Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a cute and captivating game, though it could do with a little refining. Fly your days away delivering packages, boxes, and bags while fixing up your broom, and get back to your witch training.

Magical Delicacy brews up the perfect mixture of Metroidvania exploration, cozy game farming, and narrative intrigue to keep you hooked. You’ll easily spend hours helping Flora in her quest and enjoy every second of it.

Underneath its unique plot device, Elrentaros Wanderings is a fairly standard JRPG, with interesting build mechanics but a severely lacking overworld and overarching story.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunter finds a rightful place on the Nintendo Switch with a welcome update to its once-awful control scheme, vibrant visual sheen, and an engaging story for hardcore fans and newcomers alike.

F1 Manager 24 gives Nintendo Switch owners a best-in-class racing sim with detail rich gameplay and great player freedom.

The Star Named EOS offers a lovely experience filled with puzzles of differing difficulty, on a background of hand-painted art and a delightful piano-filled soundtrack.

Zenless Zone Zero is an electrifying urban ARPG fuelled by fluid, fast-paced combat, quirky characters, and gripping gameplay. A departure from Hoyoverse’s usual M.O., it pulls you into a fresh yet familiar futuristic world, blending threads from different genres into a truly unique universe.

Tavern Talk is sure to soothe your appetite - this talking sim with a drink-making minigame runs excellently on Switch, and introduces a delightful cast of vibrant characters that eagerly order menu items to match every taste. No matter your build, you're sure to savor this gem of an indie game.

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a wonderful remake that improves on the visuals, soundtrack, and controls of the Nintendo 3DS original. It doesn’t quite reach the heights of the first or third game in the series, mainly due to the back-and-forth of mission-based gameplay and some samey specters, but it’s still well worth playing for fans of Luigi’s ghost-busting antics.

Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble is a fantastic new instalment, taking the visual style of Sega’s long-running series to new heights. It takes a while to dial up the challenge, but thanks to smart design, it’s welcoming to newcomers and Monkey Ball veterans alike.

We had a ribbeting time with Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge as it offers a wholesome story with a goal to work towards - restoring the wetland and welcoming plenty of amphibians back to bask in nature.

Paper Trail provides a refreshing addition to the puzzle game genre, giving us head-scratching levels to work through while following the story of a young girl leaving home for the first time. While the puzzles might not be to everyone's taste, it's a lovely little entry to the Switch's library.

Despite a somewhat rocky launch, Wuthering Waves introduces us to an exciting new world with plenty of potential, where dodge mechanics make for incredibly fun combat, and engrossing exploration keeps us coming back.

Living up to its name, Pine Hearts is a thoughtful and emotional nugget of joy. Its welcoming atmosphere encourages curiosity and play, while not being afraid to tackle some of humanity’s most difficult emotions.

Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door is a lovingly crafted remake that brings all the fun of the original while including some helpful quality-of-life updates that do away with tedious traveling. There’s a reason this game is a fan favorite, and this enhanced version lives up to all the expectations.

Biomutant’s vibrant, post-apocalyptic setting simply does not translate to the Nintendo Switch. Pair this with convoluted combat, shallow morality systems, and a suspect blending of Asian cultures, and you get a very unenjoyable gameplay experience.

Little Kitty, Big City is a purr-fectly charming game with oodles of personality. Short but incredibly sweet, it invites you to explore a metropolitan playground through the eyes of a curious kitty in the most delightful way. A must for cat-lovers, and a meow-gical time for gamers of all ages.

Vampire Survivors can still do no wrong, and the Operation Guns DLC is an awesome addition that adds hours of playtime to an already engrossing game.

Solo Leveling: Arise takes an established IP and gives it the videogame treatment it deserves, immersing you in the tension and conflict of Sung Jinwoo’s reawakening as a Hunter. It looks great, it’s satisfying to play, and it’s not gatekept by heavy-handed microtransactions or battle passes.

While the fishing core of Moonglow Bay might be a little lackluster, and exploration is underwhelming in places, there’s still a good time to be had with this cozy narrative-driven experience that touches on grief, loss, and new beginnings in a way that is almost certain to make your heart stir.

Endless Ocean Luminous is a welcome return to the series. It offers a fun story mode, enjoyable multiplayer, and an abundance of creatures to discover. However, the repetitive nature of the game may begin to wear on you after a while.

Botany Manor lets me live out my dreams of being a horticulturist, discovering wild and wonderful plant types from across the world all from the comfort of my own home.

Wildfrost is a brilliant little deck builder that manages to both frustrate and charm in equal measure. Its magnificently moreish yet maddening gameplay loop makes it a perfect fit for mobile, and its intuitive yet punishing mechanics offer heaps of replayability, making it well worth the premium entry fee.

