DISTRAINT: Deluxe Edition offers great story and perfectly crafted ambiance, regardless of it’s short run-time. Although it drags in the middle with questionable mechanics it is still a unique take on the point-and-click adventure genre.

Clock Simulator is a somewhat challenging but often repetitive rhythm game that lacks the necessary motivation to keep it interesting for long. The addition of multiplayer also fails to give it the extra time it needs.

Dragon Quest XI S is a quintessential JRPG that celebrates the series, and yet somehow is still accessible. The world is rich, the gameplay is satisfying, and with a free 10-hour demo, you have no excuse not to play it.

The Forbidden Arts will remind you of those old 99p bargain bin games with a drab colour palette, annoying music and half-baked combat. Some platforming elements are enjoyable, but the overall package is a chore rather than a joy to play.

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.

RAD is an excellent roguelike, that oozes the signature Double Fine charm from its terrifyingly mutated pores. Beautiful art direction from Lee Petty’s team and solid replay value from the extensive combination of powers each run make it extremely worthwhile.

Turok 2: Seeds of Evil is a classic Nintendo 64 FPS that perfectly enraptures the charm of its era. Certain design decisions struggle to translate well to the modern times, however, rendering the act of shooting dinos feel fun in some areas but obtuse in others.

The Sinking City does atmosphere and immersion really well, and we like that a lot. It doesn’t do its combat and handling as well, though, or it would be getting a higher score.

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.

Ni No Kuni is a visually stunning classic, whose story of heartbreak will touch even the toughest of souls. Wonderfully-written characters, along with top-notch gameplay, help to bring this game to life, even if it eventually gets a little long in the tooth.

Bulletstorm’s linear campaign feels like an amusement park where you go from point A to B with explosions happening all around you – and that’s extremely fun. It’s definitely worth revisiting, or visiting for the first time, on Nintendo Switch.

While a little pricey and devoid of extras, GRANDIA HD Collection nonetheless means you have two excellent classic JRPGs that gives its unrivaled battle system another chance to shine.

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.

FIA Euro Truck Racing Championship could have been a stellar addition to an underdone genre on the Switch. Instead, poor performance and lacklustre racing means it becomes yet another racing title destined for the bargain bucket.

Himno is not the gold standard for games offering relaxing, immersive gameplay, but if you’re looking for something peaceful, it might be just what you need.

Snooker 19 is a decent snooker game, but a poor entry into any other category. Dated graphics and finicky controls make this hard to recommend.

Doughlings: Invasion offers another modern-day take on Space Invaders on the Switch. Unfortunately, a lack of depth and monotonous gameplay will have you thinking you’d have been better off dusting off an Atari.

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.

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.

Irony Curtain: From Matryoshka with Love is a beautifully executed point-and-click experience that combines a gripping narrative, humourous characters and rich scenes to create an unforgettable espionage adventure. Fans of the point-and-click classics won’t want to miss this one out.

Toy Stunt Bike: Tiptop’s Trials feels very much like a children’s game, in that it’s incredibly basic, easy, and offers no sort of reward system. Easily completed within a few short hours, this cheap game unfortunately also feels very cheap.

A puzzle-rich adventure title that’s brimming with charm, Ittle Dew offers a solid experience and plenty of amusement, thanks to its quirkiness, challenging combat, and interesting puzzles. With varying difficulty for all ages, it’s a must have for adventure fans.

Super Wiloo Demake is a very basic platformer that won’t set the world alight. It’s decent enough, though – but don’t expect as much fun as you’d have in a Super Mario Bros game.

Hoggy2 is a fun little platformer which works well on its simple premise. At an affordable price, it’s worth the plunge.

Fun combat and an intriguing story make Daemon X Machina a great game for fans of mechs. Both visually and audibly striking, the game impresses in a lot of ways, though some of its shine wanes towards the end.

