I can’t recommend What Remains of Edith Finch enough if anyone has yet to play it. With so many incredible games that are currently coming to Switch, it’s important to support the special titles coming from publisher Annapurna Interactive. Its explorations of loss and tragedy left me emotional on numerous occasions, yet it also holds an uplifting and edifying emotional core. This experience remains undiminished thanks to a comprehensive port that doesn’t make any drastic sacrifices to the performance and visuals. As far as I’m concerned, it’s required reading for those passionate about storytelling in video games.

Super Mutant Alien Assault is a chaotically fun, yet simple experience. It’s the type of experience that lends itself to short bursts of play in-between commercial breaks of your favorite TV show or to simply escape from work for a moment on your lunch break. The handheld capability of the Nintendo Switch lends itself to the quick and simple play Super Mutant Alien Assault offers. Sadly, it’s difficult to truly enjoy the game in co-op mode. Still, it’s sure to delight fans of the genre.

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.

Senran Kagura Peach Ball has earned every bit of its Mature rating, and I’m honestly surprised that it made its way to a Nintendo platform, let alone the Nintendo Switch. Fans of the series will no doubt have trouble keeping their eyes locked on their pinballs while still feverishly fondling their flippers. And to anyone else curious, you might find yourself as surprised as I was. I guess, after all, this game does have a happy ending.

Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love is a great little indie game. I really enjoyed my time with it despite its kicking my butt at times with the puzzles. I loved the art style and the humor laced throughout the adventure. Some of the mini-games have technical problems, and a few of the later cutscenes have major frame rate issues. These do tarnish the experience a little. Fortunately, the rest of the game is such a joy that they are easy to forgive. If you are a fan of the genre, then this is something you should check out.

A Duel Hand Disaster: Trackher is a fun little title that brings some unique concepts to the table. While at first the game seems overly complicated, once you get a feel for it, these mechanics mesh together for a surprisingly fun, innovative, well-crafted experience.

Red Faction: Guerrilla‘s formula of a traditional open-world title with destructible environments is refreshingly simple even 10 years later. However, the Switch port is far from the ideal way to experience Red Faction: Guerrilla. The performance of the port leaves a great deal to be desired and the shooting mechanics were not tweaked for Nintendo’s smaller controllers. Yet, blowing stuff up is still just as fun as the pun in the title of this remaster. So if you’re looking for a portable sandbox open-world title for the handheld, then Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-Tered is one of the most enjoyable you can purchase on the console.

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night demonstrates a lot of dedication and passion for Metroidvanias. It is a fantastic rendition of the genre. Even with some predictable plot moments and a platforming learning curve, it manages to be one of my favorite games of this year. The gameplay is tremendously well-crafted, and the addictive factor is through the roof. The style and art direction are complemented with old-fashioned ’90s-style timeless tunes that never bore or disappoint. Miriam and her adventure are a must if you have a Nintendo Switch. Playing Bloodstained has become my ritual of the night.

If you’re looking for a pixel-styled platformer, you can certainly do worse than Furwind. Though pretty to look at, It’s a bit generic and could do more to introduce variety throughout the game. That doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable, though. It’s got its share of issues, but if you can overlook them for a few hours, you’ll find a reasonably good time.

Ultimately, the replay value of Super Mario Maker 2 is an infinity symbol. There is just an insane number of variables that ensure inventive new levels will be created for years to come. Likewise, player rankings and unlockable costumes incentivize players to keep going. And when you start to get fatigued, you can always hop back into Story Mode to relax and recharge. Annoyances like imperfect building controls and laggy online play put a slight damper on things, but they’re not deal-breakers. Super Mario Maker 2 is a mandatory Mario experience.

Super Tennis Blast has a pretty decent amount of content for a relatively simple game, though it can understandably feel a little repetitive after a while. If a pure tennis game is what you’re looking for, this title gets the job done well enough. While I’m not a fan of its lack of motion controls and the stiff-looking animations, it’s still a neat little sports title that I had fun playing.

M2 did a pretty good job at this port. Everything looks and runs quite well, and the customization options for the gameplay and controls are much appreciated. While I wish the visuals looked more like the PS2 port of the game, and that there were more content, this is still a neat little package that should prove to be fun for any fan of racing games, whether you’re a novice or veteran.

Ultimately, Catan is a faithful recreation of the classic board game, and for that, I applaud it. I love being able to take Catan with me wherever I go and never concerning myself with having people to play with me. You probably won’t be spending large chunks of time with this in a single sitting, but the game’s autosave feature makes it incredibly convenient to pick up and put down on a whim. Catan isn’t perfect, but if you’re a fan of board games, you should enjoy it nonetheless.

