Endless Ocean Luminous delivers its familiar formula of underwater exploration under a relaxing premise. It does several things right - namely its online multiplayer, which allows sharing discoveries with up to thirty players, and its well written soundtrack that fits nicely with the game's concept. Nevertheless, the single player experience quickly runs out of steam and ends up feeling too repetitive due to a lack of stimulation and repeat of the same objectives and actions. The flaws of Endless Ocean Luminous end up weighing more than its positive aspects, in an experience that runs out of motivation too soon and too easily.

This roguelike gets so many things right, it doesn't have to open new paths. Its exploration and mobility are implemented in a fun and engaging way, as is the character development, while the combat is frantic and the level bosses are simply astonishing, not to mention ruthless. All this takes place amid a gorgeous visual background and fluid animations that perform without a glitch. So even if Astral Ascent is not the most innovative roguelike ever seen, it's still more than enough to deserve a good look.

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.

Disgaea 7 wants to reinvent the tactical RPG series for a new generation, and it passes the test with flying colours. Thanks to its improved gameplay mechanics, a comically engaging plot, enormous amount of content to explore, and added game modes, there is virtually no aspect in Disgaea 7 that is not an improvement over its previous chapters. It all amounts to a game that not only earned its place in the Nintendo Switch catalogue for Disgaea fans but also for newcomers who have never had contact with the series before.

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.

Its beautiful and detailed visual settings and marvelous soundtrack place the players right where they would love to be, and the game's exploration mechanics and combat keep pulling ahead towards discovering more new lands. Classic JRPGs can't get much better than Sea of Stars.

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.

Fashion Dreamer had the potential to deliver an engaging and fun experience, as its peers in the genre attest to, but beyond a glimpse of enjoyable gameplay during the creation of fashion sets, the game is unable to provide something coherent and competitive. The lack of any kind of consequences when it comes to the quality of our creations feeds a gameplay that does not motivate, and the game's limitations that extend to its online interactions make this an overall restrictive experience that's very lacking in motivation and keeping the players committed.

SteamWorld Build brings city builder, resource management, and dungeon crawling together for a lovely experience that will see us helping our charming steambot friends reach their new planet. With a simple and accessible approach that welcomes everyone in, the game makes sure we are in the know of what needs to be done, and allows players to advance rather quickly in what is a motivating and rewarding gameplay environment with a charming audiovisual work and a cast of affable and comical characters.

Super Mario RPG on the Nintendo Switch does an irreprehensible job at bringing back a 16-bit era gem and gives the source material a modern treatment that's able to delight any Mario fan. While it does not revolutionize the RPG genre, and its relative ease and short length fall short of the expectations of hardcore RPG enthusiasts, Super Mario RPG is a marvelous experience for those with a soft spot for the Mario universe, and its adaptation is brilliant, from the improved mechanics to the new challenges.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown marks a brilliant comeback of the series, this time thanks to a gameplay closer to a metroidvania-type of game that sees the player exploring new places and returning to other locations, while the game's emphasis on the plot and characters keeps the experience enthralling and captivating, and its audiovisual world provides a feast for the eyes and ears. Thanks to a customizable level of challenge and to its rich experience, The Lost Crown is marvelous for both fans of the Prince of Persia series, and for those who are just starting.

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.

With its gorgeous visual world and the sharp emphasis on the audio environment when it comes to solving puzzles, this is without a doubt a striking game that with its welcoming low price, has all the advantages in becoming a reference for adventure game fans.

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.

Pikmin 4 marks the return of one of Nintendo's most beloved series, and this return could not have happened in a better way. Thanks to its exquisite audiovisual world, slick gameplay mechanics, an enveloping strategic component, and the adorable relationship between the player and the little alien creatures, Pikmin 4 is nothing short of a jewel on the crown of the Nintendo Switch.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is nothing short of wonderful. One of the finest 2D Mario games ever made, it treats the players to a myriad of masterfully crafted levels, an exquisite audiovisual environment, and the familiar platforming experience where keeping Mario & Co. on the move just feels right and plays right too, all while reaching a fine balance between challenge and accessibility. A wonder of a game, not just in its effects but across the entire spectrum.

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.

Horizon Chase 2 pays homage to classic arcade racing games with its dizzying speeds, marvelous landscapes, accessible gameplay and a very engaging multiplayer component. With car customization options for a more personalized experience and objectives that act as a motivation to move forward, Horizon Chase 2 is a thrill to play and will fit nicely in the Nintendo Switch of every arcade-style racing enthusiast.

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.

Its narrative structures are very well implemented, and the characters' story arcs fit nicely with the overall plot, and its combat mechanics, group management and skills also stand out for all the right reasons. Overall, this is a very recommended game not only to those about to begin their journey in the Trails series but also to those already familiar with this universe.