Easy Delivery Co. is not a perfect game. The resource management can grate, the cargo physics occasionally feel a little mean, and players wanting a more “guided” experience may find the laid-back structure a little too loose. But as a dip-in-and-out game, or something to play while half-watching something else, it absolutely works. More importantly, it has a very specific mood and commits to it. Somehow, delivering packages in a dark, snowy town has never felt so appealing.

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is the best cinematic to game adaptation I’ve ever played, one of the best stories the Indiana Jones IP has told, and one of the Switch 2’s most impressive third party ports thus far. The Switch 2 delivers this masterpiece nearly uncompromised. Its only the occasional stutter or low-resolution texture that gives away the game’s slimmed down form. Whether you’re delving into ancient ruins to solve puzzles, or introducing a nazi to the loving embrace of a sledgehammer, every moment of the Great Circle is absolute bliss.

MULLET MADJACK isn’t a game that asks for much. Pick it up, point your weapon at robots, and try not to blink too much. What it gives back in return is a relentlessly entertaining, aesthetically nostalgic slice of controlled chaos that somehow makes its repetition feel like a feature and not a shortfall. It's brutal, it's pretty silly, and it absolutely earns every second of your time.

Mouse: P.I. for Hire contains an excellent 6 to 8-hour game that's trapped in the body of a good 10 to 15-hour game. Despite its memorable, eye-catching art style, the lack of color ends up being another factor that makes the length less sustainable. Fortunately, excellent performances from the voice cast and compelling writing give Mouseburg a charming character all its own. Solid first-person shooter gameplay and unique bosses make it easy to recommend for fans of the genre, especially those who don't mind the extended experience. Switch 2 players may particularly enjoy mouse mode, a fitting way to play, but there is some stuttering in Performance mode, which aims at 60 fps. If you love a good trenchcoat-clad, heat-packing hero with a wit as sharp as his cheese, go ahead and hire this mouse to take a sharp-toothed bite out of crime.

Overall Constance is a consistent and solid action platformer. With a gorgeous visual style and satisfying combat, I’ve had a lot of fun across the board. While the boss battles can be a major spike in difficulty, it was the perseverance-mechanic and world design that kept me coming back. It doesn’t do too many things that set it apart from the other games in the 2D action platformer genre, but that’s okay. At the end of the day this is a beautiful title that uses both its themes and mechanics to tell an important story. I do not need all my games to reinvent the wheel. Constance is another standout within this particular genre.

Revelations in Celceta feels like the turning point towards the modern Ys titles because it's exactly that, and it ended up holding my attention more than any of the other Switch re-releases. It lacks the depth of movement abilities and character interactions that have come from Ys VIII through X, but it still manages to offer a very compelling adventure almost the whole way through. For anyone who missed playing an earlier version of Celceta or who just loves a solid action-RPG with fast-paced combat and movement, Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta is an easy recommendation. I’m hoping it won’t be long until we see Adol’s next adventure or revisit another of his old ones.

With a sea of brawlers out there, this isn’t one of the best ones, but it’s the only one that will offer you chocolate-covered pretzels after going to the bathroom. Snoogans.

ChainStaff is one of the coolest freaking platformers I’ve played in a long time. It’s just cool to dart around these vibrant levels with a neat grapple gun. It’s rewarding to toss your staff from across the screen to one shot a big enemy. It absolutely rules to throw down your staff to block projectiles and then climb up your staff to get to higher ground and lay waste to your foes. This is just a cool video game with novel gameplay mechanics and a consistently heavy metal style. If you came in here wanting another stellar Mommy’s Best Games distillation of classic 2D tropes, you’ll be satisfied. If you’ve never heard of Mommy’s Best Games before, sign up here for an incredible action platformer that will feel like a long-lost retro classic.

At the end of the day, I got what I wanted out of Marvel MaXimum Collection. I can play the arcade versions of X-Men and Captain America and the Avengers in the comfort of my own home. I can relive ‘90s video game rental memories with Arcade’s Revenge and the Spider-Man/Venom beat-’em-ups. I can look fondly on the disappointment that hit me when I played that Silver Surfer game as a kid for the first time. These games are all here with basically every relevant version of them on offer. It’s just relatively barebones aside from the X-Men online multiplayer (fingers crossed it works well) and in an era of Digital Eclipse documentary collection, the standard should be higher.

Virtua Fighter 5 R.E.V.O. (World Stage) is a fighter’s fighter from people who made such a fundamentally strong game and combat so deeply rooted in a style that strives towards realism over flashiness that it could be overlooked. But it is for exactly those reasons that this game whose original ports come from the Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 era feel as fresh and powerful as ever. This is a hell of a package at a modest cost of entry, and the best Switch 2 fighter to date. What are you waiting for? Fight me.

The Midnight Walk is an impressive feat. Creating this massive world, with these wonderfully bizarre fairy tales is nothing short of fantastic. This feels like a fully fleshed out world, with so much more to explore if they felt inclined on a sequel. That being said, performance on the Switch 2 in both docked and handheld did struggle at times, and lack of surround sound, which is present in other iterations of the game, is disappointing. I also found that the mechanics were just too slight, making for an all too breezy experience. I’ve been keeping my eye on The Midnight Walk for a while now and was not disappointed in the final presentation. It’s gross, and disfigured in all the best ways, and does amazing work with mixing animation, claymation, and film media to craft something truly special. This game is an accomplishment and one of the best arguments for games as an art form this year.

