Harmony: Fall of Reverie is yet another fantastic game in Don’t Nod’s library, featuring a great cast of characters, a story deeply impacted by your choices, and a world so ethereal you can’t help but gaze in wonder at its beauty.

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.

The Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection translates these DS classics to the Nintendo Switch in fine fashion. Occasional fiddliness aside, there’s not much more we could’ve asked for with this port. Except maybe, a more reasonable price…

We Love Katamari Reroll + Royal Reverie is a colorful romp through wacky and challenging levels, with writing that’ll have you rolling on the floor laughing.

While suffering some Switch performance issues, Super Mega Baseball 4 is another solid entry in the sports series. The variety of ways to play and the depth of customization options add hours of engagement to this game, though it might be nice to get some training options for those of us who need a hand with our fastball.

If you’re looking to explode daemons and eviscerate space marines, then Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a blast from the past that honors both the legacy of the boomer shooter and the 40k franchise. However, repetitive level design, occasional performance, and a lack of motion controls are holding it back. I hope some patches or a sequel can help the series set a new standard for the genre.

While the gameplay isn’t for everyone, the world is intriguing and delightful to discover. Those who are fans of visual novels, social simulators, and battles against mysterious monsters will enjoy Loop8: Summer of Gods.

There is a good game buried somewhere in Lego 2K Drive, but it’s not here yet. Fun racing mechanics, a large world, and great characters prop up this release, and kids are sure to have a blast. But dire Switch performance and a litany of monetization methods in a full-price release mean that parents should keep this well away from their kids. If you’re desperate to play it, buy it on PS5, otherwise, buy Mario Kart folks.

The Tartarus Key is a love letter to the survival horror games of the 90s, featuring an atmospheric environment and an array of puzzles to solve. However, its leading lady lacks the charisma of other characters from the genre. Still, with a story that has twists and turns to keep you guessing, The Tartarus Key is a must-play for survival horror fans.

Though it doesn’t do anything innovative, Fitness Circuit is a solid exercise game that can help you to improve your cardiovascular and muscular health. The online play also helps to give you extra motivation through some friendly competition with your pals.

Puzzle Bobble Everybubble! is a great entry for newcomers, plus the story mode and multiplayer expand upon the gameplay in fun, if inconsequential ways. Puzzle Bobble vs Space Invaders is a great new addition, but it also leaves me wanting for an entry in this franchise that truly brings in some new ideas.

While full of classic Metroidvania mechanics and stunning visuals, Convergence lacks a certain originality to make it to the higher echelons. Still, the combat is tight, and the story is forthcoming with fully-voiced lines, making it an engaging experience for anyone looking to learn more about the world of League of Legends.

Though there are some performance issues, an incoming patch intends to tackle them so that you can fully enjoy what is set to be one of the best indie games of the year. With a mysterious yet gorgeous world backed by a hauntingly brilliant soundtrack and fun combat that keeps you on your toes, Strayed Lights is a gem of a game that I can’t stop playing.

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom takes the magic of Breath of the Wild and makes it bigger, sillier, and much more fun. It’s an excellent time, packed to the brim with beauty and joy, and there’s nothing like it on the Switch.

The first entry into The Dark Pictures Anthology, Man of Medan still holds up as a tense, cinematic horror experience where every choice matters. Unfortunately, the Switch’s ageing hardware holds this version’s performance back, but it’s nonetheless an impressive port with some welcome additions, and still captures the souls of all who board this ship.

In terms of a free-to-play live service game, Omega Strikers is engaging enough to persuade new players and keep them scoring. While we’re hoping for new game modes and ways to explore the exciting roster of characters, things are certainly off to a solid start for Odyssey Interactive’s debut title.

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.

In terms of a free-to-play live service game, Omega Strikers is engaging enough to persuade new players and keep them scoring. While we’re hoping for new game modes and ways to explore the exciting roster of characters, things are certainly off to a solid start for Odyssey Interactive’s debut title.

A cult classic reborn on the Switch with all its original quirks, including its flaws.

Teslagrad 2 is an iterative sequel that brings some smart new ideas to the table. Its stronger focus on speed, momentum, and platforming feels great, but it comes at the cost of more confined puzzles and often feels looser than I’d like. Still, the movement, presentation, and great use of Lumina’s powers make this another solid entry in the series.

Honkai Star Rail is a stellar, interstellar turn-based RPG that pushes the boundaries of what we’ve come to expect from the genre. With its tight combat, charming characters, engaging narrative, and stunning world, it’s proved itself to be so much more than a Genshin clone, and I can’t wait to see how it grows.

