Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma might not be the most polished game, with all of its systems not being fully cohesive, but it was the entry point to Rune Factory I’ve been looking for. The skill floor is pretty low, with simple combat mechanics and easy-to-manage farming. While it might not have the tightest design in a farming simulator or an ARPG, I think it presents a breezy and fun combination of both genres. I’d like to see another spin-off tackle this approach again, because I think there’s a lot of potential in the series going in this new direction. Hopefully, next time, though, the Nintendo Switch 2 version could get a bit more love.

I think Pokémon Champions has some potential, despite its many shortcomings at the moment. It’s carried by the excellent Pokémon battle system, to be sure. As the number of Pokémon available to use increases and the game gets more filled out, this could eventually grow into the true competitive scene that Pokémon could use. I at least appreciate that the current monetization method limits what you can spend and largely avoids potential pay-to-win problems. Still, there’s no denying that this feels somewhat undercooked, both technically and in terms of what’s actually included here. Hopefully Pokemon Champions can, over time, grind its way to living up to its name.

Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is a slightly spiffed-up version of a game that is very much of its time and place in the history of the series. While it’s not the best Ys game you can play on the Switch, or even the second-best, going on a journey with Adol rarely shortchanges the player on thrills. Those using a Switch 2 will find this to be a particularly comfortable handheld experience, but there’s a satisfying quality to it wherever or however you choose to play it.

As a port, Overwatch on Nintendo Switch 2 is an easy recommendation for portable play as a companion to playing on another system. It feels quite lacking when played docked, though, with it not including the field of view slider or 120 frames per second options found on the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions, let alone running at a much lower resolution than those consoles. Given it took almost a year following the console’s launch, I expected a bit better, but I’m glad to have it in a much better state for handheld play at least.

All of this ultimately falls into the “nice to have” bucket rather than the “essential” one. If you loved the base game and want a little more juice to squeeze from it, you’ll likely be satisfied with what you get from SEGA Villains. On the other hand, if you’re expecting a full-on expansion, you’re not really getting that here. It’s a good excuse to fire the game up again, and I will say that what’s here pays homage to the respective franchises quite well. You get some excellent new boss encounters, some new stages to traverse, and even get some new moves and looks for your trouble. I do wish the stages were a little more fully-realized, and it’s disappointing that the only Sonic stage is reserved for the climactic boss battle. SEGA Villains isn’t all it could be, but it’s enough.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits delivers an interesting blend of fast-paced combat, gorgeous visuals, and light puzzle-solving. It is just a shame that I can’t recommend the Nintendo Switch 2 port without the caveats about visual issues like ghosting, some noticeable visual cutbacks, and lack of a performance mode. I’ll definitely revisit it after some patches, but if nothing major changes, this is looking like a game I should revisit on another platform in the future for New Game Plus.

If you’re new to all of this, you’ll probably want to start your journey with the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection. It’s not that you can’t jump in with Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection, but the included games aren’t quite up to the highs of their predecessors. Star Force adheres too closely to Battle Network for its own good, and where it does make changes they are generally for the worse. With all that said, it’s hard to fault Capcom’s work here on dressing these games in their Sunday best and getting them back out there.

All in all, Meetup in Bellabel Park is an entertaining addition to what was an already excellent adventure. While it’s not the New Super Luigi U-sized expansion many were likely hoping, it manages to deliver just enough meat to chew on both for platforming challenge-seekers and group-based shenanigans.

The display issues, input lag, and little bugs here and there detract from what is otherwise a rather well put-together assortment of games. Super Bomberman Collection might not have your favorite Bomberman game in it, but there’s plenty here for any fan to find some fun with. I really appreciate all the extra touches in the UI, and having two newly-translated games is nothing to sneeze at. The GameShare option is a natural fit here, provided you have Switch-owning Bomberman fans in your vicinity. I wish the actual play experience was a little better than it is, but I’d imagine most players will find this to serve their needs well enough.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition isn’t just a handful of a title, it’s also a handful of an “upgrade”. With clear benefits in some aspects and obvious drawbacks in others, especially for handheld players, this version of the game makes for an awkward debut for the RPG franchise in native Switch 2 form. Playing on a TV, this is on the whole an improvement over the original Switch version running on Switch 2. The trade-offs aren’t big ones. It’s a shame this came at the cost of severely mucking up the textures in handheld mode, and I sincerely hope that Nintendo and Monolith don’t simply leave it in this form. This game deserves a better fate than that.

