The House in Fata Morgana on Nintendo Switch is the best way to experience a true masterpiece of storytelling.

As someone who owns four different versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, I still don't consider it a perfect game or one that I would score a 10 despite loving it. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom on the other hand, is an easy 10 and Nintendo's best game yet. It is a masterpiece in just about every aspect.

Persona 5 Royal was already the best version of one of the greatest JRPGs, and it has gotten an excellent PC conversion that is a joy to play on Steam Deck and PC. With the inclusion of all prior DLC from the start and support for higher frame rates and multiple control options, Persona 5 Royal on PC is absolutely essential. If you held off on prior console versions of Persona 5, your wait has been worth it.

Tetris Effect: Connected is one of the best Nintendo Switch games you can play today and a perfect complement to the amazing Tetris 99. If you haven't gotten it yet, the Switch conversion is brilliant and well worth your time. Hopefully it gets a physical release soon.

Metroid Prime Remastered is a fantastic release in every way. It feels amazing to play and looks brilliant. We've seen many classics brought to modern systems with varying results, but Metroid Prime Remastered is sublime and a must-play for every Nintendo Switch owner.

Persona 5 Royal on Nintendo Switch is the true successor to Persona 4 Golden on PS Vita. Despite the visual cutbacks compared to the PS4 version, it is an essential for Nintendo Switch owners. With the inclusion of all prior paid and free DLC, this is a fantastic value proposition and well worth your time even in this busy month.

Resident Evil 4 Remake is an incredible reimagining of a classic. The stellar pacing, memorable characters, and monsters aplenty combine with sublime gameplay and superlative visuals to make it absolutely essential.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Future Redeemed is a phenomenal expansion and perfect finale for the Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy. It is brilliantly-paced and has none of the issues prior releases have, making it even better than Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

Street Fighter 6 is a superlative fighting game with its robust online, amazing single-player content, gorgeous visuals, and sublime gameplay. It might be one of the best launch packages for any fighting game ever, and is a game of the year contender.

Persona 4 Golden on Nintendo Switch feels perfect. Having now played this new version on all platforms, the Nintendo Switch version is the one I'd recommend above all for the system's hybrid nature, and because Atlus has done a fantastic job with this port bringing one of the best JRPGs of all time to a new audience. Hopefully it gets a physical release in the future.

Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective's remaster is a cleaner and smoother version of the DS classic which is one of Capcom's best games. If you've not played it before, you're in for a treat. This month is very busy with major releases, but Ghost Trick with its excellent revival is a trick you don't want to miss.

Hi Fi Rush is a phenomenal experience from start to finish with fantastic characters, sublime music, gorgeous visuals, great voice acting, and superlative gameplay. It is essential if you enjoy action and rhythm games.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero on PC gives one of Falcom's best games the superlative PC conversion it deserves. PH3 has outdone itself once again with this release that plays like a dream across the board and shines on Steam Deck.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the best Xenoblade game and an essential for any Switch owner despite its few flaws. With Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the Xenoblade Chronicles trilogy is Nintendo Switch's crown jewel.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is not only the definitive way to experience Final Fantasy VII Remake but the complete package with a massively improved and visually enhanced main game and a brilliant DLC episode that exceeded all my expectations.

NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition is a port that I never expected would happen, let alone one that would deliver a competent NieR: Automata experience on a portable. If you've wanted to play NieR: Automata on the go, this is a great way to do so. Square Enix and Virtuous went above and beyond here with support for motion controls, touchscreen, and also exclusive DLC. It isn't as good as playing on other platforms, but delivers in a proper NieR: Automata portable experience retaining everything that made the original game one of the greatest of all time.

SNK Vs Capcom: The Match of the Millennium is an essential purchase at its low asking price if you are a fan of either Capcom or SNK fighters. Even if you already bought it on Switch, the Steam version is worth getting thanks to Steam's Remote Play Together feature letting you play it online with friends.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak was already beyond amazing when it debuted last year, and the PlayStation and Xbox versions arrive with three title updates included making it even better. While it is unfortunate that Capcom couldn't launch them with all title updates included, Sunbreak is an essential, and I can now recommend Rise without caveats on PS5.

