock, BioShock 2, and BioShock Infinite and their associated DLC in BioShock: The Collection makes it well worth the asking price, especially with Switch portability factored in. They’re relatively old titles, but they’re packed full of entertaining content and remastered for an overall better experience. There are three incredibly unique experiences to be had with this collection. Each one is a journey that you’ll remember in its own right for years after you’ve played it. They’ll have you constantly questioning the reality you’re in, both in the games and in real life. Don’t pass up the opportunity to play them.

Infernax is an action platformer that pays homage to '80s NES classics such as Zelda II and Castlevania II in its own satisfying way. It features a level-up system, lots of gore, and an interesting choice mechanic that adds up to a worthwhile adventure with plenty of replay value.

That is because ultimately, in what the game tries to do, it succeeds completely: it creates an incredible, breathtaking, awe-inspiring world that is an absolute joy to run around in, to fight in, to collect in, to look around in, to be in. It may not have done so flawlessly, but Xenoblade Chronicles X gave me one of the finest worlds gaming has to offer, and it populated that world with incredible things to do.

Overall, the game definitely feels like a re-run. While the integration of the world has improved, the storyline has been lackluster at best. Compared to Pokémon X and Y which introduced 3D models and multi-dimensional terrain, Pokémon Ultra Moon feels like a re-mastered version of your typical 7/10 cookie-cutter game. It’s pretty much just like the extra Poké beans you get when you buy a Pinap Juice at the Pokémon Café. Don’t over-hype the game, and you’ll enjoy it just fine.

Regardless of these minor quibbles, Spiritfarer is a journey I wholeheartedly recommend taking, even if management sims are not your thing. The main lessons of accepting loss and the importance of leaving something behind are important to learn. The heavy topics your colleagues discuss with you are also necessary to navigate and leave a lasting gut punch. The title is also wonderfully animated and the music is superb, with its main theme receiving a number of variations throughout the experience that well up deep feelings inside of you. Give it a go if you are ready to ugly cry and smile at the same time!