It’s impressive that even eight games deep, the Jackbox Party Pack series continues to deliver a reliable yearly source of laughter and fun. While The Jackbox Party Pack 8 may not offer the best quintet of games the series has packaged together, it’s certainly one of the more varied and hugely entertaining ways to spend an evening with friends and family.

It doesn’t take a genius to see that the SNK 40th Anniversary Collection isn’t for everyone. Many of the games here really haven’t aged quite as well as others developed for the same generation. If rummaging through the nostalgia of gaming history does appeal to you though, then this mid-range priced time capsule could very well be worth your investment.

It’s a fighting game that doesn’t apologise for its learning curve as it does more than enough to teach the player to improve as long as they are willing to put the effort in. Whether it rivals some of the more famous entries in the genre on the system is of course down to personal preference. Either way, despite a rocky online experience, I had a blast with Skullgirls 2nd Encore on Nintendo Switch. Lab Zero Games truly know how to tune up a decent fighter, and I for one would love to see them revive a new Darkstalkers game that Mike Zaimont has recently been seen playfully pitching across Twitter.

Call of Juarez: Gunslinger takes you on an exciting journey back into the heart of the Wild West. Whether there’s any truth to what Silas Greaves is telling his listeners or if he’s simply lying through his teeth, I had a great time shooting my way through the winding story he wove and taking down legendary bandits along the way.

Picross S9 is… well, it’s more Picross. If you’ve never been interested in these types of puzzles then the latest entry isn’t going to change that view but if you’re the kind of person hungry for more grids to solve or seeing dreaming of shading in boxes in your sleep then picking up this latest entry should be a no brainer.

It comes as little surprise but Sonic the Hedgehog 2 remains a fantastic platformer. Of the what seems like hundreds of releases this game has seen, the SEGA AGES version ranks among some of the better efforts. While it might lack the bells and whistles of the terrific Christian Whitehead remake, it’s still a great way to experience one of the hedgehog’s best adventures be it your first or tenth time.

Pac-Man Museum+ is certainly a welcome addition to join the robust army of retro collections now available for the Nintendo Switch. Not every game is necessarily a hit, but they are all still part of a legacy that was certainly vital in shaping the future of video games.

Fantasian Neo Dimension won’t work for everyone, but for the handful it does click for they’re likely going to find a new all-time favorite. It mostly worked wonders for this reviewer, but the Nintendo Switch port’s issues detracted more from the experience than I had hoped. If you do love classic RPGs or specifically classic Final Fantasy, this modern evolution of those knocks it out of the park. In the last year, there have been a lot of throwbacks to the ’90s era of RPG to bank on nostalgia, but Fantasian has a lasting and timeless appeal most of them lack. It knows who it looks to appeal to and makes a game just for them.

As I was playing FUSER, it struck me that the best way of describing it is as “Christmas Present: The Game”. It’s the perfect game to show when you’ve got friends over or just want to mess around with it, but if you don’t really latch onto the music mixing or appreciate its depth that might be all it is to you. For everyone else, there’s a fantastically deep musical experience here that might be worth busting the headphones out for.

Reflecting on my time with Mario Golf: Super Rush it’s hard not to draw comparisons with 2018’s Mario Tennis Aces. Just like that game, the story mode once again lacks punch leaving little (outside online) to keep lone players occupied. That being said, new modes Speed Golf and Battle Golf are fantastic additions and the mechanics at play continue the series trend of offering an accessible and highly satisfying golfing experience. Get some friends together and Mario Golf: Super Rush is a hole in one.

KeyWe successfully takes the fairly mundane environment of a telepost office and turns it into something fun and exciting. By injecting plenty of surprises, silliness and satisfying puzzles KeyWe is a real joy through all three of its seasons just so long as you have a second kiwi by your side.

I love a good teamwork-focused party experience and Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes easily ranks among one of the best examples out there. The puzzles are satisfying to solve for everyone involved even fifty or so bombs in and the use of a physical manual outside the game is an ingenious idea. Sure I might have fun blowing things up in video games but Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes has proven I can have just as much fun doing the opposite.

Blade Strangers does a decent enough job at building the bridge between the simplicity of Pocket Rumble and the anime flair of BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle. The lean towards concentrating on core fundamentals makes this all-star brawler an approachable but enjoyable throwdown for those that are keen to make their mark in the genre. While the game’s easy execution may not entertain hardened enthusiasts for long, those that don’t have the time to surgically pick apart the demanding layers of the genre should certainly get a good fix out of this one.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a pretty in-depth and approachable SRPG, with more than enough customization to keep people falling into the beloved NIS grinding. These systems are solid, and pretty fun, even if there’s some awkward physics here and there. It’s held back by the Nintendo Switch version’s shortcomings however, but if you’ve already been playing their games on Switch for the past few years you’re probably used to this. I’m hoping further patches or Nintendo Switch 2 backward compatibility will clean it up down the road. I’m pretty excited for NIS to continue making these charming and complex RPGs, as they’ve hit their stride. Hopefully, with stronger hardware next time, it’ll be firing off all cylinders. There are some good hooks here, and I even want to circle back and see how much of what I liked is in the original’s DNA.

