Road to Ballhalla is a simple idea with enough neat additions of its own to keep you engaged throughout its twenty-plus levels. Filling that Super Monkey Ball sized gap nicely, this fiendishly difficult ball rolling experience may be a little on the short side but should please those after a challenge they can easily jump in and out of.

If you already own One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, the One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Upgrade Pack is worth it for handheld play, but docked, I’m a bit conflicted right now since you do get visual improvements and an increased enemy count, but the performance is not as good as it was via backward compatibility. For newcomers, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition with DLC is worth getting, even if you aren’t a fan of One Piece. Just don’t bother with the standalone base game right now.

Thankfully, as an old fan of the series I actually did get quite a kick out of Cyanide and Happiness: Freakpocalypse. Its short length is disappointing, but the fact that I found myself wanting more from the game is probably a good sign of things to come.

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.

After playing so many highly tense puzzlers, Hexologic is a nice change of pace delivering a much more chilled experience that’s as easy to unwind with as it is to pick up. A lack of content might make this a rather short-lived experience but it’s one that feels fair for the low price it asks. The eShop may not exactly be short of puzzlers at the moment but Hexologic’s pleasant vibe and satisfying brainteasers are enough to make this cheaper release worth a look.

The Stone of Madness is a decent game in a genre that is quite niche nowadays, make no mistake about that. However, if you’re a fan of top-down strategy-stealth games, want something new, and don’t mind a challenge, then you will find lots of enjoyment here. It’s not perfect, but despite its flaws, The Stone of Madness brings together enough new ideas and great aesthetics to help breathe some new life into a dying genre.

The games in the Capcom Beat ‘Em Up Bundle may be short, shallow and repetitive by nature, but these arcade classics are an important slice of gaming history and still make for a perfect high score wager between friends. In any case, for £17.99, it is an affordable catch up for those that are either interested in the history of the beat ’em up genre or fancy an interactive trip down memory lane.

I love visual novels, and I love strategy games. For a subsection of gamers, Digimon Survive will hit the perfect sweet spot between both of those. It’s got everything you’d expect from a digestible entry with a focus on presentation. However, I couldn’t help but feel that the game is just shy of greatness. Make no mistake, Digimon Survive is good. However, despite its best efforts, I found that the pacing drags and the combat mechanics are unremarkable. If you have enough patience to engage with its story and gameplay, the positives will far outweigh the negatives. It’s flawed, but the heart shines through and it goes down easy thanks to being one of the best-looking anime-style games released in years. Are there better SRPGs to play right now? Sure, but none offer Digimon’s unique brand of SRPG and I think it hits more than it misses.

Still a fun time albeit one that could do with a healthier dose of fresh content in this Switch version. Walking the line between platformer and puzzler, the game’s light sprinkling of elements from both help create an experience that’s fun for all ages.

Ultra Space Battle Brawl is a great quick fix multiplayer game to pull out amongst a gathering of friends and alcohol. It may not offer depth in either gameplay or features, but that raw competitive nerve will undoubtedly stand in the end whenever there is a score to settle. With 2 vs 2 options (or even 2 vs 1 for the less modest gamer), there are plenty of reasons here to bang balls around in space together.

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.

Endless Ocean Luminous is worth the plunge, and, along with other experiences like Nintendo Labo and Game Builder Garage, demonstrates a commitment to broadening what Nintendo Switch can offer beyond simply being a “games” console. It’s a welcome change of pace from the regular bustle of modern-day gaming experiences, offering a relaxing underwater diversion that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Hitman World of Assassination Signature Edition offers fantastic value, but it is hard to recommend at full price right now, given the unstable performance. A 30 frames per second cap would help a lot, but even with performance issues aside, the online focus is a bit of an annoyance when playing on a portable system. As someone who has enjoyed the three Hitman games that are now part of Hitman World of Assassination Signature Edition enough to buy them on multiple platforms, I’m glad to see it finally arrive in a good-looking version on Nintendo Switch 2 content complete, but it really needs some patches to make it an easy recommendation.

As someone who wasn’t particularly attached to the first game, I thought PixelJunk Eden 2 was fun and unique, but didn’t think of it too far beyond that. For those who were waiting for a sequel to PixelJunk Eden or simply want a different type of game that will relax them, I have no doubt that you’re going to love this, complete all of the gardens and their variations, collect all the Grimps and really make the most out of it.

