Redout 2 is a blast play for long-time F-Zero fans. Its blisteringly fast gameplay and brutal difficulty make it feel right at home with some of F-Zero’s more recent outings. The game demands precision, insanely fast reflexes, and the willingness to fail and try again. Redout 2 does this with just the right level of frustration, but also rewards and entices you back for more. It’s definitely not for newcomers to the F-Zero-like genre, as it’s easy to get frustrated and consistently lose races. It also doesn’t help that this Nintendo Switch version currently has a few visual and gameplay hiccups; they don’t ruin the experience but ultimately hinder it a bit. Regardless, Redout 2 on Nintendo Switch is a must-play for F-Zero fans.

I initially thought Billy Bumbum: A Cheeky Puzzler looked a bit silly, definitely juvenile, and a bit questionable as a game. After playing, it is a bit silly and definitely juvenile, but (there’s always a “but”, right?) it’s rather a good puzzle game with enough whimsy to keep it from overwhelming the less puzzle proficient.

Megaton Musashi W: Wired has a good-enough story and decent-enough gameplay to keep mech enthusiasts entertained, but the real attraction lies in the myriad ways to customize and overpower your robot. Players will want to spend more time in the hangar than on the battlefield. I think that’s OK in this case, as the battlefield isn’t terribly exciting.

PAW Patrol World provides a 3D adventure meant for preschool kids who enjoy the franchise or just want a simple game to play. Though it can be repetitive and won’t pose a challenge to even younger gamers, its open world mechanics and side missions—not to mention all the collectables—still leave room for plenty of enjoyment.

The very core of Epistory – Typing Chronicles is centered around words and story. The narrative and visuals carry over well to the Switch, but the typing combat gimmick requires the cumbersome use of an external keyboard or the built-in adaptation to Joy-Con controls. It’s a fun, clever game, but one that’s best experienced on the computer.

Bread & Fred is a unique platformer with moments of brilliance and frustration in equal measure. It looks lovely and has a great approach to co-op gaming, along with the inclusion of Jeff in single-player mode. It’s hard, so grab a patient partner if you want to enjoy this one.

Full Metal Schoolgirl offers a sharp, satirical look at corporate life. It’s humorous throughout, but the roguelike, action-oriented gameplay does become redundant. I’d rather my time slogging be spent in an actual office I’m meant to survive, not a virtual one I’m meant to destroy.

If you’re a big fan of point-and-click adventures, especially those respecting the genre’s heyday, you’ll find Guard Duty to be a good game. I can’t give it as high a recommendation as first thought due to some story aspects and the way they’re intertwined, but I liked it enough that I’m hoping for a sequel.

Klaus Lee – Thunderballs is an engaging homage to the TV and gaming action heroes of the ’80s. It’s not the deepest or most diverse platformer you’ll play on the Switch, but its 100+ levels and built-in level designer provide plenty of staying power.

Drova is an old-school action RPG with modern sensibilities. Unlike the games from which it draws inspiration, its focus on community makes the player feel they’re part of something bigger than the patronage of the local tavern. Better, it provides a real sense of accomplishment as your character slowly learns how to survive this grim but engaging world.

Gravity Oddity isn’t exactly a high-end action platformer, but it doesn’t pretend to be. It’s just a bit of fun, with the traditional arcade challenge to move around, do stuff, and not die. Genre fans will enjoy the interesting obstacle course layouts, order-of-operations paths to figure out, and challenging baddies to shoot.

Infinite – Beyond the Mind is a fun and fast platforming experience, bringing with it some excellent visuals and audio. With a little more depth and variety, this would be a must-have title.

Retro Goal is a solid game that does simple soccer well. It’s got a simple control scheme (thanks to its simple gameplay) and offers a surprisingly in-depth management element. Its simplicity is the only negative I can bring out, as you experience everything the game offense incredibly quickly. Your long-lasting enjoyment of this game will likely depend on your love of soccer. If you’re like me and aren’t a big soccer fan there are a few hours of fun to be found in Retro Goal.

Cassette Boy is a unique little adventure that will keep you thinking over the course of its short runtime. The classic look sparks nostalgia for older gamers, with a sweet story that could have been fleshed out further.

For the most part, R.B.I. Baseball 20 is the best the series has been in a lot of areas–even the soundtrack is better this year! That being said, they are no longer the only game in town. With other baseball games offering more solid gameplay, the R.B.I. Baseball series really needs to up their game. I prefer playing with real MLB teams, but if the gameplay isn’t as fun and engaging, more and more people will go to another arcade baseball title. R.B.I. Baseball 20 is a very solid experience, but not all of the new features hit a home run. And, no online multiplayer for the Switch audience makes the Switch version really hard to recommend over its console counterparts.

