Star Fox on Switch 2 is a sublime remaster of Star Fox 64, and that's both its best and worst feature. This is Fox's best game made even better, with a stunning visual overhaul, snappy controls, and some neat reasons to keep playing thanks to the new challenges and online modes. That said, it is just '64' again, and those who have already played through the '97 classic hundreds of times won't find any surprises here…If, however, this is your first run-in with Fox McCloud, I struggle to think of a better introduction to the series. And if you know the game like the back of your hand, you're in for a replay unlike any other. The series' future looked bleak for a second there, but if this is a taste of what the next original adventure holds, then I've never been more ready to fire up the G-Diffuser.

Wanderstop follows Alta on a journey where little journeying takes place. In fact, this game is all about slowing down, taking your time, and resting, cup of tea in hand. In 12-ish hours, you drink up a story of heroism’s dark side and the need to take breaks. Its response to hustle culture is emotional, yet never sickly sweet. The beautiful art style may not be at its most potent on Switch 2, but if you’re a Nintendo-only household, don’t pass on Wanderstop, especially if you’re a cosy fan. Ironically, if your personality is anything like Alta’s, you might be too impatient to play this. Then again, you might absolutely need to. Now, who fancies a cuppa?

Devil May Cry 5 Devil Hunter Edition is another great Capcom port for the Switch 2, maintaining that crucial 60fps gameplay without completely tanking the visual presentation. There are a few blemishes, mind you, and the absence of an entire mode means this isn't the definitive release of the game. If you've never experienced DMC5 before, however, you're in for a treat. This is one of the best action games out there, and the finest DMC entry so far.

The seamless change from turn-based to action combat proves how timeless the HD-2D art direction is. The Adventures of Elliot not only looks beautiful, but has a story to match. Elliot’s journey transcends time and space to deliver an emotional gut punch that’ll stick with me for a while. Despite performance issues on Switch 2, there’s tons of gameplay variety and fun exploration, which makes it one adventure you’ll want to make time for.

Observer: System Redux is an excellent sci-fi murder mystery that packs a lot of detail into a tight narrative package, bursting with reverence for the genre but adding a dark horror twist that offers a compelling exploration of well-trodden themes. Thankfully, the Switch 2 keeps the graphical fidelity intact, and Mouse Mode offers a great way to interact with such a rich cyberpunk world. If you don’t mind some minor graphical compromises, this might be the best way to play Observer yet.

Rise of the Tomb Raider is a great addition to the Switch 2 library, standing as a strong example of the vision of the platform offering full-fat home console gaming on the go. Satisfying exploration, incredible visuals, and loads of content all running at a smooth 30fps combine to make this a must-have buy for your personal library, even if a forgettable story and some occasionally wonky controls hold this one back from perfection. I’d suggest you pick this one up at the next available opportunity – it’ll keep you busy for a while and is especially the kind of game that really shines in handheld.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a tremendous addition to the growing Switch 2 catalogue, delivering an ambitious and content-rich RPG experience that sets a new bar for what players can expect from the best entries in the JRPG genre. The heartfelt story, innovative action combat, and huge amount of open-world content combine in an experience that’s hard to put down for the several dozen hours it lasts. Though there are some noticeable performance and visual concessions, these ultimately don’t detract enough from the game's quality to derail the experience. I’d absolutely recommend you pick this up if you consider yourself a fan of JRPGs - Square Enix knocked this one out of the park, and it more than deserves a spot in your library.

Of all Nintendo's mobile offerings, Pictonico is packing more in the 'surprise and delight' department than any previous effort. It's a brilliantly effective translation of the WarioWare series on a platform it was born to be on. The microgame Volume Packs aren't quite cheap enough to be impulse buys, but I'd wager WarioWare fans will get their money's worth from these first two, especially if you've got kids to share in the irreverence and manic energy. Whether playing alone on the sofa or with a group of us huddled around my phone, we've been wearing massive grins the entire time. Delightful.

Yacht Club Games has successfully made the leap from Mario-inspired side-on platforming to Zelda-style adventure, delivering another retro-styled masterpiece. Mina the Hollower is an intricate, challenging yet accessible adventure packed with content, set against a gorgeous 8-bit gothic backdrop.

