Cronos: The New Dawn is an excellent addition to the survival horror genre, featuring an intriguing story that continues to mystify even as you get further in. The enemy design is good, and the combat is sure to please fans of Dead Space.

Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles has some fun yet immensely difficult strategy combat, a gorgeous art style, and an intriguing story. I would recommend the game to anyone looking for a challenge; however, if you’re only interested due to it having Final Fantasy in its name, this probably isn’t the game for you.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion struggles under the weight of ambition, while also needlessly playing to as many people as possible. It all blends together in a painfully dull experience that feels as murky as it looks. While some mech action and unique mechanics make it at least interesting, it’s a mediocre time that I would only recommend to die-hard fans or those who wait for a deep sale.

Destiny: Rising offers the quintessential Destiny experience that you know and love, but with a couple of changes that leave me asking questions. The gacha system feels a bit out of place in this world, but at least the characters are fun to use, and the microtransactions aren’t too intrusive.

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.

Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s a really solid farming game and a stellar entry into the franchise. It shines on Nintendo Switch 2 and runs perfectly well on the original Switch, too. If you like round cows, this is the game for you.

Drag x Drive can be a lot of fun, but it can also be just as frustrating when it doesn’t want to play ball. For me, it seems more like a showcase of the Nintendo Switch 2’s mouse mode controls than a game that stands out for its own merit. There’s likely an audience for this kind of thing; it’s just I don’t think I’m a part of it.

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.

Shadow Labyrinth offers a fresh look at a beloved franchise, throwing you into a dark new world where danger lurks around every corner. It's one of the best Metroidvanias I've played for some time, offering enjoyable combat, good boss fights, and a mysteious world with a story that begs you to unfold it.

Tales of the Shire has a lot to do in a sleepy, cozy way, from foraging to farming to cooking up elevenses and second breakfasts. I tried to play as much as I could, but the performance on Nintendo Switch saps the magic out of it and really dampens the fun.

Super Mario Party Jamboree's Nintendo Switch 2 Edition adds very little to the already incredible base game, and the Jamboree TV expansion is filled with gimmicky, lackluster game modes with the occasional nugget of gold thrown in.

No Sleep For Kaname Date is a unique futuristic detective game that successfully carries the torch of a beloved series. While wacky and perhaps a little sillier than its predecessors, it certainly offers more of what we love, packed with puzzles, quirky characters, and a bizarre mystery just waiting to be unraveled.

Donkey Kong Bananza elevates the 3D platformer genre with highly engaging mechanics, an almost entirely sandbox environment, and buckets of charm. This isn’t just the game that I’ve wanted to play for years without even knowing it, but it’s the first truly must-have Nintendo Switch 2 release. As I’m writing this, I already can’t wait to go back for more.

Patapon 1+2 Replay is a weird but wonderful rhythm game that I’d highly recommend for veteran fans and newcomers alike, providing hours of portable fun and a dose of nostalgia.

Hogwarts Legacy’s Switch 2 version is the best trip to Hogwarts you could have on a handheld console, and a huge improvement over the first Switch’s port of the game. The core problems of Hogwarts Legacy still exist, but in any case, it’s an impressive version that looks beautiful docked or on the go

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.

A long-awaited remaster of an iconic turn-based JRPG, the Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster finally brings the beloved title to modern consoles, allowing even more people to enjoy its charm. Unfortunately, the remaster falls short in some areas, and not every change is for the better, but it’s still a great time for fans of classic RPGs.

Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4 offer more of the extraordinary boss battles, mind-bending minigames, and side-splitting dialogue you’ve come to expect from Toby Fox. There are some frustrations, especially if you want to see all the possible endings and uncover all the secrets, but for the most part, I had a great time dealing with the Dark World’s latest dilemma.

Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4 offer more of the extraordinary boss battles, mind-bending minigames, and side-splitting dialogue you’ve come to expect from Toby Fox. There are some frustrations, especially if you want to see all the possible endings and uncover all the secrets, but for the most part, I had a great time dealing with the Dark World’s latest dilemma.

FBC: Firebreak should be a slam dunk for Remedy, with a unique elemental combat co-op hook and action that unfolds in the coolest parts of the studio’s connected universe. Sadly, dull, uninspired missions and a failure to capitalize on Remedy’s imagination hold the developer’s first proper multiplayer outing back massively. There could be something special here with future updates, but I’m struggling to see a future for it.

Cyberpunk 2077’s Nintendo Switch 2 port offers you a new way to play in the form of fluid motion controls, which has quickly become my favorite way to enjoy the combat in Night City. One of the best RPGs of the last decade is right at home on the new console, and I highly recommend both new and old fans give it a try.

Aside from an issue with characters clipping through walls, Hitman: World of Assassination performs really well on Nintendo Switch 2, making it a must-own for existing fans and an approachable entry point for new players with all of the freedom it affords you.

Mario Kart World might not completely reinvent the steering wheel, but it’s still a bold new vision for the 30-year-old series that takes some big risks with the classic formula. That said, thanks to some visually stunning new tracks, incredible karting tech, and a soundtrack that keeps my head bopping at all times, it’s already my favorite Mario Kart game to date, and I can’t wait to spend the next few years drifting and wall riding in Knockout Tour, Grand Prix mode, and beyond.

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.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is a great time filled with farming, decorating, and forming friendships. The game really is fun, with an interesting story and plenty to do, but the performance on Nintendo Switch can leave a lot to be desired due to muddy graphics and pop-ins.

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.

Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze continues the tough-as-nails platforming with new power-ups to help navigate the nastiest obstacles, as we’re treated to the best soundtrack in the series. However, the inconsistent difficulty makes for a less refined game and the bosses are dragged out to the point where fighting them becomes a chore.

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.