One look at Chico's Rebound tickled the 8-bit nostalgia strings of this ‘80s kid, but I found a surprising amount of depth the more I played. There's a light story and some cute characters, but these are window dressing for a challenging and satisfying block-breaking adventure that doesn't overstay its welcome. Even if you're only lightly interested in the genre, Chico's Rebound is a standout that's well worth a look.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits had long been on my radar as I held out hope for a future Switch port. It took the power of the Switch 2 to make that a reality, but there's no doubt that the fidelity of the visual experience was worth the wait. Bridge of Spirits isn't overly unique in its gameplay, but it compensates for that with a charming story and beautiful environments. Even in handheld mode, the game holds up well and the charm remains intact.

Minishoot’ justifies the case for being worth your time in spades. This one may fly under the radar for most, but I beg of you to look up from the new triple A hotness and enjoy this fantastic diamond in the rough–for all the retro feels that it invokes, but also for doing something wholly new. Top to bottom, Minishoot shoots for the stars, and lands among game of the year material.

Rotwood is doing a whole different thing from other roguelites I’ve been subjected to recently and it’s doing it well. I do feel like the game ratchets up in difficulty once you reach the second major area, at which point a multiplayer approach becomes more advisable, but you can also farm resources in previous areas to upgrade your stuff beyond whatever recommended level a given stage recommends. I still think the industry is oversaturated with roguelites, but Rotwood is one of the good ones.

At its heart it is a puzzle game unlike any other. You aren’t simply solving puzzles, but actively making choices and feeling their impact reverberate on the experience. The warning signs were there and they are true. Blue Prince can take over your life if you don’t watch out. But I say let it. Step into this manor over and over again. Get swept up in the mysteries of the Sinclair family and keep pushing forward. Whether you will stay long after the credits have rolled is ultimately up to you. But I can guarantee you that this is truly a unique game in every sense of the word. It will be the benchmark that future puzzle games will be measured against and that’s no small feat.

There is plenty of fun to be had with Shadow Tactics but be prepared for a lot of trial and error. Playing with the standard controller setup I found to be frustrating, and nearly caused me to put the game down. On the other hand, Shadow Tactics may just be the best argument we’ve seen yet for mouse mode on Switch 2. It is transformative to the point that I almost feel like the game ought to specifically recommend it to the player on startup. Underneath all of that is an interesting, though at times inconsistent, stealth game full of unique characters and scenarios. Just be sure to have a clear surface available mouse mode and plenty of patience as you whittle away at the challenge.

Tower defense as a genre hasn't really grabbed my attention as a Switch user, but Bean Beasts has made me think I need to pay more attention for potential hidden gems like this one. The steady drip feed of unlockables means there's always something new to try, especially if your tried-and-true tactics don't work on a particular stage, and the initial learning curve quickly gives way to a satisfying challenge that ebbs and flows across the various biomes, boss fights, and special levels with an endless number of enemies. Frequent but short loading screens are a minor nuisance, but they're worth the price of admission for this incredible entry in the tower defense pantheon. The name might not do it any favors, but don't judge these Bean Beasts by their cover. There's plenty of tasty meat on these bones.

The Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake houses a deftly created horror game. Mio & Mayu’s story is harrowing, and despite little preamble you quickly become invested in Mio’s attempt to save them from the telegraphed inevitable outcome. Entrapping spirits with your Camera Obscura is a smart design choice that is unfortunately bogged down a little by marathon battles, but the impeccable audio design, visual horror, and the world built by the development team shows a genuine love of the horror genre and papers over what issues I may have with some of the action. The world exploration and story beats have impeccable pacing. Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly is a horror game for the horror movie fan, and this remake is the ideal way to experience it.

Depending on how quickly you figure out the puzzles, you can finish the game in sub-2 hours. It’s short but impactful. While I would have easily eaten up more bomb jump challenges, Öoo feels complete as is. It’s a stunning, whip-smart Metroidbrainia. Öoo is a brilliantly brain-wrinkling puzzle game that belongs either above or up there with the inspirations NamaTakahashi lists in the credits (Bomb Chicken, Box Boy!, Celeste, Metroid, Yoshi's Island, Cocoon, VVVVVV). Öoo is what I want video games to be.

It only took a couple sittings to finish the 3 to 5-hour experience, but Ratcheteer DX makes for a good time nearly the whole way through. It’s well paced and introduces new tools regularly, all with two different functions or uses. There are some points of frustration, but none soured the adventure for more than a few minutes. If you enjoyed games like Minit or Master Key, you’ve got no reason not to dive into the underground and become a full-fledged ratcheteer yourself. Bonus points if you choose the pea soup color palette for maximum Game Boy nostalgia.

Scott Pilgrim EX feels less like a movie tie-in game and more like a fully thought-out and unique beat-’em-up. It’s a blast to play, whether you’re playing it solo, local co-op, or online. It might not be filled with replay value after you get through the campaign, but the pieces that make up the moment-to-moment gameplay can lead to a lot of different types of mayhem and challenge. This is an astonishingly stylish video game that sounds incredible, looks beautiful, and plays wonderfully. It’s worth fighting your way through evil exes to play.

In between fights, you slowly walk around the world, occasionally running into spirits that offer up quests, Scandinavian folklore, and really sweet-looking pixelized animations. It’s a dark quest that definitely tugged at some parent heartstrings as I played it, but the blending of all the different inspirations and styles coalesces nicely. The genre blend bingo has a nice prize at the end of it, even if it’s a little depressing and difficult.

If you have fondness for classic 2D games and are now a Disney adult, The Disney Afternoon Collection is a no-brainer. Even if you are just a retro aficionado, there’s still a lot of fun in store.

Small ties and influences to the original series for the seasoned vets, with enough new and ridiculous to hook the newbies. The Switch 2 version worked way better than I could’ve expected, especially with how the Switch 1 only had the cloud streaming version, and my well documented disdain for cloud streaming on the Switch. The Switch 2 has the juice y’all, and I plan to continue my journey by jumping into Resident Evil VIII Village soon after I’m done with this review. Maybe after a little break to calm my nerves.

