Jotun: Valhalla Edition a short but memorable experience. The art style and animation alone stand out tall and proud amongst the ruckus of the indie scene. At its core, it is a game that does repeat traditions and repetition both in gameplay and pace that some may find a little tedious. But, as for myself, I found it quite difficult to put down.

Trials of Mana is a ton of fun, and if you want to experience a retro JRPG with the updated mechanics of games today then you’ll likely enjoy this a lot. Any of the issues I had didn’t stop me from having fun, and I know I’ll likely return for at least one more playthrough.

By the time the final performance update drops it will be those who snatch the game at a sale price that will ultimately benefit the most. There’s a 1.04 update that is expected by the end of November, and I would bet money that it won’t be the last. It’s a real shame because underneath the stigma of a troubled release and a lost first impression of a polished product, lies a potentially magnificent game that holds true to what it once ambitiously set out to achieve.

At this game’s core, it’s a very average game that set the framework for a very great sequel. I think if Square Enix gets an opportunity to do this again with Star Ocean: Second Evolution, I can easily see them knocking it out of the park.

At its heart, art of rally is a solid racing experience with a good assortment of cars to try, tracks to tackle and handling that’s both challenging yet satisfying. Unfortunately, the visuals struggle massively on Nintendo Switch resulting in a game that looks fine at best and barren at worst. This is easily the weakest version of the game and if you own an Xbox Series or PC you’re better off going for those superior versions.

Puyo Puyo Champions feels like a game built with serious fans of the series in mind. Those looking for a gateway into this color-matching puzzler may want to try the far more content-full and approachable Puyo Puyo Tetris. If however, you’re merely after a cheap, multiplayer-focused, no-frills version of Puyo Puyo then Champions delivers.

Clustertruck is a simple idea but a really entertaining one. What it lacks in depth or missing features, it makes up for in sheer laughter – every attempted run a mash-up of drunkenly driven trucks, unexpected situations and death-defying risks. Snappy, exciting and sometimes frustrating, Clustertruck is a welcome addition to the eShop library and has me eager to see what publisher TinyBuild has in store for Switch owners next.

God Eater 3 isn’t a substitute for the lack of Monster Hunter on the Nintendo Switch. It is its own thing and should be treated as such. God Eater 3 has an interesting world to explore and the post-apocalyptic setting suits the tone of the game well. The fast-paced and intense combat is fun but is best enjoyed in shorts bursts.

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.

Luigi’s Mansion has received a decent port to the Nintendo 3DS. Nothing more, nothing less. It isn’t the Nintendo Switch port that I’m sure most of us would have preferred, but that does not deter from the fact that this is still a very good game. It’s just a very good game with the same problems as the original, mainly being the length of the main story. If you missed it back when it was first released and enjoyed the sequel, then I urge you to try this. If you already took a trip to Luigi’s Mansion on the GameCube, then I don’t see any need to revisit it on the 3DS, as you could argue that the original remains the better version.

After her scene-stealing role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it was about time that the Mushroom Kingdom’s royal star had the spotlight placed on her own heroic prowess for a change. Princess Peach Showtime is more often a box office hit than a flop in delivering the experience it sets out to achieve, and, just like the best shows, it had us applauding for an encore as the curtain fell.

There is an incredible amount of replay value if you're willing to tackle the advanced difficulty or try a different class through the game. However, while alone, the game does lose a bit of its steam.

Turok has aged quite a bit, which is natural. Therefore, it’s not going to be for everyone. A 22-year-old FPS never will, because it’s a genre that has moved on massively over time. However, for those that want a blast from the past, you will still love it just as much as you did back then. If you have never played Turok before and you want to experience a game that genuinely advanced the shooter genre when it first released, while you are obviously not going to feel the same love for it, you will still have tons of fun as it is still a very enjoyable shooter.

BIT.TRIP VOID stands as one of the best games in the saga for me, due to how it melds its story, gameplay and music in really interesting ways without making things too complicated or difficult. It’s fantastic as a part of the series, and as something entirely on its own and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fun challenge. It also has a Pac-Man-esque boss battle and that’s just awesome.

