Overall, I appreciated the way that the lid finally closed on the Telltale’s The Walking Dead, and the decision to wrap everything up in just four episodes felt, to me at least, the right choice to make. While collective distractions and over-saturated plot lines can seem all too familiar with the franchise as a whole, to finally see the nail hammered into the coffin on a strong note is a far braver achievement made when compared to its peers.

Avalanche Software’s efforts to port Hogwarts Legacy to Nintendo Switch 2 has elevated it to be an essential purchase for Potterheads, delivering the definitive way to experience the Wizarding World on the move. Support for mouse sensor, motion control and touchscreen input may not be seen as essential additions to every player, but are sprinkled over a game that so captivatingly lets you lose yourself in your own adventure.

Who could have thought a game focused on squares would be so much fun? Simple on the surface but underneath its minimalistic presentation lays the beating heart of a challenging and extremely satisfying platformer. One packed with content that can be enjoyed whether you’re playing alone or in a group. If you’re on the search for a new eShop purchase then I cannot recommend Flat Heroes enough. An absolute must for fans of the genre.

Where it excels is in ideas and concepts, yet it falters on the basic function of exciting racing. It looks and sounds good but lacks any memorable locations or tracks and it straddles an odd balance between pure arcade racer and pseudo-simulation, with its use of refuelling and permanent upgrades. And yet I finished the World Tour mode, knocked out some tournaments ready to write this review, but still find myself booting it up for the odd fifteen minutes and still thinking about how I’d like to chase a first place in every race. I’m obviously chasing something along with the developers.

It may be much briefer than the game before it but thanks to its satisfying gameplay, fantastic characters and its focused content, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle manages to be a much more satisfying experience. Bring on No More Heroes 3.

Devolver Digital delivers once again with Hotline Miami Collection. Ferociously violent and superbly engaging, the original still holds up as one of the best indie titles out there and, despite its frustrations, Wrong Number proves a good time too. As far as surprise Nintendo eShop release, chalk this up as another winner.

GRID Legends: Deluxe Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 is a fantastic start for Feral Interactive on Nintendo’s new hybrid console. The team brought everything I loved about GRID Legends on iPhone, with added visual options to Switch 2, delivering a great experience both docked and handheld at half the price of other consoles. This is an easy recommendation and already one of the best Switch 2 ports I’ve played.

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.

Donkey Kong is a true landmark in video game history and to some, that reason alone may be enough to check out this arcade classic. Sure the game is starting to show its age but with competitive leaderboards and a number of options and versions to try out, this is easily the best way to experience Donkey Kong.

Following closely in the footsteps of its predecessor, Little Nightmares II is an indie darling hiding a triple-A development team under the floorboards. It takes the cream of cinematic interpretations of The Ring, Poltergeist, IT and even Jim Henson’s Labyrinth and whisks them further into a butter of pitch-black imagination. It may not steer too far from the apple tree when it comes to evolving its gameplay, but what it does do is dim the lights even lower to carry on the momentum for another satisfying and nerve-wracking experience.

Sonic Rush is still a little too out there for me to appreciate as fully as the classic games on the Sega Genesis, but it is a big, big step in the right direction, with improved gameplay mechanics and greatly improved level design.

Overall, I’d say that Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition is a must-play for newcomers looking for a fun action game and long time fans. It is easily the best version of this game to date, providing a solid conversion and a ton of new features that remain optional for those who might not want them. Unless they add these to previous releases, I can’t see myself playing any other version but this one. It exceeded my expectations and gave me one of my new favorite actions games that I’ll be going right back into as soon as I’m done writing this.

For hardcore fans, you’ve almost definitely already gone ahead and bought Borderlands Legendary Collection and I say more power to you. I may not have the connection to the series that other players do, but I can confidently say that this is one of the strongest Nintendo Switch ports I’ve played and a fantastic compilation of games.

While the Sonic portion of the game is starting to show its age, there’s still plenty of fun to be had revisiting classic zones and taking on Eggman once again. It’s the Shadow adventure though that is the true standout. Polished, exhilarating and clearly made with a real love for the character, Shadow Generations is a fantastically fun time and turns Sonic X Shadow Generations into a must for fans of the series and platforming fans alike.

Super Mario Party Jamboree truly has something for everyone. Between its enjoyable smorgasbord of minigames, delightful lineup of traditional-style boards and exciting injection of fresh competitive and cooperative modes, this is a party you won’t want to miss out on. Biggest Mario Party? Absolutely. Best? After 30 hours and many laughter-filled evenings with friends, I’m thinking it’s very much in the conversation.

