Grime Definitive Edition is a fascinating action-platforming experience that I can’t recommend experiencing on the Switch. Its unique visual and narrative presentations will compel genre fans to the end, but the game would surely be better enjoyed without Switch performance problems dragging it down.

The turn-based card battler Reigns: Three Kingdoms may not be exactly what you think when you first start, but it’s a good game worth adding to your deck-building library.

As far as arcade puzzle games go, Quadroids will likely be a bit too much for most single players to wrap their brain around. If you’re not worried about leaderboards, however, there’s plenty of fun to be had when taking on the mind-bending action with others.

Bahnsen Knights does a great job at keeping fans of visual novel adventures involved. It’s fun and unique story, visuals, and occasional minigames make it hard to put down, and it never feels repetitive or slow across the few hours it takes to complete it.

Lil Guardsman is a delightful game that draws you into the complex and nuanced story of a well-constructed fantasy world and explores its political turmoil. The characters and dialogue are wonderfully written, with a great sense of humor and clear indication that your choices, no matter how small, make an impact.

Jujutsu Kaisen Cursed Clash boils the elements of the show down to a fighting game that’s likely to appeal only to fans of the show. Even to them, we have to suggest there are many fighting games out there to better occupy your time.

AdventureQuest 8-Bit: Dungeons & Doomknights has its heart in the right place, but it relies a bit too much on parody to appeal to most gamers. Gameplay is outweighed by the comedy, leaving a generally flat experience if you’re not in on the joke.

Looking Up I See Only A Ceiling is a short, point-and-click adventure game that tells the story of a young girl whose stress leads her down some strange paths. The game can be played in as little as 30 minutes, but it does a great job conveying its message while remaining fun and haunting.

Overall, Promenade is a deceptively simple-looking title that’s full of things to do. There’s plenty of variety to keep you hooked, with challenging puzzles and platforming elements to conquer. It’s a sweet outing that’s super-satisfying to play.

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island is a turn-based, roguelike adventure that will help skeptics understand the appeal of such games. Frustration is part of the fun. And although the gameplay can feel unfair, every attempt to beat it is a joyful run.

Overall, qomp2 is simple yet thought-provoking. It’s challenging but not unforgiving. With its smooth controls and accessibility options, you can play this game however you want.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a splendid remake. The updated visuals and quality-of-life improvements add plenty to this already-fun title. The puzzles are interesting and challenging, with plenty of variety to keep you hooked.

Composer World is a no-frills approach to crafting songs. Despite the simple aesthetics, there’s a robust creation tool on offer here. It has its faults, such as the inability to change keys and the lack of a tutorial. However if you enjoy composing, this should satisfy anyone looking for a way to unleash their music into the world.

Fit My Cat is a great puzzle game that has no pressure. However, the controls can sometimes have their own mind, adding unwelcome frustration.

CLeM is a puzzle/adventure game for those who enjoy puzzle/adventures only to a certain point. Its simplification of exploration and inventory management allows the player to focus on the puzzles and the story, both of which hold up well over its short duration.

I generally like deck-building, turn-based strategy games, but I had a hard time really getting into Rising Lords. It isn’t bad—with special nods to the visuals and overall playing time—but the clunky controls and overly busy mechanics prevent it from being all it could be.

Tomb Raider I-III Remastered Starring Lara Croft does just enough with the original Tomb Raider games to make them a great fit for the Nintendo Switch. The ability to instantly flip between the original and remastered graphics is entertaining, but the real fun lies with the games themselves. And these are the three best Tomb Raiders ever made.

Golfinite is a cute little golf sim that sports a few neat ideas coupled with a retro style that looks and sounds nice. It’s a simple affair that could benefit from some tweaks or extras. I still enjoyed my time with it, for what it’s worth.

Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist is a fun, creative game, just maybe not for the Switch. It’s engaging and playable, but budding artists likely won’t enjoy the accommodations made for Joy-Con controls. If your goal in this adventure sim is to create artistic masterpieces, playing on a computer or with a drawing tablet is the best way to enjoy this unique game.

Despite its nearly 20-year-old origins, Hitman: Blood Money – Reprisal makes for a fun, violent time on the Nintendo Switch. The aging graphics and cumbersome controls aren’t enough to hamper its core stealth action gameplay no matter what playthrough you’re on.

Spells & Secrets has potential, but the frame rate drops on the Nintendo Switch make it frustrating to play. Otherwise, the controls aren’t too bad, but the overall story and characters are lackluster.

Hidden Through Time 2: Myths & Magic is fun, but some significant issues (at least on Switch) make it fall slightly short of its predecessor. It might be better to grab this one on sale or when DLC arrives (hopefully with a performance patch). Creative types might not want to wait that long.

Starward Rogue presents a solid shooter experience with a rocking soundtrack and plenty of action as you blast your way through five floors of bullet-riddled mayhem.

Gorgeous from start to finish, The Cub is a short but hugely entertaining 2D platformer that has been crafted with love to be not only a fun game to play, but a fantastic piece of satirical art that does not pull its punches in its critiques of contemporary reality.

Hammerwatch II’s graphics and world design are amazing, and the soundtrack fits super well into each area. The gameplay is still a little frustrating, though. And with the very real chance of losing all of your progress, I wouldn’t say it’s worth it. It’s sad to see such a well-designed game ruined by such fatal bugs.

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.

Overall, if you’re looking for something simple and chill that you can pick up and play whenever or tell yourself, “five more minutes,” then Pan’orama is a great choice.

I couldn’t help but think back to Minesweeper when playing Growth. There’s much more to this relaxing, nature-based, hexagonal puzzle game, but its reliance on a mixture of clever strategy and random luck will appeal to (or repel) the same crowd.