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.