Cursed to Golf is a wholly unique golfing experience that is well worth checking out. The mechanics shake up the golf formula, allowing it to stand out among its peers and breathe new life (ironic, huh?) into this sports genre.The visuals and sound design across the board are a marvel, yet its frustratingly difficult gameplay can deter certain individuals from the key replayability this golf-roguelike offers.If you’re anything like me, your little golf would-be champion will be spending more than eternity in purgatory. If that’s even possible.

The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection offers three intense, challenging, and mostly thrilling Ryu Hayabusa games for the price of one. Three may be one too many, but this is still a good deal for those seeking visceral, violent, video-game action.

Door Kickers is a complex game made for the strategic thinker. There’s a lot of content to sink your teeth into, providing almost endless hours of S.W.A.T. combat. It could use better tutorials, and the convoluted controls may put some players off at first, but there’s a lot to uncover here for fans of tactical shooters.

The Complex is a cleverly made interactive movie with an intriguing sci fi plot that eerily parallels the real world.

With no alternative endings (again, there are no decisions to make, so no way to split off the narrative), it’s one-and-done with the visual novel Cross the Moon. But it’s priced accordingly, and should be an interesting read for fans of mysteries and the supernatural.

Firefighting Simulator – The Squad is a fun sim game with satisfying sound effects and simple gameplay. However, the levels get repetitive.

Syrup and the Ultimate Sweet is a short, sweet game that has enough heart and replayability to it that it is definitely worth the cheap price.

The core arcade shoot-em-up action is what carries Battle Planet – Judgement Day through. It’s a little too repetitive by design to push you straight through, but it’s a fun, fairly priced diversion to boot up every now and again, especially with a buddy by your side.

The puzzles in Iris.Fall can sometimes be momentum killers, and they will likely cause some players to leave the game unfinished despite its short duration. However, those who stick with it will be rewarded with an experience that never ceases to visually delight (and reward) the player.

Down in Bermuda is a fun little puzzle-adventure. That said, I beat it in just over three (leisurely) hours. The $19.99 launch price is hard to justify, especially for a game whose mobile origins shine through in both looks and feel. So wishlist this one for a future sale.

The turn-based RPG The World of Kungfu: Dragon and Eagle is in equal parts clever and frustrating. The unique approach to combat, team building, and customization is fun and perfectly set up for multiple playthroughs. Story progression is often aimless, however, and the gameplay idiosyncracies could be better explained.

The Company Man is a competent platformer with beautifully hand-drawn artwork. The character designs are impressive. The boss battles are genuine, and each boss is unique in its design. However, the game suffers from some design flaws, mainly around the inability to aim projectiles and duck. This will require you to rethink how you may handle some of the more challenging bosses. In addition, the story isn’t intriguing, and it’s disappointing that the story didn’t match the beauty of the game’s art.

Howl combines challenging turn-based gameplay, creative visual effects, and a somber story to produce a unique strategy puzzle game. Built-in repetition and a lack of instruction do slow things down, but, taken in smaller doses, there’s enough here to compel most puzzle fans through to its resolution.

Steel Assault nails its presentation, and I’m impressed more than enough that I’ll keep an eye out for Zenovia Interactive’s next release. It does need to look closer at the retro arcade classics of yesteryear that it aims to honor, though. Trading in the 1-life setup for co-op would be a wise start, as would be the addition of scoring. This gorgeous game might be better on sale, but it’s an accomplished title that does many things with skill.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian is a series callback not just with its familiar characters, but in the simplified exploration, synthesis, and turn-based combat, too. Fans of older Atelier games may welcome the change, but it may have simplified too much for those seeking a challenge worthy of its price tag.

Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection Vol. 1 will be a letdown for those who’ve already purchased some (or all) of the fighters released prior. But if you’ve been wondering why SNK hasn’t bundled these handheld games together, wonder no more. While very much a mixed bag, there’s enough here for the curious, and more so for fans. Bring on Vol. 2.

While Dark Devotion certainly adds a few novelties for a roguelike, it maintains a high difficulty level that can be off-putting. It looks lovely, though some iffy controls and sometimes convoluted story detract from the overall enjoyment.

The Persistence is a game built of components that any fans of the horror and sci-fi genres will recognise, in a format that merges seamlessly with them to make an absorbing and challenging game.

When all’s said and done, though, Centipede is so classic that it’s almost always enjoyable on any system, and the same is true here. I hope Atari tries harder with future Recharged installments, but I can’t deny that this mixed version is still fun. If you have someone to play co-op with, grab the game and hope for Millipede: Recharged to follow.

