Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream is a joy from start to finish. It improves on certain elements from the series, has a charming new story with some familiar faces, and even adds intriguing new features for you to enjoy

Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed is Monolith Soft firing on all cylinders, and it’s a resounding victory lap that rewards longtime fans while showcasing exactly what this incredible team do best. The story balances new and old with a deft touch, and everyone gets their moments. Plus, there is so much to see and explore, with smart and satisfying reasons to do so. Maybe make sure you’ve played a few entries before jumping in, but this is heaven for Xenoblade fans.

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.

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.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot has wonderful characters, an amazing story, and makes me incredibly nostalgic. I would wholeheartedly recommend this title to anyone who asks about it. Oh boy, I just really love Dragon Ball Z.

Mario + Rabbids return is a ridiculous rocket-powered romp through a hybrid IP universe featuring the best of Mario world design alongside hilarious Rabbids hijinks. While the pacing meanders a little in the middle, and exploring feels a little weird with feet glued to this floor, Sparks of Hope is a masterclass in making turn-based battles feel fresher than ever, and should be praised as a comedy blockbuster of the tactical genre.

A phenomenal RPG, one that has withstood tests of time. Nearly 20 years on, and it remains an enjoyable experience. Be you a new fan, or old, KOTOR is a must-play for Star Wars and RPG fans. Light or dark? Only you can decide.

A brilliant addition to the base game that condenses the highlights of the original into a handful of fantastic boss fights, The Delicious Last Course is a constant delight from start to finish. About 4-5 hours of great new bosses, new ways to play, and a new character to get to grips with, Cuphead fans will be delighted to return to this world with so many new foes and new tools to kill them with.

Though it treads familiar ground in terms of gameplay, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV is a fantastic farewell to the saga and its cast of characters.

Pokémon Pokopia is a delightful, cozy game with an intriguing world, enthralling gameplay, and endless playability. It takes the best bits from iconic games like Animal Crossing and Dragon Quest Builders and makes them its own, resulting in an adorable adventure that you just can’t put down.

Vampire Crawlers is an almost hypnotic roguelike card game that pulls you in and doesn’t let you go until you clear the credits. You might have to deal with one or two performance issues here or there, but the hyper-engaging core gameplay, a reliable autosave system, and some lovely PS1-style visuals make it all worthwhile.

Poppy Playtime Chapter 5 is the best entry yet, with fresh yet familiar mechanics, thoughtful puzzles, an engaging narrative, and the most polished gameplay to date. It takes both the characters and story to new heights, ending on yet another showstopping cliffhanger that'll leave you reeling.

Sonic x Shadow Generations is a must-have on the Nintendo Switch 2 for fans of the Blue Blur and The Ultimate Lifeform, letting you revisit classic levels from the franchise’s long history. There are a couple of minor performance hiccups, but nothing severe enough to impact your enjoyment.

Minute of Islands is a beautiful, thought-provoking narrative experience that serves up simple platforming puzzles and a story that will stay with you for a long time.

Hades is a near-perfect marriage of reactive storytelling, blistering action, and bickering gods.

Sith, Jedi, Wookies, and Ewoks, I present to you the definitive Lego Star Wars experience, never before has journeying to a blocky galaxy far, far away been so satisfying. The Skywalker Saga covers all nine mainline movies, and it captures all of the key points in a charming way - it’s the quintessential Lego experience, and mesa recommend you play it.

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.

Dripping with style and absolutely stuffed with incredible combat, Boomerang X offers a rewarding blast of action with every moment of gameplay. It somewhat lacks replayability, but what's already there is staggeringly well executed. Boomerang X is one of the best action games of the year.

Spiritfarer on Switch is an unforgettable, moving experience that offers up a deeply emotional narrative, stunning visuals, heartfelt characters, and a message that will stay with you forever.

Mix together the Legend of Zelda, Crash Bandicoot, and Banjo-Kazooie, with a few other ‘90s classics and you get Frogun - a game that may press a few nostalgia buttons, but which provides a unique and innovative experience. I reckon it will be the next big indie hit.

Tower of Fantasy breathes new life into the MMORPG genre, with its bustling, vibrant open world, expansive exploration, engaging narrative, fluid combat, and well-rounded balance between solo and multiplayer gameplay. It’s brimming with potential, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this post-apocalyptic gem.

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.

The Vampire Survivors: Ode to Castlevania DLC continues the trend of evolving the ideas from the base game, with a massive map to explore, great new characters, and some of the best boss battles so far. If you’re a fan of either game, it’s a must-play.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure tells a joyful tale with a deftly-handled message of conservation and rejuvenation.

