Pokemon Let's GO ushers in a brand new era for the Pokemon brand and I couldn't think of a better way for the core franchise to makes its debut on the Nintendo Switch.

The game's mechanics perfectly ride the wave of success of the Pokemon GO phenomenon. Some core fans will be disappointed and that's completely fine, but the direction of Let's GO Pokemon is clear and it succeeds in its mission to provide a simple, yet addictive Pokemon game that can be enjoyable for all gamers. It's Pokemon at its addictive best and the only option is to set out and Catch 'Em All.

An intelligent reinvention of the tried and true SoulsBorne formula. It successfully manages to strike a delectable balance between difficult and enjoyable, without the frustrating moments players might’ve experienced in Dark Souls or Bloodborne. Owing to its fast-paced combat that rewards an aggressive approach, Sekiro is both fulfilling and satisfying and easily the best of FromSoftware’s games yet.

If Avowed didn't scratch the RPG itch for you earlier this year, The Outer Worlds 2 surely will. This is a confident and ambitious sequel that feels like Obsidian's vision has been fully-realised. It isn't without many of the issues that plague modern RPGs today, but ultimately makes for an experience that's all too easy to sink many an hour into.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is yet another arresting, artful chapter in an adventure now two games long. Though it might approach iteration with a very safe hand, only going so far as to correct the original’s shortcomings, Ninja Theory’s clear strengths in story craft, audiovisual design, as well as their care for the dark subject matter manage to shine through brighter than ever before.

Taking off the nostalgia goggles for a moment, Toys For Bob have done a brilliant job in revamping a classic trilogy of games. In updating the visuals and tweaking the controls, they’ve stayed true to the source material and crafted an experience so involving that you’d be forgiven for thinking this was a brand new game. Initial viewings had me concerned that they might not be able to live up to the hype; but on playing the game, for the briefest moment I was eight years old again – and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II effortlessly builds upon the original game to offer a true open world in every sense of the concept. While some obtuse systems and unforgiving design choices may put some players off, Deliverance II feels like a game that better achieves all the potential that the original game had. It's engaging, exciting, and a lot more inviting. And for that, it's a truly successful sequel.

While Resident Evil Village channels the best bits of several Resident Evil games, it stands on its own to be something never done before in the franchise. A macabre potpourri of European, gothic inspired styles of tension and horror, Resident Evil Village is a worthy follow-up to Resident Evil 7: biohazard and one that any self-respecting horror fan shouldn’t miss.

Stray is a brisk and relentlessly charming adventure that offers a very unique window into a gorgeous sci-fi world. It won't challenge your mind or your reflexes too much but it'll absolutely delight your senses. Importantly, it's a video game with a dedicated 'meow' button, and what could possibly be better than that?

When it comes to Wii U ports that have made their way over to the Nintendo Switch, Pikmin 3 has probably received the most love, care and new content of any of them. The game is much more accessible than it was before, making it perfect for newcomers to the series with enough new content to give fans of the series a reason to come back.

Ultros takes the durable, and fortunately resurgent, genre of Metroidvania and places a clever roguelike spin on it that incorporates memory and gardening, placing it all within a cosmic womb orbiting a black hole at the edge of space. It’ll be El Heurvo’s art that’s sure to capture your attention at first, but Ultros’ several wedded ideas flower into a game that does well to keep it.

Persona 3 Reload is a confident remake of a truly seminal RPG that cements itself as the definitive way to play Persona 3. It's clear that careful thought and deliberation has gone into every aspect of Reload to respect the legacy of Persona 3 while preserving its timeless charm and atmosphere. An absolute must play for any fan of the franchise, and a great point to jump in for those looking to take the plunge into Persona.

Dragon Quest Builders is fantastic, marred only by a high price point and some performance issues in handheld mode.

I’d be completely lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit disappointed that there weren’t one or two new Colossi featured in the game (even after finishing it, or perhaps as time trials only).

Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is easily the best and most robust collection of classic Capcom fighters so far. While the lack of crossplay is still a disappointment carrying over from Capcom Fighting Collection, everything else about this collection shines bright. It is a truly exhaustive compilation that celebrates so much no matter how much you're into Capcom, Marvel or both.