Coffee Talk Tokyo may lean into the refreshed stylings of its new, titular locale, but the series’ foundation of listening to deep conversations about the complexities of life while brewing a host of delicious drinks is still intact and just as enjoyable as ever. The issues this eclectic cast of pixies, ghosts, and other creatures face are ironically some of the most human you’ll find in any visual novel out there — and you might just be surprised at how much you take away from their journeys of hardship and self-discovery. It definitely falls more on the iterative side of sequels as far as its gameplay systems go, but there’s still plenty of substance to satisfy regulars and, perhaps, bring in a whole host of new customers as well.

Sektori is a triumph. Blending the core gameplay of Geometry Wars with several engaging new mechanics makes this one of the most satisfying and addictive games I've ever played. It boasts immaculate presentation with gorgeous visuals, a thumping soundtrack, and rock-solid 60fps gameplay. Some of the new mechanics may take some getting used to, and Sektori could do a better job at explaining them. Once you've got your head around all of it, though, it's impossible to put down. As far as twin-stick shooters go, Geometry Wars has been dethroned – there's a new king in town.

A globe-trotting adventure with compelling exploration, crunchy melee, and tomb-raiding puzzles. With a great story and sky-high production value, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an authentic new franchise entry with a capable lead in Troy Baker. And despite taking the odd hit, the Switch 2 port holds its own admirably.

Mixtape’s greatest accomplishment is that it more than lives up to its name. This is a thoughtfully curated collection of music, sure, but before that, it’s an exciting, sentimental, funny game. Rather than simply twiddling your thumbs while the licensed music plays, you’re living life with a soundtrack – the only way Stacey Rockford would have you do it.

Tethergeist is a great precision platformer. A flat narrative and some small visual bugs somewhat muddy the waters, but it’s filled with fresh ideas. The tether mechanic at its core tests your reflexes and brains in equal measure, and I found myself always on the hunt for the Atropa Blossoms. Between those levels, I found a lot of fun in interacting with villagers across the world. Perfectly paced, no one mechanic overstays its welcome, and it felt like it ended at the perfect time, around 10 hours in length. I’m not a completionist, but I can definitely see myself picking away at some collectibles. And if they ever drop a challenge level pack, testing my knowledge of all the tethers? I’ll be there day one.

Constance is an example of one of the hardest things in gaming. To take ideas established four decades ago and use them to say something different and interesting is a wonderful feat worth celebrating. Constance has something to say, and it says it well. There are flaws in the moment-to-moment gameplay, such as its bosses and a few tedious platforming sections, and it’s not something that’s going to completely rock the Metroidvania space, but it doesn’t need to. It's a much-needed reminder of the joys of concentration and an antidote to an overstimulating world. This is an easy recommendation to any Metroidvania fans who want something familiar to spend 10 hours on. Those a bit more wary of the genre might find themselves less enchanted, but Constance is absolutely worth playing for its visuals and ideas alone.

Much like the breeding and fusion system at the heart of its teambuilding, Monster Crown: Sin Eater is a satisfyingly iterative improvement over its predecessor, refining the systems and strengths it introduced while tossing the things that held it back from being great. Deep party customisation, a surprisingly in-depth story, beautiful GBC-esque visuals, and a killer soundtrack all combine to make this one worth a punt, even if some growing pains with the open-ended design can sometimes drag it down a bit. I’d give this one a recommendation if you’re looking for something to ease your pain after the Pokémon Champions launch. Sin Eater was made with lots of love and hopefully will form the basis of more adventures in this fascinating world.

Initially, I wasn’t sure how well the mixture of influences and styles was working, but it’s a testament to the attention to detail and polish that’s gone into the whole production that Mouse: P.I. for Hire achieves such a high score. The story takes a bit of time to become truly gripping, but it does so at the exact same time as the combat and style reach new levels of quality, and I couldn’t help but be impressed. While I can’t say I am stunned or in awe of the clue-collecting, I very much enjoyed my playthrough. Mouse: PI for Hire feels fresh and fun, and I only have praise for the whole team who produced it. This animated noir mystery is a great achievement. It takes risks, it’s challenging, it strives to be bold - and it works.

Sigono has proven once again that it understands powerful emotional storytelling with OPUS: Prism Peak, a game about self-reflection, acknowledging what’s come before, and moving on. It’s the most Studio Ghibli-like game I’ve ever played, in a way that goes beyond aesthetics. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to miss some crucial unlockables and some of the game’s best moments; a second run-through might be quicker, but it still requires you to play at a particular pace. And the Switch 2 isn’t the best way to play at the time of writing, but once it’s fully developed, there are few better story and character-driven experiences on the console than this.