Nuclear Blaze arrives on Switch with extra content and provides a Metroidvania-like experience that gets immersion right. While the game world nearly makes up for what the story lacks, and the gameplay offers up the odd moment of frustration, this one easily finds itself in the better half of Switch titles of the genre.

A gorgeous fantasy Metroidvania with a lot of promise, let down by its repetitive combat and bewildering story.

Trinity Trigger is a familiar, fun-filled fantasy that features a unique yet simplistic battle system, a cosy, fantasy-fuelled narrative, and a cast of adorable characters. It certainly lives up to its goals of being a nostalgic and moving revival of 90s-era RPG classics, and makes for a brilliant, bite-sized adventure for RPG fans and newbies alike.

Animal Shelter Simulator gives us a glimpse into the life of a shelter owner, complete with rescuing and nurturing pets, and all the daily tasks that go with it on Nintendo Switch. It may be a little ruff around the edges but it’s nothing to sniff at if you’re a fan of a simulator story.

Six iconic RPG titles now look and play better than ever, and the portability of the Nintendo Switch – as well as the great performance – mean this could be the perfect way to play each and every one. The Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters are joyous celebration of classic gaming that any RPG fan will appreciate, so long as you can stomach the price.

Super Meat Boy Forever is particularly frictionless on mobile. Combine this with its punishing difficulty and aged aesthetic and it just feels a little out of place, out of time. It’s a struggle to have a good time with it.

Coffee Talk Episode 2 brings us back to our familiar haunt in stormy Seattle, where friends both old and new need an ear to hear out their problems and a warm drink to soothe their souls. There are new teas on the menu to compliment the changing tastes of your mythical mates.

Nintendo and WayForward deliver the blueprint to the perfect remake with Avance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp, offering new ways to engage with timeless gameplay. Whether it be for fans of the series or strategy newcomers, there’s something special here that is worthy of the endless hours of play.

The Mageseeker is a confident and immensely satisfying action game with a great mixture of physical attacks and a huge arsenal of magical abilities to steal and equip. I love the multiple ways to improve your moveset and your home base, and even as a Fairweather League of Legends fan, I’m now obsessed with Sylus’s character and the world at large. Digital Sun has crafted a fantastic title for League fans, but anyone with an interest in the genre will find something to love.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakening continues to show why it’s heralded as one of the best mystery adventure games of all time, though its dodgy performance on Switch lets it down considerably. Still, I implore you to play the game on a different platform, where I’d happily score the game considerably higher.

A barking great time for dog fans everywhere, with only a few hiccups along the way.

Sid Meier’s Railroads comes to mobile in fine fashion, reminding us all that old stuff is still ace. One of the chillest simulation games is a perfect fit for a portable, offering hours in a trainset playground.

Call of Dragons is a solid strategy MMO but it lacks innovation, though this didn’t detract from my enjoyment. However, the voice acting isn’t synchronised, so it can feel a bit discombobulating at times.

Road 96: Mile 0 is a fantastic addition to the world of Petria, and one that puts an emotional story of two teenagers’ friendship at its core. Stellar performances, an intriguing narrative, new musical ride segments, and a fantastic soundtrack help to bring everything to life wonderfully. However, performance hiccups and UI issues occasionally get in the way of the fun.

Curse of the Sea Rats is a truly beautiful Metroidvania-like, with stunning, hand-drawn characters, a charming story, and an intriguing world. Unfortunately, its sluggish controls and input delay hold it back, making this swash-buckling bonanza feel more punishing than it needs to be.

A knowing satire of big business, The Last Worker is a cathartic fight against the forces of capitalism, and one that centres it all with a very human story and fantastic performances. While delivering packages is satisfying, occasionally the gameplay outside of this drags the narrative down, but this still ticks almost all of the right boxes.

How We Know We’re Alive is a beautiful-looking and -sounding story that lasts around as long as a TV show. Just like an episode of TV, it draws you in quickly, but its brief runtime does mean that, by the end, you may not be invested enough for the payoff to hit.

Storyteller has an alluring concept and some great visuals but doesn’t engage you fully until it’s almost too late. While providing some laughs and including some solutions that modernise fairy tales and tragedies for today’s audiences, the puzzle aspect doesn’t boggle the brain consistently enough for my liking.

Try your hand at restoring the earth in the eco-friendly game Terra Nil as it sprouts on mobile and PC, bringing satisfying gameplay and scientific mechanics to reclaim the environment.

Atelier Ryza 3 is the perfect way to end the trilogy with slight improvements on almost all aspects found in it’s predescessors, an intriguing story, and some fluid, satisfying combat. An absolute must-play for Atelier fans.