The thing I really enjoyed about Lovish is that it’s just very surprising. Many of the cinematics are clever, there’s a set of late-game bosses and stages and directly reference many NES games from my childhood including Super Mario Bros. 3 and Bubble Bobble, among others, and you’ll occasionally find yourself playing a shockingly long minigame based directly on some old favorites. The cinematics might get old, and some of the Crowns are weirdly hard to find, but overall, I think this Lovish is a fun romp.

There have been plenty of reviews I’ve written over the years where I’ve said something to the effect of wanting to see a developer take a second run at something. Seeing the evolution from Fur Squadron’s simple half-hour long debut to Fur Squadron Phoenix's visually diverse and expansive campaign is incredible. The controls are still just a little stiff and there is perhaps a bit more repetition than is ideal, but it is hard not to be taken in by the charm. This is a great rail shooter that hints at even more potential for a third entry. If you’re looking for something to fill the perpetual Star Fox shaped hole in your heart, Fur Squadron Phoenix makes for a wonderful alternative. I can’t wait to see what this developer does next.

This is still a great version of a stone-cold 8-bit classic. It’s just weird. This likely won’t be the last time we see this happen with Hamster’s new Console Archives line of releases and if we do, hopefully it’ll be another situation where whatever direction you go in, you have a rad game waiting you on the other side, whether it’s the Console Archives or NSO version.

I was enthralled by the mystery and story of PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse. If you like mystery stories with a supernatural twist, I can recommend this game without any doubt. The cast of characters is a lot of fun, the ways in which the story unfolds are cleverly done and there’s even a dash of meta elements that make the game a lot more memorable. As a newcomer it has made me very excited to go back and experience the first game in the series.

While it ran well on the original Switch and actually benefits quite nicely from backwards compatibility on Switch 2, the technical improvements that come with a proper Switch 2 version are hard to ignore. The combat in particular really benefits from those higher frame rate options. The new content means there are fresh experiences here for returning players. It also includes all the costume DLC released for the original game. However, the lack of cross-progression does mean that you’ll have no choice but to start over. On the other hand, if you’ve yet to play Ys X, I can wholeheartedly recommend this version. While returning players do have to wrestle with whether the upgrade is worth it, new players should absolutely dive in without hesitation.

Under The Island didn't take long to sink its charming teeth into me as I had been itching for something a little lighter, both in tone and runtime, after making my way through a handful of long RPGs. Along Nia’s adventure, you end up encountering a variety of different gameplay types, including stealth sequences and arcade-style minigames, and so what has become a well-trod genre does feel quite fresh. If you're in the mood for a whimsical Zelda-like with some unique items and boss fights, the dozen-plus hours you can spend on Seashell Island are absolutely worth your time.

I’ve always loved the Just Dance series, and I’m super excited that now I get to share it with my child, who’s now just getting to the right age for games. Just Dance 2026 is more of the same that we’ve seen over and over again, but in this case consistency is a fantastic thing.

Lil Gator Game: In the Dark is just as cozy as the base game. Zipping around the island looking for cardboard monsters to smash and new friends to make stays wildly relaxing, but the lack of any challenges dampens the sense of accomplishment. The cool new moves don’t have much of a purpose, and the lack of a map can get one lost. Maybe that’s the point, to get lost playing with movement tech while you think your thoughts. If so, they nailed it.

Super Bomberman Collection showcases some of the best Bomberman gameplay the franchise has ever seen. If you have friends or family for local co-op or competitive play, there are a lot of options, stages, and features to explore. While I will continue to bang the drum for thoughtful compilation releases, of which this is definitely one, more online connectivity would have been a great addition to the package. Perhaps best enjoyed in short bursts, Super Bomberman Collection is the best Bomberman release since the Bomberman 64: The Second Attack!

Wanting something more compact after recently spending time with Yakuza 0, Kiwami 1, and Kiwami 2 on Switch 2, Dark Ties was a perfect encapsulation of what makes the series so fun and charming, without the bloat that can creep in from time to time. Mine's combat style is simple but fast-paced, meaning random street encounters with unfriendly Yakuza never lasted more than 30 seconds. It may hit differently if you choose to roll credits on Kiwami 3 first, but for what it is, Dark Ties represents a welcome pack-in and the type of additional content I hope we see with the next Kiwami remaster.

Xenotilt is fun but hard and a little too chaotic for my tastes.

The longest Dragon Quest is charmingly remastered and noticeably trimmed, but loses a bit of its heart in the process.

Dispatch is an unmissable interactive narrative for those who miss the glory days of TellTale’s Walking Dead series or enjoy the mature comic book worlds of Invincible or The Boys. I had no trouble ripping through the eight episodes and eagerly await the potential announcement of a second season. I found myself genuinely buying into the redemption arcs of your motley crew of villains-turned-heroes; it’s rare for a story to hit with basically every character, but Dispatch doesn’t miss in this regard. Even if it doesn’t go for an immediate follow-up, AdHoc Studio is now firmly on my radar for a genre I had fallen out of love with years ago.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins won’t be a sweeping epic story that lifts you off your feet. Frankly, you probably won’t remember much of its characters and story. It’s not going to be the best playing hack-and-slash experience ever. It’s a little more forgiving than some of its contemporaries, and you'll feel its looseness in the one-on-one skirmishes with generals. That said, Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a load of fun. The dynamic warfare, the tried-and-true grand combat, and substantially improved hand-to-hand combat made this the best Dynasty Warriors game without a Nintendo property carrying it on its shoulders.