Although Star Horizon could really use some more levels to stretch out its short story, if you are generally OK with on-rail space shooters, this game is generally OK. I can’t say it is great, but it is a good game and should keep your trigger finger happy for a few hours.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is a colorful combination of two popular puzzle games with plenty to keep you busy. A robust story mode and chaotic multiplayer matches are very entertaining. If this was a new gane, it would receive higher marks. I’m glad it’s on the Switch 2, but it’s a shame there’s no upgrade option for owners of the original Switch version.

A Night at the Races does an admirable job of balancing difficult, twitch-style gaming with a narrative that’s unique to the genre. It’s not for everyone, but those who are up to the challenge will find it a bit more rewarding than most high-speed platformers.

Grow: Song of The Evertree is reasonably compelling for the first few hours. But in juggling a lot, some of its more commonplace elements are uneven. While the story sings a familiar tune and long load times add up, this is still a worthwhile adventure with many surprises. Just be prepared for some feeling of recognizable repetition as you play at your own pace.

Story of Seasons and perhaps even most Doraemon fans will feel at home in the latest entry of the celebrated series. While the manga cat’s inclusion doesn’t exactly breathe new life into the franchise, it certainly doesn’t ruin it. And while it’s on the pricier end of the series’ spectrum, it’s perhaps also the best-looking entry to date. If you’re looking for a cozy farm simulator and are all Stardew Valley-ed out, Doraemon Story of Seasons will surely satisfy.

A fun point-and-click game from 2012 that you can tell is at least a decade old. The storyline is interesting and will make up for some of the visual flaws of the game.

Signs of the Sojourner is a good, challenging card game that has more at stake than expected. Replayability is high as you create various decks, befriend new people, and try to get that good ending.

One Escape is a unique puzzle platformer that’s fun for the first few levels before it becomes repetitive.

Though it is rather easy, Stitchy in Tooki Trouble should appeal to younger gamers or those looking for a simple, quick platforming romp.

Freedom Finger is at best hit-and-miss. For every positive, there’s also an obvious flaw, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still a good game. It’s certainly not for everyone, primarily because of the offensive tone of the game, yet the moments that really do land and the cracking soundtrack make it worth playing.

Catherine: Full Body is a fun and unique puzzle game with a story that is fine if you don’t interrogate it too closely.

If the idea of a future with cyborgs and robots battling each other interests you, and you don’t mind a bit of a learning curve, then Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is probably for you. There were times where battles felt long and drawn out and even a bit slow. A few times, battles felt overwhelmingly difficult. Fans of the Warhammer series may have a better understanding and experience with the game. Overall it was a fun playthrough and should definitely be considered for your next strategy game.

Skull Rogue is a unique endless adventure. The gameplay is simple, and the idea to beat your previous record is fun. However, what starts as a challenge quickly becomes too easy.

Detective Pikachu Returns is a welcome return for our mystery-solving duo. Although it comes across as simple in many ways, you’ll still find enjoyment if you’re in the mood for a relaxing game with a good story.

A weird, beautifully rendered combination of Limbo and Super Mario Brothers, Saviorless is an interesting take on an action-platformer.

Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast is a bit of a grind at the beginning, but if you can endure the first part then the game will open up into Jedi Force battles and light saber combat which will make all the Star Wars fans happy. For the cost of the game (currently only $9.99), it’s worth putting in your rotation.

Tic-Tac-Letters by POWGI is a relaxing, unique puzzle game that’s good for all puzzle-solvers.

Night Lights is an enjoyable puzzle platformer with unique gameplay mechanics. However, while it’s different for the puzzle genre, the game itself quickly gets repetitive.

Atomic Heist is a simple roguelike with a cool sci-fi story and all the colourful explosions you could wish for.

Epic Word Search Collection doesn’t particularly excite, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do. If you own (and have enjoyed) prior Lightwood titles, the length of this one makes it worth adding to your Nintendo Switch digital library.

Quarters, Please! has charm, is entertainingly retro, and replayable. Yes, it has cut a few games, but it’s added even more in their place. It’s basic but fun, and the latter has become a real rarity on the Nintendo 3DS in 2019.

Mosaic Chronicles Deluxe uses virtual puzzles to serve two fables by fantasy author Olga Gromyko. The puzzle gameplay is not as tight as in competing games on the Switch, but the stories provide enough incentive to compel players through the game’s 50 levels.

