Mercenary Kings: Reloaded takes some serious steps to breathe new life into the gun-toting, fast-paced arcade shooter, resetting your expectations by adding RPG elements such as weapon crafting and loot drops into the mix. It's ambitious, but also sorely repetitious, lacking in mission variety and the kind of enemy AI needed to make the grind feel worthwhile. Blending genres has created a kind of mediocre middle ground, with the only truly exceptional aspect of the game being it's fantastic visual style. The vivid, gorgeous pixel art elevates the experience, as does the ability to jump into local or online co-op with ease, so if you're looking to temporarily swap your Bowgun for an AK-47, then this is definitely still worth a look.

Hot off the heels of Layers of Fear: Legacy, Detention is yet another horror classic that deserves a place on your Nintendo Switch. Its story has an important message behind it as it introduces themes that seem almost unfair when viewed through the eyes of a child, but that only helps to escalate the horror. Through a terrifying atmosphere, chilling ghouls, and a soundtrack that will sink its teeth into you, Detention is a suitably horrifying title that needs to be experienced first-hand.

Dragon Sinker is fortunately no ‘Dragon Stinker’. True, there is nothing you haven’t seen before a couple of decades ago and there is little reason to once again venture into this quest if you happen to have played it on another platform previous to this release. But nostalgia is a powerful force and what the game does, it does so quaintly and provides many hours of blissful, care-free JRPGing tropes. Not revolutionary but still a very welcome choice for Switch owners with a retro itch. If you do love JRPGs, miss the simpler days and enjoy getting out of a game as much as you put into it, we have little reasons not to recommend you give this quest a go.

Toki Tori 2+ on Switch is still the same, cute and cuddly, yet fiendishly tricky game that we’ve been enjoying for the last few years, but with some notable improvements that make it the best version currently available on consoles. The difficulty of some puzzles may still be too much for some, but the levels of frustration that plagued earlier releases have been somewhat nullified thanks to new mechanics. If you’re interested in what the title has to offer, or have only played it in its earliest forms, we urge you to give this version a try.

CA roguelike at heart with a rhythm-game soul, Crypt Of The NecroDancer is a sublime experience that’s a must-play for fans of the genre(s). Its upbeat, uptempo take on dungeon crawling is infectious, and there’s enough content here to last even the savviest of spelunkers for many, many dance-fuelled dives into the depths — if you’ve never tangoed with the COTN, this fully-featured Switch edition is the perfect way to jump in.

Payday 2’s devotion to its core gameplay mantra makes it a unique way to team up with other players on Switch, but it does seal the game’s mechanics in a time capsule that only serves to noticeably age it when seen through the prism of 2018. The inclusion of many of the game’s far more exciting DLC missions as standard does make its diverse mix of heists a more tantalising prospect for new adopters, and the relatively smooth port means it's a great way to experience the FPS on a handheld, but with the game launching with a year's worth of updates and content missing make its relatively high price tag stick out like a sore thumb.

Like Meme Run and Zombie Brigade, Superola And The Lost Burgers is an embarrassment to modern gaming. It’s crudely put together, with no originality behind the content – intentional or not – and the apparent 'platforming action' on offer is an insult to the much-loved genre. Even as an endless runner, this low level of quality is far from acceptable. The additional content included only heightens just how bad this entire package actually is. In truthfulness, it’s just a bunch of overdone memes and references mixed together that would fit right at home on a popular message board. Avoid this one at all costs.

Pool might not be the classiest of sports, but that doesn’t mean it deserves a half-baked attempt at simulation to further its virtual cause. For a game asking for £9/$13 for the privilege of knocking balls around its tables, Premium Pool Arena feels more like daylight robbery than an eShop steal. If you truly want a proper pool experience, you're best looking elsewhere for now.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is everything that fans of the classic arcade game could want out of a legacy sequel, focusing on delivering a pure, high-speed realization of the concept that was introduced way back in 1980. Between the single player and multiplayer modes, there’s enough content here for hours of play, and it’s all endlessly replayable. We would give this game a strong recommendation to anyone that enjoys the easy to learn, difficult to master gameplay that you typically find in an arcade game; PCE2 has it in spades. For 20 bucks, this one is a no-brainer.