This is a game that shouldn’t exist in most reasonable worlds. A few years earlier and the remake might be more benign. A few years later and there’s no way this game gets greenlit. We live in a world with Final Fantasy VII Remake, though. This is a game that bounces from deathly serious climate disasters and tragedy to crossdressing dance sequences and fighting demonic houses. Final Fantasy VII Remake is a deeply weird game, but it’s a deeply weird game with awesome combat, wonderful writing, incredible music, and a joyously baffling story. In the process of this bizarre journey to a remake of a classic, Square Enix also created one of the best Final Fantasy games of the last 30 years.

I’m truly at a crossroads recommending MIO - Memories in Orbit. On the one hand it is a gorgeous Metroidvania that you can immediately tell a lot of care and attention went into. This game’s visual design is without equal and that truly sets it apart from other titles in this genre. I love how the focus is a lot more on movement and platforming, especially embracing a more aerial approach that will have you performing jumps and tricks that most other games tend to leave behind for the latter half. On the other hand, the combat and overall design became quite frustrating for me to stick with it. Combat never feels powerful and versatile enough, in particular during the early hours, that you have an impact. Progression is slow and will require making deliberate choices on your build depending on the area or boss you’ll be tackling. It is a disservice to the beautiful world on display here that I was reset back to the start so many times and lost a lot of the meaningful progress I had made. MIO - Memories in Orbit is at odds with itself too much for my personal taste. But I also cannot deny that if you are a fan of this particular genre, MIO is one that should not be overlooked.

The game looks good graphically, with the ginormous cast of characters each standing out in their own way, and the soundtrack is a solid one as well. Eventually, I do hope to circle back to Trails Beyond the Horizon, with a nice full notebook and a character interaction chart that makes Xenoblade Chronicles X’s look small. The systems are fun to interact with - when they’re not trapping me in what is supposed to be a horror game - and I want to be able to fully follow what’s going on. Even if it takes me 700 hours across Switch 2, my PC, and a Steam Deck to get there.

It can be difficult to describe how comforting it was to simply go back and have another adventure without the need to reinvent. It's not that Metroid Prime 4 is exactly like any of the other Metroid Primes. Honestly, taken individually none of them are all that similar. Rather, Metroid Prime 4 just feels like another one. It doesn’t expect you to point and clap when Samus walks on screen. Metroid Prime 4 presents a world in which Samus never left.

I’m not sure which of the DLC campaigns for Pokemon we’ve gotten in the last 12 months I prefer, but they are similar. Both Mega Dimension and the Indigo Disk focus on double battles and high level combat plus bring in Pokemon that were hard-to-impossible to get on Switch before. Though I do like replaying the Indigo Disk, so the Z-A twist on the format is definitely worth grabbing after you’ve had your fill of the main game. Just remember to do all the sidequests first, since the first thing they advertised for Mega Dimension - the Mega Raichus - requires completing a side quest with another side quest as an unlock.

There are a few quality of life improvements for this version, including in-game achievements, ability to make save states, a rewind feature, all in addition to the new localization and port, but those are small things that just allow this game to shine. Milano's Odd Job Collection wasn’t localized in the past due to the concept of a cozy game like this being relatively niche in the West, and I feel like this will still be niche to a lot of people, but if you want to try an interesting blast from the past then I’d suggest picking up Milano’s Odd Job Collection. It’s not for everyone and the theming of being a child playing house would have been maybe more appealing to me when I was a child, but I really liked playing an older game with this much charm. I hope more games like this get a shot on modern consoles. There’s a world of interesting niche games out there to discover, and I’m glad I finally discovered Milano’s Odd Job Collection.

But when everything clicks together and you are on that skateboard, rolling down a slope through the underworld, Skate Story is truly out of this world. Performing tricks never ceased to look cool. Every time I crashed into a wall and shattered into thousands of pieces of glass it looked amazing. I would pick up my board and go again and again. Even the final devilishly difficult stages came together while that phenomenal score by Blood Cultures transported me away. There are some rough areas and structural issues that are hard to look past that are perhaps even more pronounced on the Nintendo Switch 2. But when I reached the credits and that original announcement trailer was playing in the background, I felt like I had come full circle. Experiences like this can be long-lasting even if they are a little rough, aren’t polished to a sheen, and occasionally show the screams from their creator. By the end I was left with this profound piece of art, something so utterly human. It is filled with love and passion, but frustration and despair, often stretching at the seams. I do not know Sam Eng, but I have a feeling that I got an insight into what he loves about making games. I may never be a skating game diehard, but Skate Story is a story worth sharing.

Up to this point, Capcom has been churning out a prodigious number of collections, many of them a hodge-podge of different lesser-known and cult classic hits. While their choices feel more like a potpourri, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection is like slices of pizza with different toppings. It’s a delicious meal, filling and flavorful, if a little redundant. Sure, there’s some anchovy slices and someone decided to bring a Hawaiian pizza to the party, but no one’s forcing you to eat it and there’s more than enough of the good stuff to go around. I have great reverence for this package and its cataloging of the Mortal Kombat franchise’s now humble origins. It’s a toasty good time.

I truly thought I was done with the world of Octopath Traveler after the second one, but this prequel blew me away with how it brought an excellent mobile-only story to the forefront and leveled up the combat, exploration, and structure of this RPG series into something far better than what came before. I have a few small issues, whether it’s the late stages of the town building questline or the lack of class changing for all characters, but those are ultimately small potatoes to the successes that echo throughout the world of Orsterra in Octopath Traveler 0. The eight-player combat rules, the vignette-esque storylines are fascinating, and the overall world building is top notch. This is one of the best traditional turn-based RPGs I have played in ages and it makes me excited for what might be next from the folks involved with this excellent adventure.

