Infernax is everything I want from a retro-inspired 8-bit platformer. It looks fantastic, offers challenging gameplay, glorious bosses, and banging tunes. If that’s your bag, don’t waste any time diving in here. It’s a beauty.

By expanding on an admittedly short base game, the Snipperclips Plus DLC does away with one of the game's only faults and makes this an absolutely essential purchase for the Switch. Get some family and friends round and you'll be roaring with laughter for hours!

Whilst the whimsical nature of Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout can act as a double-edged sword, feeling both magical and fleeting mere moments apart, Ryza’s infectious personality is a joy to behold. In-depth combat and item synthesis are cleverly utilised throughout and, despite characters and narrative producing varying results, the overall quality is up there with the very best.

Danmaku Unlimited 3 is a very strong entry into the ever-growing shmup genre on Nintendo Switch. It takes nerves to conquer the endless bullets on display, but casual gamers are also well catered for with a generous selection of difficulty options.

Baba Is You is a simple, yet ingenious indie puzzle game that is unlike anything you’ve seen before. The charming and minimalist presentation combines with immense creative difficulty to make something that will blow your mind, if it hasn’t melted it in confusion first.

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.

Lunar Ray Games have carefully constructed a game that doesn’t demand your attention, but rather invites you to take a closer look and rewards you with refined gameplay, a thought-provoking story and countless secrets to uncover.

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.

I wasn’t expecting much from Outrun, and initially I wasn’t impressed. Thankfully I persevered and found a surprisingly charming little racer that occupied me for many days. If you are looking for a simple, cheap and cheerful racer you could do far worse.

While the puzzles are uninspired, To the Moon isn’t your typical videogame. It takes the format and visuals of an old-school JRPG and melds them in a unique way, delivering a narrative that is beautiful, impactful, and not easily forgotten.

One of the best 2D platformers of the last decade, Super Meat Boy lands on the Nintendo Switch and delivers, arguably, the best version of Team Meat's game yet. The Race Mode is a fantastic addition provides a riotous multiplayer experience to what was already a superb package. If you're a fan of challenging platformers and have never played Super Meat Boy before, this is essential. If you've already played it, it's still as awesome as ever - with the added bonus of Race Mode.

World of Goo is a game with an excellent concept, held back from greatness by its limited scope and inaccurate control schemes. More levels, a proper ultimate goal, or even a good control scheme could've boosted this game out of middle-of-the-road territory - but as it stands, that's right where it sits.

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.

VA-11 HALL-A might not quite fulfil your bartending dreams in terms of concocting your own drinks, but if the social side of being a bartender without leaving the house is more your thing, then this is the game for you.

They said it wasn't possible on Switch, but now it's here, Nintendo fans won't be able to escape the phenomenon for any longer. It nails the get a little better each time feel, and that's what makes it so addictive. Add in the Save the World mode and it's an equal match for the other systems.

While it won’t scratch the itch for anyone looking for a competitive puzzler, there isn’t a music-based puzzler quite like Lumines Remastered so beautifully executed, and at an affordable price. The Trance Vibration gimmick you can take it or leave it, but you’ll still be able to bliss out regardless.

Castlevania Advance Collection is exactly the jolt of excitement Konami’s classic series of gothic action-platformers needs to succeed. All games featured look and play great, with newly installed quality-of-life features making them more accessible.

A brutally singular and unexpectedly brilliant subversion of what you know about Tetris and battle royale, if you’re a Switch Online subscriber, you absolutely need to download it.

Tales of Vesperia still holds up as a game that is absolutely charming and enjoyable to play, with a multi-faceted cast of characters and a story of intrigue. It’s a JRPG that deserves your attention, even despite its tangible flaws.

Alien: Isolation is a worthy edition to any Switch owner’s library. It is an excellent reminder of just how good a port can be and, predictable storyline and poorly paced checkpoints aside, it is an outstanding stealth-horror title.

Mega Man Legacy Collection is a seriously comprehensive celebration of the classic NES series, with a total of six games and a healthy sprinkling of brand new challenges. The dip in quality in the latter titles hold it back from a perfect score, but this is otherwise an essential purchase!

Prison Architect is a deep and complex micro-management sim that pays off for putting in the hours. It may be an expensive eShop only title, but it's great fun - do check it out.

Nobody Saves the World is a quirky and engaging little action RPG. With smooth controls, awesome art and sound, plenty of customization options, and fantastic multiplayer; you should definitely consider adding this one to your Switch library.

Part roguelike, part card battler, and part turn-based RPG, Loop Hero is an addictive medieval descent where your lack of control actually adds to the sense of adventure. It takes a while to hit its stride but is worth it in the end.

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.

Fitness games are often judged on whether they make you forget you are exercising, but if you forget, you’re probably doing it wrong. What Ring Fit Adventure succeeds in, is making that exercise consistently enjoyable yet still effective.

If you had to describe Splatoon 2 in a single word, it would simply be "fun". Pure, unadulterated fun that will last you a significant amount of time. With competent single player mode, addictive multiplayer modes and the promise of regular content it's another top quality - and essential - Switch release. Just make the Salmon Run more frequent, Nintendo.

Overall, Shovel Knight Pocket Dungeon is one of the best puzzle and rogue-lites I’ve had the pleasure of playing. Though it’s not without a few faults, this is a must-play for any Shovel Knight fan.