Iconoclasts is a fun, but difficult platformer with a great cast of characters, brilliant controls and a fantastic soundtrack that is let down by a story with little direction.

Crypt of the NecroDancer has risen once again to bring a hefty amount of rhythm action goodness to Switch. If this is your jam, then its definitely worth picking up again for portable and local co-op play. If you haven't played before and aren't sure if you'll dig it then the Switch version is a content-rich way to give it a whirl and find out.

Sonic Mania is like a greatest hits album that your favourite artist may release, with a few new tracks as a bonus. It has a high level of nostalgia, gloss and polish and will really challenge your skill, reflexes and patience. There's quite a bit to get stuck into, but you may find yourself being frustrated. If you love the little blue chap and relish a challenge, speed along to the e-shop and pick this up.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 does a decent job of bringing the game into 2021, however it falls short in a few unnecessary ways that might keep newcomers to the series from enjoying it.

Gimmicks and references can only carry a game so far, and in What the Golf?, what’s lying beneath these is lacking the substance of a truly worthwhile experience. With its higher stakes and unpredictability, though, the multiplayer mode shows more promise.

As a mid-chapter of a long-branching narrative, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III doesn’t really slow down for new players. If you’re patient with the game’s unique passing, tough, you may find an engaging combat system and tons of content to enjoy.

World of Goo is a game with an excellent concept, held back from greatness by its limited scope and inaccurate control schemes. More levels, a proper ultimate goal, or even a good control scheme could've boosted this game out of middle-of-the-road territory - but as it stands, that's right where it sits.

SEGA AGES Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is the best, most complete version of Sonic the Hedgehog 2 to this very date. However, it does not necessarily need to exist, with copious amounts of ports having already been released prior.

For series fans, it’s a no-brainer; this is the best version of No More Heroes to date. As a newcomer, despite a lacklustre open world and some incredibly dull grinding, NMH still held my attention with brilliant writing and memorable characters.

Atelier Ryza 3 works as a fitting end to this particular trilogy, even if its various gameplay mechanics cause more frustration than enjoyment. Persevere and you’ll find plenty to enjoy here, but this really is a game you need to be fully invested in.

Overall, Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus and Butterfly is a great game to lose yourself in for a few hours, but ultimately one that ends up feeling more like an extension of the first game in the series rather than a sequel.

Hotline Miami Collection is certainly moreish, but suffers from irritating controls and a level of difficulty which crosses the border into the unfair. It’s for the sadists, that’s for sure.

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is a sequel in the complete sense. It offers a familiar nostalgic-driven experience, but now with new playable characters and more challenging levels. It is more of the same, for the good and the bad.

Vectronom is an adrenalin-pumping, mind-bending experience which provides a fun challenge for the duration of its relatively brief length. Thanks to that brevity and the slap-you-in-the-face presentation, Vectronom is a fantastic palate cleanser to enjoy between meatier offerings.

Ultra-stylised visuals and creatively crafted combat are the reasons to dive into the world of Shibuya. The quirky cast, muddled music and lengthy visual novel-esque text sequences? Not so much. I liked it, but I didn’t love it.

Freedom Planet isn't shy about its influences, but what new spins it does add to the tried-and-tested formula is enough to keep it interesting - providing you haven't already played it.

Thimbleweed Park is a beautifully crafted, if challenging world to explore. The puzzles you face can be daunting at times and may put some people off, but players who are able to be patient (or use the in-game hints when possible) should find it to be an enjoyable ride. Fans of the genre and of the game’s predecessors will no doubt love everything on offer here and, with 20-30 hours worth of content for those willing to fully explore, there is quite a lot to love.

Toki Tori is a great puzzle game in its own right, only shadowed by its improved sequel. But don’t let that put you off. If you enjoyed Toki Tori 2+ then don't think that you'll be playing with an inferior version of the same game - but instead a different twist on the same core principles.

Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition does fulfill the promise of bringing back the experience of an old-school cRPG. As a result, though, it also comes with a convoluted combat that can get in the way of the game’s main appeal: its expansive fictional universe.

