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.

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.

Alwa’s Legacy is a sequel done right. It improves on its formula in every conceivable way. There are a couple of frustrations in terms of combat and guidance, but overall this is a stellar Metroidvania from a dedicated and passionate developer.

Mario Party Superstars is N64 nostalgia remastered. Collect stars, stickers, and achievements while messing with your friends! With five updated game boards, and minigames from the N64 and GameCube eras, fans will be able to squeeze plenty of fun out of this one.

Like a favourite movie, Skullgirls 2nd Encore will keep you coming back long after the credits roll. Its beautifully crafted, if a little distasteful at times, and proves that fighting games don’t need big name characters to win plaudits.

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.

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.

Heave Ho is a classic case of ‘better with friends’. Play solo and you’ll get bored quickly, but gather one or two of your pals together, and this shines as a couch co-op title that will grab more of your time than you’d imagine.

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.

Pac-Man Championship Edition 2 Plus is a fantastic evolution of the core Pac-Man formula, delivering addictive gameplay at blistering speeds. With such a sharp focus on high scores, I guarantee you'll be coming back to this one again and again.

Card Shark is an intriguing title that tells an engaging story while hitting you with a constant barrage of mechanics. This can start to feel overwhelming, but persevere and you’ll be sucked into a truly wondrous world.

With the body of an AAA title and the soul of an independent game, Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice presents a poignant narrative about mental illness. It is one of the most impressive games on Switch, both due to its visuals and its one-of-a-kind experience.

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.

With striking visuals that feel like they were lifted from the comic book pages which inspired it, Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a welcome throwback to the classic turn-based RPGs of old with some appreciated new twists.

While not everything is a classic and there’s a few notable omissions, this is still a great mixture of genres couple with neat emulation gimmicks. For Nintendo fans, it’s also a great time travel machine back to see just how the other lived during the great console war.

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.

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.

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...

Wide Ocean Big Jacket is a short story in video game form. With relatable themes and a cast of flawed yet lovable characters, this slice-of-life experience is worth a look for any fan of narrative-driven adventures.

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.

In terms of pixelated platformers on Nintendo Switch, Valfaris is a punk-powered riot, introducing enough weapons, enemies and bosses to always keep things fresh and rocking. A dodge function would have helped this to even greater heights.

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.

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.

Wreckfest on the Nintendo Switch is a fantastic technical achievement. It’s an absolute delight of a game that doesn’t take itself too seriously, yet still offers enough depth and longevity for avid racing fans.

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.

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.

Shin’en has once again provided a tight and well-polished experience that looks the part, too. The Touryst would be a masterpiece if it wasn’t for the shortness, but the time you do spend with it is memorable and great fun.

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.

Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe is a wonderful example of another great Nintendo remake. The price may be steep, but, if you are a fan of Kirby, or simply played the original, this is a great wholesome family-friendly game to fall back on.

There may be other games in a similar vein to Little Nightmares, but it really is a truly unique adventure making fantastic use of the 3D space and lighting. Occasionally the controls feel a little clunky, but it’s forgivable as you experience a macabre game and world unlike any other.

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.

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.

Pokkén Tournament DX is a thoroughly enjoyable experience that undoubtedly deserves your time. The game impressed on every level; the core fighting gameplay is superb and incredibly extensive, the customisation options are truly staggering, and the attention to detail is abundantly clear. Not entirely faultless, but very close to it, this game is the Switch's next must-buy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory is a celebration of the Kingdom Hearts that has come before, and a tease at what it next has to offer, albeit not in gameplay form. Addictive, nostalgia-inducing rhythm gameplay is at its fullest in this cohesive and chunky package.

Death Road to Canada is a delightful text-based survival adventure that manages to inject a bit of life into the shuffling zombie genre. Perfect for short bursts, this is a road you'll want to go down.

Whether it's your Pokémon entry point or you're returning to Kanto yet again, Pokémon Let's Go is for everyone. The lame motion controls aside, this is adventure perfection, not once feeling jaded after dozens of hours' play.

