Wizard of Bug is a goofy title for this Sokoban game with a twist. It loses some of its early goodwill through needless plot, an unbalanced difficulty curve, and many more oddities. Locking content behind beating the game was also a sizable mistake. You can check out the demo if you like. But this release demands constant focus, and don’t be surprised if it really struggles to keep yours.

Shuten Order is so all over the place that its eShop listing doesn’t even provide a genre. But don’t take that as a lack of focus; this game knows what it wants to accomplish, and does so effectively. Players seeking a text-heavy adventure with uncomfortable choices to make are in for a wild (albeit occasionally overlong) time.

Overall, STORY OF SEASONS: Grand Bazaar is a faithful remake with great music and fun gameplay. This Nintendo Switch 2 Edition addresses stuttering seen on the original Switch when things are too busy on screen, and the framerate improvements make the game run much better and smoother. It’s like going from a DVD to Blu-ray, albeit at $10 more, as it’s priced at $59.99 on Switch 2. I’d still recommend this game (on either platform) to all STORY OF SEASONS fans, and highly recommend it to fans of Harvest Moon DS: Grand Bazaar, as it is a well-done remake that carries the spirit of the original.

Is This Seat Taken? is a terrific little indie outing that will make you smile. The logic-based puzzles feature groups of fussy people who know what they want. It’s satisfying to help them find their place while following a sweet story about fitting in. Well done to the developers!

As far as retro adventures go, Astral Takers is…fine. The summons feature keeps party management and combat flowing, and a couple of unique design choices make for some lively visuals. Unfortunately, exploration, dialogue, and the plot drag things down to where only dedicated JRPG fans are likely to play through to the end.

9th Dawn Remake is a solid dungeon crawler that you’ll sink hours and hours into. The main game has wonky controls for my taste, but the mini games are a blast.

Football Mini Stars is a bland soccer game that will hold your attention for only so long. If you’re looking for a simple sports game, then this is certainly one.

Power Sink is a clever, underwater puzzle/platformer with nice visuals and intriguing gameplay. Puzzle fans will enjoy the game’s built-in logic, but a host of glitches will sink the overall experience for many of those willing to take the dive.

Vasilisa and Baba Yaga is an uncomplicated game, with an enormous amount of love invested in its design. It’s not the most interactive game you can buy, but it acts as a fine introduction to the classic fable.

Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the most creative and fun titles. Ever. The smashing, music, co-op, upgrades. The smashing. This must-play Switch 2 title has set the bar for years to come. Do yourself a favor and play Donkey Kong Bananza as soon as possible.

Shadow Labyrinth moves Pac-Man from his traditional mazes to the caverns of a dying planet, and will likely lose classic arcade fans along the way. But although it makes some gameplay and design mistakes that should have been avoidable, it’s weird enough to provide some fun for fans of 2D platformers.

Everdeep Aurora, a pixel art platformer from Ysbryd Games, has its faults. It also has enough charm and personality to overcome them. Striking visuals, fun gameplay, and an absolutely adorable cat make this a game that arcade adventure fans should definitely check out.

MotoGP 25 is a solid motorcycle racing sim that looks and plays well. It’s got everything an enthusiast needs, from real-life riders to customizable bikes. After some time with the game, I still prefer four-wheeled races, but I also have a new appreciation for these two-wheeled beasts.

Driving for weeks now, I can better sum up my feelings on Mario Kart World post-honeymoon. It’s a great game that looks (and sounds) as outstanding as it plays—speedy, sharp, and smooth on Switch 2. It’s well worth the extra Bundle cost! Still, as a standalone $79.99 game, it’s undeniably lacking compared to its predecessors’ original tracks, overall number of tracks, and other features and polish. Doubtless, some free DLC will add needed content and give some existing content a tune-up. Mario Kart World is a game you don’t want to miss, one that crosses the finish line with its head held high.

You don’t have to like fishing to enjoy it. So if you’re hankerin’ for a good catch to get you through the summer heat, Nice Day for Fishing is definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of 16-bit RPGs.

Tomb Raider fans will appreciate the effort here in terms of faithfulness to the classic games, with both clear and subtle nods. Like Pinball FX as a whole, I’d hesitate to recommend this on the Nintendo Switch. But if you have a Switch 2, you’ll appreciate both of these pinball tables for different reasons.

No Sleep for Kaname Date – From AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES is a wonderfully effective mashup of puzzle-based gaming styles held together by fun characters and a chaotic story. A knowledge of the series is useful, but this entry served as my introduction, and I still had a blast.

Flora & Fang: Guardians of the Vampire Garden is the type of game that would’ve kept my friends and I entertained late into a 1980s Saturday night. Familiar arcade gameplay is supplemented by modern tower defense strategies and upgrades, providing more longevity than first expected.

Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition does something very right with the series. It features the classic action we know and love and introduces an RPG-like story mode. It looks great, plays well, and even has a happy feel to it. When did fighting become to much fun? Ready? Fight!

While the Wild West theme is unique to this type of game, Cattle Country offers little you haven’t seen elsewhere. A lack of originality isn’t surprising for this genre, but it’s still disappointing. The non-innovative approach would be less of an issue were this game refined, but multiple quirks and outright bugs show that’s not the case. The game could use more polish, so genre fans might be best waiting for a sale.

Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition is still a game that will push strategy fans to (and beyond) their limits. You’ll spend more time learning than playing. But the Joy-Con mouse functionality in this Switch 2-only release removes a major obstacle to the long-serving rewards awaiting those able to stick with it.

Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour probably should have been a pack-in release; not because it’s not worth the money, but because it’s turned into a PR nightmare. It also feels like the perfect game to include with a new system. At the end of the day, it wasn’t included; but it IS fun and interesting. So, if you like the sound of it, give it a go! If not, leave it alone. Someone at Nintendo worked hard to put this together, and I, for one, am glad I was able to experience it.

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.

Leftovers KO! showcases some very fun art of foodstuffs dealing with a fierce blow. It’s a fine little time-killer, but otherwise doesn’t have much going for it to make it stand out from the crowd of other novelty fighting games.

This 15-year-old game has aged well, with new cutscenes and other enhancements contributing to an epic, movie-like quality to the action. This prequel makes the perfect first entry for the Switch 2.

Although TRON: Catalyst may feel like a paint-by-numbers entry in the Tron series, it’s one of the better kits we’ve had. It stumbles over repetition and some awkward gameplay segments, but the solid story and franchise-familiar elements will carry fans through its somewhat short runtime.

It took me a while to realize I wasn’t having quite as much fun with Sonic X Shadow Generations as I expected, given the high praise of the 2011 console original. Such elevation likely reflects the quality of Sonic games declining over the past 20 years, as even the better new titles can’t reach the peak of the ‘90s classics. Combine that with no upgrade for existing owners, and Sega has made it challenging to recommend this one on Switch 2. Many players would be better off with Sonic Mania or Origins. But if you’re a diehard fan who hasn’t played this yet, wishlist it and wait for a discount—you’ll be safe knowing that, even though it’s showing its age more than most would care to admit, you’re sure to find some entertainment.

The roguelike, deck-based dungeon builder Into the Restless Ruins may not be a big budget spectacle, but strategy game fans will find it a solid addition to their game library.