51 Worldwide Classics is the poster child for the quote ‘less is more.’ By omitting some of the less engaging titles, the opportunity to develop some of the others in more detail would have presented itself. As it is, the ‘classic’ collection leaves something to be desired whilst still retaining all that we enjoy about Nintendo. That being said, a solid online experience will provide ample good fun for the masses, and a score will be given upon the release of Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics once the online elements have been tested fully.

Shantae: Half-Genie Hero is a beautiful, fun platformer that is a welcome addition to the Switch's library. A little on the short side, the game does suffer from being too easy in its "normal" game mode. Still, if 2D platformers are your thing, you can't go wrong with Half-Genie Hero, the titular belly-dancer will certainly have you tapping your feet to the beat - just make sure you play in Hard Core Mode if you like a challenge!

Arcade Paradise nicely marries the worlds of management simulation and classic arcade game collections. While the game does drag a bit towards the end, it’s a fun blast from the past if you spent days in the arcade every summer.

Final Fantasy VII is a game that everyone should experience. It’s a pioneering JRPG that remains to this day one of the most influential titles of all time. That said, if you’re entering Midgar for the first time, just keep in mind that time has not been kind this game.

Short, but impactful. Interesting, but flawed. Umurangi Generation Special Edition is a photography-centered experience that is sometimes weird, sometimes contemplative, but thoroughly unique.

Super One More Jump throws away many of the platformer genre staples to focus solely on the jump mechanic. As a result, it delivers an experience that takes a while to reach full potential, but eventually becomes surprisingly challenging and enjoyable.

Persona 3 Portable is an entertaining JRPG that is quirky and a little bit dark. The friendship and romance simulation gameplay is interspersed nicely with the battle elements and will keep many-a-gamer entertained for a multitude of hours.

Rune Factory 4 Special seems to be a jack of all genres but a master of none. It’s a fun game with a lot of interesting features, I only wish that the beautiful illustrations of the characters would’ve been portrayed in the gameplay itself.

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair doesn’t have the charm of the original game, but it is a very good 2.5 platformer. Remember that this is a spin-off and not a sequel and you’ll enjoy yourself more.

By ditching some classic elements of the rogue-like genre in favour of a permanent progression system, Rogue Legacy delivers a more welcoming and rewarding experience – even if it can get a bit repetitive with time.

Dungeons of Dreadrock doesn’t do anything substantially new but manages to feel interesting and unique because of the way each level has been hand-crafted, carefully considering the interactions between the few mechanics at your fingertips.

Pretty. Inoffensive. Rote. Others might find the DNA of something pure that they want to pass on to someone close: a niece or nephew, son or daughter. Trine is a series that is well worth introducing to those just getting to grips with the medium. And this installment adds to that library of introductory possibilities. But it doesn’t use the platform it has to push boundaries and explore the unknown in fairytale video games.

Pokémon Sword and Shield are solid Pokémon games but are too close to what we’ve seen before. It was time for some more ambition to rocket the main Pokémon series onto TV screens, but far more ambition was required than delivered.

Torna - The Golden Country is a solid expansion to an already great game. The community feature adds nothing to the experience, but the same epic combat is just as compelling as before.

It's the middle part of a story and at times it certainly feels middling. More polished that the first title yet nowhere near as enthralling or captivating, it feels like it was dragging the story along at times. Fans of the first title will still find plenty to enjoy, and I hope that the final part sees some of the choices pay off.

Pokémon Sword and Shield are solid Pokémon games but are too close to what we’ve seen before. It was time for some more ambition to rocket the main Pokémon series onto TV screens, but far more ambition was required than delivered.

Thunder Force AC may not be the shining light of the SEGA AGES collection, but space shooter fans and high-score enthusiasts will certainly be able to enjoy the experience. It’s short, but decent enough arcade fun.

Customisable game modes and the option to create your own stages give Ultimate Chicken Horse a nice starting point but the gameplay on offer does wear a little stale after a few rounds.

