Farmer’s Dynasty has a whole host of tools at its arsenal, but with a plethora of bugs and issues, it offered no enjoyment for me at all. Poor graphics and annoying gameplay features make this £39.99 price point almost laughable.

You won’t understand just how much you need a pixelated tentacle monster in your life until you play Carrion. The smooth controls, stellar soundtrack, and slick graphics will provide several hours of top-notch entertainment.

Creaks is a children’s dream in motion. Beautifully atmospheric and mysterious from start to finish, it loses points only in its by-the-numbers puzzle design and a yearning left in the player for more interaction with this gorgeous world.

Seeds of Resilience is ultimately a sad disappointment. The core game is compelling, but its major drawbacks – the awkward UI and the sluggish performance – really hold it back from succeeding as an actual game, which is crucial.

Rock of Ages 3 is great fun during the rolling bits, and not so much when designing your own courses – those sections are spent longing for the rolling to begin. The worlds are varied and wacky, but things can get a bit samey when played for too long.

Rogue Company seems a little bit too bare-bones in this early stage to be considered the Switch’s next killer online experience. It’s worth keeping an eye out to see if any new modes are added, but it’s perhaps too early to give it a recommendation just yet.

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.

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.

Defeat will come often when there are so many bullets pinging around Radio Squid’s restrictive play area; it’s near impossible to get any momentum going. This is an underwater journey that is repetitive and frustrating. Swim elsewhere!

Potata: Fairy Flower isn’t going to boil your spuds, but it’s a perfectly enjoyable title. It may have some unfinished edges and lacklustre puzzle content, but the solid platforming experience, accidental comedy, and excellent audio-visual presentation make up for it.

Crysis Remastered can be a good-looking FPS. It’s just a shame that the act of actually playing it can feel like a chore thanks to a repetitive first half, poorly implemented stealth and unsatisfying gunplay.

Summer in Mara certainly looks great and tells a heartwarming story, but players will soon realize that the game consists of nothing but chores, chores, and more chores. It’s enough to make you take up gardening.

Battle for Bikini Bottom felt as much a battle to play at times as it did to defeat those robots. It’s great to see a cult classic get a fresh lick of paint, but style over substance just isn’t enough.

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.

Some dodgy voice acting and a generally generic aesthetic don’t do a great job of boosting this Star Fox-esque shooter into hyperspace. However, fans of the genre might find some fun in amongst the asteroid field of Star Wars references.

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.

Minecraft Dungeons is a great game for newcomers of the genre, the series, and veteran players alike. Only slightly held back by its lacklustre graphics in handheld mode, this dungeon crawler is definitely worth a go.

Guard Duty is a proper homage to classic point-and-click adventures that’s held back by some PC-to-console growing pains. While excessively easy, it’s a perfect choice for someone who wants to get their feet wet in a typically unforgiving genre.

Galaxy Warfighter has a really cool level-up screen, but beyond that, it’s a pretty standard space shooting affair. It goes on for a hundred levels, but they all feel the same, save for the choice of four end-of-level bosses.

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.

A Summer with the Shiba Inu is a charming and unexpected visual novel experience that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions and plot twists. The fate of Shiba Island is in your hands, as your choices lead to multiple different endings.

Reed 2 is a tricky pixellated platformer which, while not all that long, does offer some discernible challenge. It’s a nice enough title to have tucked away on your Switch to tickle a platforming urge, but it’s not going to pull up any trees.

XCOM 2 Collection is the complete package, giving Switch players a chance to experience one of the best turn-based strategy games of all time. Not even a few technical issues can hurt the unparallel feeling of barely being able to succeed as you lead the resistance against hostile aliens.

Children of Morta demonstrates how to do a roguelike well: frequent upgrades smooth the difficulty curve, an engaging story keeps things fresh, and there’s plenty of depth in combat. It’s difficult and sometimes repetitive, but looks and feels the part.

Creepy Tale is an atmospheric excursion that can be completed in under an hour, although it could take longer (but prove more frustrating) without the hints option activated. This is a bite-size adventure garnished with creepy charm.

As a historical document, Ultracore is an interesting 2D run-and-gunner on Switch. It’s just a shame that modern takes on the genre have bested it at its own game. Do seek out the Strictly Limited Games CE, though.

Warborn is a very by-the-numbers tactical strategy game. And while there’s nothing inherently wrong with this fact, the game doesn’t do enough to separate it from the pack or make it appealing to genre veterans.