Bungie’s unwavering commitment to its hardcore niche makes Marathon an enthralling experience the FPS genre needs. Best-in-class gunplay, sleek art direction, and masterful sound design deliver white-knuckle tension in spades. Its versatile playstyles let you approach it as a stealth powerhouse or turn it into a squad-based riot.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World adds even more style and substance to an already fantastic 3D platformer, utilizing the Switch 2’s enhanced graphics and frame rates to immerse you in whimsical, playful environments and stories.

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.

Fear the Spotlight is a love letter to iconic 90's horror games, and although it delivers a juicy dose of nostalgia with blocky graphics and a tried-and-true narrative, it transports everything we love about the oldies into the modern age.

Potion Permit is a cosy, magical experience that blends the best features of the RPG, adventure, and life sim genres into one soothing, medicinal brew. With plenty of puzzles to solve, potions to distil, and patients to heal, your time in Moonbury is as eventful and exciting as it is stunning.

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.

While perhaps not vastly in need of remaster, Commandos 2 is still an excellent tactics game, and its improved visuals and Switch controls are a welcome trade for portability.

A solid little platformer with a striking visual style, heaps of personality, and plenty of content to keep you busy. Demon Turf is a love-letter to the genre, and is well worth your time.

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.

Demonschool is a great turn-based tactical game with puzzling combat, dazzling aesthetics, and engaging writing. It can get a bit samey in places, especially in the early game, but for the most part, it’s a delightful demon-slaying adventure that’s sure to be a hit for fans of games such as Fire Emblem, Advance Wars, and other strategy delights.

Warped Kart Racers has sped onto the scene, and it’s safe to say that it holds its own against other racing giants. In fact, I’d go so far as to say it’s one of the best on mobile - shut up, Mario.

Ultimately, we can easily recommend The Long Dark on Nintendo Switch. It’s one of few survival games like it on Switch, and the port is solid, barring a few visual issues caused by a drop in resolution.

If you enjoy playing well-made boardgames and solo play, Burgle Bros. is well worth your time and money. Now it all it needs is online multiplayer...

Overall, Elite Squad does follow a familiar gameplay loop; particularly for those that already play Marvel Strike Force. However, we thoroughly recommend Elite Squad, not just to Tom Clancy fans, but to those that are looking for a gacha RPG that offers something a little different. Battles are actually something to look forward to here, rather than something you just get out of the way to earn the reward.

Elden Ring: Nightreign lays the foundations for an incredibly promising multiplayer experience. The rush of completing runs and banding together to banish Nightlords is nothing short of euphoric, as FromSoftware finally makes teaming up with friends a mostly painless experience. The world of Limveld could do with fresh ideas, but it’s a world that I’ll be coming back to again and again.

A Planet of Mine is a compellingly complex galactic empire builder for your phone, and you really ought to be playing it.

Knockout Home Fitness is a fun game that does exactly what it sets out to do. If you use this game as its intended, then it can aid you in achieving your fitness goals.

Outside of these control niggles, Battle Academy 2 makes a strong case for itself. A solid AI showcase to bolster and balance the online experience, though you’re likely to never be too long without an asynchronous foe given the cross-play antics and established community.

The Bonfire 2 expands on the original with new RTS-style gameplay, but manages to maintain what made the series great in the first place.

A surprisingly charming and fun football management sim, it is just a pity that the financial model takes the shine off.

Cat Quest is a delightful, challenging, and ultimately wonderful action-RPG. Fans of Zelda, Dark Souls, or anything cute will find themselves happily occupied for at least a dozen hours. It’s not purrfect, but it’s close.

WST Snooker does a lot of things right. The commentary, ball physics, and skill needed to pot a ball are realistic and wonderfully designed. The problem is snooker is not for everyone, which means WST Snooker is not for a mainstream audience. If you are a fan of snooker, or a pool player looking for a serious challenge, this is a must-play. If you like to pick up and play a game for a couple of minutes, then this is probably not the game for you.

I’d really like a set of Baltimore levels so I could imagine a crossover with The Wire.

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.

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.

Croc: Legend of the Gobbos Remastered is every bit as fun as the original, reminding people that it’s not just Crash, Mario, and Sonic who had great games in the ‘90s. The modern graphics are a delight, the controls are smooth, and the levels remain both difficult and joyful; this isn’t a game to sleep on if you enjoy platformers.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows performs really well on the Nintendo Switch 2, making it an excellent way to experience an interesting story, vibrant world, and two of the best protagonists the series has to offer.

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.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins isn’t just a brilliant action game, wrapped in that familiar Musou combat we’ve come to know and love - it’s also a port that, by every stretch, shouldn’t work as well as it does. Despite some existing issues with the core experience, this is a great way to play the ARPG on the go.