South Park: Snow Day is an enjoyable experience that offers something a bit different from previous entries, Stick of Truth and Fractured but Whole, through a hack ‘n slash-tyle combat, card-based powers system, and the ability to go on a hilarious adventure with your pals.

Princess Peach: Showtime turns the Mushroom Kingdom’s monarch into a digital Barbie, filling any role she’s given with personality and charm. Some levels place you on the edge of your seat, while others leave you praying for the interval. A very good game for a highly specific demographic - adult Mario fans, be warned.

While the campaigns are nostalgic and fun to revisit, the Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection is largely disappointing. The multiplayer mess feels inexcusable, robbing players of the basic fundamentals of a Star Wars multiplayer game. Not being able to finish matches due to crashes, struggling to even get into a game, and a lack of servers make this one of the worst multiplayer experiences I’ve had for some time.

Warhammer 40K Dakka Squadron is made by people who clearly love 40K, and Orks. But, while that leads to lots of initial fun, the game can eventually wear thin with repetitive levels and an incredibly dated aesthetic.

Mediterranea Inferno is a must-play visual novel that explores the intricacies of generational trauma, queer subculture, and our sense of connection in a post-pandemic world with nuance and without shying away from the gorier aspects of the human experience.

Ex Astris is a truly impressive premium mobile RPG that really breaks the mold. Nostalgic yet fresh, this brilliant little gem combines a stunning world, deep lore, lovable characters, and an intricate turn-based-meets-real-time combat system, making for a truly striking experience that is well worth the entry fee.

Cavern of Dreams is the game Spyro fans have been waiting for. It’s an adorable game that throws you back to the N64 and PlayStation era for games, featuring a simple but sweet story, fun platforming segments, and cute world design.

Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story succeeds in bringing one of Runeterra’s “least developed parts” to life in a charming, vibrant, and cozy package that’s suited to both long-time LoL fans and newcomers alike.

Spirit Hunter: Death Mark II is a ghoulishly gripping horror visual novel that sets out to spook you at every turn. Featuring a fine blend of familiar and fresh gameplay elements, spine-chilling spooks, and heart-wrenching horrors, it’s a brilliant continuation of an already outstanding series, and a real masterclass in supernatural storytelling.

Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore captures the intended retro charm with expert authenticity, warts and all. There's a great deal of energetic personality here, and the gameplay is straightforward fun, though the experience is slightly undermined by a lack of polish... but perhaps that's the whole point.

While it takes its time to build momentum, once it clicks with you Mario vs Donkey Kong is a rewarding and enjoyable remake, and another win for the Mario franchise. The simple gameplay gets deceptively tricky, and is supported by wonderful visuals: just make sure you stick with it.

While the controls and combat can be frustrating at times, this is due to the Tomb Raider I-III Remastered collection being the faithful trilogy of remasters that it should be, allowing you to revisit where the iconic franchise all started.

Yes, Your Grace loses nothing in its port to mobile, retaining its enthralling atmosphere and narrative, driven forward by straightforward gameplay. You'll spend countless hours in the kingdom of Davern reflecting on your tough choices, while soaking in the wonderful design of the game.

Lil Guardsman offers an intriguing and easily completable puzzle, wrapped in a cartoony art style with superb script writing. Let yourself become the gatekeeper of the city and decide the fate of all the visitors flocking to the Sprawl, and the city itself.

Prince of Persia makes a solid comeback with The Lost Crown, embracing the Metroidvania genre and giving fans a world full of adventure and danger. The intriguing story, characters, and lack of bugs are just the cherry on top of a lovely sundae.

Born of Bread is a fun and endearing 2.5D adventure game that features some of the most forgiving, yet fun, combat I’ve come across. The story is fun, the characters are engaging, and I can’t help but consider this to be one of the better games I’ve played in 2023.

Black Clover M: Rise of the Wizard King is one of the best mobile games to release this year, offering new and old fans alike a fun-filled experience in a magical world with an engaging story, enigmatic characters, and theatrical combat.

Hitman: Blood Money Reprisal offers a way to play a classic Agent 47 experience on mobile with fantastic touchscreen controls and a few gameplay improvements. While the graphics are not as impressive as we might like in 2023, it’s still worth picking up for fans of the series and those wondering why the original is still so well-regarded all these years later.

SteamWorld Build offers fantastically moreish gameplay in a sandbox city-builder package, set in the well-loved SteamWorld universe. Fans of the franchise will definitely like this entry, along with newcomers, and anyone who enjoys building up a sprawling city from the ground.

