Go Mecha Ball is a challenging game that will keep you wanting to try again. However, if you lose, you start back at square one, which can be frustrating.

Pinball M – Camp Bloodbrook is a fun, well-designed addition to Zen Studios’ growing catalog of original pinball tables. The game makes proper use of Pinball M’s visuals and effects, and it challenges the player without ever feeling like it’s going for a cheap “kill.”

It’s the compelling interplay of thrilling story, memorable characters, enjoyable puzzles, and stunning presentation that ensures Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged will become a top choice for a new generation of players. Let’s hope the sequel (and the rest of the series) finds a home on Nintendo hardware. It’s 2024, and my game of the year is a graphic adventure first released in 1996. Go figure.

Will the Switch catch the GameCube for the number of Mario Party entries on a single system? Probably not. But if Jamboree is the last on the hybrid, it’s a great game to go out on. It’s a celebration of boards, and “Pro Rules” go a long way in making previous series’ complaints no longer valid. While there are a few minor issues, let’s face it: this game will sell millions, and deservedly so. Imposter Bowser and his boss minions don’t stand a chance, whether you’re a party of one, a group of local friends, or an online crew. Collecting stars hasn’t been this much fun in years.

The Smurfs – Dreams is going to pleasantly surprise a lot of people who think they’re just playing it to keep their kids happy. Although never too challenging, its colorful visuals, clever gimmicks, and solid 3D platforming gameplay help it escape the franchise tie-in doldrums.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the first brand-new top-down adventure in almost a decade. Fans might be used to long pauses between outings, but Echoes was worth the wait. It not only introduces Zelda’s first canonical solo adventure, but merges familiar and new to create an incredibly creative and beautiful experience. Despite some graphical load issues, let’s just say Zelda’s first adventure presents a strong contender for 2024’s Switch game of the year.

As an arcade rail shooter, Rogue Flight hits all of its marks. It doesn’t aim for anything outside of the norm, but that allows it to focus entirely on its frenetic gameplay and anime setup/presentation. Players of all skill levels will be able to hop in and enjoy.

I credit Falcom for continually tweaking the action JRPG elements of the Ys series, this time introducing naval battles and restricting melee combat to just two characters. Not everything works in Ys X: Nordics, but the open exploration and streamlined combat compensate for the elements that frustrate.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed is a colorful follow-up to the successful 2023 film. With engaging characters and excellent voicework, things look and sound pretty great. Unfortunately, pacing issues and frustrating combat mar the experience.

Clock Tower: Rewind provides an effectively creepy tale, especially if you’re a fan of 16-bit adventure gaming, throwback puzzle solving, or…David Argento? This “rewind,” however, would need to be more of a “remake” to appeal to most modern gamers.

Just Dance 2025 doesn’t offer much more than its pervious versions, but it’s still just as fun. Featuring around 40 songs, it creates an inclusive environment for all types of people regardless of skill or mobility. Whether you’re playing for fun or as a workout, Just Dance 2025 is as engaging as ever.

The Meating featuers a quirky story, though the platforming is less than perfect. I apprecite the NES-isms, but perhaps the Switch version could benefit from a few enhancements to separate it from the NES take on things.

Camp Sunshine is a short but fun take on ’80s slasher movies. The 16-bit graphics fit the era, and the balance of puzzles, fetch quests, and survival horror will keep players entertained over the course of this bloody night in the woods.

Hatch Tales: A Heroic Hookshot Adventure had a rough road to release, and the final product reflects that in some respects with a few odd choices. Still, it’s a very good platformer, much more often than not, challenging and content-rich. Releasing late in the life of the Switch exposes it to some of the same risks the original game faced later in the life of 3DS. I hope Hatch Tales secures success and recommend it for a fun time.

Paper Ghost Stories: Third Eye Open plays much more like a visual novel than an action/adventure game as claimed in the Nintendo eShop, but it provides enough minigames, light puzzle solving, and general creepiness to appeal to younger gamers haunted by the prospect of growing up.

Nekograms is an adorable puzzle game about helping cats take a nap. This cute premise is coupled with a stgrong puzzle element, bringing over 100 levels to conquer. This relaxing and well-designed puzzle outing is sure to please genre fans.

But even with a couple of missteps, I’m still scoring Crow Country highly. The story engrosses, and the puzzles challenge without being too ridiculous. The game is long enough to be rewarding but not so long as to make replay intimidating. And the retro horror may even make you jump a couple of times, in teen-rated fashion. The Snipperclips devs have done considerably good work here, and anyone who predicted otherwise can eat crow.

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.

The Plucky Squire is a breath of fresh air. It takes a storybook setting and tips everything on its head, with lush environments, fun puzzles, and humorous dialogue. Apart from a few technical glitches, this is a game that captures the imagination and is worth checking out.

Venture through dark forests and other scary settings, encounter strange creatures along the way, and save a girl who is in trouble so you can return home to your family. Creepy Tale: Some Other Place combines horror, puzzles, and a good story for a fun play-through this Halloween.

Neva is a stunningly beautiful game, with jaw-dropping artwork, a heartbreaking yet hopeful narrative, and incredibly creepy enemies that are very satisfying to destroy.

Dagon: Complete Edition is intriguing in the way many visual novels are. While its brevity helps it avoid some issues common to the genre, it also lessens the impact it can have. Can the atmosphere conveyed through this presentation compete with your own imagination? The written word only translates so well in this medium. Still, the visuals complement it well (with a zoom option), the cast of narrators is varied and capable, and the HD rumble implementation is immersive.

The violent mix of combat and platforming provided by Gori: Cuddly Carnage won’t be for everyone, but it will be for more people than you’d expect. The gameplay is surprisingly engaging if you’re willing to take on the unsettling visuals.

Keylocker is a great turn-based, rhythm JRPG, but there are a few problems that should be addressed. If Moonana would fix the crashing, the broken quests, and the soft locks in fights, I think the game would be just about perfect. Unfortunately, it’s not there yet.

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.

Bloomtown: A Different Story follows a number of familiar beats to fans of turn-based combat, monster taming, and wholesome community RPGs. It cleverly weaves the contrasting elements together into a game that feels rich and original, with a storyline that doesn’t shy away from the dark or solemn.

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.

Hot Lap Racing is a decent racer in a genre that’s underrepresented on the Switch. It has its issues, but if you can make it through those, it provides enjoyment to burn rubber on the go.