I honestly didn’t think I could love Spelunky any more than I already did, but to see it translated so perfectly to a console that feels made for it is the icing on the cake. Spelunky is now available to pretty much everyone, and if I can teach you one thing from this review, it’s that you need to go and play it. It’s a modern masterpiece that you’ll never unlearn.

It’s endlessly charming, has an in-depth combat system that feels great to learn, and constantly goes above and beyond what the original did. I am praying that it sees the success it deserves, because this wonderful world can’t end here.

The Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion never lacks in the sheer spectacle of its creativity. It’s Nintendo at its best, for sure, taking what we have come to expect from Splatoon 2’s core experience only to throw the rulebook out the window to astound with freshly inked ideas. More, please.

There’s still a decent enough fast-paced platformer to be found here, and one that fits snugly with the portable nature of the Nintendo Switch.

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.

I don’t know if I would recommend Ys Origin as someone’s first experience with the series – that goes to the masterpiece known as Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana – but this is a great port of one of its best games. The music is catchy, the art is great, and the gameplay is some of the snappiest from the classic Ys titles. Given the game’s pedigree, I came in with very high expectations, and I’m happy to say most of those were met. Rarely exceeded, but this is a blast of a game that’s well worth playing for any action game fan.

Put simply Lethal League Blaze is one of the best multiplayer experiences I’ve had on the Nintendo Switch. Just sit a group around the television and watch the hours quickly melt away, the game’s chaotic action never failing to drop jaws and get its players on the edge of their seats. Fighting with your fists is entertaining sure but smashing your opponent with a ball moving at the speed of sound is even better.

There’s definitely a substantive quality gap between both games in this collection, but ultimately, this is a worthy collection to keep on your shelf if you’re fond of original PlayStation RPGs. I’d spent so long wanting the PSP collection to make it west, and it’s great to have that finally with a few extra bells and whistles. I wish there could have been some kind of extra graphics options here to preserve the original pixel aesthetics for the backgrounds, but serious praise needs to be brought to the work the team put into Suikoden II’s remaster. That alone feels worth the cost of admission.

Despite its quirks and oddities, I think Octopath Traveler 0 is a worthy entry in the series. It’s genuinely impressive to take the bones of a mobile game and turn them into such a beefy, console experience. If you played this without ever knowing anything about the game it was based on, you likely wouldn’t even be able to tell. All of the strengths and weaknesses of the series come together to make for a fascinating experiment, and one that works more than it doesn’t. I genuinely recommend it if you’re looking for an interesting and long RPG to dedicate your winter to. More Octopath Traveler is always a good thing, and this particular game makes a strong case for Square Enix to give their mobile game teams the chance to make full-on console games again. I’m glad that the core story of that game was able to be preserved, and I hope Square Enix considers another one of these conversions of its catalog of mobile games.

51 Worldwide Games is a brilliant collection of some of the best (and in some cases oldest) games out there. From cards to dominoes and boards to balls, you’ll find a varied mix both familiar and fresh all wrapped in a wonderfully clean and polished package. Much like Animal Crossing: New Horizons, 51 Worldwide Games is another one of those releases that can be enjoyed by anyone be they a gamer or not. It may not have the earth-shaking excitement of a new Mario or Metroid backing it, but it certainly delivers on the fun. Do not pass on this delightful gem.

The fact that the game takes as long or as short as you make it will make every playthrough feel personalized. It has a staying power that few games like it are able to achieve, which is apparent with just how it practically begs for public discussion. It’s a blast to discuss your progress with your friends, compare how many loops it’s taken you to complete the game, and give each other advice. The flaws are certainly apparent, but Gnosia isn’t necessarily ashamed of them. Gnosia has a specific kind of confidence to it you don’t often see from this medium.

As a game that was released on PC before it was ported to consoles, Victor Vran: Overkill Edition isn’t without its quirks. There are some bizarre choices in how you select and move items around in your inventory for one, and the way that weapon comparisons are displayed isn’t particularly helpful. This won’t win any awards for the best-looking Nintendo Switch game, either. The environments are plain and predictable while the effects lack spectacle. It’s more than adequate though, just don’t expect to be spellbound by what you see.

After beating the game in just over 12 hours with still plenty more to explore and achieve, I can happily say that Cyber Shadow has done a stellar job at combining forces that represented the 8-bit era. The feel of the gameplay, the look and style of the visuals, the absurd plot and the wonderful soundtrack contributions of Enrique Martin and Jake Kaufman really does set the mood nicely. The attention to detail even goes as far as adding an optional CRT scanline filter effect met by red ghosting from bad wires. It’s no wonder why Yacht Club Games were so keen to have their name strapped to it.