Ten years in the making and certainly worth the wait, Owlboy is a fantastic platform/adventure game that succeeds in making you care about the game's characters through a great tale of an underdog (or owl) wanting to prove himself to those who doubted him. Looking for a new indie game? You'd struggle to find one as well designed as this!

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity has overcome the seemingly insurmountable task of respecting the IPs that it was based upon whilst also carving its own identity. It’s original, it’s inspired, and it’s a Game Of The Year contender.

Ultra Space Battle Brawl is a highly original spin on the classic Pong formula. Tense gameplay, beautiful visuals and a stellar soundtrack all come together to provide a fantastic experience.

All in all, Haiku, the Robot is a truly delightful experience that doesn’t come around that often. The Metroidvania formula is utilised in the best possible way. Anyone, not just fans of the genre, should pick this one up. It’s well worth spending your hard-earned spare parts on.

Subsurface Circular is a finely crafted compact experience. Everything about it shines, from its retro-futuristic design and intoxicating soundtrack to its carefully considered text and narrative. This is truly a game where style and substance are perfectly balanced.

Ooblets is a fantastic farming simulation game that also combines cute-creature-collection and a deck-building/card battling system all in one handy-dandy game. It looks, sounds, and runs well on the Switch, and is entirely worth your money.

Horace is a 7-year labour of love from a two-man development team, and the amount of quality content here is incredible. Packed to the rafters with nostalgia, it provides laughs, tears, and a brilliant platforming experience that everyone can enjoy.

If Found… is a moving, heartfelt tale about identity and relationships at the end of the world. The unique mechanics marry perfectly to the themes explored, and the short two-hour runtime makes it an excellent choice for a cosy evening in.

Skies of Fury DX is an immensely enjoyable flight sim that maintains a good level of sustainability with a generous supply of unlockables. Strong gameplay and gorgeous visuals make this a must-buy for all Switch owners.

DotEmu are the absolute dons of beat ’em ups, and the collaboration with Tribute Games is a match made in heaven. Whether your persuasion is TMNT or Streets of Rage, you can rest assured that the results from this partnership are best in class.

Vernal Edge is an engaging Metroidvania with a compelling protagonist, an intriguing story, and fantastic gameplay and combat mechanics that will make you forget you’ve been playing for hours.

Nobody Saves the World is a quirky and engaging little action RPG. With smooth controls, awesome art and sound, plenty of customization options, and fantastic multiplayer; you should definitely consider adding this one to your Switch library.

A fantastic refinement of the classic twin-stick shooter, Tesla vs Lovecraft is a lovingly made adventure that takes its perk system and gameplay seriously, even if the story thankfully doesn't.

Tormented Souls is a fabulous return to classic survival horror, the likes of which haven’t been seen for years. Even horror novices will gel with it because it updates the genre just enough to be accessible in 2022.

Crash Bandicoot is back, and hopefully now for good. The original Naughty Dog trilogy are the best in the series, and not only does this collection see their debut on a Nintendo platform, but it's the best version possible of the games. Willy the Wombat is reborn,and with Vicarious Visions at the helm I now have high hopes for the future, especially considering Crash has become the fastest selling game on Switch in 2018.

Grapple Dog is everything a good 2D platforming game should be: smooth gameplay, amazing artwork, and a soundtrack easy to groove to. With a cast of cute characters and a quaint story full of comedy, you won’t want to miss this one.

GRID Autosport is by far the most engaging racer on the Nintendo Switch since Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. More importantly though, it is one of the most enjoyable racing experiences offered in recent years.

Immortals: Fenyx Rising is a superb new IP from Ubisoft. It may borrow heavily from other titles, but don’t get hung up on it. This isn’t a cash grab. It’s a beautiful game and a quality product, crafted with love.

They said it wasn't possible on Switch, but now it's here, Nintendo fans won't be able to escape the phenomenon for any longer. It nails the get a little better each time feel, and that's what makes it so addictive. Add in the Save the World mode and it's an equal match for the other systems.

Worms W.M.D. isn't the most original entry in the series. Rather, it's a modernised version of the earlier games. It may not be the best single player game either, but couple it with the portability and various multiplayer options of the Switch, Worms brings a fun and frantic game that is always best shared.

