On the whole, the Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 is a tidy and important package of gaming history that really should have been released as a self-contained bundle in the first place. It’s worth bearing in mind that a physical release is promised a little later on down the line, and with this particular collection labelled as a first in a series, it will surely be interesting to see whether or not the next entry in the Neo Geo Pocket Color line-up will skip directly towards a second volume.

The Switch is a very perfect system for this game in my opinion once you customize the timing to your liking, with the portable nature of the system meshing great with the gameplay style. It ties a very charming bow on 18 years of games, and even with its faults has been something I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since I started playing. Honestly, as soon as I finish typing this sentence I’m going right back to playing more.

The tough difficulty spikes found can be off-putting, but if you love a good challenge then this could be the game for you. Death Road To Canada is easily one of my favourite surprises on the Switch currently.

Game Freak’s understandable pursuit of accessibility means that this journey doesn’t have everything that veteran fans have come to expect, with that lack of longevity and depth to become a sticking point. But, what counts above all else is that it is a fun and memorable experience for all.

If they spent less time on the bad ideas and more on time stuff that WWE and GameCube fans have been begging for, this game could have been much, much better than it is.

While I’m happy gaming has become more accessible, I also miss its more obtuse era where games were willing to let players sink to learn how to swim. The depths of Hitman: Blood Money – Reprisal are immense and it took me quite a while to find my footing, but the game design is so strong I’d say this is worth taking a look at some point. It has already hooked me on this kind of game, and I’d be very interested to see if more of the classic titles ever make their way over to Nintendo Switch.

If you’ve not experienced the purple dragon’s adventures before, then playing them in the Spyro Reignited Trilogy is absolutely the best way no matter what console you choose. Thankfully, those looking at the Switch port will be happy to know that they’ll be getting the same great experience as everyone else.

Whether you’re planning on grabbing the Year One Season Pass, DOOM Eternal Deluxe Edition or purchasing both halves of the downloadable content individually, The Ancient Gods – Part One is a worthwhile half a dozen or so hours investment. It may at first set the initial impression to expect more of the same. However, the ever-interesting level design wrapping around some very clever and incredibly testing gunplay scenarios consistently deters it from rarely ever feeling that way.

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.

It is the fantasy world that you tread in Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf that makes it such a thrill to exist in. Steeped in lore and with the chance to determine your own destiny, the game soon proves to be a compelling and engaging experience that stands proudly apart from anything else on the Nintendo eShop.

The addition of Co-op is a great idea – though I didn’t have as much time with the mode as I would have liked. Several characters can be unlocked and each brings something fresh to the game and once the story mode is finished there’s still so much to do. Bleed 2 is simple, unadulterated fun.

While SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions is definitely not a game for anyone, those who can approach it with an open mind and a willingness to meet the game on its own terms will find this to be one of the finest RPGs ever made. The story is minimalist on purpose, the progression can be obtuse, and the difficulty can be extreme. When you can break past that initial wall, you’re treated to an RPG that cherishes player choice and exploration. The gameplay is addicting to its core, and it’s very rare to see an RPG as meticulously thought out like this. It lived up to all the hype for me and is perfect for genre fans looking for a breath of fresh air.

It’s by no means very deep, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do – with a few fun little twists along the way, and while managing to come together with a satisfying conclusion. While it’s by no means the best game that I played in 2020, it certainly made the list, and if you’re as much a fan of these same type of unique experiences as I am – I’m willing to bet you’ll find a lot to love about Mad Rat Dead, too.

The thing about roller coasters is that even some of the best ones have moments of downtime, but ultimately remain thrilling and fun. The ride didn’t leave me changed in any way, but I certainly want to get back on and go again.

Outlast 2 is a fantastic technical achievement on the Nintendo Switch with a good story and a setting that is impressively and increasingly atmospheric.

Aggelos is a lovely sweet spot for those looking for a bite-size experience which delivers quality in almost every aspect. It looks and sounds wonderful in both handheld and on a big screen. While the difficulty of old may not appeal to all, the game does a great job of making you feel like you worked hard to win and learn from defeat. Aggelos feels ageless, which is a truly lovely thing to experience.

