Advance Wars finally gets a deserved appearance on Switch! This package is ideal for both newcomers to turn-based strategy and experienced players. There are endless hours of brain-stimulating entertainment here, with army units as perfectly pitched as chess pieces.

While a range of convoluted upgrades and currencies add more hurdles than just the ones out on the racetrack, Disney Speedstorm is a dynamic, engaging kart racer at its core, with carefully re-imagined characters that will encourage fans to go the distance.

Minecraft Legends takes a beloved and familiar IP and tries to extract something new from it. The results are arguably mixed, however, as an introduction to the Strategy genre, Legends provides enough fun to get by.

Post Void lovingly pays homage to the chaotic first-person shooters of yesteryear, whilst still managing to carve out its own unique identity. Though its affinity for the past holds it back in some regards, any fan of the genre would be a fool to miss out on the adrenaline-fuelled action on offer.

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

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

Unique and beautiful, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon isn’t afraid to mix elements from different genres to explore the somewhat unique concept of a ‘co-op game that you play alone’. The best part being that it executes that idea in an almost flawless manner.

Papertris is far from original, with several accessibility flaws. It may fill a gap if you’re bored of ’99 or Effect but, let’s face it, if you’re bored of those, you’re probably bored with life already.

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.

Zapling Bygone is a fun and challenging Metroidvania that will keep you entertained for hours. With fantastic comic book artwork telling the story, completionists will be in heaven… or Valhalla using the skulls of their enemies to collect every last item.

Remnant: From The Ashes is a brilliant co-op shooter that takes elements of Dark Souls and combines them with other elements to create something fresh. It will occupy you for dozens of hours and frustrate you beyond belief, but it sure is worth it.

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.

Tales of Symphonia was a fantastic JRPG back in the GameCube days, however the remaster leaves a few things to be desired. If you’ve already saved Sylvarant in the past, perhaps that’s where you should leave it, but new fans should find some enjoyment.

Clive ‘N’ Wrench is a love letter to 90s nostalgia and 3D platforming. It gets a lot right but falls short of providing the intended experience due to needless bugs and glitches.

Metroid Prime Remastered marks one of Nintendo’s best efforts at revitalising an old classic. The updated controls, pristine visuals, and atmospheric soundtrack all work alongside gameplay that remains stellar to this day to create an unforgettable experience.

Blanc is a unique, engaging experience with a few flaws in its approach to puzzles and controls. Still, the overall presentation and storybook feel should reward players looking for a relaxing co-op with a like-minded partner.

Drago Noka is so close to being an enjoyable game, however, a myriad of bizarre and disappointing design choices hold it back from ever being anything other than sub-par.

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.

Overall, Nadir: A Grimdark Deck Builder is a fun title that offers a different spin on the deck-building rogue-like genre. Sadly though, there are so many other alternatives that offer much more in-depth and fleshed-out gameplay that it’s hard to recommend this one.

Fire Emblem Engage delivers fan-service and new ideas in equal measure, creating a game well worth your time even if you’re not a Fire Emblem fan. Despite some story and dialogue missteps, it’s another solid entry in the long-running franchise.

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.

Memorrha is a solid first person puzzler with interesting puzzles that make you feel smart. It has a few performance issues here and there, but if you can forgive them, you’ll love the brain-teasers within.

Persona 4 Golden is an incredible RPG that is both wacky and intense. The twist in the different genres helps to keep you engrossed, and the story will keep you playing hours after the sun has gone down. This is the Persona game to play.

Children of Silentown will be a polarising game, mainly because of the point-and-click nature. But with a compelling storyline, attractive visuals, and excellent reuse of location, adventurers who don’t mind a bit of trial and error are well served here.

Inspired by Super Mario Bros. 2, Onion Assault delivers an unusual platform experience that brings certain puzzle-like features to the linear levels. Unfortunately, the platforming gameplay isn’t as slick as these cool concepts.

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

Minimal Move is a fantastic puzzler. Intriguing right until the very end, with a story and mechanics that keep you focused without drawing attention away from what matters, mind-bending puzzles.

While the ingredients for a compelling roguelite are here, Lone Ruin opts for a straightforward roguelike experience that shines a spotlight on its relative lack of content. Shame, because it is fun and if they’d given me a reason to keep playing it, I would have.

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

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

Lil Gator Game is a shining example of a game with a brilliant premise realised to its fullest extent. Full of heart, humour, and heaps of fun, this quality release simply cannot be missed.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet brings forth a much-needed evolution for the series. The core gameplay has been refined and rejuvenated to please fans new and old, however, its performance betrays it, preventing these games from reaching their full potential.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet brings forth a much-needed evolution for the series. The core gameplay has been refined and rejuvenated to please fans new and old, however, its performance betrays it, preventing these games from reaching their full potential.