Streets Of Rage 4 - Mr. X Nightmare DLC takes an already brilliant game and elevates it even further with a superb survival mode, amazing new music from Tee Lopes, and the addition of more playable characters at a stupidly low asking price.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is easily one of the best games in a decade and an absolute must play on Nintendo Switch despite the technical issues in some battle situations. I was skeptical of how it would run in parts given the performance issues on PS4, but the port is very well done and it looks fantastic on the Nintendo Switfch OLED screen. If you skipped this on PS4, you absolute have to buy it on Switch.

NeverAwake is a game that feels perfect for short sessions on Switch. The visuals are a bit blurry on Nintendo’s hybrid console, but the cutbacks are all justified thanks to the gameplay being responsive across the board. While I didn’t care for some parts of certain levels, NeverAwake is an essential if you like twin-stick shooters, and a game I see myself coming back to very often.

Monster Hunter Rise is one of the best Nintendo Switch games out there and one of Capcom's finest with only a few annoyances holding it back.

Whether you played Ghost of Tsushima before on PS4 or are completely new to it, Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is well worth your time on PS5 with its stunning visuals, great use of PS5 features, excellent combat, and superlative soundtrack.

Guilty Gear Strive is an absolutely incredible fighting game with its gorgeous visuals, sublime gameplay, kickass soundtrack, and robust online play.

As a newcomer (mostly) to the series, Pikmin 4 has been fantastic to experience. It oozes charm, and I love how it eased me into the action throughout the campaign. While Pikmin 3 Deluxe didn't click with me, I'm glad I got into the series with Pikmin 4, and will be playing Pikmin 1 and 2 in the near future on Switch. This is a gem, and another essential from Nintendo in 2023.

Final Fantasy 16 is one of the most impressive games Square Enix has ever made even with its few issues. The brilliant combat, superlative voice acting, amazing music, and gorgeous world come together to make the best single-player Final Fantasy since the PS2 era. This one’s an all-timer.

When servers are online and functional, Gran Turismo 7 is a triumph of the racing genre. There's a lot to love with its chilled out atmosphere in its campaign, a plethora of control options, and a vast number of cars to collect. Throw in impeccable production values and visuals, and you have one of the best racing games ever. Albeit one I can only recommend if you can stomach its always-online requirement.

Monster Hunter Rise on PS5 is brilliant with its excellent performance, visual options, PS5 features like Activity Cards, gyro support, and the inclusion of new feature updates and event quests available from the start. The only disappointment is Sunbreak not being available until this spring.

While Square Enix should've released them on consoles from the start, the new features and options definitely make the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series on PS5 worth grabbing as a bundle. It isn't perfect thanks to the scrolling issues, but everything else is excellent.

Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is the ultimate version of one of Square Enix's best franchises. It goes above and beyond with its fanservice, gameplay, and superlative selection of music from most of the publisher's best games. While it isn't flawless, Theatrhythm Final Bar Line gets my highest possible recommendation if you enjoy rhythm games and Final Fantasy.

If you're new to Armored Core like I was before playing Armored Core 6, this is an excellent entry point into a franchise I wish I had experienced before. With Armored Core 6, FromSoftware has one of the best games of 2023, and it feels like the studio's most-polished release yet. It was a joy to play on Steam Deck pre-release, and I'm having a ton of fun replaying it on both PS5 and Xbox Series X right now.

Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak enhances and improves Monster Hunter Rise in every way. The monsters are more challenging, the music is a lot better, and the postgame is actually good for more than a few hunts. The new mechanics add even more depth for those looking to dig deeper into each weapon. Even if Capcom didn't do a single title update, this would still be absolutely essential for every Monster Hunter Rise owner. It is that good, and I can't wait to put hundreds of hours into it over the next year.