Although nearly identical to its predecessors, Kingdom Rush Origins stands out from the competition. This prequel proves its worth, with some smart changes, an undeniable charm, and a lasting shelf life as a go-to tower defense boredom buster.

Tetris Effect: Connected is the puzzler as you’ve never seen it before. The whole experience is amped to the max, producing a game that dazzles not only the brain but the eyes and ears as well.

Combining nuanced storytelling with engaging and addictive gameplay, Bugsnax is a real treat through and through. Some technical stumbles aside, this is a title that any fan of games needs to experience for themselves.

Without a doubt, The Binding of Isaac is the most varied, addictive dungeon-crawler ever made. As the most definitive version, Afterbirth+ is perfect both as a portable game for quick runs and as a docked game for lengthy plays. A must-have for Switch owners.

The feeling when you are on holiday and you don’t want to leave: free of daily obligations and worries, and being surrounded by exciting new opportunities and adventures. This is the essence of A Short Hike. Truly marvellous.

While the sharp difficulty spikes and commitment required for completion can be daunting, Crash 4 miraculously succeeds as both a direct successor to the original 90s trilogy, and a modernised reimagining of the franchise. It might be the best Crash game yet.

One of the best third-party offerings yet on the Switch in terms of atmosphere, and memorability, the Switch eShop is better for having the Outlast games on it. Pick them up, adults.

Armello is a beautiful, engaging digital board game that manages to ensure that no two games feel the same. The omission of local play is a shame, but it's one that can be mostly overlooked considering the sheer wonder that the rest of the game encapsulates so wonderfully.

Dead Cells is a game of many influences. As a child of roguelikes, metroidvanias, and souls-like games, it mixture many elements in a surprisingly cohesive and entertaining way. Thanks to one of the most satisfying sidescrolling combats and extensive replayability, it is a game that every Switch owner should play and keep playing.

Piczle Cross Adventure goes above and beyond to add a fresh coat of paint to a stagnated Picross formula. If you like nonogram puzzles, adorable characters and options galore, you cannot go wrong with this Piczle-perfect puzzle-packed package.

Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus doesn't disappoint either with its story, characters, or in the Nazi-slaying department. The fact that you can do so portably, largely without compromise cements the Nintendo Switch version as one of the best ways to play despite a few niggles found across all platforms.

A Space for the Unbound is an incredibly touching story that will keep you guessing until the very end. With beautiful pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack, this is a game you don’t want to miss.

Its charming story and characters keep you smiling as the game continues to challenge you while its hidden areas and collectibles will keep you coming back for more. Whether you’re a fan of pinball machines, metroidvania or puzzle games, Yoku’s Island Express delivers class in every area for every type of player.

A reboot of the series that still stays true to its roots, Bravely Default II is most certainly worth the half-decade we waited for it. This is a must-have for fans of the series and JRPG fans in general.

Balancing several different gameplay elements deftly while providing a lighthearted yet emotional take on death, Spiritfarer is a long and satisfying adventure that kept me more engrossed than any other game this year. It’s truly a special title that deserves all the attention it gets.

Neon Splash is a masterfully crafted sequel that takes the very best elements of the original highly stylized 3D platformer that Demon Turf is. By ditching the problematic combat, it offers a pure platforming experience that, while brief, is stellar.

Triangle Strategy is one of the most polished strategy RPGs out there. Although it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it refines its mechanics to a point of near perfection, wrapping them within a riveting story that just takes a little while to get going.

Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Deluxier Edition is a fantastic title with tons of content and humor to be found throughout. Do yourself a favor and pick this title up.

Blasphemous is a visually stunning action-adventure platformer that will leave you clamouring for more. Challenging even the most skilled players, you’ll be left shaking your head at your own incompetence while unwaveringly resuming your quest as the Penitent One.

Whilst most remasters simply up the visuals and leave it at that, Spyro Reignited Trilogy has been deservedly given an overdue modernisation that brings it in line with the best of the best today.

Live A Live is well deserving of the remake treatment. Its concise and effective stories, combined with a battle system that is surprisingly complex, result in a game that works as a gold standard for the genre.