Typoman remains a refreshing combination of platform-adventure and word puzzler, with a particularly creative use of words and letters as physical tools. It's undoubtedly spoiled by frustratingly clunky platforming mechanics and a lack of clarity in some of its design, but those after something a little bit different and cerebral should give it a spin.

Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory is an entertaining game with a good presentation and the new lane system gives a slightly different feel to fights (mainly used for short-term evasion) that works well. There's been a reduction in characters, but there's a good range leading to plenty of enjoyable fights. The Real Bout games that followed would build on this however, so although Fatal Fury 3 is a competent enough fighter, it's not a must download title.

SteamWorld Dig 2 is a wonderful sequel to the already impressive SteamWorld Dig, and this 3DS port of last year’s Switch release does not disappoint. Taking everything that was great from the original, and improving it even further, SWD2 can stand proudly near the top of the list of ‘must play’ titles on the Nintendo eShop. The Switch version of the game might just win the battle over its smaller cousin thanks to its graphical power and TV functionality, but we guarantee you will love every moment of this title no matter which platform you have at your disposal.

Wanderjahr TryAgainOrWalkAway hides a very competent and well designed strategy combat/puzzle game under the casual friendly visuals. Despite some struggle and grinding occasions that pop up now and then (one might even call some of the bosses overly unfair), the overall experience is very satisfying so even in massive defeat you don’t feel you were wasting your time. You will probably get the most out of this one playing it in portable mode with touchscreen controls, so make sure you have a screen wipe at the ready; even a single battle can lead up to hundreds of index finger taps on your Switch screen so tap softly... but tap decisively.

Membrane is a polished, tight and smartly designed single-room physics puzzle platformer wrapped around a unique audio/visual retro bubble. We haven’t been so pleasantly surprised with a game of the genre since the initial Wii release of World Of Goo. Despite failing hard to educate anyone on the human nervous system, in either portable mode or sitting in the sofa like the plot’s protagonist playing in on the big screen TV, this game is a surreal trip very much worth embarking. Just remember to humbly thank the next housefly that invades your home for this whole experience… at least before reaching for the daily newspaper or fly swatter.

Pool Billiard has to be one of the dullest experiences we’ve come across on Nintendo Switch so far. It functions in that it offers multiple games of pool to play, but it has nothing to serve up outside of that. This could have been somewhat alleviated by online functionality, but with no multiplayer in sight outside of a local match, you’re going to very quickly tire of playing against the AI. We strongly recommend waiting for a better pool experience to take on the go.

All told, Aqua Kitty UDX is a simple, satisfying arcade shooter that looks as great as it plays. It takes one concept, offers a few different angles on it, and ensures it fulfills all that it sets out to do. We’d give this one a strong recommendation to anyone looking for a game that’s easy to pick up and play, this is pure, arcade fun. This is also a one trick pony, though, which means that those of you that aren’t big on score chasing games will want to steer clear. Even so, Aqua Kitty UDX is a game that exemplifies the concept of less is more; we’d encourage you to give this one a look.

At times it can feel quite limited due to the way many hit balls end up in the hands of the opposition (and naturally it's not as fully-featured as games the followed in subsequent years), but it's still satisfying to hit a home run and amusing to watch someone chase after the ball only to then be sent flying by an exploding landmine.

A competent dirt bike game that will properly give you all the thrills of the real deal, in a fashion you can customize to your own liking. However, considering this game is priced as a full AAA experience, we can’t but think that all the content from the remaining versions that got cut from the Switch retail release is not enough to justify this version’s portable aspect. So buyers beware: you’re picking up a brand new dirt bike with several key components missing, which is a somewhat troublesome trend on third-party Switch releases.

