Tokyo Scramble's interesting premise isn't enough to save the puzzle-action game from being one of the most frustrating experiences on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Marathon is a thrilling extraction shooter with satisfying gunplay, beautiful art direction, and tough-as-nails difficulty. It's a breath of fresh air in a packed genre, and one of the best games of the year.

Pokémon Pokopia is a cozy, creativity-encouraging sandbox filled with Nintendo's cutest mascot animals, offering endlessly fun ways to build and shape your surroundings.

Requiem wonderfully combines everything I love about Resident Evil's recent remakes and new installments, shining as a new, explosive entry that honors the series' 30-year history.

Combining an old-school 3D platforming ethos with modern indie innovation, Big Hops delighted and surprised me with its creative and sophisticated adventure.

Nioh 3 is a massive, thrilling action-RPG that masterfully expands the series with new combat styles, sprawling maps, and fantastical Japanese history.

Mario Tennis Fever is a must-have arcade sports game that wowed me by blending traditional techniques, power-ups, and fantastic, fighting game-like movesets.

With its reworked graphics and battle systems, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is the definitive way to play the beloved JRPG, though some of its mechanics aren't as revolutionary as they once were.

With its reworked graphics and battle systems, Dragon Quest VII: Reimagined is the definitive way to play the beloved JRPG, though some of its mechanics aren't as revolutionary as they once were.

Cairn combines limb-based controls, visually striking graphics, and a somber tone to create an original and moving mountain-climbing adventure.

More party game than a pure racing title, Kirby Air Riders takes everything that made the original Kirby Air Ride so beloved and builds upon it with more characters, vehicles, courses, and unlockable items.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a nostalgia-packed superhero celebration that features hard-hitting action, a wealth of comic book flavor, and a thrilling tag mechanic that sets the brawler apart from its genre contemporaries.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a nostalgia-packed superhero celebration that features hard-hitting action, a wealth of comic book flavor, and a thrilling tag mechanic that sets the brawler apart from its genre contemporaries.

Gorgeous, highly entertaining, and a thrill to unravel, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch 2 is the best single-player shooter in years and a triumph for gaming's coolest heroine.

While Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment seems familiar on the surface, it builds upon Age of Calamity's foundation, improving it in terms of graphics, performance, and combat.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A tweaks the standard formula to deliver more active monster catching and battling, but it takes place in a disappointingly boring city with little else to do.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a hard-hitting action game that's sure to satisfy genre enthusiasts, but it exchanges the franchise's complex combat mechanics for a simpler, more arcade-like experience.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is an excellent remaster of the classic tactical RPG that introduces many improvements while remaining true to the original core gameplay.

Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots is a highly entertaining sports game for casual players and simulation enthusiasts, even if its simplistic presentation leaves something to be desired.

Battlefield 6 reinvigorates the long-running series with chaotic and dynamic multiplayer gunplay that's sure to satisfy new and returning fans.

Hades II improves on nearly every aspect of its phenomenal predecessor with deeper combat and customization, a substantially larger world, and creative witchcraft abilities.

Silent Hill f is a tremendous new entry in the horror series that blends well-known hallmarks into something engaging, challenging, and wholly original.

Dying Light: The Beast is a return to form for the RPG series, but its exciting action and parkour are stymied by a ho-hum open-world design.

Although it can't match the thrill of a truly new entry in the series, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is an honorable and beautiful recreation of the original stealth masterpiece.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a near-perfect reintroduction to the classic Sega series, complete with an incredible art style, fast and stylish swordplay, and excellent platforming.

Drag x Drive offers a theoretically clever way to simulate wheelchair basketball on the Nintendo Switch 2, but unengaging controls and dull graphics negate much of the game's charm.

With Jamboree TV, the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Super Mario Party Jamboree gains even more wacky, if shallow, ways to enjoy multiplayer mini-game mayhem.

By swapping the little plumber for the big ape, Donkey Kong Bananza delivers a potent blend of action, creative level design, and environmental destruction that boldly reinvents the blockbuster Nintendo platformer formula.

Mario Kart World is a generational leap forward for the series, elevating familiar racing shenanigans with imaginative new modes and a huge map to explore as you see fit.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is one of Bethesda's finest releases. If you loved the original, rest easy knowing that Oblivion Remastered is almost exactly the same as you remember, now beautifully refined in the Unreal Engine. If it's your first time in this world, I encourage you to approach it with an open mind. Although dated in some ways, Oblivion is still one of the best open-world RPGs ever made.

Featuring many beloved titles and new accessibility and graphics options, Capcom Fighting Collection 2 is a fantastic addition to any retro fighting enthusiast's library.