Another Pong-esque paddle-based game style.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is as much educational as it is relaxing. It’s a short experience but it is one that you can learn a lot from as well as having a wonderful time.

The Falconeer: Warrior Edition is an impressive technical achievement coming from the mind of just one individual in Tomas Sala. It looks great and feels fully-fledged. Take that out of the equation, though, and things are a bit too unvaried and repetitive for our liking.

Pokémon Sword and Shield are solid Pokémon games but are too close to what we’ve seen before. It was time for some more ambition to rocket the main Pokémon series onto TV screens, but far more ambition was required than delivered.

With a rich world to explore, secrets to find and fantastic writing at every step, Paper Mario: The Origami King often feels like Nintendo at its very best. But a baffling battle system and forgettable characters get in the way, holding back what could have been a sincerely exceptional adventure.

Thunder Force IV will continue to delight shoot-em-up fans. The concern, though, is whether you'll want to fork out for this rather than getting the more cost-effective Sega Retro system.

Overall, Sam and Max: Beyond Time and Space on Switch is the best way to play this hilarious point & click adventure. The updates are just enough to make it feel like a newer release and whether or not you have played the game before, you won’t be disappointed.

The classic indie platformer VVVVVV plays around with what seems to be a simple gravity-inverting mechanic. By evolving on the concept, it creates a platforming experience that, while short, may prove challenging for even the hardened platformer aficionados out there!

The Nintendo Switch has finally found itself a horror game to be proud in Layers of Fear: Legacy, fulfilling the promise of a corridor creeper that's full of ideas and filled with plenty of unsettling exploration.

It would be hard to make a bad chess game, but it's not easy to make a beautiful one and that's what Ripstone have achieved with Ultra Chess. It's priced reasonably, plays and looks fantastic and if you are a strategy or chess-afficiando then it's a no-brainer. Unlike some of the matches you might play...

Slayaway Camp is a darkly charming isometric puzzler that uses the B-Movie slasher conceit to its complete advantage. Addicting, challenging, and perfect for bitsize Switch sessions, anyone who doesn't give Slayaway Camp a butchers will surely be missing out.

By changing some core aspects of the beat ‘em up genre, The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors offers a SNES-like experience that is still enjoyable and unique today – even if it’s a brief one.

Sagebrush is a short narrative-driven experience that uses storytelling to great effect. Set on the site of a horrific mass suicide, players learn the story of the Perfect Heaven cult’s rise and demise at the hands of founder Father James.

Yoshi is back with a pleasant and relaxing adventure. It tends to stay on the easy side, and co-op can be a frustrating endeavour, but for the most part Crafted World is a joy, and just plain fun.

Arena of Valor is one of the best of the few MOBA games on the Switch. If you’re looking for something fun but want something that isn’t a complete time-sink, then this game is for you.

Runbow is a frantic platformer with a twist. With tons of funny multiplayer modes, it is a very funny party-like experience, even though its single player counterpart is a little pale in comparison.

New Pokémon Snap offers fan service to those who were there when it all began. Unfortunately, it doesn’t do enough to engage and retain new players, failing to make full use of the niche genre it invented.

Lucah: Born of a Dream is a ZX Spectrum-looking, Dark Souls-esque beat-em-up that is visually striking. The beat-em-up elements are strong, though its insistence on sticking to the Dark Souls formula brings the whole experience down, and feels out of place.

Fight’N Rage is a thoroughly enjoyable beat’em up; it’s well balanced gameplay grants no small amount of fun. The only downsides are content locked behind difficult tasks for casual players and poorly done fan-service that takes away from the story’s tone.

Bleed 2 offers good, frantic twin-stick shooting fun, but it would have been nice to see a few more levels and a bit more depth to the game beyond the frequent boss battles. Taken with the first game, though, Bleed is a fun package.

Warlock’s Tower doesn’t set the world alight, but it delivers a Game Boy-like retro experience which gives a fuzzy sense of nostalgia. It’s worth a look.

