Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a sidescrolling beat'em up that does a very good job at being fun, looking sharp, and at providing a very solid cooperative experience, local and online. While it can get a bit repetitive, the game fits nicely with the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware, and its cast of characters, pixel art visual style, and dynamic combat are certain to find their place with Marvel and beat'em up fans alike.

Casting cinematic realism aside, this pixellated 2D non-stop shooting fest is not for those who can't take on a challenge but players who like to be pushed to the edge will be duly rewarded by its fast-paced, exhilarating gameplay. Colt Canyon would be even more rewarding and enjoyable if its experience lasted longer but even if it's rather short, there's enough here to satisfy some wild west-themed appetite, whether solo or co-op.

Prinny Presents NIS Classics Volume 1: Phantom Brave / Soul Nomad is a compilation that brings back two tactical RPGs from the 2000s that deserved to be presented to a wider audience. Unfortunately there was little effort in treating these two games to a more modern format in order to make them more appealing to today's audience, and even though both remain fun and captivating for the players who are familiar with them, there's no additional value to gain from this rather expensive set.

Its combat is less appealing, though, as there are too many random encounters and the combat mechanics end up becoming too repetitive, so there's a clear difference between the game's exploration and its combat. Overall this is a lovely game with a strong personality, and fans of JRPGs who don't mind a lot of random encounters will find plenty to enjoy.

Tanuki Justice is a homage to 8-bit era action platformers and does a good job at that, with its mix of simple action and frantic boss fights, along with a lovely visual style. At the same time time, Tanuki Justice does not particularly stand out in any of its components, and despite its good formula it doesn't rise above its peers.

With fast-paced, albeit very simple gameplay and a lovely looking visual environment, Super Arcade Football is much more suited for a multiplayer experience as its artificial intelligence is rather lacklustre and will leave solo players a bit underwhelmed with what's at hand.

Ninja Gaiden Master Collection definitely has an appeal, and the excellent conversion job behind Ninja Gaiden Sigma creates high expectations for what comes next. Unfortunately the conversions of Sigma 2 and Razor's Edge fall way below expectations, with an appalling performance and erratic screen resolution, which makes the games often appear worse than they should be. On top of that, no improvements were done on Razor's Edge original formula and despite the additional content, this compilation feels like a botched effort whose only asset is the very good work done on the first game of the trilogy.

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.

El Hijo is a stealth action game that acts as a good introduction for those taking their first steps in the genre, at the risk of not attracting many veterans. Despite a challenge level that many would call sub-par, El Hijo's simple and intuitive gameplay works as a great roadmap for anyone who wants to know more about stealth action, and the visual art works marvels at creating an experience that flows naturally for any beginner.

Cathedral is a game that packs a lot of exploration in its action and platforming design, as well as many metroidvania elements and a healthy mix of adventure, combat and puzzles. Along with the quality of its level design and visual presentation, this is a game that will provide an involving experience for many players looking for a tough and demanding experience.

Out of Line is a puzzle-platformer that features a stunning art style, intuitive gameplay, a very interesting co-op component involving its NPCs, and a difficulty level that will fit perfectly with beginners. While more seasoned players might not find it very challenging, Out of Line's gameplay mechanics and audiovisual environment make it a game very deserving to be part of the Nintendo Switch catalogue.

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.

OMNO may bring a simple and rather short experience, but its gripping and accessible gameplay, gorgeous art style and ease of exploration will no doubt provide a welcome few hours for players looking for something more relaxing. Indeed while OMNO's simplicity might not be ideal for those looking for something very intense, anyone who wants to enjoy themselves with rather accessible puzzles and a charming world to explore will find in this game a lovely addition to their Nintendo Switch collection.

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.

With its memorable boss fights, a balanced combat system and a very interesting weapon management mechanic, Ultra Age's gameplay comes out on top when faced against its dated visual environment and lack of an interesting plot. Hack and slash fans will find this a very interesting and enjoyable game.