Featuring many new ways to slaughter hordes of demonic foes, including an incredibly potent new shield mechanic, The Dark Ages isn’t just the biggest Doom game yet—it's the most welcoming to newcomers.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a beautiful RPG with exciting combat, excellent voice work, and a fantastic score, but design constraints may turn off genre fans seeking a grand adventure.

City of the Wolves resurrects the long-dormant Fatal Fury series using rich offensive and defensive combat mechanics, a cool comic book-inspired graphics style, rollback netcode that enables dependable online play, and an RPG-like mode that sees you leveling up characters while braving South Town's mean streets. It's a top-tier fighter and developer SNK's best combination of gameplay and presentation since the beloved The King of Fighters 13.

South of Midnight is a fun and charming action-adventure game that features a beautiful, unique, and tear-jerking world steeped in Southern gothic folklore.

The First Berserker: Khazan is an action-RPG set within Nexon's Dungeon Fighter Online universe that pivots from the franchise's beat 'em up roots to embrace weapons-based, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice-like action. However, the game stands apart from its inspirations by leveraging cool anime-style aesthetics and environments filtered through stylized comic book shading.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition arrives on the Nintendo Switch with new gameplay mechanics, updated graphics, and a fresh story chapter. The sci-fi RPG still has lingering issues, but it's easier to love and a treat for series fans.

Whisker Squadron: Survivor blends classic Star Fox gameplay with modern rogue-lite flourishes for a short yet stylish indie rail shooter.

Monster Hunter Wilds' superb polish and gameplay refinements have the potential to elevate the iconic action-RPG series to new heights.

Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii takes almost all the parts of previous main games, adds ingredients from other Like a Dragon titles, and blends them into a fresh swashbuckling adventure.

Wuthering Waves distinguishes itself from rival free-to-play action-RPGs by featuring clever, hard-hitting combat and terrific climbing and parkour abilities that encourage exploration.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered introduces two cult classics to contemporary audiences, but some outdated game design elements might prevent it from finding a home with anyone besides die-hard series fans.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has the presentation and adventure chops to charm newcomers and nostalgists alike, but a handful of safe and stale gameplay elements keep it from excellence.

Zenless Zone Zero delivers adrenaline-pumping action with gorgeous visuals and art direction, but it lacks meaningful exploration.

Lego Horizon Adventures is a fascinating remix of Sony’s open-world juggernaut that ditches vast exploration in favor of snappy, flashy, kid-friendly combat.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership is the plumbers' first RPG outing on the Nintendo Switch, and it's an adorable and merry high-seas adventure filled with side quests.

Pokemon TCG Pocket is a faithful mobile card game adaptation that’s better for shiny digital collections than thrilling monster battles.

Super Mario Party Jamboree introduces an array of new content, modes, and options to push the Mario Party foundation as far as it can go.

UFO 50 is a fantastic and fascinating collection of 50 genre-spanning games from acclaimed indie creators, a project as ambitious as it is generous.

Dead Rising is back from the dead with a remaster that completely overhauls the visuals and brings other improvements to the 2006 classic.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom gives Princess Zelda a starring role, combining new and classic elements to deliver an inventive title that's one of the most delightful in the series yet.

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics lovingly bundles several superhero fighting games in an excellent package featuring contemporary conveniences.

Astro Bot breaks from its tech demo roots to become a wildly entertaining, modern 3D platformer that stands out as a top PlayStation title.

Concord is a decent shooter with rock-solid mechanics and AAA visuals, but that’s not enough to attract an audience to yet another live-service game. As is, it’s a fine release, albeit one that feels like it was pumped out of a boardroom algorithm. If you’ve got $40 to spare and aren’t hung up by comparisons to similar shooters (like the free-to-play Destiny 2, Valorant, and the upcoming Marvel Rivals), Concord is a fun time, flaws and all.

Visions of Mana is a charming action-RPG that celebrates the spirit of its 2D predecessors thanks to its liberating exploration and wonderful visuals, but it lacks some gameplay polish.

Star Wars Outlaws admirably attempts to simulate the sly space scoundrel life, but it quickly gets lost in a galaxy of frustratingly outdated gameplay and uninspired open-world bloat.

Black Myth: Wukong draws from the iconic Sun Wukong mythos to deliver an action RPG packed with satisfying action and dizzying magical variety, set in a delightful world.

Though it takes time and skill to master, Cygni: All Guns Blazing is a satisfying arcade-style shoot 'em up that only gets better with replays.

Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition for the Switch valiantly tries to evoke the speedrunning spirit of Nintendo's real-world, 1990 competition, but the challenges are too flimsy for a 2024 release.

Alan Wake II: Night Springs is a terrifically twisted, episodic DLC collection for one of 2023’s best video games that recalls Rod Serling's Twilight Zone.

