As I’m a newcomer to the Simon the Sorcerer series, I can’t really speak to how authentic this prequel is. But a bit of research tells me this franchise has been through some tough times, so fans will hopefully have some forgiveness for a good-hearted effort even if it doesn’t quite hit the mark. As for myself, as someone who has enjoyed adventure games through the highs and lows, I had a solid time with Simon the Sorcerer Origins. Not every reference landed, but the game wasn’t so obsessed with them as to make me feel lost. The story was engaging and the puzzles were largely fair, and that’s a big part of what I like to see in games from this genre. Fans of Broken Sword or Monkey Island might want to give this a shot, even if they don’t know Simon from a hole in the wall.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma might not be the most polished game, with all of its systems not being fully cohesive, but it was the entry point to Rune Factory I’ve been looking for. The skill floor is pretty low, with simple combat mechanics and easy-to-manage farming. While it might not have the tightest design in a farming simulator or an ARPG, I think it presents a breezy and fun combination of both genres. I’d like to see another spin-off tackle this approach again, because I think there’s a lot of potential in the series going in this new direction. Hopefully, next time, though, the Nintendo Switch 2 version could get a bit more love.

Mulaka’s strength as a game comes from the painstaking effort that has been made to sufficiently portray the culture of the Tarahumara people, and, as such, there is much joy to be found in exploring the sun-baked region and learning from those that inhabit it.

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

It may not be as daring as it needs to be in design, but Mercenaries Saga Chronicles will help to scratch that strategy itch until something else comes along.

Cronos: The New Dawn is, by default, the best Nintendo Switch 2-only horror game out there at the moment, and it’s further proof that Bloober Team are very good horror game makers. While it never fully feels unique, it’s a fun and captivating horror title that borrows from the very best in the genre and the perfect game to get you ready for Halloween season.

The genre may be getting a little crowded on Switch but Swim Out ranks higher than most.

There’s much to applaud about Daemon X Machina. The third-person mech action game delivers an experience unlike any other on Nintendo Switch, thanks to the striking mech designs and red-drenched world merging with combat that can readily thrill in the game’s many large-scale encounters. However, shortcomings such as the convoluted plot and repetition let it down – holding it back from reaching the brilliance that Marvelous nearly achieved.

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.

Where The Fall had suspense and relentless urgency, The Fall Part 2: Unbound has none. It still has a compelling story to tell, in choosing to delve into Arid’s internal conflict in being free from the rules and boundaries that once constrained her. But, it’s the flaws that have been carried over from the first chapter that detract from the experience, and prevent you from becoming more captivated by the game’s world.

Still, even though I arguably enjoyed my time with this version a little less, it’s still a great port of a great game that more people need to play. If you can play it in a slightly more stable format then I’d still recommend that, but if you can’t or fancy pretending to be an alien wherever you are, then this is a great way to play.

All things considered, though, this is a solid way to play a solid entry in the series. Capcom learned a lot from this game, with the experiments made iterated on in all the future entries. I can’t really stay mad at Resident Evil 7, and this was a fun revisit. This won’t be the best version of the game, but most newcomers will be able to play a version of the game with solid parity to the other console versions. A patch to clean up some lingering performance issues, fix up the HDR as best as possible, and improve gyro aiming would go a long way.

If you are predominantly a handheld gamer, this is one of, if not the best, football games you can play on the go in a very, very long time. It is a very good first attempt on Switch 2. Hopefully, when EA Sports FC 27 rolls around, they will have fixed the issues present here – the big one making the game run at 60 frames per second. If you have enjoyed any FIFA / EA Sports FC game in the last decade, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.

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.

I’m pretty glad I waited for Dying Light: Platinum Edition to come to Nintendo Switch to play it. I’m sure this game is much better elsewhere, there’s no doubt this is the “weakest” version to play. But when the weakest version of a game is still this good? That’s impressive.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition isn’t just a handful of a title, it’s also a handful of an “upgrade”. With clear benefits in some aspects and obvious drawbacks in others, especially for handheld players, this version of the game makes for an awkward debut for the RPG franchise in native Switch 2 form. Playing on a TV, this is on the whole an improvement over the original Switch version running on Switch 2. The trade-offs aren’t big ones. It’s a shame this came at the cost of severely mucking up the textures in handheld mode, and I sincerely hope that Nintendo and Monolith don’t simply leave it in this form. This game deserves a better fate than that.