As someone who grew up with NES platformers, Gimmick 2! feels like having a favorite dish at a new restaurant where they’ve tweaked the recipe by adding one or two new ingredients. I know I’ve had better, but it’s still tasty. While this challenging game doesn’t earn the broad recommendation I hoped for, it’s worth a long look for skilled platformer enthusiasts.

Rotund Takeoff is a quirky game that is well constructed to be adorable yet fiercely challenging and rapid-paced.

6Souls is a challenging platformer with great graphics, music, and gameplay. It can border on frustrating, but if you’re a glutton for punishment, have a high level of patience, and/or love a challenge, this one might be worth checking out.

Reus 2 is a slow, thoughtful god game where you shape planets and watch civilizations react to the world you create. It focuses more on experimenting and learning than fast action or strict rules. The Switch controls can be a little clunky, but once things click, it’s a relaxing and rewarding experience. It’s best suited for players who enjoy chill, creative strategy games over constant excitement.

Trails and Traces: The Tomb of Thomas Tew has room for improvement, but I appreciate the game for its humorous characters, diverse locales, and well-done puzzles. Finding a fully voiced graphic adventure for just $4.99 is something to value as well. Now bring on a sequel with better control options and a less cliched finale.

Tandem: A Tale of Shadows is a cute, clever puzzle game with a distinct style and engaging challenges, which could benefit from a more fully realised narrative.

While the puzzles could have been done better, the storyline in Call of the Sea is top notch with fantastic voice acting and atmospheric sounds.

A fun little fantasy platformer, The Skylia Prophecy makes for a charming throwback to the early days of gaming

Misc: A Tiny Tale is a very cute game with a surprisingly profound and impactful story that transforms cleaning up the world around you into an adventure.

While not the best point-and-click adventure game in the land, Lone McLonegan is worth a playthrough if you’re into the puzzle/adventure genre. The $9.99 asking price comes with pleasantly quirky visuals and music, slightly odd puzzle solving, and some funny dialogue.

Research and Destroy does enough to be a fun turn-based strategy game. The unique gameplay elements truly make you strategize completely before acting on the battlefield. There’s also the great drop-in and drop-out multiplayer, creating a new level of chaotic fun. It does lack replayability, as you’re shown everything on your first runthrough. That said, if you’re a fan of turn-based strategies, this is one game you should check out.

Sumire is a visual novel adventure that should appeal to anyone who has experienced loss or just ever felt disconnected from the world. It’s perhaps over too quickly for the price, but it’s an enjoyable, fulfilling adventure while it lasts.

Smoots answers the question, what would it be like to combine the look of Wii Sports with the action of Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games – in a budget format? It’s fun and easy to play, though it won’t have much staying power. Give it a go if you’re looking for a party game alternative while you’re waiting for the next Mario and Sonic title.

While the gameplay gets repetitive after a while, Monster Prom XXL has unique characters, a fun art style, and interesting twists for the dating sim genre.

WiZmans World Re;Try is a good JRPG that you’ll be able to put hours into. However, the gameplay may get repetitive after a while.

Roundguard is a unique twist on the RPG and puzzle genres. With smooth controls and fun gameplay, Roundguard has some great potential.

Admittedly, Farm Tycoon’s buggy on the Switch, and missing touch screen support leaves SONKA in the hot seat. But the amount of content, and the variety therein, combined with its addictive nature, makes this a good, if sloppy, pick for genre fans.

Harvest Moon: The Winds of Anthos is an open world farming game that celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Harvest Moon series. While there are cool new features that fans will enjoy, Winds of Anthos has a few issues when it comes to performance and gameplay. However, it can be a lot of fun if you’re patient enough to make it through the prologue and can get the hang of managing your energy.

NBA 2K26 should look and perform better on the Switch 2. It should also tone it down with all of the microtransaction noise on top of an already $70 game. But if you’re willing to overlook those issues, you’ll get a game that’s a lot of fun to play and provides many ways to play it.

With Seek Hearts, Exe Create has crafted a story that drives you to see it through to completion. Now RPG fans who aren’t enthusiastic for old school visuals might want to bookmark this game for a future sale, even though the price is fair for all the content included. For my part, I enjoyed beating the game, even with the hit-or-miss enemies.

Glitch Busters: Stuck On You is a fun multiplayer game with smooth controls, vivid cartoon graphics, and upbeat music to enjoy. If you need a new party game for your next game night, this title is a solid option.

BIT.TRIP CORE is not for the easily frustrated. It’s difficult, and the repetitive gameplay does not reward those who aren’t immediately interested. That said, fans of challenging rhythm games may find themselves put into an early ’80s-style arcade trance from which they won’t want to escape.

Mr. Prepper is a slow-paced but absorbing survival game with a focus on building relationships, which rewards the grind with an increasingly bizarre nuclear plan.