A remastered port of the legendary, humorous sim that feels perfect for on-the-go play, minus a few platform-specific frustrations.

A feature-complete version of MudRunner on mobile, which pares back the visuals and introduces touch controls to make it work on the small screen, with mixed results.

Though its rhythm component is a little lacklustre, Reigns: Beyond is still a great choice for anyone who wants a funny sci-fi take on the roguelike card genre.

With a gripping story, fantastic visuals, and smart card play, Thronebreaker has finally found its true home.

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is the most engaging game in the series so far, with great battles, a riveting narrative, and a fantastic new feature in the form of habitat restoration. Handheld performance on Nintendo Switch 2 has its iffy moments, and some of the side missions can muddy the pacing as you wait for the main plot to progress, but outside of that, this is an absolute beast of a game just waiting for you to take it on.

A Space for the Unbound takes us on a wholesome and emotional adventure across an Indonesian town, following a high school couple working around mystical and unforeseen problems.

It’s the very essence of what indie gaming is all about: this is no game made by committee, but one man’s utterly original and compelling vision brought to life.

Descenders may not be the ideal fit for mobile, but it works well enough on a touchscreen. As soon as you connect a controller, though, it’s a different story, as this port is so slick it feels like playing on a Nintendo Switch. A top-notch port which is only hindered by the hardware’s interface, nothing else.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn doesn’t have to justify its existence. A better looking, grander sounding, easier-to-play version of one of the best TRPGs of all time? Sign me up! But still, this extra beauty doesn’t mean it differs that drastically from its 1995 original, so unless you’re new to the series, you may need it to justify its existence. Either way, it’s good. But then again, it always has been.

More than just a piece of RPG history, Jade Empire deserves to be experienced for its worldbuilding and memorable characters despite some shortcomings in core gameplay.

An underwater adventure with a sombre twist, Silt is host to some fantastic platforming and puzzle-solving that dares you to explore its terrifying depths even further. Not everyone will have the patience to uncover its mysteries, but those who do will be rewarded.

A challenging puzzler that will push your organizational and management skills to the limit as it thrusts new nodes and numbers upon you.

While a little lacking in content and options, Kirby’s Dream Buffet is a hilarious and satisfyingly silly game that balances its gameplay nicely between moments of skill and utter mayhem. With a gorgeous culinary theme and stellar presentation, alongside plenty of great rewards to unlock, Dream Buffet will keep players coming back for several helpings for the foreseeable.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus is a must-play for any Pokémon fan. Not only does it offer a huge world full of gorgeous landscapes and great creatures, but it also features a fantastic origin story for Sinnoh. It feels great to be a part of history, even if there are some graphical hiccups.

If you enjoy simulation games and the prison subject matter interests you, Prison Architect is certainly worth checking out. The depth of options and strength of the simulation will appeal to fans of the genre, though the constant "now this, now this" pressure can be a bit much. The game does a good job of capturing some of the moral questions around the for-profit penal system as well. Grab and it and see what you think, Prison Architect's awesome free-trial option leaves little risk in doing so.

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.

EA Sports FC 26 on Switch 2 is a fantastic soccer simulator that finally offers Nintendo users all the bells and whistles other consoles are getting, with the small exception of 60 FPS gameplay. New additions to career mode and distinct styles of play make the core game the best it's been in years, but if you're purely in it for Ultimate Team, get ready to wrestle with microtransactions for another year.

While other games like Tiller’s Overland Campaign are more detailed and accurate, games like Civil War 1864 fill two essential roles for the gaming industry. First, the seemingly simple nature of play serves as an introduction to new gamers by providing them with the feel of an era and giving them insight into the mechanics of a period’s combat. For all of its tap and go feel, this game does a fine representation of what went on during the most bloody summer of the American Civil War. Secondly, this game genre provides relief for veteran gamers from drawn-out and detail-heavy games. We need to get back once in a while to that just one more turn feel. Hexwar’s games does both of these tasks in very accessible fashion. No historical gamer should fall for the trap that, just because the mechanics are the same, every Hexwar game is the same. A look at their Civil War series shows that maps and objectives are sculpted to faithfully represent the situation for each year. Given the limitation of the engine, this approach represents an accomplishment we can all appreciate.

Getting the Phantom Thieves back together for some fast-paced Musou-style combat is incredibly fun. And while it doesn’t quite scratch the turn-based itch, Strikers excels in other aspects.

An engaging game of space exploration, but the theme/humour are an acquired taste.

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.

Bézier Games have an innovative approach to allocating development resources, with an engaging campaign but no online multiplayer in this adaptation of the highly-regarded tabletop successor to Suburbia.

If you can weather Six Ages' raw approach to immersion, you will find yourself taking one of the most thrilling narrative & strategy journeys on mobile.