In Stars and Time is an RPG classic waiting to happen. This game asks new questions of the time loop genre, all while developing a loveable cast of misfit heroes and a mysterious fantasy world that you’ll want to stay in forever.

Spirittea is a truly enchanting blend of life sim, management sim, and RPG, with a vibe reminiscent of Spirited Away and Stardew Valley combined. With its charming world, engaging gameplay loop, and celebration of East Asian culture, it’s hard not to fall in love with this slice of rural heaven, flaws and all.

The Super Mario RPG remake delivers a finely tuned reimagining of the incredible original with welcome updates to the turn-based battle mechanics. If the 1996 version was the best Mario RPG game to date, this remake goes one better.

Though the Phantom Thieves’ journey never seems to end, you can’t deny the games are good, and Persona 5 Tactica is no different. Play as Joker and co in a different setting and stretch those strategic muscles across challenging and fun stages, wrapped in a delightful story.

Fashion Dreamer is the next evolution of Nintendo dress-up games, boasting creative and robust online features, adorable character design, and near-endless customization options for the style-conscious gamer.

My Time at Sandrock is a potentially delightful farming and crafting-based life simulator – but unfortunately, your time at Sandrock on Switch is a little half-baked for now, but has promise if updates can bring it up to speed.

WarioWare: Move It! is a festival of frantic fun, offering the sort of minigame madness we’ve come to expect from the series. However, the reliance on standing poses presents something of an accessibility issue, and one the game has little answer for.

Star Ocean The Second Story R is absolutely stunning and could be the best-looking game of 2023. With a gorgeous 2.5D aesthetic, timeless story, and the ability to play the way you want with a range of skills, this is a great entry for new fans to start their Star Ocean journey and a faithful remake for existing fans to return to.

A frightful delight, FNAF Security Breach allows you to fully explore the Pizzaplex for the first time, featuring tense boss fights, fun exploration, and jump scares galore, it’s a solid addition to the videogame series and gives hope for a bright future.

A wholesome story full of laughter and love, fanatics lore, enamoring environments, and likeable characters all come together to make Song of Nunu one of the best LoL games to date. Unfortunately, performance issues on Nintendo Switch mean it’s not the optimal platform for the game.

Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery bundles all three of the amphibian’s adventures together in one neat package, offering humor, intrigue, and a fun story. It might just be the best $20 you spend this year.

Hollow Knight is an incredible achievement that combines smart game design, a rich world, and sharp combat, with an enthralling insectoid world and a story just begging for you to find it. Team Cherry’s title is a high watermark for Metroidvanias, as the satisfying abilities and countless collectibles add variety and meaning to exploration, rewarding every discovery. Yet, while the challenge is a rewarding part of the process, I do wish that the title made some concessions and shone a bit of light in the darkness for those first fledgling steps.

World of Horror is an ambitious and impressive little horror gem that reads as a love letter to the works of Junji Ito and Lovecraft. Revolving around gorgeous retro vibes, twisted tales, and RNG-fuelled gameplay loops, it’s a morbidly moreish experience that’s hard to put down.

Mail Time shrinks you down and immerses you in a beautiful cottagecore wonderland, but its tricky platforming and dizzying navigation make for an experience that’s sometimes cozy but mostly confusing.

A frankly phenomenal attention to detail, alongside a variety of interesting additions to level design, powers, and the brilliant new badge system, make this Mario’s finest outing in a generation. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is pure Nintendo magic, and an A-Team of veteran Nintendo talent with a fresh injection of younger developers is responsible for the most refreshing, satisfying, and addictive Mario game since Super Mario World. This is the Mario game the Switch deserves and the start of Mario’s new legacy.

Vlad Circus: Descend into Madness is a deeply atmospheric survival horror game with a hefty dash of puzzles to keep you engaged. Its twisting tale, tragic characters, and deeply hostile yet claustrophobic world sucks you right in from the beginning, and while it may not be for everyone, I’ll never forget my time at the circus with Lazy Ollie and pals.

Despite a couple of performance issues, the intriguing story, good character design, and consequences to your actions mean that Little Hope remains a solid horror game for you to enjoy on Nintendo Switch this Halloween.

Detective Pikachu Returns brings you back to Ryme City to solve crimes once again. While there’s a cute story and some light-hearted fun, the visual quality and price of the game let it down.

Poppy Playtime Chapter 1 ushers in a new era of horror games, though it remains true to iconic tropes from the genre, thanks to its use of jump scares and puzzles. Unfortunately, on mobile the game suffers from some performance issues that may hinder your time with the game. Still, the atmosphere and story are enough to keep you hooked. Or, you could play it on PC, where we would score it higher than a seven.

