Once you learn what you need to, it’s easily one of the best indie titles to grace the Switch and it is one that will keep you hooked for many weeks and months ahead.

Yet another brilliant Japanese RPG to add to the Nintendo Switch’s growing line-up. More Shin Megami Tensei than Fire Emblem, it’s hard to care too much when the end result is this enjoyable. Likeable characters and a satisfying combat system all wrapped in vivid visuals and a wonderfully weird and often uplifting story. Of the remaining Wii U games left to bring over to Switch, this was quite the curveball, but it’s one I hope gets the recognition it deserves second time around.

WayForward’s efforts should be commended though, and there’s much to celebrate here – not least the fact that Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp exists in the first place. I have really missed this series, and to see it back in such an emboldened way is heartening. It’s as addictive and tense an experience as it ever was, packed with punchy strategic brilliance and reimagined for a whole new generation to conquer. Now, I just hope that there’s enough interest out there that Nintendo considers greenlighting Advance Wars: Dual Strike and Advance Wars: Days of Ruin to receive the same treatment… but, let’s be grateful for what we do have for now.

Creased and folded with meticulous care, Paper Mario: The Origami King is a cut above the rest that sees the paper-crafted series back at its best since the rightly lauded Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The moustachioed paper cut-out’s journey to liberate Peach’s Castle offers a personality-packed adventure that’s worth setting out on, and one that will be remembered for the laughter, thrills and standout moments that it delivers.

I’ve always loved Crisis Core, it’s a foundational kind of game I remember fondly from my youth. It came out at just the right time, born during the dawn of the now thriving YouTube generation of millennials, featured proudly in Windows Movie Maker AMVs and cutscene compilations. Make no mistake, my enjoyment in Crisis Core is far from ironic or “cringe” that many might associate with those. It’s common to reflect back on that era negatively, but to me, Crisis Core represents the pure innocence of youth and the earnest mistakes associated with it. Zack’s story is so endearing and captured the attention of so many teenagers across the world for a reason. We got to see someone struggle to stay afloat in a system far larger than himself and do his best to keep his innocence intact. As I played this on my Nintendo Switch, I felt sent right back to that part of my life. I even got the urge to play it under my covers late at night as if to hide from parents I no longer live with. Repackaging those feelings, and cutting as much of the bloat as possible is commendable. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion strives to be the experience we remember, rising above the game we actually got.

As the first major video game release of 2024, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown sets the bar high. Very high in fact. Not just an excellent Metroidvania but also a brilliantly refreshing new direction for Prince of Persia, one that surprises throughout its 15-plus hour adventure whilst remaining true to the series’ core elements.

Time Flies is yet another home run from Panic’s publishing. Playables has released one of my favorite indie games of the year here. When I recently reviewed Dear Me, I was…, I mentioned how every game doesn’t have to be for everyone. Time Flies is another release I know won’t be for everyone, but I absolutely love it. Go forth. Fly, die, fly again, die again, and think about how everyone’s time on this planet is limited with so many things to do.

While the two Legacy Collections compliment each other like crackers and cheese, Mega Man Legacy Collection is easily the more streamlined. It feels like the more complete package due to all six games being originally released on the same console. It also contains that hook of nostalgia that’s far more familiar with the mass fanbase of the NES era. What was the biggest deal maker for me was easily the Turbo Mode, a feature heavily missed on other console versions.

It may come as no surprise, then, that Mega Man Legacy Collection 2 is a great companion package to complete the original canon saga. It wouldn’t surprise me if the newer generation of gamers would actually favour this over the first, due to the technically more advanced graphics and more ambitious ways that Capcom had stirred up the formula. I still personally favour the original collection if I didn’t have the choice of having both, but I am in my mid-30s and loved them as a kid so that is a given.

If you loved Limbo then do not hesitate, just grab your Switch and buy Inside. For such a simple game, it is remarkable how much variation there is. Puzzles are expertly thought-out, the atmosphere is top-notch and its crammed full of memorable moments. It’s a stunning but desolate adventure that I urge you to try out. Even though it’s a short experience, it makes you consider what you have just gone through long after completion. It is one of the standout games in the Switch’s ever-growing library.

Looking back, Factorio should be mentioned when discussing “impossible Nintendo Switch ports” just because of how demanding the game can get and how much care went into adapting it for a controller and running as well as it could on the original Nintendo Switch. On the portable home console’s successor, Factorio Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is even more impressive with its increase in resolution, faster load times, mouse controls, and more. If I had unlimited time, I’d keep playing Factorio with the Space Age DLC right now to spend a whole month with it on my Nintendo Switch 2. This port is absolutely brilliant.

Lonely Mountains: Downhill is one of those prime examples of a game so simple in its concept but executed so well. There’s a constant force pulling you back in for one more death-defying ride that fans of the Trials series will be no stranger to. Unlike Ubisoft’s loud and goofy rider though, Lonely Mountains: Downhill is a beautiful experience – often times tranquil – that proved an obsession of mine for weeks, the call of the mountain too strong to drag myself away.