I am almost sure that there is a game for everyone in this collection. Whether you’ve been following Simogo since their mobile games, or only played Sayonara Wild Hearts, each of the titles on display is such a great encapsulation of what has made this studio so unique. It’s not just a documentary showcasing the history of the studio, but this is Simogo pioneering a way forward: presenting a path for the preservation and (re)appreciation of games made for mobile devices. These types of games, more than any other, are so quickly lost to the annals of history. But they are important in their own right and collections like these give them the respect they deserve. I simply had a fantastic time with the Simogo Legacy Collection. It is everything one can expect from a collection celebrating a legacy. My hope is that other studios are taking notes and can learn from what Simogo has achieved here.

Pound for pound, Marvel Cosmic Invasion is an amazing follow-up to Shredder’s Revenge, taking the smart nostalgic foundation of an old arcade license (this time X-Men, Maximum Carnage, and the like) and building it into a brilliant modern experience. The Cosmic Swap mechanic lets you play as more characters while adding a lot of depth and strategy. The lively spritework pops off the screen like it is a comic book come to life (it kind of is), emboldened by the stellar voice work and banger of a soundtrack. Cosmic Invasion rules.

Neon Inferno executes on all the toughest elements of its design flawlessly but occasionally gets tripped up in more traditional areas. Blasting your way through enemies before using a sword to deflect bullets into a sniper waiting in the background is extremely satisfying. But at the same time a poorly implemented alternate weapon system and badly paced checkpoints prevent Neon Inferno from ever quite hitting the heights it deserves to hit. That being said even with those occasional missteps it is hard not to get caught up in everything Neon Inferno has to offer. This is a beautiful throwback to some of the best of the 16-bit era that achieves something entirely original.

Ultimately, the DK Island & Emerald Rush DLC is a ton of fun and took me a lot of time to fully complete. DK Island may be lacking in substance but is filled with nostalgic bliss. I also found myself quickly addicted to the Emerald Rush mode and had a blast learning and strategizing along the way. While there are a few minor issues I still think it’s a solid addition to the base Bananza game and I highly recommend it to people that are in love with the mechanics Bananza and are looking for a new way to enjoy them within the same world.

Yakuza Kiwami 2 features a compelling cast of new and returning characters, chief among the unfamiliar faces being antagonist Ryuji Goda, who cuts a formidable figure and plays an excellent foil to gold-hearted Kiryu. While I enjoyed another romp through the small burrows of Tokyo and Osaka that feel now like a second digital home, returning to Kiwami 2 felt more in service of Kiwami 3, which will be here before we know it. The Switch 2 port is a serviceable one for sure, especially when considered against the PlayStation 4 version, and there isn’t a major sacrifice made to run around these punk-filled streets on-the-go. If you’re becoming a Yakuza collector or have never experienced the second game in the series, there may not be a better time.

The biggest test for me with LEGO Party has been longevity and I’m writing this review after having this game in family rotation for more than a month. It’s a hit, fully supplanting Mario Party. My oldest (7 years old) has played countless rounds by himself. We’ve played tons of rounds together as a family and LEGO Party has been a consistently fun time. I still don’t really know what the plot of Ninjago is, but I’m still having a blast playing this virtual board game.

Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a great package. Collectively I still think last year's remake of Dragon Quest III is stronger, but this is a fantastic companion and well worth diving into whether you've played the games before or just want to know the history and legacy.

I love that Katamari has not one but two new games in 2025 after more than a decade of remakes and little hope. It’s even better that the one on Nintendo Switch feels like the third game in a trilogy with the two original PS2 games (that are also available in HD remaster form on Switch). Once Upon a Katamari is a full-fledged fresh entry in a series that hasn’t had this kind of shot in the arm since HDTVs were a thing. Here’s hoping we get a more consistent drip of Katamari following this charming entry that largely understands why the first one was such a cult hit.

While it can be played perfectly well with a controller, the Switch 2 version does also have mouse controls, which are a great fit for all the scrolling and planting you need to do, in addition to GameShare functionality for the multiplayer modes. Its focus on being a remaster of the first Plants vs. Zombies means it doesn’t have all of the new plant types introduced in later sequels. Still, it’s a great tower defense entry point and a welcome reminder of how much we rely on Mother Nature, even during a zombie outbreak.

There’s still some structural issues with Persona 3, but it’s probably the most underappreciated member of its trilogy.

BALL X PIT is exemplary of what a great game should be. Combining simple to learn mechanics, with a lot of depth and variety into a strangely unique beast of a roguelike. Once it got its fangs into me, the game simply wouldn’t let me go. Above all what struck me the most is that it's a game that looks almost effortless in its brilliance. Yet, the attention to detail and the sheer amount of customization feels unexhaustive. I have gone back into this pit again and again over the last few weeks and I am still not getting tired of it. You’re even able to challenge your friends on leaderboards with the fastest time that can keep you engaged for long after you’ve reached the bottom of this pit. BALL X PIT filled a hole, or a pit if you will, for me that I wasn’t aware I had. The only thing I can do is keep crawling back out, shouting that others should join in, before I’m dragged back into its depths again. I don’t think I’ll be leaving the BALL X PIT anytime soon.

Blippo+ definitely isn’t for everyone, but I do think it is something that can be enjoyed by everyone. Whether you’re into FMV-like games or not, there is a spark of joy that can be felt in every program you come across. The overall story is fun and will keep you engaged over the six to eight hours of Blippo+ you’ll be watching. There is a variety on display here that is so rarely found in modern games of any type. The real stand out is that it shows a new avenue for what FMV-games can be about. Not just mysteries or dark tales, but fun and creativity are what drive Blippo+. There is no game like it I’ve played all year and is something that I will often be thinking about in the months to come. If you’re looking for a game that’s both passive and creative, you will simply need to tune in to Blippo+.