All things considered, though, this is a solid way to play a solid entry in the series. Capcom learned a lot from this game, with the experiments made iterated on in all the future entries. I can’t really stay mad at Resident Evil 7, and this was a fun revisit. This won’t be the best version of the game, but most newcomers will be able to play a version of the game with solid parity to the other console versions. A patch to clean up some lingering performance issues, fix up the HDR as best as possible, and improve gyro aiming would go a long way.

If you care about just the documentary, interviews, and history section of the Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition and want to have easy access to the SNES prototype from 1992 or the Game Design Bible for Rayman, this is worth buying, but I can’t recommend it at full price right now. Once the music is patched in and bugs ironed out, this will be a lot easier to stomach. I hope we see all of that addressed before the physical release is out because this is one release you’d want to own for the shelf.

In its current state and with how it is discounted quite a bit on other platforms, I definitely recommend PGA Tour 2K25 on another platform if you’re a fan of golf games. On Nintendo Switch 2, it is only worth buying right now if you have no other platform and can play while connected to the internet. Once the input lag and load times are addressed, it will be easier to recommend.

My personal feeling is that Yakuza 3 didn’t really need to be remade, particularly in this manner. There was a perfectly good remaster of the original game that could have been ported and maybe given a little extra polish. But I understand that simply reissuing the older games might not be in line with the current vision for the series. With that in mind, I do wish a little more oomph was put into making Yakuza Kiwami 3 feel like a more cohesive experience. This mish-mash of things from other Yakuza games is probably going to go over well enough with Nintendo-exclusive players who have only played a few games in the series, but I question if this is really the take on Yakuza 3 that Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio wants in the canon. It’s fun! It’s full of stuff! So why does it often feel so darned empty?

This is the version of the game they’re selling right now, and it’s just not good enough to play this on Switch 2 over other platforms. I’m hopeful this will eventually be good, so we will see if that happens. Give this one some extra time in the oven before you dive in.

As I’m a newcomer to the Simon the Sorcerer series, I can’t really speak to how authentic this prequel is. But a bit of research tells me this franchise has been through some tough times, so fans will hopefully have some forgiveness for a good-hearted effort even if it doesn’t quite hit the mark. As for myself, as someone who has enjoyed adventure games through the highs and lows, I had a solid time with Simon the Sorcerer Origins. Not every reference landed, but the game wasn’t so obsessed with them as to make me feel lost. The story was engaging and the puzzles were largely fair, and that’s a big part of what I like to see in games from this genre. Fans of Broken Sword or Monkey Island might want to give this a shot, even if they don’t know Simon from a hole in the wall.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & The White Guardian probably shouldn’t be anyone’s first entry in the series, and the loading times on the original Nintendo Switch can get pretty annoying over time. The charming characters and breezy set-up are points in its favor, however, and longtime fans of the Atelier games will likely enjoy both the cameos and classic style. It’s also a rather decent choice in general if you’re looking for an RPG to zone out on and don’t mind if you can’t pick up on all the references. Of the three Atelier releases this year, it’s probably the one I’d recommend least, but in the end? I’d still recommend it. Good comfort food.

Dark Deity 2 is a better game than the original, doing a little bit more of its own thing without losing its passion for a particular era of Fire Emblem. With plenty of character-building options and a bevy of campaign modifiers, this is a game that has plenty to offer those who like to tinker with gameplay systems. The biggest letdown comes from the story, which starts off reasonably well but peaks early. Indeed, that’s an issue with Dark Deity 2 as a whole. A strong improvement, but there’s still room to grow here.