Yes, Your Grace impresses with a deep narrative exploring the true weight of the crown, colourful characters and satisfying decisions that are all brought to life with fantastic writing and beautiful presentation. It feels better to play on PC, but this is still a confident port for Switch players who want to experience this story on the go.

Infini is an ambitious, unconventional puzzler. Its unusual yet conceptually simple mechanics will get you thinking laterally, but the game’s steep difficulty and unnerving atmosphere combine to make the experience somewhat grating at times.

The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters is a memorable, atmospheric adventure, even if it is often a little too dark for my liking. Expect to feel a sense of dread as Dark Song chases you down, and the sound of her footsteps will never fail to send a chill down your spine.

Lonely Mountains: Downhill has so much going for it that you can’t help but love it. Vibrant, varied, and victorious. It’s an outstanding example of indie development and a delight from start to finish – performance issues aside.

With fun puzzle gameplay, Pokémon to catch and a decent serving of charm and polish, Pokémon Café Mix offers enough to satisfy the hunger of many a Pokémon fan, but it’s slow mechanics and lack of depth may cause others to shop elsewhere.

CrossCode is a near-perfect attempt at recapturing the charm and magic of action RPGs from the 16-bit era. Fortunately, this experience is only slightly marred by the occasional technical hiccup.

Blair Witch, much like Layers of Fear, offers a take on horror which focuses on a descent into insanity. It’s quite short, clocking in at 6-7 hours, but it is atmospheric, and is at its best when you plug some headphones in.

Castle Pals looks great and handles wonderfully, but it’s an ultimately forgettable experience that does nothing to set itself apart from other platformers. It’s also a game best played with the sound turned off.

With moreish gameplay, charming characters, more inclusive romance options, updated visuals, and a smattering of quality-of-life improvements, STORY OF SEASONS: Friends of Mineral Town polishes up a definitive farming sim classic to bring it into the modern era.

Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise somehow manages to recapture all the magic of the beloved cult favourite. As long as you can handle jank, you should thoroughly enjoy your peculiar adventure through the Deep South.

There is a distinct lack of content in WildTrax Racing, and what little it has is barely road-worthy, with technical issues that restrict enjoyment and a lack of variety. My advice: Use alternative transport.

Although relatively simple in its approach and execution, Night Call is a brilliant, stylish, and deeply intriguing example of how a narrative investigation game should be delivered on the Nintendo Switch.

Ploid Saga comes close but doesn’t hit the mark with its cross-genre collection of games. Some lovely visual design and a fantastic soundtrack aren’t enough to pull it back from monotonous level design and unfinished build quality.

The StoryTale has a few significant flaws that mar what little entertainment it provides. A sprinkling of originality is not enough to elevate this title to a position from which it can stand out in a crowded genre.

Colt Canyon offers an interesting take on the western genre which works extremely well as a roguelike adventure. Pixel art, twin-stick shooting, and a well-crafted soundtrack combine effortlessly, it’s just a shame that it is as challenging as it is.

Some frustrating camera angles can make Monochrome World somewhat stressful, but getting to roll a cute round pink raindrop shaped like a raccoon makes it all okay. The price is right, so if you like action puzzle games consider this for your collection.

A deeply pleasant set of worlds, with a deviously complex set of puzzles to explore, Locomotion is a satisfyingly tough puzzle game that just happens to be gorgeous to look at. A fantastic addition to the Switch’s puzzle game collection.

SNK Gals’ Fighters repays whatever effort you’re willing to put in. It’s a full-featured package with lots of well-polished fighting action and surprising depth to its diminutive setting. It’s just a crying shame about the lack of online.

Ego Protocol: Remastered is a puzzle title which provides more irritation than it does satisfaction. The fiddly tile-sliding proves so much of a chore that there’s little to no motivation to go on and get three-star scores on each level.

The Eternal Castle [Remastered] creates interactive art with this arcade-style platformer, but its old-school nature comes with both charm and flaws. While it is a one-of-a-kind experience with a co-op option, those seeking robust gameplay options should look elsewhere.

Atomicrops is a challenging twin-stick shooter with light sim elements presented in beautiful, bizarre pixel-art package. Lacklustre farming controls and frame-rate drops prevent the label of greatness, but at £13.49, it’s well-priced and definitely worth your time.

Darius Cozmic Collection Console is a must-have for hardcore Darius fans. However, given its shortcomings and steep retail price, it’s not as essential a purchase as the arcade edition of Taito’s shoot-em-up classics.

