Newcomers should hold off on this one given the lack of any kind of tutorial, as should the left-handed, but if you're after a simple way to carry an instant jam session around with you, then it's a rock-solid option.

Compared to the unexpected highlight that was Golf Story, Sports Story is damningly mediocre. Although the writing is as good as ever and the visuals have received a nice upgrade, the performance issues, tedious fetch quests, and occasionally confusing gameplay all hold this one back quite a bit. Despite its shortcomings, there’s certainly still an enjoyable game on offer here, but you’ll have to decide for yourself whether it’s worth the negatives, especially given that the Switch eShop is lousy with great games these days. If you loved the original, you'll likely find Sports Story to be a fun-enough follow-up, but there’s no denying that it feels like quite a letdown after years of waiting. Assuming Sidebar can sort out the worst of the technical issues, we’d give Sports Story a light recommendation to anyone looking for a quirky take on a sports RPG, but this one doesn’t deserve a spot at the top of your list.

Kingdom Rush Origins does a lot right, but it’s also got one major flaw that sours the experience. The gameplay is really slow overall; there are frequent moments where you’ll just be staring at the screen for extended periods of time, waiting for the enemies to waddle their way across the screen. It’s only until you get to the later waves of enemies that the flow of gameplay starts to pick up a bit. It’s a lumbering experience, and we reckon shorter, more intensive levels would be extremely beneficial.

Over two decades after its original release, Star Wars: Bounty Hunter still brings a decent amount of fun from the galaxy far, far away. The updated control scheme and visuals undoubtedly make this the best way to experience Jango Fett's backstory. But Aspyr's sparing upgrades can't hide a noticeably dated game underneath. With repetitive combat, occasionally confusing level design, and a regularly iffy script, this is a prime example of how far gaming has come in the past 20 years. It's a product of a simpler time, but that doesn't make it any less frustrating.

Tri Force Heroes isn't a bad game, but it's not on the same level as its illustrious predecessors.

UNO is certainly a classic card game and highly recommended, but this WiiWare version falls short of the mark by splitting its focus between unnecessary offline modes and an online mode that could have used some more polish.

Deponia is a fine example of the genre, but there's no getting around the fact that the game's price on Switch will be your main barrier to entry here. It plays well and has that charm that Daedalic is famous for, and it constantly reminds you of the Monkey Island series – no bad thing at all. But when you're able to find the same game for under a quid if you look hard enough – and you take into account that this Switch version has no added benefits – it becomes harder to recommend. You'd be better of waiting for a price drop, or, if you're still interested, investigate if Deponia is available on an alternative platform at a cheaper price.

Aimless and slowly paced – yet also soothing and very pretty – this might be the perfect diversion while spending an actual snowy day trapped indoors. But if you were to find something else to do, you wouldn't really be missing much.

It's difficult to recommend a game such as A-Train: City Simulator simply because of it's nigh impenetrable barrier to entry. Fans of simulator games such as these will find a rewarding and incredibly in-depth simulation of running a big business, but most will miss this and be lost to its confusing and unforgiving gameplay.

Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol.2 is a perfectly able collection, albeit less enticing than the first volume. Several games in the library here — notably Card Fighters' Clash, Mega Man Battle & Fighters, and Biomotor Unitron — have already received standalone releases on Switch eShop, which may well dissuade you from a purchase if you already own them. Die-hard fans of everything Neo Geo Pocket Color will likely enjoy getting stuck into what’s here, but it’s not a must-buy.

NBA 2K26 on Switch 2 fails to deliver the 60fps gameplay we've all been holding out for. It also runs at a lower resolution than I would have expected, and its online modes, thanks to no cross-play or cross-progression are ghost towns. However, if this is your only platform, and if you are okay with 30fps, there is still a huge festival of basketball to enjoy here. This is a game packed full of fun modes, and it'll teach you everything you could ever need to know about the sport whilst giving you some fine on-court action to boot. Here's hoping for a patch down the line, but 2K26 comes off as a great game underperforming on Switch 2 at launch.

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a fair series entry, but one that's tainted by poor pacing and a recasting controversy that simply didn't need to happen. The main story has a lot to offer, but it's also bloated with way too much side content getting in the way of the core narrative. Dark Ties feels like a nice antidote to this, but I'm not sure whether this alone would be worth the purchase for anyone but series die-hards. RGG Studio fixed some visual blemishes in time for launch, so that's good news. Unfortunately, it seems Kiwami 3 will forever be associated with the recasting of one of its main antagonists, a controversy that undeniably affected my personal enjoyment of the game. If that doesn't bother you, and if an overabundance of side content appeals, you could probably add a point to the scoreline.

As part of The Jackbox Party Pack, Drawful offered a brief yet silly way to have fun with friends, but its no-frills concept, the sheer lack of support for online multiplayer (especially with the lack of native streaming support Switch users have to contend with) and the hefty £8 asking price and Drawful 2 becomes a tough sell at best. However, if you’re really desperate for a couchplay alternative, this one might just scratch that party game itch.