Chucklefish builds on a rock-solid foundation, and Wargroove 2 manages to both iterate and innovate in a satisfying manner. Coupled with the smart challenge of Conquest mode’s rogue-lite offering, riveting online multiplayer, and a truly intimidating wealth of creation tools, this just might be the most impressive package of any tactics game on Switch. Hopefully, a few updates can address the very few bugs and UI issues we aren’t quite as fond of.

Paleo Pines is a delightful, dino-filled romp through the farming sim genre that skillfully blends real paleontology with cutesy, cottagecore aesthetics and motifs. It’s a little wobbly on the Switch but it’s still full of wholesomeness and charm.

EA’s flagship soccer series has finally found its feet on Nintendo Switch, pushing the console to its limits to deliver something that feels like it’s made for 2023. There’s no crossplay, and some of the off-the-pitch graphics are a touch primitive, but for raw soccer gameplay, there’s nothing better available on Nintendo’s smash hit console.

While James might be a little stiff on his Apple Arcade debut, the experience and design of this game provide some authentic 007 hijinks in a world that true fans of the series are sure to appreciate. Considering it’s free to play for Apple Arcade users, it’s worth trying out if you’re a fan of stealthy titles like Metal Gear Solid or Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell.

Silent Hope brings classic isometric JRPG dungeon crawling into the modern age with its adorable characters, slick combat, and heartfelt narrative about protecting the people we love. The seven protagonists and hundreds of potential load-outs offer endless ways to play and replay this magical story.

Mineko’s Night Market is a truly charming little game, full of cute cats, quirky characters, and plenty of chill vibes. Its narrative successfully celebrates Japanese culture, friendship, and belonging in such a beautiful way, and is supported by a simple yet engaging gameplay loop made up of gathering, crafting, and even a spot of espionage. A must for cozy game lovers all over the world, and the perfect way to unwind after a stressful day.

Dragonheir: Silent Gods is an expansive fantasy RPG that’s probably the closest thing we’ll get to Baldur’s Gate 3 on mobile for quite some time. It’s got hundreds of unique characters, a deep story, and tons of dungeons to explore. Just don’t expect too much from the combat.

The Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster offers a wonderful glimpse into a well-received bit of Monolith Soft’s history, one that barely sold enough for us to expect a second look. While the remaster doesn’t do anything exceptional, it’s more than enough, and it’s such a delight to have a bit of history in the palm of your hand.

The Teal Mask adds a variety of interesting characters and Pokémon to the ninth generation, and while Ogrepon is the clear star of the show, there’s something to love about each addition. Plus, a focus on tradition and folklore add a richness to the area of Kitakami that is so great to see. But, wildly outdated visuals, inconsistent performance, and a litany of bugs mean that it’s genuinely hard to recommend this DLC, especially for nearly the price of a brand new game.

If you want the full-fat Monster Hunter experience, this isn’t quite it, but it shouldn’t be either. Instead, like a Diet Coke, Monster Hunter Now is a fantastic companion to the series fans know and love, and it’s got plenty of ways to pull in newcomers as well. We hope to see more monsters and features down the line, and this live-service game is surely set to provide them, but this is a thrilling and satisfying twist on the geo-location format that every mobile gamer should try out for themselves.

An unimpressive and incremental sequel to an already underwhelming game, Konami is in desperate need of doing something interesting with the Bomberman formula. Luckily for Konami, the time worn Bomberman gameplay is still a blast, and new online modes are sure to please longtime fans, but it’s hard to justify spending the full price of a retail game on a title that doesn’t do enough to earn that price tag. I’ll have to forget my dreams of a true reinvention along the lines of Pac-man Championship Edition DX+ for now.

An intriguing new take on a Final Fantasy 7 remake, Ever Crisis has a whimsical art style, new insight into beloved characters, and a delightful soundtrack. It’s a must-play for any fan of the series. Oh boy, I just really love Final Fantasy.

Fae Farm is a delightful, addictive, and unique farming game with a lovely art style and interesting world. Though the price tag may seem heavy, it’s worth it for fans of the genre who crave a new agricultural adventure.

This remaster of the DS fan-favorite brings the town of Sharance and its beloved characters to life like never before. Gorgeous visuals work alongside satisfying farming and fun combat to deliver hours of fun for newcomers, though there is very little here for returning players to warrant the price tag. Some additional changes to UI and the gameplay could have made this one of the best entries in the series.

Trine 5 is an utterly enchanting and charming game, that truly conjures up the same magic as its much loved predecessors. With a fantastical narrative, the return of lovable characters, and more puzzles than you can shake a wand at, it’s a brilliant couch co-op experience to enjoy alone or with friends.