Crash Team Racing was a giant in its day, and now, 20 years later, Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled has reasserted the original’s greatness. It is a faithful rebuild of one of the most beloved kart racers from an era that had greats such as Diddy Kong Racing and Mario Kart 64. Behind a fresh coat of paint, a great soundtrack, and a lot more tracks, Crash’s racing adventure holds up pristinely and is worth a look for any fan of kart racing.

Cadence of Hyrule should prove to Nintendo that handing off iconic IPs to different developers can lead to outstanding results. Even after one playthrough, I’m itching to go back and play Cadence of Hyrule some more. I never knew I wanted a Zelda/rhythm game hybrid before. Now I’m hoping this is the start of a wonderful string of Zelda spinoffs to hit the Switch. Do yourself a favor by grabbing a set of headphones and immerse yourself into the world of Cadence of Hyrule. You won’t regret it.

All in all, though, My Friend Pedro is an exhilarating indie title. There is no greater feeling than slowing down time, diving through a window, dodging bullets with a pirouette in midair, and shotgunning an enemy into bloody chunks on the way back down. Few games can replicate that moment of pure tranquility you get in Pedro when you make it through a room unscathed with bodies littering the floor. Lastly, and this must be mentioned, Pedro pops out of the side of the screen when you do something cool, wearing a different shocking expression each time. There’s no other game like My Friend Pedro, and that’s probably the greatest accolade I can give it.

Providing this sort of perspective to this violent era of history is something which games haven’t really done prior to now. While We. The Revolution could never be defined as “fun” entertainment, it’s a satisfying addition to the Switch library that pushes the envelope on what video games can be.

Hue is a wonderful, challenging puzzle platformer that I would recommend to anybody. Despite its short length, your enjoyment of the puzzles and the unraveling of the story will make your purchase worthwhile.

Timespinner kept me wide awake in the late hours of the night. I simply couldn’t put it down until I defeated the final boss. Luckily, tons of collectibles and a new game plus mode give me a reason to jump back in. If you’re a fan of Metroidvania games, Timespinner is a must play on Nintendo Switch.

Overall, Rock of Ages II: Bigger & Boulder is a solid sequel to one of the most bizarre games of the last generation. The wacky writing and adorable art paired with the challenging yet rewarding gameplay lead to a recipe for success. Unfortunately, that recipe is somewhat botched by the very basic tutorial options in the game, unexpected difficulty spikes, as well as the severely downgraded visuals of this Switch port. Fans of the series will have a blast with it on Switch, but if visuals are a priority, you might want to play elsewhere.

Admittedly, Gato Roboto is a small video game, but its length is one of its strengths. The adventure introduces new mechanics and discoveries at such a perfect pace that you end up feeling satisfied yet hungry for more. If you love Metroidvanias and want a quick, cheap, enjoyable version of one, Gato Roboto fits that mold purrfectly.

Despite being in the shadow of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed, Team Sonic Racing crosses the finish line as a solid kart racer in its own right. With a fun teamwork mechanic, solid presentation, fantastic score, and a cheap entry fee, I would highly recommend Team Sonic Racing for kart racing fans looking for their next fix.

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.

Little Friends: Dogs & Cats tries its best to be the Nintendogs sequel that Nintendo is too scared to give us. It gets a few things right, like the variety of activities and the huge amount of customization available. Unfortunately, the lack of detail when it comes to control options and taking care of your pet makes this an experience with very little staying power.

Overall, Resident Evil 0 is a game which provides the same satisfying gameplay loop found in the Resident Evil remake. If you’re not only aching for more top-down survival horror but also invested in the world of the series, it’s worth downloading for a playthrough. Just keep in mind that if portability isn’t the main draw for you with the Nintendo Switch, you’re better off purchasing the game off another storefront.

The return of Resident Evil to Nintendo platforms should come with inherent celebration. Gaming’s first realization into true survival horror is timeless thanks to the technical enhancements of this HD remaster. The game remains as tense and foreboding as it did when it first released. This experience still stands unparalleled to many titles currently releasing on the Nintendo Switch. It’s impressive how flawlessly Capcom managed to get it running. However, it’s also unreasonably more expensive on the Nintendo Switch when compared to the same game on other consoles. Despite this, it’s still a near-perfect horror game which is required reading for those who have yet to play it.

If you missed Resident Evil 4 over the last fifteen years, don’t wait any longer to play this gem. Even in 2019, I find myself engrossed by RE4’s dark, uneasy setting, its addicting gun progression, and incredible action-horror gameplay. It’s a game that changed the action-adventure genre forever, and for the most part, has stood the test of time.

VA-11 HALL-A is a game I think everyone should try out. Its interesting characters, compelling stories, and flawless soundtrack help it stand out in the visual novel genre. It’s simply a must play on the Nintendo Switch.