As a melee-focused, multiplayer experience, Boreal Blade is sure to be a divisive experience. Some players will love the nuance of its freeform combat, revelling in the joy of the moment-to-moment swordplay. Others will be turned off by the steep learning curve which comes with mastering even the simplest of weapons. However, either group won’t appreciate the connectivity and matchmaking issues that affect one too many matches. Every online game has its problems at launch, but if Frozenbyte can address them early on, Nintendo Switch has a Scandi-themed alternative to For Honor on its hands.

The post-apocalypse schtick was worn out long ago, so any game using it as a thematic backdrop is always going to have an uphill struggle, but Overland attempts to set itself apart with its diorama-style maps and its McCarthy-esque road trip. While it lacks the more focused combat and systems of the very similar Into the Breach, there’s a lot to like about its bleak combination of fellowship and sacrifice. But with a procedural generation setup that doesn’t always play in its favour and a shallow inventory, its take on Armageddon can be more frustrating than fun.

Overall, fans of RTS games may get some fun out of Golem Gates, but it’s hard to get around the fact that this mash-up of tactical RTS gameplay with the random nature of the deck-building element of the game leads to a watered-down tactical experience. If you’re happy enough to enjoy it for what it is you’ll get a decent amount of fun out of the various modes on offer, but anyone looking for a serious RTS or deck-building experience would be best sticking to either genre exclusively, rather than taking a chance on this well-meaning but misguided mishmash.

RAD doesn’t do anything particularly new for the roguelike genre, but it doesn’t necessarily need to in order to be an enjoyable game in its own right. The over-the-top '80s neon aesthetic is consistently charming, the level-to-level gameplay is both rewarding and nail-bitingly intense, and there’s a good amount of ‘meta’ progress to be made beyond the limits of a single run. On the other hand, the RNG can be brutal in how it distributes power-ups between runs, and overall performance on the Switch (especially in handheld) leaves something to be desired. Even given these shortcomings, though, we’d give RAD a cautious recommendation. If you find yourself drawn to the likes of Dead Cells, Risk of Rain, Ironcast, or any other release in the massively popular roguelike genre, RAD could be right up your alley – assuming you can look past its annoying problems.

As a game, first and foremost, 140 isn't quite on par with some leading titles within this genre. Despite how well the audiovisual presentation is tied to the gameplay, the ruthless nature of this one does detract from the overall enjoyment on offer.

The ultimate question is whether you should play MLB The Show 22 on Switch. Well, it depends. If it's your main or only platform and you're happy playing CPU and offline games, then yes, it's not bad and holds things together just enough for gameplay to be enjoyable. If you want an 'on-the-go' version to accompany a more powerful home console version, perhaps on Game Pass, then it's another yes. If you want to mainly play online in Diamond Dynasty? No, this isn't the way to go. MLB The Show 22 is admirably packed with content and features, but it's not entirely comfortably packed into the diminutive Switch. It lacks the fluidity and crispness found elsewhere, which is perhaps expected but doesn't change the fact. If you're happy with the compromises, though, then step up to the plate.

Biomotor Unitron seems like an awesome mecha-building RPG that draws inspiration from some of our favourite classic games, but in reality it’s a shallow curiosity with a fair share of charm to sink an afternoon or two into and not much more. The pieces are here – in fact, we’d love to see a Biomotor Unitron-like game made with modern sensibilities – but the motivation to motor on through the monotonous random battles to rank up in the arena depends wholly on how much you’ll enjoy some vivid sprites and catchy retro tunes.

The asking price is a bit steep, but if it’ll keep your kids occupied long enough to relieve that cluster headache, it’s worth every penny.

Girls' Fashion Shoot is an easy game to follow, there's something there for young girls to get creative and try out new styles, giving them a small taste of the fashion world at an early age.

Other instalments provide a fuller experience and, even if this particular take appeals, it was soon improved upon by its Special update. Samurai Shodown V can still provide fighting fun, but with so many decent fighting games already on Switch it is far from a must download.

It’s a testament to the quality of Turok 2: Seeds of Evil and the great enhancements made by Nightdive Studios that this remaster is still an essential chapter of FPS history – more so than its rough-around-the-edges predecessor. Every gun still feels incredible, every level still looks unique in its design and the bosses and enemies are still a riot to hunt down and slay. But the bizarre amputation of the game’s multiplayer modes renders the Switch version painfully incomplete. Until support for multiplayer is patched in or addressed in some shape or form, we’re forced to give this N64 classic a score it doesn’t deserve.

A relatively short five-hour or so campaign, a lack of difficulty that ramps up unexpectedly on the final boss, and the non-coherent blend of 3D sequences, 2D sections and cutscenes make Sonic Forces a mixed experience, with positive moments undone by weaker areas. It isn’t poor as many feared, and for children it could well be a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

WordsUp! Academy will please those who are savvy and quick with words; for others, however, it can be frustrating. It's recommended for those who want to build up their skills in this area, though a few glances at a dictionary will certainly be needed when this one shows off its vocabulary.

A workmanlike golf title that plays it safe and holes out for par.

Soon Shine is a visual leap from its predecessor Chubbins, but the gameplay has taken a turn for the childishly simple.