Lazy Galaxy: Rebel Story takes on the classic SHMUP formula, adding story and new mechanics to try and take the genre to new heights. Sadly, the systems don’t divulge enough from the mold to create a truly unique experience.

Startide is a mess of failed potential. While there may be fun to be had, its issues in relation to control and handling, amongst other mishaps, put it in the not-recommended pile.

Varion had the potential to outgun the competition, and, with a shift in tact to remove the overriding element of luck that permeates through the gameplay, its true potential could have been realised. Sadly, it underwhelms, even despite its extensive gameplay offerings.

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.

Creature in the Well is a clever and challenging original take on dungeon-crawl pinball. It might be too tricky at times, and irritating when you have to trek back to the point you died, but the action sure is fun.

Fantasy Strike offers an accessible, if not conflicted, take on the beloved fighting genre. Whilst it’s certainly not for those that cut their teeth on complex button inputs, the strategic elements found throughout have the potential to entice otherwise naysayers.

Gravity Duck is a nifty little puzzler, offering plenty of levels to try your hand at. Although frustrating at times, with a price tag of only £4.99, its stunning pixel aesthetic and enjoyable gameplay more than justify your purchase.

Escape from the Universe is an alright shooter but it is unremarkable visually and in terms of gameplay, with nothing likely to make it live long in the memory.

It may offer nothing new from past ports, but even in its creaky age, Resident Evil 4 remains a stone-cold classic. From its terrifyingly opening to the final getaway, it’s a hell of a ride that most AAA single-player campaigns only wish they could be.

As a “Complete” Edition, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet offers tons of content in a single package. Yet, its bland combat and repetitive universe won’t have much appeal unless you’re a really faithful fan of the series.

Mochi Mochi Boy isn’t exactly a bad game; it is just a pointless one. The gameplay is derivative and nothing about it warrants the time it’ll take to download, let alone the price. If you’re a real puzzle devotee, you should probably just stick to Wario’s Woods and save yourself the fiver.

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.

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.

Solo: Islands of the Heart is a pleasant game with some interesting puzzle box action, but its core premise, built around relationships, is disappointingly underwhelming, and disconnected from the gameplay surrounding it.

Wayout is a simplistic puzzler with charm, and a concept that is uniquely gratifying once the perfect answer becomes known to you. Although short on content, its low price is more than justified.

The Drama Queen Murder under-delivers pretty much across the board. Hunting down items is the best bit, but even that isn’t as good as it should be due to the dark colours and squinting requires to spot everything.

Still one of the best video game remakes, albeit with some old-school mechanics that show its age, the Nintendo Switch release of Resident Evil finally means a proper Resident Evil game you can crap yourself while playing on the crapper.

Streets of Rogue is a deep and detailed rogue-lite. Much better with friends than on your own, there’s plenty of content to be seen here.

Vektor Wars may be lacking in polish in some areas, but fans of first-person shooters are likely to find some enjoyment after pushing through its flaws.

Senran Kagura Reflexions is an unfortunately meagre take on the visual novel genre, showcasing its graphical fidelity alongside its questionable one-trick pony gameplay.

Bitlogic‘s labyrinthian stages have a sleek cyberpunk finish with some catchy chiptune tracks, but the presentational facelift doesn’t do much to alter the basic MSX gameplay, which can get monotonous fast. It’s not bad as an MSX throwback, but there are much better games out there on the eShop.

Morphies Law: Remorphed is an entertaining online multiplayer shooter. There might be others out there which offer better shooting experiences, but this is distinctive enough to make it a worthwhile use of your time.

Senran Kagura: Peach Ball displays new-found confidence and discernable competence when taking on a new genre, even if the overall package does appear light on content. Familiar staples from the series, such as unlockable outfits and dioramas, do pad the content out somewhat, making it a good title for fans of the series.

Astral Chain is one of the most confident, stylish and satisfying third-person action games we've played in quite a while. While its narrative might be melodramatic, battles and enemy encounters always deliver a thrilling but balanced challenge.