Monster Hunter Rise on PC has all the updates and new content added to the Switch version right from the get go with vastly improved performance and graphics. While the visuals could've been improved further, this is still the best way to play Monster Hunter Rise.

Anonymous;Code is the best Science Adventure release since the original Steins;Gate thanks to its superb localization, story, and characters. This is an essential on Nintendo Switch, and only held back by a few issues.

Bayonetta 3 excels in its combat, music, voice acting, and scale making it essential for fans of the series, but it has a few technical issues holding it back. This is definitely PlatinumGames' most ambitious game yet, and an excellent exclusive for Nintendo Switch.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero to Azure is one of the best duologies I've experienced in any medium. If you enjoy JRPGs with amazing stories, fantastic music, and brilliant characters, you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not playing both Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure.

Nioh 2 Complete Edition on PC includes everything from the PS4 version and some exclusive features making it a brilliant package overall and it is absolutely essential on PC for those who were waiting.

Eschatos is already one of the best shoot 'em ups on Nintendo Switch. I hope some of the performance issues in Tate Mode can be resolved because that is my biggest issue with this release. Other than that, Eschatos is a sublime experience that I recommend to all fans of the genre. I hope we get a physical release in the near future.

Persona 4 Golden is a masterpiece and one of the best JRPGs ever. If you've waited for a competent version of Persona 4 Golden on PS4, your wait has been worth it, but Atlus should've done more for those playing on PS5 and PS4 Pro.

While Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade itself is a bare-bones PC conversion, it is an absolute joy to play on Steam Deck. If you skipped the console version and own a Steam Deck, it is definitely worth grabbing. I just hope it gets patched to fix some issues that still linger from the original PC launch back in December last year.

Just like Trails from Zero, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure on Nintendo Switch is the gold standard of how an older game should be brought to Nintendo Switch. The improvements and upgrades over the PS4 version are massive, and PH3 took things a step further to even add options we'd usually see only in a PC release. The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero to Azure is an essential duology for every RPG fan on Nintendo Switch.

Despite some difficulty spikes, Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is one of the best metroidvanias I've played in years, with gorgeous visuals, remarkable atmosphere, and amazing soundtrack.

Sumire is a short but brilliant emotional adventure about getting the most out of limited time by experiencing love, friendship, growth, loss, and more.

Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is a bigger and better sequel in almost every way. It feels like the jump we saw from Assassin's Creed Origins to Odyssey. There are some annoyances like turns taking too long even when sped up, or how enemies spawning out of portals are handled, but Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is one of the best Switch exclusives of the year, and a showcase for the OLED screen in handheld mode.

Raiden IV x Mikado Remix brings the best version of an arcade classic to Nintendo Switch with a wealth of modes and an exclusive soundtrack making it one of the best shoot 'em ups you can play on the system right now.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero on Nintendo Switch is the gold standard of how a JRPG should be brought to Nintendo Switch. It has improvements and upgrades over the PS4 version every way, and also goes above and beyond with many features to make it even better. I hope PH3 works on more Switch conversions in the future, because is now the best Falcom release on Switch.

Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo is another fantastic game from Square Enix, and an essential for fans of mystery, horror, and adventure games. It feels great to play on both Switch and Steam Deck. I want to see more releases like Paranormasight and The Centennial Case from the publisher.

The World Ends With You on PC is a bare-bones conversion, but one that runs great. This is easily the definitive version of one of Square Enix's best games in years.

Easy Come Easy Golf is a great addition to the Switch library and it is one of the best golf games on the system alongside Golf Story and What the Golf. If you skipped this on Apple Arcade or don't want to play it on a subscription, the Switch version is worth your time.

Despite the technical issues, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak (with the base game) is one of the best Nintendo Switch games ever. The expansion enhances the base game to make it an easy recommendation for any newcomer to Monster Hunter, and an essential for every base game owner on Switch. Hopefully Capcom can improve the multiplayer performance in future updates.