Platypus Reclayed is an excellently handled update that consistently delivers top notch visuals. It even includes the full original game if you’re feeling nostalgic. Level design comes with the occasionally odd difficulty spike in places, but in general provides a satisfying shoot-em-up experience. It doesn’t really push any boundaries in the gameplay department but handles the basics well. On very rare occasions the gameplay takes second seat to the visuals but most of the time they work together to create an memorable and enthralling journey.

There’s more to do after rolling credits the first time, but my main take away is just how good the combat feels and how gorgeous everything looks while you're doing it. Absolum is made by a team that understands how to make a great brawler, like Shredder's Revenge and Streets of Rage 4, so you can expect a similar level of polish and chops. I ended up clearing the game with every character because I was having such a good time, and with all the awesome games I still haven't played from September, that's proof positive that any beat-'em-up fan should absolutely be checking out Absolum.

At the end of the day I think there is an argument that Yooka-Replaylee is a more accessible entry point for this game than the original. But it is disappointing that I can’t say that more definitively. There are a lot of great quality of life updates but between stability issues and some questionable feature removal, it is hard to recommend this version without reservation.

I’ve never disliked the original game, but with a score of 7/10 it's clear that in 2018 I felt there was plenty for Castle of Heart to improve on. While it still isn’t perfect, Retold allows us to play this game likely as its developers always hoped it would be. While this is releasing as an entirely separate game from the original, anyone who purchased that 2018 Switch release can get a hefty discount on the Retold version, making it a very worthwhile upgrade. If you didn’t play the original, then I finally feel like I can very earnestly recommend this game. I wouldn’t have expected back then that Castle of Heart would loosely bookend my experience with the Nintendo Switch, but it has been a very pleasant surprise.

Candy Rangers just feels good to play. Simple clean visuals are accompanied by an incredible soundtrack that at times feels like a middle ground between Sonic Adventure and Pilotwings 64. The whole experience is buttery smooth and pretty snappy. This is a unique rail-shooter with a lot of legitimately new ideas that I’ve never seen elsewhere. There are some mild colorblindness issues to be aware of if that is relevant to you, and now and then progression feels a little padded, but it is hard to complain too much when Candy Rangers is doing so many new things and doing them well.

I’d imagine a lot of people going to this with ‘90s or ‘00s Nick nostalgia in their eyes could leave a little disappointed due to the overall simplicity, but this is an action RPG for the younger sect. More specifically, it’s an action RPG for adults with said nostalgia (and maybe some love for Diablo-esque games) to play with their children. It’s a serviceable dungeon crawler with a lot of love for the Nicktoons involved that is super cute and playful.

I went into Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac expecting a nostalgic trip through a delightful yet flawed 3D platformer of my youth. Instead I got a lovingly re-imagined overhaul that exceeded my expectations in every way. This is now just an excellent 3D platformer with no need for qualifiers. Level design is varied with a nice gradient of difficulty and one-off mechanics in nearly every level. Every good idea from the original has been preserved and everything around it has been improved. While it isn’t technically an incredibly long game, it is dense with content and replayability. The Switch 2 version itself runs great outside of a rare technical hitch. Last but not least, they credit the entire original design team. The biggest negative I can give to Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac is that it makes it very hard to go back to the original.

It will take me dozens more hours to see all of what Hades II has to offer, and that’s not even considering some specific endgame challenges it adds after you complete your first run. I am fully invested in squeezing all of the story juice from this delicious fruit, and that’s primarily due to how masterful the gameplay feels. Moving, dashing, attacking, and casting are all incredibly satisfying, and it’s rare to see any video game so skillfully combine gameplay with aesthetic and story. Without a doubt, Hades II lives up to its predecessor, and surpasses it in a number of ways. While it can at times be overwhelming in terms of collectibles and crafting materials, there are also so many ways to enjoy the experience, through options like God Mode and Aim Assist, or just grinding out in-game achievements and other unlockables. Ultimately, my first complete run through the first Hades signalled the end of my time with that game, but for the sequel, it felt more like I was just getting started.

If you recognize Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles as a labor of love, and the result of a desire to perfect an already formidable RPG, this release is a major achievement. It's not definitive, but there's no question that it's the best way to experience a seminal title in the tactics genre. Certainly, it could have opted for more graphically impressive visuals, but it opts for faithful over brave--classic over contemporary. And I'm good with that. The job class system remains a standout, and the plot–as heavy as it is–stands as one for the ages. There is no better time to hop on a Chocobo, and delve into an RPG of and for history. One of the most replayable Square Enix games has never been more worthy of the title.

Your overall enjoyment of Wizordum will depend heavily on what you’re looking for. It doesn’t do much to separate itself from other shooters of this style. It feels very much like a middle ground between Wolfenstein and Heretic. It does that very well and is fun to play, but I would have liked to see it bring in a few more unique ideas. Progression also feels a little flat. Each individual level is well made but I rarely felt like they were getting harder or more complex as I went. This is a solid and well made first-person-shooter, if not a revolutionary one.

No, you’re not going to get a substantive exploration of the politics of pandemics or a deep exploration of human nature, but there’s enough information littered about that at least paints a picture of people in the throes of their annihilation. The game does a good job of keeping some mystery throughout while unfolding the world at an effective pace. The combat is harrowing, and I could feel the pang of dread in most encounters. The game is workmanlike – it’s unlikely to dethrone your favorite survival horror–but there is a meaty and reasonably enjoyable experience to be had here.