Given the short number of similar games, it's always good to see the Nintendo Switch catalogue accepting more proposals of less represented endeavours. In the case of Nexomon: Extinction, it features a laudable amount and variety of creatures, appealing art style, and it's fairly simple to get into. At the same time, it's far from a groundbreaking game, though competent, and it feels like it follows its main inspirations a little too close. That said, it's a welcome arrival for those looking for more creatures to capture and collect.

Spellbreak joins the growing catalogue of battle royale games on the Nintendo Switch and adds its contribution under the form of a game that follows some of the genre's conventions but also brings something of its own, namely when it comes to a combat that features magical elements, rather than firearms. Spellbreak could use some more content and reasons to return to, as it can feel rather empty too quickly, but its tactical elements and fun combat, along with its free-to-play model, make this an option that is set to grow and develop in the near future.

LUNA The Shadow Dust looks much better than it plays. The game looks gorgeous, with its hand-drawn like style and its colouring but the gameplay experience doesn't live up to the same threshold set by the visual environment. Its puzzles are accessible enough to most players and the game doesn't push too hard but what's presented here could perhaps fit better in a visual novel rather than a point and click adventure, especially when its control system is far from perfect.

It's not every day that a cult series of nearly 40 years has a brand new entry in a contemporary gaming system. It does a fine job at portraying elements of the series, and with two history modes it allows for players to either follow the main character or create their own, which is the most rewarding choice. Nonetheless, Rise of New Champions has some aspects that need additional work. Most of the football experience is fun and addictive, but the game's camera often feels off, the loading times are long and the game's overall technical performance on the Nintendo Switch falls short of what is expected. Fans of the series will love this entry, while others might feel put off by its flaws.

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.

Miitopia returns to a Nintendo console, this time adapted to the Switch, and once again it does a great job at making a fun game out of something as simple as personal avatars. With its countless customization options, the ability to import characters from the Mii community, and a fun combat system, Miitopia might not be the most ambitious turn-based RPG ever developed, but it's an accessible, fun effort at a social game that can bring a smile to everyone's face.

While simple at first, Slipstream's gameplay becomes more complex and addictive as the game goes on, and the variety of game modes and effects, as well as its marvelous visual environment make this game a fabulous choice for those seeking some retro-inspired driving fun, which could have been even better if it featured an online multiplayer experience.

Fight Crab is...exactly what the name says, a fighting game where the characters are crustaceans, and as crustaceans they will use their pincers, as well as some unexpected weapons that most people would not associated with crabs. Once players pass the game's hilarious and absurd concept, it becomes clear some aspects about Fight Crab need improvement, including its controls, the opponents' AI and the graphics. With all that said, those looking for quick, absurd-ridden fun will find something here to keep them entertained.

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.

Just Dance 2021 follows the classical formula of Ubisoft's successful series and while it doesn't tread outside of its usual conventions, it proves once again that this is one of the best designed party games out there. It misses, however, in one crucial aspect - despite the possibility to pair up with players around the world for tournament play, it lacks an online component that would put friends playing against each other. With that in mind, Ubisoft's subscription service widely expands the catalogue of songs and the fitness option, as well as kid-friendly mode, are two very welcome components.

Monster Rancher 1 & 2 DX is a re-edition with some modern touches of two cult classics of the 32-bit generation. While some aspects feel outdated, this work holds quite well and it will bring a smile to the faces of fans of the original games thanks to its qualities around the in-depth development of creatures, their design, and the amount of content to explore.

Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 & 2 is a compilation of arcade classics similar to other collections we have seen in the last decades. The emulation of the games included in the two releases is extremely competent at every level. At the same time and unlike other similar works, including others by Namco, these two titles are very bland beyond the games included and have nearly nothing to offer in terms of additional content, something which seems to particularly affect the European release of Namco Museum Archives Vol. 1 & 2.

Minoria is a metroidvania-type of game that encourages the player to explore and which benefits from having a good combat system. At the same time, it feels it could have gone much further in its ambition, and its rather short length and repetitive settings, a certain lack of orientation when it comes to the exploration, and the lack of attention dedicated to the other characters make this a game that doesn't clearly standout amid its peers, even if it gets part of the job right.