Gun Crazy ticks the correct boxes for a nicely presented retro-inspired 2D run ‘n’ gun arcade game, but there is little originality and the overall package can be completed without breaking into too much of a pixelated sweat.

Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade gathers some very important side-scrolling shoot-em-up classics into one very attractive package. It’s not a definitive edition by any means, but it’s a fantastic release for fans of the franchise.

Golf With Your Friends might not be the ultimate multiplayer golf experience but there is still enough variety here to have a good time. Even when playing single player the intricate courses will keep you entertained.

A timestamp of a transitional period for 3D platformers, Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee may muster up nostalgia for original players, but the clunky, tedious platforming and missions reveal what a true fossil of the genre this entry has become.

Patience for this port is a must as early experiences will end in fervent frustration. If you’re a speed freak with a penchant for simulation, there’s a lot to love here, but those looking for a casual racer should look elsewhere.

Railway Empire tells a great tale of the Westward Expansion of the US’s railway system. You have to wrestle with some poorly explained and non-intuitive controls in order to get the most out of it, though – but once it’s up and running, this is one of the best train set video games you can get your hands on.

Liberated is a game with a story more relevant now than ever, and an intriguing comic-book style aesthetic, it’s just a shame that this version comes with way too many bugs and frame-rate issues.

Jump King is a game that deliberately wants you to hate its guts. However, the players who are really good at it have made it an art form. This is one that really separates the men from the boys and the women from the girls.

Thy Sword looks great and controls like a dream. However, these wonderful traits, combined with the procedurally generated levels and roguelite elements, aren’t enough to keep you coming back once you’ve finished the campaign.

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.

Blind Men is a fun, well-written visual novel with a stellar soundtrack and charismatic characters. With a fast pace, multiple endings, and an astoundingly cheap price, it’s well worth the purchase if you enjoy the genre.

Silent World is a short, extremely slow-paced 2D adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic world. The challenge is minimal, but hardcore fans could get some enjoyment without hurting their wallet.

Wunderling is a charming and clever little puzzle-platformer with delightfully colourful graphics, a cast of cute characters, and excellent level design. If you’re a fan of the genre, don’t let this one pass you by.

Despite the hype, Borderlands Legendary Collection never once delivered the thrills and spills I expect of a shooter. Irritations in the controls, the general gameplay, and the plodding storyline reduced my enjoyment to a minimum.

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.

80’s Overdrive gets enough of its core concept right to provide an enjoyable, highly playable racing experience. It’s unambitious, and the overall package is lacking in polish and reasons to keep playing. But there’s plenty of fun while it lasts.

Although it doesn’t stray whatsoever from the twin-stick roguelite template we’ve seen time and time again from eShop titles, Rush Rover still offers plenty of additive gameplay for hardcore fans of this very popular (and oversaturated) genre.

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.

Elements of other video games have been resurrected to craft Ghost Sweeper, but the result is lacking. The game offers some thought-provoking challenges for the committed adventurer, but – like its resident ghosts – it’s all a bit soulless.

While adventure RPG Fairy Knights puts a puzzler twist on the genre and features a cute art style, the uniqueness ends there. Little brainpower is necessary to overcome the combat, let alone drink in the bland environment and generic plot.

Dezatopia provides intense, adrenaline-pumped gameplay with intelligent combat tactics and plenty of replayability. Supported by vibrant visuals and a blistering soundtrack, it’s a killer title worth the attention of any genre fan.

Thunder Paw is an underwhelming and often frustrating platformer. Riddled with bottomless pits, unfairly placed enemies, and secret boxes that do literally nothing, this title squanders an interesting upgrade mechanic with a lacklustre overall package.

SMB3 is a surprisingly engaging video game recreation of the famous sport. Despite its accessible nature, this won’t be for everyone. But for those who have even an inkling for some ballpark action SMB3 still knocks it out the park.

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.

Damaged In Transit is a fun but very challenging puzzler. It may not be staggeringly innovative, and it’s certainly too difficult in parts, but two-player co-op mode is a delight. Sadly, it’s also a bit overpriced.

Random Heroes: Gold Edition certainly has its charms, though chances are it won’t impress those who want an original platformer that pushes the genre in exciting in new directions. That said, it’s a perfect entry point for newcomers.

Modern Tales: Age of Invention is the sort of point-and-click adventure we have become accustomed to on the Switch eShop. However, there’s very little new or different here, and as a result, this one struggles to stand out.

The Fox Awaits Me leads players on a satisfying and thrilling journey. Despite players having relatively few choices, there is plenty of content to unlock, for those who can tolerate a mountain of cliches and a few annoying performance issues.

