If you’re an avid anime fan that likes a bit of kooky comedy-drama with your spammy beatdowns then Code of Princess EX isn’t too bad a game to carry around in your backpack. Some will undoubtedly find the story getting a bit too much in the way of the action, and the small moveset for each character really doesn’t help to hide its highly repetitive gameplay. It’s good to at least see some meat to its combat though, and the character designs are imaginative enough to land some flair to the story.

Pool Panic is wonderfully weird and so imaginative. While this probably won’t please those after something a little more traditional, its focus on physics-based puzzles is certainly an interesting take. Frustrating, lacking direction but with a world full of character and unique ideas, Pool Panic can be a really fun time albeit one that’s known to scratch every so often.

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.

If you are new to the series, this is an amazing place to start. If you have played the others to death then there is still enough here to warrant you getting hooked all over again. It is utter madness from start to finish.

Leading the player down a path of learning to flip the mechanics on their head is a lovely touch. Later sections will remove colour completely, tasking you with connecting only dots of black. Here the game shines from the difficulty increasing, rather than just expanding the grids. With a vast number of topics to work through – countries, hobbies, works of literature – there’s plenty to do and Piczle Lines DX 500 More Puzzles becomes difficult to put down. It’s as addictive as it is original.

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.

Hand of Fate 2’s seamless blend of card-based adventuring and action RPG battles help craft a truly one of a kind experience that’s managed to surprise me in all the right ways. Exciting, unpredictable, often nail-biting, sometimes frustrating but always absorbing, Defiant Development’s distinct take on an action based RPG is a true standout on Switch and well worth checking out.

A revelatory experience, at long last presenting answers to the questions that many have had since Rook first rallied clansmen to his banner in Skogr. With multiple endings that your actions can steer your adventure towards, it delivers a thunderous conclusion to what, on the whole, has been a phenomenal trilogy. It remains a perfect fit for Nintendo Switch, and, now that all three games have hit the portable home console, there isn’t a better time to set out on your arduous journey.

The Banner Saga 2 continues to deliver a refreshingly personal experience, and, while some of the unpredictable events that transpire will undoubtedly astound, it is the rippling consequences of your own actions that keep you transfixed to the point that you will fret over every decision that you are forced to make. It has been a long time since a game has so readily impressed me across the board, and, with that, I now wait to see how the Saga comes to a close.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa Of Dana is a title that takes a while to get going, maybe too long, which may be enough to put some people off early and the story is rather sub-par. Those that stick with it will see where the game truly shines. It features a seamless and easy to learn combat system that pretty much anybody can get a grasp of, and it also provides quite the backdrop for those wanting to wander off and explore. Sure, it has its problems, but it’s an experience that I won’t forget any time soon.

Semblance is a breath of fresh air to the platforming genre and one that is entirely welcome. Puzzle lovers will enjoy the idea of working around a problem, casual players can find enjoyment in every aspect and speedrunners are going to have a blast working out movement tech to beat the game swiftly. No matter what category you fit into, Semblance is a must own game on the Switch, for no other reason than it breaks the mould.

The Mega Man X series has always held a fond place in my heart. To be able to play all eight anytime, anywhere on Nintendo Switch is a dream come true. They may not all be top-tier classics, but the high majority that are maintain the same addictive grip now as they did back in the day. As for these particular collections? They may certainly play as well as I remember them, but the way the celebration has been stripped back like a budget party package made me pine for something a little more extravagant. The legacy of this 30-year-old Capcom mascot certainly deserves it.

On the whole, Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion does just enough to allow you to interact with the world of Ooo. It’s more a shame that considering the series as a whole is coming to an end, there’s no true celebration here to close out the franchise with a potential classic.

The tale that this first chapter in The Banner Saga weaves will have you gripped from start to finish. The player is left to exist in a world that has been meticulously crafted, whether that be the breathtaking art direction, the riveting efforts at world-building or the gameplay mechanics that underpin the experience. It is the difficult decisions that you must make that let it become more meaningful, even if some of your actions will ultimately lead to heartbreaking consequences.

