A narratively disconnected relationship makes Old Skies stumble badly at the end. But that aside, this polished release is generally great. I’d love to see a sequel that explores more of ChronoZen and its staff while jettisoning the romantic fluff to a side-story spinoff visual novel. The best way to make that happen is to check this title out. Old Skies starts brilliantly and maintains its grip with fun individual stories and an overall sci-fi plot that keeps ticking in mostly thoughtful ways.

To succeed as a Metroidvania, a game has to set itself apart from the rest. SuperEpic’s second-screen mini-game approach is not only an innovative concept, it helps underline the satirical conceit the game’s story lays out. Even with its shallow combo-based combat system, there’s plenty here for fans of the genre to enjoy.

Kickback Slug: Cosmic Courier is a pleasant little diversion with a dash of sarcasm, a pinch of difficulty, and a sprinkle of silliness (leave out the salt; our hero has some issues with that ingredient for some reason). What the game lacks in depth, it makes up for with simple fun.

The Legend of Steel Empire for Nintendo Switch strikes a solid balance between its modern upgrades and its Sega Genesis roots. Despite its short campaign, the game offers plenty for shmup fans to uncover and master without completely overwhelming casual arcade players.

Miitopia surpassed my expectations! There’s a surprising amount of content here, given the initial appearance and cutesy graphics. If you prefer the light-hearted side of RPGs, there’s a lot of fun to be had, with a lengthy game on offer. And it is loads of fun creating Miis of your family and friends (or teddies and pets) along the way.

Despite suffering from some issues on the user-experience end, Clue: The Classic Mystery Game is a lovable take on the classic board game, and one of the best renditions of the murder mystery to date. With new DLC, there’s never been a better time to check it out on Nintendo Switch!

HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition is perhaps thus named because it literally requires your signature to play. Once you’re past that and a few other technical and online issues, however, you’ll get a ton of content with countless ways to work through it. Make room for the 60GB install file, because you’ll want to keep this game around for a very long time.

For anyone who loved Ender Lilies, or enjoys Metroidvania games in general, Ender Magnolia is a must-play. It includes a good amount of exploration, a great story and beautiful hand drawn graphics.

Which Way Up: Galaxy Games is a super-fun and well-designed party title. The dreamy aesthetics and music coupled with the gravity-based mechanics help create a unique experience for all players.

Hermitage: Strange Case Files does many things right, with well-written characters, interesting cases, and incorporating gameplay that affects the story’s outcome. If you are looking for a very good visual novel and enjoy creepy mysteries with a twist of supernatural to solve, Hermitage: Strange Case Files is a solid choice.

Everhood 2 is an RPG broken down to its core elements—visually and procedurally—then remixed as a rhythm-based action game. It baffles at the start, continues to challenge and surprise, and ends before you’ve had the chance to really figure out what was going on. It’ll captivate players who are willing to let it.

Zombie Army 4: Dead War might be one of the most technically impressive games to come to Nintendo Switch in quite some time. With all the action on screen, the game manages to maintain a smooth and consistent experience regardless of how many enemies or online players are present. It’s a goofy, campy title that knows it’s goofy and steers into that goofiness throughout your adventure. It’s also unique in that it’s as much fun to play by yourself as it is to play with friends, although I have to admit playing with friends makes the experience a little more hysterical. While the character movement is too janky for its own good, this doesn’t ruin the experience at all. Put simply, if you’re looking for a good zombie shooter to play by yourself or with friends, then Zombie Army 4 must absolutely be at the top of your list.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero takes us back to the formation of the SSS, an organization Switch gamers will know from the Trails of Cold Steel games. It also takes us back to a relatively simpler system that’s perfectly sized for JRPG adventuring on the go.

I found Autonauts to be tedious at first, then really fun, then exhausting. It’s a fun challenge, but in the end, I just wanted to build a robot to tell all the others what to do so I could sit down and read a book.

A Tiny Sticker Tale is a cute game in which you play as a little donkey who explores new areas, collects many stickers, and helps people along the way. The explorative puzzle/adventure gameplay is super fun, and not too challenging; its simple style makes it easy to complete, leaving you feeling accomplished and happy.

Much like a deep dish pizza, Way of the Passive Fist isn’t what it seems on the surface. And like the heavy alternative to the NY slice, it’s not something I can recommend to everyone. However, it’s a totally inventive, gorgeous, and well-executed spin on rhythm-based games, where the action never lets up.

In lesser hands, Harvestella’s balance of JRPG and farming sim could’ve ended up as a bland mishmash. Instead, Live Wire and Square Enix have created a solid blend. Its effective gameplay loop and engaging story push you down surprising paths that are fun to travel.

Children of Silentown is yet another story centered around a mysterious town with a disturbing past (and present), but it’s handled with a sense of tenderness and youthful optimism that’s often missing from modern games. It’s one of the most cohesive and engaging puzzle adventures I’ve played in quite a while, and it’s well worth your time.

There is plenty to do and see in this game that justifies the price of entry. However, Black Book’s most valuable asset is the rich setting and lore that it showcases with pride.

Castle Pals uses clever character and level designs to create a somewhat fresh-feeling platforming experience. The short and sweet levels are meant to be completed quickly, and it’s certainly fun while it lasts.

What Minute of Islands lacks in gameplay, it makes up for with it’s beautiful world and in-depth story telling. If you want a faced-paced, action-packed adventure, Minute of Islands is a game you’ll want to skip. But for those of you who want a more relaxing, narrative-based game, I highly recommend checking it out.

Almost There: The Platformer takes a stripped-down approach to enemies and level design and adds a twist: while gravity can kill you, it only has limited power over your movement. It subverts the jumping puzzle game and manages to meld it with a fun brainteaser because the designers realize that a real-world motion (the joystick) doesn’t have to play by real world rules.

Metro: Last Light is included in the ‘Metro Redux’ package for the Switch. While you can certainly buy the games separately from the eShop, I think it’s still good to experience the series from its roots. You’ll notice the improvements that have been made and I believe your time with the game will be that much more satisfying. Just like with Metro 2033, this game features all of the DLC including a ‘Ranger Mode’ that offers a HUD-less, UI-less experience with more powerful enemies and even fewer resources. If you can’t get enough of the Metro experience, you’ll want to give the Ranger Mode a try.

Overall, R.B.I. Baseball 21 has a number of new features that bring it more in line with similar baseball games on the market. I enjoy my time with each new iteration but I do hope that the developers work on more fluid animations and overall ‘feel’ of the gameplay. It can be frustrating at times seeing players move strangely across the field or feeling like the ball is ‘magnetizing’ into a defender’s glove in an odd manner. Even though there’s the occasional stutter when loading between innings or frame rate issues in the home run replays, it has still come a long way since R.B.I. Baseball 17. I’ve got to give the developers credit for sticking with the series and always aiming to improve each year. If you’re looking for an MLB-licensed, arcade-focused baseball game, you won’t really find a better option on the Switch.

Galaxy Champions TV is a smooth shooting arcade game with satisfying gameplay and that itch to play more.

Simple yet effective, Overwhelm takes the concepts at the very core of the horror genre and presents them in the form of a nostalgic and addictive game.

Alphadia Neo is a steadily entertaining RPG for 15 hours, give or take your side quest consumption. Extra challenges and a handful of post-game extras are a bonus. With enjoyable battling and fun fishing, this one is better than the sum of its parts and comes recommended.

A fun fighting game with crisp graphics and smooth controls. With various characters and modes, the gameplay seems endless.