Cuphead is a creative masterpiece and a game that rightly deserves to be long remembered as an all-time great. It delivers a riotous gameplay experience that will delight, astound, and frustrate in equal parts, woven into a relentlessly breathtaking and meticulously crafted cartoon world. It can certainly start to feel cruel at times, especially after spending a lengthy session failing to beat one boss, but, now having the chance to play on the move with Nintendo Switch, it’s found the perfect home for players to overcome such a challenge.

Super Mario Party Jamboree Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is a huge package, whatever way you look at it. For newcomers looking for a great party game to accompany Mario Kart World, look no further. For owners of the base game, the new content is enjoyable enough to justify the added cost (especially if you have kids). One of the best Mario Party games just got better.

If you groan every time you see another 2D action-RPG on the Nintendo eShop, don’t be dissuaded by Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition. While it borrows from the Zelda blueprint and games that have followed, it is packaged so perfectly that it stands above the rest. The depth of its vivid world goes beyond what you see on your screen. There’s more lurking there, and you’ll want to discover it all.

GRIS captures imagination, the beauty of movement and the lustre of a sumptuous piece of art, all the while letting the player interact with it, making us feel both insignificant and yet ever more important.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes brazenly leaps headlong into battle, delivering tactical brilliance and heroic thrills in equal measure. This is an exceptional standout among the many Warriors games on Nintendo Switch, and perhaps the best to grace the portable home console up until this point – laden with armies to slaughter, heartfelt storytelling and more than enough content to keep you occupied for months on end whether at home or on the move.

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.

Out Run is a true classic pure and simple and a fantastic addition to the SEGA AGES line-up. It’s one of those games you’ll find yourself pulled back to for one more joyride and with its numerous options, extra features and choice between playing portable or on the big screen the Switch version is arguably the best version out there.

DK Island and Emerald Rush is probably not going to suit the tastes of every player. If you were hoping for more exploration or story, there’s very little of that here. I think that’s fine, since the core game already offers quite a lot in that regard. What this DLC does is repurpose those great gameplay mechanics towards a new end, giving those who enjoy trying to top their previous bests quite a lot to chew on. The statue collection throws another activity on the pile, and the promise of future events is intriguing. I don’t know if this is the expansion people might have necessarily wanted, but it’s one that Donkey Kong Bananza wears very well indeed.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is one of the best RPGs to grace the Nintendo Switch. It’s a lengthy adventure that will keep players absorbed from start to finish. With new content and new characters, those looking to double-dip will more than get their money’s worth. The added joy of having Tales of Vesperia on a portable device elevates to new heights as you can now enjoy all it has to offer at any time and in any place. If you missed out on this gem a decade ago, it is time to rectify that mistake and immerse yourself in one of the finest RPGs to release this decade.

After Princess Peach’s turn in the spotlight, Princess Zelda readily demonstrates that she is more than capable of saving her own kingdom. Grezzo should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved here, delivering a complete reinvention of what awaits us in a top-down adventure across the kingdom of Hyrule with an experience in which past and present collide that succeeds in repeatedly subverting your expectations.

Ultimate Chicken Horse effortlessly combines level creation, solid platforming and brilliant multiplayer all into one fantastic package. It’s a game that continues to surprise and amuse in huge measures and if we do end up seeing a Super Mario Maker sequel in the future then Nintendo would be wise to take to note of what Clever Endeavour Games has accomplished here.

Armello has been created as a brutal and unforgiving game of chance, and, for those that want to plot and scheme to claim the throne, there’s nothing else quite like it on the Nintendo eShop. Underpinned with smart gameplay mechanics that will forever keep you on your toes, it lays an ample foundation for what I hope are many more games in its world to come.

It’s great to see more gamers have the chance to try out the once forgotten arcade gem Windjammers for themselves. The game strikes that perfect balance of simplicity and depth featuring action so fast-paced and on the edge of your seat, you’ll have a tough time putting the controller down. Best of all though, it manages to make playing with a Frisbee look cool, and any game that can accomplish that is okay in my book.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars gathers three iconic games in one star-studded collection on Nintendo Switch. The chance to experience these grand adventures at home or on the move is nothing short of a triumph, but many will be left disappointed that more wasn’t done to deliver improvements beneath the otherwise sharper surface.

I’ll admit, this was an incredibly subversive game for its era, one that might not hit as well as it did for some compared to me. I’m able to appreciate it as both a game from the ’90s and just a game. But I’m sure a lot of creatives in Japan were inspired by this, and those inspirations had to have bled into their work. You will have likely seen parts of its unique twists on the genres it plays with elsewhere, but I found that to be an endearing trait. It feels fitting that a compilation of clear passion and inspiration has trickled down to other games. The impact of Live A Live has seemingly never gone away, and that’s beautiful.

In its current state, BALL x PIT is dangerous for my free time. It feels laser-targeted to me in somehow combining bits from genres I enjoy into something incredible. The Nintendo Switch version has a few rough edges and the game itself could use some visual tweaks for better readability, but I absolutely adore the time I’ve put into BALL x PIT. I can’t wait to work at unlocking everything it has to offer, assuming I don’t delete it so I can be more productive.