Overall, it’s nice to see NBA 2K26 have feature parity on Nintendo with the best version of the game again. You have to make some concessions playing it on Switch 2 as opposed to PS5 or Xbox, but it’s still impressive for what it is on this platform. Even with longer load times and slightly lesser visuals, NBA 2K26 is a gigantic game packed with a ton of variety. You can shoot hoops in all sorts of ways. You can roleplay out your dreams of running an NBA team or try to carve out your path as a player, whether it’s in the NBA or WNBA. Hopefully this is the start of another dynastic run for the series on Nintendo platforms, because what’s here is great.

Upon completion I instantly wanted to jump back in for another helping. I could easily see level pack DLCs or a second iteration on a yearly basis, and I would gladly sign myself up. I even put this in front of my 70-year-old non gamer mother to enjoy. It’s that easy of a recommendation for all puzzle lovers, and at $9.99, it’s a steal. I’ll suggest this game to anyone in earshot. So I have to ask: is this seat taken? I have a game to tell you about that you’re gonna love…

This isn't simply an assassin's creed in a Star Wars coating. Outlaws carves its own path. It can stand among the lineup of not just great Star Wars games, but third person action games in general. It may not be revolutionary but what it does, it does so incredibly well. Back when I played it last year, I was already entertaining that particular opinion but revisiting the game on Switch 2 has convinced me of this. It's a shame that Outlaws was overlooked last year, but perhaps now it is time for a reappraisal of what Star Wars Outlaws is, rather than what it could be. I am genuinely of the opinion that in ten years we'll look back at Star Wars games and go: “you know what, this Outlaws game is pretty fantastic”. Just know that you've heard it from me first.

Particle Hearts isn’t a deeply complex game, but it balances what complexity it has in gameplay with an impactful story. I found it easy to simply sink into. I was always equally as excited to reach the next challenge as I was to unfold a little more of the story. There are moments that very genuinely hit and caused me to simply pause for a moment and absorb the storytelling. The world it creates is enchanting and against all odds holds up almost flawlessly on Switch. This is the level of narrative adventure that even with a few blemishes, I can’t help but fall in love with.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a charming and addictive breath of fresh air to the farming sim genre. I spend dozens and dozens of hours with the game and know that I could spend more if I wanted to. It adds new, fresh ideas to the genre while refining classic gameplay. While there are some elements I’d personally change, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is an easy recommend to anyone looking for a new farming game to sink their teeth into.

In a world where seemingly the vast majority of classic anime adaptations boil down to arena brawler after arena brawler, it has been wonderful to see Cobra get a more in-depth approach. What results is an enjoyable game that conveys the anime’s story not only in its cutscenes but throughout its level design as well. It is clearly a game made by a team with legitimate admiration for their source material. It has some small issues with enemy balance and a few minor presentational blunders, but it's hard to ignore the charm and passion that exudes from Space Adventure Cobra: The Awakening.

Overall, though, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is a charming and addictive breath of fresh air to the farming sim genre. I spend dozens and dozens of hours with the game and know that I could spend more if I wanted to. It adds new, fresh ideas to the genre while refining classic gameplay. While there are some elements I’d personally change, Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar is an easy recommend to anyone looking for a new farming game to sink their teeth into.

And Roger is a short game, but mostly because I was simply unable to put it down after playing through the opening chapter. Walking the tightrope between some of the darkest subject matter we can experience in life, toying with the expectations of the player and yet still showcasing the warmth and love of human connections during these dark times. It’s especially challenging to explain why And Roger is probably one of the most memorable experiences of the year. For a tale like this, to be told in this particular way just makes sense. It’s medium and message working hand in hand and building on one another. No fat needs to be trimmed, no minigames for the sake of expanding the time spent with it. And Roger might be another one of the perfect examples of why games aren’t just art, but elevate our conception of what art can be, and how it can explore our own humanity. Frankly, it’s a fantastic feeling to be reminded of every once in a while and I’d urge you to seek it out for yourself.

At a glance, Madden on Switch 2 isn’t visually impressive, but after playing a ton of the game docked and handheld (and also coming off of years on PS5), it plays totally fine. The load times are kind of long. Sometimes crowds load in weird. But the gameplay, easily the most important part, is not an issue. It’s evident to me that the team at EA Sports tried to do what they could to make a solid version of Madden early in the life of the Switch 2. It’s rough around the edges, but it’s the most feature parity a Madden game has had on a Nintendo platform since the age of the GameCube. I hope that, unlike Madden on 3DS and Wii U, we get to see EA Sports take another crack at bringing Madden to Switch 2 because the initial release captures the fun of the game and future releases could refine and improve all of the technical aspects.

Heretic + Hexen is a fantastic collection of one very good game and one absolutely incredible game. The added content both new and old only serves to strengthen these two titles. That being said the clumsy save system and somewhat limited options for how these games are presented on a modern TV do lightly mar the experience. Even a CRT filter would do wonders for translating the visuals at a higher definition. But given that the previous best way to play this on a home console was to dig out a Nintendo 64 or put up with compromised versions on Playstation or Saturn, this is still certainly an improvement overall. Hopefully down the road we can get the rest of the Heretic/Hexen series as well.

This campfire simulator is probably the most extra a game of this scope and type can be, and yet its focus on social elements makes it a delight to return to. Oink Games decided to try something very different here, but has remained true to their design philosophy. No, I did not think I’d recommend a fire-building simulator in 2025, but frankly this one ignited something in me that I wasn’t expecting. Now how long will it take for the true pyromaniacs to start speedrunning this game?

Take a moment to sit down, put on a headset, drink a cup of tea and get lost in this artwork. It’s something you’ll remember.

If you like short and comedic games then Time Flies comes highly recommended. You’ll have seen most of what the game has to offer in a few hours, but it has a high “Wait, I need you to play this game for five minutes”-factor that makes it a lot of fun to show to friends and family. It is rare that a game is so sharply tuned that I can be satisfied with having fewer levels to play through. Time Flies is such an easy recommendation to just about anyone who plays games. Your time with it may be short, but it is certainly well spent.