Kirby Air Riders is a game that is so clear in its desire to be joyful and over-the-top, one that is unapologetically chaotic, that I can see why that might put some players off. While I love a good blend of chaos, my sessions on Super Smash Bros. Ultimate filled with matches where items are cranked up and stage hazards are kept on, there are some who opt for something a little more grounded. For those people, Kirby Air Riders may prove a little too much. Every mode is a blast to play but fills the screen with a flurry of… well… things happening all at once. The controls are simple but perhaps at times overly so, that it can be tough keeping up with what power-up you may have unleashed unknowingly or why you span when you didn’t want to. It’s a game that’s not as accessible as Mario Kart and certainly not as easy to explain, but I really enjoy it for all the above reasons. It’s just so different.

With Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, AAA Games Studio has masterfully interwoven The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’s playfully experimental gameplay systems with its own Musou pedigree. The plight surrounding the war for ancient Hyrule is endlessly captivating, and, while clearly most attractive to lore nerds like me for plugging the gaps in Nintendo’s original tale, the end result is a game that is a legend in its own right.

DERU: The Art of Cooperation is a simple but beautiful puzzler that really shines when two players are involved. It’s an easy recommendation if you’re after a head scratcher and perfect for couples looking for a way to spend a couple of afternoons. Playing alone? It’s functional but far from the true way to experience the game.

Mindball Play is an interesting mash-up as it takes the arcade-racing genre and injects an intriguing physics system that helps give the action its own unique flavor. A short but challenging single-player campaign entertains while the local multiplayer proves to be the true star of the show. If you’re looking for something beyond Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (the game has been out for roughly two years now) then Mindball Play is definitely worth checking out.

Despite a couple of gripes, I’d still say this is probably going to be the best version of Beyond Good & Evil. It at least has the strongest intersection between accessibility and quality. The game runs and looks quite good on the system, with the handful of framerate dips not really detracting from the overall experience. I’ll admit, the brilliant quality of Beyond Good & Evil is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. The remaster overall is quite good, with this Nintendo Switch version just being solid, I’d say. This is a good way to play one of the coolest games from the sixth gen, but there are definitely better places to play this version. If you’re used to concessions made with these kinds of ports though, you’ll probably have as great of a time as I did. While I’m sure Nintendo’s handheld won’t be able to run the second game whenever that resurfaces, I’m certainly a lot more interested in giving it a go than I was before.

With any luck, Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer will be simply the first of many dives into the 3D era of arcades. If so, it’s a perfect choice to carry that flag. Ridge Racer was a revolution back in 1993, and it’s still a fantastic racer today. With just four courses and a single car, you’ll really need to get into challenging the online leaderboards if you want the fun to last. Still, this is essentially the game as it was, and I doubt anyone would come into it expecting anything more than that.

One may even argue that in terms of pure functionality, the 3DS port is more loyal than even the Switch with its built-in dual screens and microphone support.

The Nintendo Switch may not be riddled with racing simulators, but GRID Autosport has set the benchmark. It caters so well for someone like me who’s a casual racer at best, and it doesn’t take a genius to see how its interface and design has been engineered for petrolhead veterans craving a challenge. It may lack multiplayer out of the gate and be half a decade old at this point, but it’s still a solid racer nonetheless that’s a worthy addition to the hybrid convenience of the Nintendo Switch.

A solid title, with an exceptional co-op mode, lots of unlockables, and let's face it, a better ending than the actual trilogy it's based on.

SEGA AGES Puyo Puyo 2 is an excellent puzzle game wrapped in a rather straightforward package. While it’s certainly a step above its predecessor, a lack in variety of mode types might make this one of the shorter distractions we’ve seen from the SEGA AGES collection so far.

All in all, BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle is a great 2D fighter that has plenty of depth with easy to learn mechanics. Believe it or not, the simple five button input system is intuitive enough when using a single Joy-Con for some quick on the go rivalry. The game looks lovely on the portable home console’s small screen too, making those table top matches feel even more like a coin-op experience.

There are fleeting moments of brilliance to the puzzle design in The Gardens Between, but, between them, the pace meanders to the point where my interest started to wane. There can be no doubt that it’s unlike anything else that you will have played before, but, in turn, the wondrous idea that lies at its core never feels like it blossoms into something that manages to enter its stride. The potential and talent is clear, though, and I greatly look forward to seeing what The Voxel Agents create next.