The worst thing I can say about Blossom Tales 2: The Minotaur Prince, is that there are very few of the developer’s own ideas in the entire game. On the flip side of that, you could argue that because it is taking its inspiration from one of the greatest franchises of all time – and does a good job of replicating it – the quality of the game is very high. At no point during my entire playthrough, did I want to stop playing or feel like I wanted the game to end. The adventure was fun from beginning to end.

I enjoyed Ys X: Nordics, so it’s hard for me not to sing the praises of a further polished version of the game with more content. Ys X: Proud Nordics plays to its strengths, but I doubt it will address all of the weaknesses in a way that converts those who weren’t fond of it. I stand by the idea that Ys X was a fun experiment, and with Proud, they’ve refined it into a game that I think better fits as a successor to Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana and Ys IX: Monstrum Nox. I don’t find this to be fully transformative, and it doesn’t elevate the original game too far above what it already was. Having said that, it’s hard not to deny that this is the version of the game to get. If you’ve already played the original, it might be worth waiting for a sale unless you can’t wait. The moment-to-moment gameplay is better than ever, and the story is fun despite getting bogged down in exposition. But this isn’t a full-on remake or reimagining, and if you just played the base game, I think you’ll find it to be a modest upgrade.

In its current state, Skate Story is an excellent game that I absolutely recommend playing on Steam Deck OLED if you can, since the performance and load times on Nintendo Switch 2 hold it back from being an easy recommendation on Nintendo’s hybrid console. I hope a future update can cap the fidelity mode to 40 frames per second and optimize the performance mode to hit 60 frames per second more often, since it is a bit too variable for my liking right now. As for the game itself, Skate Story is easily one of Devolver’s best published titles in a few years and exactly the kind of game I want to see more of with its sublime aesthetic, brilliant music, and amazing feel.

Sphinx and the Cursed Mummy is a must play classic that acts as a great example on how to make a timeless title. Despite having a few quirks that remind us of its age, this Egyptian escapade is just as enjoyable as it was back in 2003, if not even more so on the Switch. Not only does it manage to nail the essence of a good adventure title, but it provides us with entertaining abilities and puzzles that are truly a fun experience. Perhaps THQ Nordic will give this game the chance at a sequel, where it could potentially become the series it was always meant to be.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is a fast, frantic and rewarding kart racer that’s generously packed with a wealth of content. Its long load times and difficulty spikes may prove frustrating but it’s never enough to detract from what is otherwise a brilliant remaster and another strong addition to the Switch’s slowly growing lineup of racers.

The game is filled with very fun platforming levels which make good use of Kim's innovative gadgets and moves. Some bosses could be a bit frustrating, and the Rufus levels are a bit dull.

Like any compilation, SEGA Mega Drive Classics consists of games ranging in quality from classic to just plain terrible and everything in between. That being said the good definitely outweighs the bad here and while it’s a shame this bundle is missing some key Mega Drive releases there’s still plenty of fun to be had experimenting with its fifty plus catalogue.

BIT.TRIP CORE is one of the titles in the series that I’d love to get the FLUX treatment. I’d love to see an advancement of the mechanics here and have them taken even further, even if what we have here is great already.

Pikuniku almost feels like playing through an episode of Adventure Time. The writing is consistently brilliant, and without fail very entertaining. Off-the-wall humour isn’t always successful but when it’s done well it really does bring a world to life. The highlight for me in Pikuniku involved a toaster, which is all I’ll say on the matter. Honestly, it’s just a really fun game and you should play it. It is only a few hours of your time, and it’s sure to bring a smile to your face.

Jupiter has delivered yet another quality entry in its Picross S series this time cramming more content than ever. If you’ve yet to be hooked on the addictive power of Nonograms (surely not) then this will do little to change that, however for fans after more and even bigger grids to fill then don’t hesitate to pick up Picross S4.

Kirby’s Return To Dream Land Deluxe is packed with heartwarming charm, but it lacks HAL Laboratory’s playful invention that was to come later on Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch. There’s still more than enough fun to be found here, especially when playing with family and friends, but even with the new additions there isn’t as much that excites compared to the pink puffball’s more recent adventures. Kirby Planet Robobot next, please.

It turns out that Sonic the Hedgehog is still a fun game and, thanks to M2’s input, this is one of the better versions out there. Sure, you could argue the hedgehogs’ best days were yet to come – its three Mega Drive sequels improving on the original in many ways. However, if you’ve yet to experience this classic or fancy a trip down memory lane this is a great way to go about it.

Overall, I appreciated the way that the lid finally closed on the Telltale’s The Walking Dead, and the decision to wrap everything up in just four episodes felt, to me at least, the right choice to make. While collective distractions and over-saturated plot lines can seem all too familiar with the franchise as a whole, to finally see the nail hammered into the coffin on a strong note is a far braver achievement made when compared to its peers.

It may see us return to an adventure that many will have first set out on nearly 15 years ago, but Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX is yet another remake with the right approach. Modernised for a new generation and a worthwhile upgrade for those setting up their Rescue Team Base for a second time, it offers an enjoyable team-bonding adventure for those looking for a different pocket monster experience on the plucky portable home console.