Inmost is a short yet powerful adventure that tackles difficult themes in a delicate manner, through a haunting story about pain and loss. The pixelated graphics lend themselves to an unsettling atmosphere, while the sound design complements the gameplay and surroundings quite nicely.

Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is an outstanding life sim with in-depth farming aspects, adorable romance options, and gorgeous ferrets. However, the fiddly controls and backtracking can be tedious.

Temtem offers a monster-taming title that has enough to tear us away from the king of the genre, with an attention to detail across all elements from monster design to competitive online battles. With a little more charm, and a few quality-of-life improvements to the solo experience and the MMO aspect, this could be the closest the Pokémon series has ever come to a real challenge to its monster-taming monopoly.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel delivers what all duellists have been waiting for, as well as a surprise standout solo mode that relieves itself from the shackles of the anime. With quality deck-building mechanics, intuitive duelling, and an impressive roster of available cards, it’s only the test of time that this free-to-play game still has to ace.

Sushi Go! could be a bit more feature rich, but this is a very satisfying and visually pleasing adaptation of the card game for which there isn’t currently much comparison in the app store.

SRPGs don’t generally have very strong or interesting AI, but Templar Battleforce is trying to be a deeply tactical SRPG, and the one-trick AI can break one’s sense of immersion even as it presents a rough-edged challenge. Even so, the varied maps, missions, foes, and extensive character customization keep things interesting throughout the extensive campaign.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an impressive Nintendo Switch 2 port, with glorious visuals in docked mode and solid handheld performance. I’ve got a couple of quibbles with the gameplay itself, especially in the early stealth-oriented missions, and there are a few rough moments in transitions between cutscenes and gameplay. However, I’d still recommend this version to anyone looking for a quest that lives up to the legacy of this iconic franchise.

The game starts feeling like a traditional adventure game, but its conversation trees are mostly for flavor (like obvious influence Kentucky Route Zero) and its puzzles all revolve around amateur botany. It’s occasionally awkward to control, especially the lengthy plant encyclopedia that is inexplicably indexless. But for players looking for a unique interactive story, Mutazione should be your first stop on Arcade.

A heartwarming story of love against all odds. Traversal can be tedious, but Haven makes up for it with some charming characters and an adorable lizard companion.

This mobile gem offers all basketball fans the optimal NBA experience. It looks just as good as any console version, and plays so smoothly, that scoring three-pointers has never felt so satisfying.

Fishing Vacation is a fine throwback to the videogame days of old, with a short yet full run time and three endings, you get your money’s worth. Whatsmore, the game is charming, offers a foreboding atmosphere, and has a story that’s sure to keep even the most seasoned horror fans intrigued.

Any fan of either Puzzle Quest or Magic: The Gathering would do well to check the game out.

Ultimately, we think Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a fantastic festive gift for a younger audience; particularly if you and your fellow parent friends can group up to get karts for your four kids. It’s a game that sparkles with creativity, and kids will easily lose hours to this while creating ever more outrageous courses.

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.

If you’ve played through the previous installments, picking up the fourth is a no-brainer. You’ll bump into characters you’ve met along your journey and use items you nabbed way back in the Shamutanti Hills. If you’re a newbie, it’s still worth the price of admission, but I would recommend picking up the entire series and starting from scratch to get the most out of it. Otherwise, it’s a bit like reading about the Battle of the Pelennor Fields without having sat through the Council of Elrond (spoilers?).

Marvel Snap is a solid CCG that features great gameplay with satisfying deck building, and a heap of heroes and villains that can make a real difference on the battlefield.

An accomplished multiplayer experience that feels a little directionless when playing alone.

Wylde Flowers is a wonderfully witchy farming life sim with an enchanting story to tell. Soak up the chill vibes and relaxing atmosphere of Fairhaven, as you get close to its residents, get a handle on your own magic powers, and reveal the secrets of this sunny seaside town.

Star Realms follow-up Cthulhu Realms brings a zany take on dark summonings and evil magic to the deck-building genre. It's not exactly chocolate and peanut butter, but if pineapple and ham pizza can be good, so can this.

Tomb Raider 2013 is a joy to play on iOS, with it running really well on my iPhone 13. It features various graphics presets to suit your preferences, and has touch controls that are truly accessible thanks to comprehensive customization options.

Though its puzzles can be quick to complete, Inked is an amazing story of love and loss that questions what people are willing to do for the ones they care about.

An impressive port that struggles with performance issues towards the end of the game, Wild Hearts S delivers an action-packed twist on this sub-genre of ARPGs, and the brilliant Karakuri adds a great element of strategy to the tried-and-true monster hunting fun.