AI: The Somnium Files nirvanA Initiative gets almost everything right. It builds on the original in just about every way and remains a more accessible entry thanks to new quality of life features and difficulty options. The narrative is more over-the-top than the original with its humor turned up even more, and it excels with its excellent characters. If you enjoy mystery adventure games, you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't buy AI: The Somnium Files nirvanA Initiative. It is an easy game of the year contender.

Atelier Ryza 3 is Gust's most ambitious game, and a fitting finale for Ryza. Gust and Koei Tecmo have delivered better visuals and performance over the console versions on PC, but Ryza 3 unfortunately has some issues on Steam Deck at launch.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn feels like it is a bespoke Nintendo Switch game rather than a remake of an older title. It looks and plays like a dream on the system both docked and handheld, and the addition of proper HD Rumble makes it even better. With Tactics Ogre: Reborn and Triangle Strategy, Square Enix has delivered two of the best tactical RPGs within months of each other on the best platform for the genre.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn on PC is an essential for tactical RPG fans with its deep gameplay, tons of customization, superlative soundtrack, and with how amazing it feels on Steam Deck. It took Square Enix a long time to bring Tactics Ogre back, and I'm glad we got such a great version of it.

Over the last few weeks, there hasn't been a single waking hour I haven't thought about Shin Megami Tensei V. The combat, music, and design are all amazing and the only area it falters is in the technical aspects. Despite that, this is one of the best JRPGs in years and everything I wanted from a new Shin Megami Tensei game.

Judgment is one of Sega's best games in years, and it has finally arrived on PC with many modern PC features and it also plays great on Steam Deck out of the box. If you skipped the recent PS5 or Xbox Series X remaster, this is an essential.

Live A Live was an essential on Nintendo Switch last year, and it sees an amazing glow up on PS5 with its boost to resolution, frame rate, and improved load times. While there isn't anything here that justifies a purchase if you played it before, newcomers will find a sublime JRPG in Live A Live on PS5, and I still hope it gets a physical release in the future.

Castlevania Advance Collection is one of the best game collections available today with three quality Castlevania releases and a bonus extra game complemented by a wealth of additional features and content.

SNK Vs Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash is an easy recommendation for fans of Capcom and SNK, but also anyone who enjoys an interesting card battler. If Nintendo and The Pokemon Company ever get around to bringing older Pokemon games to Switch, SNK Vs Capcom: Card Fighters' Clash is the gold standard for how dual releases should be handled.

Mushihimesama on Nintendo Switch is not just a superb and accessible version of a brilliant shoot 'em up, but an essential part of every Nintendo Switch owner's library.

Lost Judgment on PC brings one of Sega's best games in recent years to Steam in an excellent conversion that plays great even on Steam Deck. While it should've included all DLC from the get go with its asking price, this is an essential if you skipped the console version or if you want to experience it again on the go.

Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection sees Atlus' most consistently great franchise return after a long absence. While the asking price is definitely high, you are getting three quality DRPGs with quality of life improvements and accessibility options making them great even for longtime fans.

The wait for Drainus from Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth developer Team Ladybug on Nintendo Switch was long, but absolutely worth it. The Switch arrives with all post-launch updates from the start, and it is an excellent conversion that looks and plays brilliantly on Nintendo's hybrid system. This is one of the best modern shoot 'em ups, and a perfect fit for the Switch library.

Despite some technical issues, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster bundle on Nintendo Switch is a great way to experience these classics. The new font, soundtrack options, and boosts in addition to many other smaller improvements make it well worth getting even in its current state.

Despite the performance issues and some difficulty spikes, Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights is one of the best games you can play on Nintendo Switch this year with its superlative soundtrack and gorgeous aesthetic.

Persona 5 Strikers goes above and beyond what I expected from a Persona 5 spin-off with its superlative music, stylish action, great story, and it is a must play for any Persona 5 fan.

