Everything about Donkey Kong Country Returns is so fluid and smooth. Retro constantly surprises players with new game mechanics, striking set pieces and tons of Donkey Kong charm. This title is quite possibly the definitive side-scrolling platform experience for Wii.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles isn’t just a reminder of why the series as a whole is beloved, but also a reaffirmation that video games can be capable of so much more as an entertainment medium. Straddling the line somewhere between book and interactive movie, The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles takes players through case after case packed with wonderful characters, stories, and clever brain teasers. Although adventure games/visual novels aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, if you’ve been looking to try one for the first time or give them another shot, this is the game. The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is a blast.

Astounding.

Marshall Faulk is the perfect cover spokesperson for this instalment as he embodies what 2003 is for Madden: steady, reliable, accurate, excellent, abnormally good… need I go on?

The soccer and JRPG mechanics blend incredibly well together and make a fantastic hybrid for fans of both genres.

Hyper-intuitive gameplay, well-produced audios and visuals, and an extreme sense of style make for the greatest traditional fighting game of all time.

Everything that made Mario Kart 8 special has returned and been amplified, and the additions (including new characters, plus one secret one that I won’t spoil) make for an even richer and varied experience. Along with Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a must-have for Switch owners. It’s a party on a cartridge, but even played solo it’s a blast. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be played in perpetuity for many years to come, and will do a wonderful job of tiding fans over until the releases of Arms and Splatoon 2 (something I had doubts about — yeah, those doubts are officially gone). You officially have two games that make a Switch worth buying, so get to it if you haven’t!

Playing New Pokémon Snap filled me with a joy and excitement that I haven’t felt from a game in a while. Though it has its minor flaws, it really is an experience worth playing that offers gameplay you won’t find elsewhere.

Nintendo Land's strongest selling point, though, is just how easy it is to jump right into these games.

While I won’t spoil specifics for such a new title, Silksong racks up one great boss fight after another. Lest you think I’m just a boss junkie, yes, Silksong’s atmosphere, enemy layouts, enemy AI, platforming, storytelling, audio, art, worldbuilding, and sense of humor are all great too. Even if I do think the scope of structure get in the way of its action game virtues from time to time, it’s still one of the best 2D games this decade.

But at the end of the day, no other game offers the wealth of content for a mere $50; and if early indications live up to their potential, we'll all be playing Brawl for another six-and-a-half years.

Guitar Hero Live impressed me more than I can say, and though the game’s been out for almost two months now, I still play it almost every day, which is crazy, because I rarely have anyone else to play with– and multiplayer used to be a major selling point of music games.

Overall, it’s hard not to like what Full Metal Furies does. It’s a perfect storm of great ARPG gameplay, brilliant storywriting, and a lot of heart. At $19.99, it’s well worth the 15-20 hours of fun. If you’re looking for a true 1-4 player couch co-op brawler, this is a great one.

In other words, pick up Xenoblade Chronicles X and clear your schedule, because you have a whole new world to explore.

A great swan song for the DS. Its production values are stellar, the game plays very well, and is chock-full of some sweet content. Plus, it's literally as close to MegaMan Legends 3 that any 3DS owners are likely to get in terms of play, style, and overall feeling.

Death Road to Canada is a quality game with a good deal of depth, both with the characters and the gameplay proper. The developers have made something that is both familiar and different, both weird and understandable. It takes a bit of time to grasp everything it has to offer, but it’s a game that is worth coming back to again and again. Gamers looking for a roguelike action RPG will especially enjoy this 8-bit survival tale.

There’s no question. You must play this game, at least through the field training. It’s just so amazing.

No matter what, make it your business to download Half-Genie Hero on Switch today, as it’s not just the best Shantae yet, it’s also one of the best platformers on the system, period.

Kirby and the Rainbow Curse is a beautiful, creative, and fun-loving game that absolutely deserves your time and attention.

Animal Crossing Happy Home Paradise takes all that was innovative, fun, and satisfying from the original Happy Home Designer, fixes what made the game complete, and expands on the original game altogether creating a DLC expansion that, despite a few set backs, is well worth it for any owner of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

If you've ever loved a platforming game, you owe it to yourself to play Rayman 3, simple as that. This one's certain to go down as one of the biggest classics to ever hit the system.

On a conceptual level, the game speaks to Nintendo’s constant refusal to retread ground unless there are new ideas to share and new stories to tell. Maybe Nintendo held a revisit to Metroid II so close to the chest for all these years for good reason. I would like to believe that Samus Returns took so long to materialize because it was carefully considered, and set up to be a milestone for the franchise. Another era of Metroid is beginning.

Risky Revenge's soundtrack is phenomenal. Even with diverse settings, each music track complements the location you're in and seamlessly transitions into the next track as you travel the various locations.

Aesthetic and functional design, boundless creativity, fantastic soundtrack.

Whether you played the 2004 version of Mario vs. Donkey Kong or are just stepping into the series, I recommend giving this remake a go. It’s a fun game that feels great to play and offers a good challenge, and because it was a game initially made for GBA, it’s good for pick-up-and-play bursts. It’s also a nice change of pace from typical Mario games, and a great example of the sort of creative, unique titles that came out of the GBA era (and have aged well).

Palia is a wonderful game with so much potential. It does almost everything I wish other similar games had done, and really well. It’s easy to get lost for hours, so definitely make sure it’s your day off or something before picking this up. Also, make sure you have a stable internet connection. Since it is an MMO it unfortunately does not offer offline play, which is probably the only bad part of the title. I’m eager to continue the storyline as well as increase my skill levels and friendships with the NPCs. I highly recommend Palia to anyone looking for a new cozy game.

For all the time that has passed, Limbo remains a benchmark of the genre that few other games have come within sniffing distance of. It’s nearly unparalleled in terms of presentation and design, and this latest port to Switch has maintained everything about the game that makes it special. While some might lament the lack of any additional content, I wholeheartedly beg to differ. Limbo is a game that doesn’t need a single bit added, removed, or rearranged. It’s a classic in every sense and deserves to be played by as many people as possible.

Coupled with its simple story and addicting post-game play, one of the greatest triumphs of Dragon Quest IX is that it manages to be a serious role-playing game without taking itself too seriously.