It's still one of the very best 2D Mario games ever, and now it looks sharper and performs better. With that said, the new additions are fun but they did not give the experience a greater creative and qualitative edge. The multiplayer minigames and single player training challenges are welcome, as are the difficulty and assist options, but those who know the original well enough might not see this Switch 2 version as a significant improvement over the original. Especially when the original is already so good, and fairly recent.

Basketball Classics does not attempt to deliver a detailed realistic experience but rather to set up a fast-paced, accessible arcade game that features much more than it seems at first. The game avoids any races it cannot win by focusing on a lighter experience that works fine, even if it won't appeal to every kind of player and its gameplay reaches its limits soon enough, but its old-school charm and ease of access more than make up for Basketball Classics' shortcomings.

Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly Remake does a good job at preserving the original's unsettling atmosphere and the emotional dimensions of the plot. Like a master of its own craft, this game knows how to deliver horror that is not shoved on the player's face but rather creeps up slowly and cleverly manipulates the rawest of human emotions. If Fatal Frame II's mechanics have aged fine, including the Camera Obscura, some performance issues need fixing to improve the experience. While not a game for everyone, horror fans with a taste for psychological horror will find themsleves enraptured by this remake.

Rushing Beat X: Return of Brawl Brothers delivers a fun and welcoming arcade-style beat'em up experience that goes beyond the nostalgia trip cliché. This new entry fits nicely with the classic 16-bit trilogy, while adding new touches and elements to the gameplay that allow for more variety and experimentation. The series' identity is alive and well, and the co-op multiplayer is a marvel to play, even if on solo the experience can start feeling repetitive too soon.

This story-led adventure game more than earns its credit for its beautiful art style and exquisite soundtrack. The plot is the main driver and it's a marvel to find out more about the game's tragic but heartwarming background story. Its combat is less impressive, though, and it feels repetitive soon enough, especially as we expand Kena's capacities, and at some specific points there seems to be a performance issue with regards to the graphics. Nonetheless, the game's narrative dimension, its audiovisual world and the exploration and search for collectibles more than help Kena: Bridge of Spirits merit its place on the Nintendo Switch 2 catalogue.

This his City Hunter remaster brings the 1990 classic to the world. If only more region-exclusive games could follow suit. Fans of the manga and anime series will find a simple but fitting 2D side-scrolling action game, with little more than moving around, shooting and jumping, very good soundtrack and some welcome - if short - bonus content. New quality of life options also make it feel more at home, but the gameplay could use more tweaks when it comes to level navigation. The retail price, however, is too high for what this City Hunter brings, and it would be more suitable to a full remake and/or a lot more bonus content.

Street Racer Collection does a jood job when it comes to emulating four kart racing games with combat elements, and the amount of customization options and cheats included help make the experience smoother. On the other hand, it is clear that some of the games here have aged considerably and are way past their prime, making them appealing only to the most nostalgic gamers who wish to relieve their experiences. The races are indeed fun, as long as they don't last too long, and there's no reason why the Game Boy version of Street Racer is included but the PlayStation/Sega Saturn version is not.

Thanks to a smart use of the colours' mechanics and to a well implemented difficulty curve, the game delivers a good puzzle experience that fits nicely within the genre, and behaves very well on the Nintendo Switch 2. It does tend to get repetitive on a long term basis and feels like it does not leave its comfort zone, but it is another welcome addition to the puzzle games' catalogue.

Rayman 30th Anniversary Edition shows that the slick gameplay and exquisite art style of Rayman are still as fun and enjoyable today as they were three decades ago. Nevertheless, this edition acts more as a modern port than as a definitive anniversary collection at some points, namely due to the lack of accessibility options for new players, and features an arranged version of the game's soundtrack with no option to listen to the original. All that aside, the bonus content is very welcome, and this game shows the original Rayman remains strong and one of the platforming classics of its time.

The game allows for the players' gradual immersion into its mechanics and fundamentals, in a way that even those of little experience with such games will feel welcome, and the use of the Nintendo Switch 2 mouse control does wonders for the interactivity. Citadelum would have benefited from a greater development of its diplomatic and military components, and in the medium term it can feel somewhat repetitive due to the lack of a strong plot, but the game does a very good job with its core mechanics and fits neatly in the Switch 2 catalogue.