Thy Sword is a good platformer with many controls that need time to get familiarized with. Once you get past that, the gameplay is pretty fun. This is one to go back to once in a while.

Chicken Police – Paint it RED! combines the storytelling of a visual novel with the puzzle-solving of a point-and-click adventure to create a decidedly different gaming experience. The slick, cinema noir style and distinctive anthropomorphic presentation do enough to cover up any shortcomings that would otherwise dissuade you from seeing this case through to its exciting end.

No Straight Roads often has a frustrating difficulty that stems more from developer choices and less from player skill, making for flawed fun. This rhythm brawler is best played as an in-sync duo or trio. But a slicker, more stylish toe-tapping passion product, you’re not likely to find. I hope to see more of Bunk Bed Junction.

Playing Battle Supremacy: Ground Assault was an enjoyable experience. I enjoyed playing through the campaign even if the story was something I felt like I had heard before.

Best Month Ever is a touching adventure game about a mother trying to set her son up with a good life as she faces a terminal illness. The game tackles serious subjects such as racism, sexism, and violence, and the choices you make along the way will affect Mitch and shape the man he grows up to be.

Trash Goblin is a cozy sim in which you play as a goblin in charge of a travelling cart. You find, clean, and upgrade different kinds of antiques—from trinkets to weapons—and sell them for a profit. Help local townfolk, get to know different creatures, and enjoy the fantasy elements as you upgrade your tools and shop, becoming a master of your craft.

Cuisineer combines restaurant management and dungeon crawling to create a simple but absorbing game. It is cute and relaxing in a way that makes it easy to unwind while still working towards goals that are satisfying to achieve.

Police Stories is a top-down shooter featuring stealthy missions as you work through a case in the late ’90s. There’s a fun and addictive game here, if you can get past the difficulty level.

Fans of All Elite Wrestling should feel quite comfortable within the sometimes goofy but always engaging AEW: Fight Forever. Technically, there’s room for improvement, but the game nails the AEW tone and arcade gameplay that are the reasons many wrestling game fans have been seeking for quite some time.

B.ARK is a fun (if awkwardly named) shooter that could use a bit more content and final polish. It’s hard not to like the game for its colorful presentation and fun gameplay. But it’s also hard to love it, knowing what it lacks at present. Make sure to grab Adventures of Pip first, but add B.ARK to your eShop wishlist.

Overall The Red Lantern is full of heart and charm, but with some disappointing execution that had much potential. The journey felt short, and I noticed a few bugs, at one point getting so bad I had to restart. I feel like it is too short to be $24.99. But if you love dogs, making choices, and the great Alaskan wilderness, this game would be worth picking up if on sale.

Etrian Odyssey II HD follows a nearly identical path to its prequel while boasting some features that embellish the fun of the original. It pairs a very similar storyline and gameplay with equally refreshed graphics and music to celebrate its port to the Switch.

A Juggler’s Tale is a polished title, delivering a smooth gameplay flow that’s over too quickly for its launch price. Anyone can appreciate the visual presentation and voiced story. Meanwhile, enthusiasts will enjoy the blend of puzzles (albeit easy ones) and action. It’s a unique game in many ways and one that leaves an impression. But, it also leaves you wanting more. I hope to cheer on Abby in a sequel, one whose price better matches its length.

Knockout Home Fitness is a Switch exclusive competing with the Fitness Boxing series and the expanding number of Switch workout games. I always welcome additional choices, and it manages to hold its own, more or less. But the price might be high for the content of a title that never aims to be anything more than “good enough.” Weigh the pros and cons and check out the demo to decide if you want to “Knock out inactivity” with this one.

Real-life hunters should appreciate Hunting Simulator 2. Virtual hunters may sometimes find themselves in want, as this game can straddle the line between relaxing and dull. But it should grow on you, as your canine companion also grows beside you. You’ll develop “nerves of steel, and an incredible amount of patience.” Be prepared to invest a lot of time to get the most out of this entertaining if uneven offering, though.

Overall, the gameplay in DC’s Justice League: Cosmic Chaos got repetitive, and the lack of multiplayer in the story mode was a bummer. However, this title is a solid beat-’em-up with amazing voice acting and comical script writing.

Aldred Knight of Honor is a budget title, but it does a great job of feeling like more. Having played it on my phone I can say it is much more enjoyable on Nintendo’s console and feels like an entirely different game. Players looking for a decent action game should certainly take the time to check it out.

Paper Cut Mansion is a cute and spooky roguelite with a brilliant sense of design and a tantalizing mystery at its core.