Just like Rocksteady did for Batman, Arc System Works has carried Dragon Ball to the upper echelon, crafting a tag-fighting game that captures not only the series' distinctive style but its spirit. FighterZ stands alongside other versatile, yet accessible, games like Marvel vs. Capcom with ease in what is the best fighting game in recent memory.

Persona 3 Reload is a confident remake of a truly seminal RPG that cements itself as the definitive way to play Persona 3. It's clear that careful thought and deliberation has gone into every aspect of Reload to respect the legacy of Persona 3 while preserving its timeless charm and atmosphere. An absolute must play for any fan of the franchise, and a great point to jump in for those looking to take the plunge into Persona.

At the end of it all, even under immense scrutiny and in spite of some disappointing shortcomings, there's no getting around the fact that I had a giant grin on my face for just about the entirety of Final Fantasy VII Remake. It's an enjoyable enough game if you're a casual fan of Final Fantasy or action RPGs, but if you're in it for the fandom you may just have your mind blown. It's not a perfect game, but it absolutely exceeded my expectations of what a remake of Final Fantasy VII could be. All that's left now is to (not so) patiently wait for the next part…

Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania is a confident and addictive reminder of why Monkey Ball was so popular back in the day. It truly feels like a celebration of the franchise that’s jam-packed with content, bonuses, and unlocks. Monkey Ball still holds up with addictive challenge, fantastic music and a goofy, yet endearing premise, and all of it is accentuated by small yet meaningful additions that makes it more accessible than ever before.

The gist of it is though; this is more than just a few updates slapped on top of an existing game, it's a complete rethinking of the major and minor components that made the original what it was. For Persona 5 megafans who are ready to play through the game again, Royal is a very compelling package that more than justifies the double dip, and for curious newcomers it's an absolute no-brainer.

Silent Hill 2 is a great remake that captures the essence of the original game, expanding it in all the right ways without ruining the spirit of the original. While this is easily the best game Bloober has ever made, and perhaps even their scariest, simplistic combat is the only thing that keeps this horror epic from reaching its true potential. Regardless, this Silent Hill 2 remake is everything you could hope for and more, and hopefully, a sign of great things to come for the series. It’s a clever and inventive expansion of the original that you wouldn’t know you needed……until now.

An improvement in every aspect, Overcooked 2’s addition of ever changing kitchen experiences as well as online multiplayer options cements itself as one of the best multiplayer (especially co-op) experiences you can buy right now. Delicious.

Battlefield 6 is the revival the franchise desperately needed, blending nostalgia with modern polish to deliver its best multiplayer in years. With a strong launch and more content on the way, it feels like Battlefield is finally back where it belongs.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is the best way to experience one of the best modern JRPGs of our time. It's a timeless experience bolstered further by uplifted production values that simply must be experienced by anyone who is a fan of the genre.

Fall Guys is not only a charming, whimsical take on one of television’s biggest spectator events, it’s on my shortlist of the year’s very best games. I don’t think the Mediatonic team could have ever dreamed just how big of a success their one-page pitch inspired by It’s A Knockout would amount to. It’s insanely addictive with the rapid turnaround episode-to-episode making it easier than ever to keep telling one of gaming’s biggest lies: “Alright, just one more.”

Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury is a fantastic package that showcases what makes Nintendo games so special. Super Mario 3D World is just as good as when it released, and Bower's Fury is a surprisingly good standalone adventure that paves the way for the future of Mario.

WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2 is excellent - it’s the full-fat experience that you can take on the go without compromise. Gripes aside, this is the definitive wrestling game for Switch players.

Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a strong return for the series, bringing together incredible art direction, strong level design, and a combat loop that's both endlessly satisfying and addictive. Sprinkle in some light Metroid-inspired backtracking and some incredibly challenging optional content, and you've got an experience that goes above and beyond anything offered by previous Shinobi games. And while the original soundtrack is average, the voice work is sterile and the story even more so, Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is an incredibly entertaining and satisfying action platformer that's well worth your time.