Mega Dimension is a DLC that brings some welcome new features to the game, such as a more demanding difficulty and new Mega Evolutions, as well as a plot that directly follows that of Pokémon Legends Z-A. Mega Dimension does not do so well on other fields, however, and very often the game feels repetitive when it comes to its overdone actions and settings, especially when it comes to the small dimension of its map. Mega Dimension is competent, but it adds more in quantity than in quality, and the price is too high for what it delivers.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins performs remarkably well on the Nintendo Switch 2, and brings its healthy mix of massive scale battles and straight-forward action in a sharp and competent way, with no let downs and hiccups. Fans of the Dynasty Warriors series have plenty to look forward here and can expect its hallmark features along with a very captivating plot. Other players might start feeling that the action turns repetitive after a few hours, and the lack of a multiplayer mode is hard to justify for fans and newcomers alike.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is very ambitious and delivers an enormous amount of content, a long gameplay campaign, engaging turn-based combat, and an atmosphere that fits perfectly with the Warhammer series. It's less successful, however, at welcoming new players who are not familiar with the Warhammer lore. The experience can get cumbersome, with its heavy menus, long loading times and framerate drops, and despite recent updates, some flaws remain unadressed. Rogue Trader is a strategy RPG that does several things right, but execution problems make the Nintendo Switch 2 version fall below its potential.

Each chapter is dealt with through different gameplay mechanics, where players will find elements of puzzle games, stealth action, or criminal investigation along with the usual dialogues and plot choices. It's Shuten Order's biggest and most creative asset, but it also falls short of expectations as these gameplay mechanics are not explored as extensively as they could, and the game's somewhat fragment structure can lead to finding out what's going to happen too soon. Nonetheless, its solid plot, full of unexpected twists, and intriguing characters are well worth a good look.

Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition is the premiere of this reboot of the Tomb Raider series on a Nintendo platform, and it does so in great style. The game features a very enveloping cinematic quality, and its storytelling features will keep players captivated from the beginning to the end, thanks to its balance between exploration, puzzle solving and frantic combat, while behaving very well on the technical performance side. Its puzzles can feel somewhat simplistic, however, and this version for both Nintendo Switch systems clearly required a graphical compromise that is difficult to understand on the Switch 2.

This puzzle-platformer, which goes from isometric to side-scroller, to 2D shooter to 3D navigation, is loaded with references to 1980s classics and collectible objects. The game keeps track of the objects we collect, not of the references we catch, and that’s a good challenge for when we are not feeling frustrated by the rather clunky platformer controls.

Indika on the Nintendo Switch ends up falling short of its potential due to the game's graphical demands, which make its visual experience less impactful. With that said, its plot and bizarre atmosphere are still there, and they are successful with their attempts to create feelings of restlesness within the players. While Indika is not for everyone, players open to this kind of surreal settings will have a good time with this game.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A on the Nintendo Switch brings new and welcome ideas to a familiar formula which can feel fresh and captivating, while at the same time denounces hardware limitations that are impossible to escape on a system that's almost nine years old. The combat is more dynamic and engaging, the cast of characters is very appealing, there's plenty to do on exploration and side quests, and the soundtrack is magnificent. However, the game's world is rather small (though full of content), and its visual direction needs updating. Legends Z-A features good ideas but it craves a new space to live up to their promises.

Becastled is a simple take on three popular genres, and it does several things right. It’s accessible to newcomers, it does not overcomplicate things, and even when we lose it lets us get back on our feet quickly. It’s less compelling than expected, however, and it can quickly become repetitive, which is where its simple audiovisual component can become a liability.

Its controls, though, can be stiff and slow at times, which makes some segments more frustrating than they should. There's also a lack of variety in the mechanics, and its puzzles could be more creative. Dollmare works better as a short, subtle atmospheric horror experience that can be finished in one go, rather than as an ambitious adventure.

Everything that made the series great is here, along with a few touches that improve the experience and a batch of welcome extras that will charm long time fans. Some things don't change, though, and the difficulty remains stubbornly frustrating at some points, and a few short input lags can make some moments feel frustrating, while the online component needs improvement. Nonetheless, it is the best anthology that the early arcade and domestic MK games could ask, and it will delight veterans and some newer, curious fans alike.

While it is apparent that the game does not excel with regards to its visual and audio qualities, Ultimate Speed nevertheless does a competent job at keeping its technical features stable, and in the end those looking for a fun and intense racing experience under the Hot Wheels name will certainly be satisfied with this work.

Its audiovisual environment is perfectly tied to the narrative structure, where the story is told through pictures and background sound effects, and where subtle fears strike horror with no need of jumpscares. The experience would be even more enjoyable if it lasted longer, and the cooperative dimension needs improvement when playing solo while the need for a second Switch 2 for local play is an obstacle, but Little Nightmares III most certainly knows how to create an experience in horror gameplay.

Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club is a wholesome puzzle adventure, where Snoopy and the gang set to solve everyday mysteries that are affecting the main characters of the Peanuts universe. Friendly and very accessible, the game fits well with a younger audience, but it could certainly use more elements that stimulate the sense of discovery, leaving the impression of good ideas that deserved more investment. Still, as a no frills and friendly experience, it does a good job, though it could let its players return to the same file after wrapping up the last mystery.

Super World War is a fun and light-hearted take on strategy games whose art style and humor will make many players get attached quickly, even if it doesn't take itself too seriously. While it its plot is not the most memorable and the battles can feel too long sometimes, the game's mechanics are interesting and its comedy dimension makes everything more enjoyable.

Donkey Kong Bananza: DK Island + Emerald Rush is a DLC that does a very good job at delivering a challenging experience and at rekindling the players' relationship with the original game thanks to its new, stimulating roguelike mode and to the nostalgia-inducing settings of old DK Island. This DLC does not intend to reinvent DK Bananza's experience, so it focuses its value on adding new experiences to the original game, but it does so in a very fun and friendly way which fits nicely with fans of Bananza who want to get a bit more out of that game.

Lynked: Banner of the Spark is an interisting and original work that blends intense combat with town building, and does a very good job at linking both experiences and making them feel part of a coherent whole. Lighthearted and fun, despite its premise, Lynked features a very friendly and colourful art style and gives its players a palpable feeling of progression that's always very welcome. Players looking for an accessible and creative game, with a good dose of personality and a neat balance between combat and town building will most certainly enjoy their time with Lynked.

Upon looking at its friendly, cartoonish visuals, it would seem like we are before a very simple work but under the bonnet lies a very competent racing game that brings its players over many decades of competitive motor sports, in a tribute that will delight many fans of hi-octane, high speed fun. What's more, it's a demanding game too, and requires from its players a sharp, strategic approach to driving. Formula Legends could stand out even more if it featured a multiplayer component.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion is undoubtedly aimed at fans of mecha-based games. Its frantic combat featuring giant metal machines and especially, the boss fights, will keep players on their toes. However, Titatnic Scion could have done better at addressing its performance flaws, which sometimes prevent the game from standing out in the Switch 2 hardware when there's a lot happening on the screen at once, and beyond the combats, its plot and secondary missions are rather repetitive and end up pushing this game into a more niche territory.

The concept is interesting, and basing the game on wheelchair basketball is very welcome, as adapted sports are still underrepresented in gaming. As a tech demo, it works reasonably well, but the experience quickly starts to wear out on the player's wrists, and some of the control mechanics demand a level of precision that soon becomes frustrating. The game's visual environment feels uninspired too, which is unusual from a Nintendo production. Given its relatively low sales price, Drag x Drive should be seen as a quick experience, but it could have done something more interesting than what's on display in this work.

The newfound comedic writing is welcome, and the new puzzles are very creative. On the other hand, the game's plot falls short of expectations, and the new Somniums found here are too linear and don't bear much of an impact on the story. Overall, No Sleep For Kaname Date is a fun and appealing work for the series' fans that just falls short of building a more ambitious game.

The Eternal Die sucks us in with its absolutely gorgeous and exquisite art style, which gives it a unique gothic horror look, and its frantic and fun combats. The game mechanics deserved to have been developed at a deeper level, though, and the game's short length means that dedicated players will quickly reach its limit but the experience is nonetheless very addictive and a marvel to the eyes and ears.

Please, Touch The Artwork 2 may follow the path of its predecessor but the creativity and originality in this sequel give us a more bold and ambitious experience than we could have expected and the result is a merging of atmosphere with addictive gameplay that makes this game truly stand out. While the main puzzle gameplay mechanic may feel a bit repetitive, Please, Touch The Artwork 2 goes beyond to put up an experience that allows us to explore the artworks at hand as freely as we like.

The main funcionalities of the Nintendo Switch 2 are presented under the form of minigames and challenges, and thanks to their clean presentation, simple instructions and hands-on experience, Welcome Tour ticks all the right boxes when it comes to familiarizing the players with Nintendo's new system. As such, Welcome Tour would work much better as a free experience included in every console. If we add its short length, a short-term appeal and the lack of a narrative experience with a sense of progression, there's no obvious reason why Welcome Tour should not be free, it would be a very welcome offer with every Switch 2 console.

The game consists of an array of new, competitive, and addictive challenges, carefully tailored in a way that helps newcomers feel at ease and lures in veterans eager to try out their skills. The source material and overall environment have been optimized enough to fit with our day and age while remaining faithful to the classics, and the online leaderboards ensure plenty of global competition.