Swordship is fresh in concept and design, a thrilling ride that has been crafted with real attention to detail. It’s certainly a challenge, but nevertheless a rewarding one, with an addictive grip that is hard to resist.

Papetura has captivating visuals and an intriguing setting, but the lack of any real depth to the gameplay and an unfortunately short runtime leave a lot to be desired.

A worthy sequel in every regard, Rogue Legacy 2 improves almost every single element that made the original Cellar Door Games title so appealing. Even its slow progression system is easy to stomach when everything along the way is so fun and entertaining.

Astronite is a 1-bit Metriodvania with a touch of inspiration from the Souls franchise. The pairing of the simple controls with the difficult gameplay create a delightful 2D challenge that will keep you going at it until the bitter end.

Sonic Frontiers manages to blend the speedster’s gameplay with an open-world setting, but it does so in a rather unrefined way. There’s fun to be found in Frontiers’ most exciting moments, but the overall package is lacking polish.

Overall, Lonesome Village succeeds at what it sets out to do. It doesn’t do anything unique, and it isn’t without its flaws; if you’re looking for something that offers a relaxing, chilled experience, then this one is for you.

Bigger is not always better, but Bayonetta 3 does more right than wrong when trying to surpass everything that has been done with the series before. It is a bold game that is thrilling to play, and a truly wild ride from start to finish.

A Little to the Left is a very charming puzzle game that takes you by surprise with how addictive it can be. While some elements might rub you the wrong way, it’s been designed to bring enjoyment, not frustration.

Return to Monkey Island feels like a greatest hits of Monkey Islands past. The overwhelming sense of familiarity is both a blessing and a curse, but ultimately if you’re a series fan, you’re going to enjoy swashbuckling with Guybrush once again.

LEGO Bricktales attempts to capture the excitement that accompanies building LEGO and certainly comes close, however, the experience is unfortunately marred by poor controls and unremarkable puzzles.

With almost no bells or whistles, and zero innovation, SAOMI bets everything on its level design. Thankfully, that core gameplay is pretty good, you just won’t be playing this one for long before moving on.

As cumbersome as the name that precedes it, Made in Abyss: Binary Star Falling into Darkness has grand ideas that it just can’t live up to. It’s a genuine shame, but I can’t give this a strong recommendation.

Wylde Flowers takes a tried and somewhat tired formula and sprinkles its magic over it for an experience that really sticks with you. Its blending of two genres is a challenge, but one that pays off entirely.

Bullets Per Minute is an addictive game that will keep you coming back for more punishment even once you’ve completed it a few times. There’s fun to be had regardless of how much time you’ve got to spare.

Bear and Breakfast is a cosy and relaxing management sim that offers players rewarding gameplay and an exciting story. The game does suffer with some janky controls and a HUD system that needs tweaking for Nintendo Switch systems, but if you want a management sim that isn’t the run-of-the-mill, this one’s for you.

With a beautiful pixel-art presentation, Shovel Knight Dig reinterprets the moveset of the blue knight with a bigger focus on vertical traversal, as well as an entirely new rogue-like structure that is as enjoyable as it is challenging.

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

Splatoon 3 has something to offer everybody, regardless of what type of games you usually play. It excludes no one and keeps on giving long after the credits have rolled on its chaotic shooter action.

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.

There are many platformers out there deserving of a remake. Sadly, Pac-Man World Re-PAC doesn’t do much to earn one. It feels dated, with uninspired gameplay and basic level design. A few fun bosses and Pac-Man mazes can’t save it.

Little Orpheus weaves an epic tale through its short runtime. Unfortunately, the gameplay just doesn’t live up to the same standard. But if you’re after an experience that’s nonetheless engaging, this is the game for you.

With its unique take on the sim genre, Potion Permit offers some great moments thanks to its well-written characters. Unfortunately, some exaggerated grinding and nasty bugs get in the way of its best segments.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is as close to gaming perfection as you’ll get on the Nintendo Switch. If the story doesn’t grip you, the combat, landscapes, mechanics, or soundtrack surely will. Monolith Soft, take a bow!

Islets marries classic Metroidvania elements with innovative tweaks and a gorgeous illustrative style. It may be on the easier end of the scale, but there’s enough depth and variety to keep everyone occupied, from beginners to completionists.

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.

Frogun draws you in with all the strength of the titular tongue-hooking grapple gun, combining 90’s low-poly nostalgic presentation with a fresh, novel gameplay premise. It’s a fairly short expedition, but well worth it when you factor in extra modes and collectibles.

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

Two Point Campus is a shining example of how to make a management sim and all its deep gameplay systems engaging and enjoyable. It can still feel overwhelming, but its charm far outweighs any flaws.

