LEGO Party is a great Mario Party-like time. As much fun as my family and friends have battling it out in Nintendo’s long-running series, it’s nice to finally have another option to try that offers a similar level of entertainment and quality.

Samurai Shodown! 2 is yet another slice of gaming history that few will fondly remember, some may have completely forgotten, and others will have no clue about whatsoever. One thing for certain is that the Nintendo Switch now officially doubles up as a Neo Geo Pocket Color which is awesome. And for what it’s worth, so is Samurai Shodown! 2.

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.

Just like Etrian Odyssey’s identity exists to modernize classics, the Origins Collection successfully modernized Etrian Odyssey. It’s easy to be sad about what isn’t there, but I understand that I have a minority viewpoint in the fanbase and those remakes added a lot of things people didn’t need. These games were always meant to focus on gameplay over all else, and what was preserved has been done so in stunning quality. The games themselves are not perfect, but I think these remasters are as perfect as you can get to recreating them today. They’re simple at their core, and these remasters are simply great. If Atlus decides to bring back more of its extensive DS and 3DS catalog to modern systems, I sincerely hope they continue with this amount of effort going forward.

His lightning-quick powers of deduction and obsession with gulping down coffee blends from High Hat Café aside, the greatest praise that I can throw at Detective Pikachu is how it always felt like you were really working alongside the electric mouse. And, as we cracked our last case, I can only hope that this is only the start of our adventures together.

With more than 800 Pokémon scurrying around in tall grass and hundreds of moves to consider in battle, it’s easy to forget how daunting the Pokémon series can be for newcomers. That makes Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon Let’s Go, Eevee! the perfect adventure for those that want to explore the Kanto region for the first time, resulting in a game that’s for everyone – whatever your age.

Having now spent the better part of the last week playing Patapon 1+2 Replay across multiple devices and the original PSP version on PS Vita, I’ve grown to appreciate the series more. Patapon 1+2 Replay isn’t perfect. It could use a better input timing calibration option for those who play docked, and some of the UI elements are a bit blurry on Nintendo Switch. However, this is one of the easiest recommendations for anyone who likes unique rhythm games. I recommend sticking to handheld mode for the best possible experience on Switch, though.

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.

With stacks of content and tons of replayability at a good price point, Trials Rising does come out swinging. While I’m a firm believer in the old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” it is also fair to say that it can be hard to stand out when following the crowd – even if you are the leader of the pack.

It may be much briefer than the game before it but thanks to its satisfying gameplay, fantastic characters and its focused content, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle manages to be a much more satisfying experience. Bring on No More Heroes 3.

Whether you’re playing with a friend or by yourself, I think this is Tarsier Studios’ best game so far. Putting a few small issues aside, I thoroughly enjoyed REANIMAL from beginning to end. I just wish the whole experience was longer, as I found myself wanting to spend more time exploring its grotesque world and discovering new secrets.

Whilst it is not the perfect game, it is great to have Mortal Kombat back on Nintendo. Sure, the visuals are not up to par with other versions of the game, but we did not expect it to be. The always-online barrier of certain modes is what hurts the Switch version more than anything else, as you lose a lot when you are on the go. Strip away all of the extras though, if you are just here to fight, then this is the game for you. Mortal Kombat 11 is the best pure fighting game on the Nintendo Switch.

Overly familiar in many ways but not without a splash or two of its own inventive ideas. Sure, some are more successful than others but in the end, you’re left with a challenging and reliably entertaining platformer and a great extension of the Yooka-Laylee brand.

While it might not reach the towering standards of other recent roguelikes like Balatro, I still had myself a ridiculously fun time and one I’m sure I’ll return to in order to again in the future for another cheeky run or two. Best of all is the fact that Peglin takes something familiar and gives it a unique and interesting spin, one that proves super successful making it an easy recommendation for Nintendo Switch owners looking for something to fill that Peggle void in their life.

Avalanche Software’s efforts to port Hogwarts Legacy to Nintendo Switch 2 has elevated it to be an essential purchase for Potterheads, delivering the definitive way to experience the Wizarding World on the move. Support for mouse sensor, motion control and touchscreen input may not be seen as essential additions to every player, but are sprinkled over a game that so captivatingly lets you lose yourself in your own adventure.