Harold Halibut has an impressive story and art style, but it lacks the strong gameplay hooks to keep all but the most patient players engaged.

Star Wars: Hunters places a basic intergalactic skin over a generic F2P team shooter, but there’s fleeting fun within those modest expectations.

The Nintendo Switch remake of Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a fantastic Mario RPG that's every bit as good now as it was on the GameCube.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is essentially an interactive arthouse action movie that combines potent gameplay elements with a visceral psychological journey.

Endless Ocean Luminous offers pleasant deep sea exploration on Nintendo Switch, but the fish photography goes from soothing to boring far too often.

Another Crab’s Treasure may not convince soulslike skeptics, but it's a lovingly executed underwater take on the challenging genre.

Stellar Blade is an excellent PlayStation 5 action game that blends tight defense and stylish combat in an impressive post-apocalyptic package.

Tales of Kenzera: Zau builds upon the Metroidvania formula to deliver exciting action, emotional storytelling, and African cultural specificity.

Princess Peach: Showtime! is a colorful and fun Nintendo Switch platformer that's best suited for young gamers.

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection's fun single-player missions can't elevate the beloved series above its many crashes, busted multiplayer lobbies, and outdated presentation.

Rise of the Ronin offers an enticing, streamlined take on complex Team Ninja action, but it will prove somewhat disappointing if you're a fan of mechanically rich combat.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 builds upon the gameplay and themes of the original to create a sprawling, open-world RPG packed with thrilling combat and captivating exploration.

Penny's Big Breakaway combines retro gameplay with modern indie innovation to create a stylish 3D platformer that plays well and radiates creativity.

Unicorn Overlord is a rewarding, highly strategic RPG that highlights developer Vanillaware's gorgeous graphics style.

Splatton 3: Side Order is DLC that injects fun, roguelike freshness into Nintendo's inky third-person shooter.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth builds upon its predecessor for a brilliantly polished behemoth of an RPG that belongs in every PS5 owner's library.

Helldivers 2's thrilling action, absurd humor, and surprisingly fair monetization practices make it one of the best PlayStation 5 multiplayer games.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a serviceable Nintendo Switch remake of an excellent Game Boy Advance puzzle-platformer that could use more content for its price.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League's excellent presentation, exciting story, and offbeat humor are brought down by repetitive missions, dull enemies, and tacked-on looter-shooter grinding.

Persona 3 Reload is the best way to play an incredibly influential classic RPG, but it doesn't fix the problems that were improved in later games.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is packed with the absurd humor, crime drama, and mini-games you expect from the JRPG series.

The Last of Us Part II Remastered is an excellent update of a recent classic that adds fresh features for new and returning fans.

The thrilling Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown features skillfully designed mazes, dynamic combat, perfect movement, and clever temporal abilities that make for a welcome series return.

Football Manager 2024's improvements make for a notably more realistic simulation with new front office options, set piece coaching, and a superior match engine.

Lords of the Fallen subverts its Souls-like expectations by delivering an engrossing dual-world gameplay system, though its performance leaves something to be desired.

Super Mario RPG for Nintendo Switch is a great-looking and faithful remake that brims with the original release's charm and wonder.

Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name is another excellent entry in the Yakuza/Like a Dragon series, one that's packed to the gills with crime drama, oddball humor, and many mini-games.

WarioWare: Move It's motion controls inject creative chaos into an already bonkers formula that's great for friends and parties, even if the high wears off a little too quickly.

Angry Birds VR: Isle of Pigs drops classic Angry Birds gameplay into virtual reality, making it a fun diversion for its intended younger audience.

Separate Ways is an action-packed send-off to the Resident Evil 4 remake and a must-play update for new and returning series fans.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder takes the 2D side-scroller in a fresh direction thanks to reality-bending Wonder Flowers that add fun gameplay-changing effects.

Assassin’s Creed Mirage is a smaller, tighter title than recent series entries, which results in a fun but relatively uninventive gameplay experience.

Thunder Ray is a fun but brief take on arcade-style boxing with a cool sci-fi spin that separates it from its inspirations.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is an incredibly polished sequel that perfects the previous games' combat and delivers new, exciting ways to traverse New York City as you beat up bad guys.

Phantom Liberty is an excellent expansion to Cyberpunk 2077 that delivers a rich, polished bonus act to the dystopian RPG.

Sea of Stars is a vibrant, beautiful RPG that's packed with gameplay conventions from yesteryear, but it has enough flair to stand out from its inspirations.

Detective Pikachu Returns is a decent, though bland, introduction to adventure games that's elevated by its off-kilter use of the Pokémon franchise.

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons is an entertaining beat 'em up with many unlockable characters, but its relatively long load times and inconsistent difficulty make for an occasionally frustrating brawling experience.