A highly entertaining puzzle platformer whose general design and aesthetics meld together into something that is more than the sum of its parts. Although its potty-humour premise may not be for everyone and the cut scenes a bit ham-fisted and overacted, it’s the type of game that will suit just about anybody. Well, anybody that has another person on hand to play it with, as it is best enjoyed as a cooperative experience. Not too shabby for a game that has you cut the cheese but not the chord.

If you’re looking for something substantial in the gameplay department, Old Man’s Journey probably isn’t for you. Its main mechanic is neat, but it doesn’t build upon it and due to the lack of any surrounding substance, you’ll be left feeling short changed. But for those that connect with it, Old Man’s Journey will offer up a memorable experience that comes equipped with a meaningful message and a stunning graphical palette.

Standing out from the crowd with a unique, physics-based control scheme is all well and good but, by restricting its usage to just one simple idea, the game feels like it needs to be developed further to truly shine. The mechanics are undoubtedly interesting, and they’ll pique your curiosity at first, but after several levels players will be craving something new and that unfortunately never comes. Not a bad way to idly pass the time, then, but not something to shout home about either.

The main issue is that the premise of these types of games is too simple and repetitive by modern standards, something which is likely to put off newcomers. If you have fond memories of playing this in the arcade then you'll love this Switch port, but everyone else should take their time before making a purchase.

A unique combination of interactive fiction and involving RPG mechanics, Joe Dever's Lone Wolf is quite unlike anything else on the Switch eShop. Some occasionally fiddly controls betray the game's provenance, but those after a fresh adventure with a rich fantasy story will find a lot to like here.

Poignant and moving in both theme and execution, Fe is one of the most unique platformers on Nintendo Switch. Its platforming can be a little hit and miss, and its stealth feels a little too forgiving at times, but that doesn’t stop its world and the unique vocal premise from bewitching you with a dark and Gothic Nordic fairytale. While it’s not as groundbreaking as other dialogue-less games such as Journey, it’s still one of the most intriguing worlds to explore on Switch, and proof Zoink Games is more than just a one joke pony.

Nintendo Switch finally has its first great horror game in Layers Of Fear: Legacy. The creativity in its scares helps to keep you guessing about what’s around every corner, and even then, its unique set-pieces will most certainly surprise you anyway. Slightly lacklustre gameplay aside, the plot’s descent into madness, the title’s dedication to messing with your expectations to set up a scare, and the simple fact that this is a solid Switch port, means that this is horrific experience is one you won’t want to miss out on.

Mercenaries Saga Chronicles offers an awful lot of tactical turn-based strategy content for the asking price, but the dull storylines, repetitive gameplay, and absolutely identical nature of all three titles make us question the reasoning behind packaging them all together as a bundle. In their own right, each game will provide you with hours of well-designed battles, but we doubt many players will genuinely want to sit through all three games as they would be effectively playing the same game three times.

Frederic: Evil Strikes Back is a pretty 'by the numbers' sequel, and despite the (still quite low) track list being superior to the first, the characters, dialogue and presentation niggles still remain. There's plenty of personality to the tracks, and seeing Chopin go up against stadium rockers is strange yet amusing, but the satire and parodies from the first game miss the mark more often than not this time round. The visuals are still bold, and you'll have an enjoyable experience if you can overcome its shortcomings. While Deemo and even VOEZ are still the best of the genre on Nintendo Switch, Frederick: Evil Strikes Back's mix of interesting reinterpretations of classical compositions and sometimes charming art style are still worth a go.

The upside is that this is a finely crafted Metroidvania that oozes quality in almost every fashion, but the downside is that there just isn’t a whole lot to it. If you’re looking for a simple, straightforward open-ended platformer that’s easy to get into (or one that’s good for speedrunning), this is the game for you. If you’re looking for an in-depth experience that you can really sink your teeth into, this certainly isn’t. We’d generally give this one a recommendation - it’s a great ride while it lasts - but just bear in mind that it won’t last you long.