Though the design feels a little dated these days, there’s no denying KOTOR II is among the gold standard for Star Wars in terms of story and immersion. Look past the clunky combat mechanics and you’ll be in for a treat.

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.

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.

Overall, We Are OFK is a terrific interactive experience that isn’t for everyone. I would have liked a little more control over the gameplay, but it provided me with a few hours of fun and the soundtrack is incredible.

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

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.

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

Apico has addictive elements and a gorgeous aesthetic, but it’s marred by slowdown, glitches, and a lack of real engagement with the bees. The right patch could make this an excellent, if limited life-sim.

Severed Steel brings a fresh new feel to the FPS genre without overcomplicating the controls. It’s a furious blast through impressive environments and a rush from start to finish with very little to get in your way.

Freshly Frosted looks the part, and packs in plenty of addictive and varied puzzles. It’s a shame that some of the details are less refined, but puzzle fans should find this an enjoyable and satisfying challenge.

Lamplight City manages to breathe a little bit of new life into a tired genre, enough to keep it interesting, engaging, and surprising over multiple playthroughs.

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.

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.

Calling Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes a Musou almost feels like a disservice. It is a game that recontextualizes the most interesting elements from the Fire Emblem series into a new experience that is equal parts familiar and unique.

Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition is a replicant of the cult classic adventure game, painstakingly created by Nightdive, and still an enthralling experience today. Changes will alert the keen-eyed detective, however, and it’s debatable whether this new version is ultimately any more ‘enhanced’ than the original.

Kao the Kangaroo is an enjoyable revival of another once-forgotten mascot platformer, but its punches don’t hit hard enough to unseat any of its heavy-hitting contemporaries on Switch, and technical hiccups add an additional layer of ring rust.

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.

Lumote’s initial promise fails to deliver, with not enough of a hook to maintain long-term engagement. Its visuals are stunning, but lack variety, and the puzzling is capable, but awkward in places.

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.

Overall, Ikai is a psychological horror game that only provides horror through its lack of direction, scare tactics, and numerous graphical issues. The atmosphere it creates is brilliant, but it is a disappointment in every other aspect.

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.

Nintendo has delivered a sports game far too light on content with Battle League, missing an opportunity for a memorable series revival. Thankfully, the top-tier animations and chaotic gameplay make for a great time regardless.

OPUS: Echo of Starsong is a fantastic visual novel but is difficult to get into in many other ways. It’s not easy for players to tackle if they can’t handle big text dumps or seek out the story themselves.

Cloud Gardens walks a tenuous line between being a proper puzzle game and a challenge-less toy box. The result is an almost mindless yet relaxing experience that unfortunately overstays its welcome.

Roguebook is an interesting roguelike deck-building game with a difficulty curve that could either frustrate or excite you. If you like a challenge, and enjoy card battles, consider picking this one up.

Vesper: Zero Light Edition combines stealth platforming with light/dark puzzles in a visually arresting landscape. There’s a lot to like (light?) here, but the core gameplay isn’t quite as compelling as the beautiful presentation. Nevertheless, Vesper is worth investigating.

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

Soundfall might sound pretty great on paper, but the execution could have been better. It’s missing the creativity that could have elevated it to greater heights. What we’re left with is a promising shooter that falls into repetition disappointingly often.

Bad Writer is a short little step into the world of a struggling writer. While it is an accurate insight into the challenges of pursuing art, the metaphor doesn’t really translate into a fun gaming experience.

Overall, Citizen Sleeper is a fantastic game, with many quirky characters to meet and interesting stories to get engrossed in. If you are into tabletop RPGs and are looking for an easy-to-play substitute, this is the game for you.

Gibbon: Beyond the Trees combines gorgeous painterly visuals, and fantastic swinging mechanics, with an urgent and emotional story told with sensitivity. Sadly a couple of performance issues hold back this lovely game, leaving it a few monkeys short of a zoo.

With its gentle ambient sounds and pastel colour palette, Mini Motorways presents an enjoyable and addictive city management challenge. It’s a particularly immersive treat when played in handheld mode, featuring a steady difficulty curve that lures you back for more.

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.

Nintendo Switch Sports is competent, but unremarkable. It fails to recapture the magic of the Wii days, even though all of the tools are available. It does exactly what it says it will, but little else.

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.

Archvale is an engrossing title that you never really stop thinking about. It’s got everything a soulslike or Zelda fan could need, but twists the gameplay just enough to keep it feeling fresh, even when you’re grinding out levels to take on a boss.

Formula Retro Racing is pleasingly accessible and will offer instant nostalgia to 90s arcade-dwellers. Yet its lack of depth, online options, and long-term replayability means that only the most dedicated petrolheads will persist for long.