It isn’t the complete package version of Football Manager, no, but it is the version that best suits the Switch. Touch screen controls mixed with the good use of the Joy-Con and on the go playability make it a winner. It may go unnoticed but being able to play for 5-10 minutes at a time to continue to progress through a season is a godsend.

Outside of egg farming being annoying, I’d say nothing about Monster Hunter Stories is inherently “offensive” but rarely is it truly amazing. The simplicity gets in the way of that, but I’d still argue that isn’t an issue. If you could only afford one of the two Stories games, I’d probably recommend its sequel. It’s quite impressive though to see how much they got right on the first go, and it shows just how flexible the Monster Hunter franchise can really be. If you have a younger sibling or child interested to start checking out family-friendly games in this genre outside of Pokémon, you won’t find one with as much polish as this one.

Game Freak has regained its footing with Pokémon Legends Z-A Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Lumiose City is the perfect playground for the developer’s playful experimentation as they chart a path forward, scoring success with real-time battle mechanics, meaningful character interactions, and heart-pounding Rogue Mega Evolution encounters. It makes me cautiously optimistic for whatever comes next. “Au revoir, my young friend.”

AVICII Invector: Encore Edition manages to balance its challenging rhythm gameplay and fantastic soundtrack with an air of respect and love for the artist that makes it easy to recommend. Even some small frame-rate issues and distracting visuals can’t get in the way of this one.

After a somewhat shaky start to the game, which included a steep learning curve, I found myself enthralled in Darkwood and I did not want to put it down. From its brilliant tension building, atmosphere and sense of vulnerability for the player, it has better horror elements than most AAA horror titles nowadays. If you are into your survival horror games, you do not want to miss this one, despite one or two missteps along the way.

It isn’t often that I would recommend a port of a mobile game, but The Room is an exception. It is a game that simply works on the Nintendo Switch, regardless of whether you play it in Handheld mode or on the TV. The puzzles are clever, unique and engaging. Once you start, you will not want to put your Switch down. Its only real problem is I simply want more.

More than anything, it is a joy to exist in Earthlock’s painterly world. This throwback to PlayStation-era JRPGs ranks among the best role-playing experiences that there is to be had on the Nintendo Switch so far. And, while it can be seen that its inspiration has held it back in certain ways, the refreshing approach to turn-based combat and the strategising that underpins it will hopefully help the game to be remembered as a classic in its own right.

As a vehicle for story, The Final Station is a tremendous effort which keeps you wondering as you piece together the snippets of story and while the combat and exploration suffices, it doesn’t live up to the narrative the developers deliver. Together, they make for a great experience, with a cryptic flair in the style of Twin Peaks, which leads to a superb set of final moments, leaving you wanting more and delivering with the extra content in the main menu

Take a moment to step back and appreciate Battle Chasers: Nightwar as a whole, and, looking beyond the game’s clear inspirations, it strikes out with enough of its own identity to deliver a stirring and memorable adventure. There’s still some room for improvement, especially in the unavoidable grind as you reach your quest’s later stages, but it is a promising start for Airship Syndicate that has made me excited to see what comes next.

Marvel MaXimum Collection is an odd assortment, but it’s a refreshingly honest one. You’ve got a couple of good Marvel games, a couple of decent ones, and a couple of dubious ones. You get a number of ports that add extra flavor, and even the worst of the bunch are much more playable thanks to save states and the rewind feature. I had a really good time playing through every game on here, even if I had to cheat a lot to get through some of them. Even if you don’t have any interest in the more troubled games in the set, you might want to consider it for the arcade games alone.

Despite my issues with overbearing objectives and combat, Dragon Quest Builders 2’s charm and sense of adventure shines above all else and even with some framerate issues is a great fit for the Nintendo Switch.

Drawful 2 is a safe but fun sequel that adds in just enough new features for even those that have played the original. Gather a group of friends and Drawful 2 is an absolute blast and thanks to the addition of user-created content there’s no end to the drawing antics you’ll get up to.

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.