While Amnesia: Rebirth is mechanically the same as Dark Descent and Machine for Pigs, it is ultimately the narrative that sets it apart.

Zoids Wild: Blast Unleashed isn’t setting any records or making innovative strides into the fighting game hall of fame. We’ll never see it any sort of formal competition. But even so, there’s heart to it. It tries to stay true to the the source and does offer some degree of variation to it. It is just made for a very small, narrow audience.

There are no duds (or, perhaps, spuds) in this pack, and each feels designed to lose their charm more slowly than most.

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is a magical, transformative experience under ideal conditions that works way better than you’d think. When you stray from those conditions even a little, though, it deteriorates rapidly. It’s destined to provide dozens of hours of entertainment for some home-bound players and not last an evening with others. It’s a big step forward for this weird blend of augmented reality tech, while also showing the limitations it has yet to overcome.

With amazing visuals, a fun story, and short bite-sized stages, this is a game you can easily pick up and put down.

Ikenfell is definitely a game worth experiencing if someone appreciates any of its parts. Like RPGs with unusual battle systems? It has that. Love chiptune soundtracks or the music from Steven Universe? Stop on by. Appreciate the idea of a life as a student at a magical academy where things are surprisingly hazardous? This is a good alternative! Not to mention, it’s a very inclusive game that can be comedic, dramatic, and heartfelt. There are some hiccups, sure, but it’s generally satisfying.

Prinny 1•2: Exploded and Reloaded is a charming, if sometimes crude, platformer that comes with the signature style and flair Disgaea fans have known and loved for years. Even if you’re mostly unfamiliar with the series, the animations for the Prinny’s themselves and for the enemies on every stage are still a delight and the music is jovial and easy to listen to for hours on end.

If otome games are your jam, then you’ll pick this one up regardless. However, this isn’t your typical otome, and you’re in for a real treat with these characters, the setting, the art (look at her dress up there!), and story full of twists and turns. Highly recommended to friends and family.

Gothic Murder: Adventure that Changes Destiny is the sort of adventure game you play when you need a break between massive games. It’s a reprieve that will make you think, but isn’t terribly taxing. Its story is also interesting enough, with a heroine who exhibits both common sense and intelligence.

It's incredible how moving this game is. The boss fights in particular, both with the people you face and how they are handled, are extraordinary.

Choose from a cast of Kirby’s most iconic copy abilities—including the brand-new Wrestler ability—and duke it out to be the last Kirby standing. Familiar friends and foes like Bandana Waddle Dee and King Dedede also make an appearance as playable characters in the Kirby Fighters 2 game, available exclusively for the Nintendo Switch system.

So rather than looking at what this collection could have been, it’s easier and simpler to see what’s here and decide if that’s enough for you. If one of these games is an all-time favorite, that even these marginal adjustments make them the best and most convenient versions could make a sale for you. There’s nothing here to “fix” them if you didn’t like them the first time. You get what you get, and Nintendo’s confidence in the core products isn’t unwarranted.

Hades sets itself apart from other entries in the roguelike genre with an intricate and engrossing story, while simultaneously creating a varied experience for both casual and hardcore players. With thousands of Boon possibilities accompanied by the different Aspects each individual weapon has and the perks granted to you by the Mirror, it gives players the opportunity to customize their builds to an incredible degree. Hades was more than worth the wait, as the full release is easily Game of the Year material.

If someone likes the Genkai Tokki series, I think there is a very good chance they will like and want to own Moero Crystal H. It completes a set, even though it is self-contained. It follows a lot of the same patterns, but then that’s really the goal. For people not familiar with it, well, it’s basically an average dungeon-crawler with a first-person perspective and turn-based battles.

There are times I loved Moon. I really enjoyed training Tao and adore my Gramby. I liked talking to and reviving flowers. There were also times when I felt completely lost and flummoxed, wondering what it is I was supposed to do. I admire what Moon does and think Onion Games should be commended for bringing it to a wider audience. It’s an important piece of history. Though, while time spent with it won’t be a waste and I think even people who don’t “get” it could find things to appreciate and love about it, it is admittedly not for everyone. Still, those curious should absolutely investigate it, spend a lot of time learning about it from its manual, and maybe give it a chance.

It’s a strong showing that is genuinely fun to return to, even if I think certain characters’ stories deserved better representation and development. I’m glad a whole new audience will get to visit Inaba.

I haven’t played any otome game like Palais de Reine before. It is a wholly unique and fascinating experience. I very much appreciate that it not only exists, but is available in English. And yes, once I finished an initial (disastrous) run and came back better prepared, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. There’s an incredible amount of depth and nuance. However, getting to it involves an investment only the most dedicated might commit to.

The Switch is a great platform for games to dip into for a bit when you have a few minutes, but Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia isn’t one of them. It’s a commitment. A rewarding one, perhaps! But it asks players to stick around and learn, stick around and strategize, stick around and grind through dozens of battle maps. It’s more of a hobby than a diversion, but players looking for just that will find a game that gels well with their sensibilities.

Catherine: Full Body is about the prices people are willing to pay, in more ways than one. In terms of story, we have to see what sorts of sacrifices Vincent is willing to make to accommodate his comfort, bridge gaps with people around him, and survive. With the port, we’re seeing what had to be done to get it working. If that means a little bit of blurriness and feeling like you might be due for a new prescription, especially in handheld mode, so be it.

Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise is exactly the sequel to Deadly Premonition a fan of the original should expect. This is a game that really respects the player’s intelligence, but puts a lot of faith into their willingness to keep an open mind.

Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town’s Switch port is a means of preserving the past while gradually adjusting it so it is slightly more in tune with modern sensibilities. There aren’t drastic changes here. It will definitely feel a bit dated and difficult, due to the way stamina and a player’s inventory were handled back in the day. But there are plenty of positive changes, from new additions that range from characters to crops, changes that do make it easier to take care of your homestead, and more opportunities to fall in love with (all) of your favorite characters. It’s a welcome opportunity to sample a try a change of pace.

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is a superb sequel. It has everything that made the first game a surprise hit, but expands and adds to it with a level of care that shines through the whole thing.

Unlike that other game about the mushroom-y apocalypse, Void Terrarium is an optimistic game despite its dour premise. It isn’t afraid to be funny even in a sad context, and it really clings onto a sense of hope.

Can a game show significant improvement over its predecessors while further entrenching itself along the wrong path? Origami King certainly tries, making a game that’s a blast to read and gorgeous in screenshots but just not that fun to play. In many ways, it delivers the quality and polish you expect from Nintendo. As a full package and a time investment, it’s hard to recommend.

Ultimately, it feels like the game could have benefited from a smaller scope or a more linear structure. Focus on the duels could have created a more engrossing product, especially if it honed in on the narrative for a more concise and cinematic experience. But as it stands, Ghost of Tsushima is another AAA open world title and doesn’t seek to define itself as anything other than that.

Gust’s Fairy Tail game is one of those adaptations where it feels like the developer really understood what people love about the series.

Giraffe and Annika is also the sort of ephemeral, effortless, and enjoyable activity that might make someone smile for a while. It might be exactly the right sort of next step for someone new to the Switch who picked up the console for Animal Crossing: New Horizons or inexperienced with games.

In many ways, your interest in a monster-catching game is driven by whether one focuses on aspects you particularly like. Like competitive play? Or meticulously customizing creatures? But Nexomon: Extinction puts its best foot forward, delivering the most polished version of itself it can offer. And often, polish is what many players miss when exploring outside Pokémon’s safe, well-padded confines.