Monster Hunter is a series about systems—Capcom can’t escape that, no matter how much marketing and PR they throw at it. But it isn’t a series about getting it either, as much as its staunchest adherents would have you believe. It’s about feeling it. And Monster Hunter Rise feels good—simple as that.

The new features are arguably a little superficial, but then again, just having Arise: A Simple Story on Switch—a platform it feels like it should have been on all along—is the major draw for this Definitive Edition. Arise is a beautiful story of life, love, and loss, delivered with care, nuance, and heart-rending potency. It’s a simple story, for sure, but that simplicity is part of what makes it so universal, and so powerful.

As a follow-up to Cotton Reboot and the first entirely new entry in a long time, Cotton Fantasy does everything it needs to. Play as Cotton, and you’ll get a new game that builds off Reboot’s revamped systems without reinventing the wheel—which, honestly, would have been enough. But Success and Studio Saizansen weren’t content with “enough”, and with a roster of such wildly different characters and their unique mechanics, Fantasy pushes the Cotton foundation in all sorts of new directions.

The Hundred Year Kingdom has become my go-to when I want a quick little game to unwind with before bed (that inevitably ends up keeping me up way later than I should, because of that “one more turn!” itch). It’s pocket-sized strategy game whose minimalist systems hide a surprising amount of depth and soothing, satisfying way of scratching that civilization-building itch.

Mini Motorways is a surprisingly ambitious game for its scope. It executes a simple yet remarkably thoughtful premise and largely achieves great results. In everything from its visual style to its gameplay, Mini Motorways is broadly accessible, and smartly introduces the player to increasingly complex scenarios. Even though it doesn’t quite match the design perfection of something like Tetris, that’s still a pretty remarkable comparison to inspire.

At the heart of all this, though, OlliOlli World is classic OlliOlli. It’s part combo-centric skating game, part momentum-driven platformer, part arcade-style score chaser that rewards mastery and experimentation. All these pieces come together wonderfully, and those moments when you’re grinding along a tree branch or the spine of some monstrous skeleton in the desert, clinging to your perfect combo and praying you nail the landing, are pure adrenaline. New tricks, new gimmicks, and an intriguing new setting add a lot to an already strong core, and there’s more room for expression and a lower skill floor, but OlliOlli World is still the absolute rush OlliOlli has always been.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is an outstanding entry for existing fans and a great starting point for new ones. If you're prepared to read through hours of text, this entry provides a collection of supremely well-written cases populated by fascinating characters with no prior series investment required. While its portable origins are plain to see, these newly translated games are a well-earned triumph brought about by a dedicated fanbase.

In short, Experiment 101 delivers an ambitious experience in Biomutant. Repetitive mission design and shoddy pacing at disparate points in the story hold it back from being a true masterpiece in its genre, but exhilarating combat and meaningful incentive for exploration make this an entertaining open-world game.

Gibbon: Beyond the Trees is a game with a point to make, and it does so decisively. The gibbons’ majestic brachiation is a great foundation for an exhilarating momentum platformer that doubles as a potent insight into the threats faced by a critically endangered species.

I think Welcome to Elk is one of those games where the less you know about it going in, the better. That might seem an odd thing to write after a few hundred words trying to describe it, but it’s also so unique and unusual that whatever expectations you might have, they’re almost certainly not going to prepare you for what’s inside. And in a game so fundamentally about stories—not just telling stories that would otherwise risk being forgotten, but exploring the way stories are told and the lives they take on in the process—that willingness to reject expectations goes a long way.

But as a case study in how well musou action and turn-based strategy can work together, Dynasty Warriors 9 Empires delivers. It’s the best parts of Koei Tecmo’s grand strategy games and the energetic, strategic combat of Dynasty Warriors, rolled together in a way that elevates both sides of the calculation. That’s long been the case for the Empires line, but building off the strong foundation of Dynasty Warriors 9, this one does it better than most.

Warp Frontier is an intriguing, impressive game. It’s got all the pieces of a classic point-and-click adventure, with a few neat twists on that formula and a neat hint system in case you get stuck. Through that, it weaves a gripping science-fiction tale, blending noir and dystopian influences through an excellent, uniquely Australian script backed by equally strong voice performances. Whether you’re after a puzzle-filled adventure game or just an engrossing and thought-provoking story, Warp Frontier has you covered.

Tasomachi: Behind the Twilight may be an “unpolished” game, but that lack of polish is exactly what makes it such an interesting and enjoyable game to explore. The lack of finesse doesn’t break the game or detract from the experience, but it does add so much to the atmosphere and character of the world. It’s a nice, relaxing way to enjoy the collect-them-all nature of classic 3D platformers, but more than that, it’s a wonderful, mysterious place that’s easy to get lost in—not in spite of its rough edges, but because of them.

Cozy Grove isn’t shy about its Animal Crossing inspirations, and while it may not have the sheer expanse of Nintendo’s island paradise, it brings some fresh ideas and plenty of its own spooky-cute personality into the mix. Most of all, it’s a game that knows how soothing a familiar slice of routine can be, and builds itself around those little daily bursts of comfort—never overstaying its welcome, but always there to ease you into a new day or to help you drift away at night.