Obviously the simplest solution to get some Uchikoshi-helmed escape games would be if the Zero Escape trilogy were cleaned up a bit and brought out on modern Nintendo hardware. But in lieu of that, No Sleep for Kaname Date will probably keep you up for a bit as you try and puzzle through some of the nastier puzzles.

Donkey Kong Bananza tries a lot of new ideas, and the vast majority of them not only work, but revolutionize the idea of a 3D platformer. There are definitely problems along the way, and it is a long way from perfect, but I can’t argue with how much pure fun there is to be had in playing Donkey Kong Bananza.

I really love these games, so much so that I’ve completely ignored the otherwise fatal latency issue by playing them exclusively in Handheld mode. After all, isn’t the Switch 2 just a very large PSP? I do wish they’d built in auto-saves, but…I guess I can live with it. Your own mileage may vary on that point. Go forth and get your pata pon.

The undercooked mystery backdrop is a small blemish because they nailed the writing and character development. Even an underwhelming soundtrack can’t diminish the heart on-display through emotionally raw dialogue and facial expressions. Give yourself the experience of reigniting those moments that were powerful at the time but seem small in retrospect. Allow yourself to feel the volatility of teenage life through the eyes of Mark. Play Until Then.

Split Fiction is, in a lot of ways, the best this studio has ever delivered, but is still far from flawless in its execution. The plots from all previous Hazelight games have consistently been an issue and this game is no exception. Its tone and characterization are pretty flat, with a lot of cringe moments to take away from the experience. Fortunately, one thing this studio has learned is to keep the action moving, and providing tons of set piece moments to override any bad taste the dialogue could ever leave. The puzzle mechanics work well as long as you can communicate with your partner with patience and the set pieces are a rollercoaster ride of excitement. It also helps that this runs perfectly on the Switch 2. Split Fiction can really test relationships, but whenever a new Hazelight co-op adventure drops, I’m always down for the thrillride.

I admittedly thought Shadow Labyrinth was a dumb joke game when it was first announced. As Bandai Namco showed off the game though, it is clearly made by people who want to just make a fun game with the wild Pac-Man lore as a mechanical overlay. I had a blast exploring this dark corner of the Namco multiverse that is essentially Pac-Man’s mid-life crisis. Shadow Labyrinth is assuredly the most interesting Pac-Man evolution since the hero’s 20s. Sometimes the biggest series left turns wind up being a hell of a good time.

I thought I knew what I was getting into with Misc when it was pitched to me as a Chibi-Robo-like. In reality that deeply undersells what the game has to offer. The focus on shifting that design to something that more closely resembles a Mario 64-style 3D platformer is a match made in heaven. The constantly changing level variety and natural drive to 100% each area had me absolutely hooked. Now and then the platforming or level design would slow things down, but never enough to prevent me from pushing through to see what was next. Misc. A Tiny Tale is an easy early pick for my personal indie of the year lineup.

You can see everything the game has to offer in about two hours and I think that works in this game’s favor. It makes for a short, but (bitter)sweet experience that is a fun pick-me-up if you’re looking to waste some time in between other titles.

The slightly more detailed and enticing menus and buildings of New Shores made me fall a little harder for it than I did the original ISLANDERS. You still retain your overall score from island to island to shoot for a position atop the online leaderboard, and that “one more run” feeling is as strong as ever given the simple gameplay and the constant dopamine drip of numbers going up and card packs unlocking. ISLANDERS: New Shores is almost certainly going to enjoy a lengthy stay on my Switch’s home screen as a way to settle into bedtime vibes at the end of the night. It’s a fun, approachable puzzle sim that should hook fans of the original back in while also bringing even more people to these chill island settings.

I had some trepidation when Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 was announced. While the 1+2 remake was excellent, Activision’s track record with the series since the mid-2000s has been spotty at best. I’m thrilled that the skateboarding in this game feels just as good as it did 20+ years ago and that this goes beyond just a simple remake, with so many fun and enjoyable post-game challenges that builds off of the foundation. Something is lost in Tony Hawk 4’s transition to the 2-minute timer, but I still had a great time saving Painter Neal from the shark in San Francisco. And the quality of the original levels Iron Galaxy made makes me hopeful for the future of the series, whether it leads to a brand new game or an attempt at remaking Tony Hawk’s Underground. Regardless of whether or not you bring nostalgic baggage for the format from the fourth game, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 is an excellent video game that will keep you kickflipping and reverting to increasingly higher scores for a long time.

There’s nuance to the stories with some slight serious undertones that flesh everything out and the story is even funnier when you push the characters to hate you instead. It’s a top notch presentation, but for me personally, I’d do better with a more pared down cast as opposed to throwing in everything including the kitchen sink… their name is Sinclaire and they have a pet dog named Sudsy.

What ties Missile Command Delta together is the overall mystery and with that, the game becomes greater than the sum of its parts. The turn-based Missile Command adaptation wouldn’t stand strong by itself, but combining that with the bunker exploration, endearing characters, and generally strong writing makes a fun adventure that will make you consider an arcade classic in a new light.

Puyo Puyo and Tetris are still incredible puzzle games and the fusion of the two is oftentimes electric. The expansion of multiplayer via GameShare is awesome. Stll, the value and cost of entry for this Switch 2 game is a barrier for entry. This is a great game let down by the harsh realities of a new console launch.

I don’t think that Battle Train is going to hit the same level as some of the greats in the genre, but it’s worth playing just the same for fans of deckbuilding roguelikes to see something new and unique being done in that space. It’s funny, unique, and really, who doesn’t like trains and explosions?