Chess Ultra is a nice little game to own. When Nintendo first began marketing the Switch, they really hammered home the idea of taking it where you go, and playing it to pass the time. I feel that this title is a perfect example of that. If a player has a few hours to kill, it’s probably best to play a big game like Super Mario Odyssey or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. On the other hand, if someone has a mere few minutes to spare, turning on the Switch and playing a match of Chess would surely suffice.

If you’re an experienced player, you will likely take just about 10 hours of gameplay from starting the game to finishing it for the first time, though most of it will be spent replaying the first two worlds. It could very well be that the game truly begins once you master the game and start playing it for the high score, but I personally didn’t have the patience to get to that point, nor did the decent controls pull me forward the way that other challenging games have in the past. Whether this is a worthwhile purchase for you comes down to how much tolerance you have for highly punishing mechanics so that you can push through to the enjoyable sense of mastery it eventually offers.

With colorful characters, amazing music, and liberal references to classic games, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game – Complete Edition has a lot going for it, but players who don't already have an attachment to the Scott Pilgrim franchise may not be impressed with its sluggishness and the little issues that remain from the original release.

Kaze and the Wild Masks is a solid platformer with its transforming character, healthy number of collectibles, and tough-but-fair bosses. However, it takes a little too much inspiration from Donkey Kong Country, the controls are touchy, and the difficulty ramps up too fast. Still, there are enough positives to make the prospect of a sequel enticing.

Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn certainly has a home on the 3DS. Unfortunately, the co-op mode in the Wii version is gone and the “fuzziness” of the visuals here makes it suffer a bit, but it’s still good wholesome fun. Even though we’re all about the Switch now in 2019, it’s nice to see one last quality title from Nintendo make its way to the handheld. This is as good of a sendoff as we could hope for.

On the whole, Yoshi’s Crafted World is an excellent platformer worth picking up for any Switch owner. It’s a beefy experience, with lots of levels to beat and items to explore. The art style is unique and the levels innovative. While the bosses and music aren’t perfect, they do little to detract from the overall experience. Yoshi’s Crafted World is well worth playing with friends or alone.

All in all, I didn’t expect to like Pokken Tournament DX as much as I ended up liking it. The learning curve and adjustment were pretty brutal, but once I got in tune with how the game operated, I found myself playing for hours and hours. If you didn’t pick up the Wii U version of the game, I highly suggest you check out Pokken Tournament DX as it really is the best version of the game. If you are a Wii U veteran of the series, there may not be enough here to warrant a second purchase, but diehard Pokken fans will want to check it out. Pokken Tournament DX is another fantastic Switch release and a game that fighting fans will want to check out.

Crystal Crisis is, put simply, puzzle perfection. It’s simple, addictive, and oh so colorful. The wild cast of characters is a treat, especially for Nicalis fans, and the amount of modes and options in the game makes this more than just a tiny little puzzle game. It’s competitive gold, and well worth a purchase from anyone looking to scratch that Puzzle Fighter itch.

A lot of indie titles have been thriving on Switch and I’m hoping Runbow does as well. If you’re a fan of party games or unique platforming, Runbow is a must-have title in your game library.

New Pokémon Snap goes beyond the scope of the original game to provide an experience that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. On-rails photography journeys are enjoyable thanks to a plethora of secrets, fun items to use, and consistently interesting changes to each level. Modern quality-of-life features minimize any potential frustrations with not understanding how to best plan out your runs, while a slew of side quests, online functionality, and postgame bonuses add some meaningful replayability. Though it remains technically imperfect and may not justify its price tag for all players, New Pokémon Snap is a welcome return for the spin-off series and one that Pokémon fans shouldn’t skip.

Steins;Gate 0 is a fantastic continuation of the Steins;Gate franchise, which science fiction fans should not miss.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory uses one of the franchise's most defining features to expertly craft a love letter to the series. Whether you're a longtime fan or a newcomer to the franchise, the wealth of content included in this package is incredibly worthwhile.

Sniper Elite 4 takes the foundation laid out by the franchise's prior entries and elevates it to new heights. Larger open levels and multi-mode items provide more freedom to tackle missions as you see fit, allowing for the sniping components of the game to really shine. However, unless you can play with friends, you might have a hard time finding a match for multiplayer. Despite this, Sniper Elite 4 is still a fantastic experience that fans of shooters won't want to miss.