The Next Penelope provides a great mixture of Shmup and Racing gameplay which contains its fair share of challenges. It can often become overly challenging at times and this - coupled with a lack of control mapping - means a great game falls just shy of being essential.

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.

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.

TOEM is one of the many wholesome games available on Switch, but it is one that stands out thanks to its unique hand-drawn art style and enjoyable perspective mechanics. A short but sweet, frame-by-frame adventure.

The blend of visual novel-esque storytelling combined with surprisingly deep RPG based combat result in an engaging and substantial fantasy adventure. A great execution of the old school choose your own adventure games and a perfect fit for the Switch.

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.

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.

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.

Part top-down action game, part management simulator, Cult of the Lamb is a game that perfectly blends multiple genres, and does so in such a great manner that not even some nasty bugs can take away its shine.

Doom is a fast-paced, blood-soaked first-person shooter which pitches you in an exhilarating war against the hordes from hell. While some concessions have been made in order to make it run on the Switch, it is still pretty much the same Doom game. With almost exactly the same content as the console version, it's made all the better for its portability.

There is a genuinely heartfelt story to be told between the self-aware blocks of Thomas Was Alone, married with excellent visual and audio aesthetics. A puzzle game with a heart and soul? That’s a rarity.

Whilst BELOW is a perilous, tense, and dangerous descent into the unknown, Superbrothers is the perfect counterpart for relaxation and pondering on your handheld, or simply the perfect entry point into Capy's games if you don't have access to a Microsoft platform. Not only does it hold up, but it's the best version of this indie gem.

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.

Lucy Dreaming is a refreshing new entry in the point-and-click genre, full of laughs and style. The bleak tone only strengthens the game’s core narrative, and though it’s an easy ride, it’s nonetheless one worth taking.

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.

A beautiful lick of paint and superb execution mean that Wonder Boy: The Dragon’s Trap is not only well worth your money, but it also feels perfectly at home on the handheld mode of Nintendo’s Switch. This love-letter to the past proves a great game forever remains a great game.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Part-roguelike, part-RPG, part Peggle, Roundguard is all fun. Its strategic-yet-unpredictable gameplay will keep you hooked, and with modifiers, randomised levels and even completely different classes making each run different, you won’t get bored easily.

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.

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.

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.

Sidebar Games have made a great take on the arcade golf game and added a story and RPG elements with great success! Golf Story is the best sports game on the Nintendo Switch, and arguably one of the best games available right now on the system. Whether you are a fan of golf or not, you need this game on your system!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ibb & obb is a game that requires two great minds, working together, to achieve the end goal. It’s a beautiful journey, but be prepared to challenge your brain cells if you want to reach the end.

Double Dragon & Kunio-kun: Retro Brawler Bundle does feature games that feel dated by today’s standards, but they hold up well, enjoyment-wise, in spite of their age. It’s a wonderful package for dedicated fans and those who want to discover these fantastic gems.

RUNNER is still a rhythm game: the chiptune music is still just as strong, and you jump, duck, and kick to the beat in order to progress.

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.

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.

Windjammers 2 is addictive, vibrant, and intense. With gameplay as fun as this you’d be hard pressed not to enjoy it to some degree, but the lack of tutorials and the rather limited modes hold it back a little.

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.

Forager is a charming resource management and exploration game with one goal: progression. With a compelling gameplay loop, charming environments and pleasant soundtrack, the game makes for an addictive yet satisfying experience. The only downside is that it’s not longer.

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?

Not Tonight is the bouncer simulator you didn’t know you needed, but it’s also a biting if one-sided commentary on Brexit Britain, and the political and social shift that has been brought about as a result.

Deep Sky Derelicts serves up joyful space exploration, with an unbeatable comic book art style and a cast of memorable NPCs to meet. Barring the overwhelming item system and tutorial text, the experience is seamless and rewarding.

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.

A wealth of complex systems can be overwhelming, but Samurai Warriors 5 combines an engaging gameplay loop with exciting mechanics to deliver an action-packed game that provides countless hours of fun.

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.