With tight battle mechanics, engaging puzzles, and new characters that become more endearing as the story goes on, Mario & Luigi: Brothership has all the hallmarks of a great RPG. It’s still no Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, but it’s not far off.

Despite its late arrival, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is easily one of the best platformers of the Switch era. It’s equally imaginative and challenging, providing a template for how to reinvigorate a series without losing touch with what made it so special in the first place.

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.

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.

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.

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…

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.

Enyo is an original and engaging puzzle roguelike with a few input and clarity foibles that we hope to see addressed.

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 twee aesthetic is going to be a deal-breaker for some, but behind it lies a surprising degree of craftsmanship that makes this a strong example of it’s genre, a lengthy and consistently joyous experience where the gameplay’s polish makes up for the game’s weaker elements.

Buy it, gift it, skirmish it, campaign it; whatever happens, just enjoy it. Spacecom is nothing more than it needs to be, and it very much is.

I Keep Having This Dream is a quick-playing game with an innovative design that’s easy to get into and develops real complexity as you play.

Fallen London is a text and story-driven game set in a highly original and expansive dark fantasy world that affords players an unusual amount of freedom to shape their character's destiny. The original web-based game runs well on mobile, but the recently released app is critically flawed.

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.

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.

Yakuza Kiwami on the Switch is sure to delight old and new fans alike, bringing the series to Nintendo systems at long last. Discover the Yakuza series in this remake of the first game where it all began with Kiryu and Majima in Kamurocho's dark streets.

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.

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.

The vibrant colours, dynamic soundtrack, and suitably grim story make Digimon Survive a truly impressive game. It doesn’t quite scratch the digital itch I have for the series like the World games do, but it does what it sets out to do fantastically. Oh boy, I just really love Digimon.

Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition has a few technical issues that may infuriate those of you that are used to modern RPGs. However, the story, unique characters, and gorgeous art make it worth pushing through if you’ve never played this amazing JRPG in the past.

INKS. is a light and fun diversion whose only real fault is the lack of a sense of progression.

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.

Though it has its technical flaws, this is an enjoyable RPG that brings some new ideas to the table.

Punch Club might have worked better as a card game, or with the immediacy of a visual novel interface.

It’s a smashing success in game design for the purposes of luring in new gamers and giving everyone a reasonable second choice when a game group comes together and has difficulty choosing a game.

Shardlight is constantly striving to build a real sense of tension and mystery, which is reinforced by an excellent understated soundtrack and the constant announcements that boom over the PA system in true Orwellian style. Who is behind the nihilistic death worshipping Cult Of The Reaper? Why is the place swarming with red-eyed ravens? What is that thing in the jar that Tiberius the leader of the Aristocrats keeps talking to? Hopefully all will be revealed before Amy succumbs to the dreaded green lung.

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.

Due to the rampant increase in difficulty and sometimes feeling wholly dependent on luck, Missile Cards is a great idea that frustrates just a little too much to be a great game.