Stella Glow is a good strategy game for the 3DS that I can easily recommend for those whose enjoy the genre or are fans of the game’s developer. However, it is far from a perfect experience.

This game is great. If you like hand-drawn art in games like Muramasa and epic boss battles akin to Monster Hunter then this is the game for you. Overall the presentation, music, sound, and level design is just as epic as the story. The biggest issue I had involves a crash in The Crater due to the Wii U chugging on an abundance of lighting effects.

Despite the short length, Blazing Chrome is an awesome experience that will bring you back to the golden age of 2D running and gunning. The sharp visuals, addictive gameplay and incredible level design had me grinning and sweating from beginning to end. If you’re itching for some side-scrolling action, Blazing Chrome is a must.

While there are a few parts of the game that feel less polished than others and I was left wanting a little more content, Thomas Was Alone is a great and consistently creative and enjoyable game.

All in all, Replay: VHS Is Not Dead is a brilliant game. It may not have particularly compelling visuals, music, or stories, but the gameplay is just superb. If you’ve got puzzle-platformer on the brain, Replay: VHS Is Not Dead is for you.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a wonderful bundle to own. It’s great for seasoned fans or those looking to check out the franchise for the first time. This bundle will get you three complete games for only $40. While I’m still hoping for a new installment in the franchise, you can’t beat a collection containing the three games that made this adorable purple dragon a household name.

Doom Eternal The Ancient Gods - Part One for the most part, is an excellent continuation of the main campaign. Some areas don't reach the heights of the previous chapter, but the gameplay is still as satisfying as it was before. A few new enemies added into the mix ensure that you are constantly on your toes, and all of this is complimented by yet another fantastic musical score. The Nintendo Switch version isn't the best way to experience the game by any means, however, it is still very much playable for those of you who want a great FPS title on the go.

Outlast II is one of the best looking games on Switch that uses a realistic art style. It’s a showcase of what the hardware is capable of. The game’s story is a wild ride, its setting is terrifying, and there are tons of intense moments as you try to escape from murderous cult members and gut-wrenchingly scary humanoid enemies that are around every corner. I would consider it a must play if you’re a fan of horror games.

If you are a seasoned DOOM player, there’s nothing new to see here, but the portability aspect could lure you in. If you are brand new to DOOM and own a Switch, it’s worth picking up. It’s fast, it’s fun, there’s tons of content, and it’s an extremely solid port of a technical beast.

With a deep storyline, vibrant world, and intuitive puzzles, I Am Dead is a fantastic journey about death and how we affect those around us long after we're gone.

If you do happen to be a fan of marble games, or even regular racers, you’re bound to find joy in Mindball Play. While it is on the difficult side, its unique gameplay style definitely helps it to stand out from the pack.

When I finally wrapped up River City Girls, I thought I would have a feeling of completion. Although the game was filled with many quirky moments and dialogue to laugh along with, it never really became great. There is a ton of attention to detail, especially with smaller animations in the nooks and crannies of River City. Maybe I should have curbed my expectations? I’m not quite sure. When it was all said and done, the experience didn’t provide that end-to-end satisfaction I was searching for. Bugs aside, River City Girls has a lot going for it; however, it still has plenty of room to grow.

L.A Noire is a fantastic game that finds a home on the Nintendo Switch, and the portability aspect really helps. While each case is pretty large, the ability to save (along with auto-saves) at any time makes this a perfect game for on the go or at home. Rockstar put the effort into this port and it shows. Sure, it’s a bit of an older game and does show some age from time to time, but L.A. Noire is another great triple-A third party release that shouldn’t be overshadowed by games like Skyrim and DOOM. If you are looking for a fantastic story-driven game with unique gameplay, L.A. Noire should be in your Switch library.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus for Nintendo Switch packs the same brilliant punch as it did on other platforms. Blasting your way through Nazis and experiencing a fantastic story with some of the most wonderfully-written characters is an impressive and memorable experience. While portable mode let me down, playing docked is at a standard that allows an enjoyable time.

The controls may be a little flawed due to the Switch hardware, but the game rises above this. The racing is of a high quality, and the difficulty is easily tailored to your preferences. There’s loads of content on offer to keep racing fans busy for weeks and months to come. And this is even before multiplayer is added to the game. If you are a Switch owner and have even a passing interest in racing games, then GRID Autosport is a title you must have in your game library.