Norn9: Last Era is a fantastic prequel and sequel to Norn9: Var Commons, giving you even more insight into your favorite boy’s life and thought process, with plenty more cute and romantic moments along the way.

Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles is a lovely window into a hilarious, melodramatic, and loveable series that many would have never got to see. While it may not be the greatest retro collection in the world, its greatness lies in its uniqueness. The fact we get to enjoy it is what makes it so special.

Red Dead Redemption on Nintendo Switch is an adequate port of an excellent game. It holds up incredibly well after thirteen years, and, while the port is definitely barebones, it’s such a good time that it doesn’t matter too much. It’s just nice to have it here, at the end of the day.

Blasphemous II crafts an intricate and satisfying world that is only accentuated by the gorgeously gruesome art. The Penitent One feels better to control than ever, and the amount of choice you have over your attacks and abilities compliments the game’s punishing combat brilliantly. Despite some niggles, Blasphemous II is a Metroidvania masterclass and an incredibly confident sequel.

Is Flutter Away particularly graphically impressive? No, but it’s brimming with butterflies and is a wonderful short little adventure. I’m now fully converted to loving capybaras, all thanks to CapyBarbara.

While the unique monster-taming dungeon-crawling crossover gameplay that occupies much of Adore is surprisingly engaging, a lack of character and a bendy difficulty curve stop it from reaching its potential heights.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a polished, adorable Sanrio life sim jam-packed full of delicious treats and areas to explore on launch. The perfect game for fans of cats, cakes, and cuteness.

While engaging gameplay, roguelike concepts, and a big replayability factor bring Double Dragon back from the dead, Rise of Dragons’ late-game struggles and a skew-whiff lives system slightly detract from a promising revival.

Meet Frank and Drake, two roommates living their lives in the day and night, working on their own problems together despite never meeting. Follow a week in their life by making choices and discovering their pasts through environmental story-telling.

After what seems like forever, we’ve finally got Pikmin 4 and it does not disappoint. Head into the undergrowth armed with a planty platoon and your trusty dog Oatchi to uncover mystery and treasures in a delightful adventure.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening continues a long and dependable series in the exact fashion you’d expect, but playing it on Switch is a clunky and unintuitive experience, bringing a charming sim into the territory of irritating micromanagement.

An already great package is given just a little bit more, as the A Little to the Left Cupboards and Drawers DLC opens up the interactive puzzles with fun new elements. It can’t quite stack up to the amount of content in the original, but if you love the original then be sure to carefully arrange this new DLC into your Nintendo Switch library.

With stellar multiplayer gameplay and an intelligently crafted difficulty curve, Manic Mechanics offers hours of engaging content to race through. While there is space to improve in terms of controls and boss battles, there’s enough here to add this one to your list of party night titles.

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg expertly synthesizes exploration, combat, and story elements into a beautifully packaged, laid-back RPG experience suitable for long-time fans and newcomers alike.

Prepare for a perfectly packaged paranormal adventure in Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, taking you on a mind-bending supernatural story through Camena as Riley, who is researching the strange goings-on.

Pikmin 1+2 is a great accessible introduction to the beloved series for newcomers and a gem for existing fans, but the steep price tag and lack of features drive a hard bargain for a series that lets you jump in at any point.

Master Detective Archives: Rain Code is a mysteriful masterpiece boasting an immersive world, quirky characters, unique gameplay, and a heap of captivating cases to crack. Engaging from start to finish, it’s clear that your adventure with Shinigami and Yuma is a cult classic in the making.

Sonic Origins Plus finally gives long-time fans access to 12 Sega Game Gear games, including some of the more obscure titles from the franchise. When you combine that with great graphics that maintain the pixelated charm of the original games, the ability to play as other characters, and the inclusion of missions, this is a must-own collection for fans of the blue blur.

AEW Fight Forever on Nintendo Switch has such promise thanks to a fun career mode and unique match-types, but poor performance, dated graphics, and stale gameplay all come together to create a trying experience.

Charade Maniacs is a visual novel otome game with some drop-dead gorgeous characters and an intriguing story. However, with fewer choices than I’d like and numerous ambiguous endings, it may leave you feeling a little confused.

Soulvars is a pixel art JRPG that’s definitely not a deckbuilder, no matter what the synopsis tells you. It’s beautiful to look at and fun to play once you get to grips with it.

Railway Empire 2 is almost definitely a good game on any other platform. But for the same price as beefier competitors, you can get it in a version that looks three decades old. And you wouldn’t know it until you bought it. That sucks.