Though the circumstances that made a whole new release necessary are disappointing (for Christophe Galati more than anyone, I’d imagine), Save me Mr Tako: Definitive Edition really does live up to the “Definitive” part of its name. It keeps intact everything that made Save me Mr Tako so great back in 2018—the authentic Game Boy look and feel, the vibrant world, the nifty platforming, the surprisingly deep and heartfelt story—but with a bunch of welcome tweaks, balance improvements, and new features that really bring out the best of a delightful, if overlooked, indie gem.

Online troubles notwithstanding, MLB The Show 21 is a fantastic game that keeps the series in place as the best baseball sim you can play. It’s not quite the visual jump you’d expect from a new console generation, but the revamped Road to the Show, fun new features like Stadium Creator, and plenty of little tweaks across the board make it a far more substantial step forward than last year’s outing, and something that belongs in every baseball fan’s collection.

In true Alfa System style, Castle of Shikigami 2 sets a rock-solid shmup foundation and then builds on that with creative flair, unique character, and inventive twists–like a match-three style puzzle boss. The Steam port brings revives an arcade classic with the remixed layouts and bullet patterns of New Entry mode and a revamped translation that, if missing some of the comical nonsense of the original English script, offers a much more coherent take on a game that puts a lot of stake in its energetic, character-specific cutscenes.

Here’s yet another farming RPG, but one that turns the familiar setup in a philosophical, existential direction—and dares to really, really go places with it. What at first looks like another descendant of Harvest Moon ends up bearing a closer resemblance, thematically and tonally, to NieR Automata. That’s not a comparison that’s easy to live up to, but Harvestella manages to leave its mark.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a thrilling step for the Pokemon franchise, and introduces a new style of gameplay that I hope to see further expanded in sequels. Though it shows a lot of promise, the game fails to compete with other open world titles in presentation and variety. I’m stoked about the future of the series, but wish this particular entry aimed higher. Despite that lack of ambition, the game’s charm is undeniable and kept me engaged throughout. For the first time in a while, I’m excited to see what comes next for Pokemon.

Among Wadjet Eye’s back catalogue, Primordia is certainly one of the most memorable: a gripping sci-fi romp that’s mysterious and dramatic, with fascinating philosophical subtext and just the right amount of humour to balance everything out. It shows its age in some ways, but nonetheless makes a smooth transition to Switch and finds a natural home in handheld mode. If you like classic point-and-clicks and want a different, more thoughtful type of post-apocalypse to explore on your Switch, Primordia is one you don’t want to miss.

Between stunning performances, a sharp new script, gorgeous, cinematic presentation, and the fluid action that ties everything together, it tells that story beautifully. Xuan Yuan Sword may not be a well-known name in the west, but it should be—and Xuan Yuan Sword 7 is a wonderful demonstration of why.

Technical struggles in the open world aside, No More Heroes III proves its worth as a brutally satisfying and subversive action game with magnificent boss fights and hilarity in spades.

With Lunar Edition being Black Label-style remix rather than just an updated or enhanced version, it’s a bit of a shame the original Space Moth or DX version aren’t included (especially since they’re not otherwise available on Switch). But, nice as such inclusions would be, they’re far from necessary—a clever twist on classic bullet hell action and systemic interplay that’s a delight to explore make Space Moth: Lunar Edition more than capable of standing on its own.

Gal*Gun Returns doesn’t quite reach the same heights as Double Peace or Gal*Gun 2, but it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable rail shooter, and one that’s far more subversive and clever than its infamy would have you think.

But such little problems are worth contending with for a game as pleasant and relaxing as Cat Cafe Manager. Just the right balance between a casual management sim, Story of Seasons-esque slice of small-town life, and laid-back but fun customer service game loop makes for a relaxing, engaging hook, all tied together with a host of adorable cats and charming locals to get to know, and the sometimes funny, often touching stories that unfold through them. It’s may not be groundbreaking, but Cat Cafe Manager hits just the right spot for a quiet way to unwind.

It doesn’t make a good first impression, but there’s a lot to like about Chocobo GP. It may not be as finely-tuned as the genre’s king, but there’s a lot more depth and nuance to the game than there first appears, especially in the 64-player tournaments that are the centrepiece. At the very least, its goofy sense of humour, playful jabs at Final Fantasy’s legacy, and the endearing nature of the Chocobo spinoff series create a delightful atmosphere that’s perfect for some kart racing shenanigans.

Beneath all the new technical capabilities and extra DLC features, the core of Days Gone on PC is still Days Gone, for better and worse. It’s a game that can be a lot of fun to play in the moment, with a good balance between stealth, action, and exploration and the exhilaration that comes with fighting its zombie hordes. But it’s also a game that struggles to stand out from a very crowded room; that despite its story-driven focus and early signs of promise, ends up tracing all the same cliches as every other zombie outing before it.

If you want to play something that scratches that life sim itch while also breaking away from the Harvest Moon mold just a little bit, you can’t go too far wrong with My Time At Portia. It suffers here and there from the simple fact that it’s an adaptation of a game that wasn’t designed around touchscreens to begin with, but this is still a more than serviceable port of a very enjoyable game.