L.A. Noire isn’t quite an action blockbuster, but more of a serialised crime caper. The slow approach and moments of intrigue are welcome, and ends on an incredibly memorable note. DLC fills out the experience for Phelps fans.

World of Final Fantasy, while a spin-off, still offers a deep Final Fantasy experience. You need a lot of patience for grinding, however, to follow along with the story.

Astrologaster is a light comedic take on Elizabethan England, with all of its nonsensical religious and social hang-ups exposed to ridicule. Occasional hints of more serious social commentary add some depth, but the astrology mechanism is under-utilised.

With its humorous spy theme and its satisfying, varied puzzles, Agent A is great fun. Admittedly, it’s currently cheaper and probably more at home on mobile, but it’s still a solid point-and-click addition to the Switch library.

Feature-light and shady DLC practices aside, Blazblue Cross Tag Battle isn't a particularly bad game, but its lack of content will struggle to keep the attention of fans of the represented series, who may be expecting more.

Fun, creative, and challenging boss battles dampened by outdated controls. Frustrating fun.

Avicii Invector is a musical marvel. It offers yet another opportunity to remember Tim Bergling’s remarkable talent and engage with his music in new ways. There are a couple of low notes, but it’s an enjoyable experience overall.

Octahedron is a difficult platformer which will entertain an audience due to its acclaimed soundtrack and inventive gameplay. Its visual presentation will make it difficult to get into for many, but there’s a solid platform challenge at hand here.

As with the previous releases, The Jackbox Party Pack 5 contains a few strong mini-games, and a few weak ones. But with the game almost actively encouraging crude creativity, there's so much pure joy to be found here. Gather your friends, break out the booze, and let the good times roll!

Cotton Fantasy has all the makings of a great title. However, the execution of its mechanics does little to set it apart from better games of its kind.

An imposed grind, disappointing Towers and Krypt mode, and a severe drop in visual quality bring down what could have been the best Mortal Kombat experience to date. That said, the story, as well as the actual fighting, is the best it has ever been.

The Spectrum Retreat could very well pass for one of Aperture Science's many testing chambers, and that's a big compliment for a sole independent developer's debut. With a creepy, intriguing narrative with multiple endings, the game doesn't do anything we haven't seen before, but still comes highly recommended for fans of the genre.

Atelier Lulua ~The Scion of Arland~ keeps the same basic combat system that old-school JRPG fans may enjoy, but adds a welcoming twist to how you progress through the campaign. It is one of the best titles from the series available on Switch, and works well as a stand-alone title.

Tumbleseed is a good pick up and play game that feels perfect for Switch, but will frustrate as much as it pleasures. While it certainly feels fresh and new, it’s simply going to be too hard for most to enjoy in any long term fashion.

Golf Peaks doesn’t exactly turn the puzzle genre on its head, but it does offer a plenty relaxed gameplay experience. A perfectly passable puzzler that’s good to pick up in short bursts.

Blaster Master Zero is fun while it lasts. With a bizarre story and fun gameplay, this is one Metroidvania-style game that can be played by both fans of the series and newcomers alike. The only complaints about this remaster are that it is short and rather easy, but the seven or so hours it will take you to get to the end are certainly entertaining while they last.

Castle Storm is a highly accessible yet mechanically deep take on the RTS genre, mixing in elements of both tower defence games and physics-based combat to an impressive level of competency and quality. The amount of content available throughout is staggering, and an endearing graphical style keeps you enjoying each spectacle the game throws at you.

Overall, Revita is a fun and challenging twin-stick roguelite game that offers players some different and exciting gameplay features to learn and master. There are better roguelites out there, but why not try them all?

A whimsical and light-hearted tale that’s also fairly light on gameplay, Once Upon a Jester is an enjoyable three-hour romp, with colourful silliness for children and irreverent humour for parents to keep both engaged as they play together.

A different take on the Metroidvania formula, Shinsekai: Into the Depths creates a suitably aquatic feel, both in its atmosphere and gameplay. At times visuals can look a little washed up, but if you fancy going below sea level, then it’s worth taking the plunge.

