Metroid Prime 4: Beyond delivers on all counts with stunning visuals, an outstanding soundtrack, and solid exploration. While not everyone will agree, at face value this is a wonderfully constructed game that has been worth the wait. If you’re on the fence, do yourself a favor and jump into Samus’ latest adventure.

Adventure of Samsara is a true metroidvania in every sense of the word. Sprawling maps, tricky combat, collectibles, upgrades; it’s got it all. Things may start slowly, but there’s a worthy adventure lying beneath the surface.

Let’s Sing 2026 offers a strong karaoke foundation buried under unnecessary complications and technical missteps that significantly impact the overall experience. If you were lucky enough to get the physical bundle that includes a USB microphone, you might get some enjoyment out of this game despite the unavoidable DLC issues.

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 solid, portable way to experience Hitman Absolution. It has a few flaws, but the motion controls, fair price, and upcoming Contracts Mode make the Switch port worth playing.

The gameplay of Dragon Ruins II is as simplified as its graphics, but don’t let that fool you; there is a lot of fun to be found in its gameplay loop. Genre fans may find they actually prefer Gravrobber Foundation’s old-school approach to dungeon crawling.

Gloomy Eyes provides a gently creepy experience that should appeal to younger gamers seeking a light puzzle/adventure challenge. Because of its short playtime and disappointing Switch visuals, however, consider its price (and perhaps other platforms) before exploring its gloomy, yes, but heartwarming world.

The tactical RPG Demonschool was certainly worth the wait after numerous delays on the Nintendo Switch. The game’s puzzle-based combat and comedic tones distinguish it from the retro influences it honors with a loving wink, and it never wears out its welcome.

Williams Pinball: Scared Stiff is a solid machine that makes a fun (although maybe overpriced) addition to your Pinball FX library. Its busy playing field exacerbates the dim lighting that Zen is now forcing us, but Elivra is the Mistress of the Dark, after all.

Elvira and the Party Monsters embraces its campy theme, with a bright and vivid presentation, backed up by an impressive audio package. This table offers plenty to keep you busy, with a range of scoring challenges. It’s arguable if it’s worth the launch price of $9.99. But if and when you pick this up, don’t be surprised if your thoughts line up with Elviras’ invitation, “How ’bout another ball”?

If you’re looking for a lengthy, in-depth driving simulator, you won’t find it with Truck Driving. However, if you want to play something on-the-go or share it with a young kid, they might find enjoyment out of it.

Who knows how much longer this version of Hyrule (that started in Breath of the Wild) will continue? If this is the end, it goes out on a high note, especially when enjoyed cooperatively. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is an entertaining entry that will keep you busy during the first holiday season of the Switch 2. Heck, packed with content and surprises, it’s one you’ll likely return to when the mood strikes as well.

Chicken Run: Eggstraction is a solid movie companion game that picks up where Dawn of the Nugget left off, complimenting action platforming adventure with cinematic cutscenes rich with Aardman’s signature style and humour.

Don’t overlook Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree. It offers the same frustrations common to soulslikes, but its visuals, soundtrack, and story comprise an experience that can and should be enjoyed by a much wider audience. (With help from its friendly difficulty options, mind you.)

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch may get off to a slow start, but the level grinding as you build up proficiency does bring some pleasant rewards. It may not be quite perfect, and many of the themes are “tried and true”, but this is a solid entry in the roguelike RPG genre.

Overall, Ball X Pit is one of the most fun games I’ve played this year. The bouncing-ball mechanic is a game-changer. Couple the addictive gameplay with the upgradeable characters and light sim elements, and Ball X Pit is easy to recommend.

Bad Cheese is a short psychological horror game that aims to evoke the chilling experience of keeping an abusive parent in a good mood. It has a great, old-school aesthetic, but could benefit from refining its pacing, mechanics and depth of storytelling to offer its fullest impact.

There’s no debating that the Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Edition is a great bundle of stellar games. But are there enough improvements and new content here to justify a full purchase so soon after the original releases? That’ll mostly depend upon how much you got out of them the first time (or on how antsy you are for the next Yumia adventure).

The Cabin Factory is a horror walking sim that somehow combines the frights of isolated cabin hauntings with the terrors of the 9 to 5. It does become repetitive and sometimes feels unfair, but remains entertaining enough for the hour or two it’ll take to complete it.

Strange Antiquities is a gorgeously designed game that uses a shop management setting to explore the compelling story of a community ravaged by occult monsters.

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots clearly needed more practice before teeing off on the Nintendo Switch. Thankfully, some necessary updates have significantly improved the game; however, one could argue that even more improvements are desired. I’m glad I held off on this review, because now (as a fan of video golf), I can appreciate it as a pretty good and content-rich title. Those less forgiving of its restrictive unlockable structure might bump it down a point, and wait to grab the game on sale.

If you prioritize up-to-the-minute aesthetics, Pokémon Legends: Z-A — and arguably any title in the series — isn’t for you. Still, I can’t deny how much fun I’ve had playing this game. Its addictiveness triumphs over any minor issues. Real-time battles and entertaining side quests shine in Lumiose City. Launching at $70 with $30 of DLC might give some pause. But if you have a spouse or kids who will play this one too, the value is there, with dozens of hours of thoroughly satisfying adventuring. Don’t miss this release.

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.

Particle Hearts leans heavily into its visuals and overall presentation, and that was probably the right thing to do. The narrative is revealed slowly and with only gentle guidance, leaving players to explore and discover the game’s secrets at their own pace. By all means, take your time with this one.

If detail management is not your cup of tea, your experience with Cladun X3 may end in frustration. With that considered, this is a very well-built action adventure that provides enough fun and depth to occupy dedicated players for quite a while.

Roadwarden is a great, text-heavy, retro-RPG that rewards the player’s attention. Just give yourself a lot of patience with both the nuanced storytelling (great) and the limitations of the Nintendo Switch controls (irksome).

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.

OFF is one of the most out-there titles I’ve played. It’s a creative game that’s sure to leave an impression. The turn-based battles are satisfying, the puzzles are some of the toughest and most creative I’ve seen in recent years, and the visual style stands out. If you’re a fan of quirky titles, this one is worth checking out.