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends is a fun and approachable multiplayer game for players of all ages and a wonderful recreation of an old school classic. With that said, the Nintendo eShop price tag that accompanies it can be pretty hard to swallow, especially when you consider that most players with a bit of gaming experience will have it beat in a couple of hours at best. Perfecting its three-star demands will certainly add a few more hours to the clock, but it seems like a rather easy post to lean on when there’s far more potential in building upon the jetstream mechanics to contribute towards a higher level count.

All-Star Fruit Racing is a decent enough kart racer that offers a few interesting ideas of its own but unfortunately suffers in a few areas whether it’s the awkward control scheme, confusing weapon system or even a general lack of online features. There’s fun to be had from this fruit-inspired title, sure, but perhaps a little ripening could have helped sweeten this uneven racer.

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse doesn’t do anything special for the point-and-click genre, but that’s perfectly fine as it does exactly what it sets out to do. As a fan of the first two games, this was what I wanted. Not everything is perfect, such as the animations and some inconsistent voice acting. However, if you’re a fan, you will find a lot more to love than the average player.

Hexagroove: Tactical DJ is flawed – from one minigame and a lack of guidance. The problem is, that minigame is a big part of truly nailing a set. It’s a scratch in an otherwise very clean, very good record.

There was always going to be the worry that Untitled Goose Game would be a case of all hype without the delivery. Fortunately what we got is a unique, charming and often amusing experience that’s only dampened by some frustratingly tough puzzles and occasionally clumsy controls. It’s far from perfect, sure, but it’s certainly a game I’ll remember with a smile on my face. Honk!

The controls in the game are very responsive and are very tight.

This might come off as rather strict, but that’s because I do think these games are classics that deserve the best. I don’t want to be overdramatic though, because this Legacy Collection is still the best we’ve ever gotten. I think more could have been done, but I don’t want to downplay the work that went into bringing Mega Man Battle Network back like this. While I’m unsure if modern audiences would click with these, I think kids might still get a lot out of them even today. They’re all fantastic freshman RPG experiences that don’t explicitly treat their audience in a condescending manner. This is a great collection, but it could have been a legendary one.

Despite its technical issues, Black Future ’88 is everything you would want from a good roguelike shooter. Dedicating myself towards certain layouts and advantages while learning the deceitful risks that accompany them never seems to get old. I’ve managed to beat the game once-over several times but not yet looped a playthrough twice – giving me the realisation that I’ve only just scratched the surface. After looping the game, there then becomes the conundrum of looking how to keep that precious time topped up for it doesn’t reset even after beating the final boss. It looks like I’ll just have to have another go then, and maybe one more after that…

SaGa Frontier Remastered is not a game for everyone. I wasn’t able to notice any of the new content in this initial playthrough, but I’m excited to play more and uncover all of the secrets. SaGa Frontier has always been known as being unfinished, but all of the restored content (which can be toggled off at the beginning of the playthrough for those wanting an original experience) and amazing quality of life improvements makes this the definitive version of this game. This is now the new bar for Square Enix remasters, one I hope they continue to meet.

There’s no denying this is a great remake of the PlayStation classic, however, it’s also one where you can feel its limitations and archaic systems creaking along. Going back to the original ways of Resident Evil is a little awkward, sure, but it’s still an enjoyable survival horror experience and one dripping in atmosphere.

Granted, by today’s standards Dragons Lair may even be considered as a pretty awful game in every angle outside its drop-dead gorgeous Disney-flavoured smut. However, Dragon’s Lair Trilogy is another important slice of gaming history and one that can now be added to the growing museum on the Nintendo Switch.

Having enjoyed the first Pac-Man World remake, I went into the sequel with pretty high expectations. What I wound up with was another well-made remake, and sure, it’s definitely a platformer of its time, but it proved to be a fun and nostalgic trip with plenty to see and do. Bring on Pac-Man World 3 Re-Pac, I say!

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.

The story that INMOST sets out to tell is the sort that’ll stick in your mind long after you’ve reached its conclusion. As for actually playing the game, despite some dragged out moments, there’s a good mix of puzzle and platforming to be found here that coupled with some truly unsettling and atmospheric visuals create a hauntingly intriguing experience but one you better be prepared for.