Slaughtering hordes of enemies is a fun experience, and the performance is worthy of praise as the game runs smoothly with no major hiccups. The enormous cast with their myriad abilities and mutual benefits is one of the main selling points, but Warriors: Abyss becomes repetitive too quickly, and it doesn’t take long until it can start feeling like a chore. This is rather a game to be taken lightly, not one to invest long hours in lest the feeling of repetitiveness overwhelms the player.

Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is a fitting remaster of a game (or rather, of a pair of games) that has more than earned its place in the Donkey Kong Country series. A lovely audiovisual experience, levels with the distinct DK flair - including the barrels, the mine carts, Rambi, and the crazy enemies - and a gameplay packed with trial and error and collectibles, never too harsh but not a walk in the park either, this is an easy recommendation for players less versed in the original game. Those well acquainted with the original though will think twice when looking at the price tag for a remaster that does not bring significant new elements.

Thanks to its captivating plot around a disturbing series of murders, a frequently light-hearted humour completely at odds with the circumstances, and a fabulous visual presentation and art style, The Smiling Man makes a name for itself when it comes to a visual novel with a point & click adventure gameplay. At certain moments, however, it would be good for everyone if the game could rely less on trial-and-error and more on stimulating the player's detective instincts, lest the experience becomes longer for the wrong reasons.

Go Mecha Ball is a fun and simple pinball action roguelike experience that does not try to go too overboard, and it works. Thanks to a simple approach that is quick to welcome new players, Go Mecha Ball can be enjoyed in short amounts of time and with a very simple learning curve. While it does not reinvent the wheel and its performance can suffer in later, more ambitious stages, Go Mecha Ball's bright visual style, its frantic and accessible gameplay, and fun mechanics make this a very recommended title to anyone looking for some quick, intense fun.

The relatively straightforward way with which the map develops leaves less room for exploration, and sometimes the characters' vocalized dialogues become too omnipresent, but Yars Rising does a good job when it comes to its action and retro-inspired moments, as well as with keeping us motivated to unlock and develop our characters' abilities in a true metroidvania fashion.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD is both a welcome port that brings another classic to the Nintendo Switch, and a game that shows its age. The best improvement lies obviously on its visual upgrading, now full of details that make us want to explore every nook and cranny in each level. On the other hand, the game's structure - more fitting for a 3DS game - and control system feel somewhat dated, and there's little in terms of new elements that deliver a renovated experience.

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is not a revolution but it does wonders for the Ultimate Ninja Storm series and its fans. Featuring new plots lines that link perfectly with the previous plots, a massive roster of over one hundred characters - each of them with their own dedicated background - and a visual presentation that remains very much loyal to the source material, Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections falls short when it comes to combat complexity and a rather repetitive gameplay, but it's a welcoming game for new comers and a delight for old fans of the Naruto series.

This fifth chapter is not a reboot, rather an experience that focuses on what Trine does best: fun and creative challenges. Trine 5's puzzles are a delight to tackle, and the game's slick level design allows the players to adjust them to the desired difficulty and approach them in different ways, while rewarding players that make the effort to explore more and more of the game's world. The co-op experience is a marvel too, as it opens new possibilities for solving specific puzzles. Trine 5 is without a doubt a game that the fans of the series and of adventure games with puzzle-solving will embrace.

Gothic II: Complete Classic brings us an opportunity to experience a landmark action RPG using today's means. While some of its elements need improvement, namely a graphic performance which suffers from occasional frame rate losses, and a control system that feels less natural on a console than the original game's did, this version of Gothic II stands out when it comes to its exploration, the way we approach our tasks, and multiple interactions which will keep players looking under every nook and cranny for a long time.

The game delivers a very competent experience when it comes to its fun, varied gameplay, going from action/adventure to visual novel, and its stunning presentation fits in nicely with a well written plot. It leaves the players wanting for more, though. The supporting characters deserve a lot more protagonism, its hub world would benefit greatly from sidequests and further exploration, and some occasional performance issues need fixing.

Because it takes such risks with its plot and delivers very engaging puzzles, this sequel successfully musters from its sources an absolutely mind-blowing ending, which more than makes up for the game's flaws that include poor quicktime events and an over-reliance on sexualized humour that quickly loses its track. Fortunately, everything comes together and works out nicely in the end.

Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a well-executed remake of a Game Boy Advance classic with very welcome improvements in several fields while leaving the core gameplay intact. Simple and accessible, it will easily draw younger players with its straight-to-the-point puzzle platformer design, and the newly added local co-op sets a good benchmark for future games. The tougher challenges start later on, but for its price tag this game is a bit short, while Mario's more limited moves might leave some players yearning for the platform classics.