The Framed Collection might be just another mobile port, but it is one that is right at home on the Switch. You might not spend that much time with the two games included, but you’ll enjoy every scene that you play.

Demon-slaying may feel simplistic compared to Monster-Hunting, but as the pioneer of the co-op loot-chasing dungeon crawler, Diablo III: Eternal Collection is the definitive article on the Switch, packing a wealth of content and variety of ways to slay.

Resident Evil 5 continues a year of already impressive ports on Nintendo, working in full motion controls and all released DLC to work as the definitive way to play.

Ape Out is the embodiment of video game perfection. A clear artistic direction perfectly marries and compliments a simple, yet challenging, gameplay hook that keeps you coming back time after time. Additional challenging modes provide further replayability, and any excuse to keep playing is a good one in my books.

The Delicious Last Course is everything Cuphead fans could have wanted from a DLC. It’s just as great as the original game, and just as gruelling to complete. As always, the animation work shines, and the gameplay is stellar too.

Like a fine wine, Skyrim is a game that has improved with age. I had mixed feelings about the Nintendo Switch version prior to playing, knowing what issues I faced in the PS3 version and wondering how it would perform on the Nintendo Switch. However, I had nothing to worry about - the game is fantastic on the Nintendo Switch and is a fantastic way to experience Bethesda's open-world wonder. If you haven't played this before, you are in for a treat. If you have, you're in for a pleasant surprise and returning to this world is a welcome trip down memory lane.

Cadence of Hyrule – Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda is a game I didn’t know I wanted until I’ve seen it for the first time. By (re)mixing the visuals, soundtrack and structure of a Zelda game with the gameplay from Crypt of the NecroDancer, it creates a unique experience – one that is faithful to the Zelda series at the same time it stands out as a superb spin-off.

Famicom Detective Club is a fantastic revitalised visual novel, let down only slightly by its lacking narrative options and gender selection. I would say that this is the best visual novel game I have had the pleasure of playing.

Famicom Detective Club is a fantastic revitalised visual novel, let down only slightly by its lacking narrative options and gender selection. I would say that this is the best visual novel game I have had the pleasure of playing.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak is fresh but familiar, offering plenty of opportunity to hone your hunting skills against new, more challenging monsters in delightfully detailed locations. It’s the very best way to hunt monsters on the Switch.

A kind-hearted jaunty adventure that sees you try to bring the best out of those who inhabit the world. It’s not all song and dance though as it is a reflective experience that might just see you learning a bit more about yourself.

Bayonetta is a stellar action-adventure game oozing with style and substance from start to finish. Newcomers may be put off by the portrayal of its title character, and the visuals are definitely starting to show their age, but the gameplay remains consistently brilliant throughout. A must-buy.

BioShock: The Collection can be seen as the definitive package of one of the most unique, fantastic, and awe-inspiring franchises ever made. From the classic first BioShock to the action-driven BioShock Infinite, there’s a lot to enjoy within this superb port.

Those looking for a fairytale-like sense of wonder that pushes you to discover and explore will feel right at home at Hollow Knight. In a world where the Switch eShop is stacked with metroidvanias, few others are as in-depth or well-made as Team Cherry's hand-drawn modern classic.

Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition is a fantastic hack 'n' slash title that brings together the best of the Legend of Zelda series and the Dynasty Warriors games. With plenty of content, superb performance and phenomenal gameplay, this is a must have title.

Filled to the brim with content, this game has enough to keep you playing for hours on end and coming back for more. A sports sim done right. Pure Pool is pure brilliance!

Much more than a spin-off, Persona 5 Strikers is a worthwhile sequel of the original game. The action-style combat feels at home thanks to many adaptations, and it was great to spend more time with these beloved characters.

Beautiful, challenging and engaging, Pikmin 3 Deluxe is a fantastic strategic experience and is accessible to players of all skill levels. It’s the best version of the best Pikmin title.

Sniper Elite 4 is a joy to play. Even as we approach four years of the Switch, it has been under-represented in terms of realistic World War II-focused shooters. This satisfies that itch and then some. When levels are over an hour long but you never get bored, that’s a marvel.

Better late than never, What Remains of Edith Finch is quite simply a storytelling masterpiece that’s both tragic and life-affirming. Even if your time with the Finch family is short and bitterly sweet, it’s an unforgettable experience.