Please, Touch The Artwork is a great experience, but it’s not a particularly great game. I found its puzzles fun and serviceable, but not very compelling. The execution is generally sound, except for an inexplicable handheld-only requirement.

Though it doesn’t break the mold of point-and-click adventure games, and falls into some of the genres trappings, Nelly Cootalot does encapsulate what makes them so fun to play. Fun and entertaining characters really bring the story to life, and the voice acting is superb.

Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series offers players a nostalgic look at a relatively unknown platformer with a cult following. This is undoubtedly the best way to experience these games, even if they are priced a little too high.

Good Job! is another left-field Nintendo idea which offers fun and charming puzzling action. It’s not flawless, with some irritating controls and things having a tendency to find themselves stuck. But it’s certainly worth having.

Trials Rising is the latest of the nearly-20 year phenomenon which, unfortunately, proves that less can indeed be more. The addition of the mid-game grind immediately dissuades the player from continuing and, coupled with the Switch version’s shortcomings, only highlights how great we used to have it.

Inmost is tragic, gut-wrenching, and absolutely confronting. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you’re looking for something that will make you cry, you’ve come to the right place.

Wingspan is a delightful introduction to American birdlife and complex card games. With beautiful illustrations and cerebral gameplay, it’s one to savour. Hardcore players may find the strategy lacking skill-wise, but this port is an excellent accompaniment to the board game.

Overall, Wavetale is a beautiful example of what a good story can do to a game, regardless of its mechanics. It’s a simple premise, but a good one, however, it’s hard to justify the cost against what you receive.

Pawarumi is an enjoyable enough shoot-em-up, but performs poorly on the Switch. Its repetitive artwork, backing audio and narrative sequences make it gripping to play until beaten, at which point, it lacks any replay value.

1979 Revolution Black Friday is uniquely educational, but from a gameplay perspective it can't compete with a modern Telltale release. There's nothing wrong with that if you're jumping in to experience the story, though the performance makes for a weak port.

Cat Quest II does as any good sequel should, expanding upon the core design of its predecessor whilst also improving things in terms of visuals. Whilst the end result is slightly compromised, the attempt is admirable.

Super Crush KO is a 2D brawler that could be a little better with some additional variety. Still, you should have a hell of a time while its campaign lasts, all thanks to fast-paced combat that makes you feel powerful.

A charming pixel-based roguelike pinned down by its unfriendly approach towards player progression. Flinthook will be rewarding for some, whilst providing controller-throwing levels of frustration for others.

You know the score by now. It's Sonic the Hedgehog's maiden voyage, and comfortably his finest. But you might find a more cost-effective way to play it elsewhere.

Should it not have been for the unfortunate technical issues found in the larger areas, Darksiders II would have been an easy recommendation on the Switch. Unfortunately, should you still want to experience this grand adventure, it’s best done elsewhere.

The Turing Test is first and foremost a first-person puzzler, but it’s also an experiment in unorthodox video game storytelling. You won’t struggle to finish, but your imagination will be in overdrive as you work your way through it.

Human Resource Machine is a game that aims to teach you basic programming. The one thing it fails at is that it forgets to teach - you will soon be tasked with puzzles that seem impossible, making this job-simulator game feel like a real chore. While aesthetically pleasing and certainly charming in an odd way, you will soon be eyeing up a career change.

My Memory of Us will perhaps be better remembered for its visuals than its gameplay, owing to some frustrating controls. It’s good enough to warrant a place in your Switch collection, though.

Vaporum is a deep, unique take on a dungeon crawler that melds the grimy, steampunk aesthetic of BioShock with methodical, cerebral controls and combat. The plentiful options for customisation mixed with the great character designs and overall mood make it worth playing for genre fans.

Digimon Survive is a graphically pleasing visual novel with a very light sprinkling of TRPG gameplay. The characters are a bit static, the gameplay can be quite slow and a bit too easy, but the mons are cute and the story can be engaging at times.