Rainbows, toilets & unicorns is a fun, albeit challenging, shoot ’em up experience. If you enjoy toilet humour, destroying pop-culture icons, and the cuteness of unicorns, then this is the game for you!

Slayin 2 takes a pretty niche gameplay concept and absolutely runs with it, being a near-perfect arcade game filled with fun bosses and bite-sized battles.

The story of She Sees Red is worth it if you persevere, but the experience leaves much to be desired if you’re playing docked. And it’s a movie – who wouldn’t want to watch it on the TV?

Although it’s an impressive game, The Outer Worlds on Nintendo Switch is blighted by performance problems. Visual fidelity, character models, textures and framerate issues mar a fantastic story-telling experience. Wait for a patch or price-drop or play on another device.

Cat Girl Without Salad: Amuse-Bouche originated as a joke, but ultimately ends up as a bore. Yes, there’s some fun to be found within those two ends of the spectrum, but those moments are fleeting and never quite justify your time spent with it.

Tharsis captures the ethos of a tabletop game perfectly, with layered, easy-to-learn mechanics and dynamic presentation. But with too much emphasis on luck, losses often feel unfair, making this a recommendation for intrigued tabletop gaming fans only.

The original Boulder Dash format has been given a buff and a sheen. This anniversary edition presents an accessible remake that is lacking in soul. Perhaps a little more digging would have unearthed more of a gem.

Portal Dogs has some clever platforming ideas in the way multiple dogs are controlled at the same time using the same movements. It’s nothing outstanding, however, and the sometimes irritating precision of the controls means it’s another of the many platformers on the Switch eShop.

One Step From Eden is a lot of fun with its unique combat and deck-building capabilities and would be perfect for anyone who enjoyed Slay the Spire. I just wish it was a little more forgiving and with a very slow unlock rate you have to put in a lot more than what you get back.

Make War is a promising strategy game that is plagued by localisation issues. If you’re still interested in its unique simulation elements, I’d recommend playing it on PC to avoid the frustration of using a cursor on the Switch.

As far as the match-3 genre goes, Magicolors offers a unique approach with its isometric puzzle rooms. Sadly, problematic controls get in the way, turning this into an experience akin to shovelware found on mobile platforms.

The main issue of FLATLAND Vol.1 is that it’s a hardcore platformer that doesn’t really bring anything new to the board. It does offer competent gameplay and interesting visuals, but it feels like an experience that you’ve already had before.

Strategy and board game fans seeking a mixture of challenge, quirkiness, and randomly-generated excitement will find that in Curious Expedition. Although its simple presentation and unforgiving nature may turn off some, it’s a well-rounded, replayable experience.

Although it pays strict homage to a bygone era of first-person dungeon crawlers, almost to a fault, Legends of Amberland: The Forgotten Crown still feels fresh and exciting. The experience almost seems tailor-made for the Nintendo Switch.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is the perfect entry point for the series and deserves to be a summer hit. Full of story and adventure, it’s one of the deepest series Nintendo have delivered, and it’s worth getting past the grinding and the text overload.

While fishing enthusiasts could maybe wring some enjoyment out of this, the dull mechanics and lacklustre presentation make this a flop for anyone else. Awful background graphics, repetitive gameplay and a general lack of polish mean I’d rather catch a cold than have to play this again. Don’t take the bait.

Hang the Kings is a puzzle game that proves that chess’ rules can be tweaked into infinite possibilities. It delivers another package of bite-sized puzzles for those who want more from games like Knight Swap, Unlock the King, or Zen Chess.

Soul Searching is short, sharp and symbolic. It amalgamates excellent audio with engaging scenery to provide the perfect backdrop for an exploratory, non-combative adventure, leaving some reflecting on life long after the credits roll, and others failing to see what it was all for.

The novel it was inspired by is known the world over. Sadly, MazM: Jekyll and Hyde won’t get the same acclaim. Comprising style without substance, this adventure game-turned-visual novel leaves a lot to be desired and is devilishly disappointing.

Operencia: The Stolen Sun is the best example of a grid-based dungeon crawler on the Switch right now. Despite some fiddly controls on this port, the solid combat, exploration, puzzling, and strong writing make it a hefty recommendation for genre fans.

On paper, The Elder Scrolls: Blades proposes to deliver a light version of the seminal The Elder Scrolls RPG experience. Despite providing some solid gameplay mechanics, it is plagued by poor performance, an always-online limitation, and predatory microtransactions.