The star of the show, of course, is the music. Naturally, it leans heavily into typical ‘80s-themed synth tracks, but they all work wonderfully well, and I started bopping my head immediately. If you’re a fan of rhythm games in general, I’d urge you to give this a shot, but just be mindful that it can be pretty brutal, so be prepared to hit ‘continue’ a lot.

If you’re going to create a deckbuilder out of Vampire Survivors, I think Vampire Crawlers is pretty much exactly the result you’d hope for – minus some bugs. It combines all of the weapons and power-ups from the first game with clever fusions and twists on traditional deckbuilding tentpoles. Even things that are annoying — not being able to check your deck when selecting upgrade and, hard to track damage numbers — feel like quirks of the franchise. It scratches my brain in a familiar way, and the euphoric feeling of creating a broken build still feels great.

Beyond Words, then, is an enjoyable roguelike experience that smartly mixes in chance mechanics and run-based gameplay with a foundation that challenges your vocabulary. Though it feels notably derivative, it ultimately does a good enough job of executing on the mechanics it apes to stand on its own two feet. I’d suggest you pick it up - there's lots to dive into in this one.

The Midnight Walk is an intoxicating journey through a beautifully twisted nightmare world. The Burnt One's quest to Moon Mountain is an atmospheric, bleak, and surprisingly sweet story that's worth experiencing.

Super Meat Boy 3D may not be quite the same watershed moment for indie gaming as its respected predecessor, but there’s a lot to love about this one and would say that Sluggerfly and Team Meat have largely stuck the landing in the transition to a new dimension. Tight controls, tough, rewarding gameplay, and lots of replayability all stack up in its favour, even as frame rate and camera issues hold it back from being a flawless successor. If you’re looking for an addictive platformer that’ll push your skills to their absolute limit, I’d give this one a strong recommendation.

For the asking price, it's hard to find much to fault with Virtua Fighter 5 on Switch 2. The slick, 60fps gameplay is approachable enough for newcomers, but with layers upon layers of depth to uncover, dedicated fight fans will find plenty to enjoy. Multiplayer is still the main draw, but thanks to the addition of World Stage mode to complement Arcade Mode, solo players are well-catered for. It remains to be seen just how lively the online community will be at this stage, but with features like cross-play and rollback netcode included, it's likely this one will stick around for a while. With other fighters seemingly constantly battling one controversy or another, Virtua Fighter 5 sticks to what it knows best: solid, grounded combat that's endlessly satisfying.

Kena: Bridge Of Spirits is a great addition to the Switch 2 roster. A visually stunning platforming adventure with great storytelling and an adorable companion mechanic. Combat and enemy design leave a lot to be desired, but this doesn't do much to dent the experience of Kena’s journey.

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection continues Capcom’s unbroken streak of excellent Mega Man remasters, presenting these DS classics in the best possible light and providing a compelling package. Not only do the included games each offer an enjoyable virus-busting RPG adventure, but new quality-of-life features, an addictive online battle mode, and smooth presentation all come together to make for a must-have experience for curious Rockman fans. Despite some design missteps in the earlier games, this collection shows that this trilogy stands strongly alongside other Mega Man sub-series, and I’d suggest you pick it up if you’re at all interested in Mega Man’s forays into the RPG genre.

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is a fantastic real-time tactics adventure that wows with top-notch gameplay, fantastic looks, and a set of delectable missions that challenge you to get into your ninja groove and bring the best out of a team of shadowy assassins. The signature shadow mechanic is a delight to use, and the cherry on top of an impressively flexible core combat system, whilst large missions give you endless opportunity to get creative. Oh, and it all looks and plays wonderfully well on Switch 2. With mouse mode, improved loading times, and solid performance to boot, there's precious little to criticise with this all-timer. Now, give us Desperados 3 and Shadow Gambit.

Coming in at under 10 hours, I felt satisfied with what I’d played, yet I still wanted more. Despite how good I think the core experience is, there’s a lot of untapped potential waiting to be unleashed. More NPCs, more quests, a more engaging narrative… all of this would go a long way, and I sincerely hope to see a sequel in the future. This, however, is a bloomin’ great start.