Afterimage is a gorgeous looking Metroidvania that wraps itself around its players with an enveloping plot, charismatic characters, and engaging combat system. While some of the exploration tasks can feel out of place at times and the plot takes a while to fully settle in, Afterimage is without a doubt a very welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch rich catalogue of Metroidvania games, and one that can stand proudly next to its peers.

Days of Doom puts us amid a post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested world that ticks the required boxes when it comes to delivering a roguelite, tactical RPG experience. Its gameplay is simple and accessible, and the visual art style is stunning, featuring gorgeous designs and illustrations, but the game ends up becoming too repetitive for those less versed on roguelite experiences, and the amount of combat rounds that end up feeling nearly identical can turn this gameplay component into a chore.

This action RPG is capable enough to give the player an enjoyable and involving experience, notably thanks to its combat, and its remastered looks are also to be praised. At the same time, its actions can feel repetitive too quickly, and the camera often behaves in a frustrating way. Overall, Boundless Trails does not rise above its direct peers, but players looking for a more relaxed action RPG experience should definitely take a look.

Everybody 1-2 Switch! is the follow-up to launch title 1-2 Switch!, and as a party game that intends to gather players around its minigames, it's certainly ambitious and casts a wide net, with the possibility to use a smartphone as a controller on several minigames and the staggering capacity to handle one hundred players at once in some of its minigames. Unfortunately the way they are implemented is anything but simple and practical, and the higher the number of players involved, the more cumbersome the experience becomes. With a narrow appeal and quick lifespan, Everybody 1-2 Switch! falls behind several of its peers.

Thanks to a good sense of progression, the player will enjoy watching their endeavour grow, but Nova Lands veers off the right track when its sense of progression gives place to an overwhelming amount of objects and tasks on the screen, as well as game mechanics that become dull and repetitive too quickly. What's more, the game's controls are rather irregular in their response, and the performance suffers from too many issues. Overall, this is an experience that's best suited for intensive play, rather than a relaxed approach.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is an action RPG with Musou elements that acts as a welcome introduction to the Fates universe and brings a vast, rich world to explore. Accessible controls and a well implemented combat system are two of the game's main highlights, though performance issues and long loading times make the experience less breezy than it should be. All in all, Fate/Samurai Remnant is a captivating and addictive experience for fans of the genre and for those looking forward to get into the Fates universe.

Fae Farm is a rich and gorgeous looking life sim and farm sim experience. There is a wealth of things to do, harvests to reap, items to make, resources to mine, and characters to engage with, all this in a very inclusive environment that puts the player at home. Where Fae Farm does less well is on its adventure component, as the dungeons feel too forced and repetitive, and with so many things to do it's easy to lose track of things and feel overwhelmed. Still, fans of life sims and farm sims have plenty to enjoy here, and Fae Farm boasts an impressive lifespan to match their expectations.

Its fun mechanics and several pathways, the wealth of content to find and a soundtrack that fits like a glove on this cliché-ridden comedic experience mean that those players who know what to expect will find a fun and delightful game. Players outside its target audience, though, will struggle with enjoying the experience and are unlikely to become fans if they are not receptive to its mixture of on-rails action, visual novel interactions, and absurdist humour.

EA Sports FC 24 is a very welcome arrival on the Nintendo Switch, which now finally has a full, all-round football game to boast about. While it's not perfect, especially when it concerns the loss of fluidity related to its framerate, the content and amount of game modes are enough to keep football fans satisfied experiencing the ups and downs of their players, managers and teams. The experience would be even better if the Ultimate Team mode did not make such an extended use of microtransactions, and if the online multiplayer component featured crossplay with other platforms.

Pikmin 2 follows Nintendo's skilful adaptation of its classic series and the result at hand is an all-round marvelous and high quality conversion of the original to today's age. Keeping the essence of the experience intact, Pikmin 2 on the Nintendo Switch is able to provide a captivating, evolving, accessible and in-depth adventure comparable to the original nearly twenty years ago, but adapted to today's standards, thus opening the doors to new players while stimulating the renewed interest on the Pikmin series at a much larger scale.

Citizen Sleeper marks an unusual arrival on the Nintendo Switch of an RPG inspired by board games, and it does a very good job at creating a somber and dystopian atmosphere with matching audiovisual qualities, while delivering enveloping parallel plot lines. Its short length, however, and a certain lack of gameplay mechanics that truly stand out, mean that Citizen Sleeper's appeal will be limited to players who are not part of its main target audience.