Bottom line, there’s nothing inherently wrong with Super Destronauts DX – the game plays fine, looks polished enough and features numerous mode types. The problem I have with it though is that nothing about it shines and no part of the game has me eager to jump back in any time soon. Super Destronauts DX is a functional arcade shooter that’s distracting for a short while but with nothing truly helping it stand out in a growing sea of quality Nintendo eShop releases, it’s an experience easily forgotten.

You can’t really go wrong with N++. The floaty controls will put some off to start with, but given time, you get used to them and they don’t really become much of a problem. From a game that I played during classes at school thirteen years ago, to now appearing on all of the major consoles. One thing hasn’t changed in all of those years, and that is its ability to make me want to play just one more level. Once it has its claws in you, it won’t let go and considering the community levels mean you potentially have thousands of levels to play, the fun doesn’t need to stop.

While it might not seem as amazing now as it did 8 years ago, Playdead’s iconic platformer is more than worth playing through once. If you haven’t yet had that chance – like I did – I don’t see any reason why your introduction to the game shouldn’t be on Nintendo Switch, too.

I’m normally a big fan of party games; however Awkward is easily one of the weakest I’ve played, managing to deliver an experience that’s just painfully dull. While it sometimes achieves its goal of creating an uncomfortably fun atmosphere, the moods it tends to strike more often is that of apathy and aversion. Fact is, if you’re after a fun, hilarious party game then Awkward is definitely not it, the Nintendo Switch offering far better alternatives out there on the Nintendo eShop already.

Smoke and Sacrifice is yet another worthy entry in the survival genre. While it isn’t the best one, it certainly has a lot going for it and is a still a cracking little title. It has an impressive overarching story which is rare in the genre. Finding new things to make and gathering items is incredibly fun and addictive. The combat system will be a little simple for some and it does have its share of problems, such as an overly finicky inventory menu. But if you are able to see past this you will find a title which has plenty to offer and plenty to enjoy.

20XX does far more than to simply be a blatant Mega Man clone. It is a combination of what ifs and why nots that makes this particular title a great little game in its own right. With plenty of modes, tons of upgrades, an in-depth record of your statistics and, most importantly, fun gameplay, 20XX certainly deserves a place next to Capcom’s mascot in the library of your Nintendo Switch.

It’s a one-time play, there are no unlocks to grab, no need to hunt down collectibles and the game is better for it. Things are kept simple, stylish and for a lot of the time, funny. It’s worth playing for the puzzles, it’s worth playing for the style and mostly, the animations.

If you’ve yet to play Sonic Mania; Sonic Mania Plus offers yet another essential addition to your physical game collection. It might not be an entirely new game, but Sonic Mania Plus manages to feel just as fresh as the original Sonic Mania did a little over a year ago.

With eight characters and eight stories to be told, your adventure across the wondrous world of Osterra is breathtaking.

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.

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.

Runbow has the potential to be an outstanding game. A few patches here and there will help it along the way and should a community begin to emerge, then online play will be a chaotic joy. The central idea is incredibly clever and forces some crazy moments of action which can be found in a vast number of game modes. Even with the few flaws, it’s a great game, but the patch to stop game crashing needs to come soon, because a crash meaning replaying a tough level is enough to make some just uninstall the game entirely.

On the whole, Pocket Rumble is a game that fits snugly on the Nintendo Switch due to its portable inspiration and simple control system. I would even go a far as to say that I would love to see it streamed as a side tournament at some of the bigger fighting game events out there. If you are in need of a competitive fighter without the complexities of the genre yet still manages to keep the mind games intact, then Pocket Rumble could very well be right up your street.

I may have started this review stating that Pato Box is a straight up Punch-Out!! clone, and at its core it certainly is. However, while the abstract world where a fighting Duck seeks answers is a setup that just doesn’t make sense, it happens to mould nicely with its presentation. It’s far from a perfect game, and the filler sections in between predictably never live up to the actual fights themselves. Yet, in spite of all this, Mexican developer Bromio has managed to make decent use out of the Punch-Out!! formula to craft something unique enough to separate itself from other clones that came before it.