Gotta Protectors: Cart of Darkness is an essential for Nintendo Switch owners with its humor, fun gameplay, appreciation of older video games, and brilliant music. The blend of strategy and action never gets old, and the online play works surprisingly well. This is one of the best value packages available on the eShop with DLC that is an absolute must buy for fans of Yuzo Koshiro’s music.

Triangle Strategy on Nintendo Switch was one of the best tactical RPGs in years. On PC, it scales up well and plays great even on Steam Deck barring one issue. If you skipped the Switch release for a potential PC port, your wait has been worth it. Triangle Strategy has gorgeous art, amazing music, and memorable characters that come together for an unforgettable experience that is an essential for fans of the genre.

AI: The Somnium Files nirvanA Initiative is a fantastic adventure game that builds on the original with improvements in just about every way. While it suffers from a few technical issues on Nintendo Switch even with the day one patch, it is an improved Switch conversion compared to the first game. AI: The Somnium Files nirvanA Initiative is easily one the best Switch games of 2022.

Judgment on PS5 is easily the definitive way to experience one of Sega's best games and while there isn't much incentive for people who played it already to double dip, newcomers have a fantastic experience waiting for them with this remaster.

Despite the Nintendo Switch being the perfect platform for Danganronpa thanks to the form factor, a few technical issues and lack of touchscreen support hold this package back from being the definitive way to experience these amazing stories. Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp is a nice bonus to have if you enjoyed the extra content in prior games, but it doesn't feel as fleshed out as it could’ve been. As a value proposition, all three mainline games and a spin-off for the price of a single full-priced game is hard to argue with, but I wish Spike Chunsoft gave these ports a bit more care.

Bravely Default 2 was a good but safe JRPG on Nintendo Switch when it launched earlier this year. On PC, despite being a bare-bones port, most of the technical issues that plagued the Nintendo Switch version are resolved with it looking and running massively better. This is the best way to play Bravely Default 2, but it should’ve been a more fully-featured port.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is one of NIS' best games ever. If you've wanted a dungeon RPG with an excellent story and tons of depth, this is it. I was surprised at how well it built on the base laid by the first game, and it continued to surprise me the more I played. On the PC side, it also looks and plays great even on Steam Deck out of the box.

Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society is one of the best dungeon RPGs ever. The wait for it to hit the West has been long, but NIS America has made it absolutely worth it. Despite two technical issues on Nintendo Switch, this is an easy recommendation for fans of the genre, and a brilliant addition to the console's library alongside Undernauts and Stranger of Sword City.

Triangle Strategy is one of the best tactical RPGs, and an absolute essential for every Nintendo Switch owner. It has gorgeous art, amazing music, and memorable characters that come together for an unforgettable experience told through multiple endings.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection from Konami and Digital Eclipse is one of my favorite retro collections ever. It is chock full of amazing bonuses in addition to many games that have been great to revisit or experience for the first time. The enhancement options and features available elevate these games quite a bit as well. If you're a fan of the games or want to check out classic TMNT games, this release is an essential.

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a welcome addition to the Nintendo Switch's library, and another win for the platform in 2023 with its superb core gameplay and presentation making it one of the best games on the platform.

Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth is an excellent and short metroidvania that is a joy to play on Switch. The initial release in December had major technical issues, but the newest patch has made it an easy recommendation for anyone looking to play a quality metroidvania on Switch.

If you've never played an Atelier game before, Atelier Sophie 2 on PC is a great way to get into the series and a fantastic game in its own right thanks to all the quality of life improvements. This is a must play for fans of the series and anyone looking for a relaxing and laid-back JRPG.

Blending a pure visual novel with a turn-based tactical RPG combat, Digimon Survive is one of the best surprises of this year so far despite its issues. It is held back by some localization issues, but feels great to play on PC including Steam Deck after a post-launch patch addressed most of the issues. Digimon Survive also serves as a nice entry point into the franchise for newcomers as long as you aren't turned off by the structure.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails on Switch is actually Falcom's first internally-developed game for the platform, and it is an excellent version of a PSP classic. If you've ever wanted to sample some of the developer's older games and enjoy action RPGs, this is worth your time on both Switch and PS5.