The game does a great job at grabbing the player's attention and provides a fitting audiovisual environment, but its gameplay can often feel repetitive with a course of action that gets dull sometimes. For a game that makes use of so many dialogues, Oxenfree II is not always able to deliver the most interesting exchanges, and its plot development turns out to be more linear than it seems. Fans of plot-heavy games with mystery settings still have plenty to enjoy here, though.

If the horror atmosphere, marvelous presentation and good level design help Tormented Souls become a sharp experience, its often underwhelming puzzles, lack of new ideas or the way they are implemented, and irregular performance are a reminder that following the legacy of a beloved series is not enough. Nonetheless, Tormented Souls is a good horror and fans of the genre will most certainly draw something from it.

Rainbow Skies feels dated in several aspects and yet it has a certain appeal that is likely to captivate RPG fans willing to look past its flaws, namely its poor writing, subpar graphics, and seemingly arbitrary discrepancies in its difficulty. The game does have a fairly solid combat system, plenty of content, and a pleasant and varied soundtrack, which will be able to captivate and pose a good challenge to part of the audience but that won't be enough to garner a large crowd for Rainbow Skies.

Thunder Ray fills a gap in the boxing game genre and it's a good experience at that. with its slick gameplay and gorgeous visual style. Where Thunder Ray falls short is when it comes to its short length and rather arbitrary difficulty, which makes some fights extraordinarily more difficult than others without an apparent reason, and its needs a multiplayer component as well. With all that in mind, Thunder Ray is easy to recommend to anyone interested in boxing games and who hasn't had a chance to try any such offer for the Nintendo Switch.

Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is a remaster of a game originally released in 2007 and part of a long running series of mystery games about the renowned fictional detective. This chapter puts Sherlock in the midst of a supernatural affair, which is a departure from other works, but despite its interesting plot and captivating supernatural elements, the game's overall execution, technical issues, and too simplistic cases that offer little incentive to do anything else make this game difficult to recommend to any players other than hardcore fans of the Sherlock Holmes series.

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is not, as its name would suggest, an RPG but rather a visual novel where music is the main theme. Once that settles in, Stray Gods does a good job at appealing to fans of visual novels and at doing its own idiosyncratic portrait of Greek mythology in modern-day settings, with a gorgeous visual outlook and fun musical moments. The game's scope is rather limited in its options, though, and those who are not keen on visual novels will soon find themselves with little to do. For a music-themed game, Stray Gods also displays some inconsistency in the singing performances.

The gameplay will appeal to players who enjoy this kind of games, but it will feel repetitive to those who are less keen on its mechanics. Nonetheless, all players who are willing to tread new paths in Penko Park will find more reasons to keep the game in their hands and will find it less repetitive than it might seem at first.

Fun, engaging and accessible, Koa and the Five Pirates of Mara can be equally enjoyed both in short bouts on the Nintendo Switch screen and in longer sessions on a television screen, as the experience easily suits both ways thanks to its captivating world and well implemented mechanics. The difficulty curve can seem unbalanced at times, but the game is very accessible to newcomers and a welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch catalogue.

Super Dungeon Maker brings together dungeon building with dungeon exploration in an effort that stimulates the player's creativity and whose very active online community ensures there's plenty to look for when it comes to design ideas. Keeping this community running at such a level will be very important to ensure Super Dungeon Maker's longterm appeal.

Mr. Run and Jump gives players looking for a pure platforming challenge a real test of their skill. Its incrementally difficult levels that join a thousand deadly features to a thousand deadly enemies will require the sharpest and most responsive trial-and-error responses from anyone who dares to take it on. So much so that even with its assistance features, Mr. Run and Jump will leave out players less keen on such extreme challenges.

Teslagrad 2 brings a different approach to the Metroidvania style and with its gorgeously detailed backgrounds and entirely text-free visually-narrated story, it provides a very enjoyable option for fans of 2D puzzle platformers. Those looking for something more thrilling might come out disappointed, though, as Teslagrad 2 does not invest in engaging combat, whether with the regular enemies or the bosses. Still, and despite its somewhat short length, Teslagrad 2 is an original effort that will capture the attention of many fans of the style and genre.

The game’s combat could use more variety and creativity, though, and sometimes it’s hard to understand what’s going on while its audio environment needs improvement, but for most part Nocturnal is an engaging experience for fans of action platformers.