Aaero: Complete Edition is a must-have for fans of the rhythm genre or fans of great games, actually. Sure, the aggressive soundtrack (Monstercat fans take note) may not be to everyone’s taste, but this trippy and downright visually stunning experience that comes packed with all of the previously released DLC is a perfect fit for Switch.

Super Cable Boy is a wonderful collection of contradictions: experimental yet familiar, accessible but challenging, linear with masses of choice. The game marries old and new elements of 2D platforming to near-perfection. A triumph stylistically, conceptually, and in execution.

Guacamelee! 2 is a brilliant continuation of Juan's story. It's largely more of the same, but when the gameplay and visual design is this good, there's little need to change it. Yet another fine example of the Metroidvania genre.

My Friend Pedro proves that gameplay is king in a bizarre spectacle of bullets, bananas, and parkour. Whilst other aspects of the game may not be up to the same level of quality as the gameplay, it doesn’t manage to tarnish this otherwise excellent adventure.

Inventive and exciting, Astro Aqua Kitty is a wholly satisfying ride. Not revolutionary, but nevertheless a must-have indie gem on Switch. It’s an underwater RPG shooter with – ahem – plenty of depth.

Two Point Hospital is an addictive management experience which you’ll adore if you enjoyed the likes of Theme Hospital, Theme Park and Rollercoaster Tycoon. There’s a deep sense of satisfaction in getting things to click and watching the money rack up – and who doesn’t like making money?

The epitome of tough-but-fair, the Dead Cells: The Bad Seed Bundle will have you coming back again and again. The gameplay is captivating, the worldbuilding is intriguing, and there’s simply no better way to experience the game.

Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a colourful, magical, platforming-adventure delight with a cute factor that is out of this world! The game isn’t very difficult, but the upgraded copy abilities, mouthful mode, and fantastic level design make it a worthy addition to any Switch collection.

Dragon Quest Builders is a wonderful alternative to Minecraft and also offers a great story for you to experience. With well over 50 hours worth of gameplay on offer, it's definitely worth your time!

Regardless of any slight graphical downgrade from other systems, the full Outlast atmosphere and performance levels are present and correct in this excellent package. It's a must for the collection of any adult Nintendo fan.

If you have never experienced Link’s Awakening before then go and buy this now, because it’s amazing. If you have, the new styling perfectly complements the adventure. Plus, you’ll know that it’s well worth playing again. It’s the best 2D Zelda.

Detention is a perfect example of how the video games medium can be utilised to tell unfamiliar, but important, stories in a novel and impactful way. That by no means takes away from its credibility as a horror game and instead strengthens it.

This is a grandiose, yet slightly imperfect follow-up to the Wii U’s darling game. But for SMM2’s faults and a lack of the original’s wackiness, it truly does shine as another great do-it-yourself Mario game. Even if you don’t want to build, the wide-ranging levels soon to be on offer can keep you going for many, many hours.

Shantae and the Seven Sirens represents the very best this charming series of 2D platformers has to offer, offering fun exploration and cool abilities in spades.

The farming simulator genre is back and better than ever! Stardew Valley provides you an experience that just grows more and more as you play. Every little thing, from planting to befriending the community, becomes surprisingly meaningful as your hard works comes to life in front of you. With tons of content, it’ll keep you hooked into living this calm, pleasurable and magical second life, all made better with Switch’s portability.

Fitness games are often judged on whether they make you forget you are exercising, but if you forget, you’re probably doing it wrong. What Ring Fit Adventure succeeds in, is making that exercise consistently enjoyable yet still effective.

Rarely has skateboarding in a game felt so creative and accessible as it does in OlliOlli World. It’s very much more of the grind-based platforming that long-time fans will know, just with even more tricks and challenges primed to keep you coming back for more.

Infernax is everything I want from a retro-inspired 8-bit platformer. It looks fantastic, offers challenging gameplay, glorious bosses, and banging tunes. If that’s your bag, don’t waste any time diving in here. It’s a beauty.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes the base formula from creative sandbox titles such as Minecraft, and mixes it with the best elements from a lengthy JRPG. Its single-player campaign offers tons of quests to conquer, places to explore, and people to meet, resulting in a charming experience.