A loving addition that pays homage to a beloved franchise while injecting new blood into the existing game, the Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC is a shining example of how developers should approach additional content. With heaps of weapons, outfits, and nostalgic surprises to find: there’s a huge amount of bang for your buck, and Castlevania fans couldn’t possibly ask for a more exciting or fun way to bring the series into the fold.

Vampire Survivors lauds over all other mobile titles as the most engaging casual game, and the Legacy of the Moonspell DLC only adds to this. The new location is dynamic, while fresh weapons and characters offer new ways to get creative with builds. Considering the price point, we couldn’t ask for anything more.

Take yourself on an emotional journey in The Wreck – a perfectly crafted melancholy story for the Nintendo Switch that makes you laugh, cry, and everything in between.

Bayonetta Origins shows you the umbra witch in a whole new way, and while you may feel skeptical about her going from heavy action to puzzles, Platinum Games nailed the transition flawlessly. While different to the trilogy, the gameplay is engaging, the world is stunning, and the story of Cereza and Cheshire is precious. I can’t recommend this game enough.

Session: Skate Sim is a buggy and low performing mess on Nintendo Switch that’s likely to make you run back into the arms of Tony Hawk. The controls are funky in this port and the bland world only adds to an already skippable experience. However, should it perform better on other platforms, it could be worth a try based on the freedom of world exploration with what could be intuitive controls.

Paranormasight is a masterpiece. With a dizzying web of interwoven narratives, an uncanny ability to blur the lines of fact and fiction, and a thoroughly thrilling atmosphere, it’s truly the gold standard of engaging visual novels and a must for anyone fascinated by the deliciously dark world of the supernatural and the occult.

Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is an intuitive entry in the franchise that takes everything that makes the other games so great, and cranks it up to 11. The introduction of the spirit torch adds a new dimension to combat, while the photo mode ensures you can create some memories. With little in the way of performance issues, and a story keeps you guessing, this is a game for all horror fans.

While maybe a little too challenging on regular difficulty, Pronty joins the legion of engaging Metroidvanias on Switch, offering engaging aquatic combat and exotic underwater locations. There could be more exploration elements here, but those who come just for the gauntlet will be glad to greet some genre-defining bosses.

Oni: Road to be the Mightiest Oni is a stunning adventure that offers a fresh twist on a classic story. Though the Switch version’s performance suffers some stutters, the unique combat, great range of challenges, and truly emotive narrative ensure that the touching tale of Kuuta and Kazemaru will stay with you for a long time.

Grimm Guardians: Demon Purge is a competent and gorgeous Castlevania-lite with satisfying action and a great two-player mode. It’s also got its tongue firmly in cheek, and I had a fun time blasting through gigantic bosses and exploring this world. I just wish it offered a little more variety in gameplay and had a little more of what makes the Castlevania series so fun to explore. Maybe in the sequel…

Digimon World: Next Order is very much a Marmite game, you’re either going to love it or hate it. In my case, I had a wonderful time, love digivolving my cute lil crew, and will definitely replay it for a third or fourth time at some point.

With loads of moreish worlds to explore and a lot of charm, Clive ‘N’ Wrench is a real treat for fans of 90s era 3D platformers.

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a wonderful revival of an already excellent game. Adorable, enjoyable, and absolutely oozing with charm, it offers a great range of platforming, puzzles, and minigames to explore either alone or with up to four players. Boasting enhanced visuals, fresh copy abilities, and new content, it’s an absolute delight, and a must for anyone looking for some family-friendly fun to brighten up their day.

If you like the first entry, a series of smart improvements mean there’s a very good chance you’re going to love Octopath Traveler II. This is still a grand, and traditional JRPG adventure, so get ready for nearly 100 hours of turn-based battles and deep, intricate stories. However, with dynamic visuals, addictive combat, and a deep and intertwining story that features all eight of your characters, Octopath Traveler II is an utterly sublime JRPG experience and now sits as one of the best of its kind on Nintendo Switch.

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line takes a very simple premise with easy-to-learn and hard-to-master levels and ties them all up in an adorable little chibi ribbon. It’s a must-play for any Final Fantasy superfan, but the lack of touchscreen controls on Switch is an oversight.

Like a red wine stain on a stark white dress, Blanc spoils its pristine visual style with a combination of frustrating controls, stubborn camera angles, and restrictive puzzle solutions. I love walking through the beautiful wilderness as the adorable animals, but when I try and think of good gameplay, I’m drawing a blank.