Metal Unit is a roguelike action game with plenty of options and control over the settings, including ways to make the experience more adequate to less experienced players, as well as very thrilling boss fights. At the same time, Metal Unit does not manage to stand out from its peers when it comes to the vast majority of the action, its level strutrue is rather repetitive, and its visual inconsistencies make this an experience more suitable for long-running roguelike fans, rather than for a broader audience.

Unheard - Voices of Crime Edition is a puzzle/adventure game with a unique concept: listening to testimonials and watching videos and solving crimes based on what has been heard and watched. It's an accessible and simple concept that sustains a satisfying experience with an amazing audio quality, even if nonetheless it feels rather short, and the overarching plot is quite limited.

Longtime fans who want to relive the original experiences will be less thrilled, given that the work gone in these remakes feels less ambitious than it should, with its lacklustre visual performance and changes to the art style, while new players won't be very pleased at the relative lack of options that could bring the game up to modern standards of turn-based strategy games. Nonetheless, the very fun gameplay mechanics remain firmly in place, and they are as good as ever, which is a very good point in favour of Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp.

Relaxing, involving, and well-paced, Aquarist could use a slicker audiovisual environment and sharper controls, but overall, this is a rewarding experience for those who enjoy interacting with marine worlds.

Remnant: From the Ashes lands on the Nintendo Switch to defend its reputation and fans of soulslike games have plenty to enjoy here, amid Remnant's varied and original areas to explore, weapon customization, and boss fights. Its performance raises some issues, however, as the technical limits of the Nintendo Switch end up constricting Remnant's full potential, but as far as the gameplay experience goes, this is one of the best soulslike games on Nintendo's console.

Tales of Symphonia Remastered brings back one of the finest JRPGs ever made and for anyone who has no other way of experiencing the original, this could be an interesting choice. Unfortunately this remaster suffers from too many issues compared to the original, artistic and technical, and the result is a rather frustrating experience that should undergo a revision towards correcting its main flaws, as Tales of Symphonia deserves a much better contemporary treatment.

While a more ambitious transition to a home console format would only do better, the game is very competent at creating an atmosphere of suspense, even if there are several moments where the gameplay experience finds itself unnecessarily interrupted.

Dragon Ball: The Breakers is somewhat of a surprise in the sense that a survival game is an unexpected way to take on the Dragon Ball series but The Breakers does a good job at its heart and it gives players a fun and engaging way to explore the Dragon Ball universe, both as survivors and villains. The experience would be more enjoyable if it had more offline and single player options, especially on a format like the Nintendo Switch.

Its dynamic combat system is a marvel and will welcome adventure game fans and newcomers alike, while the game's exploration is implemented in a way that does not strand the player with no discernible path. Batora also features an open ended plot that's very praiseworthy for encouraging the player's curiosity, and the decisions the player faces will put a significant burden on their moral compass.

A Space for the Unbound is an adventure game that stands out for its absolutely gorgeous art style and memorable plot that brings in a bag of difficult themes for the player to come into contact with. As far as its gameplay goes, this is a rewarding experience featuring a great amount of puzzles, but its pacing is not what most players would expect, and often it's possible to be facing too many redundant tasks. This means that seasoned adventure game fans will feel more at ease with A Space for the Unbound, whereas a broader segment of the public might be put off by the way the game advances.

The dialogues and characters are fun, and the visual environment displays great quality and an art style that stands out for the best reasons. Its interactivity is nearly non-existent, though, and the few occasions where the player can make choices they amount to no consequence on the plot development whatsoever.

This new chapter features the best combat ever seen in the Fire Emblem series, as well as a new mechanic that sets up a link between characters of different games and their abilities, which is extraordinary. At the same time, Engage features the least interesting plot in the series, as well as many unnecessary dialogues that feel like a chore to go through. With an exquisite visual background, Engage's positive aspects should be more than enough to appeal to those who want to focus on the combat and interactions and who are willing to put the plot in the backseat of the experience.

Under this Game of the Year Edition, Badland on the Nintendo Switch brings all its previous additions under one game and its wide amount of content to explore, a sharp physics-based gameplay mechanic and remarkable art style all contribute to make this a game well worthy of consideration from everyone looking for a good challenge.

Chaos;Head Noah / Chaos;Child Double Pack is a long title but one that encapsulates an enveloping experience delivering two stories of suspense and mystery. Its most pressing issue is the translation, especially with regards to Chaos;Head Noah where many of the double entendres get lost, but nonetheless both games represent a very engaging effort with a good amount of disturbing moments that will grab the players' attention.

It's not as ambitious as it should be, however, and its rather simple gameplay means it will be fairly quick to finish but the experience encapsulates the SpongeBob world and with the original voice actors lending their vocalizations, The Cosmic Shake does a good job at representing the world of this extremely popular animated series.