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.

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.

It may be a touch expensive given its age, but Harvey’s New Eyes is one of the best-put-together point-and-clicks on Switch eShop. Pick it up.

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.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses repetitively and competently shows a clear understanding in how to deliver in not only each individual mechanic, but how they are all intrinsically linked to create an expertly crafted end-product. From the varying storylines available throughout to the engaging, deep and – surprisingly – approachable combat, Intelligent Systems have yet again created a must-have title.

While pixelated games struggle to charm players these days, Songbird Symphony manages it with ease with its witty platforming and fresh musical spin. Despite its brief nature, it is an experience that stands out beyond your short time with it.

The VASARA Collection allows for a kind of time travel back to the golden age of the shoot-em-up genre. The quality of the package is inconsistent overall, but it still delivers a solid experience for the fans.

Automachef is a slow and methodical puzzle game that is at times unfriendly due to the lack of tutorial. Nevertheless, it can be quite rewarding to try things yourself and learn all the rules when creating a mind-bending food factory.

Paradox Soul is nothing to write home about, but neither will it leave you disappointed beyond measure. If there was ever a game to perfectly embody a 2.5/5, this is it.

Despite its low price point, and the introduction of additional content not found in its original PC release, Six Sides of the World fails to impress. Its repetition and harsh difficulty is more frustrating than enjoyable.

Professor Lupo is a good and well-designed puzzler, though some irritations hold it clear of a higher score. The puzzle-solving is satisfying, though some of the controls and the movement could have been done better.

Packed with fan service and with a huge amount to do, it’s difficult to dismiss Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order. It can get repetitive, and the story does drag a little, but comic book and Marvel aficionados will enjoy it nonetheless.

Phantom Doctrine is an extensive espionage strategy game, with a ton of features and gameplay elements to get stuck into, but its downgrades for the Switch port make the experience – while not unplayable – jarring and awkward at times. Unless you’re set on playing this one on the go, it’s likely better experienced with a mouse and keyboard.

DOOM remains an iconic game that fans of shooters – actually, scratch that, fans of gaming – need to play to this day. This version has a few drawbacks that will no doubt sour the experience for some people, but this is by far the most authentic version of the game on a Nintendo platform so far.

Sky Force Anniversary is a visually stunning game, but it can’t make up for the shallowness of its mechanics. With a superior sequel available on the Switch for the same price, it is hard to justify bothering with this release.

Not only is Etherborn a solid puzzle-platformer, it’s also a work of art. The inclusion of a challenge mode counteracts the relatively short length, so there’s replay value, too.

Robot Squad Simulator succeeds in temporarily making you feel like a bomb disposal expert one moment, only for the next moment to be more akin to crashing a cheap remote-control car.

Run the Fan is a surprising little gem of a quick-thinking interactive puzzle game. Whilst it might leave you wanting more, you’ll certainly feel that your brain has had a decent workout.

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.

Little Shopping is a very bare experience, reflected in its price. It’s the price which saves it from the minimum score, as you can’t complain too much at 35p.

TerraTech showcases its strengths proudly in focusing on vehicular creations, whilst leaving the rest of the world behind. Unfortunately, this immediately limits both the immersion and enjoyment found within, and leaves the experience feeling like an early-access title awaiting a larger content pack.

If you’re looking for a nightmarish title with eerie environments, nail-biting and butt-clenching moments of suspense, then you’re betting off looking at Limbo or Little Nightmares. Selma and the Wisp gets dull very quickly.

Beyond the initial learning curve, those patient enough to stick around with Dead in Vinland will be rewarded with a brilliantly balanced, challenging experience and will no doubt become emotionally invested in the characters and their tale of survival.

Lost Orbit offers a solid experience, but intermittent performance and some curious design decisions take some of the shine off this title. Still, with over fifty individual levels plus a time trial mode, there’s no shortage of content on display.