Metroid Prime is one of the best games in action history, and now it gets an upgraded release that sets a new high-water mark for remasters across the industry. Gorgeous visuals, fantastic control options, and stunning sound design, all make this the best way to play Samus’ stellar sci-fi epic.

Tomb Raider: Reloaded has much potential thanks to featuring a videogame legend, but janky controls that suffer from sluggishness and delays ensure it’s not a smooth experience.

The Pathless remains a solid game from its engaging story and pretty setting to the enjoyable gameplay, though it can get repetitive at times. Still, a solid performance on Switch means we highly recommend you pick it up on the hybrid console.

A simple yet satisfying game that’s perfect for the Switch. Pick it up and play between meetings or sink several hours in at a time.

This fast-paced retro-inspired FPS is a treat for fans of the genre, though there’s little to pull in those who don’t fancy a shoot-off. Despite some annoying platforming sections, Fashion Police Squad offers an alternative to the norm while providing all of the running and gunning fun, looking like a million dollars while it does it.

Helvetti is a powerhouse of an action game, one that provides a great challenge in a gorgeous 2D world, features fluid combat, and has three distinct characters that each bring something different to the table. When you encompass this with a stunning soundtrack and interesting story, it’s hard to think of a reason not to play it.

An incredible game that holds up just as well as its 2018 release, but is held back by the Switch’s handheld performance.

Despite some performance hiccups, Risen on Nintendo Switch is a must-play for RPG fans, be they familiar with the original or not. Featuring a fun, albeit clunky, combat system that gives a great amount of freedom, and a great story in a mysterious land, it’s great to see Risen rise once more.

Trek to Yomi is an ambitious journey revolving around love, honour, and, above all, revenge. An ode to classic Samurai flicks, its gameplay is simple, but its striking aesthetics and clear focus on cinematography is what truly sets it apart – unfortunately, it’s also where it struggles the most due to the performance limitations of the Nintendo Switch.

SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is a charming and hilarious 3D platformer that’s a joy to play, with excellent level design, fun environments, and a story that captures the essence of the show. It’s a must-play for any SpongeBob fan, or anybody that just wants a new platformer to play.

Roller Drama provides a short experience that gets your wheels turning, but has a couple of bumps in the road. I recommend it for those of you who want to play roller derby from the comfort of your own home.

Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On is the best card game on Apple Arcade, the best sports game on Apple Arcade, and, well, it might just be the best game on Apple Arcade. With exhilarating mechanics, hours of content, and idiosyncrasy like no other sports or card game, there’s no reason not to try your luck with the ponies.

With intuitive controls, beautifully crafted levels, and a story that takes you deep into the mind of a girl and her childhood, NeverAwake is one of the funnest games I’ve played in a while. I simply can’t get enough, and thanks to its auto-aim feature, both hardcore and casual gamers can progress through the levels.

Lone Ruin is a roguelike with style but it lacks in originality, making for an overall experience that’s worthwhile for fans of Hades and Diablo, but one that doesn’t quite match up to the epic scale of those adventures. Still, anyone with a love for dungeon crawling and fast-paced combat will have a blast here, and for the price, the replayability is a real boon.

Melatonin is a dreamy rhythm game experience for newcomers to the genre and veterans alike. Prepare to sink some hours into this one, as I can guarantee it will have you hooked.

Sports Story is essentially unplayable in its current form, with issues such as softlocking, out-of-bounds areas, and perpetual crashing. Outside of the technical issues, much of the mechanics and story feel disappointing too, with the tongue-in-cheek humour still present but struggling to breathe among the various issues. The disappointment is real with this one.

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.

Persona 4 Golden on Switch is just as fantastic as the original game, with minimal performance issues, a great aesthetic, enigmatic characters, and an enthralling story that keeps you guessing, this JRPG is a must-play for any role playing fan. Throw in some great turn-based combat with unique elements, and you’re in for a terrific time.

I absolutely love the story and characters in Persona 3, but Portable isn’t the optimal way to experience them. I can recommend this version to visual novel fans and those looking to experience the game on a budget. If I were rating Persona 3 FES, you would see a much higher number.

Fire Emblem Engage has so much to love, yet feels a little empty. With tight and tricky combat, gorgeous graphics and art, and vibrant character designs, its first impression is a good one. But as the story progresses, things feel a little soulless. It’s good and it’s bad, and how much you like it just depends on what you want from it.

A charming aesthetic and a few fun ideas are held back by repetitive gameplay and some performance issues. Anyone wanting to play something spooky might get their kicks, but there are much better rogue-likes for anyone who wants to enjoy some action.