While games originally developed for mobile devices always display where they came from, it is clear that Package Inc was properly handled in the way the experience unrolls on Nintendo's console, whether playing it as a handheld game or on a television screen. Fun, accessible and challenging, Package Inc could benefit from more content but as it is, it's a great choice for anyone looking for a game that puts our strategic choices to the test.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet brings the Pokémon series to an open world experience and while there's plenty here to enjoy and co-op gameplay stands out very positively, there are several elements that needed more work, namely the difficulty balance that puts a hindrance on open world exploration, and the technical performance that raises unnecessary obstacles. Overall Pokémon fans still have plenty to explore here, and the plot grows increasingly interesting near the end, but Scarlet and Violet definitely could have benefited from a bit more time in the works.

Pokémon Scarlet and Violet brings the Pokémon series to an open world experience and while there's plenty here to enjoy and co-op gameplay stands out very positively, there are several elements that needed more work, namely the difficulty balance that puts a hindrance on open world exploration, and the technical performance that raises unnecessary obstacles. Overall Pokémon fans still have plenty to explore here, and the plot grows increasingly interesting near the end, but Scarlet and Violet definitely could have benefited from a bit more time in the works.

The way the challenge is implemented feels just right, with each level progressing into something slightly more difficult in natural succession, and the game's simple interface and controls do a very good job at putting the player at ease. While there aren't many incentives to return to previously completed levels, Graviter is certainly quite a lovely piece to spend some time with, especially in a series of daily gaming sessions.

Let's Build a Zoo does not a bring a revolution to the building/management genre but it does its job in a competent, fun way. It's always amusing to try out combining different species, and with its colourful visual world and engaging mechanics, fans of the genre will have plenty to look forward to. Those less versed will find it more difficult, especially with the game's lack of tutorials or more in-game explanations.

SD Gundam Battle Alliance is a great example of fan service and one which does a very good job at celebrating the Gundam series for its long-running fans. If this group will be delighted at the huge number of robots to unlock and enjoyable combat, those less versed are more likely to see the game's flaws with regards to repetitive missions and a rather lacklustre plot. With all things considered, SD Gundam Battle Alliance is an action RPG that mostly aims for the Gundam fans group rather than for a general audience.

The changes implemented in this release help consolidating the experience, with emphasis on the vehicle and character development mechanics, coupling it with an enjoyable exploration effort. It's more difficult to understand why several plot elements were removed, though, and things could be better from a technical performance point of view, but as it is this is without a doubt the best version of the game released so far.

Featuring a cast of captivating characters, decent combat system and some interesting gameplay mechanics, there's enough here to appeal to long-running fans. However Rune Factory 5 disappoints when it comes to its visual performance, even to the point of harming the gameplay experience, while its exploration can quickly become repetitive. The result is a game that could have been much more enjoyable had these elements been treated differently.

Aeterna Noctis is a fine metroidvania that does a great job at taking inspiration from some of the most outstanding games in the genre. Its visual world and level design stand out and for good reasons, while the game's welcoming pace allows players to focus on the exploration. At the same time, the game's pacing can also be a weak point as it makes it harder to keep focused, and a very high difficulty level may put off less experienced players while its long loading times make the experience less enjoyable.

Beacon Pines is a charming indie game that puts the player at the centre of a fairy tale adventure as it develops one chapter after another, with our acts having consequences on the game's plot. While the game's focus is not on an action-packed experience, the lovely art style and soundtrack and the way it balances between a kid-friendly look and gloomier and sinister environments makes Beacon Pines a thrill in its own league.

Neptunia x Senran Kagura: Ninja Wars looks ambitious and indeed sets high expectations under the form of a platforming hack and slash that looks good and can rightfully boast about its comical dialogues. Where Ninja Wars falls short though is in fulfilling all its ambition, and the game's disappointing lifespan and feeling of repetitiveness make this an effort that could have gone much further but which doesn't achieve what its expectations set out.

While the levels are aesthetically appealing and the boss fights are on par with the games they get inspiration from, the levels and the enemies feel too repetitive and they can quickly turn into a chore, especially among less experienced players.

Soccer Story puts the player on an RPG with the purpose of bringing football back. Yet and despite its open world and some engaging puzzles, the least fun part of this game is the sport itself, as the sections where the player will take part in actual football are the least appealing, mostly due to its excessively simplistic gameplay and poor AI. This is a pity, as some elements in Soccer Story are worth looking at, even though its missions are rather mundane and the plot is too simplistic.