It’s another cheap and entertaining effort in the AGES series, and a decent racer to boot. Whether you are looking for a nostalgic jaunt to the 1990s or a quirky little racer, you can’t really go wrong with Virtua Racer.

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.

Zombie Driver is a tour de force of vehicular undead destruction, proving that when Mad Max meets The Walking Dead only creative killing can occur.

Forest Home looks, feels, and plays like a mobile game. It’s grindy, fairly unspectacular, and not challenging enough to hold your attention for long. At least it runs well?

Bouncy Bullets is a fun game for short burst play, but one which could do with more accuracy in its controls, particularly when jumping. It does have good replay value, however.

Cluedo had the potential to be a great digital board game experience on the go but is hindered by its inability to embrace the Switch or more broadly to make concessions to a digital experience.

Geki Yaba Runner is a 2D platformer that stands out with its gameplay mechanics, often keeping you guessing, but lacks substantial content. Its humorous art and story may keep you entertained, but ultimately the player isn’t offered much else to enjoy.

At a first glance, Battle Worlds: Kronos looks like a kind of spiritual successor to strategical titles such as Command & Conquer. It differs from the formula with its hex-layered grid and turn-based structure, but delivers a clunky and slow experience that doesn’t fit well with Switch’s portable capabilities.

Super Tennis Blast is a simplistic but engaging tennis game that focuses on the core of tennis, whilst also knowing how to deviate to provide an enjoyable alternative on the classic sport.

AngerForce: Reloaded is a challenging but rewarding shoot-em-up that you won’t be able to put down. It stands out as one of the best in its genre on Nintendo Switch.

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.

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled achieves the same highs as the N. Sane Trilogy in its revitalisation of another Naughty Dog classic, and goes one step further by modernising the racer with an online component that has a clear road-ahead. With the same experience as other consoles – aside from some visuals tweaks – and more DLC in the pipeline, it’s a worthy alternative to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Collection of Mana includes three must-play games for any JRPG fan. They have beautiful art design, incredible soundtracks, and Trials of Mana may arguably be the best game the SNES ever had. Unfortunately it’s a bit light on additional content beyond the games themselves.

Lust for Darkness doesn’t really deliver what its trailer promises. The scares aren’t great, other than the jarring ‘caught’ noise on the short stealth section. With a short run-time, it’s an underwhelming experience.

Red Faction: Guerrilla Re-Mars-tered makes it just as addictive to cause destruction as it originally did 10 years ago. While few downgrades have been made to get it on Switch, it’s a solid addition to the console’s library of third-persona action games.

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.

Warlocks 2: God Slayers is an action-platformer game that offers tons of replayability thanks to its customisable characters and RPG elements. It has some rough edges when it comes to its basic mechanics, but it can be enjoyable if you have a couple of friends to join on its local co-op modes.

Hungry Baby Party Treats actually came from the mind of a human being. Keeping that in mind throughout the experience makes the whole thing feel even more crazy than it already is. You’ve not played much like this.

Golem Gates is generous with its content, but is for a fairly particular audience. Its complexity is enough to put off people that are new to the genre, but strategy fans will get a kick out of it.

There is great potential in We. The Revolution to provoke genuine empathy for the liberated citizen. This is squandered in favour of sneering at the barbaric past. With poor performance and the dull night-time segments, it isn’t a great package on the Switch.

The nonsense story and a humour that never seems to land hinders this rather simplistic Action RPG. Gameplay can be enjoyable, but everything around the games core becomes tedious rather quickly.

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.

Peace, Death! Complete Edition is one of the better games you’ll find on the Switch eShop for under a fiver. Moreish, tricky and challenging, it has personality and is worth a shot.

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.

Starship Avenger Operation: Take Back Earth is a dull experience for the most part. Slow, plodding action makes what could have been an interesting premise an incredibly tedious, boring experience. Better keep your feet firmly planted on earth with this one.