If you don’t happen to be a billy no mates, then Super Rocket Shootout is a buzz to play in small bursts. It’s the sort of game you will itch to stick on for 10 minutes when you have enough friends over to fill the slots. It may be light on single player content, but it’s a game that’s simple enough to get to grips with, fun enough to have a laugh with, and cheap enough to buy for these sort of occasions. Just remember to beat the Story Mode first. Overwise you will be very limited on your gameplay options.

Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption is a hellish ordeal that proves that patience is a virtue, as the game will test your persistence throughout this quest for atonement. Fans of Dark Souls or the structure of the early Mega Man titles will find a lot to enjoy with this Nintendo eShop release; however, the challenge may prove to be too much for those looking for a more casual affair.

Runner3 is overall an uneven experience. For every great feature or moment, there’s always something weighing it down not far off. Its soundtrack is fantastic but sadly the visuals disappoint. The game is tough but sometimes unfairly so. The worlds are overflowing with craziness but there are only three to explore in all. Runner3 is a fun sequel sure but it is one that’s annoyances stop it reaching the dizzying heights of its predecessor.

This interactive build-and-play experience will astound in construction and entertain in letting you live out your dream as a giant robot. But, it needed more content to make sure that it isn’t long before the magic wanes and you move on to whatever comes next.

Bombslinger is a fun time whether playing alone or in a group but its tough and often frustrating difficulty can prove too punishing at times. While I welcome a challenge, levelling up your character and purchasing an assortment of upgrades only to have them stripped away upon death be it through mistake or controller accuracy just plain sucks. That being said, Bombslinger offers enough to make it a nice alternative to Super Bomberman R and its lower price point certainly doesn’t hurt either.

#Breakforcist Battle might not reinvent the wheel when it comes to block-breaking games but it still proves to be an entertaining time albeit a content-light one. Strengthened by a bright and quirky visual style and some neat multiplayer features, #Breakforcist Battle is a short but sweet enough experience that could have done with a few more options for the lone player.

Sonic Colours Ultimate might offer a few extra bells and whistles over the Wii original but with it a bunch of bugs and rough edges too. It’s a real shame, as SEGA had a chance to take what remains one of the hedgehog’s best 3D adventures to date and make it even better. In the end, what we wound up with is a messy update that gets the job done but that’s about it.

The Adventure Pals may not be the deepest or most challenging game in the platforming genre. Nonetheless, it still manages to stay fun thanks to its topsy-turvy plot, accessibility and the neat ideas that are sewn into the charm of its art style. The familiar layout of the stages can become repetitive the more you play, yet work great when accompanied with the little person who runs riot around the household. If kids aren’t your bag but you still want something that doesn’t test your gaming skills to the limit, then The Adventure Pals could very well be the reclined platformer you have been looking for.

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.

The long and short of it is that if you’re a fan of Nickelodeon and Smash, this is absolutely worth it, but it might take some time to flesh out the sturdy fighting skeleton with some Mr Meaty.

It may never reach the highs of a Mirror’s Edge or even a Jet Set Radio game, but Hover offers an entertaining parkour-skating racer to Nintendo Switch owners. The menu system needs to be fixed, the camera isn’t perfect, and the frame-rate can be a bit rough at times, but there is still fun to be had with Hover.

If you enjoy a slower game with a brilliant and touching story or stories in which, to get the most out of it, you have to give it your full attention, then The Lion’s Song may very well be a game that you will love and think about for months to come. The unique art style and its attention to the smaller details only add to the intrigue. It has its problems, sure, and they do start to become a bigger issue as you progress further, but none will make you want to put the game down, as, by that point, it will already have its hooks into you.