The Atelier Mysterious Trilogy Deluxe Pack on Nintendo Switch finally gives fans of portable gaming worthy conversions of the three modern Atelier games and the improvements to Atelier Lydie & Suelle, DLC included, new content, and quality of life features only elevate this package further.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA remains one of Falcom's best games, and the new PS5 version is a great entry point into the series thanks to its enhancements. If you already own the PS4 version, it isn't worth grabbing, but this is the best console version of Ys VIII, and the low asking price makes it an easy recommendation for newcomers.

Atelier Ryza 3 is a more-ambitious take on the formula that builds on prior games in almost every way. While this has led to it being rough around the edges technically, Atelier Ryza 3 is an excellent RPG on both Switch and PS5, and a lovely finale for Ryza.

Lost Judgment is one of the best games in years with its superlative narrative, sublime combat, great soundtrack, plethora of side activities, and fantastic localization. This is easily one of Sega’s best.

Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Mega Mix+ on Steam Deck is the best portable Project Diva experience ever with its huge song list, gorgeous visuals, excellent performance, and features from both Nintendo Switch and PS4 games. If you've never played a Miku game yet, this is a fantastic entry point and an essential for rhythm game and Hatsune Miku fans.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie still feels like a dream release after how far behind the West was with Kiseki localizations. Well, it is now here, real, and spectacular thanks to its story, music, and brilliant PC port.

Espgaluda II for Nintendo Switch is a fantastic shoot 'em up with a ton of customization options, game modes, superb gameplay, and great aesthetic.

While some technical aspects of the game feel a bit unpolished, Shadowverse: Champion's Battle is a super fun card battle RPG and my favorite card game on Nintendo Switch alongside Slay the Spire.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is not only the best and most accessible Ace Attorney yet, but an absolute essential for fans of adventure games with its brilliant characters, amazing soundtrack, and great presentation.

Ib is an unsettling, creepy, and incredible experience on Nintendo Switch. It has excellent music, great art, and an amazing narrative through its multiple endings. If you enjoy exploration, horror, and 2D adventure games, you need to play this.

Gnosia is an ambitious game and one that I definitely am glad to have experienced over the last week. While the repetition and localisation issues hold it back, Gnosia is well worth experiencing. Blending the best of visual novels with a werewolf style game and bringing in skills and stats is not an easy task. Doing so while making me care about the characters and universe across dozens of hours is what makes Gnosia a game I can recommend to those looking for new ways to experience a narrative.

My issues with Persona 3 Portable itself aside, the new PC port is excellent. It scales across different hardware well, runs well and looks good on Steam Deck, and arrives without the issues P4G had at launch on PC. It is disappointing that after all these years Persona 3's arrival on modern platforms isn't a complete remake, but it is hard to argue with the value P3P provides at its low asking price right now.

If you enjoy JRPGs, you owe it to yourself to play Live A Live. Despite being a remake of a decades old game, Live A Live feels fresh and will surprise you with its interesting combat, gorgeous visuals, unique structure, and superlative soundtrack. It is a strong contender for the best JRPG in years.

The Kids We Were on Nintendo Switch is an excellent voxel-styled adventure game with memorable characters and an emotional story. If you enjoyed games like To the Moon and Sumire, you will love The Kids We Were.

Cotton Reboot does a fantastic job of bringing Cotton and cute 'em ups to a new generation of players with its excellent gameplay, gorgeous visuals, and great soundtrack.

Rune Factory 4 Special is an excellent remaster of a Nintendo 3DS classic that has a few visual improvements on PC compared to the console versions. While the conversion has some interface issues that will hopefully be addressed in future patches, it is still worth your time with its budget price with DLC included from the get go.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax on Nintendo Switch is a fantastic portable version of the game, but one that lacks a few online features compared to the PS4 version. It also doesn't look as good as the PS4 version when played docked. Despite that, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is one of the best fighting games available on Nintendo's hybrid system.