Mouse: P.I. For Hire should’ve been shorter, but I still really enjoyed my time with it. The Nintendo Switch 2 port definitely needs more time in the oven because of the performance issues and delayed updates compared to other platforms. I will revisit the game once it gets patched on Switch 2 to address some of the performance issues and potentially add gyro controls.

This isn’t a perfect port to Nintendo Swich, but it’s certainly an impressive one considering the game’s size and Plants vs. Zombies remains as fun to play as it ever was. If you’re looking for a fun hero shooter with plenty of content to sink your teeth into (no zombie-related pun intended) then Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Complete Edition might just be the game for you.

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.

Paladins could be amazing, but it’s all a bit too convoluted. As it stands it’s still a great experience, but for casual players who just want a team-based shooter, they may find the list of options a little too long. But it’s fast-paced with solid shooting mechanics and although some of the champions are a little generic, it’s trying, which is more than others can say in the shooting genre.

There’s little denying the quality of the four adventures found in Sonic Origins – arguably the best the hedgehog has ever seen in some cases – and there’s clearly a lot of effort that’s gone into this package, however, it’s also one peppered with weird omissions and a general lack of content that prevent it from reaching true excellence. It’s great there’s now another way to play these classics on modern consoles but as a Sonic fan myself I just wished for more and better in a collection celebrating the blue blur.

Double Kick Heroes is an awesome rhythm title led by a tough-as-nails gameplay loop and some awesome music. The story mode is a little disappointing and the challenge can sometimes be a bit too much, but if you’re a fan of metal then this is definitely one to check out.

Famicom Detective Club is not terribly complicated by modern standards. The games show their ages in spots, and can be frustrating to figure out, but this is absolutely the kind of murder mystery stories I’ve been looking for. The true strength of these remakes is how they made me feel nostalgic for an era of video games I wasn’t even alive during. They recapture the feeling of classic ADV titles while modernizing just enough of the experience to keep the games accessible. The mysteries offered are both fresh, yet comfortably late ’80s. Bigger budgeted “Visual Novels” are always welcome, and a push for them to be played worldwide is even better. I think Famicom Detective Club: The Girl Who Stands Behind is the stronger of the two, but this is a great package all the same. If you’re fine with some tedium here and there, this is a glowing recommendation from me.

Taken as a whole, Aragami: Shadow Edition does the sneak ‘n’ stab genre well enough to tickle the taste buds of its fans. Others not quite as invested will probably only get a moderate amount of enjoyment with little satisfaction in gameplay outside of some nice ideas and the relief of accomplishment. The price point, even with the 10 percent discount offered for early adopters, isn’t as attractive as it could be. This is, after all, evidently a low budget project and a three-year-old game at that.

I can’t understate how important it is that this game exists and the awareness that it will raise.

On the whole, I really did enjoy my time with AngerForce: Reloaded and I feel that it’s a great entry point for those who have a curiosity in the genre. Whipping out a stronger set of skills gained from the last run in the campaign provides a satisfying sense of power, making you feel forever outnumbered but never outgunned.

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.

With the Nintendo Switch lacking in war games and good third-person shooters, the Sniper Elite franchise has managed to fill the void with a well-placed bullet. The setting of Sniper Elite 3 Ultimate Edition is engaging, the campaign is varied, the gyro controls are remarkable, and the experience is entertaining. Sniper Elite 3 Ultimate Edition is an excellent Switch game and one that fans of World War 2 shooters will thoroughly enjoy.

When it works, it clicks into place and offers something more than so many racing games on the market. It’s an ideal game to dip in and out of through handheld as races don’t take long and you won’t lose any skill from taking a brief break. With a little patience, Road Redemption is a hell of a ride.

Disney Illusion Island may not rewrite the Metroidvania handbook nor does it ever feel particularly challenging, but what it does, it does exceptionally well. Throughout the six-hour journey, my wife and I couldn’t stop smiling; between the colourful worlds and their light puzzly-platformy layouts, enchanting soundtrack and fun banter between its four main leads. Disney fans will adore everything about this game while those looking for a more laid-back, less demanding adventure will appreciate what’s on display too.