Taking many of the best elements from both Animal Crossing and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Lil Gator Game tells a beautiful story and provides countless enjoyable experiences along the way. This is easily the most wholesome game of the year, if not the decade.

If you’re a graphics purist, definitely pick Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion up on a next-gen console. However, I believe the Switch version gives you a more authentic PSP experience, the portability allows you to complete side missions while watching something on TV, and it still looks absolutely wonderful. Oh boy, I just really love Final Fantasy VII.

A retro-style action-roguelike that feels like Castlevania on steroids, Vampire Survivor goes from one of the most addictive games on Steam to one of the most addictive games on mobile with a stellar port and some great options no matter your device.

Wavetale’s graphical issues on Switch don’t manage to hinder the joy of moving across its wonderful archipelago. With things to do everywhere, an excellent art style and animation, and a lovely story, it’s an easy recommendation.

A rambunctious, treasure-filled adventure with that classic DQ charm, Dragon Quest Treasures embraces the world of its predecessors perfectly, while still setting itself apart. Its mechanics are unique and engaging, it’s full of personality and charm, and, above all, it’s just great fun. A wonderful entry into a popular series for returning and new players alike.

A fun twist on the platforming genre, Togges does a lot with a little and presents a charming world full of secrets to explore, and a satisfying gameplay loop at its core. While improvements to controls and visuals would be nice, there’s still a lot to love here for fans of classic titles like Pikmin or Super Mario.

Romancing Saga Minstrel Song Remastered is a simple yet welcome rejuvenation of a classic JRPG. With no dramatic overhauls, just some additional content and quality-of-life improvements, it’s still a stroll through the past, but one that’s easy to access, priced reasonably, and packed with stuff to do. It never feels essential, but it’s still a lovely time.

Like a loveable puppy that’s peed on the carpet, it’s hard to be mean to Wobbledog. The adorable pet sim has a distinct personality and loads to do. I just wish it wasn’t quite so aimless, and that the performance and controls on Switch matched the heart that the core gameplay so clearly has. You’re a good boy Wobbledogs, but you can be better.

Sonic is back in a mixed bag of mixed bags, though the positives outweigh the negatives for the most part. Combat can be engaging, depending on the enemy, and zooming across open zones takes a while to get old. Still, if you’re looking for infallible performance, the Switch version might not be the best port of call.

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.

The smart new Windzone mechanic and the addition of burly routes means the levels in OlliOlli World: Finding the Flowzone are some of the most exhilarating and challenging you can play. All honed perfectly around those rock-solid skating and combo-chaining mechanics, the blustery bonus content feels like a rollercoaster ride and the perfect way for any pros to show off their skills. Until next time OlliOlli World, it’s been a wild ride.

A flawed but beautiful JRPG with farming sim elements, Harvestella boasts a unique and emotive narrative, gorgeous art direction, and an ambitious range of mechanics to explore. It’s slow to start but, with a bit of patience, blossoms into something truly memorable.

A glorious, pure co-op experience, It Takes Two perfects the balance of give and take through its ingenuitive puzzles, stellar storytelling, and enchanting environments. With communication at its core, it truly takes two to tango with this one, and I couldn’t think of a better home for it than the Nintendo Switch.

A reimaging of a dormant series that straddles the line between homage and invention, but delivers an entry that doesn’t go far enough in either direction. Oddworld: Soulstorm still has plenty to please fans and it looks gorgeous at certain points, but it’s often an exercise in frustration geld back even further by load times, control issues, and brutal level design. Plus he can’t fart anymore, come on man.

A smart expansion of incredible action foundations, PlatinumGames’ latest entry delivers a wild story and defies expectations while presenting heartwarming themes at its core. Bayonetta 3 is an action masterpiece, offering a veritable feast for fans of the Umbra witch and closing out the trilogy with the biggest and best entry yet.

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.

A Plague Tale: Requiem continues the story from A Plague Tale: Innocence in a perfect way. Though its gameplay can become repetitive, this doesn’t take away from what is one the best games to come out this year.

Persona 5 Royal is a wonderfully immersive and iconic JRPG, featuring striking, stylised visuals, fast-paced, turn-based combat, and a unique world full of captivating characters and stunning stories. Though the Switch somewhat stumbles with downscaled visual performance, it provides an otherwise smooth experience, and the novelty of being able to take the Phantom Thieves on the go is certainly a plus. Long live the phantom thieves!

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.

Nier Automata is one of the best games from the previous generations of consoles, and it has made the jump to the Nintendo Switch in a mind-bogglingly impressive fashion. Little to no noticeable compromises have been made to get it onto a handheld system, and the magical, inventive nature of the thing sings just as loud as ever.