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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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