The experience of The Stanley Parable is as fresh and unique now as it was almost ten years ago. To make things even better, the new content included with this Ultra Deluxe edition expands the game in new and interesting ways, making it well-worthy of a (re)visit.

Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Mega Mix excels at everything it sets out to accomplish. With flashy visuals, challenging gameplay, and a staggering amount of additional content, Switch players can truly enjoy this rhythmic masterclass at home or on the go.

Crystal Crisis is a joy to play and boasts a surprising amount of depth. If you have any interest in fast-paced puzzlers, I would file it alongside Lumines Remastered and Tetris 99 as an essential addition to your Switch collection.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Complete Edition is like any addictive substance. You need it, you always have to have more, and once you have it, you never want to be without it again. With its immense content load, well-crafted systems and engaging combat, you’ll soon forget that this is a downgraded port of the game.

Supergiant’s latest action gem Hades is a must-play for Switch fans looking for some fast-paced action, especially considering it’s currently a console exclusive. The seemingly endless modifiers keep the roguelike gameplay fresh and exciting each run, coming at no expense to its humorous, hellish story.

Heroes of Hammerwatch is the definitive edition of an already fantastic game. It’s a killer rogue-lite, a great twin-stick shooter, and it comes packed with additional content for a very modest price point. There’s just no reason not to own this.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is well worth your time, offering one of the most compelling stories on the Switch. It’s refined, charming, and engaging, and a great experience for newcomers and fans of the Ace Attorney franchise alike.

Improving everything good about the original while cutting the bad, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle spends a lot more time being a fun action game and gives you plenty of new ways to tear enemies apart for good measure.

N++ is a platform game of near perfection. There are countless levels to explore, a boatload of collectables, and a satisfyingly steep difficulty curve that perfectionists will relish.

FAR: Changing Tides is an emotionally charged voyage that revels in the thrill of exploring the unknown, proving that the journey is more important than the destination. Painstakingly crafted and beautifully presented, this is an essential experience.

Nefarious is a fantastically wacky 2D platformer that is innovative and refreshing with its diverse gameplay and world.

With stunning visuals and music, Hyper Light Drifter: Special Edition is a delight to play - even if it means overcoming overwhelming odds.

Severed has hit the Nintendo Switch, and it's just as good as it was the very first time it released. A touch-based game which runs in handheld mode only, this title has a rather unique take on gameplay mechanics, art, story, and more. It very much deserves to be played by the masses, and if you haven't played it elsewhere then you should definitely pick it up.

If you're after a puzzler, I couldn't recommend Piczle Lines DX enough. Just the amount of addictiveness and content you want, and a lot of DLC content to come as well. You won't be getting bored of it anytime soon, and being able to come and go as you please is a big plus point. A welcome addition to the Switch library.

The Count Lucanor is definitely worth a place in your Switch eShop library. Comprising a castle of a range of different puzzle challenges in each room, it's like a scarier version of the Crystal Maze. Well-written storytelling also helps its case, and while it may not be long, it certainly is memorable.

While GoNNER may be brutally hard, there’s plenty to find rewarding if you’re someone who doesn’t get frustrated too easily, or who can appreciate the diverseness that the randomly generated roguelike can exhibit. Underneath the game's pastels of bright and intense coloring, there’s great gameplay systems waiting to be explored. If you’re the type of person who loves tight 2D platforming and shooting in your games, then GoNNER isn’t something to be slept on.

A charming little game that melds action and puzzle elements together quite nicely, Kamiko is a pleasure to play and experience. It doesn't last too long, and some of the enemies are rather easy to dispatch - but the different characters and their unique weapons make it a good game to replay, and the speedrun elements add to the fun. Overall it's a great way to spend a few hours, and that cheap launch price definitely doesn't hurt its value any.

Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a mashup that shouldn't work, but does. Taking Nintendo's beloved mascot and combining him with their own, love them or hate them Rabbids - Ubisoft has made a Mario game that feels every bit a Nintendo first party title. Aside from some odd difficulty spikes and a lack of replayability, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a fantastic turn-based strategy title that both newcomers and fans of the genre should definitely experience.