If you already own One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, the One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack is worth it for handheld play, but docked, I’m a bit conflicted right now since you do get visual improvements and an increased enemy count, but the performance is not as good as it was via backward compatibility. For newcomers, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with DLC is worth getting, even if you aren’t a fan of One Piece. Just don’t bother with the standalone base game right now.

All things considered, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero on Nintendo Switch 2 delivers a fully playable experience that is good handheld, but the developer should’ve done more for the visuals and performance when playing docked. I would still play it here over PC handhelds I own, but it is hard to recommend the Switch 2 version to play on TV if you have access to PS5 or Xbox Series X.

Yooka-Replaylee on Nintendo Switch 2 is a very good upgrade over the original to the point where I wouldn’t bother playing the former anymore. I just wish the Switch 2 version had a performance mode or even a 40 frames per second option. Right now, this is one to play on PS5 or Steam Deck if you have those options. If you only play on Switch and Switch 2, I can still recommend it if you want a quality 3D platformer collectathon, but I was hoping for better.

As an upgrade over the original, Overcooked! 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition gets the job done, but it feels like a missed opportunity given a better and more complete Overcooked! game exists in All You Can Eat. If you still regularly play Overcooked! 2, the upgrade is worth getting when discounted. It is also worth noting that the new Switch 2 Edition does not include any prior downloadable content, and you will have to buy all of that separately, making it an even worse deal compared to simply buying All You Can Eat.

If you are predominantly a handheld gamer, this is one of, if not the best, football games you can play on the go in a very, very long time. It is a very good first attempt on Switch 2. Hopefully, when EA Sports FC 27 rolls around, they will have fixed the issues present here – the big one making the game run at 60 frames per second. If you have enjoyed any FIFA / EA Sports FC game in the last decade, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.

Now that I’ve been able to play the fully patched version of Two Point Museum on Nintendo Switch 2, it is a perfect fit for Nintendo’s new hybrid console, but the port needs more work, not only in performance and load times, but also in features. Two Point Studios and SEGA would’ve delivered my favorite version of the game had this shipped with mouse and touchscreen control options in addition to controller support.

There are a lot of things I like about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown. I think there’s a good foundation here for a follow-up that really brings it all home. As for this particular entry, I think it understands the material and has a lot of good ideas, but it never quite reaches the level it felt like it was building towards. Turtles fans might want to check it out, along with those who enjoy turn-based tactical games and are on the hunt for some lighter fare. It’s a decent on-the-go experience, too. Not the best TMNT game you can get on Nintendo Switch, but maybe the most unique one.

Bottom line, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is a fantastic documentary, but in its current state, it is a somewhat flawed way to play many of these games. I think the selection of titles is good enough, but the non-functional and threadbare online play, combined with various emulation issues and bugs, drags down what should have been an incredible overall package. Even with all of that, I think a lot of people will find the games playable enough for their needs. Digital Eclipse has already pushed out one hotfix that addressed some problems, and I hope some of this stuff gets fixed. At this point, it’s neither flawless nor a fatality.

I’m very glad Once Upon A Katamari exists, and while I have enjoyed playing it on basically every platform over the last week as a break from other games, I really wish a little more care had been put into the progression. It would also dramatically benefit from a Nintendo Switch 2 version because out of the three games in the series on Nintendo Switch, Once Upon A Katamari sees the most visual cutbacks compared to other platforms.

With Full Metal Schoolgirl, D3Publisher and Yuke’s have a solid base to build on, but it has a few too many annoying issues holding it back from an easy recommendation. The constant loading and time-wasting cut-scenes when you finish a room, accompanied by technical issues on Nintendo Switch 2, make it one to wait on for potential updates. Despite that, Full Metal Schoolgirl’s strong core gameplay with a good localization and aesthetic made me want to keep coming back to it for a run or two every day since getting it.